Sexually Active and Single by Adonai Magazine

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Sexually Active and Single?

Creflo Dollar

God says, “Flee fornication.” That means don’t toy with it, debate it, or consider it—flee! Strong words for sure, but God is serious about this—seriously trying to save you from harmful and unnecessary pitfalls.

e need to talk about sex, particularly sex among singles. The media has too much to say about sex. Billboards go as close to the edge as they can to flaunt sex. Turn on the television, and every day, we’re bombarded with images, many that hinge upon the lewd and the crude. Now here’s a shocker, similar to how a new employee waits 90 days before enjoying a company’s benefits, there’s a concept going around which says, women who date should wait 90 days before sharing benefits of a sexual nature. And there’s more! Popular opinion says 90 days is too long to wait! Did anyone ever think about going to The Expert? God. After all, He created sex—for a husband and a wife, that is.

The Word of God is very clear concerning sexual activity among singles. It is called fornication, which is consensual sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. The Bible calls it sin sex. Yes, there’s marital sex and then there’s sin sex. In Corinthians 6:18, God says, “Flee fornication.” That means don’t toy with it, debate it, or consider it—flee! Strong words for sure, but God is serious about this—seriously trying to save you from harmful and unnecessary pitfalls. However sex, like all gifts from God, requires responsibility on the part of the receivers. For examcont. on pg. 30

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The Imperfections Of Leadership visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

Too many times we tend to focus on the imperfections of Spiritual leadership, hindering our own blessings, growth, and fruitfulness in the Lord by so doing. Any such unbridled attitude leads to self-exaltation, evil speaking, condescension, starvation of our own souls, and rebellion, which invite nothing but divine anger. God does not look for perfect vessels, but yielded ones to refine and make worthy of His use; where “worthy” refers to conformity to scriptural standards and suitability to God’s peculiar intent in His divine wisdom. Whichever divine reasons inform God’s choice of leadership, however, He always demands that those who sit at the table with Him, make every effort to fear and walk humbly before Him at all times, love Him above all else; seek to please Him in all things, and be contrite and corrigible at all times (Acts 10:34-35; Proverbs 3:7; Isaiah 8:13; James 4:7; Matthew 22:37; Colossians 1:10; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15). Even though one may not be perfect in such pursuits, they always help us present a sincere offering of ourselves on the altar of His grace, to help transform us into His image by the workings of His Spirit (2Corinthians 3:18). A willing and submissive heart that hungers and thirsts for God and righteousness is all He needs to call a person “a man after my own heart”, like David (1Sam. 13:14); He does not look for angels, but ordinary human beings. He then works on them to make them better vessels , whilst working with them, and through them. Such was the story of Abraham who came from a family of idol worshippers, and even indulged in lies before Kings (Joshua 24:14-15; Genesis 12:11-20; 20:1-5); and Moses, a murderer and fugitive, whose temper caused him to destroy the Commandments carved on stone by God; and also Aaron, who willingly made an idol for the Israelites to worship (Exodus 32:1-19). Such was the Story of King David, the man after God’s heart, who committed adultery and murder (1Samuel 11). Such was Peter, who denied Jesus, but was chosen to take care of the Church by the Lord Himself, at 6

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the point of his greatest failure; impetuous Peter who in one breathe received a divine revelation about Jesus’ true identity, but was rebuked by Jesus soon after for becoming a satanic mouthpiece (Matt. 16:15-19, 2123; John 18:25-27; 21:15-17). What can we say to these cases of divine leadership choices, apart from the fact that God chooses the weak and despised things of the world to fulfill His purposes so that no man should glory in His presence (1Corinthians 1:26-29). The only things that He needed from the above-listed were the fear of God, love for Him, humility, faith, and a spirit of obedience; where the spirit of obedience refers not necessarily to lack of failure, but a desirous and willing heart; because the empowerment comes from God (Matt. 5:6; ; Psalm 42:1-2; Colossians 3:1-3; Philippians 2:13). So that even though they might fail on occasion, they never settle in their failures and weaknesses for them to become the hallmarks of their lives and ministries; but rather repent and draw strength from God to press on. Our perceptions and attitudes towards the fallibilities of leadership must, therefore, be guided by the same divine conduct; because God works through imperfect vessels that desire to please and walk humbly before Him. Even though they make mistakes and manifest certain shortcomings, their pursuit of holiness and righteousness remains unquestionable at all times; giving them the strength to rebound when they fail. Such positive perceptions and attitudes help the pew to reverence and submit to spiritual authority to stay blessed and fruitful in the Lord. Scripture nowhere mandates the child of God to disrespect spiritual leadership because of the shortcomings thereof. Our call is to obey God’s Word and reverence leadership because of its divine call. We are, however, admonished to shun any examples and doctrines that go contrary to the spirit and letter of the Word of God emanating from any leadership that goes wayward (Matthew 23:1-3; 1Thess. 5:12-13; Galatians 1:6-9).

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Dr. Myles Munroe

For Books or Teachings by Dr. Myles Munroe on CD, audio or video tapes, call or visit us at: Bahamas Faith Ministries International. The Diplomat Center, Carmichael Road. P.O.Box N-9583, Nassau, Bahamas Tel: (242) 341 – 6444. Fax: (242) 361 2260

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A Relationship with The Lord o you know why a kingdom form of government is superior to any other form of governmental system? It is the lordship

aspect of a kingdom that makes living in a kingdom better than a republic or any other form of national administration or rulership. Lordship in a kingdom protects the citizenship from competition with their fellow citizens for national resources. It destroys such elements as jealousy, fear, deceit, and hoarding. In a true kingdom, the lord owns all resources and distributes the same as he determines. Whenever he gives resources to a citizen, it is never for ownership but for stewardship. Submission to a king as lord positions the citizen to receive from the king. From a kingdom standpoint, then, the most important confession any of us could ever make is to declare, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Ambassador Paul stated this explicitly in his letter to the believers in Rome: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). By “saved,” Paul means redeemed, bought back, salvaged, and restored from the estrangement of our rebellion against God the King into a right relation8

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ship with Him. The key aﬃrmation in that process is our acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord of everything, including our lives and our destiny. But if we say, “Jesus is Lord,” what does that mean in practical terms? What does it mean to live under a “lord”? The only experience most Westerners have with a lord of any kind is with a landlord. If you have ever lived in rental property, you know that the landlord is the landowner, the person you pay rent to and to whom you are accountable for the way you treat his property. Why? You do not own the property; the landlord does. He is lord. Dealing with a landlord provides a small taste of what it would be like to live all of your life under a lord. If you say, “Jesus is Lord,” you are acknowledging His authority over you as well as your responsibility to obey Him. Jesus Himself reiterated this truth throughout His public ministry, stating, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk 9:23b). If Jesus is Lord, He must receive first priority in your life. He is above every other love and every other loyalty. He is above every goal, dream, and ambition.

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Pas. Abraham Obadare

Pastor Abraham Obadare is a minister at Christ Apostolic Church WOSEM, New York City •Our TV programs show: Queens: QPTV 34 on Wednesdays at 10:30pm & Fridays at 5:30pm, Brooklyn: BCAT 56 at 12am on Sunday Long Island: CABLEVISION 20 on Saturday 7:30am Tel: 718 658 8981.

2 Things You Need as a Christian visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

Text: John 3:1-16 ocal point: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

John said, “I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” – John 1:22 When Jesus came, He said “…except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5 Later as He prayed for His disciples, “Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:22 When He was leaving the earth, He instructed His disciples to go and ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.– Acts 1:4-5. Later in Acts 2:1-4 it is recorded that the disciples became baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit. The disciples continued to baptize converts in water after which the converts also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul in His work also ensured that Christians followed the rule of the two baptisms – Acts 19:1-6 All of these scriptures show that people who claim Christianity must obey the basic and simple instruction of Jesus - to receive both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. If you have not been baptized in water, arrange with your minister right away as you are preparing for the soon coming King Jesus. Once you have taken this step, the next step is to start praying to be baptized 10

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with the Holy Spirit Argument: “But there are people who never get a chance to be baptized in water, talk less of the Holy Spirit, before they died, because they accepted Jesus Christ at their dying point.” My response to this is that as long as you are not that person who is on a dying bed, then leave that alone for God to handle. Be concerned about your own soul right now; Jesus did not make a mistake when He said “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5 Jesus said in John 3:15, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” To claim that you believe in the Son of God (Jesus Christ) is to obey the His and follow the prescription He gave in John 3:5. If He said you need water baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism, then you need it – no argument, end of story. Please note that Jesus who gave this instruction also followed it. The bible says as He was being baptized with water, the Holy Spirit also descended upon Him – Mat. 3:16 My advice is that you get yourself and family members in water by immersion and always attend Holy Spirit prayer sessions in your church – in addition to your own personal prayers requesting for the continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism signifies your public announcement to the world that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It signifies death to your old sinful nature and resurrects you into a new life in Christ. Then the Holy Spirit will come into your life to empower you to walk with Jesus as the word of God is renewing your mind. Begin to grow in expectation of the return of Jesus Christ, now is the time. God bless you.

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Joyce Meyer

For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-CD series Pressing In and Pressing On. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org. Ladies, join Joyce Meyer for the 30th Anniversary Love Life Women’s Conference September 20-22 in Saint Louis, MO. For more information, go to www.joycemeyer.org/womensconference

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What Do You Want While You’re Here? re you settling for less in your life? Are you living a mediocre life of compromise? Or are you doing your best to live the life God planned for you? You know, you do have the power to choose how you’ll live. For instance, you can be a lazy and passive Christian and still make it to heaven, but you will miss out on the fulfilling life you could have here on earth. Or you can refuse to settle for less than God’s best and do your part to live the way He wants you to live. The question is what do you want while you’re here?

In the parable of the sower in Mark 4, it says the same seed fell on different types of soil and some produced 30, some 60 and some 100 fold. God is the sower…His Word is the seed that He sows in our hearts. He is always the same. His Word does not change. But the different types of soil refers to our hearts. And we are the ones who choose what type of “soil” our hearts will be. Let me encourage you to cultivate the good, welladapted soil the parable talks about. How? By being obedient to the Holy Spirit and following His lead. Press in when it gets difficult...keep on keeping on…don’t give up! Delight yourself in the Lord and watch what He’ll do for you…and in you. In other words, don’t settle for less than the best in life. I think too many people settle in life…they get tired and weary, or lazy and apathetic. Then instead of pressing forward, they stop or begin to fall back…many times just short of accomplishing a desired goal or receiving a long-awaited blessing. If that’s you, you don’t have to live that way anymore. By God’s grace, you can change. You can choose to live a full, productive, satisfying life. It’s so important to make this decision, because our choices affect much more than just ourselves. God wants to use each of us in our everyday lives to touch 12

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and bless others as well. So I want to say it again: Don’t settle. God is an equal opportunity God, and His blessings are for anyone who will do what He says do. In Mark 4:24, Jesus told the disciples, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you…. Basically, what this scripture is saying is we need to take the time to study and meditate on the Word for understanding, and spend quality time with the “Sower” for personal direction. But beware…here’s where the enemy comes in. His goal is to steal the seed. He will throw all kinds of aggravations, problems, and legitimate life issues and needs at you to frustrate, discourage and distract you. But stand strong. Resist him. Remember the Holy Spirit is not only your guide, but He will give you the power to do whatever He directs you to do. The bottom line is the fruit of the Holy Spirit increases in our lives as obedience increases. So do your best to be your best. Follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to show you what is excellent for you and do that—in private as well as in public. Live for God, not people. When the great artist Michelangelo was asked why he paid so much attention to such intricate detail in his work that no one would even likely see, his response was, “God will see it.” I think every one of us wants all that God wants to give us. But we each need to ask ourselves, Will I do all that He asks of me in order to have it? I know I’m going to heaven, but what do I want while I’m here? It’s your choice. Make the wise decision to be the best you can be. And trust God to help you succeed. Because when you do, nothing and no one will be able to keep you from God’s best for you!

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Rev. W. D. Watley Ph.D.

is the Senior Pastor of St. Philip A.M.E. Church, Atlanta Georgia. A world renown preacher and teacher, he is the author of 18 books. For more information and materials, visit www.williamwatley.org.

How Are Your Thoughts? visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

inally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

“F

We’ve all heard the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out” – it’s a statement that originated in reference to computer input and output but is now often applied to other areas of life. I, for one, heard it countless times growing up when it came to healthy food versus junk food, and I’m sure you’ve heard it used to refer to something along similar lines. And as I was reading today’s verse a few days ago, I realized Paul is using the same principle here in reference to our minds. In instructing the Philippians about how to live godly lives, he includes this verse about what they should be thinking about and focusing on. Whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, praiseworthy – this is what he tells them to meditate on. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you,” he goes on in verse 9. As Christians, our aim is to live a life pleasing and obedient to God. Our Christian lives should show a pattern of growth and sanctification – becoming more like Jesus and less like the sinful people we were before. But before our actions can line up with Jesus, our minds and hearts have to. Do we expect to live lives reflecting of Him if our minds are focused elsewhere, on sinful things? No, our minds should focus on godly things – things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy. Godliness in, godliness out. Obviously, there are many terrible things in the 14

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world that we cannot escape – and indeed we as Christians are called to be in the world but not of it – but that just means it’s especially crucial to keep our minds focused on things that mirror and reflect God’s nature and goodness. It actually goes further than just our thoughts – it means guarding our thoughts as well: being careful just what we willingly let in to our minds and hearts. As Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” No, I may not have any control over things I see and hear in the world on a daily basis, but I can choose what I decide to fill my mind with on my own time. The music I listen to, the books I read, the conversations I take part in, the movies and TV shows I choose to watch – are they things that will help my thoughts have the characteristics Paul talks about in today’s verse? If not, I truly need to reevaluate what I am feeding my mind. And, of course, when in doubt, we all should remember that there is no better true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy thing to meditate on than the word of God itself.

Intersecting Faith & Life Where do your thoughts go when your mind wanders? How have your thoughts today lined up with Paul’s description of what we should think about – things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy? Pray that God will reveal areas in your life that are not producing godly thoughts, and pray that He will help you desire to focus on things that are pleasing to Him.

Further Reading 1 Peter 2:12 Romans 12:1-2 Proverbs 4:23 By Anna Kuta, News & Culture Editor at ReligionToday.com

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FAITH

CONFERENCE

FAITH, THE MASTER KEY. ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU (MATT 9:29)

When Jesus, the son of God walked the surface of this earth, He healed many and did many miracles, including bringing back to life a dead man. One thing which was common amongst the recipients of the miracles is faith .As he often says to the sick that came to him, “be it to you according to your faith”, not according to the weakness or strength of the devil; neither by the enormity of the problem.

Without faith we can do nothing. Absolutely nothing happens without it in this kingdom. We are saved by faith(Eph. 2:8) We stand by faith (2 Cor. 1:24) We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) We are healed by faith (Matt. 9:27-29). We overcome by faith (1 John 5:4). And we live by faith (Hab. 2:4 Rom 1:17). “Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” Heb 10:38. If we can only live by faith then it means we are dead without faith. That is why we must contend for the faith that was once delivered unto us. “Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 3. Why we should contend is that our faith is the devil’s primary or main target in every battle against us. The devil is waging war against each believer and He will not rest until he gets us oﬀ the course of our destiny just like he rested not until he got Adam out of the Garden of Eden. He is very furious and violent looking for any careless person he can humiliate, devastate and destroy. Remember his Manifesto is to kill, steal and destroy. You shouldn’t allow it. Our only choice is to fight. It’s an inevitable fight. It’s a no-option fight. It’s a faith fight. Jesus said to Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32 that Satan desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that thy faith FAIL NOT. 16

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Concerning the paralytic man in Mark chapter 2, the bible records in verse 5 that “When Jesus saw their faith “he said to him, arise and take up your bed after he forgave him.” In the miracle of the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48), despite the crowd and the diﬃculties she faced, she was able to get her miracle through her faith. It was not the touch. So many people were touching Jesus, but Jesus assured her that it was her faith that made her whole. Time and time again and again, the bible clearly reveals that God is always compelled to intervene when faith is present. Be not deceived, our only guarantee for victory in the battle of life is our faith.(1 John 5:4).It’s not in our title, eloquence of speech, education, or money; but only and only in our faith. I want to therefore to submit to you that the presence of that problem is the absence of faith, because faith is the mover of mountains, Mark11:23. Jesus put it this way, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” Mark 9:23. If it takes faith, then you want to invest all it takes to acquire it. It’s not a feeling, a strategy or a philosophical ideology; but a living force with an origin from the living Word of God. It’s time for change. Come receive your change. You cannot assume to have it; you must cultivate it. Make a life changing decision to come to faith conference and get for yourself what faith is? It’s authentic source; It’s mysterious nature; How to cultivate it; How to release it. It’s your greatest assert. Don’t wait a day longer. See you at the conference. Our ignorance is our greatest obstacle. Refuse to go down. You must win this fight. I wish to recognize and honor the mentorship of Papa David Oyedepo. God bless you. See Advert on page 17

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Elsie Osae-Kwapong

Email Auntie Elsie at elsie@adonaimag.tv

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We Thank You

od is our ebrate what I believe to refuge and be the most sacred holstrength, a iday in America. It was very present help in set aside just to give trouble. Therefore thanks and we take the we will not fear, opportunity to honor though the earth our God. should change and though the mounWhen we thank God tains slip into the for all His blessings, it Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His heart of the sea; refocuses our attention mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 though its waters from the negative to roar and foam, though the mountains quake at the positive things in our lives. Sure, all of us its swelling pride. Selah. The LORD of hosts is have problems. We live in a fallen world, but with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. God is good, and God’s goodness to us is Selah. Psalm 46:1-3,7 greater than all of the enemy’s attacks.

It’s always important to have an attitude of thankfulness, but this special season of Thanksgiving reminds me to look back and think about what God has done throughout the years. I look back over this year, just the latter part of October our experience with the super storm hurricane Sandy, and it gives me reason to be thankful to God for all His Mercies. Some of us lost loved ones, had power outages and damages; but in all we give God the Praises. The benefits of praise and thankfulness are too numerous to mention, but I think it’s very appropriate to be thinking about them as we cel18

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Every one of us has much to be thankful for and more than enough reason to be praising Him. The Lord assures us in His word that “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10. Our thoughts are with all our family, friends, and colleagues on the East Coast of the US and Canada. May the Good Lord be with you" Peace and blessings.

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Dr. Kelafo Z. Collie M.D.

Dr. Kelafo is a life coach, leadership developer and trains persons into purpose worldwide. He is president of Kingdom Apostolic Ministries Intl. and Kingdom Apostolic School of Ministry. He is the author of two books “You are my Father, I am your Son- Understanding Kingdom Sonship” and “ Re Ordering the Nation- Principles to transforming the Bahamas”, visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

7 Steps to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) eep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, which is usually the leg or thigh. The clot can be caused by anything that prevents the proper circulation or clotting of blood.

Symptoms DVT can occur with or without noticeable symptoms. However, if symptoms occur they can include; • Pain in the leg that can often start in the calf and can be described as a cramp. • Swelling in the affected leg that can extend to the ankle and foot. • Warmth over the affected area. • Changes in skin color such as darkening or reddening of the affected area.

Risk Factors Several factors can increase the risk of developing DVT including; • Sitting for long periods of time such as when flying or driving. Blood clots can form in the calves of your legs if your calf muscles are not moving. • Injury or Surgery. This can slow blood flow, increasing the risk of blood clots. • Use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. This can increase the blood’s ability to clot. • Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins of the pelvis and legs. • Being overweight. • Smoking • Having a previous history of DVT or a strong family history of DVT

Diagnosis DVT can be diagnosed by a physical exam along with a Doppler ultrasound scan, CT or MRI scans, Venography and blood test

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Treatment • Blood Thinners and Clot busters, which work by decreasing the bloods ability to clot while preventing the clot from getting bigger and breaking up clots. • Compression Stockings, which help reduce swelling associated with DVT and reduce the chances of blood pooling and clotting. • Filters, which are inserted to prevent clots that break loose from lodging in the lung. The goal of DVT treatment is to prevent the blood clot from getting larger, preventing the clot from breaking loose and causing a pulmonary embolus and reducing the chance of DVT re-occurring.

Prevention 1• Make lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding or quitting smoking and controlling your blood pressure. 2• Exercise your calf muscles if you will be sitting for a long period of time. 3• Take prescribed medication as ordered. 4• Wear compression stockings. 5• Move. If you have been on bed rest because of surgery or other medical reasons, the sooner you get moving the better. 6• Monitor how many vitamin K you are taking in. 7• Check in with your doctor regularly. DVT is a serious condition that should not be ignored because it can lead to a life threatening complication known as Pulmonary Embolus, which is a blood clot that travels to the lung. Being aware of changes in your body and practicing a healthy lifestyle is very important to your overall health. Always seek immediate medical attention for leg pains that is persistent and last for more than a few days. However, remember that Christ is the great Physician.

Reference Ashaki Miller RN, BSN

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Jimmy Evans

Parenting with Loving and Consistent Discipline visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

t would be nice if our children were naturally obedient and sinless. That's what most contemporary parenting and child discipline "experts" teach today in our schools, universities, and in the media. The prevailing viewpoint is that kids are naturally good. Any problems stem from domestic and societal dysfunction.

Therefore, discipline for a child is cruel and counterproductive. All children need is patient redirection in order to be put back in touch with their "natural goodness." You and I both know that's not true. The Bible tells us we have a sin nature (see Isaiah 53:6 and Romans 3:23). RealParents are confused ity also reand helpless because veals that of the misinformation children are given by today's inherently secular "experts," who selfish, rebelare constantly lious, and changing their minds... foolish. Those three factors are a dangerous combination. Of course, even with their imperfections, we love our children. They are wonderful gifts from God. As parents, our job is to be good stewards of them as we protect, nurture, and train them for success. What do I mean by success? I'm not talking about the world's idea of financial success or influence. God's Word measures success by the development of godly character and eternal values in a child. Therefore, a biblical view of our children—along with God's standards for their character and development—is essential. Most parents begin to notice a rebellious spirit early in a child's life. As soon as children are able to understand 24

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simple commands, we need to start by clearly and lovingly communicating to them what we expect them to do—and make sure they understand.

My children are both grown. In raising them, I never scarred them, abused them, or had to go to extremes to keep them under control. How? Because from the time they began to express rebellion, Karen and I lovingly and consistently disciplined them. In doing so, we were able to enjoy our children to the fullest, and they were able to enjoy living in the safe, productive atmosphere we helped create in our home and family. Today, we still have a great relationship with our children, who have both become well-adjusted, successful young adults raising families of their own. (In fact, our son, Brent, is the President of MarriageToday.) It's a pitiful thing to watch parents begging their kids to behave, or trying to manage rebellion without exercising discipline or authority. These parents are confused and helpless because of the misinformation given by today's secular "experts," who are constantly changing their minds about what is right and wrong, what is acceptable or unacceptable. Regardless of what you might here from the government, modern psychology, or the media, parents are given authority over their children by God—and parents need to use that authority for the sake of their children and our society. Don't take the expert secular advice about child-rearing. Instead, choose God's way. His standards are eternal and will never change. Trust in God's Word and raise your children accordingly, and you will succeed as a parent. In the coming weeks, we'll look at some specific tips for eﬀective, biblical discipline.

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BIBLE GAMES

contd. from pg. 4

Sexually Active and Single?

ple, God richly provided Adam and Eve with the Garden of Eden, but they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they disobeyed by willfully eating the fruit of that tree, there were adverse consequences, not just for the two of them but for all of mankind!

And just like in the garden, the results of sin are not limited to one person. What happens to one affects another. For instance, the act of fornication involves at least two people. However, these days, many more could be involved, as in group sex. If a pregnancy results, another life or more is added to the equation. One bad decision, in the heat of passion, or weakly following popular opinion can affect an entire family for a lifetime. Another result of “sin sex” is sexually transmitted diseases—or STDs. The numbers for people affected by STDs is on the rise and is at pandemic levels, affecting a large population. 30

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Remember the saying, “If everyone else jumps off a bridge, would you do it too?” Well,

before you decide to follow popular opinion or a media craze, stop and think about it. Also, remember you will receive the corresponding popular results we just talked about, not to mention social embarrassment, a broken heart, or the ultimate—missing God and missing heaven. Popular opinion can vary from day to day. James 1:7 says God does not change. In the end, God is always right. It may take awhile before it is obvious, but He has the last word. Moreover, the Word of God is accurate, dependable, wise, and remains standing, long after popular opinion isn’t popular anymore. If you are ever in doubt about whether the Bible is still relevant or current with the times, the book of Isaiah makes it plain. Remember these words: “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8, NLT).

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