The ChurchAtNewark Magazine

FEBRUARY 2018

Online Christian Magazine

What Is Christian Ministry?

Understanding the book of Genesis

POLITICS!!!

Bishop Earlin Thomas The Shield of Faith Broadcasting Network from America to India Proclaiming the Gospel around the world!

the Church at Newark TV show

on cablevision channel 19 Sundays 4pm Wed & Fri 12am

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TheChurchAtNewark Magazine

Focus - More Productivity!

January is over and we are well into the new year. Many of us, and especially those of us who are in ministry, are working on multiple projects and working in many different areas of ministry, and some of us are working with multiple ministries.

However I’ve discovered that for myself, I need to reign in some of the areas that I am working in so that I can have a bigger impact for the kingdom. It just may be possible that like me, you could have an even bigger impact for the kingdom if you have less project which would bring more productivity. - Pastor Rick

TheChurchAtNewark Seeks to inform Enlighten, and Empower believers to livemore joyful, productive, and Godly lives and to introduce those who are non-believers to our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ.

TheChurchAtNewark is a publication of MetroChristianMedia.com for more info or to advertise with us call 862-888-8238

TheChurchAtNewark Magazine made its debut in September 2012 as Transformation Newark Magazine.

Our format of providing only positive news and life changing information is a welcome media source for our readers.

Our target market is a mostly an AfricanAmerican adult 25-60 year old audience in Essex County who has a deep interest in our local community, improving their lives, and serving God. Our publication reaches about 3,000 homes monthly.

In total there have been well over 3 million pages viewed of our publications!

We will miss you Elizabeth

IN THIS ISSUE

4 Ministry - Am I called to preach?

8 Life - Pleasure 10 Get Understanding: The Book of Galatians 12 Bishop Earlin Thomas 18 Finance - Money & Marriage 22 Politics - Fire & Fury 26 Relationships - Who’s more concerned?

30 Health - The bible & weight loss

MINISTRY

What Is Christian MINISTRY???

MINISTRY

Christian Ministry is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve" or douleuo, meaning "to serve as a slave." In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry—He came, not to receive service, but to give it (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17).

The Christian should minister by meeting people's needs with love and humility on Christ's behalf (see Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43; John 2:5,9; Acts 6:3; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Colossians 4:12). Christians are to minister to others out of their devotion to Christ and their love for others, whether the other people are believers or unbelievers. Ministry to others should be impartial and unconditional, always seeking to help others as Jesus would.

The ministry in our day has taken on more of a vocational meaning as we call pastors "ministers" to full-time service. Pastors do spend their lives in the ministry, they do minister to others, and they can rightly be designated as ministers, but pastors are not the only ones who are to be involved in ministry. From the early New Testament churches to the churches of our day, each Christian should be in the ministry of helping others (see Romans 12:3-8, 10-13; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).

The content of ministry seems to prioritize the ministering in spiritual things, not just practical things. Ministry should certainly place emphasis on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others so they can come to know Him and receive Him as personal Savior, go on to experience Him as Lord of their life, and go even further to know Christ as the essence of their Life (see John 1:12; Colossians 2:6-7; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8-10). Ministry can, and should, include ministering to the physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others. Jesus did, and so should we!

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CABLEVISION CHANNEL 19 Host & Producer Pastor Rick

MINISTRY LIFE

LIFE

Some people imagine God as a cruel task master opposed to all fun or pleasure. To them, He is the God of all-seriousness or the God of rules. But this is not an accurate, biblical picture of God. God created us with the ability to experience pleasure. Several Scriptures speak of our delight and pleasure (for example, Psalm 16; Proverbs 17:22; and Proverbs 15:13). The beauty of creation and the diversity of humanity show us God’s creative palette. Many people find pleasure in spending time out of doors or in relating with those of different personalities. This is good and proper. God wants His creation to be enjoyed.

In the Bible, we see God Himself take pleasure in things. Zephaniah 3:17, for example, says that God delights in us and sings over us. God also instituted multiple celebrations and festivals in the Old Testament. To be sure, these feasts had a didactic element, but they were also celebrations. Scripture speaks of having joy – Philippians and the Psalms are two places where we see plenty of it. Jesus declares, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Life “to the full” sounds like a pleasurable experience.

God’s design of the human body reveals that pleasure is part of His plan. Taste buds and other sensory organs are proof that God is not opposed to pleasure. Why does food taste so good? Why is the scent of roses pleasing? Why is a back massage enjoyable? Because God wanted it that way. Pleasure was God’s idea.

Sometimes we think that, when Christians talk about pleasure or joy, they mean being joyful in reading their Bibles, meditating, or serving. We certainly do take pleasure in those things but not to the exclusion of other activities. God also created us for fellowship with others and for recreation. We were made to delight in being His children, in using the talents He bestows and in participating in the pleasures He offers.

It is also wise to distinguish between the different types of “pleasure” in this world. We live in a fallen world where God’s best for us is often perverted. Just because society deems an activity pleasurable does not mean it is pleasing to God (see Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-10; and 1 Corinthians 6:12-17). When we consider these “pleasures” of the world, we find that they are not in fact healthy for us or conducive to long-term pleasure. The prodigal son reveled in sin until the money ran out; then he found that the pleasures of sin are fleeting (Luke 15:11-17). They are false friends that leave us empty and longing.

It is also important to realize that the purpose of our lives is not pleasure. Hedonism is a false philosophy. We were created to delight in God (Psalm 37:4) and accept with gratitude the good things He provides. More importantly, we were created to have a relationship with God. No, God is not opposed to pleasure. He is opposed to pleasure usurping His place in our lives. Sometimes we are called to forgo the pleasure of the moment in order to invest in the greater pleasure of God’s kingdom. We won’t be disappointed. For those who seek Him and His righteousness, God has “eternal pleasures” in store (Psalm 16:11). gotquestions.org

GET UNDERSTANDING

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO https://youtu.be/GQI72THyO5I

Fourteen years ago we embarked on the journey of bringing the Word to our communities. It has been a mission of faith and a labor of love for our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2013 we set out to spread the Word and Gospel Music on a more global extent and thus the birth of our Broadcasting Ministries.

From our initial broadcasts on local radio in the heart of Jersey City NJ, we recognized the need to expand our base. So in late 2012, we made the decision to embody our team in a new cause to spearhead the Word via the internet. Now we are streaming 24 hours a day; providing those of us who choose to follow the Lord; a station that provides spiritual enlightenment and gospel music all day, every day, 24-7.

Thomas

- Bishop Earlin

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Everything You Need For Your Perfect Wedding

MINISTRY FINANCE

FINANCE

The Bible does not specifically address the handling of money in a marriage, but the principles regarding the relationship dynamics between the husband and wife touch on all aspects of the marriage. In other words, the principles set forth by the Lord in Ephesians 5:22-33 and Colossians 3:18-19 speak to all facets of the husband-wife relationship. This means that the spiritual balance of the spousal relationship, in all aspects, is directly impacted by the individual spouse’s personal relationship to God. In any relationship there is both blessing by association and suffering by association, and these principles are affected by the choice of each spouse to walk in obedience to the Lord.

Both spouses bring to their union strengths and weaknesses. Molding these individual characteristics into a workable relationship is a matter of understanding the order of God and the gift of grace. Financial decisions that impact the success of the family are a shared responsibility. Whatever the source of God’s provisions, whether the result of the husband’s employment or the wife’s employment or both, the assets accumulated are the responsibility of both partners together as a team. The important principle in regard to financial decisions is to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 14:8; Colossians 3:23-24).

Inherent in the marriage of two people in Christ, however, is the understanding that the husband is the ultimate authority. He is responsible to God to lead and shepherd his family, while his wife’s responsibility is to submit to him and be his helper. In the realm of money in a marriage, this could mean that the husband has sole control over the checkbook, pays all the bills, and sees to the family savings and investing as well as giving, while at the same time

consulting his wife and getting her input on financial decisions. It can just as legitimately mean that he delegates this function to his wife, especially if she enjoys or is better suited to the details of the financial realm, and that she takes over the financial details of the “family business.� But the husband still has the responsibility to oversee the process. In the end, a couple that works together in the financial aspect of the family will be a couple that usually has good communication and mutual respect.

Finally in the area of money in a marriage, we are also given principles such as the one in Luke 6:38, which states that the more freely we give the greater the blessing. This means that there is a correlation between the giving that we do as unto the Lord and the blessing that we receive in return, both spiritual and financial. We cannot out-give God. The more faithful we are in giving back to the LORD, the more we find that what we retain is multiplied and, indeed, more than sufficient to the point of abundance.

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POLITICS

POLITICS

While I have resisted for years commenting on the politics of the day, I feel compelled by my journalistic compulsion to inform, equip, and enlighten my readers, such that they may know truth and act upon it. Ultimately that truth being our Lord and saviour Jesus the Christ.

In the coming articles I will seek to present, as much as possible, in an unbiased way, not commonly known, undisputed facts in the political world; which I pray will help you have more informed opinions so that you can make better decisions as to how to act, with respect to those who are and would be elected to represent you. -Pastor Rick ———————————————————————————————————— FIRE & FURY

———————————————————————————————————— Whether or not you are a supporter of the current administration, more than a million avid and non avid readers are clamouring for what many have said, even prior to its release, is the best selling political book of all time. Patterson New Jersey born, Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House”

The publisher of Michael Wolff's new book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" can't print copies fast enough.

Citing "unprecedented demand," publisher Henry Holt & Co. pushed the publication date to Friday, January 5th from the 9th. The move prompted mass exoduses to local bookstores and online distributors — bookstores in major cities have sold out of their first order. People in Washington, D.C., lined up at midnight with the windchill at -3 degrees, declaring the release a "D.C. moment."

Kramerbooks, a famed D.C. bookstore, sold out of the book in just 20 minutes, and Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer reported bought a copy of "Fire and Fury" for every member of Congress.

The online demand for the book is similarly unprecedented. Fire and Fury shot to the top of Amazon's booklist. The Kindle and audio editions of the book are selling fast as well; the Kindle and audiobook are respectively No. 2 and No. 3 on Amazon’s best-seller list. Barnes & Noble lists the book as being "temporarily out of stock" on its website.

CLICK HERE TO READ! https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Fury-

Michael Wolff American author Michael Wolff is an American author, essayist, and journalist, and a regular columnist and contributor to USA Today, The Hollywood Reporter, and the UK edition of GQ. Wikipedia Born: August 27, 1953 (age 64), Paterson, NJ Nationality: American Movies: Von Marx zu Darwin, Universitat Bremen Education: Columbia University, Vassar College

Books By Pastor Ric

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RELATIONSHIPS MINISTRY “Nothing can hurt more than realizing he was everything to you and you were nothing to him”

Are you are more concerned about him than he is about you?

RELATIONSHIPS

In most instances the person who is least interested in the relationship is really the one who controls the relationship.

That’s because you are the one catering to him to sustain your relationship, this is not how it is supposed to be. Whether you are dating, engaged, married, or just friends, all healthy relationships should be 50/50 partnerships. Both must be giving and receiving.

While it is true that there are givers and takers in life, what is often overlooked is that no one is a 100% giver nor 100% taker.

Even those who take and have a need to receive, also have a need of giving, even though it can often times be very self centered and self serving.

Those whom we would classify as “givers” have a greater need to give than to receive. But, make no mistake about it, they also need to receive as well. It is impossible to keep giving if you are not being replenished.

When you find that you are more into him than he is into you, and you are the one who is constantly giving and not receiving what you need from him, your relationship will not only be more strained but eventually you are going to be terribly disappointed and hurt. -Pastor Rick

Relationships 101:: Does He Love You Enough?

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MINISTRY HEALTH The Bible Weight Loss And Obesity

HEALTH

While nothing in the Bible specifically addresses obesity and weight loss, there is much in God’s Word about the importance of our health and of taking care of our bodies. God warns us against gluttony. In the Old Testament God gave specific instructions about what His people, the Israelites, were to eat (Deuteronomy 14:1–21). Most of these commands were designed to keep the Israelites from eating harmful foods that would negatively impact their health. Some of the commands were also given so God’s people wouldn’t imitate the habits of the idolatrous people around them.

Gluttony, which is overeating or drinking to excess, is condemned in the Bible (Proverbs 23:20–21). Gluttony can lead to health risks and become a drain on one’s finances. Plus, the love of food and drink can all too easily become an idol in our lives. Anything that takes the place of God or becomes our number-one focus is, by definition, an idol and thus a sin against God (Exodus 20:3–6). Proverbs 23:2 exhorts us to “put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony”; in other words, we are admonished to restrain our appetites.

In the New Testament, Paul tells followers of Jesus Christ that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). That being the case, we should take care of our bodies and keep them as healthy as possible. Knowing that being obese can lead to multiple health problems, including back and knee pain and cardio-vascular complications, we should make wise choices regarding food, drink, and exercise.

We should be careful not to imply that being overweight is synonymous with gluttony. That would be an over-simplification. There are indeed medical conditions and medicines that lead to weight gain and situations that prevent proper exercise. Such circumstances require a much greater effort than the average person expends to keep one’s weight under control.

If there are no extenuating circumstances, then being overweight is usually an outward sign of a life out of balance. Anxiety and depression are a couple of the most common reasons to eat out of balance. “Anxious eating” is much more common than most people realize. Of course, the Bible has plenty to say about how to deal with anxiety and depression. God repeatedly tells His children not to fear and to cast their cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Jesus taught us to seek a balance between the physical and the spiritual: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Striving for balance in our eating habits—and balancing our physical needs with our spiritual necessities—requires wisdom.

Weight loss requires more than simply desiring to lose weight. It’s possible to desire something and never attain it. In the Christian life, we must make decisions that “take off the old self” and “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22–24). Similarly, to attain a balance in our diet, we must put aside old habits and develop new ones. Also, the Christian life teaches us that success is easier when we are sharing the journey with others. In the same way, weight loss is best accomplished with others who can provide some degree of accountability.

While obesity and weight loss are valid concerns, we must be careful not to become obsessed with body image. Again, when something besides God becomes the major focus of life, it is sin. To constantly obsess about exercise, diet, and weight loss means we’ve allowed our bodies to become the center of our lives. Someone with a toned, fit body can be just as idolatrous as a glutton. Also, an obsession with weight loss can tip over into anorexia or bulimia, which also has a negative impact on health.

The bottom line is that the Lord wants His children to take good care of their bodies since their bodies are the residence of the Holy Spirit. A strong, healthy body helps us better serve God and thus bring glory and honor to Him, our principal reason for living. The Lord wants us to keep our focus on Him and not fall into obsessing about weight gain, weight loss, or food and drink, any of which can become an idol in our lives.

At the end of the day, God wants our hearts. Body weight and outward image are overemphasized in our society, at the expense of inward character. While we should strive to honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20), God is more interested in how we treat others and our loyalty to Him than our physical weight. gotquestions.org