Christian Life Hampton Roads by Bernard Harrison

Volume 1 / Issue 1 Feb/ 2019

T A ST E O F T H E SO U T H

CHRISTIAN LEADERS: PASTOR'S TIM & RODICA LAMBERT Christian Living

How To Choose A Back Splash For Your Kit hen

$3.50

3 MAGAZINE NAME

VOL 1 NO 1

Christian Life Magazine HR is Published by Living By Faith Media

CONTENTS

Febr u ar y - M ar ch 2019

FEATURES

29 21

Publisher Pen

COVER STORY; Taste of the South

A Christian Man's Travel Plans

A Modern Day Trip to DC

Finding The Perfect Partner

The Way He Looks At Me

Fondue Fiasco

Just For Laughs

Serving God In The Marketplace

CL Magazine Meet The Lambert's

EZ Education... Asset Management

Southern food brings comfort like nothing else on earth. There is no better way to welcome a new neighbor or serve a meal at a ministry event. There are no more reliable cure for whatever ails you than classic comfort food. The cover story unveils some of the go-to comfort foods we all love.. February we celebrate Black History and Valentines Day, two worthy days off celebration. We also celebrate the launch of Christian Life Hampton Roads. We thank all our advertisers, supporter. Many have supported us through advertising dollars other have prayed. Both are very important to us.

Be Blessed in your daily adventures!

Bernard S. Harrison, Jr.

" That I may publish with a voice of Thankgiving and tell of thy wonderous works." Psalm 26:7

Fried Chicken and Waffles are definitely a match made in Heaven

A re-mix of a creole favorite chicken, shrimp & sausage gumbo.

Collard Greens have long been a staple of Southern comfort food 7 lifehr.com 2019

TASTE OF THE SOUTH Southern Food is good for the soul, but it also can be great for your physical well-being. With healthy preparation and conscious moderation , Southern cuisine can truly be your go-to comfort food.

By Sabr ina Hawk tomato-based broth, lima beans, corn, okra, It doesn't matter what state you're from, if you're an other random veggies, American, comfort food almost always equals Southern and chicken (though Food. Fried, stewed, slow-roasted, or smoked, these are some old-timers still the dishes that hit you at your core, swear by opossum, squirrel, or rabbit instead). No matter how Soul Food wraps you up called Soul food. you cut it, though, it's like a bear hug from smoky, robust, and if you But how could you ever mom, that taste, as clichĂŠ grew up in Southeastern choose between as it sounds, like home. Virginia, as rejuvenating impossibly tender When I was a kid as a Saturday tent pulled-pork and growing up in Virginia, I revival. finger-lickin' fried couldn't get enough of it chicken? Pecan pie and (Southern cooking, I HAM & RED-EYE peach cobbler? You mean, not hugs from GRAVY don't, because we mom -- I was good on already did. There are those). 27 classics, judged by Thick-cut ham slabs I haven't called Norfolk popularity, regional dressed in a thin glaze of home since the late '90s, importance, taste, coffee-spiked, savory but those cravings -texture, and emotional red-eye gravy pale in along with a strange response, represent the comparison to barbecue affinity for Nascar racing best of the best in or fried chicken. But -- never left my side, Southern cooking. here based on its long history, overtaking my body like is a small sampling of my inoffensive nature, and Mississippi kudzu vines. I relatively easy prep, this favorites. spent two summers dinnertime go-to, driving around the uninspired as it may be, BRUNSW ICK STEW South, eating my way deserves its due credit through state after state for sure. Northerners are under the guise of probably scratching shooting my masters their heads at the very COLLARD GREENS thesis film. I'll tell you, notion of Brunswick one trip to Popeyes and stew, but that's what you're in it for life -makes it great. In reality, there's a reason it's it's a fairly basic dish: Collard Greens, a dinner

table without collard greens,(simmered slow and low with plenty of onions, ham, and garlic), is like a forest without trees -- drab, depressing, and an offense to any red blooded, nature-loving American. There's no better iron-fortified leafy green out there, plain as day. Eat your heart out, kale. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

Fried Green Tomatoes Brown and crispy on the outside, fried green tomatoes are hot and gooey on the inside with just the slightest hint of vegetal crunch. When served with lots of hot sauce and paprika mayo or sandwiched between lettuce, country bacon, and white bread, they feel just like basking in the late-summer sun. Also, they may or may not be the cornerstone of the South's all-time greatest film...

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Southeastern Virginia home favorite is Brunswick stew and is said to really stick to your bones.

Fried Green Tomatoes are a perfect summer appettser paired with Buttermilk

BBQ PULLED-PORK It doesn't matter if it comes drenched in Carolina vinegar, spicy Tennessee dry rub, mayo-heavy Alabama dressing, or simple Texas smoke, this tender meat-of-the-Southern-gods has the power to set off just about any sauce it touches. Pile it high on a chewy bun, add some creamy coleslaw, and buckle up for the best lunch of your damn life. Also, BBQ pulled pork nachos are hands down the best thing to come out of Memphis since Kathy Bates (and that Elvis guy, I guess). FRIED CHICKEN Fried chicken is, without a doubt, the South's greatest export. You can dust it with cayenne and tuck it into a soft bun, plop it onto Belgian waffles and drown it in syrup, smother it in pepper-flecked country gravy, or yank it straight from a greasy paper bucket. It has all the qualities of the perfect food: crunch, juiciness, saltiness, spice, contrast in texture and taste, not to mention it smells better than a Mississippi magnolia tree in bloom. Any person claiming to hate the taste of fried chicken is lying like a no-legged dog -- period, end of story. Southern comfort doesn?t always mean compromising health; in fact, many of the negative stereotypes of the cuisine are inaccurate. Sure, much of it is fried, but not all of it is. Plus, the animal fat used in frying it isn?t totally unhealthy. Some animal fats, consumed in moderation and prepared the right way, can actually be ideal for certain cooking methods and part of a well-rounded diet.

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A CHRISTIAN MAN'S TRAVEL PLANS Lo Traveling away from home seems to provide a unique time of temptation for me. Maybe it?s because I?m out of my routine or away from my family, but I find myself more susceptible to laziness, lust, and other kinds of deadly sins. To help fight it, I keep three basic things on my mind when I travel: family, purity, and ministry.

Family

Lore

Whenever I?m gone, I want to make sure my family knows that I love them and that I?m thinking about them. I do this with phone calls, but I also do a couple other things.

1. For my wife I write her a card for each day I?ll be gone. The card usually has a short prayer or a couple sentences telling her something I love about her, and then a verse of Scripture. It takes about 20 minutes to do these cards (depending on how long the trip is) and I?m pretty sure it blesses her more than I realize. 2. For the kids, I try to rally them together before I leave and show them on a map where

I?m

going. I ask them to pray for me while I?m gone and tell them what I plan to do while I?m there. I don?t always leave them something to open when I?m away, but I al bring theml something back to let them know they were on my mind while I was there.

Pu r it y I know that while I travel I will face temptations in ways that I don?t always when I?m at home. I may be a pastor, but I?m still just a dude, so I?ve got to be on guard. To do this, I make sure of the following: I?m prayed up. I do my best to intentionally ask God to protect me during my trip from wandering heart, wandering eyes, and wandering feet. While I travel, I strive with extra effort to have solid devotional times. It is easy to neglect this discipline when I?m on the road because of the change in my routine, but there?s always excuses to not draw near to Christ? so I fight it fervently.Keeping my eyes on Him is my only hope to honor God, so I do my best to draw daily upon His grace during my trips. 1. I?m partnered up. I don?t like traveling alone, but when I have to, I enlist several brothers to help me. These men know my weaknesses and have committed to pray for me while I?m gone? and sometimes they?ll even check in on me during my trip. I?ve been 100% transparent with these brothers about my struggles and they know the tough questions to ask me when I?m gone. I?m too weak to fight this fight alone, so I?m thankful for these brothers who keep me accountable. 2. I?m planning to kill the TV. As soon as I step into the hotel room I unplug the TV and promise God I won?t plug it back in. Me + hotel room + TV = trouble, so I don?t flip through the channels? and I don?t give myself the chance. I also don?t get the Internet in my hotel room. I figure people lived without the .com for a really long time and I can go to the lobby if I really need it. God tells me to make no provision for my flesh and I have to obey Him (Rom 13:114) M in ist r y While most of my trips are ministry related, there are some basic things I try to do, just because I?m a Christian.

1. I pray for God to set up divine appointments. Regardless of why I travel or where I travel, I am an ambassador for the King of Glory (2 Cor 5:20) In light of this, I ask Him to set up encounters with people He wants me to talk to about Him. Whether it be on the plane, in a taxi, in a restaurant, at the hotel, or wherever I am, I ask Him to make me attentive to the people He has placed around me. I pray for Him to open doors for me to share the Gospel and to point people to Jesus. We must always be available to be used by Him. Ask Him to set up divine appointments. 2. I bring a tract and an extra bible. One of the things I?ve found to be profitable is to have a copy of a non-goofy tract like, ?Two ways to live? that helps people understand the Gospel message. I don?t always use it when I?m sharing the Gospel, but I do think it?s good to leave something with them to read after our conversation is over. I also bring a pocket sized Bible that I can part with, so I don?t have to decide if I am willing to part with my personal Bible in the case that someone needs a copy of God?s Word. These are a few basic things that I try to make sure I do each time I travel. Please let me know of other ideas you have about traveling as a Christian man. May God be honored in our lives, wherever we may go.

A M O D ERN D AY T RI P T O

WASHI NGTON DC

the nation?s capital, DC is an infinitely popular spot for tourists from all over the world. And when one of those noobs lands on your doorstep, you?re inevitably faced with the daunting task of finding something to do that they?ll love and you won?t hate. Literally anything has to be better than getting dragged along on yet another Segway tour around the monuments. But before you start dreaming up ways to play hooky on your house guests (?I?m allergic to cherry blossoms?probably won?t fly), check this out. We?ve rounded up all the fun stuff around town that you won?t actually mind doing, including plenty of free activities as well as splurge-worthy spots. We skipped the Features one-off events and the infamous stand-in-line destinations, since that?s really no way to spend a trip. Otherwise, it?s all here, from brewery tours and must-hit restaurants, to legitimately cool museums and gorgeous parks. And don?t worry: We won?t make you ride a

a double-decker bus.

THE BEST THINGS TO TO IN DC The Best Iconic Thing - The Kennedy Center Seeing a show at the Kennedy Center (the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts if you want to be formal) is by no means an original idea, but that doesn?t mean you shouldn?t do it. It?s one of the premier performing arts centers in the country and every season boasts critically-acclaimed shows. Plus, if you want to keep it wallet-friendly, there are free concerts on the Millennium Stage

Free The Mall As one of the city?s newest museums with a constant flow of visitors, you might not have had a chance to set foot inside this impressive Smithsonian creation. Now?s your chance. Be sure to plan ahead though, because it?s still popular as ever. You can get timed passes for a specific date months in advance, or get online at 6:30am to get same-day passes. Alternatively, you can try your luck in line during the week; a limited number of passes are distributed starting at 1pm, and the line forms well before then.

located between the Capitol steps and the Lincoln Memorial

If you like seafood the wharf is incredible.A great selections or bars and restaurants. 15 lifehr.com 2019

Free-$$$$ The Wharf Last year, we named the Wharf the best waterftont attraction, and we meant it. This development has got it all -swanky restaurants, fancy boutiques, sweet rooftop views of the Potomac, seasonal festivals, a water taxi, two awesome concert venues, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. It's one of our best neighborhoods to walk around and do... practically anything. The Best Free Thing - The Renwick Gallery DC is obviously known for the Smithsonian Institution, but some spots are edgier than others. If you only have time for one museum on your list, make it the Renwick Gallery, an American art museum you may have heard of thanks to your trendy friends on Instagram. The current exhibit is ?No Spectators: The Art of the Burning Man,?exploring the large-scale works from the annual desert phenomenon.

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The Best Under-t he-Radar Thing - The DC Cider Scene DC?s craft beer community has been on the rise for years; the wineries outside of the city are drawing national attention; and craft distilling is taking off. While all those scenes are worth checking out, you can still get in on the ground floor of the newest local booze on the rise: cider. There are now three cideries pressing apples in the city. Stop in to Anxo for cider paired with Spanish pintxos,

The Best Spirit ual Dest inat ion Engage with the Bible at the Museum of the Bible. Washington?s DC newest museum. Discover amazing artifacts from the Museum Collections, including biblical artifacts, manuscripts, printed Bibles and books, and art from a range of cultures and time periods. Price 24.99

Spend a day i n th e Nati onal M useum of A f ri can A meri can Hi story and Cul ture With displays featuring icons like Jackie Robinson, Jimi Hendrix and even a helmet from former Hokie and BTW alumni Bruce Smith, there is something for everyone to learn. "It's amazing to see all this history of African Americans over the years and the course of the establishment of America," said senior student Yosuah Nijman. "I think it's very broad, and there's like different varieties of different things, and how these people came together throughout the years of being oppressed

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LOVE OF LIFE >>>RELATIONSHIP >>>MARRIAGE >> FAMILY

FINDING THE PERFECT PARTNER "Of all the misconceptions about love, the most powerful and pervasive is the belief that "falling in love" is love. But it does lead us to make commitments from which real love is may begin, and gives us a foretaste of the more lasting mystical ecstasy that can be ours after a lifetime of love." There are dozens of reasons why people want a life partner, whether it is to ward off loneliness, because it is socially acceptable and painted as a desirable image in our society, or because we are looking for a way to have our needs for love and belonging met. Everyone who has ever fallen in love knows that after a while, the buzz we get at the beginning of the relationship wears off. Some people panic and see it as a sign that the relationship is in trouble, others move to the next relationship seeking to find that feeling again, and others continue despite it's absence, and if they are lucky, come out with a deeper, permanent and more fulfilling relationship. The initial stage of buzz can be termed "infatuation." Some scholars claim it is a chemical reaction essential to guarantee the continuation of the species, and some of them even claim that people become addicted to this chemical high, and will break up existing relationships to find it again.

LOVE is truth, happiness, joy and pain

An intimate union and equal partnership of a woman and a man, comes to us from the hand of God

Others claim we view relationships the wrong way, and when we worry that the relationship is in trouble, we either bail looking for a more satisfying situation, or our anxiety drives us into deeper trouble as we strive to fix a problem that isn't there. If the partner 's needs are not being met in a relationship, this is the time when the break up is most likely to occur. Life becomes more routine, mundane, and the original thrill of being together is watered down by bills that still need to be paid, and trying to solve who does what housework without a total meltdown taking place. Somehow, whether it is through the media's influence, or the beliefs that are deeply entrenched in our culture, we believe that finding the perfect partner will make us happy. We will no longer be lonely, discontent, afraid, anxious, and our troubles will melt away like lemon drops, like Dorothy singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in the Wizard Of Oz. We all want our deepest emotional needs met, and we all want a better, more fulfilling, less anxiety provoking life. Is it realistic to believe that finding someone to live with and love with will provide all this like a magic cure? We know we aren't perfect ourselves and can be selfish and miserable at times. On some level we may even be afraid that we will hurt a partner, and can't possibly be all we expect ourselves to be in a relationship yet, we expect the partner to be magically perfect and want our expectations totally fulfilled by them. Part of the answer is knowing what you want in a partner, and not settling for less even if the wait is a long one. Another part is learning how to make yourself happy, so you are not seeking dependence on someone else to have a reason to exist. Find out what you love to do, what fulfils you and get out there and do it. No single person, or even a group, can fulfil you. Contentment is found within yourself, and that is the only place you can reliably find it once the buzz of love wears off, and your eyes are opened to find you have no knight on a white horse, just two very ordinary, imperfect human beings. The other answer is to hang in there with the partner you've got. If you are not in an abusive relationship and there are no major conflicts which make being together a nightmare, then be prepared to work on the relationship to see a mature, lasting love come out of it. Relationships take work. The love that is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. It doesn't demand it's own way, and neither is it irritable or touchy. It doesn't hold grudges. It doesn't keep a list of everything that has been done or said wrong. It believes the best in the other, it is loyal, and it is tough enough that it never gives up because it knows the value of the other person.

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THE WAY HE LOOKS AT ME "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise."--- Psalm 40:1-3

them that mentions that desire often.

Have you ever prayed for something (or someone) for years and felt like you'd prayed the same thing so long that God probably was as tired of hearing it as you were of praying it? That was me. If you've followed many of my articles posts or read my book, you probably caught on to the fact that it's been a desire of my heart for a LONG time to have a godly man by my side to one day marry and raise a family with. Most of my devotionals have something shared 21 lifehr.com 2019

Today, I'm writing a devotional that still includes that same desire, but this time, I have been given a new song to sing... a hymn of praise to my God. I was the girl whose whole dream since the time she was 12 was to be a wife and mom. I was the girl who didn't just look for a boyfriend... I was keeping an eye out for my lifetime friend, the man I'd marry, and the man who would be the father of my children. At first, this seemed like such a simple request, but after years of watching, praying, and hoping, I began to turn into the girl who was cynical and thought maybe my dream was just a

little too far out of reach or perhaps just unrealistic altogether. Was my prayer for a godly man too big of a dream? I started believing that it was. After one crushed hope after another, it felt like it'd be best to give up altogether on the hope of having someone to share my life with. Yet, God didn't give up on me I seek and honor Christ with his whole heart, and I can honestly tell you that God not only answered my prayer for a godly man. He gave me more than I could've ever dreamed possible when He gave me Nathan. It can all be seen in the way he looks at me. In a world where promiscuity is idolized and purity is degraded, God saved a man for me who tells me weekly (if not daily), "I have eyes for only you, baby!" In a culture where waiting for marriage is considered overrated, God gave me a man who not only values my purity but has conviction about purity himself and refuses to look at me with lust but chooses daily to honor me with love

The girl who at one point felt like it was a lost cause to keep hoping for a godly man now has a godly man by her side, and it's on my heart to not keep quiet in this season where my world feels like it's all falling into place. That'd be horrible for me to write all these years about me longing for a spouse who loves God and then not shout on the rooftops the miracle God has done in my life and the huge answer to prayer He has given me! Girls, I'm begging you! Don't settle for less than God's best for you. Don't settle for a man who looks at you with lust rather than with love. Don't buy into the lie that your desire for a godly man is too big of a request for God to honor. Wait patiently for the Lord and trust that He will turn to you and hear your cry. Right now, I'm sharing with you the promise land of my story, but trust me when I tell you that it wasn't a breeze to get here. I've been through the lonely nights. I've been through the heartache of finding out someone was a wolf when you momentarily believed they were your prince charming. I've been through thinking that a godly man wouldn't want me because I'm not perfect. However, at the end of the day, it's not about what we do or do not deserve. It's about the God we serve. He is bigger than us, and if we will wait on Him, He honestly will prove to be faithful every time! I have a passion to share with girls that they have a God who loves them passionately and perfectly and a God Who has a good plan for their lives. Wait for the man that you can look at and sincerely tell him, " For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself." When you have a man who loves you as Christ loves the church, it makes our command in verses 22-24 a privilege instead of a burden: "For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything."

What God designed is beautiful! His dream is beautiful!

FONDUE FI A SCO By: Pam Car lson

If I could only find the box it was packed in, I had an idea of how to celebrate Valentine's Day with my pre-teen daughter. Basement diving--as we called our search through the piles of boxes--was quite an experience after moving from a 4-bedroom house to a condo half the size. Of course, it would be on the bottom! But, alas, I found the object of my search--a relic from the late 1970's: my avocado green fondue pot, along with some cans of Sterno for heating. It probably hadn't been used for 25 years. It was slightly bent up and stained but still useable. Since it was just the two of us now, I wanted to make Valentine's Day special - a memorable event. I was anxious to begin fresh traditions in our new home. It would be fun to introduce my young daughter to the art of a slow paced and tasty meal. The next stop was a trip to the public library to check out fondue cookbooks. I read each recipe carefully and decided on a Classic Swiss Cheese Fondue. I had never made this, but it seemed simple enough. At the grocery store, we quickly filled our cart with food items to dip and swirl in the warm, creamy sauce. With the bags deposited in the car, I headed to the building next door to the grocery store.

" Where are you going?" My daughter asked, frowning. "The liquor store." I answered. "The recipe calls for a dry white wine." "Wait!" she called, catching up to me. "MY mother...in a liquor store? Do you even know what you're looking for?" " Honey, I've been in a liquor store before. And the labels on the wine should state if it's a dry or a sweet wine, shouldn't they? If not, I'll ask. How hard can it be?" She looked skeptical. After gasping at the prices and asking many questions of a dumbfounded young cashier, we emerged

with one bottle of dry (hopefully) white wine. My daughter set the table while I worked on the cheese fondue. The table looked so festive with the red place mats and pretty napkins. We popped the cork on the sparkling cider and set about enjoying this "Girls Night In" party for two. With fondue pot poised on the table to receive the creamy mixture, I shredded cheese and carefully stirred and watched the pot on the stove. At last, the recipe said to remove from the heat and slowly add the wine, whisk until blended. Considering the price of the ingredients, I decided we'd try it anyway. I poured it from the cooking pot into the awaiting fondue pot on the table. It landed with a disheartening plop. Each skewer of crusty french bread that was dipped into the pot got sucked off the fork and adhered securely to the rubbery mass. Finally, in desperation, I entered the avocado green pot with a meat fork and sharp knife and whittled off wedges. It was very chewy, and tasted exactly like it smelled. It's texture was similar to a previously chewed clump of bubblegum . Finally, my daughter removed the undissolved wad from her mouth and said, "I don't like this. But I'm really hungry." We looked at each other. I reached for the phone and ordered pizza. Upon filling ourselves with hot, properly prepared pizza, I had another brilliant idea. "Should we try the chocolate fondue recipe for dessert?" Getting straight to the heart of the matter, she answered wryly, "Why ruin good chocolate?" Excellent point, I decided. Obviously, my cooking skills were getting a dubious review. We ate the chocolate right out of the package.

Body For L ife LINKSBETWEEN FAITH AND HEALTH

If religious faith could be packaged in a pill, the stock price of drug companies would soar. Religion, not merely spirituality, is a profound predictor of health. Spiritual practices can reduce blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and help stave off some effects of mental illness about as well as many drugs on the market. In fact, the lack of religiosity is about as unhealthy as 40 years of, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. If you care about your health, you might want to start going to church and praying regularly.

Con sider t h ese f ive w ays t h at f ait h is r eally good f or you . 1.FAITH ENCOURAGES HEALTHY BEHAVIOR. ?DON?T DRINK, DON?T SMOKE, DON?T CHEW, AND DON?T GO WITH OTHERS WHO DO.? EVEN THE FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL I ATTENDED CONSIDERED THAT LINE OUTDATED. NEVERTHELESS, THE EFFECT OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGE DUE TO RELIGION LITERALLY REDUCES YOUR CHANCES OF DYING. YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY MAY NOT ENCOURAGE YOU TO EAT ORGANIC, NON-GMO, PLANT-BASED, LOCAL AND SLOW FOODS, BUT IT PROBABLY STILL EXERCISES SOME HEALTHY INFLUENCE ON THE HABITS YOU FORM AND THE ACTIVITIES YOU UNDERTAKE. FAITH CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT TO MAKES POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN

W O R D S: R o b M o ll

2. FAITH REDUCES STRESS. STRESS HAS A DIRECT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, REDUCING THE ABILITY OF CELLS TO ATTACK DISEASE INSIDE THE BODY. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT RELIGION REDUCES STRESS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. PRAYER, IN PARTICULAR, CAN REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE THAT IS DUE TO STRESS. THE ANXIETIES AND STRESSES OF MODERN LIFE TEND TO ENCOURAGE THE BODY?S FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE. PRAYER, WORSHIP AND OTHER SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES CAN BALANCE OUT THIS STRESS RESPONSE BY ENHANCING THE BODY?S RELAXATION RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, PEOPLE WHO ARE RELIGIOUS TEND TO THINK IN WAYS THAT ARE HEALTHY. FAITH GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF MEANING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE, WHICH IS LINKED TO BETTER HEALTH. THE BRAIN CONTROLS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR BODIES, SO HOW WE THINK AFFECTS HOW OUR BODIES WORK. IN A SIMILAR WAY, RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TEND TO BE AFFECTED LESS BY DEPRESSION. OF COURSE, REAL, FAITH-FILLED CHRISTIANS STILL SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS. BUT WHILE FAITH IS CERTAINLY NO CURE FOR ANY MENTAL ILLNESS, IT DOES SEEM TO OFFER AN ADDITIONAL BUFFER AGAINST ITS WORST EFFECTS.

3.COM M UNITY IM PROVES EM OTIONAL HEALTH CHURCHHAVING FRIENDS IS GOOD FOR YOU. HAVING RELIGIOUS FRIENDS IS EVEN BETTER. IN FACT, ONE STUDY FOUND THAT ?CHURCH MEMBERSHIP WAS THE ONLY TYPE OF SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT THAT PREDICTED GREATER LIFE SATISFACTION AND HAPPINESS,? ACCORDING TO HAROLD KOENIG, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. (HE WRITES ABOUT ALL THESE STUDIES IN HIS BOOK, MEDICINE, RELIGION, AND HEALTH.)

Features ANOTHER STUDY FOUND THE SAME EFFECTS FROM INFORMAL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH FRIENDS? BUT NOT OTHER FRIENDSHIPS. ANOTHER STUDY AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN IOWA FOUND THAT FREQUENT CHURCH ATTENDERS WHERE 68 PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO DIE OVER A 12 YEAR PERIOD. THE BONDS WE FORM AS CHRIST-FOLLOWERS PROVIDE US WITH MORE THAN JUST

SOCIAL CALENDAR

4. HELPING OTHERS IM PROVES LIFE SATISFACTION FAITH MAKES YOU HEALTHIER BY PROVIDING YOU A COMMUNITY MORE WILLING TO HELP YOU WHEN LIFE IS DIFFICULT. CHRISTIANS CREATED THE WORLD?S FIRST HOSPITALS, AND PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE HAS LONG BEEN ESSENTIAL TO MISSIONS AND MINISTRY TO THE POOR. BUT IF YOU DON?T FIND YOURSELF SEATED AMONG NURSES OR DOCTORS IN THE PEW, NEVER FEAR. FAITH?S GREATER HEALTH BENEFIT COMES TO THOSE WHO HELP. PEOPLE WHO TITHE, OR GIVE AWAY 10 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME, ARE ON AVERAGE 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS MORE LIKELY TO BE VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES, ACCORDING TO SOCIOLOGIST CHRISTIAN SMITH

5. SPACE FOR THE M IRACULOUS WE NEED NOT DOUBT THE FACT THAT GOD HEALS, SOMETIMES IN MIRACULOUS WAYS. MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT PRAYER CAN HEAL PEOPLE FROM INJURY OR ILLNESSES. IN A SURVEY, THE SAME NUMBER OF DOCTOR'S SAID THAT THEY BELIEVE IN MIRACULOUS HEALINGS. WHETHER THROUGH PRAYER, LAYING ON OF HANDS, OR SOME OTHER MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION, THOSE WHO CLAIM FAITH CAN FIND IN GOD HEALTH FOR BOTH BODY AND SOUL.

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LNeisha Jones and fashion show participants visit The Hampton Roads Show

Pastor Anderson Foreman,Jr. shows you never forget

Chr istians In Action

Teamwork and Brainwork goes into the preparation of a puppet show 28 lifehr.com 2019

KITCHEN BACK SPLASHES

Here are some tips to choosing a back-splash to enhance the appearance of your kitchen. -

Style and Practicality -

By: Jennifer Par ker The Kitchen has become the center of our homes and we spend much of our waking hours in this room. It is a gathering place where time is spent with our families and friends. How many of us have said" Every time I entertain, everyone ends up in the kitchen." Many newer homes now have integrated the den with kitchen, so that the cook does not feel left out of social activities. There have been bar tops and large islands added, so that the spouse and kids can gather , chat or have something to drink or eat while other cook. The back-splash has become an important design focal point of the kitchen. With a variety of materials available, 29 lifehr.com 2019

the back-splash is a way to bring your design together and put a signature touch on your kitchen. The back-splash is also a practical way to protect the walls in your kitchen from spills and splatters. Materials range from tumbled natural stone to hand made ceramic tile and glass. Absolute Stone and Tile is one local showroom that has a unique and beautiful selection of tile. You can visit the website www.absolutestoneandtile.com for inspirational ideas. Your tile selection for your back-splash is as important of a decision as the painting you are putting above your mantle.

Always choose your cabinets and counter tops first, the choose a back_splash that compliments them Try to bring sample of your cabinet, counter top and flooring to the tile showroom to help make your selection Tear out pictures of kitchens that you like from magazine and ect. These can help the designer pinpoint what kind of look your looking for.

SE R V I N G GO D I

n Matthew chapter five, Jesus commands us to make our faith evident to everyone around us. We as Believers are the light of the word. " A city on a hill has to be seen by everyone, it can't be hidden. let the light that God has given you shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your fathers name." There are many men and women of faith impacting the world from the marketplace. In a survey done by the Gallup organization in 2003, they measured the work habits of church going people compared to nonchurch going people. What they discovered was there was a significant difference between the morality and ethics of non-believers and Christians. Christians tend to practices a more ethical lifestyle.. We want to do the right thing. Many Christians are led by the power of the Holy Spirit. they develop a heart toward God through prayer, bible study of the Word of God. Desiring God and sharing His Word in the marketplace is an awesome thing The ability to serve God in the community To have a vocation and a God honoring ministry in the marketplace makes our lives full.

These three people who share their testimony, exemplify what sharing the word of God in their daily lives in the marketplace. Features Meet Barbara Hamm Lee, Winston Whitehurst and

IN T H E M ARK ET PL AC E BARBARA

WINSTON

KEVIN

HAM M LEE

WHITEHURST

O'DEA

Pu r su in g You r Passion , Pu r posef u lly

A Spir it Of Ser vice

Test im on y Of Gr ace

I am often overwhelmed at the Often times, we face the hard decision on amount of God's grace. I have whether to pursue our passions or take the experienced in my life. I received my route that may be more secure. For Barbara Hamm Lee, God used her passion to fulfill His spiritual foundation from watching my grandmother. A fiery woman of purpose. Mrs. Lee is currently the Executive God. i would watch her pray over Producer of Another View and the owner of Sharing Info, LLC. Many know her for her work people time and time again and see in the media industry, as well as her passion for Abba answer her prayers. The first time in my life I turned to my faith bringing important issues to the forefront of was when I was 6 years old. My discussion . parent were about to become For, Mrs. Lee, prayer precedes every move that divorced and my life feel apart from she has made in her life, and she knows when what i had become accustom too. I God is sending her in a certain direction. ?Every had to ask God to work on my heart time I tried to go after a job on my own, I would and help me learn to live in this split-parent home. never get it. Every position I have ever had, I was recommended for, so that was really just AsI began my adult live , I was lead to Him leading me.? Mrs. Lee testifies that in the woman that has stood beside me June of 2017, she had to step out on faith as and has become my partner for life she concluded her last day at her job. Her Over the years Ive learned many favorite scripture, ?I can do all things through things.God has continue to be the Christ who strengthens me?, kept her strong, rock that me my family stand on. and she decided to go fulltime with Sharing Scriptures from the Bible have helped Info, a media and communications consulting me be bold in my faith and also share company that helps businesses in the private it with my many friends. Features industry, the city government, and non-profits. being in the auto sales industry for Mrs. Lee is a member of First Baptist Church in more than 22 years, I,ve been blessed Berkley, is married to Maxie Lee, has two to create a consistent customer base daughters and a granddaughter, and works God's grace in my life has provided every day to fulfill God?s purpose for her life by me with the stability to withstand tumulyuous times as well. following her passion .

Kevin O?Dea is a well-known realtor of the Norfolk/ Hampton Roads community. Beyond his charming smile, there is a powerful story that lies beneath, rooted in the power of selflessness. He is a military veteran, a true leader, and a servant of CHRIST.. Additionally, he serves as a mentor to men both young and old. Most recently, he mentored two fellow military members, both who graduated from college last week, and helped them jumpstart their careers in real estate. Mr. O?Dea?s goal is to lead others the way that he was led, and he credits the mentors in his life for much of his success. He is involved in a program called Manpower, which strives to develop men at the middle school age by teaching them fundamentals and lifelong values. Mr. O?Dea gave his own lifelong commitment to Christ on August, 8th, 2010, one day before his 30th birthday, and is now a member of WAVE church in Norfolk. . Mr. O?Dea attributes his business victories to these four things: patience and persistence; humility; having a servant heart; and outstanding communication skills.

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PASTOR'S Tim & Rodica Lamber t

Fam ily, Fait h & Fir e For Ch r ist

MEET THE LAMBERT'S Fai t h , Fam i l y an d T h e Fi r e Fo r C h r i st Family is one of God?s greatest gifts. No matter how big or small, the intimate connection we have with people who share the same blood- or the same values- is, and will always be, something for which to be thankful. For Pastors Tim and Rodica Lambert, family has impacted their lives and their journey to Christ, and it is now the staple that binds their life together.

Pastor Tim grew up in a small, conservative town in South Carolina. At the age of 16, he Features began dealing with the emotional trauma that came from living with an abusive father, and searched for God in church, although he felt something was missing. He was desperately

seeking healing, and at the tender age of 17, Pastor Tim attempted to end his life in a high-speed accident in order to escape the abuse and rejection he was experiencing at home. However, God had greater plans for him, and His holy hand came through the roof of the car that night, took the steering wheel, and saved his life. The power of God and the love and healing Pastor Tim felt after that miracle was the catalyst that propelled his life in a direction to serve and live for Christ. Unfortunately,

Th e Lam ber t 's L to R Townsend Morgan Rodica Timothy Caleb

Pastor Tim?s father did not support the change in character, and kicked him out of his home. His family left him homeless, but he was not deterred in his

boarded up church in Chesapeake, Virginia. His first service had 157 people of all backgrounds, and this was the birth of the Christian Embassy

?Ev eryth i ng w e do, w e do togeth er?. faith, and never looked back as God provided for all of his needs to survive and thrive on his own. After being successful in business, Pastor Tim could no longer ignore his calling to the ministry, and went on to attend Bible College four hours away, with which came the opportunity to preach in different churches along the east coast. Then, in 1992, he was led to his new home after being offered the chance to bring revival to an abandoned, 38 lifehr.com 2019

International Church, a multicultural, interdenominational church where he and his wife are now co-pastors. In the same year that Pastor Tim was bringing life to his ministry, Pastor Rodica was en route to the United States to attend the same Bible College where Pastor Tim graduated. She was coming from Romania, where she grew up in a city called Oradea within a large family of eight children. For much of her life, she witnessed her family?s

commitment to serve God, in spite of a Communist government, by holding secret gatherings and hiding missionaries in their home. It was this same resolve that led Pastor Rodica on her own journey to the States, where she met Pastor Tim three years after she arrived in South Carolina (as he was leaving) thanks to a family member. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, they share three children of their own: Townsend, 20; Morgan, 14; and Caleb, 11. All three children have active roles within the church, from drumming and leading worship to teaching fellow children. The dynamic of their family is teamwork, and according to Pastor Rodica, ?Everything we do, we do together ?. Their next

Their next adventure as a family is a ministry trip to Romania and the Czech Republic to minister to pastors and leaders, bring church to a nation where less than 2% of the population are confessed Christians, and ignite revival in a slew of conferences with a theme of "Welcome Holy Spirit?. The trip will be Pastor Rodica?s first time to Romania in 25 years, and she is excited to share her roots with her family in the place that made her the resilient woman she is today. Even more exciting is the invitation she personally received to minister to male pastors and leaders, which is very rare and almost unheard of in Eastern European cultures where many believe that women are not qualified to teach men. The milestones that they will be setting abroad are one of many that the Lambert's have accomplished together, including taking on ownership of the Shepherd?s Guide and International Publishing Inc. The Shepherd?s Guide is referred to as America?s Premier Christian Yellow Pages, and it has helped many Christian leaders grow their businesses by providing advertising and promotion services at an affordable price. For the duo, the Shepherd?s Guide holds a special place in their heart, as it was the vessel that initially brought forth much of their congregation 26 years ago. Back then, the Christian Embassy International Church was in a rural, less traveled area than it is today, and Pastor Tim ran across the Shepherd?s Guide in a bookstore and decided to take the leap to purchase a full-page ad. The blessing out-poured immediately, and after 12 years of supporting and advertising in the Shepherd?s Guide, the Lambert's accepted an invitation to purchase it, which was the perfect segue to expand their ministry into the marketplace. In September of 2016, they acquired its parent company, International Publishing Inc., which now has franchises in the US, Mexico and Canada, with future sights set on Europe. Their biggest accomplishment, however, is the lives they have impacted through their church.

40 lifehr.com 2019

EZ EDUCATION ASSET MANAGEMENT

man will rebel when God's natural law is oppressed or suppressed. Hence, Rome became what we know today as Europe. Division was the inevitable.

In short, our educational system came out of a divided European value. Here is our problem, in the urban and rural classroom context, urban and rural are heavily populated with African Americans, b-cultural in a mono cultural educational framework. A framework

By Ronald Atkinson GOing2COLLEGEisEZ (EZ) has taken an empowering approach, EZ CAM PUS THRUST, to elevate educational outcomes from K-College. The distinctive difference in their model is coupling teaching and training as a parallel ambush to success. You teach a child from the outside, BUT you train a child from the INSIDE. So, their method is tagged, "Living and learning from the inside out as you navigate towards your life's purpose."

"That is very POWERFUL to say the least", says EZ Founder, Willie Lee, III raised in Calvert Square (Norfolk, VA). ?It's a very simple leadership concept that has been tried and is true. Following your passion with purpose will automatically motivate one to excellence.? Key here is eternal 42 lifehr.com 2019

purpose. This is where most of us lose it. Our life's goals are too short. If you don't have an eternal agenda, one is focused on 80 years at best. In that life time, one has seeded three generations, much like Rome seeded 14 Caesars, many of which were self-indulgent, one of reasons for Rome?s downfall . The key to understand that Rome mastered an outcome that no other nation in history has accomplished. What was that? They ruled the entire known world. No one could defeat them. So how were they defeated? Their repulsive immorality as indicated in their sexual appetites was the indicator of their low value of human life. When one is ruled by the OUTSIDE pursuit and pleasures of life, one becomes a slave to such, of which there is no satisfaction. SLAVE begets slave; hence, men were born to be free,

from the onset that they were excluded from and no invitation to structure learning that was culturally relevant for their SUCCESS IN THE MARKETPLACE. Secondly, the present-day structure is antithetical Kingdom (God's design) because it is competitive as opposed to original in its approach and measurement of student's intellectual capacity. A human measuring system does not have the rigors to evaluate the GOD-created man. How can the created evaluate the Creator?

This is just a brief educational historical overview to appreciate the EZ method and structure that ENABLES/EMPOWERS ALL LEARNERS. Why? All students,T regardless of race or ethnicity, are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image and after the likeness of God

Lo T PARTNERSHIPS

EZ has sought to achieve its goal by creating a socialpreneur model in its business structure, bringing a greater number of stakeholders to the process to assure the academic and business values are integrated in the learning process, ensuring greater value for the educational outcomes, i.e. Marketplace. Entrepreneurs Chelsie and Horace Williams of Ziltan; Anthony Matthews, author, Realtor, and investor; Tom Campbell, who pastors The Living Word, and Ron Atkinson, Founder of Urban Stock House, articulate their attraction to coming alongside the EZ model. EZ has combined 100+ years of programming (combined curricula) built on character- focused academic achievement, curricula used in educational and business environments with international audiences. They are fixated on original platforms that are sustainable. EZ is committed to seeding thinking not replicating programming. ?We are raising up Edu Changers, like the wolves of Yellow Stone National Park. A pack of wolves changed the Eco-system of the Yellow Stone. A pack of EZ Edu Changers will change the character and intellectual landscape of a campus.? (Willie Lee III, Founder of EZ) EZ CAM PUS THRUST: Consists of three components: 1 ) YESUSA Assemblies, 2) Roadshows (Mobile Classrooms providing College Expos/Tours, 3) EZ Labs (Multiple curricula designed to build academic rigor and enhance post high school choices), and Point of View/Vision Photo Exhibits (cast vision ? discover-develop-deploy campus servant adult leaders) are strategically woven to build a culture of reformation, TRUE Leadership results in KINGDOM REFORMATION . Myles Munroe articulates this Kingdom concept and instruction clearly in his writings and numerous video tools. Our students must be challenged to ?think? about their post high school path. College is an option, not the ONLY choice. In this market, one must possess a degree of skill, not just a degree of certification. These are two different animals. The bottom line, information is no determination of marketability. Rather, one must know how to think, the use of information, to be marketable and fulfill purpose. Unfortunately, our present educational model does not TRAIN students to think. Thinking is a function of training, ?inside-out? processes. Remember, teaching is a function of the outside portion of our learning. Others partner with EZ because the understood value of adult leaders is a highpremium. Every person is a leader, one who is driven by their inside and releases their uniqueness. These individuals build a sustainable character-driven culture: political, economic, government, entertainment, media, family, and the church. A leader is one who rejects the status quo and demands the best ?inside out.?

from the

Come and join the EZ M ovem en t . . . discover, develop, and deploy the leader in

YOU! For more i nformation:

757.816.3152 or admin@going2collegeisez.com. Call to schedule a FUSION Week en d . . . M en on Assign m en t .