My ELife Magazine - Oct Nov 2015

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

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MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

FROM THE EDITOR/PUBLISHER

We’re attempting to bring more attention to our social media resources and need your help. Visit our Facebook page with your response to the following question:

How would you explain same sex marriages to your children?

Submit your answer today. Your response or opinion can help someone that’s dealing with the above topic.

myelifemag

The importance of social media for businesses.

With the advent of social networking, social scientists and media experts have wondered about the benefits social networking brings to communication.

While some of these are obvious, some others have only become apparent as users have become familiar with social networking. The ability to increase our networking potential or work with others regardless of distance presents new ways for us to do business. Furthermore, the ability to stay in contact with friends and family allows us to maintain closer ties to our loved ones across long distances.

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veryone would like to believe that they are leaders as oppose to being a follower. It is fine to be characterized or labeled as a leader but more importantly are you leading people in a positive and effective manner. Some people are “born leaders” which simply means their ability to lead others comes naturally (no classes or instructions required). It’s essential as a good leader that you lead by Derek Miller, Editor example. The bible states (I & Michelle Miller Timothy 4:12) that no one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Leaders should always practice these things and be committed to them so that their progress may be evident to all that they encounter. Leadership isn’t always easy, it comes with challenges as well as most things but one must always remember to keep his eyes forward; fix your gaze straight ahead and carefully consider the path of his feet. God wants you to pay attention to his wisdom and listen closely to his understanding so that you may maintain discretion. Leadership can be demonstrated in all ages as well as varies ways. As a leader you should always keep your heart with vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life! (Proverbs 4:23)

Derek & Michelle Miller

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My E Life Magazine AUG/SEPT 2015

336-323-8091 President / Editor Derek Miller Director of Marketing Mike James Contributing Writers Greg Baker Donna Nealy Rotimi Oluwaseyitan Mike James Skyler Spencer Michelle Miller Layout / Graphic Design DPI Graphic Design To Advertise Call 336-323-8091 Submissions are welcomed.

Please send stories and ads to info@myelifemag.com My E Life Magazine P.O. Box 13502 Greensboro, NC 27415

MY E LIFE magazine reserves the right to deny any or all advertisements that go against our standards. We are at no means connected or affiliated with any advertisements. No part of any publication may be reproduced without written permission from the authors. The opinions and articles not written by My E Life magazine staff do not necessarily represent our views.

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HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

02 PUBLISHER’S NOTES 03 CHRISTIAN INSIGHT THE PRDIGAL SON 07 HOW SHOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE SAMESEX MARRIAGE DEBATE TO CHILDREN

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08 MAKE MONEY FROM HOME THE PRODIGAL ON 09 PROSPERITY ON PURPOSE 10 EDUCATION

PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION: PLAYING WITH FIRE

12 CREAL ESTATE

22 COMMUNITY

20 CHRISTIAN LIVING

27 BUSINESS

21 RELATIONSHIPS

www.myelifemag.com SAVING SOULS, MAKING DISCIPLES

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ON THE COVER: Bishop Adrian Starks Walking by Faith into New Seasons PHOTO BY DEREK PALMER

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

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SPONSORED BY:

New Life Faith Outreach.

3114-B Corbett Rd. Pleasant Grove, NC 27302.

336-253-2121

Bishop Harold Farr, Jr. and First Lady

HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

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or the Son of Man is not come to destroy men`s lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:56). God knows that you are not perfect, and indeed make mistakes.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) He created you in His own image, and has a plan for your life. God wants to give you the opportunity to spend eternity (forever) with him in Heaven. Will life on earth always be perfect? No, but He does promise that He

will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

One thing that is in your direct control is to make a decision. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you feel a tugging at your heart, that tugging is Jesus. To receive Him repeat these words after me and say Lord Jesus, I give my life to you. I believe that you are the Son of God. I thank you for dying and rising from the dead just for me. I ask you now to come into my heart and save me. ■

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 LIST YOUR CHURCH IN OUR CHURCH DIRECTORY 336-323-8091 FOR DETAILS CONCORD, NC

HIGH POINT, NC

GREENSBORO, NC

New Life Baptist Church 1281 Biscayne Dr. Concord, NC 28027 (704) 782-6215

Life Changing International Church 1217 E. Green Dr. High Point, NC 27260 (336) 882-1611

Calvary Christian Center 369 Air Harbor Rd. Greensboro, NC (336) 852-3100

Williams Memorial CME Church 3400 Triangle Lake Road High Point, NC 27260 (336) 883-7330

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New Birth Sounds of Thunder Christian Center 2300 South Elm Eugene Street Greensboro, NC 27406 (336) 324-7902

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

Use this article to give you words to use with your own children or to advise the parents in your ministry.

Russell Moore Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church, where he ministers weekly at the congregation’s Fegenbush location. Moore is the author of several books, including "The Kingdom of Christ," "Adopted for Life," and "Tempted and Tried."

Author, Russell Moore

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ith the recent Supreme Court decisions appropriate answers to the “Where do babies come from?” all over the news, some Christian parents query. The same is true here. There is no need to inform wonder how they ought to explain all of small children about all the sexual possibilities in graphic this to their small children. I’ve faced the detail in order to get across that Jesus calls us to live as same question as my children have asked, husbands and wives with fidelity and permanence and “What is the Supreme Court doing that’s complementarily. keeping you so busy?” So how does one Some parents believe that teaching their children the teach the controversy, without exposing controversies about same-sex marriage will promote homoone’s children to more than they can handle? sexuality. Christians and non-Christians can agree that sexFirst of all, you should, I think, talk to your children ual orientation doesn’t work that way. Moreover, the exact about this. No matter how you shelter your family, keeping opposite is true. If you don’t teach your children about a your children from knowing about the contested Christian way of viewing the challenges to a Chrisquestions about marriage would take a tian sexual ethic, the ambient culture will fill in “Truman Show”-level choreography of your silence with answers of its own.

The Bible isn’t You can tell your children that people in their lives. That’s not realistic, nor is it particularly Christian.

American culture disagree about what marnearly as The Bible isn’t nearly as antisepriage is. You can explain to them what the tic as Christians sometimes pretend to antiseptic as Bible teaches, from Genesis to Jesus to be, and it certainly doesn’t shirk back the apostles, about a man and a woman Christians from addressing all the complexities becoming one-flesh. You can explain that of human life. If we are discipling our sometimes pretend as Christians we believe this marital relachildren, let’s apply the Scriptures to tionship is different than other relationto be all of life. If we refuse to talk to our ships we have. You can then tell them that children about some issue that is clearly some people have relationships they want to before them, our children will assume we be seen as marriages, and that the Supreme are unequipped to speak to it, and they’ll evenCourt is addressing that. tually search out a worldview that will.

You can then explain that you love your neighbors This doesn’t mean that we rattle our children with inwho disagree with you on this. You agree that they ought formation they aren’t developmentally ready to process. to be free from mistreatment or harassment. But the church But we know how to navigate that already. We talk, for CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 instance, about marriage itself, and we give ageMY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

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How Should You Explain the Same-Sex Marriage Debate to your Children CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Direct Sales

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n the previous edition we looked at different ways to make money from home and Direct sales was our discussed avenue.

So how do you choose a company to partner with? That’s the million dollar question. The first thing you should do is pray. Seriously, if you are thinking about making money from home in Direct Sales pray about what company to join. There are thousands of companies out there so do your due diligence and make sure the product is something you can be passionate about. A lot of your success will come from your story about how the product or service made your life better.

Make sure the company is solid and in a good place financially. Make sure the leadership and company values are in line with your own. Then choose a company that shares your area of interest.

Here a just a few categories of Direct Sales companies: Jewelry, cosmetics, personal care, travel, business services, home services, financial services, health and wellness, weight loss, toys, cooking supplies, etc.

believes government can’t define or redefine marriage, but can only recognize what God created and placed in creation. Explain why you think mothers and fathers are different, and why those differences are good. Find examples in your own family of how those differences work together for the common good of the household, and point to examples in Scripture of the same.

Don’t ridicule or express hostility toward those who disagree. You might have gay or lesbian family members; be sure to express your love for them to your children, even as you say that you disagree about God’s design for marriage. You probably have already had to do that with family members or friends who are divorced or cohabiting or some other situation that falls short of a Christian sexual ethic. If your children see outrage in you, rather than a measured and Christlike biblical conviction, they eventually will classify your convictions here in the same category as your clueless opinions about “kids these days and their loud music.”

The issues at stake are more important than that. Marriage isn’t ultimately about living arrangements or political structures, but about the gospel. When your children ask about the Supreme Court, be loving and winsome and honest and convictional and kind. ■

As you can see there are companies in all different categories. If there is something you are interested in selling and don’t see the category here reach out to me on my facebook page. If you would like information on specific companies reach out to me on facebook and let’s keep the conversation going at www.facebook.com/4riversofeden

Like me on facebook and receive great inspiring info all week and post a comment at facebook.com/4riversofeden

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MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

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very year when the leaves begin to fall signals a new beginning. School is in session and summer is officially over. Football season has begun and Open Enrollment is approaching.

What is open enrollment and what does that have to do with me?

Open enrollment is the one time of the year that ANYONE may get health insurance. Open enrollment periods are in place for those who are on Medicare, job based insurance , uninsured, underinsured and those people who are already on the health insurance marketplace through the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare”.

During this time anyone may purchase, change, renew or drop your health insurance coverage to become effective the following year . Therefore, in this case changes made during this season will become effective January 1, 2016.

Why do I need to change the plan I already have ?

Most people will not change the plans they already have, however it is always a good idea to compare your current plan with any new plans that are available. Most insurance plans will have some changes in the cost or premiums you pay and benefits that they will offer for the upcoming year.

What are the dates that I need to know to make any changes?

The annual enrollment period for Medicare begins October 15, 2015 –December 7, 2015. The open enrollment period for (ACA) Affordable Care Act coverage is from November 1, 2015 – January 31,2016. The open enrollment period for job based coverage is determined by the employer and usually last until the end of the year.

What do I need to do if I am new to Medicare?

Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries still need to review plans that are available to them and gain an understanding of their new health benefits. A review of the cost associated with the new coverage as well as any premiums they must pay to make sure it is affordable as well as necessary to meet their needs.

What do I do if I need help with my prescriptions and Medicare does not cover all the cost?

Medicare Prescription Plans are available during this time to add, drop or change depending on your individual situation. There are many plans that are included as a benefit along with your medical plans such as with Medicare Advantage Plans. It is very important that you check with each plan to see if your medications are on their formularies which is a list of covered medications for each plan. Formularies change year and each insurance company has a different one. The coverage amount for 2016 will be $3310.00 for prescriptions. If your medications cost more than this , then you will fall into the coverage gap and your cost will be shared by you at a rate between 45-58% depending on the prescription. After your yearly drug cost reach $4850, then you pay a much smaller amount. There are some cost saving measures that a beneficiary may take and can be discussed with your pharmacist or doctor.

Why can’t people sign up for insurance when they want to buy it?

Open enrollment periods limit the time a customer may sign up for insurance as this protects the health insurance company from those who would only sign up when they got sick and needed the coverage. It also protects a consumer from a huge rise in premiums as this lessens the financial risk for both parties.

Who do I contact for help, I don’t understand a lot about insurance?

Please contact a knowledgeable , certified health insurance agent to help with this very important process. I am available to help anyone who needs my service. This is a FREE service. Don’t hesitate to call me with questions or concerns about any health insurance coverage whether it is for Medicare or Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) coverage.

You may contact me at my office at 336-778-3349 or my cell 336-624-3183. ■

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

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by: Daniel N. Brown

he Law of Attraction is a biblical concept, but has been perverted by worldly teachings; therefore, the church should seek teaching on the biblical Law of Attraction.

Now I'm sure you've heard of the teaching known as "The Secret." The concept is, by using this "secret," which is "The Law of Attraction," you can attract anything you want in your life: more money, a bigger house, more business, the perfect mate, literally anything you want!

While the teachings conveyed about the Law of Attraction from worldly teachers contain many truths, they also contain some contradictory ideas to the Word of God. For example, I personally disagree with the notion that a person can have just anything. The reason being, we were born with different strengths, skills, and talents that lend themselves to our individual abilities to acquire the things we desire.

God made us all unique, with a purpose, and with a certain mission to fulfill His will. It isn't all about us!

Now does that mean the Law of At-

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traction should be ignored? Is it all just a bunch of garbage for the Christian? Absolutely not! The Law of Attraction is a biblical concept.

Once we understand the proper mechanics and the proper use of the law of attraction and discuss it within the church, we should refer to it as the "biblical law of attraction" simply that there may be no misunderstanding. So from here to the end of this article, I'll refer to it as the "Biblical Law of Attraction."

Now, the Biblical Law of Attraction and God's will can, and should work together in your life. Let me clarify it from a biblical perspective in the following three points: 1. The Worldly Law of Attraction and the Believer in Christ The worldly teaching of the Law of Attraction has brought much confusion to the believer in Christ for one very good reason: It leaves out the entire concept of God's will! If you've been trying to use the Biblical Law of Attraction in the way the worldly teachers teach it, you'll soon find yourself feeling far from God! 2. Why the Basic Concept of the Law of Attraction Works for Every-

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

one Like I said previously, the Law of Attraction is a biblical concept and a Godly principle. It's just that the worldly teaching of it is not godly. It has distorted biblical references by leaving Jesus out of the equation, thereby perverting the Word of God to suit its own purposes.

3. The Basic Concept of the Law of Attraction and God's Will Jesus' teaching on the Biblical Law of Attraction deals with our beliefs, thoughts, words and actions.

The worldly teachers of the Law of Attraction teach that our words and thoughts are enough, like there's some sort of magic in what we request from, who they call, the "Universe."

God is interested in our "issues," and He wants a relationship with us more than anything else. He wants our heart; therefore it grieves Him when we chase after selfish ambitions instead of Him. So, how should one use the Biblical Law of Attraction? The answer is, to glorify God in his or her life.

Not merely to obtain selfish ambitions. ■

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

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REAL ESTATE

Congratulations!

It’s an Estate Plan!

Protecting Your Newborn From Birth

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n the process of becoming new parents, many couples become experts at planning – scheduling the birthing classes, planning the new nursery, even picking out a preschool. There is so much to think about before you welcome your new child.

Unfortunately, one of the most important things you can do to protect your child is often overlooked: an estate plan. Here are four issue that are addressed when setting up an estate plan once your new baby is born: Guardians and trustees. Parents who delay choosing a guardian for their children usually do so because they cannot agree on that “perfect” choice. Get comfortable with the fact that there is no perfect choice – and if you don’t choose, a court will choose for you. You can always amend your choice if you change your mind. When choosing a guardian or trustee, you need to think about choosing someone who shares your beliefs and who will naturally be a part of your child’s life. And you need to make sure whomever you choose is willing to take on the responsibility of raising your child if you are unable to do so.

Education. The cost of college is already sky-high; can you imagine what it will be like in another 18 years?

You probably want to start saving right away, either through a 529 plan or an educational trust so you can realize some tax benefits while you save.

Passing on your assets. Assets cannot pass directly to children under the age of 18, so you will need to think about setting up a trust and naming a trustee to manage the assets you would leave your children. However, if you

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Debra Ragin Jessup don’t create an estate plan, all Estate Planning Attorney of your assets will go directly Jessup & Probst 301 North Main Street, Suite 2222 to your children when they Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Telephone: 336-721-9090 turn 18. Imagine someone debra@jessupprobstlaw.com handing your 18 year old child a check for say…$100,000 or …you fill in the blank…….take a minute, total your assets and divide it by the number of children you have……that’s about what they will get on their 18th birthday. Scary isn’t it! Estate planning can protect your children from themselves.

You also need to examine your beneficiary forms for retirement accounts and insurance policies to be sure your new child is included as a beneficiary. Even if you name them in a Will, a beneficiary form for these accounts will determine who inherits.

Avoiding probate. Talk to your attorney about setting up a living trust so your heirs can avoid probate and assets can pass directly to them.

Protecting your children through estate planning is the smart thing to do and the loving thing to do. You would never intentionally fail to provide the guidance and protection your children need. Estate planning is an important part of protecting them when you can’t do it yourself. In the process you give yourself a wonderful gift too…..peace of mind that your children will be taken care of if you can’t do it yourself. Don’t put it off until tomorrow, it’s too important! ■

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INSIGHT

Pornography Addiction:

Playing With Fire

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ornography addiction is playing with fire. If your marriage means anything to you at all then you are playing with fire every time you think about or view porn. Even if you are single it will transform your personality into something that was not meant for you to be. It is not beneficial for the mental and emotional aspect of who you are to look lustfully at another woman or man, other than the person God has blessed you with.

"Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life". (NIV Proverbs 6:25, 26) Sexual addiction causes much heartache, guilt, low self-esteem, and remorse when it is viewed. These emotional feelings will make you feel inadequate as a person.

Emotionally it will drain you of all respect for people.

The written word says it all. We don't need to look anywhere else to understand our purpose and moral duty for marriage. Even if you don't believe in God and His Son Jesus, still the written word makes perfect moral sense for living. Jesus teaches us to "not even look at another with lust"? It is one of the most powerful teachings in the bible.

What Does The Bible Say? Christ teaches us not to not even look at another outside of our marriage with feelings of desire because our thoughts are what cause immoral behavior in our lives. No one on this planet is immune to behaving sexually immoral if they allow themselves to become entangled within its lustful traps.

God knows you are worth more than a loaf of bread and this is precisely why there is so much talk in the bible about denouncing our lustful desires. Christ teaches that for a married person to even look at a woman lustfully is committing adultery with her in his heart. Are you letting her captivate you with her eyes?

How does a woman captivate you with her eyes

(body)? Your mind is allowing her to captivate you. And when she does all kinds of neat tricks to keep you looking she has caught you just like an animal hunts its prey. You have now become her prey each and every time you go back and view pornography. She (porn) now has control of your body and your mind and your spirit. You are being controlled by it.

You will get burned spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and psychologically. Pornography takes hold of your goodness and eventually destroys it. It deeply hurts spouses and relationships. Addiction of any kind is progressive. That means unless the user stops they will progressively become worse within the addiction.

It upsets me when naive people say that looking at a little porn is ok. It's never just a little bit! That is nonsensical. That is like giving a newly sober alcoholic a teaspoon of liquor! Here let’s give a little wine to the newly sober alcoholic. How prudent is that?

"You have heard that it was said. ‘Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (NIV Matthew 5:27,28) Husband & Wife Have Obligations Toward Each Other The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:3) What are those duties? Duties are all about priorities.

The first priority is putting God first in your personal life.

If couples based their actions upon godly principles they would understand how important accountability is for their marriage, but as it is, they each do whatever they want, which leads to immoral behavior. This is a no-brainer.

Couples need to communicate intimately every day with each other. A wife is her husband's emotional support and a husband is his wife's. Be there for each other in every which way! Do not give your spouse any reason to feel they need praise and encouragement from anyone outside CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 ►

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HEALTHY YOU!

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By Minister Donna Nealy, MS CFT CNC ESI

n our last article we asked the question “Are you selfish?” I am sure you read the article and did a survey of your actions concerning your health. Of course, I am ready to ask another question. Are you FIT to reach Your Destiny?

Whatever your call, whatever your true vocation, whomever you have been ordained to be, are you fit to fulfill the assignment? Really put some time and thought into where you are mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. If Jesus were to show up at this point and time would HE be pleased with your execution to fulfill your God-Given purpose here on earth? Sometimes we forget that we are working for the kingdom and representing God as we go forth.

So what do we need to do to become excellent vessels to carry out the job? We need fuel, just like our cars need fuel to take us from point A to point B. Our fuel is our diet, our nutrition, our vitamins and minerals which we ingest on a daily basis. The problem is we eat and drink foods that have no nutritional value to

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promote healthy fuel for our bodies.

We have many avenues set before us to obtain proper nutrition, but we find excuses not to pursue. Our excuses range from it is too expensive to it takes time to prepare. This is where nutrition education comes into play. If we learned how and where to purchase our groceries we would find that the cost may not be as expensive. It is all about investing the time and effort to learn how to make ourselves better in all areas.

When we come together again, we will discuss where to go and how to purchase our groceries to receive the most nutritious fuel available for our temples. And yes, our bodies are temples. Until next time….

“Coach D” Minister Donna Nealy, MS CFT CNC ESI ESTEEM, A Total Transformation 336-345-3507 www.esteem-att.com

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Pornography Addiction: Playing with Fire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

the marriage. This is what triggers porn viewing and infidelity. Couples are to uplift each other. Why give that duty to someone outside the marriage?

We all need to feel good about who we are and there is no one better to do that than the person we married. This is why God created Eve as a helpmeet to her husband. God did not want man to be alone so He created beautiful, intelligent Eve. I'm smiling.

It is your duty, as a husband to make sure your wife feels appreciated and loved. It is your duty as a wife to help your husband to feel appreciated and love. When couples stop living by the principles that were established for marriage from the beginning unpleasant circumstances will happen.

You Can Change Your Thoughts And Flee From Temptations It is much more difficult to flee from temptation if you do not trust in the moral teachings of Jesus Christ. You do not have to "go to church" to study His Word or to pray, or to have a personal relationship with Him. Your relationship with Christ is between you and Him and no one else. He will give you the answers you need through your personal communication with Him. Humble yourself and go to Him, and He will hold you up.

You can stop pornography from preying upon your life right now. Why allow your thoughts to control what you do if it is not really what you want to do? If you ask Christ to help you with lustful feelings and thoughts, He will! If you keep going back to lustful thoughts it is because you are not putting your trust in your spiritual Source.

Remember that the written word is your handbook, it is your inspiration and your hope, it is your encouragement and discipline, which teaches you and saves you from the world of lust and greed. Put out the fire and put the power of the written word into your hands today!

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 ■

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COVER STORY

Bishop Adrian F. Sparks and Pastor Shandi B. Sparks

written by M. Jacob

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hat began as humble beginnings at Anderson Grove Baptist Church has evolved into what many know today as World Victory International Christian Center. A family oriented suburban church in the Pleasant Garden community, soon gave birth to the progressive, urban center which we know today as World Victory. We were thankful to have an opportunity to sit down with Bishop Adrian Starks to ask some key questions in regards to the past, present and future, and how faith has impacted each for this congregation. Also, how a person should walk as a believer.

What is the importance of faith to a professing Christian?

The Bible says, anything that's not done in faith is sin.

Faith is at the core in everything that a Christian does.

We take our lead from Jesus Christ. Jesus operated in faith in God. He had a faith in the Father that was unshakeable. That’s the reason He prayed so much; that’s the reason why the Bible says that He declared “ I don't make up what you hear me say. What I say comes from the Father who sent me..." (John 14:24). So Jesus served as savior, but also as forerunner. When Romans says that it was the Father’s plan for him to be the first of many brethren it shows Him as our elder brother and example, and we’re supposed to do as he has done. He did everything out of faith. So without faith, the Bible says, it is impossible to please the Lord. Whatever we do has to be by faith; even whatever we say should be spoken with a faith consciousness.

At times an individual may try to impersonate a person of faith; however, in the fullness of time it proves to not be an authentic faith. The New Testament also speaks to the fact that you can have faith that is feigned. We are well served to recognize that when troubles rise, a person’s faith is going to be tried, to prove what it is or to

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expose what it isn’t.

How does someone live an authentic life of faith?

What does that look like?

One of the things that is undeniable is that as a Christian you’ve got to be engaged in prayer. Prayer is one of the hardest things to do without faith. Because prayer requires you to pray to an invisible God and present the realities that you are faced with. It requires you to understand and anticipate with confidence God's divine intervention in the affairs of humanity.

So prayer, that’s something that you have to do?

I would say that it’s the chief thing, and the second thing that you must do, is release the reigns of your life.

In other words, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35) That's to say “I am not going to remain the captain of my soul, I’m going to allow the tenants of my faith to guide me and navigate me through this life. As I discern the promptings of the Lord, I’m going to obey.” The book of James says that we are to be hearers of the word and doers. That’s the obedience component. If

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

Yes, because sometimes when you say that you’re hearing and waiting, some might confuse that for being passive. So are you saying there has to be some kind of action along with it?

James wrote, "You have faith; I have deeds.

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." (James 2:18) My works have got to be the byproduct of my faith. You have many people who say they believe God, but they don’t ever do anything. What comes to mind is the scripture declaring “let your light shine so that men may see your good works, and glorify the Father who is in heaven”. I understand that faith is often said to be a personal thing, but I'm contending that at some point it has to become public.

Now you talk about praying and hearing from God; how does someone really listen and hear the voice of God? So that they know they’re taking action according to God’s plan and his will?

The best standard to judge that by is the Word of God and the study of His Word.

That’s the most fundamental way. The more you mature, the more you will become skilled to discern someone’s voice. I liken it to this; when you have a couple that are just beginning to date, they may not have proficient communication together, but in time, they will develop a communication style that may become wordless. They can just look at each other and articulate thoughts to each other, just from knowing each other. And so it is, the more time we spend with God, in His Word and in prayer, understanding His likes and His dislikes, His nuances and His preferences, and the things that just “wow” Him, the more I can discern His voice. He wants us to understand His ways and His preferences and to be able to discern Him. You have people who want to be intimate with God but that’s something that’s only going to come with time. I was teaching from Exodus 3 and 4 recently. And in v.3 He speaks to Moses out of the bush and He says “Here am I” but at the time he didn’t know who he was talking to. And we know that because he says “how are they going to be-

PHOTO BY DEREK PALMER

I’m going to be one who has substance to my declaration of faith, it has to be followed up by a necessary action.

lieve me and who should I say sent me?”

God responds “I Am that I Am.” In that moment God is introducing himself to Moses. He arguably may’ve had a form of worship, but, he didn’t understand the depths of faith & worship, as he was soon to become aware.

Now when you talk about worship, that involves more than just praising, worship is intimate. Like a love affair almost. What does it mean to really love God? Well the Bible says it so plainly I’ll just quote it, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”.

You have plenty of people who go to church, but they don’t worship with their spirit. Because they don’t even have an appreciation of the experience.

They think it’s about showing up to a building.

They don’t even allow their spirit to approach his thrown because they are either guarded , indifferent or unlearned.

They just come in bodily form. They fail to seek to connect to Him in spirit and in truth. You have people who are in a relationship, but they are living a lie.

It’s like the old Motown song says “You’re body’s here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town;” and you have a bunch of people who are religious bystanders because they thought that worship was just coming into the building. However, when you worship Him in spirit and in truth, you have surrendered your heart, and the fullness of yourself.

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That’s pretty deep. That goes into trust and love in a sense. So would you say that trusting God and loving Him are one in the same, or are they different in a sense?

Because you trust me you are capable of loving me, and should you ever love me the trust factor can go into deeper recesses of my heart and I may develop a vulnerability that facilitates a deeper worship. To say one is willing to accept whatever God has for them makes me think of Paul. Because when God had his initial encounter with him, Paul became open and recognized who God really was. The Lord pronounced to him, “I’ve chosen you and you will suffer many things for my name”.

When God brings you to the point where His using of you includes you having divinely permissive trials and tribulations, it takes the relationship to another level. Now this isn't easy to reach. Still Paul said, “I must do the will of He who called me”.

That’s where you find yourself at a place of yielding, versus a place of thinking that God is only required to give you material blessings and make life easy for all ages and all stages. Based on the teachings you’ve had, you will either be prepared, or be prone to walking away when life demands trust.

Part of what it means to be a Christian is evangelizing, why is it important to share our faith?

It’s critically important because Jesus prayed for his disciples and qualified it by saying, “Lord not only do I pray for these who are here, but others as well who have not yet believed.” So He’s prophesying that ‘there are others that I’ve claimed, but it’s going to require that someone go out and tell about me. Otherwise, he who is coming after me, won’t be able to come. So I’ve got to make room for him.’ So your testimony is important, and your testimony needs to be told with an evangelistic objective. There are those who will not proactively darken the door of a church building and still the gospel must be proclaimed. Our lives are supposed to be living epistles for those that have not come to know Christ.

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So how do you do that? What’s the best way for someone to go about sharing their faith?

With simplicity and authenticity; most people like to be around others who are sincere, authentic, honest, and devoted. Recently it was said of our church that we are a ministry that is relaxed and consisting of strong teaching. Believe it or not but one of the many barriers to the church is the perceived impossibility to being able to measure up, find an area to operate in my giftedness or understand the word. Well I agree, we are a teaching ministry that is down to earth, and we believe that we are an attractive house of worship - yes an attractive option - for all who are in search of a church home.

Scripture says, “You shall sanctify them with thy word, for thy word is true”. So the truth will eventually be a dividing or separating device in the evangelistic process. But the Bible says it’s not on me or you to do, our part is simply to sow and to water and let God deal with the hearts of those He chooses. For example, when the Lord sent Jonah to Ninevah, the Bible says that Ninevah was a wicked city. This seemingly was justification for Jonah not wanting to go. However, when he went and preached, God used his obedient act and it opened the door for the Holy Spirit to move through the entire region. The Bible says the whole city was saved. So if we just do what we are told to do, share the gospel, and not let anything get in the way; such as fear, or what other people may think about us, God will be glorified in the manifest salvation of infinite numbers of souls as they come into the Kingdom of God. For more information on Bishop Starks and World Victory, visit the church’s website at: www.wvicc.org. Also listen out for him on “The Voice of Victory” radio show on 1510 WEAL. We thank Bishop Starks and World Victory for their commitment and dedication. “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord” ■

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"Every day that God grants us on this earth means that He is not ready for us to come to Heaven yet. Which means that everyday we are alive, we should strive to ensure the will of God is carried out in the world."

- Bishop Adrian Stark

COVER STORY

Bishop Starks have served for 6 years with his wife Shandi and their 5 daughters: Christine 15, Sidney 13, Carmen 11, Courtney 7 , Victoria 11 months.

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ishop Starks started in ministry at Mt. Zion Baptist church under the guidance of Bishop George W. Brooks. On December 2, 2001 Bishop Starks left the nest and became the Pastor of Anderson Grove Baptist church in Pleasant Garden a suburb of Greensboro. He remembers one of his first conversations with the congregation being a young Pastor and told the small ministry of about 60 members to “ Buckle your seat belts it’s going to be an incredible ride.” The church was in transition after being established some 61 years prior so there were some challenges. Bishop Starks assured the small congregation that the dark days were behind them and those words proved prophetic.

Although Bishop Starks was a young Pastor he had the support of the older adults in the congregation.

Mother Cleo Surgeon was the oldest member and also one of his biggest supporters. Mother Cleo pulled Bishop Starks to the side one day and asked the question “ do you know why I follow you?” He answered, “no ma’am.” She went on the say, “Because I watch your wife and if she eats from your table then so will I.” Mother Cleo went on to be with the Lord recently at the ripe age of 94. Down through the years she would always remind him many times that “a good name is valuable.”

The ministry began to grow at a very accelerated pace and they out grew the facility in Pleasant Garden.

In 2003 the ministry physically moved to a larger building in downtown Greensboro at Fisher Park. The minis-

try grew from around 60 members to about 200 at the Pleasant Garden location so the move was necessary.

The ministry had grown from 200 to over 700 members at the new location downtown.

In 2008 the ministry had out grown the Fisher Park facility so it was time to move again. The options were to build or to buy an existing building. The ministry had come to an agreement with Christ Covenant church to by their facilities. Because of the recession banks had stop lending money to churches so Bishop Starks let Pastor Dave Longobardo of Christ Covenant know that the financing had fallen through. After much prayer and leading by the Holy Spirit Pastor Dave approached Bishop Starks the following week about merging the ministries and Pastor Starks being Senior Pastor over the merged ministries. This was history in the making in this area, a young black Pastor being asked to merge ministries with a majority Caucasian congregation and the young black Pastor to become senior Pastor over the combined ministries.

World Victory International Christian Center (WVICC) was formed and Pastor Dave Longobardo has remained on staff to this day. The ministry has continued to grow and be a vital part of the community.

Bishop Starks have served for 6 years with his wife Shandi and their 5 daughters: Christine 15, Sidney 13, Carmen 11, Courtney 7 , Victoria 11 months and surrogate son and pet dog Domino. There is never a dull moment in the Starks household and Bishop Starks loves being a husband and father. ■

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CHRISTIAN LIVING

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Counseling For Women – A Necessity to Build Collegial Relationship

oday, women are leading men irrespective of their difficult life circumstances. On the other hand, there are women struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties or they don’t feel happy at times. This is the phase of their life that they need direction which helps them walk a new path to physical, spiritual and emotional renewal. This is where counseling for women brings significant change to their lives and allow them grip issues more intimately.

Most women have such a deep desire for connection and the fundamental challenge for them is to balance that inner call to take care of the people they love with the voice that tells them to be genuine and think and feel what they want. No doubt, women’s life is full of struggles but that does not mean there aren’t solutions and people to bring them about.

Whether it is difficulty in relationships, starting a family, going through menopause, facing job changes, pregnancy, dealing with children or any other issue, dealing with these complications can be overwhelmingly different for a woman to face alone. And, this is where professional help from a counselor come to rescue. A specialized individual counseling regimen can help make sense of the confusing occurrences in women’s life. Counselors can help empower women face and resolve such issues safely and thoughtfully.

How Counseling Benefits Women? After a fruitful counseling session, women will themselves discover plenty

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of positive changes in their behavior pattern: They will learn to express feelings and emotions in a healthy way Managing depression or mild anxiety will be easier enough Forgiving others Will be able to heal old wounds and hurts Practice different ways of self-care using mind, body and high spirits Let go of thoughts that no longer plays an important role in the form of regrets, resentment and bitterness Brings more joy and happiness Besides going to motivational counseling, there are many activities a woman can do on their own to try to overcome the toughest phase of life. Try talking with a parent, good friend or jot down feelings in a diary. Other things which a woman can undertake such as: relaxation exercises, watching a good movie, music, dancing or hobbies as such. The combination of these activities with a counselor will dynamically help to improve how a person is feeling and that make life even more joyful Computer Technology Articles, peaceful and contended. ■

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RELATIONSHIPS

Five Signs That Show Your Spouse Is Serious About Ending Unfaithfulness

by Karla Downing Are you looking for Christian marriage help to deal with your spouse's unfaithfulness to you? Whether it is in engaging in pornography, chat rooms, one night stands, a long-term affair, or any other sexual acting out, you want your spouse to stop and you want to know if the promises to stop are sincere. Any healing is contingent on the unfaithful spouse being "done" with the affair or acting out. How can you tell if your spouse is sincere in wanting to end the unfaithfulness?

Here are five signs that show your spouse is serious about ending unfaithfulness:

4. There is a willingness to make whatever changes you need with a good attitude.

1. There is honesty and insight at a deep level about the unfaithfulness: why, when, how, where, and what.

5. There is a willingness to get help and be accountable and it is followed by action.

2. There is obvious brokenness emotionally and spiritually about the sin committed before the Lord and the pain that you are experiencing.

Healing is contingent on sincere repentance. These five signs show that your spouse is serious about ending unfaithfulness. If you see all of them and want to try to stay in the marriage, know that God can heal brokenness in any marriage when two people are committed to working through the pain in healthy ways. ■

3. There is acceptance of your feelings and boundaries.

You are given space to be real and honest about your pain and your process as you work through all the emotions.

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COMMUNITY

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by Rufus Jefferies

onna Harrelson- Burnett has been survivor of these tragic events, Dancing on writing since the 7th grade. It Daddy’s shoes has partnered with Bee Wise orstarted out as a hobby and became ganization to help children and adults recognize evident that this was her purpose. pedophiles all over this country and bring awareGod began to speak, and she began ness to help survivors of domestic violence and to write what she heard. God made sexual abuse. her tongue as a pen of a ready Dancing on Daddy’s Shoes” and “When Kings writer. From the very beginning Die” illustrates how people are able to overcome her poetry started to help others heal from hardships resulting from domestic violence and difficult situations. God compelled her to incest. These two plays explore the underside Donna write her first book entitled “Transforming and negative effects of these issues to help our Harrelson-Burnett Souls” after losing three siblings within a dying communities survive the impossible.

AUTHOR PLAYWRIGHT few short years from each other. It became Donna encourages audiences of ages 15 and up POET therapy as well as healing for Donna. As to come and see a life changing event. There are the strength of her writing grew she began young adults actors in these plays to help bring to write life stories as plays. This is where the transforawareness in schools and local communities. It is family mation began. oriented and very educational for families who have exYoung adults and adults in communities everywhere perienced these situations and need resources for help. should see and read these plays. Churches, Universities, These plays will empower people to become Victor’s High Schools, Social Clubs and Networking Events instead of Victims. would all benefit. Her work expresses the taboo of eve“Dancing on Daddy`s Shoes” was the first play writryday life. They educate their audiences on the seriousten, and “When Kings Die” immediately followed. Writness of sexual abuse and violence against children. ing both plays became her passion for people and the Those that have experienced this darkness are shown trials and tribulations they face in life. “Dancing on how to reach and receive the light. Donna is adamant Daddy’s Shoes” and “When Kings Die” are her babies, about people learning that anything hidden can’t heal. they are not just plays, but are both headed for the big She helps bring them to deliverance of the holy spirit and screen in 2016. They will start filming “Dancing on provide counseling for their very souls so they can return Daddy’s Shoes” in November directly after the play, and as a productive member of society.

“When Kings Die” in April of 2016. Donna has conIt took about 3 months to write the play. Donna had nected with Pitchvine Entertainment Company, that will to stay with the vision she was given because film these movies and show them locally.

She believes the vision of this play is God’s will for “There is plenty more where this came from” Donna those who have gone through these issues to help them said. She has at least 40 more plays that are in the procheal and be able to come to a place of deliverance. A ess of bringing to the stage and putting on DVD in the transformation, “if you will”. very near future. She takes every day society stories of Donna got the vision for the play “Dancing on ordinary people and turns it into a play. In between these Daddy’s Shoes” when she was a foster parent. Her foster plays is her next book entitled “Parallels of a Hidden child had experienced all type of abuse starting at the age Agenda”. This book talks about the hidden agendas of of 5. She was able to be a part of her development by her our government and how God will bring an end to this own hands as well as working with experts that provided disaster. It shows how America must answer for not daily counseling and support. Together they were able to staying under the “Authority of God” which is the numeducate and help raise a phenomenal young woman of ► God with the resources provided. Because of her being a

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COMMUNITY ber one principle that Pastor Thomas teaches.

People will be able to find the poetic version of this play on DVD here at the church during her DVD signing on Oct. 24th and 25th 2015, and at the Carolina Theatre on November 14th & 15th after the play is presented. Donna is presently making other arrangements for both versions of DVDs to be sold in stores. Again, these plays will be shown at a theatre here in Greensboro, NC in 2016.

“I would like to Thank God for an awesome Gift. I have had transformation after transformation. I have a “Renewed Mind”. I am so grateful for the healing that I have received as well as seeing others being healed by these plays. God has given me Wisdom, he has given me strength and equipped me with everything I need to continue to move forward on this journey. I am persuaded that God will be with me throughout. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to share these blessings with my church family and beyond. I graciously thank Pastor Thomas for all of his support and prayers for the Ministry. I am truly blessed and grateful. I pray you all experience a transformation from the work that God’s will has given me” stated Donna.

The DVD signing is scheduled for Oct.24th and 25th at Love and Faith Christian Fellowship Church 4344 Blackberry Road Greensboro, NC 27406. The DVD’s that will be available are “Dancing on Daddy’s Shoes”/ “When Kings Die”/ and “The Church on Domestic Violence”.

“Dancing on Daddy’s Shoes” will be held at the Carolina Theatre On November 14th and 15th 2015. Keep a mental note for this date and come out and support one of many that will take place in the upcoming years.

Donna will be auditioning for the movie “Dancing on Daddy’s Shoes” in late November. Donna can be reached at (336) 317-5845 or dburnett788@yahoo.com . Donna also plans to tour next year for this play, and already has several offers to come to Columbia SC, Baltimore MD and New Jersey. ■

Written By Anita "Boss Lady" Dean Arnette WPOL/WKEW

As a Christian: Why I Should Keep My Word!

Keeping our word honors God who also keeps HIS word to us. How gravely uncertain our lives would be if God’s word was untrustworthy.

Being true to our word paints an accurate picture of HIM to others. No one enjoys fraternizing with unreliable individuals or deities.

Faithfulness to our word also builds trust which ensures healthy relationships. Associations with little or no trust are doomed to fail. Trust is the building block for stability and endurance in our relationship with God and others.

Keeping your word eliminates the necessity of saying “I promise”.

Jesus warned his peers against flippant ose of sacred language and careless vows. A simple, “Yes, I will”, or “No, I won’t” is sufficient; Matthew 5:37; If you are a true Christian, No signature, not even a handshake should be required.

Living in a sinful society often makes promisese necessary but ultimately we should be as good as our word. “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord: Those who...keep their promises even when it hurts” Psalms 15:1,4.

Are you a person of your word or someone others question whether they can trust? Be as good as your word. REMEMBER: GOD ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISE TO US. ■

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MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

COMMUNITY Russell Funeral Home, Inc. 822 Carl Russell Ave. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Phone: 336-722-3459 rusfhome@bellsouth.net

the service. At the very least it should be clean, neat, and pressed as for any other important occasion.

I

f ever there were a place for the decorum to be maintained, it is at a funeral, memorial, or graveside service. A processional accompanied by a Dixieland band may be a time to joyfully celebrate the life of the deceased, but the service itself requires a respectful presence.

It's simple: Sit quietly, and don't get up during the service. The exception is when you have a cough that won't stop or you have to quiet a crying or unruly child; in both cases, quickly go to the vestibule or lobby. If a eulogy or tribute to the deceased is sprinkled with humor, it's fine to laugh, though not raucously.

Clothing Because the nature of funerals and memorial services varies so widely today, attire isn't limited to just black or dark gray. The exception may be when you're a pallbearer or honorary pallbearer, in which case a dark suit is the usual attire unless the family requests something else. Remember, though, that it is a serious occasion and your attire should reflect that, especially if you are participating in

Arriving When attending a service, be on time and enter the house of worship or location where the funeral will be held as quietly as possible.

If there are no ushers, remember that the seats closer to the front should be taken by very close friends, with acquaintances seating themselves in the middle or towards the rear.

If you arrive late, enter a row from a side aisle, not the center aisle. If a processional has begun, wait outside instead of trying to squeeze past those who are a part of the cortege and are waiting to walk down the aisle.

Processionals At some funerals, the coffin is brought in as part of a processional.

The officiant and the choir (if any) lead the funeral procession. Directly after come the honorary pallbearers, two by two, preceding the coffin, brought by assistants from the funeral home or the pallbearers carry the coffin. Unless they have chosen to be seated beforehand, the family comes next, chief mourner(s) first, walking with whomever he or she chooses.

Close friends may follow, completing the procession. The family and pallbearers occupy the front rows, with friends filling vacant places on either side. The service begins when everyone is seated.

At memorial services and at a fu-

neral where the coffin or urn is already present, there is no processional. In these cases, the service starts after the family and officiant enter, usually from a front side or door.

Children Children should be encouraged to attend the ceremonies surrounding the death of a family member or close friend to whatever degree they feel comfortable. Children learn through these experiences that death is a natural part of life and that rites are observed when someone dies.

Always consider a child's age before taking her to a funeral, memorial service, or a prolonged visitation.

Because young children can become restless or have trouble staying quiet, you may choose to have them stay at home with a sitter, or bring a sitter who can take them home if needed.

Older children should sit with their family, closest to whoever can give them the most comfort. The children should wear clothing that's age appropriate and similar in style to that worn by adult family members. Generally, children do not wear black.

Recessionals A recessional ends the service, whether a processional took place or not. As a rule, the officiant leads the honorary pallbearers, followed by the coffin (carried or guided by the pallbearers), and then the members of the immediate family. At a memorial service the officiant leads the family out through the same door they entered. The immediate family leaves first, followed by the other relatives.

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CHRISTIAN MUSIC

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icensed and Ordained Minister/Evangelist, Vocalist and Psalmist, Motivational Speaker and Radio Host, Author, Songwriter and Publisher are just a few of the many hats that Catrina wears to display her multi-gifted talents.

As a Wife to Carilius Reese and the proud mother of 4 children and 5 grandchildren, Catrina still finds the time to travel in both Domestic and International markets supporting her favorite charities and spreading the Gospel. Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Catrina, the first of four siblings, she was BORN TO SING !

Her musical talent was manifested in early childhood as she eagerly performed at family events.

As a young adult, she sang with several groups and was introduced to professional background vocals and studio session work which launched her to share the stage with some of the Gospel Music Greatest Legends as: Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Beverly Crawford, Vicki Winans, Kathy Mattea, Yolanda Adams and Deitrick Haddon, just to name a few.

Her Domestic and International appeal has drawn fans to her message of love and hope all over the globe as she travels embracing an array of cultures which includes her traveling with Samaritan’s Feet, an International Mission’s organization to Cape Town South Africa and Guyana South America and Burundi Africa.

Catrina's long awaited EP "Love Letter to God" was released May 17, 2014 and is being played by radio stations all over featuring the single “ You Made A Way “ .

As an Author her published book “ From the Heart ” is a daily devotional that you must add to your reading list available through Amazon and Lulu.com.

Embracing her favorite scripture Philippians 4:13 (AMP): I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b] self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency] 2015 will prove to be a year of new heights for Catrina “Gospeljazztress” Reese! ■ Follow Catrina on Social Media: Facebook: Catrina Reese Ministries ■ Twitter: @catrinareesemin Website: CatrinaReeseMinistries.com FOR MANAGEMENT AND BOOKINGS CONTACT: A.C.T.S. Entertainment Management Office Phone: 404 432 7648 or EMAIL: Actsentertainmentmgmt@gmail.com Website: www.actsmanagement.vpweb.com ■ Twitter: @actsmgmt ■ Facebook: Acts Mgmt

Top 10 Gospel

02 Amazing Ricky Dillard

03 Fill Me Up Casey J

01

04 Every Praise

For Your Glory

Jason Nelson

Tasha Cobbs

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Hezekiah Walker

05 I Am 06 I Will Trust Fred Hammond featuring BreeAnn Hammond

MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

07 Say Yes Michelle Williams featuring Beyonce and Kelly Rowland

08 #War Charles Jenkins & fellowship Chicago

09 God My God Vashawn Mitchell

10 No Greater Love Smokie Norful

CHRISTIAN BUSINESS

Is there any tax advantage from employing my children in my family businesses?

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had a client ask me this week if I they could hire there nine and six year old to work in their family business and if there were a tax advantage? Well the short answer is YES YOU CAN and YES THERE IS!!! However; with all things it depends on some factors.

When you pay your children reasonable wages to work in your family business, you provide your offspring with valuable knowledge and get a few special tax breaks in the process THE TAX IMPLICATIONS In 2014, you can pay your child up to $11,700 (standard deduction equal to earned income up to a maximum of $6,200, plus $5,500 deductible IRA contribution) without either of you incurring a tax liability. That’s because reasonable wages you pay to your minor child to work are fully deductible as a legitimate business expense, lowering your gross income. For your son or daughter, the standard deduction and IRA contribution eliminates all of the tax on the child’s income.

And since the money was earned, the “kiddie tax” doesn’t apply even if your child is under age 18.

Income tax withholding Regardless of how the family business is organized, it probably will have to withhold federal income taxes on the child's wages. Usually, an employee who had no federal income tax liability for the prior year, and expects to have none for the current year, can claim exempt status. However, exemption from withholding cannot be claimed if (1) the employee's income exceeds $1,050 for 2015 and includes more than $350 for 2015 of unearned income (such as dividends), and (2) the employee may be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return (whether or not he actually is claimed). (Instructions to Form W-4 for CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

www.ancaccountingservices.com 210-B Century Blvd Kernersville, NC 27284 Phone: (336)996-7650 ■ Fax: (336)310-0524

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All About the Kids Spiritual E Life Magazine

6 Bible verses about Spiritual Food 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil Isaiah 25:6 The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.

Isaiah 55:2 "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

2015) Keep in mind that the child probably will get a refund for part or all of the withheld tax when he or she files a return for the year.

An employee may be able to claim exemption from withholding even if he or she is a dependent, if the employee is age 65 or older; blind; or will claim adjustments to income, tax credits, or itemized deductions on his or her income tax return.

FICA and FUTA: Employment for FICA tax purposes doesn't include services performed by a child under the age of 18 while employed by a parent.

This can generate some savings for a parent who runs an unincorporated business. For example, let's say a sole proprietor who usually takes $125,000 of earnings from the business pays $4,750 to her 17-year-old child in 2014. The sole proprietor's self-employment income would be reduced by $4,750, saving her $137.75 in social security taxes. This doesn't take into account a sole proprietor's income tax deduction for one-half of his or her own social security taxes.

That's on top of the $363.37 in employee FICA that the child saves by working for Mom instead of someone else.

A similar but more liberal exemption applies for FUTA, which exempts earnings paid to a child under age 21 while employed by his or her parent. The FICA and FUTA exemptions also apply if a child is employed by a partnership consisting solely of his parents.

However, there is no FICA or FUTA exemption for employing a child in an incorporated business or in a partnership that includes non-parent partners. The children are subject to the same rules that apply to all other employees.

The Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law, outlines what types of jobs kids are allowed to do, and at what ages. The point of the law is to protect young workers, so it speaks to issues like type of work, breaks and maximum hours per week. Many states add still more restrictions to the federal law. Be sure to do as my client did and check with us if you have any questions in this area. ■

Ezekiel 34:14 "I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

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MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091

Our company has been in operation since 2000. We are a Christian owned and operated business. We believe our customers needs are of the upmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs as we offer you our products and services. As a result a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals. We have great affordable price.

We Would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the photography industry.

Roslyn Payne, Owner

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MY ELIFE ■ MYELIFEMAG.COM ■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 336-323-8091