Make It So Report E-MAGAZINE
EDITOR Allen Green
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Donald E. Graham, Jr. Mary Daniels Irene Council Simone Malone Lenora Young Phil Hughes Christine Tunstall Monica F. Hudson Carmen Maria Incorminias
Happy New Year The Face of Jesus
Cover Design by A. Green
www.makeitsomanagement.com
2012 HANDBOOK Health: 1. Drink plenty of water. 2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.. 4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy 5. Make time to pray. 6. Play more games 7. Read more books than you did in 2011. 8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day 9. Sleep for 7 hours. 10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile. Personality: 11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits. 14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. 16. Dream more while you are awake 17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. 19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others. 20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 23. Smile and laugh more. 24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. Society: 25. Call your family often. 26. Each day give something good to others. 27. Forgive everyone for everything. 28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6. 29. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 30. What other people think of you is none of your business. 31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
1
Life: 32. Do the right thing! 33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 34. GOD heals everything. 35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 37. The best is yet to come. 38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. 39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy
2
Chris’s Corner Writer: Christine Tunstall
My 2012 Resolution To Always Remember To Always Be Thankful Over the years there have been many people and many things I have been thankful for in my life. I must say that as each year passes and I become a little older (and I pray a little wiser), I truly have learned to appreciate people much more than I could or should ever appreciate things. For me, material things have slowly lost their significance in my life. Don’t misunderstand, I like nice things. I enjoy my home and I definitely enjoy traveling. However, I actually enjoy the time I spend with others much more. I truly enjoy having family and loved ones enjoy my home. I love to watch the expressions on the faces of my loved ones, listening to their stories when we return from vacationing together. People have asked why I take others on vacation with me, at no expense to them. I do this because I truly believe God wants us to share what we have with others. Just like education cannot be taken from you once you achieve it, fond memories made on vacations cannot be erased once you return to everyday life. God has trusted me with a little of life’s comforts. If we cannot be trusted to be faithful and generous with the little that we have, how in the world could we ever expect Him to bless us with more? I can remember as a child watching my mother struggle to keep a roof over the heads of her children, making our house so much of a home that we did not even realize we were poor. I remember very well how much momma wanted for us. To that end, I am thankful for the lessons she taught me as a child which made me work hard in school to make her proud of me. I never wanted momma to have to worry about a disobedient child on top of bills and household responsibilities. If I could just make one area of her life bearable and pleasant, I was going to do it. I worked hard as a young child, a teenager and finally as an adult to make my mother’s life as pleasant and stress free as I possibly could. I was not a perfect child but I did everything I could every day to make her experiences with me as perfect as possible. Thank you God for the mother (Beulah Mae Leary Jackson) you gave me and may she continue to have eternal rest. I can remember struggling with life’s choices as a young married woman. I enjoyed church and although I grew up in church and still attended regularly, I knew I needed my relationship with God to be stronger and more in depth. I was still attending my family church which was pastored by Rev. Robert J. Lovett. While Pastor Lovett was a very good leader, my spirit seemed to hunger for something different. I was lead to another church not far away from my family church. I visited this church all summer in 1994 and one Sunday afternoon, with my six month old son sitting on my lap, the Pastor was bringing his sermon to its climatic ending and I sat there struggling. I struggled because I 3
knew God was sending me to take that walk down the aisle, instructing me to give my hand to the Pastor and my heart to Him. I sat in my seat rationalizing why I had to stay at my family church but the Holy Spirit would not leave me alone. All of a sudden, a force that could only be the Holy Spirit pushed me to my feet and with tears streaming down my face, I took that walk. I gave my hand to Pastor James S. Hall, Jr. and gave my whole heart to God. It was then that I realized the only one who could handle my whole heart was and is God. Just as it says in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
My son and I continue to learn and grow under the loving leadership of Rev. Dr. James S. Hall, Jr. In Romans 10:14 it asks ‘how can they hear without someone preaching to them”? Pastor Hall has just entered into his 61st year of preaching God’s word to God’s people and he does it faithfully and with a style that is all his own. In November 2011, our church congregation enjoyed a week-long celebration, which was the culmination of a year-long celebration of our Pastor’s faithfulness to his calling. On Wednesday evening the guest speaker talked about Pastor Hall being so very faithful for 60 years to God’s people. While I am sure many of us have held jobs, stayed in relationships, lived through many situations over however many years we wish to claim, there are not many people who can claim 60 years of faithfulness to the ministry. When she spoke of 60 years of preaching funerals for members, non-members, family, friends and strangers; conducting weddings (even when he advised against a particular union), counseling, praying over; conducting house dedications; speaking at graduations; blessing babies; and the list goes on and on, I just had to take the time to say how thankful I am that since the fall of 1994, I have been one of the many people Pastor James S. Hall, Jr. has ministered to. He has prayed with me, prayed for me, prayed and counseled my son, given me direction and love, all because he made a promise to God to look over God’s people. I will always remember how thankful I am to have Pastor James S. Hall, Jr. as my spiritual leader. I have learned that quiet time and devotion with God are the most important parts of my day. With each breath I take I am humbled by the fact that it is God who has provided that breath. I am also very thankful that God saw fit to allow me to experience what I believe is His most precious gift – the gift of life. Many who know me are aware that I refer to my son as “God’s daily dose of Grace”. Whenever I look at my son I remember that it is only because of God’s love that I was granted the opportunity to be a vessel to bring that young life into this world. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and for the opportunity of watching him grow every day from that 7lb 3oz, 19-1/2 inch baby born in the spring of 1994 to the more than 6ft 4in young man he has grown to today. In 2012, I shall continue to remember each person in my life that has touched my life. I will continue to remember to say thank you and let people know what they mean to me. I will strive to be better than I have been, nicer than I could have been, more generous than I wanted to be and more loving than even I thought I could be. Happy New Year!! Be Blessed.
4
“A Resolution for the New Year” Writer: Minister Donald E. Graham, Jr As we enter into 2012, many of us have already made promises. We swear that this will be the year we will quit smoking, lose 50 pounds, write that novel, get out of debt, and eat healthy along with other New Year Resolutions. These promises are often too easy to make, but never easy enough to keep. There is, however, one resolution that I think is even more important for us to keep. It is the resolution of not taking the baggage of 2011 into a new year. Many of us through unfortunate circumstances have been left with painful scars from events that took place this year. What we need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring us to this very moment. This is the moment we can choose to speak victory into the New Year. In 2011 some of us had to endure the pain of losing a child, the death of a spouse, a divorce, or the loss of a dear friend or loved one. Others, as a result of the recession, have lost their jobs, homes, cars, and other material possessions. No matter what the event was that impacted your life this year, you cannot let it define where you are right now and certainly not where you will be in 2012. Before you say that it’s easier said than done, one must remember we always have an opportunity to change our lives. For example, by making a conscious decision to forgive someone who hurt you this year, you begin the cleansing process toward spiritual healing and wholeness for next year. If you were blindsided by a financial loss that is now threatening your family’s quality of life, you can remain confident that “God will supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory.” (Philippians 4:19) We all have a choice in deciding how we will respond to adversity. I have to admit that there were times this year where I found it difficult to leave the baggage of my own past behind. However, each time this tendency reared its ugly head, I reminded myself that if I continued to look to the past to determine what I should do today, I will only create more of the same in the future. The bible clearly says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” To escape the endless cycle of recreating your past you must make different choices today than you did yesterday. Allow God to transform you by the renewing of your mind, which will allow you to live in the moment and gain the ability to make empowering decisions right now that free you from the prison of your past. My friend, God can use the hurt and pain you experienced this year as the catalyst that propels you into your next season. Your past is what created this present moment. We arrived here as a result of our past choices, actions, and the things that happened in our lives that were beyond our control. Once we accept this truth, we can then make a determined effort to move forward and make informed decisions in the New 5
Year to improve our life and our future. By realizing we have the power to change our results in life simply by making different choices today than we did yesterday; we become a conscious creator of our reality. We then develop the power to create the life of our dreams, and ultimately liberate ourselves from the confines of our past. For many of us, this is the one resolution that will determine if 2012 will be a resounding success‌or a repeat of 2011.
The Real Face of Jesus Article submitted by A. Green
Advances in forensic science reveal the most famous face in history. Illustration by BBC Photo Library From the first time Christian children settle into Sunday school classrooms, an image of Jesus Christ is etched into their minds. In North America He is most often depicted as being taller than His disciples, lean, with long, flowing, light brown hair, fair skin and light-colored eyes. Familiar though this image may be, it is inherently flawed. A person with these features and physical bearing would have looked very different from everyone else in the region where Jesus lived and ministered. Surely the authors of the Bible would have mentioned so stark a contrast. On the contrary, according to the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane before the Crucifixion, Judas Iscariot had to indicate to the soldiers whom Jesus was, because they could not tell Him apart from His disciples. Further clouding the question of what Jesus looked like is the simple fact that nowhere in the New Testament is Jesus described, nor have any drawings of Him ever been uncovered. There is the additional problem of having neither a skeleton nor other bodily remains to probe for DNA. In the absence of evidence, our images of Jesus have been left to the imagination of artists. The influences of the artist’s cultures and traditions can be profound, observes Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi, associate professor of world Christianity at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. While Western imagery is dominant, in other parts of the world He is often shown as black, Arab, or Hispanic and so the fundamental question remains: What did Jesus look like? An answer has emerged from an exciting new field of science: forensic anthropology. Using methods similar to those police have developed to solve crimes, British scientists, assisted by Israeli archeologists, have re-created what they believe is the most accurate image (above) of the most famous face in human history. The Body as Evidence An outgrowth of physical anthropology, forensic anthropology uses cultural and archeological data as well as the physical and biological sciences to study different groups of people, explains A. Midori Albert, a professor who teaches forensic anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Experts in this highly specialized field require a working knowledge of genetics, and human growth and development. In their research they also draw from the fields of primatology, 6
paleoanthropology (the study of primate and human evolution) and human osteology (the study of the skeleton). Even seemingly distant fields like nutrition, dentistry, and climate adaptation play a role in this type of investigation. While forensic anthropology is usually used to solve crimes, Richard Neave, a medical artist retired from The University of Manchester in England, realized it also could shed light on the appearance of Jesus. The co-author of Making Faces: Using Forensic and Archaeological Evidence, Neave had ventured in controversial areas before. Over the past two decades, he had reconstructed dozens of famous faces, including Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, and King Midas of Phrygia. If anyone could create an accurate portrait of Jesus, it would be Neave. Reconstructing Jesus Matthews’s description of the events in Gethsemane offers an obvious clue to the face of Jesus. It is clear that His features were typical of Galilean Semites of His era. And so the first step for Neave and his research team was to acquire skulls from near Jerusalem, the region where Jesus lived and preached. Semite skulls of this type had previously been found by Israeli archeology experts, who shared them with Neave. With three well-preserved specimens from the time of Jesus in hand, Neave used computerized tomography to create X-ray slices of the skulls, thus revealing minute details about each ones structure. Special computer programs then evaluated reams of information about known measurements of the thickness of soft tissue at key areas on human faces. This made it possible to re-create the muscles and skin overlying a representative Semite skull. The entire process was accomplished using software that verified the results with anthropological data. From this data, the researchers built a digital 3-D reconstruction of the face. Next, they created a cast of the skull. Layers of clay matching the thickness of facial tissues specified by the computer program were then applied, along with simulated skin. The nose, lips and eyelids were then modeled to follow the shape determined by the underlying muscles. A Matter of Style Two key factors could not be determined from the skull Jesus’s hair and coloration. To fill in these parts of the picture, Neaves team turned to drawings found at various archeological sites, dated to the first century. Drawn before the Bible was compiled, they held crucial clues that enabled the researchers to determine that Jesus had dark rather than light-colored eyes. They also pointed out that in keeping with Jewish tradition, He was bearded as well. It was the Bible, however, that resolved the question of the length of Jesus’ hair. While most religious artists have put long hair on Christ, most Biblical scholars believe that it was probably short with tight curls. This assumption, however, contradicted what many believe to be the most authentic depiction: the face seen in the image on the famous some say infamous Shroud of Turin. The shroud is believed by many to be the cloth in which Jesus’ body was wrapped after His death. Although there is a difference of opinion as to whether the shroud is genuine, it clearly depicts a figure with long hair. Those who criticize the shrouds legitimacy point to I Corinthians, one of the many New Testament books the Apostle Paul is credited with writing. In one chapter he mentions having seen Jesus then later describes long hair on a 7
man as disgraceful. Would Paul have written if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him [11:14] if Jesus Christ had had long hair? For Neave and his team, this settled the issue. Jesus, as drawings from the first century depict, would have had short hair, appropriate to men of the time. The historic record also resolved the issue of Jesus’ height. From an analysis of skeletal remains, archeologists had firmly established that the average build of a Semite male at the time of Jesus was 5 ft., 1 in., with an average weight of about 110 pounds. Since Jesus worked outdoors as a carpenter until He was about 30 years old, it is reasonable to assume He was more muscular and physically fit than westernized portraits suggest. His face was probably weather-beaten, which would have made Him appear older, as well. An Accurate Portrait For those accustomed to traditional Sunday school portraits of Jesus, the sculpture of the dark and swarthy Middle Eastern man that emerges from Neaves laboratory is a reminder of the roots of their faith. The fact that He probably looked a great deal more like a darker-skinned Semite than westerners are used to seeing him pictured, is a reminder of His universality, says Charles D. Hackett, director of Episcopal studies at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta And [it is] a reminder of our tendency to sinfully appropriate Him in the service of our cultural values. Neave emphasizes that his re-creation is simply that of an adult man who lived in the same place and at the same time as Jesus. As might well be expected, not everyone agrees. Forensic depictions are not an exact science, cautions Alison Galloway, professor of anthropology at the University of California in Santa Cruz. The details in a face follow the soft tissue above the muscle, and it is here where forensic artists differ widely in technique. Galloway points out that some artists pay more attention to the subtle differences in such details as the distance between the bottom of the nose and the mouth. And the most recognizable features of the face the folds of the eyes, structure of the nose and shape of the mouth are left to the artist. In some cases the resemblance between the reconstruction and the actual individual can be uncanny, says Galloway. But in others there may be more resemblance with the other work of the same artist. Despite this reservation, she reaches one conclusion that is inescapable to almost everyone who has ever seen Neaves Jesus. This is probably a lot closer to the truth than the work of many great masters. http://popularmechanics.com/science/ research/2002/12/real_face_jesus/index.phtml Seeing the Face of the Real Jesus Knowledge that the real Jesus of the Bible was not an effeminate, lily-white, sissy, helps us to understand the message He brought. The Spirit of Christ is not weak, but strong; not of fear, but of love and power, and sound mind, II Timothy 1:7.
8
Pastor Young’s Corner Writer: Pastor Lenora G. Young
“The Name Speaks For Itself” Scripture: Acts 3:6, 16 (NKJV) 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all Definition: “Name” A word or phrase by which a person, thing or class of things is known, called, or spoken to or of. The great poet William Shakespeare once posed this question: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose – By any other name would smell as sweet. Some of us, place so little significance on the meaning of a name. We name children after our relatives or well-known people. At times, a child’s name is chosen because it sounds good not taking into consideration the meaning of the name. Names do have meaning. The name given is suppose to correspond directly to the one designated by the name. Let’s look at some. The name Kenneth comes from the Greek word meaning “to know”. The person given the named Kenneth is supposed to be knowledgeable. The name Diana comes from the Greek word meaning “of a god”. A girl given this name is suppose to be “simply divine” in her beauty or other qualities. Other names given are derived from words of ancient Greek, Latin, or other languages. And most of those names have some special meaning. The same goes for the names of cities. For example, Philadelphia means “city of brotherly love” It comes from the Greek words phileo “to love” and Delphos “city” The name Jerusalem means “city of peace” being derived from the Hebrew word shalom “peace”. Biblical names have significant meanings, such as Abram – later named Abraham meaning – “The father of a multitude.” The original name of the youngest son of Terah was Abram, meaning “father of height.” Moses – meaning “drawn forth, taken out of the water.” Hannah – having a beautiful and attractive meaning of gracious – graciousness of favor.” Joseph – “may God add or increaser.” Jehoshaphat – “the Lord judges.” The name depicts your character, your personality – the name says who you are, it speaks for itself. Taking a look at the 3rd chapter of Acts, it tells us about the healing of the lame man. A man, who had been lame from his mother’s womb, was taken everyday and laid at the gate of the temple which was called Beautiful. Every day he would ask for alms. Looking for a handout – looking for a contribution. According to the scripture, He saw Peter and John approaching the temple – going to the temple to pray – as they were about to go in, the poor beggar saw Peter and John, asked them for alms and he hoped that they would be able to give him something. When Peter and John looked at him with certainty that they would give him something. To his surprise, Peter and John did not respond in the manner he expected. Peter and John both looked at him, Peter answered by 9
saying’ “Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give unto you. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”. I may not have what you are looking for but what I have is better than your desire for a handout. “The Name Speaks For Itself”. Because of that name, the beggar was taken by the right hand, and was lifted up – and immediately (because of that name) his feet and ankle bones received strength. Because of that name, he leaping up – stood up, and walked into the temple with them. Walking, and leaping and praising God. All the people in the temple saw him walking and giving God praise. They recognized him. They knew it was the one that sat at the temple gate begging. As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together toward them in amazement. When Peter saw this, he began to respond. Why are you so amazed – why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look at us as though this was done by our own power? This was done in His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, who you see and know. Because the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Because of the faith in His name – it brings about healing of the mind, body, and soul. Because of the faith in His name – “His Name Speaks For Itself” What’s in a name? The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. His name stands out above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. “The Name Speaks For Itself” The author and the finisher of our faith. He is the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End. He is Yahweh/Jehovah The Lord – Jehovah-Elohim The Lord Is God – Jehovah-Elohim The Lord Is God – Johovah-Elyon The Lord God Most High – El-Shaddai The Almighty God – Jehovah-Jireh The Lord Will Provide – Jehovah-Repheka The Lord Is Healer – Jehovah-Tisdqenu The Lord Is Our Righteousness – Jehovah-Tseboath The Lord Of Host – Jehovah-Nissi The Lord Is Conqueror – Jehovah-Shalom The Lord Is Peace – Jehovah-Shamah The Lord Is There – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat – It makes my joys full and complete, The Precious name of Jesus –Jesus, O how sweet the name! – Jesus ev-‘ry day the same; - Jesus, let all saints proclaim – Its worthy praise forever. “The Name Speaks For Itself”
10
The True Haves and Haves Not’s Writer: Dr. Donna Rouse Within our society there is a broad difference between the Haves and Haves Not’s. The Haves are considered to be the one percent in our country earning more than $350, 000 annually. The have not’s are considered to be the diminishing middle class and of course the poor. Though I do agree with these economical labels, I do believe we can see this in a more ethical and moral way. With the National unemployment rate being 9.7% there really is no cause for anyone to complain who has all of their necessities. These are who have their homes, jobs, benefits, food to eat, clothes on their back, friends, and family. The true haves are those who have what they need. The true have not’s are those who do not have the necessities which are vital to survival. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday I noticed many people who have what others unfortunately lack complain, and show traits of greed and selfishness. So I have developed three ways to be a True Have. 1) Stop having a sense of entitlement. In this world and especially in this Society, no one owes anyone anything. It confuses me when I witness individuals believe things are owed to them and shall be given to them. What happened to the term hard work pays? Nothing of great value is given in this Life it’s earned. You want a degree you earn it, you want an expensive car you work so you can buy it, and you want respect you earn it. If things were just handed out in this world people would not appreciate it because there was no effort or sacrifice behind it, which brings me to number two. 2) Be appreciative. Appreciation is such a great trait to have. It brings on a sense of gratitude and leads to humbleness. It really confuses me to see those who have a roof over their head, food on the table and a job with benefits complain about the smallest things. One should not complain about going to work if they have a job in this weak job market. One should not complain about their clothes not being designer, you have clothes on your back. One should not complain about not being able to afford to live in a popular neighborhood. It does not matter, you have a roof over your head and it’s not leaking. Be appreciative and grateful you could have been naked, cold, starving, and homeless. 3) Be a blessing to others. There are many hurting citizens in this country. If you have more than enough food in your home, donate to a food bank. If you have clothes that you no longer can fit 11
anymore give to those who need clothes. Give of your time to help those in need. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or programs for under privilege children. The key to being a blessing to others is to give of yourself selflessly and wholeheartedly.
12
Submitted by Carmen Maria Incorminias
The Resume of Jesus Christ Address: Ephesians 1:20 Phone: Romans 10:13 Website: The Bible . Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus _____________________________ Objective My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume. _________________________________________ Qualifications I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19) I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7) I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7) I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13) The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14) _____________________________________________________________________ Occupational Background I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ). I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful. My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17) _____________________________________________________________________ Skills Work Experiences Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18). I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33). Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9) _____________________________________________________________________ Educational Background
13
I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6). In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3). My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105). I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21). _____________________________________________________________________ Major Accomplishments I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26). I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15). I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15). I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead! There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website. ____________________________________________________________________ References Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance. ____________________________________________________________________ In Summation Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).
14
15
The Feel good flavor Writer: Simone Malone I am truly blessed and thankful to be here with you to share this moment of inspiration and motivation in January 2012. It’s time now to say "Yes" to happiness, "Yes" to pleasure, and "Yes" to acceptance of who you are. When you change your thoughts to positive ones, you really can change everything. Being positive and joyous, and reminding yourself in every way you can to stay on that wavelength, in the vibration of the YES throughout the day, is the fastest and most effective way to bring Happiness and Fortune into your life. Let me remind you that you were born to be something special in this life. Sometimes it seems as if the world is against you, but that's not true. The universe is a good place and you were born to become the best person you can possibly be. You were born to live in abundance, love, and enjoy some wealth. To live the way you were always meant to live, you must become the best version of who you can possibly be. You must learn to attract all of the positive energy of wealth in your direction. Whenever you are faced with a challenge in life, you have two choices: you can react negatively or positively. It isn't the challenge itself that matters, but how you respond to it. The quality of your life is based on the quality of the questions you ask yourself and not what happens to you. It's how you perceive events, how you respond to situations, and how you adapt to change that truly matters. When faced with adversity, always look for the silver lining, always try to find the lesson and learn from it. There is no such thing as failure; there are just lessons to learn. Saying YES enables you to create a direct gateway to the enormous positive energy that exists in the universe. If you have a negative thought, put it out of your head and replace it with a positive one. Most people think in terms of what they don't want. Well, start thinking about what you do want in life and say yes and be obedient to God. Remember to be diligent in your pursuits in 2012 and know that success awaits you. Until the next time, I am sprinkling some of the feelgood flavor on you.
16
17
18
Writer: Irene Council aka Sincere Vessel the Comedienne 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a New creation; the old has gone and the new has come. It's always a blessing to get new things. A new doll or a new pair of shoes or even a new shiny car. But what about receiving a new life. That would seem to be something everyone would love to receive, another chance to change some bad decisions or redo some things that was previously done wrong. Truth is that many don't even think that a new life is possible because we get so use to just making it or just dealing with what is being dealt to us. But there is a chance and an opportunity that the way things are going for you right now, don't have to be your reality. If you don't like the way things are, then change you first so that you can change those things. I love 2 Corin. 5:17, because it tells us that if we accept Christ, all things in our lives become NEW. So there, that's your answer, accept Jesus Christ and receive your reward of a new life, with new adventures and new ideas, and that's REALITY! There is no promise that there won't be bumps in the road or even potholes that will cause your forward movement to slow down. But the new you understand that every movement forward, is still movement and don't you allow anyone or anything to stop you. Happy New Year!
Sincerely Yours Sincere Vessel, the Comedienne
19
20
A Healthy Body Is A Healthy Mind Is A Healthy Spirit VI Writer: Phill Hughes Happy New Year! Greetings and welcome to 2012. Aren’t you feeling excited? I am. I’m excited because we get a chance to run through a new year seeking to grasp new goals and cross new finish lines. That’s right. We’re going to cook healthier and exercise in a way to fortify our bodies by transforming our health issues to health conquests. That’s right; we’re going to conquer our ailments, because you have to know that, you can’t help anyone, if you can’t help yourself. So, here we go. I discovered a new food that’s been around a long time. The discovery is the nutritional value. As much as I enjoy them, I never gave much thought to its worth. Its mushrooms. Do you cook with them? If not you should and if you do, you should do it more often. Here are some nutritional facts about mushrooms. This food is low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin C, Folate, Iron, Zinc and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin D, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Selenium. This information was provided by the USDA. You will also find similar information from “Eating Well”, “Harvard School of Public Health” as well as “The Food Network”. Mushrooms are the new “power food”. Now that we know how valuable this food is, here is a couple of ideas you may want to try. How about Portobello Mushroom Burgers. Courtesy “All Recipes” Portobello Mushroom Burgers 4 portobello mushroom caps · 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar · 2 tablespoons olive oil · 1 teaspoon dried basil · 1 teaspoon dried oregano · 1 tablespoon minced garlic · salt and pepper to taste 4 (1 ounce) slices provolone cheese 1. Place the mushroom caps, smooth side up, in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, basil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over the mushrooms. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or so, turning twice. 2. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
21
3. Brush grate with oil. Place mushrooms on the grill, reserving marinade for basting. Grill for 5 to 8 minutes on each side, or until tender. Brush with marinade frequently. Top with cheese during the last 2 minutes of grilling. You can top your burger with a Greek sauce or dressing of your choosing. For a couple of side dishes, why not cut up a couple of yams into wedges for grilling. How about a nice grilled corn on the cob. And/or, grilled broccoli crowns. In the past, I’ve only used mushrooms in spaghetti sauce, chili and salads. Today, I use mushrooms in almost everything. Here’s another idea: “STUFFED MUSHROOMS” Courtesy of “Healthy Eating Made Easy” Preheat oven to 400F/200C/gas 4. Wipe mushrooms clean. Remove stalks and chop. Lightly oil an ovenproof dish. Soften one finely chopped onion and two crushed cloves garlic in a little olive oil. Add the chopped mushroom stalks and a scattering of fresh or dried thyme leaves and cook until tender. Drain and rinse 400g (two cups) canned aduki beans and add to the onion mixture, along with 50 (one cup) fresh whole meal breadcrumbs and the juice of a lemon. Heat through, then mash roughly with a fork so that some of the beans are left whole. Brush sides of the mushrooms lightly with oil and fill each with a spoonful of stuffing. Put the mushrooms in the dish, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and scatter 185g (3/4 cup) crumbled feta or goat’s cheese over, and then bake for a further 15 minutes until cheese is melted and mushrooms are tender. Serve with rice or cous-cous and a green Enjoy discovering and creating new ways to cook with mushrooms and I’ll see you next month. If you have a comment or question, feel free to email me at Phillville1@aol.com with your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. See you next month. Leviticus 3:17- It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”
22
Homeward Bound Submitted by Mary Daniels I once clipped a funny story from "Reader's Digest" submitted by Joanne Mitchell. She wrote, "My brother adopted a snake named Slinky, whose most disagreeable trait was eating live mice. Once I was pressed into going to the pet store to buy Slinky's dinner. The worst part of this wasn't choosing the juiciest-looking creatures or turning down the clerk who wanted to sell me vitamins to ensure their longevity. The hardest part was carrying the poor things out in a box bearing the words 'Thank you for giving me a home.'" That's a little hard to take. Dinner with Slinky cannot be a mouse's idea of going home. Another woman tells of a time when she was at home with her children and the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a rug, reached out for something to hold on to and grabbed the telephone table. It crashed to the floor and jarred the receiver from the cradle. The table fell on top of the family dog, which leaped up barking and howling. The mother's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke into loud screams. The woman mumbled some colorful words and finally managed to pick up the receiver and lift it to her ear. Before she could answer, she heard her husband's voice over the phone say, "Nobody's said hello yet, but I'm positive I have the right number." Now that sounds all-too-typical - from peace to pandemonium in about two seconds. Any of us who have raised children or even any of us who WERE children probably get it. Families today come in all different shapes and sizes. And when peace turns into pandemonium, one may long to get away from it all, at least for a while. But the fact is, we each are born into families and we seem to have an irresistible urge to start new ones. At a deep level I believe we know that the family is just about the most important and probably the most enduring institution ever created. Regardless of what a family looks like, whether or not children are present, home is a place where our souls can finally connect with the soul of another; a place where we can, and should, feel safe, cared for and even special. In 1688 Johannes Hofer, a Swiss medical student, coined a word to describe an illness whose symptoms include insomnia, anorexia, palpitations, stupor, and, above all, a persistent thinking of home. The word he coined was "nostalgia." There is a yearning within the human heart to return to that place where we were secure, loved and made to feel important. Songwriter Paul Simon picks up the feeling when he sings that "every stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be homeward bound."
23
If we can't be homeward bound, can we make "home" out of where we are? Home may be as much a state of being as a place. We talk about feeling at home when we feel at peace or when we feel comforted. "I am at home in this place," we might say. It's a state of well-being and solace. If home is as much about attitude as it is about latitude, then we never need feel too far from home. That's good to know, especially during those times when we find our thoughts homeward bound. Can you make the place you are a space of peace? Can you find comfort in your surroundings and warmth in the company of friends? If so, even if you're not at the place you live, you will be at home. ~ Steve Goodier ~
That Music Writer: Monica F. Hudson Wake up sinners and listen with your ears the Word that flows throughout the earth, the power, the glory of the faithful one that still lives. Can you hear the music of the Word that placed us deep within His heart, that showed us the way, that gave all of himself that we may live within the life of this man that shed his blood, see the whitening robes of the saints, hear the Hallelujah's the inspiring message of the heavenly host that gave a celebration at the birth of a babe that lay in a manger, listen to the Word, this compassionate voice inviting the lost, the wounded and those seeking to listen for His Voice. Open your mouth children for the Most High, seek the Word that came but some didn't hear the music, the bitter heart of the blind, the deaf and those full of darkness, see the music has given a glad heart the ability to express such joy! What is this joy that we believers shall shout because we hear the joy, the music within the heart of the inner man that the spirit is set on fire by the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit. Open not just your mouth but your life that all may see the character of Him that gave you his testimony, his promise, show the world that this joy is within, this music that takes hold of the soul anchoring it deep by faith
24
New Year brings a new beginning for establishing Christian Priorities Writer: Elder Demetrius Adams, II New beginnings to me, means starting over, a fresh start, a new slate, a starting point or a goal to reach and/ or a place to get from in order to end or complete something. In life, we have a beginning and an end. We must go through something's in between to become great or to feel accomplished and victorious. In order to move through the storms of life and reach destiny we must BEGIN! From childhood I learned to make New Year's resolutions. I usually start thinking about them as soon as the Christmas tree goes up. Some resolutions appear year after year — losing weight, exercising, eating right, a schedule for Bible reading, a plan for reading new books, cleaning my desk and files, etc. Those maintenance resolutions are still the hardest to keep faithfully. Life gets busy and it seems impossible to go to the fitness center. It gets a little busier and the Bible reading schedule slides out of view. As I write this my desk looks like it has been hit by a tornado. So why make resolutions if they are just going to be empty plans to organize and order the activities of life? Most adults say that they don't make resolutions anymore because they can't keep them. So it may be that instead of resolutions, mature Christians should be establishing priorities to enhance the qualities of their lives. We should be praying for God to guide us in seeing what he wants us to do with the new year we are about to celebrate. How does God want us to use the stretch of time ahead? Who are the people we should be embracing and drawing closer to God? What are those voids in our spiritual world that we should seek to fill through prayer and faith? One year I realized I was almost totally ignorant of Jeremiah. I had read it several times in those one-year sprints to read the Bible, but I really knew only the most superficial part of the book. On my list of resolutions was “Master the message of Jeremiah.” I admit I dallied with that lengthy and troubling book for several months until I realized that I could not casually approach Jeremiah; my study had to be intense and engaging. I began praying for God to help me see why I had such an urge to know this book. I began a serious study of place’s, names, nations and images found in the book. I began to see the work of God with Jeremiah and God’s people and from that I developed a fuller appreciation of God and His working in the lives of an individual and a community. “Mastering the message of Jeremiah” was not accomplished that year, but I made progress. I studied enough to see the main outlines and get into the work and mind of God as it comes from that book. I found my heart and my life renewed by what I found in this study. I even recognized how much Jesus and the writers of the New Testament knew of Jeremiah and his connection with God. Deciding on priorities and objectives for a year has another important function. It can cause us to take 25
stock of the gifts and talents God has given us. Most people spend an inordinate amount of their lives regretting gifts they don’t have. But God asks each person to use what he has. If you are great in dealing with people who are sick, you should be thinking of how to best use that talent for God. Find your talent and turn it into a ministry for your church family. Help build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Tutor in a school where children need individual help with English. One thing I have learned about resolutions is that they should not be too ambitious, but they should be idealistic. They should not concentrate on physical life; they should focus on your spirit and its health. Godly matters are more important than fleshly. And sometimes priorities should focus on the messes in our lives. Wounded relationships, neglected business and family ties may require attention and resolution before you can enjoy the peace and abundance in living God’s promises. I eagerly anticipate the New Year and the fresh start it brings. This year I am not making many resolutions about my care and maintenance. Instead, I am trying to think about ways I can serve the people in my life and the people of my community. Honoring God is far more important than my diet, my weight, my fitness. Openly confessing God is more important than my Bible reading schedule. I wish you the happiest of New Years. I urge you to join me in taking stock to see how we can best honor God in the months ahead. If we all set priorities to encourage one another, we will be a blessed people whose joy will testify to the world that God is our hope. Let’s join together in celebrating a new beginning of our personal spiritual lives in God.
26
27