FAITH
FAMILY January 2014
INSIDE A New Year, A New Start What is our Purpose? The Good LIfe
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CONTENTS 12
IN EVERY ISSUE 6
Wise Words
22
Ad Directory
COLUMNS 5
The Real Stuff Say Sorry
7
From the Heart What is our Purpose
8
Thoughts in Christ Without Excuse
ON THE COVER 7
7
What is our Purpose?
17
The Good Life
12
A New Year, A New Start
15
11 14
Youth News Silver Ring Thing
15
Pressing Upward Echo’s of God’s Grace for the New Year
17 18
19
21
Faith Under Fire I am Making All Things New
19 21
Simple Life The Good Life Health & Wellness 8 Types of Play That Can Make You Smarter Close to Home Listening to Lessons from the Unborn Food for Thought January Soup Medley
FAITH
FAMILY
January 2014 Publisher Ashley Foster ashley@sbfaithandfamily.com Editor
Jason Foster
Ad Consultant
Mary Driscoll
Advertising Mary Driscoll Mary@sbfaithandfamily.com 318-423-4483
CONTRIBUTORS Bonita Bandaries, Candace Chaney, Patrick Hawthorne, Dianne Howell, Calvin Hubbard, JoAnne Timothy, Donesa Walker
MISSION STATEMENT SB Faith & Family exist to provide Christians and the community at large with ways to grow and develop as a part of their faith & family. The local publication is designed to promote positive living by sharing with readers the latest news on entertainment, healthy living, parenting and inspirational literature as well as what individuals and organization are doing to try to address needs of the family. SB Faith & Family is published monthly and is available at high traffic locations throughout the Shreveport/Bossier Area. SB Faith & Family can also be read online at www.SBFaithandFamily.com
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The Real
STUFF
When you can’t apologize, when you can’t ‘say sorry’— as we taught our boys when they were little—what a mess things become! Were you the one in the wrong? You don’t think so. You think it was ‘the other guy’? And he’s not willing to apologize, and so you shouldn’t have to? He’s weird anyway, as he usually is. Not quite right in the head. That’s why it doesn’t bother you to talk about him behind his back. After all, who is he to you, really? Just a nobody and a nothing. You were just putting up with him, helping him out in bad times. Now it’s all over. Goodbye and good riddance! I wonder how much of this kind of thing goes on inside us ‘behind our backs.’ I know that’s a funny way to put it, but I wonder just how much we let ourselves ‘off the hook’ when it comes to personal relationships. Perhaps this is where ‘the rubber meets the road’ in the life of a Christian. We think it’s better to ‘just say nothing’ and maybe the problem—or the person—will just go away. Of all that can go wrong in our lives, this is about the worst. When we know we’re right, all that matters to us is who is wrong. We hold ourselves aloof from our neighbor as though from filth. And why? Because he deserves it! This happens between friends and neighbors, but worse yet, it happens between members of the same family. My only brother, for example, has cut off all contact with me for over thirty years, and without even letting me ask him why. This is not a complaint, but a lament. Yet, life goes on. The way I was brought up, one didn’t worry so much as to who was right or wrong in a situation. We were taught to apologize quickly, to restore peace between ourselves and another. We were expected to put the relationship above the reputation. But teaching and even personal example can’t be passed on, despite all our best efforts. People seem to almost want to be offended so they can justify themselves in pursuing revenge, even if it is only to ostracize.
Lord, I do not understand it. I do not understand. How can anyone have such hatred for their neighbor? their brother? their parent? Who is the enemy here? Who has offended? Who has done harm? We say we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, but in truth we don His robe and want to snatch up the crown He did not want but traded for thorns, so that we can sit not at His right and left— no, it gets worse even than that!—so we can sit in the judgment seat.
Sorry is not just a word, but a condition, a state of soul. To be sorry is to seek peace with all men whom we may have offended without knowing it or intentionally. To apologize in words and actions is impossible unless we are sorry within. Of all the places where we can lose, we lose the most here, when we pretend to be sorry, but within reserve the right to murder our brother with everything that is in us. Who needs a knife? Even so soft a weapon as the tongue will do the trick.
We want what we want, and if we cannot have it, someone must be to blame, anyone, just as long as it is not ourselves. We put ourselves first at all costs, banishing fear of God and replacing it with our righteous rags, little realizing that salvation or damnation lies with our fellow man. As the bible and the fathers teach, he who loves his fellow man, truly loves him, will be saved, but he who hates his neighbor has never seen life, and never will. He has killed himself.
Lord have mercy on us! Without our brother we are lost, and true are the words handed over to us by Holy Church, ‘You can be damned alone, but you cannot be saved alone.’ Teach us to count how few days we have left, Father, to love and serve You in humility, loving and serving the people around us, being sorry for ourselves and them, for our having offended You. Give us time to repent, so that in falling behind we can be found running ahead.
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Wise Words Forever and ever
Second Chances
“Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going
So much for New Year’s resolutions. Actually, I didn’t make any. Even if I did I doubt posting more on my blog would make
to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are
the cut. Not enough time in the day to worry about such things. But inactivity is unappealing wherever it might show up. And
a good many things which would not be worth bothering about
seeing the sparse postings I’ve been having recently has only motivated me to at least try to dedicate just a little more time
if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better
here.
bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever. Perhaps
There are always second chances. Even with resolutions. Especially when you take into consideration that according to the old
my bad temper or my jealousy are gradually getting worse – so
calendar the New Year has just arrived today. (Happy New Year’s, by the way.) A good quote, in the same vein – sort of, from Fr.
gradually that the increase in seventy years will not be noticeable.
Ted’s blog (here):
But it might be absolute hell in a million years: in fact, if Christianity is true, Hell is the precisely correct technical term for what it would be. And immortality makes this difference, which, by the by, has a connection with the difference between totalitarianism and democracy. If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is
“Even if you are not what you should be, you should not despair. It is bad enough that you have sinned; why in addition do you wrong God by regarding Him in your ignorance as powerless? Is He, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul? And if you say that this fact, as well as His incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent; and He will receive your repentance, as He accepted that of the prodigal son ( cf.Luke 15:20) and the prostitute (cf. Luke 7:37-50).
more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then
But if repentance is too much for you, and you sin out of habit even when you do not want to, show humility like the publican
the individual is not only more important but incomparably more
( cf. Luke 18:13): that is enough to ensure your salvation. For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must out of
important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or a civilization,
necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and will not dare to judge or censure anyone. Rather, he will marvel at God’s
compared with his, is only a moment.”
compassion, and will be full of gratitude towards his Benefactor, and so may receive many other blessings as well.”
C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity
(St. Peter of Damaskos in The Philokalia – The Complete Text, Volume Three, pg. 160)
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From the Heart What is Our Purpose? What is the purpose of our life? There is only one way to answer this important question. We know that there is life beyond death so our purpose has to be about this future life. We need to have conviction that our activities here on earth are only a means to this other life. We need to make sure we are using these means to guide us toward this purpose. We should look towards heaven in every action we take in this life to make sure it is a step towards it.
must undertake important and great labors, whether for heaven, or, as the progressives think, in order to make one’s contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all. It is necessary only to do everything in accordance with the Lord’s commandments. Just exactly what is to be done? Nothing in particular, just that which presents itself to each one according to the circumstances of his life, and which is demanded by the individual events which each of us meets.
So what does this mean we should Is someone seeking help? Help do? Does this mean we need to do them. Has someone offended you? something great? Forgive him. Have you offended somebody? Rush to ask forgiveness Here is how Saint Theophan and make peace. Did somebody answers this, praise you? Don’t be proud. Did It is a great error to think that you somebody scold you? Do not be
angry. Is it time to pray? Pray. Is it time to work? Work. Etc., etc., etc. If, after all of this has been explained, you set about to act in this way in every instance so that your works will be pleasing to God, having carried them out according to the commandments without any deviation, then all the problems of your life will be solved completely and satisfactorily. The purpose is the blessed life beyond the grave; the means are the works according
to the commandments, the execution of which is required by each instance of life. This is worthy of some reflection. We tend to make life more complicated than it needs to be. Remember our purpose and the commandments. With simplicity we are called to do our best to meet them each step we take. No more and no less.
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Thought s in Christ Without Excuse
Jack is great about finding awesome things for me to read, see, or hear. I really believe he has a gift for playlists- matching the song to the moment. Or in this case, he matched the book for the memory. For Christmas, he gave me Steve DeWitt’s book, Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything. It was absolutely perfect for my transportation into the winter wonderland that was our vacation. In the book, DeWitt writes: “Beauty boomerangs from God into created beauty, then through the senses and soul of the imagebearer, and finally back to God with praise and glory.” He asserts that universe is filled with millions upon millions of refections of the glory of God. I didn’t have to go to Colorado to see it. I can see it in the sparkle of Zeke’s eyes. I can hear it in Johnny Cash playing on the turn table. I can feel it in Asher’s hug. I can taste it in my mom’s homemade bread. I can smell it in the mountain air. Every good and perfect gift is from Him. Everywhere we go, there are reflections of Him. We are without excuse. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:2 - Candace Chaney
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From St. John of Kronstadt
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Faith UNDER
FIRE
“I Am Making All Things New.”
As you read this, 2014 will be in full swing. We’ll have survived stuffing the bird and stuffing ourselves, Black Friday madness, holiday giftgiving and the inevitable cleanup campaign, and, finally, a lapse into the doldrums of too much of too many good things. I was not sad to see 2013 go. It was a hugely stressful year for me, fraught with many heartaches and challenges. I’m still trying to get settled after my most recent move. (That makes three in 24 months.) I am not getting any younger and tasks that wouldn’t have made me blink five years ago seem daunting today. So, I am doing something different this year. Instead of making a bunch of “New Year’s Resolutions” that doom me to failure before the words are on paper, I am giving myself permission to rest, listen and renew. I truly don’t know what direction I’m supposed to be going in, but I know He does.
Surely John felt the same way as he lived out his incarceration on the isle of Patmos. He was exhausted mentally and physically from all he had suffered, but he was still “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” He knew Jesus and he knew His promises were sure even though he couldn’t see where his own struggles fit into “the big picture.” So, God showed him The Revelation of Jesus Christ. We don’t know if John was praying, singing, reading a scroll or quietly listening for God’s voice when the trumpet sounded. We do know that he had writing implements at hand. Hence Jesus’ charge to write down everything he saw for the edification of the Church (Rev. 1:7). God never asks us to do something without providing the tools we need, either naturally or supernaturally!
revelatory processes are taking place right now, yet they are ongoing throughout eternity. They supersede and in fact, cancel out, all of the mess we are struggling through in the now. They are accomplished by God’s hand, not yours. Yes, we will continue with our daily challenges in 2014. Yes, bad things will happen. Yes, we will cry. But above all this and through all this, our Father will be conforming us to the image of His Son and working all things for our good (Romans 8:26-30). Rest in the knowledge that He is making all things new for you, too. Dianne B. Howell Shreveport, LA
Just for a minute, let me zero in on one verse that I think is crucial in this New Year. Revelation 21:5 says “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’” This promise occurs after the first heaven and earth (in which we are living) have passed away and after the New Jerusalem, God’s holy city is revealed in its glory. There are no more tears, death, mourning, crying or pain. This picture is certainly not depicting the present arena in which you and I conduct our daily business! Yet, look at the subject and the tense used in most modern translations: “I am making.” All of these wonderful
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New Year A New Start
A
Tim and Dustin – The Heart of Working Out Well, it is that time of year again. Out with old habits and in with the new – we hope. It seems that every post holiday January we make promises to ourselves regarding spirituality, diet, exercise, overall health, etc. However, these ‘resolutions’ quite often end in disappointment. Therefore, we decided to spend some time with two professionals from The Exercise Solution, Tim Palmer and Dustin Rothell, in order to get some sound advice and direction as we make our plans for 2014. FF – Tim, you have owned and operated The Exercise Solution for over 20 years. Tell us what you have witnessed over the years regarding New Years resolutions.
Tim – Typically, what people do is they come into the New Year with the resolve to stop doing everything they just did to the extreme. Usually, from January to around March people are gung-ho about making a change. However, the outward change they are pursuing results from inward preparation and work. You cannot, cannot circumvent discipline when it comes to losing body fat and gaining muscle tissue. It is a consistent effort one day at a time. For comparison, during Advent we spiritually prepare over a period of time to receive the Messiah. Then, at Christmas, the heart is ready to encounter Christ. We must first decide, as an act of our will, we are going to make a change and then systematically work it out on a daily basis. FF: Now that we have made the decision to make a change what do we do next? Tim – Find someone, a trainer, with a track record of success. Certifications are fine, but consistent results across a varied client base are preferable. In other words, you need to seek out someone who has the knowledge and experience to walk you through a process for accomplishing your goals. I try to encourage people to choose a trainer that is able take the myriad
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of genetic variances and circumstances that a person deals with and apply a set of core fundamental principles that will help them move through the process of positive change. It is not an exact science. There is an art to it. Ultimately, a trainer says we are going to start here based on where you are right now. First, you will probably be challenged to change your eating habits. This is not to say you are being put on a diet. Diets are eventually discarded after a task is accomplished. Diet, rather, needs to be understood as the sum total of all things you consume to maintain life and health. If you change your mindset to where diet is not something you do once and again to lose weight to diet is my lifestyle, you will see success. FF: What are the best exercises to start off with if one is concerned with their current physical condition or possibly apprehensive due to family medical history? sbfaithandfamily.com
Tim – That is a great question. Before you start any type of physical fitness life change, it is very important that you visit your local physician for a standard checkup. Most trainers require this before you begin any type of physical fitness training. Once your doctor clears you to exercise, then consult with your trainer. If you do not have the resources to secure a personal trainer, then just start walking. Get up and do something. You do not have to do a lot. That is a common misconception about exercise. What is important is getting off the couch and doing something. A little more than what you were doing begins the progression. But you have to start somewhere. Walking 15 to 20 minutes a day is a good place to begin. Then incorporate either pushups or modified pushups form the knees and chin ups or some type of pulling motion. The main thing to keep in mind regarding your program is safety, efficiency and efficacy.
becomes THE focus of your fitness training it can produce pride and arrogance. If we are not careful, the comments and flattery we receive from others may produce unwanted or unhealthy self-perceptions that are counter productive to our overcoming the passions. With that said, on a positive note, one of the greatest spiritual benefits to exercising is it requires and produces discipline. In turn, the ability to deny ourselves, mind and body, carries over into our spiritual well being. FF: Tell us a little more about your new trainer and The Exercise Solution: opportunities to run or walk local short 5k’s as a family. This can be a fun and healthy Saturday morning activity. The main thing is to have fun with the kids. Playing with them is beneficial on numerous levels. FF: What do many of us overlook in regards to getting into shape?
FF: What are some suggestions for family exercise? Tim – My kids are constantly asking me, ‘Dad will you train me?’ One thing we do is play games. I love to challenge my oldest daughter and middle son to a push up contest. Make it fun. When you are outside with them, setup races around the playground equipment or play a game of tag. They are already built for speed. All you need to do is point them in a constructive direction. Also, there are many
Tim – Rest. There are three components to a good fitness program: diet, exercise and rest. Rest is the most misunderstood. Most people think of rest as sleep. However, unfortunately, even if you are getting adequate sleep per se, eight hours a night, stress can shut down the bodies ability to recover and produce adaptive change. Stress is one of the most destructive things a person can have in their lives whether it be emotional or mental. If these issues are not addressed then they can create what we call an inflammatory response that prevents the body from recovering from exercise. In turn, it ends up hurting your overall fitness and exercise progress. It is important to take time away and relax. FF – What do you see as the spiritual benefits to an exercise program? Tim – I am glad you asked that. When it is taken to an extreme and your physical appearance
Tim: My new associate is Dustin Rothell. I have the privilege of training him while he was in high school. He went on to join the Navy and be stationed in Washington State. Dustin is in the early stages of his career and his time slots are filling up quickly. The Exercise Solution is one of the largest personal training facilities in the area. We have approximately 4000 square feet with a shower and changing facility and small cardio area. We work exclusively one on one. This means we do not allow people to come in and train on their own. For the first time in our history we are about to offer some small group training classes. One of the things we still want to use to differentiate us from other facilities is we are going to limit our class size to 10 people. This enables us to give personal attention to each client participating. Dustin and I are committed to this type of approach due to fact each individual in the group will face different challenges. This one on one attention has been our primary focus over the last 20 years. We take people, right where they are, and move them from a state of deconditioning to the state of conditioning that they are seeking. We have been very fortunate and blessed over the years to be successful with our clients. If you want to find out more about The Exercise Solution or visit with Tim or Dustin, they can reached
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YOUTH NEWS First Priority ArkLaTex & the ArkLaTex Crisis Pregnancy Center unite to bring SILVER RING THING to the Shreveport Convention Center… Did you know: • 1 in 2 sexually active teens will get an STD before age 25 [1] • 1 in 3 youth view pornography intentionally [2] • 8 in 10 teens say it would be easier to avoid sexual activity if they were able to have open conversations with their parents. [3] Sex education gained from outlets like pornography and MTV are distorting teen’s views of sexuality, altering their perceptions of pleasure and redefining sex and intimacy contrary to God’s beautiful design. We live in a society that tells young people they can’t control their sex drive and teaching teens how to use a condom has been deemed the answer. It is our job as the Body of Christ to cast the vision of purity into the lives of this next generation. In the lives of many Christian teens, purity becomes cliché with a long list of dos and don’ts. Purity is about your thoughts and actions and the things you CHOOSE to do every day of your life. Purity is a process, one that never ends, but begins in the heart. In today’s culture purity is a fight, however when you fight for something, it increases its value to you. What a better way to raise awareness than to start the year off strong with a free community event! First Priority and the Crisis Pregnancy Center are excited to be partnering together to bring Silver Ring Thing to this region. Our heart is that this event would connect students, youth pastors, and community leaders inspiring them to make a stand for purity. Like the saying goes, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”. We pray that by bringing the church together in our community we can encourage and equip students to impact their peers, schools, city, and ultimately the world with the life-changing message of the gospel. Sources for stats: Cates JR, Herndon NL, Schulz S L, Darroch JE. (2004). Our voices, our lives, our futures: Youth and sexually transmitted diseases. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Wolak, Mitchell and Finkelhor. Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later. Alexandria, VA. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 2006 National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
Alicia Forrest
Director of Sexual Health ArkLaTex Crisis Pregnancy Center
John Carruth
Executive Director First Priority ArkLaTex
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Echo’s of God’s Grace for the New Year
“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV) With a thunderous roar, the heavens rolled back like an ancient scroll. Radiant light filled the night sky as multitude upon multitude of angels, in one accord trumpeted, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Goodwill towards men…God’s will towards mankind. In one moment of time, God’s grace was released upon the earth in a manner not seen since the time of Adam and Eve prior to the fall. What had previously appeared to be a trickle of grace was now undeniably a flood. This outpouring of Grace was not just available to a few select, but was now available to all mankind. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). Jesus is the grace who brought salvation to the world. Grace is for the here and now, not just for the sweet by-and-by. Grace did not come to this earth to give us freedom from all responsibility, but to show us, by example, how to live a life totally pleasing to the Father. Grace empowers us to live a life in which each member of the body of Christ is to do his or her individual part for the Kingdom of God. Grace is the action to God’s love. “For God so love the world that He gave…”Grace will never expect something from you that He is not willing to do Himself. Grace loves, Grace gives, and Grace serves. Grace expects the
same in the form of good works from those who call upon Him as Lord and Savior. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV). Grace will lift you up when you are down, strengthen you when you are weak and love you when you feel unworthy of being loved. Grace will call you a son, a daughter, a brother and a sister. Grace promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Grace will never put sickness on you to teach you; for Grace bore the stripes on His back to deliver you from sickness (Isaiah 53:5). Grace is not the author of death, but is the giver of life. Grace is often shunned by the religious, perverted by the wicked, and frustrated by the legalists. Grace loves when He is not loved in return and reaches out to the hands that are pulling back. Grace loves the loveless, dines with the sinner, and dries the tears of the prostitute. Grace sheds a tear over the lost, but rejoices over the found. Grace exalts the humble, but frowns upon pride leading to self-exaltation.
Patrick Hawthorne servinggrace01 @gmail.com
Bio: Patrick is a graduate and instructor for the Word of Life School of Ministry. Being an enthusiastic student of the Bible, Patrick attempts to communicate the same enthusiasm to the students he teaches. Patrick has written two books titled “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and “Simply Grace.” He is married to the love of his life, Kathy, and lives in Shreveport, La.
Grace does not condemn, but does convict. Grace rightly claims that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Apart from Him, one cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Grace never promises a life free from obstacles, but does promise that, by following Him, all obstacles will be overcome. Grace is love and Grace loves you! Be blessed in the Lord and in the abundance of His grace and mercy.
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Simple Life May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of Him. May He enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope His call holds for you, what rich glories He has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that He has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of His power at work in Christ, when He used it to raise Him from the dead and to make Him sit at His right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under His feet, and made Him, as the Ruler of everything, the Head of the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills the whole creation. And you were dead, through the crimes and sins in which you used to live when you were following the way of this world, obeying the ruler who governs the air, the spirit who is at work in the rebellious. We all were among them too in the past, living sensual lives, ruled entirely by our own physical desires and our own ideas, so that by nature we were as much under God’s anger as the rest of the world. But God loved us with so much love that He was generous with His mercy: When we were dead through our sins, He brought us to life with Christ— it is through grace that you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and gave us a place with Him in heaven, in Christ Jesus. This was to show for all ages to come, through His goodness to us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich He is in grace. Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning He had meant us to live it. Ephesians 1:17 - 2:10
16 | Faith & Family
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8 Types of Play That Can Make You Smarter You probably already know what types of play can make your body stronger (sports, exercise, hiking, etc.), but did you know that there are types of play that can make your BRAIN stronger? Like the muscles in your body, brain skills can be strengthened in a number of ways: 1. Do a jigsaw puzzle. The brain skills needed to assemble puzzles include visual processing, logic & reasoning and attention. Want to strengthen processing speed? Bring in a stopwatch and try to beat your own time. 2. Download some apps. Not all video games are created equal. There are lots of free applications that you can download to your smartphone to play brain-boosting games. 3. Do a sudoku or crossword. Some of the best games to build cognitive skills are also some of the oldest. 18 | Faith & Family
4. Play a board game. Help your entire family get smarter while having fun with any number of board games that strengthen cognitive skills. Among other things, “Clue” is great for logic and deductive reasoning, “Battleship” and chess are great for planning and strategy. 5. Time yourself. Games or activities with the added pressure of a time limit can help strengthen processing speed. Simon, the classic game that produces sound and color patterns, helps build almost all brain skills. You can also time yourself reading, doing math computations.
8. Exercise. One of the best things for your body is also the best for your brain. Exercise has been shown to improve learning and memory, largely due to improved oxygenation.
So dust off those running shoes and take the family out for a nice walk around the block!
6. Engage in the arts. Arts education researchers have found evidence to support positive relationships between arts and “smarts.” Whether it’s painting, sculpting, playing an instrument or putting on a musical, creative play hones brain skills. 7. Play cards with friends. In addition to the brain skills that come with engaging in games requiring strategy, math skills, planning and socialization plays an important role in maintaining your brain.
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Close to Home Listening to Lessons from the Unborn
G ood theology can pop up in unexpected places. One such place is the
writing of Dr. Seuss, author of children’s books. My favourite theological work of his is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a story of conversion and redemption. I also like his pro-life treatise, though it is doubtful that he considered it to be such when he wrote it. It is called Horton Hears a Who, and contains the theological assertion, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” That would include tiny little persons living inside their mothers. Or, in the more elegant words of our own Holy Synod, “the unborn in the womb are already adorned with God’s image and likeness”. The unborn and the newly-born, by the very fact of their being, can teach us a thing or two. In the liturgical after-glow of Sanctity of Life Sunday, I would like to pass along two of these lessons. First of all, the unborn teach us that we enter into this world already loved, wanted, and valued. As my own dad says, “Babies bring their love with them.” I remember seeing a young baby wearing a little shirt bearing the words “Another little tax deduction”. That is true, of course (thank you, Caesar), but it is not why the child is loved or valued. No one loves the child because of its utility. Babies cannot help cook the meals, or clean the house, or even clean themselves. Strictly speaking, apart from such tax deductions, they have no immediate utilitarian value whatsoever. We love them not because
they are useful, but simply because they are. They enter the world pre-loved, even though they may not be self-consciously aware of it (or of much else). In cases of abortion, of course, there is, shall we say, a deficit of such parental love. But even here they are still loved and valued, if not by their parents or by those in the abortion industry, then by God Himself. It is as the Psalmist sings: “Though my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take me up” (Ps. 27:10). A Planned Parenthood slogan proclaims, “Every child a wanted child!” As a matter of fact, every child is a wanted child, for God wants and loves every child conceived. By this the unborn teach us that God loves every one of us regardless of our behavior, loving the worst sinner equally along with the greatest saint. That is because the source and quality of His love is not rooted in us, but in Him. He loves not because of what He sees in us, but simply because He is love. If we refuse to respond to this already given love and choose to spurn Him, doing what He hates and hurting our fellow man, we will receive no benefit from that love. If we choose to love Him in return and strive to live in a way that pleases Him, then we will benefit from this love, and will save our souls. But the love remains nonetheless. As St. John famously said, “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). We enter this world already loved; our task is simply to respond to it and love God in return.
The second thing that the unborn teach us is that we are completely dependent on others, starting with God. People in the abortion debate sometimes talk about “the viability of the fetus”, debating when a child is capable of living life on its own outside the womb. Is the fetus viable at 39 weeks? At 35 weeks? Earlier? But this debate, reasonable in medical terms, is misleading if translated into a theological principle. For, strictly speaking, the baby is not viable even after a full term birth. If the baby is not cared for, and fed, and kept warm, even outside the womb, then it will die—as will you and I. If I am not cared for, and fed, and kept warm, I will die too. We are none of us viable in that sense, for we are all mortal, and only survive because we are part of a vast network of mutual support. Our culture values independence. We admire the person who loudly proclaims,
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in r r! ou ea y
Timeless Christianity 24 hours a day Podcasts, 24 hour music and talk stations, teaching, conference recordings, and much more. www.ancientfaith.com c o n c i l i a r
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internet based orthodox radio
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ou
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Theology can indeed be found in unexpected places. Our Lord, citing the Psalter, said that out of the mouths of babes, God has brought perfect praise (Mt. 21:16, Ps. 8:12). He also has brought from there good theology as well.
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This is not simply true in the world, but in the Kingdom also. God could have arranged the economy of salvation so that it was simply “me and Jesus”. But He chose otherwise: it is “me-in-the-Church and Jesus”. Thus, to become born again and begin new life with God, I need to be baptized by others. Then I need to receive Holy Communion from others. I experience the saving and transforming Presence of Christ when I gather together with others, even if that gathering be as small as two or three people (Mt. 18:20). I cannot be saved apart from the prayers of the Mother of God, and the apostles, and the saints, and the angels. I cannot be saved apart from the prayers of the others in my local congregation. We are all saved together, as we continue to worship together and pray together, both for the world and for each other. That is why all the images of salvation in the Scriptures are so relentlessly corporate: we are saved not as individuals, but as part of a people Israel; not as single sheep, but as a united flock; not on our own, but as citizens of a city—for when the Bride of the Lamb descends in beauty from heaven, it comes down as a city (Rev. 21:2). And a city, of course, is a place where people live together in community, depending on one another for their daily needs. We are dependent upon one another, both in creation and redemption.
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“I don’t depend on no one for nuthin!” and who boasts of needing no one. We can feed and clothe ourselves, we say; we are self-sustaining. But these assertions hide the truth that in fact no one feeds himself. The food that I eat every day is grown by someone else (called a farmer), and then processed by someone else (called a manufacturer), and then shipped to my store by yet someone else again (called a trucker), and then sold to me and put into my hands by yet another (called a retail worker). Even the farmer who can grow and eat most of his own food is still dependent upon God for the sun and the rain. We are all united, whether we acknowledge it or not, in a vast worldwide web of mutual inter-dependence. I am viable and survive only because of others.
Timeless Christianity 24 hours a day Podcasts, 24 hour music and talk stations, teaching, conference recordings, and much more. www.ancientfaith.com c o n c i l i a r
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- Pastor Lawrence Farley
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January Soup Medley
I love to make soup when it is cold outside. Soup makes a Happy New Year! substantial, well-balanced meal. A bonus is that a pot of soup Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? can feed the entire family – twice over. If you are one of those Whether you are on a diet, or resolving to eat healthier, a one- that prefer not to eat the same thing two days in a row, then pot meal of soup with variety is a good start. freeze the remaining soup for a later date.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Makes 4-6 servings
Ingrediants 2 c. chicken broth 1/2 cup diced carrots 1 small onion (or half a large) 1/8 c. diced celery 1 bay leaf 1 tsp. salt (if you use a very salty chicken broth cut back on the amount of salt you add) 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/8 tsp. garlic powder 1/3 tsp. all spice 1/8 tsp. basil 1/8 tsp. cayenne 1 broccoli crown, chopped or 16 oz. frozen chopped broccoli 3 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. flour 2 cups half & half 1/2 c. sharp cheddar 1. Put the chicken broth in a large cooking pot. Finely dice the carrots, onion and celery and add to the chicken broth. 2. Add the bay leaf, salt, pepper, garlic powder, allspice and basil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. After simmering remove the bay leaf. 3. Place the broccoli pieces in a food processor and pulse until it is in small pieces. Add broccoli to the chicken stock and simmer an additional 20 minutes. 4. In a sauce pan, melt the butter. Add in the flour and stir constantly, making a roux. Incorporate into the soup by first adding a bit of broth to the roux, stir, then add more broth, stir, etc. Once it is well combined you can combine all the roux and broth mixture together in the pot.
Best Ever Sausage & Tortellini Soup Ingredients 3 cups cooked Italian sausage 3 cups uncooked tortellini 4 cups water 1 can evaporated milk 6 chicken boullion cubes 1 tbsp. oregano 1 tbsp. parsley 1 tbsp. chives salt & pepper to taste parmesan cheese Put all ingredients except tortellini in medium size sauce pan and bring to boil. Allow to simmer about 15 minutes. Add tortellini and allow to boil according to pasta pkg. instructions. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup Ingredients 1/4 cup flour (to make gluten-free use 2 tbsp cornstarch instead) 2 cups water 4 cups fat free milk 1 large celery stalk, chopped 1/2 medium chopped onion 8 oz sliced baby portabella mushrooms 2 chicken bouillons fresh ground pepper pinch of thyme 10 oz frozen classic mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, corn) 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed small 16 oz cooked chicken breast, diced small salt Directions Create a slurry by combining 1/2 cup of the cold water with flour in a medium bowl and whisk until well blended. Set aside. Pour remaining water and milk into a large pot and slowly bring to a boil. Add celery, onion, mushrooms, chicken bullion, thyme, fresh pepper, frozen vegetables and return to a boil. Partially cover and simmer on low until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes. Remove lid, add potatoes and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chicken, and slowly whisk in slurry, stirring well as you add. Cook another 2-3 minutes, until soup thickens, adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve.
5. Add the half and half. If you want to use a hand immersion blender to puree the soup to make it smoother, do so now. After, add the cheddar and heat over low heat.
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