Jan. 2012 Transition by Pecan Tree Publishing

A PECAN TREE PUBLISHING MAGAZINE VOL 2

ISSUE

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

from christianity Religion TOSpirituality

WHEN THE NEST IS NO LONGER FULL – LIFE STILL CAN BE

Transition: Choices,

Changes and Challenges

When the Praises Go Up – Music to Soothe

OIKONOMIA MAGAZINE heeds the call to identify stewardship as purposed life strategy and management by pouring Biblical strategies, principals and understanding into major life areas including: time, health, family, finances and others. Each issue provides a holistic approach to strategic, purposed and determined successful living. PUBLISHER E. Claudette Freeman ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR E. Chantaye Watson EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kimberly M. Archer Wayne Dean ADVISORY BOARD Elder Vernita C. Williams Rev. Saquile Lazenby Rev. Dameon Madison Everett Montgomery CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rev. Dameon Madison Elder George Fishburne Tammye Mathews Dr. Willis Newman Pastor Oscar L. Chestnut Elder Vernita Williams Geoffrey Mosongo Telika Howard Sandra Stubbs Cynthia Stargell Min. Debbie Mirander Jane Ubay Kimberly Larkins-Robinson Ionnie McNeill MJ Smith Gian Cruz Patricia Jones, M.A. Carol Lynne Watson GRAPHIC DESIGN Barnabas Kimani OIKONOMIA MAGAZINE is published by Pecan Tree Publishing, www.pecantreemags.com, Hollywood, Fl 33020. Pecan Tree Publishing chose to present the publication in the online format to shatter the readership restrictions on some print publications. While there will be no subscription rate for the online edition, allowing free and continual access to issues; the publication may also be ordered in a print-ondemand basis for a nominal charge. For submission or editorial guidelines, as well as questions, comments or general feedback please email: oikonomiamag@pecantreepress.com. For advertising inquiries, please email: solutions@ pecantreepress.com. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 10a-2p. For inquiries not listed here, please call 877207-2442.

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CONTENTS VOL 2 ISSUE December 2011/January 2012

16 WHAT DOES BEING SAVED REALLY MEAN?

74 WHAT IS GOD’S WILL CONCERNING MY CAREER?

19 FROM RELIGION TO CHRISTIANITY 76 TRANSITION: CHOICES, TO SPIRITUALITY CHANGES AND CHALLENGES 27 THE BIBLE’S WORD ON GRIEF MANAGEMENT BRINGS COMFORT TO BELIEVERS 36 FRIENDS OF GOD – ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? 39 WHEN GOD JOINS US TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE WHAT IS HE CONSIDERING? 54 TRANSITIONING OUT FROM THE OLD UNHEALTHY BODY

85 THE FAILURE TO PLAN YOUR ESTATE WILL LEAD TO FAILURE 90 WHAT EXACTLY IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY MEDICAL AND DURABLE? 92 BUILDING WEALTH: THE NEXT GENERATION’S PERSPECTIVE 104 DOES TURNING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH MEAN GOD WILL TURN AWAY FROM YOU?

57 HEALTHY MIND, BODY & SPIRIT= 112 CHRISTIAN MEDITATIONS: ARE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THEY REALLY BIBLICAL? 59 ADDICTION – YIELDING TO THIS PROBLEM AND RECOVERING FROM IT 67 WHEN THE NEST IS NO LONGER FULL – LIFE STILL CAN BE

116 FIND POCKETS OF PEACE WHEREVER YOU CAN 118 WHEN THE PRAISES GO UP – MUSIC TO SOOTHE

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Editor’s Cut

“TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV). Our lives as well as the relationships we develop in life are only for a season, some are brief, while others last a lifetime. Having the wisdom to discern whether your season is in the beginning, middle, or end can be a very difficult thing to do, since ultimately God is in control of our lives. (James 4:14) Are there times when you feel like just giving up and walking away, not just from life’s responsibilities but from life itself? How does it feel when everything is going your way? Have you ever thought about how God views your commitment to your family, as well as your body? You are not alone, and there is a reason and lesson for everything we go through. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28(KJV) The theme for this issue of Oikonomia is Till Death Do Us Part, and inside we have provided thought provoking articles de-

signed to focus on transition. Whether it is divinely orchestrated or born out of our decisions and behaviors – transitions come. When you become saved or join a church you have entered into a relationship with Christ - transition. Yet, things shift and you are searching for a new house of worship - with that being said - how does God look at us when we leave the church, or for that matter marry out of his will? How does God view us when we get a divorce? What is the Father’s role in our career choices and our decisions to serve? How do we deal with the struggle of becoming the parent to those who gave us life or watching those we raise leave home? To everything there is a season – transition. It is our sincere desire that this edition of Oikonomia inspires you to be a good Steward of the blessings God has given you while staying strong, keeping the faith, and joining us in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. Be Blessed Wayne M. Dean, Co Editor- Chief OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

So, Here Is My

Question â&#x20AC;Ś

STEWARDSHIP IS A HUGE SUBJECT IN THE KINGDOM of God. We know that you have a whole library of questions relating to the management of everything from finances to your relationship with Christ. We are here to provide you with some help along the way. If you would like your stewardship questions answered, email them to: OIKONOMIAMAG@PECANTREEPRESS.COM, put SO HERE IS MY QUESTION in the subject line. You may also fax your question to: 877.842.3263. Q. I have a spouse and children what is a way we can protect our income and save for retirement? Dave H.

A. Wayne Dean, Financial Planner -

First understand that you are talking about two completely separate events, therefore they should be handled separately. The most effective way to protect your income is to purchase proper life insurance; most experts recommend that your life insurance coverage be 5-10 times your annual salary. When purchasing life insurance it is imperative that you remember the purpose is to replace your income, in case you or your spouse dies before you are able to accumulate the necessary wealth your family would need.

Whenever you have your Life insurance and your investments in one policy, you are not getting the most value for your dollar. If you die you want your family to receive the full amount of the policy in addition to the full amount of any investments. When looking to invest for retirement the best place to start is with employer based plans such as 401K, deferred compensation, 457, 403B accounts. The next plan of action would be IRA (Roth & Traditional), annuities. It is never a bad idea to have other types of assets that you may be willing to part with upon retirement if necessary, such as real estate, precious metals, and other collectibles. A good rule to follow when it comes to Income protection and investing is - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to keep the two separate, one has to do with death while the other deals with living and that is why they should be handled as two totally separate events. Q. - I was intrigued that your magazine lists HEALTH as an area of stewardship. While I know the bible says that our bodies are a temple of the Lord; what is our stewardship responsibility to our bodies? Does that affect how we worship God? Melissa G.

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

A. Telika Howard, Health Writer

Many Christians believe that our earthly bodies are a temporary shell and shouldn’t be considered while spending this temporary time on earth until Jesus calls us home. This is true - our spirits will eventually be taken up to Christ, while our bodies will go back to dust. However, according to the Bible our bodies are more than just a shell but the very temple that holds the Holy Spirit. Out of respect for the body which, God has blessed us with, each unique in its own way, we should make sure we take care of it properly. We also must make sure we don’t rush it back to dust before its time and thus ending God’s purpose for us on earth prematurely. God has a plan for each of us and we are all pre-destined to carry out His plan if we follow Him down the right path. But if we destroy our bodies by not eating properly, not exercising regularly, smoking or doing drugs, we could kill ourselves too early and not ever see or experience the blessed purpose that God has for us. We honor God by showing Him how grateful we are for the unique body that He has given us. It’s strong and does so many amazing things for us. If He just wanted our bodies to be temporary shells to misuse, He wouldn’t have put our bodies together in such an astonishing way, with all its systems, functions, organs and muscles. It says in 1st Corinthians 6:20, “glorify God in our bodies.” For those who say well, God is a healer and I can rely on Him to heal my body when I need it. Yes, this is true God is a healer and it says in the Bible, “by Jesus’ stripes we are healed.” I firmly believe that God will heal and forgive you if you ask whether you or something else was the reason your body begins to fail. However, showing God you love Him by trying your best to take care of His gift to you is the best way to strengthen your relationship with Him. You also can be a good example for others who don’t know or appreciate their body as a gift from God. The best way to glorify God in your body is to develop a health plan: 1) Budget time for taking of your body through exercise; 2) eating properly and; 3) giving up anything that can eventually destroy your temple before its time. If you are not sure what you need to do first, ask God in prayer to help you and to give you the desire to change your lifestyle and then seek your doctor and other educational resources on what your body needs and how to prevent various diseases. ***There are two great stories in this issue to help you restore and heal your temple.

12 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

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WASHINGTON — New government statistics show federal health care fraud prosecutions in the first eight months of fiscal 2011 are on pace to rise 85% over last year largely because of ramped-up enforcement efforts under the Obama administration. The statistics, released by the non-partisan Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, show 903 prosecutions so far this year. That’s a 24% increase over the total for all of fiscal year 2010, when 731 people were prosecuted for health fraud through federal agencies across the country. Prosecutions have gone up 71% from Fraud cases five years ago, according to TRAC. Health care fraud “This was a fairly draprosecutions: matic number of prose1991 147 cutions,” said David Burnham, co-director 2001 631 of TRAC. TRAC is a re631 2001 Burnham, co-director search organization at 2006 528 cutions,” David 147 1991 Syracuse said University matic number of prose2010 that submits Freedom 731 prosecutions: “This This was a fairly f draof Information Act re2011 9031 Health care fraud ing to TRAC. quests for government five years ago, accordcases 1Fraud – For the first eight data and then reports months of the fiscal year, have gone up 71% from the results. which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. country. Justice Prosecutions Department Source: Justice Department health fraud through federal agencies across the officials said the in2010, people were prosecuted for By Julie Snider, USA TODAY crease when runs 731 parallel 24% over the withincrease what they’re see-total for all of fiscal year show 903looking prosecutions so far year. That’sina ing when at health carethis fraud broadly, Transactional Access Clearinghouse, part because of Records a couple of big busts this year, as Theasstatistics, released by the non-partisan well several cases involving fraud in the prima vateadministration. sector. ramped-up enforcement effortsaccurate under the “The trend certainly looks andObaon to risewith 85%our over lastsaid year largely because of track data,” Justice spokeswoman the eightthough months of said fiscalshe 2011 arenot on pace Alisafirst Finelli, she could conshow federal care fraud prosecutions in firm the exacthealth numbers. She cited a February WASHINGTON case that brought—inNew 111 government people — thestatistics largest take-down to date for the Medicare Fraud Task USA TODAY Force — as a factor. In that case, doctors, nurses By Kelly Kennedywere accused of falsely billing and executives Medicare more than $225 million. Task force convictions have also risen, according to Justice’s criminal division Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer. In 2010, the task force saw 23 trial convictions for Medicare fraud. In the first eight months of this year, it has had 24. “That’s just a stunning number when you see it in the first eight months,” Breuer said. “We’re just going to build on this model, and we’re going to hold those responsible who are stealing from the government.” The government beefed up its staffing this year, adding two health care fraud teams in February. In 2010, the government recovered a record $4 billion from health fraud cases after the federal health care law created one agency and expanded another. The actuary for Medicare predicted provisions of the law would ultimately net $4.9 billion in fraud and abuse savings over the next 10 years, which will be rolled back into Medicare. Over the past couple of years, the task force has used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to find people stealing millions of dollars.

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After Irene, many spots are welcoming visitors By Laura Bly and Kitty Bean Yancey USA TODAY

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Long Beach Island, N.J.: Lloyd Vosseller, a public-works Atlantic beach destinations from employee in Harvey Cedars, shores up eroded dunes. the Outer Banks to Cape Cod took a uAlong the Jersey Shore, Irene’s biggest beating over the weekend, but Irene hasn’t kept some tourist draws from putting down wind- impact occurred south of Asbury Park, where the blown welcome mats for vacationers looking for a storm tore up most of the 2-mile-long Spring Lake final summer fling as Labor Day weekend ap- boardwalk. Other area boardwalks fared much better, including the famous walk in Atlantic City. proaches. An update, from south to north: uIn North Carolina’s hard-hit Outer Banks, the The city’s 11 casinos reopened at noon Monday 200-mile-long string of barrier islands where after reporting only minor cosmetic damage. Irene made landfall Saturday as a Category 1 Big names Harrahs, Bally’s and Caesars are ofhurricane, multiple washouts along Route 12 fering “Goodnight Irene” specials at $59 a night north of Rodanthe have cut access to Hatteras and tonight and $79 Wednesday to boost business. Ocracoke islands. With the area’s major artery The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority severed indefinitely, “our season is over,” Hatter- said the boardwalk and beach were open Monas motel owner Carol Dawson told Raleigh’s The day. To the south, Cape May beaches were open News & Observer. Monday, and the Cape May-Lewes (Del.) ferry But in Dare County, which includes the popular resumes service today. uOn Long Island, N.Y., “we dodged a bullet,” Outer Banks resort towns of Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Duck, visitor access resumed at noon said visitors bureau CEO Moke McGowan. HampMonday for most areas. Beachgoers will be al- tons beaches sustained far less erosion than exlowed back in Duck — where the storm had pected and are open, he said. Long Beach is strewn boulders and debris and cut highway expected to host a big surfing competition startaccess to one lane — at 10 a.m. today. Visitor ing Thursday. Jones Beach is being assessed; Fire Island National Seashore beaches are expected to access also resumes today in Currituck County. uOcean City, Md., reopened to visitors Sunday, reopen by Wednesday. uOn Cape Cod, Mass., gusts of more than 70 and boardwalk and beaches fared better than officials had feared. “Lifeguards are on duty, and mph sparked power outages. But key bridges just about everybody is back in business,” said stayed open, ferry service resumed Monday and most businesses and beaches have reopened. Donna Abbott of the Ocean City visitors bureau.

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SPIRIT Colossians 1:1-29 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.

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What does being saved really mean? Submitted by Kimberly Larkins-Robinson “I’m saved, now what?”

YOU HAVE BEGUN A JOURNEY INTO THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP OF YOUR LIFE. You have confessed Christ as your Savior and believe Jesus is the son of God. Do you really need to do anything else or can you just go back to living your life like before? Is that what God wants from those He has gifted with Salvation? What does it really mean to be saved? How do you manage your life so you do not neglect your relationship with Christ? How do you grow in Christ once you have accepted God’s gift of Salvation? God began a good work in you – let Him complete it!

Paul writes to the Philippians, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you, being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1: 3, 6). The commitment of these believers was still young and immature; Paul wanted them to be aware of the dangers of infidelity and sinfulness that could befall them if they were not diligent in allowing God to continue His work in them. Christians today who have not matured in their commitment to God are in danger of falling into these same behaviors. It is God’s power that worketh Salvation in the earth (Psalms 74:12). It is God’s power that saves. It is God’s power that empowers us to live a victorious Christian lives (I Corinthians 10:13)! When we do not cooperate with this power we thwart the work God began in our lives when He saved us. So how do we cooperate with the power of God? How do we live a life of faith? And make no mistake, being saved means you have been called into a faith walk that begins and ends with your willingness to adhere to the tenets found in the Word of God. We do not just “walk” by faith, we being just “live” by faith (II Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). If we are found not to have faith then we cannot be found just

16 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

and righteous in the eyes of God, for our righteousness comes through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9). When we do not cooperate with the power of God, when we draw back, then God has no pleasure in us. We either believe to the saving of our soul or we do not (Hebrews 10:38-39). For without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html - A good online witnessing tool you can share with someone who is not sure if they are saved or if they do not know what it means to receive the gift of Salvation. Making a CHOICE

Do Your Part – Cooperate!

Cooperating with the power of God in our lives means we have to be willing to manage and control how we allocate our time. Being saved does not exempt us from investing in our relationship with God. A mature commitment comes through a process that focuses your conversation on heaven (Philippians 3:20); learning to look towards a future with Christ instead of becoming entangled with the things of this life (II Timothy 2:4). Going back to Paul’s letter to Philippi, in chapter 4, Paul closes his writing with exactly how Christians can go about maturing in their commitment to Christ, how they can avoid the pitfalls of having an immature, young commitment. While you are waiting on God to complete His good work which He began in you, cooperate with His power as Paul writes in verse 9: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Being saved is a CHOICE. Developing a strong commitment to God and His way of doing things is a CHOICE. Turning our minds and hearts to heavenly things and leaving behind things of the world is a daily, moment by moment, minute by minute CHOICE. Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua (24:15) wanted the people to know that if they wanted to serve the gods of their fathers who sinned against God, or even serve the gods of the people whose land in which they lived, that was their CHOICE, but he and his house would serve the Lord. That was his CHOICE. You have to decide if you will serve the gods of this world, amplified on secular TV and movie theater screens, in secular music and books, and even in our pulpits and within our church body; or will you choose the one true and living God, whose power saves, keeps, and empowers you to live a victorious life in Christ. How you manage your time to develop your commitment with God is proof of your CHOICE.

The Word of God is replete with instructions and caveats about living a life of Faith. These words are just a beginning. Managing ourselves so we will mature in Christ is our fulltime responsibility. We have to study the Word of God and be a good witness (II Timothy 2:13-15). We are expected to meditate in the Word of God, because there are blessings in obedience (Psalm 1) and we can only obey when we know what to obey (Deuteronomy 6). We are instructed to never stop praying (I Thessalonians 5:17) and we are commissioned to tell the Good News of Christ everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20)! So being saved comes with some responsibility and the first order of business is setting aside time to study, meditate, pray, and to witness for God. Here some resources to help you get started: www.biblegateway.com – Excellent resource looking up scripture passages related to certain areas of your life that need to be brought into alignment with Word of God. OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

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RELIGION

CHRISTIANITY TOSPIRITUALITY Pastor Oscar L. Chestnut

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS ON ME, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 [NIV] What Is Religion?

Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe involving devotions and ritual observances. In philosophical use,

as well as in common use, the word has a variety of meanings. Friedrich Schleiermacher, author, pastor, and philosopher, defines religion as “the feeling of absolute dependence.” Immanuel Kant, also a philosopher, describes religion as “the observance of moral law as a divine institution.” Johann Gottlieb Fichte, an influential post-Kantian German philosopher whose teachings on philosophy and theology were widely discussed and admired, refers to religion as “faith in the moral order of the universe.” In general, religion is most often referred

to as any system of faith and worship, such as the religion of the Jews, of pagan nations, or of Christians. In the popular language of believers in Christianity, religion means, especially and almost exclusively, the Christian religion. Religion calls attention to the all-important fact that man is a religious being. Devotions and rituals have plagued our society and dealt Christianity a major blow. Our worship has become nothing more than procedures, whereby, we dress up on Sundays and go out to experience an event (Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night Live). The world sees OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

nique during the civil rights movement. Gandhi once stated when he was in search of truth; “I would become a Christian if they lived it.” A “saint” is one who has mastered the examples of Christ by yielding all of self to be used by the Spirit of Christ. They live the truth Gandhi was seeking. This level of spirituality is achieved when we completely yield self and therefore no longer have a will of our own. We will have reached a level where Christ said, “I and my Father are one.” [John 10:32] It is at that time Christ said He would give us the keys to the kingdom. The keys represent freedom to move about, freedom to come and go as you please, similar to someone giving the keys to their home to another person, meaning you now have the right to make my home your home.

Christians as perpetrators, hypocrites, or deceivers, who dress the part to praise God one day of the week, while doing everything they think they can get away with the rest of the week. Yet, the cry of our Creator remains in 2 Chronicles 7:14: (KJV), “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God is waiting for us to get it together by humbling ourselves under His mighty hand. If we learn to love one another through prayer, the results will be seen throughout the world because we will then be on one accord. Seek His face, chase after Him daily by welcoming Him into our lives and He assures us that He will provide the antidote for what ails mankind as well as the land. Consider the definition of religion in the book of James which commands us to do something: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” James 1:27 [NIV]. This definition of religion requires that we do something for those who cannot

20 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

help themselves, not expecting anything in return. At the same time, we should live in such a way that our actions exceed our words and surpasses or matches our beliefs. Sometimes our actions speak so loudly that sinners cannot hear a word we are saying. The Difference between Christianity and Religion

Becoming Christ-like is the best possible definition one could possibly use to define a Christian. Mahatma Gandhi was the most prominent political and spiritual leader during the movement for India’s independence in the 20th century where he mastered changes through nonviolence. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. employed the same tech-

Becoming “ christ-like is the best possible definition one could possibly use to define a christian.

”

John 15:15 (NIV) says: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” The servant may live in the master’s house, eat the same food, use the same transportation, but lack the ability to conduct certain things. On this level, Christ now refers to us as friends, sharing everything with us, notice this, “for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Meaning now that you have the keys to the kingdom, you can go inside and see for yourself and prove me. I remember when I was a child I overheard an elderly lady from the church in a heated argument tell another lady, “Don’t make me lay down my ‘ligion (religion) and whip you like you stole something.” Unfortunately, this is the mentality of some Christians today. They view religion as something you can put on and take off, similar to that of an actor, wherein each script they are handed demands they act a certain way or become a different person. When some Christians feel like it is convenient - they are religious, and when it is not convenient - they are not. Religion, they feel, has its place. It can be ignored if they choose to do so.

When we look at Nehemiah 1:5; (KJV) “I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:” Here Nehemiah defines the one God concept, thereby giving God the ability to be great and terrible to those that chooses to do or not to do what He has commanded. Nehemiah states that God is capable of rewarding us based upon our choice; however, we must remember He is slow to anger, thereby giving us time to repent. Again He reiterates, in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NLV), that God has all power and that He is the only power. “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Look at the implication of our actions; this should make us want to make better choices. This should make us want to do right because we know that there will be consequences. We also see here that God corrects us by using consequences, circumstances and conditions. Unless the sin nature is dealt with which we fall victim to its evil deeds; that evil spirit talks to us, “have another drink, smoke another joint, steal another car, get someone else in the bed with you and your wife, borrow but don’t pay anybody back, lie, cheat and steal, eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” That spirit can only be dealt with by the blood of Jesus Christ.

enemy presents us with daily. Thus the apostle, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, suggests a contrast between this spiritual state and that of the babe in Christ, or the man who because of immaturity and inexperience has not yet reached spirituality, simply stated, you would not give your four-yearold a fifty dollar bill and send him or her in the store would you? The spiritual state is reached by diligence in the Word of God and in prayer; however, it is maintained by obedience and self-judgment. Such as those who are led by the Spirit are spiritual.

What Is Spirituality?

“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in

Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words gives this explanation of spirituality: According to the Scriptures, the ‘spiritual’ state of soul is normal for the believers, but to this state all believers do not attain, nor when it is attained is it always maintained. Our level of spirituality today if not maintained with fresh manna from the Father daily will become contaminated, thereby leaving us weak to the new tactics the

Romans 7:4-6 (NIV) offers this instruction on spirituality:

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the old way of the written code.” Watchman Nee, a distinguished Bible teacher of the last century, who inspired millions to pursue Christ, says of spirituality, “Only what is in the Holy Spirit is real spirituality, because all spiritual things are nurtured by The Spirit.” Day after day, the Holy Spirit seeks opportunities to guide us into spiritual reality. If we refuse to accept these disciplines, we deny Him the opportunity to lead us into truth or reality. We have become accustomed to the notion that all trials are bad. However, they, in fact, are sorely needed if we are to do or have the things God has for us. Not only do our trials help to make us who we are, they also reveal the level to which we have grown in Christ. Notice when Christ prayed for the man with the withered hand, He did not say to the man stretch out your withered hand. Christ was in the mode that everything God made is good, so He told the man to stretch out his hand therefore when we pray, metaphorically speaking pray through God’s eyes; meaning see it and then pray it through. We must remember that every good thing that God has for us is always wrapped inside of something that looks bad. The good things that God has for us remind me of broccoli soup with cheese. When I look at broccoli soup with cheese it reminds me of food that has been slightly used; however, when I go beyond what it looks like, it actually tastes good. Looks bad - tastes good.

after day, “theDayHoly Spirit seeks opportunities to guide us into spiritual reality. If we refuse to accept these disciplines, we deny Him the opportunity to lead us into truth or reality. 22 OIKONOMIA

”

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Spirituality is like a net that, when “ thrown into the sea of contemporary culture, pulls in a vast quantity of spiritual fish. Spirituality is a serious and disciplined commitment to live deeply and fully in relation to God.

”

Remember this line from Psalm 23? “Yea though I walk through the valley of death.” That is a clear picture of things looking real bad. But because scripture also records that God says He will not leave me neither forsake me, I am encouraged to go further. I am also encouraged because I know that I am not alone - He is with me. I fear no evil - because His rod and His staff comfort me. Yet, I still cannot stop because I have not yet come from, or “gone through” the valley. Watch this now - not once did He deliver me. What did He do? He comforted me, by anointing my head with oil, which gave me more faith that my cup now runs over, which now gives me encouragement to go through. We want God to pick us up from the mess that we are in, and take us to a stress-free, clean place, where everything is perfect. Notice this we want deliverance, but what does He deliver us from? He delivers us from evil, not from our trials; we must go through, not from our valleys we must go through, and He wants us to go through with confidence, knowing He will not leave us, neither forsake us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Notice what James is saying, your trials test your faith, your faith causes you to persevere, your perseverance produces maturity, maturity is needed to complete the work He has begun in us. Just as real as the coming of Jesus to the earth, so was the coming of the Holy Spirit. Spirituality in a Christian’s life is ultimately about opening the heart, opening oneself at its deepest level, to the reality of God. Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is get out of

God’s way. When God takes over we do not have to do anything but witness. No Spirituality without Jesus

Jesus expressed a need that He must depart this life so that He might send back His Spirit which would abide in us, and lead, guide, and direct us into all truth. When the word spirituality is used, it should apply only to Christ. Jesus explained how the Spirit would affect us in this way: “But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you” John 16:13-15 (NIV). Spirituality is like a net that, when thrown into the sea of contemporary culture, pulls in a vast quantity of spiritual fish. Spirituality is a serious and disciplined commitment to live deeply and fully in relation to God. This commitment must go beyond our own selfish desire, where our ego demands we be noticed. Dealing with ego can be at best tricky simple because it lies to us in order to achieve its end. So then what becomes the measuring stick? Our motives, why did I answer the call, why am I a deacon, why do I do the things that I do? Is it for the kingdom, or is it that I wish to bring attention to myself? Living fully and well should be the goal of Christians who are seriously in search of the spirituality for which Jesus gave His life that we may be free. Spirituality means living free from sin and the sting of death. Free to rise above circumstances and conditions.

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WASHINGTON — New government statistics show federal health care fraud prosecutions in the first eight months of fiscal 2011 are on pace to rise 85% over last year largely because of ramped-up enforcement efforts under the Obama administration. The statistics, released by the non-partisan Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, show 903 prosecutions so far this year. That’s a 24% increase over the total for all of fiscal year 2010, when 731 people were prosecuted for health fraud through federal agencies across the country. Prosecutions have gone up 71% from Fraud cases five years ago, according to TRAC. Health care fraud “This was a fairly draprosecutions: matic number of prose1991 147 cutions,” said David Burnham, co-director 2001 631 of of TRAC. TRAC. TRAC TRAC isis aa rere631 2001 search organization at Burnham, co-director 2006 528 Syracuse University cutions,” said David 147 1991 that 731 maticsubmits numberFreedom of prose- 2010 of “This Information Act drareprosecutions: This was a ffairly 2011 9031 Health care fraud quests for government ing to TRAC. 1 – For the first eight data and then five years ago, reports accord- months Fraud cases of the fiscal year, the results. have gone up 71% from which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Justice Prosecutions Department country. Source: Justice Department officials saidthrough the inhealth fraud federal agencies across the By Julie Snider, USA TODAY crease runs 731 parallel 2010, when people were prosecuted for with what they’re 24% increase over seethe total for all of fiscal year ing when at health fraud broadly, show 903looking prosecutions so care far this year. That’sina part because of aRecords couple ofAccess big busts this year, as Transactional Clearinghouse, well as statistics, several cases involving fraud in the priThe released by the non-partisan vate sector. ma administration. “The trendenforcement certainly looks accurate andObaon ramped-up efforts under the track with ourover data,” said Justice spokeswoman to rise 85% last year largely because of Alisa Finelli, though sheofsaid she could the first eight months fiscal 2011 arenot on conpace firm exacthealth numbers. a February showthe federal care She fraudcited prosecutions in case that brought — in New 111 people — thestatistics largest WASHINGTON government take-down to date for the Medicare Fraud Task Force — as a factor. In that case, doctors, nurses USA TODAY and executives were accused of falsely billing By Kelly Kennedy Medicare more than $225 million. Task force convictions have also risen, according to Justice’s criminal division Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer. In 2010, the task force saw 23 trial convictions for Medicare fraud. In the first eight months of this year, it has had 24. “That’s just a stunning number when you see it in the first eight months,” Breuer said. “We’re just going to build on this model, and we’re going to hold those responsible who are stealing from the government.” The government beefed up its staffing this year, adding two health care fraud teams in February. In 2010, the government recovered a record $4 billion from health fraud cases after the federal health care law created one agency and expanded another. The actuary for Medicare predicted provisions of the law would ultimately net $4.9 billion in fraud and abuse savings over the next 10 years, which will be rolled back into Medicare. Over the past couple of years, the task force has used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to find people stealing millions of dollars.

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Spiritual Workout By Jane Ubay

EVERY CHRISTIAN IS LIKENED TO AN (1) ATHLETE, Hebrews 12:1, not just a simple athlete, but the one who must win the race. Martha Streb 38, World Champion Mountain Biker and Author of “Downhill”, says health and life are the secrets of her being a champion. For her, health comes first. One of her daily routines is to spend a lot of time riding her bicycle than in her computer checking emails. Christians are also likened to a (2) Soldier as in ll Timothy 2:3. Corporal Allan T. Rabang, a former enlisted member of the Philippine Marines, said, “Soldiers do workout to become physically, emotionally, and mentally fit, in order to survive the difficulties that they might encounter in the battlefield.” He also said that, “They do it properly to maximize its purpose, and that they are aware that more sweat in training, less blood in the battlefield. They do the exercise by group or batch, to improve their camaraderie”. Every believer is like a soldier and an athlete in the spiritual realm of life, and must workout or exercise in order to be a successful athlete, or a good soldier of Christ. Here are some

24 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

wonderful tips on how to have a spiritual exercise, and be able to win the battle or the race that Christians are facing on a daily basis. (1) Bible Reading and Prayer. This is the most basic, yet the most important thing to do every day. Streb said that health must come first; Christians must do the same with their spiritual body. A person’s health is based on his or her intake. Spiritual nourishment comes by reading the word of God daily. This is the spiritual food that every Christian should not miss. This is like breakfast, the most important meal of the day, once missed the body suffers. Prayer and Bible reading are also like inhaling and exhaling in daily workouts. When praying, it is just exhaling the carbon dioxide from your body. Bible reading is just like inhaling the oxygen, which the body needs in order to do well. Corporal Rabang said that the more exercise one does, there will be less blood in the battlefield. As good soldiers of Christ; every Christian should have a good weapon for the battle. This first weapon should a healthy spiritual body nourished by

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the word of God. (2) The second, still the word of God, It serves as a sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17). A healthy prayer life makes the enemy, the devil trembles. Elijah, showed the best example of how powerful prayer was. He was challenged to prove that the God that he believed was powerful. His enemies had prayed the whole day long to their god, but he has no ear to listen to them. It’s amazing that God never failed to answer Elijah’s supplication. In just an instance of prayer, God sent fire from heaven to burn the offering. Defeat was manifested right on their faces. Another way of spiritual workout is (3) Obedience. After doing your daily Bible reading and prayer, it is important to follow what you have read. A way to master what you have read is to practice it daily. This will become a habit, and later on an attitude to posses. Dr. Glorioso Mijares, Theology Teacher of Doane Baptist Bible Institute, Iloilo City, Philippines, teaches his students to live what they are preaching. He means that what they talk they should walk. Obedience was the one good example that Abraham has given to us, although it was the toughest decision he had to make. Imagine, God is asking for a very precious son to offer to Him by Abraham. It may be difficult on his part, yet at the end he chose to follow God and offered his son Isaac. Never in his life would Abraham have thought that God will put him into a very difficult test of faith. But through his obedience God was pleased, commending him to be called the man of faith. Above all, Christ Himself bestowed a great example of obedience, even the death of the on the cross. By His death; He bridged the gap between God and the human race. Isn’t

it amazing if every single Christian will be able to obey God’s command daily? Yes surely it is. Life will be more meaningful, and fruitful. Many unbelievers will be saved, through the lives of Christians who would exercise their obedience unto the word of God. Spiritual may also include (4) Witnessing or sharing Christ with others. Apostle Paul, by his obedience to the Lord had shared the word of God to many souls. His converts manifest their great conviction to follow Christ. Through them many churches were planted. Examples are the church of Philippi, Ephesus, and Corinth. Their faith was also tested, but they continually (5) Trust God from day to day. Their consistency was passed from generation to generation, until now. What is a workout? It means aiming to develop the system of your body. By doing workouts you will maximize the functions of your physical body. Just as the physical body needs a workout, spiritual body needs a workout too. Every Christians should maximize their full potential spiritually by following the simple tips on spiritual workouts. This isn’t an option, this is a command. Paul once wrote on Philippians 2:12 to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Statistics from the United Kingdom –based Bible Society shows that 57% believe the Bible should shape their lives. 35% said they read the Bible every day. 73% said the Bible actively challenges them to live in a way which runs counter to the present culture in Britain. 60% believed the Bible provides moral guidance, sets out God rescue plan for humanity and shows God’s priorities. 68% say the Bible is regularly taught in their church. As imparted by the Holy Spirit in Paul’s mind, God wants every believers or followers of Christ, to be more consistent in Bible reading and to exhibit in their lives the true manifestation of Christ.

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The Bible’s Word On Grief Management Brings Comfort To Believers Dr. Willis C. Newman I REMEMBER WHEN MY UNCLE WAYNE DIED AND WENT to heaven. For quite some time after his death, I would still miss him very much and still do occasionally. I miss his stories about WWII when he was in China, the advice he gave me – and just hanging out with him. The feeling is a sadness, longing, loss, and yearning to see him. Sometimes there is anxiety, a sense of despair, and loneliness. I dearly want to see him again, but I can’t – in this life time. The painful feelings sometimes swept over me like huge surfs curling up on a beach – then fading away. Gradually, as time went on, the intensity and frequency diminished. That is grief. Maybe you have experienced these feelings. There is no “right” way to grieve. Every culture has its own unique expression. Sometimes it takes six months or so before one can get on with life. Sometimes more. Sometimes less. It depends on the individual. Phases of Grief

In 1969, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross divided the process of dying into five stages. They are similar to wading through the morass of grief by the one left behind. Later research affirms that people do experience these stages in the dying/grieving process, yet not necessarily in a lock step

fashion. Rather, people oscillate between the various phases. Here are the stages, and knowing them helps in the grief management process.

•

Denial and isolation is one phase. People tend to first deny they are dying, or that their loved one has died. Numbness sets in. They first refuse to accept the reality. However, when faced with the facts, they eventually accept the truth. • Anger is another phase. It is the, “Why me?” phase. Or, “Why did they leave me?” Sometimes the anger is expressed toward others – and even God. • Bargaining is a third phase. Usually the bargaining is with God. For the dying person, the negotiation is, “God, give me a few more years, and I will serve you.” • Depression is a fourth phase. The person becomes quiet, depressed, sad, and not want to speak with people. The reality is sinking in. • Acceptance is the fifth phase. People accept their inevitable fate, and begin to get on with life in the case of grief. OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Managing Grief

One thing the survivor must do in grief management is deal with the immediate intense emotions, practical issues of the funeral, and financial problems of the moment. Talking and praying helps to manage the emotions. Going over the events of the death, by journaling or talking with others, will release the emotions and help put things into perspective. Accepting the loss is done by putting things into proper perspective. It is hard to do at first, but your new life will emerge. Another task the survivor must do is to adjust

One thing the survivor must do “ in grief management is deal with the immediate intense emotions, practical issues of the funeral, and financial problems of the moment. Talking and praying helps to manage the emotions. 28 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

”

to the future. If this is you, your niche in your financial and social world will change. A widow who loses her husband’s pension will face difficulty. If you suddenly find yourself single, other couples may want to shy away from you – especially if they view you as a competitor for their companion or spouse. The lingering feelings will remain. Reminders of your loved one will always be there, and it will be hard to go sleep in an empty bed at first. It is important, when you are ready, to get on with your life. Find something to do in your church or community organization. Stay busy – not to deny your loss, but to rebuild and replace it. For those ministering to the grief stricken, it is sometimes best to just be there, and encourage them to talk, vent, cry, or laugh – whatever it takes. Let them talk and work things through in their mind. It is not the time to teach theology, however. That comes later. It is important in grief management to encourage them to trust God when there seems to be no good answers to the devastating loss. As appropriate, pray with them and read an encouraging Scripture passage – maybe their own

Life does not stop with death in this world. Christians go to heaven. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise

“

”

favorite verses. Otherwise, try Psalm 23, which has given hope to millions through the centuries. The Christian Advantage

The Bible teaching about grief management indicates there is an enormous advantage to being a Christian. The ultimate answer boils down to hope, because death has been defeated in Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 51-58). Let me show you some advantages. Relying on God

You can draw upon the power and presence of God for strength to sustain you in those dark moments of despair and loneliness. He said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Again, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15). The survivors can gain strength and hope from God from this fact. Entrance into a Different Realm

Life does not stop with death in this world. Christians go to heaven. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paul said that after death, we will, “be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), which is a much better place to be (Philippians 1:23). This may strike you as somewhat corny, but I have asked myself, “How will I know how to get to heaven. I don’t know where it is. Will I get lost?” Well, the question might not be so dumb, because I found the answer.

Jesus said of the poor man, “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22). Problem solved. I will have an angelic escort. All Christians will. Promised Reunion

Paul addressed the issue of separation and loss in grief management. He said it is not permanent (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The picture is that of Christ’s return and our resurrection day. Those who have died will be reunited with those remaining alive on earth. This promised reunion is designed to, “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18) by giving hope.

We can summarize the Christian advantage to grief management this way. You and I can gain emotional and social support from other Christians. We can gain personal strength thorough our relationship with God. We can put meaning and perspective on the death by looking to the hope of the future. The future consists of being alive and present in heaven with Christ and other believers who traveled on before us. The other believers include our loved ones. Our experience is not that of loss, but a temporary absence in which our loved one went on a trip to a place that we shall soon be ourselves. OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

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Friends of God – Are You One of Them?

By Gian Cruz

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Dec 2011/Jan 2012

John 15:13-15 DO CHRISTIANS TODAY EVER THINK of dying for their friends or saving their friend’s life in the expense of his or her life? Perhaps, a Christian would - but it will be not just out of instinct, but it will

words He previously said in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27 “love your enemies.” The very reason why Christians can love God, is because He loved them first through His Son, Jesus Christ, 1 John 4:10 – “This is love: not that we loved God, but

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (NIV) be because he or she truly cares. Now, what if the person is a total stranger, a perceived enemy or despised by society; like the case of the Samaritan Man Jesus spoke about in one of His parables? Can christians today imagine themselves dying for a stranger or a person that considers them an enemy? History shows that Christians in the past have been martyred for the sake of faith and loyalty. Can a Christian of the 21st century give up their lives for faith, family, country or friends? Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus has strongly stated in this verse that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. Christians know that Jesus didn’t just die for His friends at the cross - He died for all mankind. This is despite the fact that the majority of those who witnessed His crucifixion considered Him a blasphemer and an enemy. The very people Jesus died for mocked and hated Him. In the end, He didn’t just die for His friends – but He also died for His enemies. This is a demonstration of the

that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” As Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says: “It also shows us the extent of His love that He gave Himself up, not to common sufferings, but to the most bitter, painful, and protracted sorrows; not for Himself, not for friends, but for a thoughtless and unbelieving world. O Lamb of God, was ever pain - was ever love like thine!” You are my friends if you do what I command. If you think about it, this phrase has a strong imposing form. If a person reads this verse in a vacuum, it could potentially sound like it came from a malevolent dictator. However, reading it with the knowledge of the truth of who Jesus was and is - a person will know that there is actually love and concern woven within it. Friendship does take time to meld and forge - and it does not take just overnight or even a millennium of mankind to be friends with God. Instead, it will only take faith, perhaps just seconds of deciding to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that would qualify a man or woman not just to be saved - but

also to become a friend of God. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary stated that “Those, whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy.” I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. This passage shows that God is more interested in establishing a relationship than having laborers. God, as a personal God, wants to be personally connected to a believer’s life, just as a friend is to another friend or a parent is to his or her child. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Jesus elevated His disciples from servant hood to being His personal friends. There is a big difference between a servant and friend. As Jesus demonstrated in the preceding passage, a servant is kept hidden from the affairs of his or her master - unlike friends with whom one can confidently confide personal things and issues. Jesus wants His disciple and future believers to know that they can come to Him and share their burdens, problems and cares. This is why Peter, one of Jesus closest disciples, was able to say this with conviction in 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (NIV)

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When God Joins Us Together In Marriage What Is He Considering? Sandra Stubbs WHEN GOD JOINS US TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE WHAT IS HE CONSIDERING? In order to accurately answer this question, we must carefully analyze the foundation from which it is derived. Let’s look at the first marriage, “So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:21-25 (NASB) The process of getting to the altar to exchange wedding vows is critical. Entering into this covenant relationship requires emphasis being placed on the before rather than the after. That is, before the dating, before the engagement and before the wedding itself but, rather on the marriage (the after). In Genesis 2:21-25 we see from the beginning that God is the orchestrator of this union. He causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep, He performs a surgical procedure and He presents the woman to him. God responds to a recognized need for Adam to have a helper suitable for him. However, to prepare Adam for that which he needs, God must first put him in a state of mind that prevents him from interfering with the surgery He is about to perform. Today, we don’t experience a natural God induced coma so that He can perform surgery to bring forth our mate. This is a spiritual place that we must be willing to surrender to…it is a place where we lose “self” in God. Our emphasis on life is not about accomplishing our selfish goals or ambitions, but we recognize that our omniscient God is fully aware of the needs we have and we choose to trust Him to meet those needs. Therefore, this place of rest is a critical first step to preparation for your union. While in your place of rest, God performs the surgical procedure OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

needed to prepare you for your mate and to prepare your mate for you. It’s in the excising of flesh and bone that our weaknesses and strengths are revealed; because, God is preparing that suitable mate for you they will be the perfect compliment for your strengths and weaknesses. Your puzzle pieces will fit perfectly to create a beautiful picture. How often do we try to make the wrong pieces fit and the results are a distorted illustration? The removal of the flesh and bone is not a step to be taken lightly; it represents the very essence of who you are spiritually, physically and emotionally. Your mate has to be formed…that is fashioned, framed just for you. Patience is critical during this time and you must remain in your place of rest. Moving from your place of rest in God is like waking up in the middle of major surgery! You wake up to pain that you were never intended to experience. The goal of surgery is to make you feel better but, if you don’t remain anesthetized a procedure that was intended to be painless can become most unpleasant. If you are like me, you probably thought that this process was 1-2-3and Voila! Eve! There is such a beautiful picture of love being portrayed in this stage of the process. Our loving God has carefully planned every detail of our lives and because He is the architect, He knows exactly what materials are needed for the final product. He is fully aware of all of the intricate details and He lovingly prepares us for our mate and our mate for us. If only we would trust Him and endure the process!! We are now at the most exciting time of Adam’s life…the presentation of his bride!! Immediately, Adam recognizes that the woman is very much a part of him. She is the embodiment of everything that is missing within in him. Scripture does not say that God awakened Adam and told him that He made a woman for him. The bible says, “and brought her unto the man” Gen 2:22. God presented, Adam acknowledged and accepted!! “And Adam said this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Gen 2:23. Adam acknowledges that not only does she have my DNA she is a

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part of me. Wow!! Ladies, how many of us have experienced that kind of affirmation and pronouncement by our husbands? Men, how many of you have been able to say with that kind of assurance and confidence that your wife is truly bone of your bones and flesh of your flesh? It is with this level of certainty that the proposal should be made. If there is a hint of uncertainty then the “question” should not be popped!!! The bride has been presented and Adam says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. “ Gen 2:24. With a deeper understanding of the process of Adam and the woman being joined by God and greater appreciation for the agape love that is expressed from God towards Adam and from Adam towards the woman, we can accept the statement that followed. For this “joining”, for this “union” created by God for His glory, “a man shall leave his father and his mother (signifying that no other natural relationship should supersede this union) and cleave (be joined to; stick to) to his wife; they two become one flesh” because they are two parts fashioned by the Father to complete each other. “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Gen 2:25. Two people joined together by God in marriage will have the liberty to be completely naked before one another. There shouldn’t be anything that the two of them cannot share with each other. The marriage joined by God will be a safe place, conducive for the spiritual growth of both individuals. Marriage, such a beautiful illustration of God’s love for His people! Are we really interested in what His will is when He joins a man and a woman in marriage? This most sacred institution created by God is under attack! I would like to suggest that this attack has been allowed by God!! I know there are many who will think that this is preposterous, however as Christians we must believe in the absolute sovereignty of God. Therefore, there is no attack that the enemy can launch that has not been permitted by God himself. Why would God allow such an attack on His most sacred institution? Simply put….to get our attention!! It is time that we return to the Creator himself, through His word to gain understanding regarding His will for the institution of marriage. The lack of understanding and the inaccurate interpretation of scripture has allowed for the perversion of an institution designed to glorify God in the highest. In Jeremiah 1:5a, God declares to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;” God tells Jeremiah that He “knew” him before he was formed. That is, before God formed (fashioned, framed) him, He knew (perceived) him. Thus, we must trust Him above our individual feelings and beliefs concerning our lives. It is in this knowing that God created Adam and it is in forming that He created Eve. Eve was formed according to the predetermined needs that Adam had in order that their marriage would bring God glory. What is God considering when He joins us in marriage? Himself! He is considering how this union through this man and woman will bring Him glory! Ministers of God cannot continue to perform marriage ceremonies haphazardly. It is time for the body of Christ to be equipped

Perhaps we will see a decline in marriage applications while experiencing an increased number of people seeking understanding of God’s purpose for marriage before the “after”. If we focus more on teaching God’s purpose for marriage to our youth and young adults we will thwart the plans of the enemy to destroy one of the most beautiful institutions created by God. We have preached abstinence and rightfully so, however, I believe that the enemy has used the abstinence message to peak our curiosity just as Satan used Eve’s lack of knowledge concerning the forbidden fruit to lure she and Adam into sin. Again, could it be that God himself has allowed Satan’s attack on marriage in order to force us back to the Bible? We must admit that we as Christians have married under many of the same pretenses of the world; for security, companionship, sexual intimacy and to fit in with the expectations of society. It is now our responsibility, to heed the words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If we are diligently seeking God, then we will find Him. Consequently, the rest that we so desperately are in need of will be discovered and while resting in Him, He will perform the necessary surgical procedure in our lives to prepare us for the mate that He has for us. It’s in resting in Him that we demonstrate our unwavering faith and trust in Him. It’s in resting in Him that we surrender our will to His. It’s while resting in Him that we are being prepared to be joined to the mate that He has for us.

with the truth about marriage as God intended it to be. This renewed focus on biblical marriage as God purposed will result in “joined” marriages between two people who are biblically compatible and equipped to glorify God through their union. To be joined is to be yoked together; which implies two people connected side by side going in the same direction to accomplish a predetermined goal. Elder Sandra Stubbs is co-founder of Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House, Inc., a residential group home for teen boys who have been abandoned, abused, orphaned or neglected. Her current role as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer has empowered her to develop a ministry with a goal of “Nurturing Today’s Boys to Become Tomorrow’s Men.” Elder Stubbs is a graduate of Florida International University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Urban Education. Elder Stubbs currently serves at Grace Tabernacle Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Charles Silano.

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HAPPILY

EVER AFTER By Cynthia D. Stargell

IS THERE REALLY A HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER FOR MARRIED couples who buy into the fairytale of marital bliss? What happens after the pre-marital liaisons and honeymoon ends that sends nearly half of American married couples back to the legal system to dissolve what could have been a reasonably happy, although not perfect, marriage after less than 5 years? The highly publicized 2011 marriage and divorce filing of celebrity Kim Kardashian took all of 72 days. What’s going on? Has western culture become so taken with the ability to end contracts in court as quickly as they are made that the same sentiment has taken over marriages? Hopefully, this snapshot of established couples provides wise counsel and a hard look at selfish desires and unforgiving spirits that must be overcome to create the scenario for a Happily Ever After to occur. As far back as the medieval Play of Virtues, and in children’s fairytales of old, stories of humans struggling between good and evil somehow found a nice, neat, and happy ending to each dilemma. The ultimate outcome always left a smile on the child’s face assuring the reader that regardless of the difficulty, there was always a HAPPILY EVER AFTER at the end of the story. OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Young-adulthood brought about a rude awakening to reality however, yet hope was still present through even the darkest of situations. Youthful wishes transitioned to adulthood and once again young men and women gave themselves space to love and be loved. At the altar, the minister recites familiar vows for the enamored couple to repeat with the final seal wrapped around the unending circle of their rings and the words “’til death do us part.” Unfortunately, even with pre-marital counseling, more care appears to be placed on the wedding day than the marriage and some are just not ready for the commitment required for a solid and successful marriage. What’s missing? Love. It’s not just the physical love that keeps a marriage intact. Theologians and philosophers have shared the many Greek facets of love for centuries. But the type of love necessary for securing and sustaining a happy marriage is Agape. Agape love is unconditional and not determined by emotional or physical feelings toward another. Agape is defined in some settings as being, “based upon the commitment of a decision.” (B. Newton, 2002) It is the extension of love Jesus carried to the cross - the love that was a conscious decision to love in spite of His necessary death and subsequent resurrection. Many couples miss out on a life of caring for each other and sharing life’s experiences because they are so intent upon satisfying their own personal, professional, and physical desires. Because they don’t FEEL the Eros or passionate, physical love they once did, they lose site of the marriage commitment and may seek the Eros outside of the marriage. When the commitment is internalized to stick things out—unless one’s safety is at risk of course—the vows of “til death do us part” take on new meaning and give life to a potentially dying relationship. TAKE THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

Any couple can find fault with many things in their marriage. Keeping Agape at the forefront, why not take inventory of marriage successes? This list could include: • The desire to WANT it to work • Mutual interests and similarities in fi-

44 OIKONOMIA

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nancial thinking and other areas • Humor USE THE PAST ONLY TO PRESS INTO THE FUTURE. Constantly reminding

each other of past faults is fruitless. If an individual stops to look at the “man in the mirror,” there is not much room for constant murmuring or implications in every situation of what went wrong before. Some mates are notorious for bringing up one specific issue each time there is a difference of opinion. No one is perfect and with two imperfect people faults will surface. Decide that it’s time to get past the past and move forward. BELIEVE THE WORST IS OVER. These economic times have tried most individuals, let alone family structures and there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. For many, the financial pressures of unemployment, lost homes, and unaddressed depression have truly taken a toll on marriages as a whole. Here is an opportunity to cleave together as Genesis 2 instructs and look toward the future—whether or not life’s conveniences are in place--with hope. HAVE FAITH IN GOD. The scriptures note in Hebrews 11, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (King James Bible) Turning one’s focus in a relationship toward pleasing God means the individual can reaffirm their faith by trusting the relationship is in God’s hands. When faith in God is left out of a marriage, the Agape love that is so greatly needed to sustain it is void. KEEP A PRAYING SPIRIT. Perhaps an immediate response is not the best solution to marital challenges. A praying spirit can lessen the sharpness that truth can sometimes bring. Timing is also connected to a praying spirit. Although a spouse may be correct in pointing out how unexplained ATM withdrawals affect the monthly budget, the timing and tone of sharing that knowledge should be done with a praying spirit. Remember, Agape is unconditional love. FIND SOMETHING IN COMMON AGAIN AND AGAIN. Over time, some

desires, some perspectives, and some body shapes change. With change, however, each person CAN FIND COMMON GROUND. It may be a backyard cookout WITHOUT all of the family and friends. It could be a movie of mutual interest. It could also be a change in the financial portfolio, savings strategy or family business. Just look for ways to stand together on the same plain and find enjoyment in doing those things. BE HAPPY…WITH YOURSELF. One of the worst mistakes newlyweds commonly make is looking to the other person to make them happy. Obtaining happiness is not the responsibility of others, but the desire to extend a bit of happiness to another is human. The challenge is knowing that the state of being happy is controlled from within, not outside. It is not someone else’s responsibility to make another happy. It is ok if both agree the monthly budget will allow for a personal treat. It is ok to take a walk by the lake without the spouse. If going to an art show is exciting to the wife and not the husband and the husband agrees the wife should go, enjoy the show, but then decide to do something the husband likes as well. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.

When communication with each other ceases, rest assured it’s a matter of time before the deterioration of the marriage relationship follows. Regardless of the myriad of trials experienced along the marital journey, keep talking. Think back to when the relationship was new and fresh. More than likely, there was A LOT of communicating going on. Find ways to communicate. There are probably better ways than sitting in the same room with each person holding a handheld device texting each other—unless of course, there’s something the children shouldn’t necessarily be a part of. Living a happy, not necessarily perfect marriage, is quite achievable. As long as each spouse embraces Agape as the love that will keep them connected to their vows, both can have comfort in knowing there really can be a Happily-Ever-After.

99% of Americans have seen combat on TV.

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sandra M. Palumbo, U.S. Navy - Bahrain, November 6, 2007

1% of Americans have seen combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

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How God looks at divorce and is there salvation afterwards By Geoffrey Mosongo MARRIAGE IS A UNION WHICH IS RECOGNIZED and validated by God. It is a relationship between one man and one woman dissoluble only by death. The union supersedes all other human relationships since it involves a voluntary, unreserved commitment to each other for life. Scripturally, God creates and joins things together, but Satan comes to break, steal and destroy. Divorce is Satan’s method of destroying what God had put together. Satan was unfaithful and was banished from heaven by God; a spouse who is not faithful to the marriage will meet the same marital curse as Satan did from God. Jesus said in Matthew 19:9 that except for marital unfaithfulness, divorce should not be sought but if there is marital unfaithfulness, and then the sinner is bound to damnation just like Satan is bound to

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hell. God is not partial; He expects the same allegiance to Him if obeyed, and consequences if disobeyed. When one’s mate is guilty of sexual immorality and is unwilling to repent and live faithfully with the marriage partner, the Bible gives ground for divorce. This can be verified through Jesus’ words from the passage in Mathew 19: 8-9 which reads, “Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”(NIV) In Pride and Prejudice, author Jane Austen writes that, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever

so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.” This clearly means that the marriage bond is supposed to be life-size. Paul the apostle emphasized the sanctity and permanence of marriage vows when he compared the relationship between a husband and wife with the relationship between Christ and the Church. Such doctrine brings home the seriousness of divorce in the eyes of the God who says, “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16). It is heartbreaking that the prevalence of divorce among professing Christians is nearly as high as that of the unbelieving world. According to the Barna report, 30% of Jewish marriages end up in divorce while the likelihood of born-again Christians ending up in divorce is 27%. Atheistic marriages on the other hand have a 21% divorce rate. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be the marks of a believer’s life. Even if adultery is involved, Christians should learn to forgive, much like God forgave their sins. Moreover, one should consider the impact of divorce on children. From a Biblical point of view, the answer to the question of whether Christians should divorce should be quite clear to practicing Christians. However, God recognizes that divorce is possible even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God. God often uses the sinful disobedience of Christians to accomplish great good since from experience; many couples have been able to rebuild their marriages even after adultery has been committed. As followers of Christ, Christians should pray carefully about their decisions to divorce and be open to God’s guidance. They are also urged to ask God to open the lines of communication between their spouses and that He will restore the love in their relationship. As a final word, spouses are urged not to say angry words to each other or do things that will push their partners far away. Restoration does occur even in the most hostile circumstances, but it is more difficult when harsh words have passed between couples. For additional information, please visit: www.focusonthefamily.com www.bibleviews.com http://www.religioustolerance.org OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

There will come a time when every relationship around me will become something new or simply end. That change may be because of children leaving ho me for college or their own relationships , having to take care of my parents, div orce and loving again. My desire for me and the relationships in my life in a time of transition isâ&#x20AC;Ś

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T:7 in

T:10 in

Studio#: File Name:

ACA7008_BG.indd

132494.1

Bleed: None

CLIENT: Colors: 4C

Ad Council VENDOR: -

Name Art Dir: -

Date

GOALS, TO Dos, ASSESSMENTS GOAL AREA: RELATIONSHIPS

DATE RANGE: _______________________

OVERALL GOAL: _________________________________________

TO DO LIST DO

PROGRESS

CHALLENGES ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES TO COMPLETING GOAL

DID I ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

PLANS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE AREA

( ) YES

(

) NO

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Who would have thought? Dr. Charles Drew did in 1938. The Blood Bank, developed by Dr. Charles Drew,

is just one of the many life-changing innovations that came from the mind of an African American. We must do all we can to support minority education today, so we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on the next big idea tomorrow. To find out more about African American innovators and to support the United Negro College Fund, visit us at uncf.org or call 1-800-332-UNCF. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

ÂŠ2007 UNCF

HEALTH 3 John 1:2 ESV

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul

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Odds of a child becoming a top fashion designer: 1 in 7,000 Odds of a child being diagnosed with autism: 1 in 110 Some signs to look for:

No big smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months.

No babbling by 12 months.

No words by 16 months.

To learn more of the signs of autism, visit autismspeaks.org ÂŠ 2010 Autism Speaks Inc. "Autism Speaks" and "It's Time To Listen" & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved.

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.

Transitioning out from the Old Unhealthy Body

Min. Debbie Mirander WE ALL GO THROUGH TRANSITIONAL PERIODS AT VARIOUS times in our lives. For some it may be because of a new job or a new home. For others it is a diet change. Because of our human inclination to live in our comfort zone, many times transition only comes out of necessity. This is the situation I found myself in almost 16 years ago; after going through a medical situation that almost took my life. I was determined to live a more vibrant life. After an allergic reaction that compromised my breathing and having to take medication that decreased my quality of life. I was left with only a few choices: To continue eating out of control everything and anything putting pressure on my immune system. Or change my eating habits for the better and watch change happen. I chose the latter. I am so glad I did. But who said it was going to be as easy as I thought? We all at some time in our lives go through unchartered waters. The unfamiliar way of life that leaves us yearning for the old once again. That is the reason Proverbs 26:11 states a dog will return back to its own vomit. It’s familiar. It’s who we have become; but it is also how we self destruct. In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were faced with this same dilemma. After being delivered from Egypt they wondered in the wilderness of the un-

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familiar; then at the brink of the Red Sea, they wanted to return to Egypt. Medically, I have seen this same phenomena with alcoholics with pancreatitis. When they are discharged from the hospital and realize they “feel” so much better, they resort back to their old self destructive pattern. And if not delivered from this revolving door, they too will self destruct. On the rollercoaster between self destruction and restoration - that was once my situation. Not one of alcoholism, but one of being on a path of self destruction. Time and time again I wanted to return to the familiar way of eating, until I finally made up my mind to stick to it once and for all. I was delivered. Just as the children of Israel needed deliverance, we also need deliverance from ourselves. My deliverance came with repeated illness until out of desperation, I searched for answers. When I began to educate myself on a natural and holistic dietary lifestyle, I begin to see how the high sugar diet I was consuming on a regular basis compromised an already compromised immune system. I began to see that it DID matter what I put into my body. And the best thing for me was to change to a more natural dietary lifestyle, limit my exposure to environmental chemicals and toxins and most of all pray.

Believing God had a divine purpose for me and that He allowed me to go through a near death experience to bring out His glory was enlightening. In turn, many have been blessed by my testimony of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deliverance, endurance and restoration for my life. I began to become more dependent on God to help me continue on that right path. The Holy Spirit guiding me, and orchestrating different persons I came in contact with, through natural or divine appointment held me accountable to accomplish my goal. I then began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The first thing I began to do was read labels on products that I brought. I would sometimes write down those big words I did not understand and Google them, it is important that we know exactly what we are taking into our bodies. Through technology I submerged my mind with new knowledge. And I renewed my mind with Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word. I prayed for God to guide me and help me stay on this path. I soon found out that things I use to crave became distasteful. My taste buds changed as I started eating more fruits and vegetables. I also began to eat different types of whole grains. I changed from simple starches such as white flour and white rice, to whole grains. When I saw something that used to whet my appetite become something that I avoided, I realized that not only were my taste buds being renewed; but my desire was also being renewed. When we think of healing for our body, we cannot forget the mind. Our mind must be renewed daily. The next step was choosing more organic vegetables than conventional ones. Organic vegetables are typically grown without the pesticides and synthetic enhancements of most supermarket fruits and vegetables. Changing my eating habits was not all that was needed for me to live a healthier lifestyle. Other things had to be addressed as well. But it sure was a start to something wonderful and something obtainable. I began to visualize myself being healthy. Once I had a vision of being a healthy vibrant person climbing a mountain with ease. The image that came to my mind became my hope. Hope became the mustard seed faith that was needed. And something I continue to cling to as I continue my lifelong journey to continued health.

TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING FROM OLD EATING HABITS 1. Read the labels and research the ingredients you are taking in and their potential health challenges 2. Pray daily for and about your clear vision for being healthier and more vibrant 3. Move away from simple starches i.e. white rice, white flour, and white bread; try multi or whole grain options instead like bulgur wheat, svelte bread, etc. 4. Begin to eat more organic nuts (if you are not allergic) and more organic fruits and vegetables 5. Increase your water intake

So when transitioning from a lifestyle of bad eating habits to a holistic healthy lifestyle, we must renew our thoughts daily. Thinking of the vibrant and energetic lifestyle we want to obtain. Just feeling a sense of normalcy in our lives helps to motivate one into transition. We start feeling the change in our body little by little as we take it step by step. What once was our mountain will become our stepping stone.

Debbie Mirander is an Ordained Minister, author and Bible teacher. She is also a Licensed Registered Nurse for 24 years with a BSN degree. Her work specializes in teaching patients how to manage chronic medical conditions, integrating holistic health care with conventional medicine.

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Takeout can eat up your savings. Pack your own lunch instead of going out. $6 saved a day x 5 days a week x 10 years x 6% interest = $19,592. That could be money in your pocket. Small changes today. Big bucks tomorrow. Go to feedthepig.org for free savings tips.

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.

huNGEr kEEps up oN currENt EVENts, too. 1 IN 6 AMErIcANs Now struGGlEs wIth huNGEr.

toGEthEr wE’rE

hunger is closer than you think. reach out to your local food bank for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.

HEALTHY Mind, Body & Spirit

= Healthy Relationships OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

health plan: Water makes up 70 to 80% of your body and contains the most important nutrient of the body. Oxygen! We should be drinking half of our body weight in ounces to flush out toxins that enter into our bodies through the skin, the food we eat, the air we breathe, etc. Also quality water i.e. alkaline water allows the cells of the body to get the oxygen it needs to keep the body alkaline. Disease cannot live in an alkaline body. Exercise keeps our temples strong and balanced. Exercise has been proven to improve your mood as well as give you the excellent strength and shape you desire to have. Entering into quality relationships will greatly boost your immune system. Be aware of those around you who drain your energy. Your energy is important and discretion should be used regarding where you would like to spend it! Emotional healing is the key to permanent weight loss. Seek a Life coach to help you heal in this area. Low Energy = Poor Health Decrease your amount of stress. Stress has been proven to kill you faster than sickness & disease.

Prevention is not emphasized enough in today’s society as it pertains to health & wellness. We spend more time learning what drugs to take for what condition instead of how to prevent the sickness, disease and/or disorder. We especially do not take the time to think about how our health affects our relationships! When we’re single, many of us spend a lot of time and energy in keeping our physical body looking good. We make investments into our Spiritual wellbeing by attending church and perhaps some workshops or conferences. Some of us go to school or read books to keep our minds sharp. What we don’t know how to do is connect our mind, body, & spirit together and assess how all these different aspects are serving each area of our lives including our relationships. So what happens? We marry or enter into committed relationships and then become distracted by the life changes. We lose our balance as it relates to our overall health. We stop “being” the very things that made us so attractive to our soul mates. Why? Because we never connected the investments we were making into our lives to who we really are; and, never considered our partner as being our mirror image we attracted as a result of the investments we were making! Whew! What does all of this mean? Prevention includes understanding we all have a higher purpose. Understanding our life purpose will allow us to incorporate a holistic lifestyle that will not only serve us when we’re single but carry on during the marriage because it is a part of us. It is who we are. It is found in everything we do. With our higher purpose in mind, we will begin to pay attention to the spirit inside of us and learn what will serve us mentally, physically, & spiritually, instead of listening to what everyone else is saying and getting all off course. These are some healthy tips to get you to begin thinking about a holistic lifestyle but it’s up to you to develop your own holistic

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As you improve your health, I guarantee you will not only see an improvement in your relationships but also in your finances. Relationships & Finances are directly related. There is no better gift to give to yourself and others then good health. Self Mastery is Amazing! RESTORED INC “Dare to Master Yourself!”

Addiction – Yielding To This Problem and Recovering From It The Curious Case of Jolinda Wade

By Gian Cruz

Wade Jr. or D-Wade to NBA fans. As a senior pastor and a mother of a famous NBA superstar, some people may not know that Reverend Jolinda Wade had a rough, dark past. More than a decade ago, this powerful woman of God was once incarcerated for almost two years because of drug dealing and eluding the law. She was a drug addict as well - until she had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that changed her life forever. After serving her sentence, she eventually became a pastor and then a senior pastor. This then lead to an addiction-free and better life. Addiction – What Is It, Really?

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF JOLINDA WADE? She is Senior Pastor of New Creation Binding and Loosing Ministries International and she is also the mother of the famous Miami Heat point guard Dwayne Tyrone

Scientists and psychologists define addiction as a physical and psychological dependence to psychoactive substances such as nicotine, alcohol, methamphetamines, heroine, cannabis and other drugs. It can also be a psychological dependency

to sex, pornography, gambling, exercise, food, activity and many others - that may eventually lead to the person becoming negative, unproductive and even harmful, both to himself and others. In short, addiction is not normal - whether it may be for pleasure, enjoyment or even fulfillment. Addiction - From a Christian’s Point Of View

Addiction is a menace, most especially in the lives of the young generation who are still in the stages of discovery. However, in the realm of Christianity, there are more than just the biological, physical and psychological factors that make a person addicted to such substance, activity or vice. When addiction is involved, a keen Christian is aware that there is a spiritual aspect involved. This spiritual force comes from the spirits of bondage and fear as it is written in Romans 8:15: “For ye have OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” –NIVThe Spirit of Addiction

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, humanity has always been addicted to sin and Satan, the forever adversary of God and everything good. Playing the master puppeteer that he is - Satan has the world in his hands - enticing the lust of the flesh of every man with every abominable deed. Indeed, the spirit that prevails when a man or woman yields to an addiction of any kind are the spirits of bondage and fear – and these spirits belong to Satan. The Spirits of Bondage and Fear

Addiction is just like being in bondage. Such as in the case of Jolinda Wade, who was addicted to heroin and alcohol - she was enslaved by these two substances. And anyone who has been addicted to anything will attest to the fact that when there is bondage - there is fear. Why Fear?

Romans 8:15 speaks of bondage in the same manner as slavery or a slave - and a slave is always under constant fear and alarm. Albert Barnes, American theologian and pastor, has this to say about the verse: “The spirit of bondage - The spirit that binds you; or the spirit of a slave, that produces only fear. The slave is under constant fear and alarm.”Just like the slave who is in constant fear,

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an addict is also in constant fear – fearing that he or she might lose his “fix” or shot, fearing that he or she might be caught by authorities, and the list goes on until that fear becomes a chronic paranoia. John Gill an English pastor, Bible scholar and theologian wrote in his exposition of the Bible: “Men in a state of nature are under a spirit of bondage to the lusts of the flesh; by these they are captivated and enslaved, and the consequence of it is a fearful apprehension, when convicted, of death, judgment, and wrath to come.” About Romans 8:15 and it’s parallel to Present Day Addiction

The verse is actually referring to being in

bondage with the law. And because the law is impossible to fulfill in the flesh, people were always in constant fear of the curses that the law brings. The Apostle Paul has always reminded the believers (even up to this day) that they have been set free through Jesus Christ. Addicts today are also in bondage with the drugs that bring misery to their lives and their families. It is only through Jesus Christ that brings liberty to such bondage. Luke 4:18 says: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, -American King James VersionOn The Road to Recovery

For those like Jolinda Wade, it took realization and the calling of God to acknowledge Christ, to break the addiction from their lives. For others, it takes the realization of their guilt – either way, it cannot be denied that their recovery from addiction is and will always be through the grace of God in Christ Jesus. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 –NIV-

I have not always been the best stewa rd of my temple. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve allowed some pipes to get rusty, and ingested some thing s that have done far more harm than good. Still, the wonderful thing about Chris t is as long as there is breath in my bo dy I can make some transitional steps to co rrect as much damage as possible. I can be a better guardian of the physical body that holds the image of Christ by â&#x20AC;Ś

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

The “It’s Only Another Beer” Black and Tan 8 oz. pilsner lager 8 oz. stout lager 1 frosty mug 1 icy road 1 pick-up truck 1 10-hour day 1 tired worker A few rounds with the guys Mix ingredients. Add 1 totalled vehicle.

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’ Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

GOALS, TO Dos, ASSESSMENTS GOAL AREA: HEALTH

DATE RANGE: _______________________

OVERALL GOAL: _________________________________________

TO DO LIST DO

PROGRESS

CHALLENGES ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES TO COMPLETING GOAL

DID I ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

PLANS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE AREA

( ) YES

(

) NO

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

D SH OO TING E ATS HEA HO O ON LTH I P S WITH S ER A CONSI ND DERIN S KI P S T G CH DE S S E R ANG Y” ING ADD NAM D E TO “ BUFF

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PERSONAL/CAREER DEVELOPMENT 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 ESV

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

T:7”

T:10”

WHEN THE NEST IS NO LONGER FULL

– LIFE STILL CAN BE Patricia Jones, M.A.

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

WHEN OUR CHILDREN OUR LITTLE WE adore them, we are glad when they are down for a nap, and we are glad to come home to them at night. And then they turn into teenagers and we begin to count the days and weeks, and months and years until they are on their own. This is because teenagers can “drive us crazy” with their demands, and their messiness, and their risk taking, and their defiance. And we get excited helping them plan for college, and moving out, and starting to launch their own life and careers and future. Finally, the day comes for them to leave for college and we drive them there and help them set up their dorm rooms. And then we hug and kiss them good-bye. Unlike the mother bird that practically pushes the baby birds out of the nest and then watches them automatically fly.....we wonder if we let them go too soon. We can’t sleep at night wondering what they are doing, who they are with, and if they are using good common sense, or are they out somewhere in the dark of the night in danger? Essentially, we wonder if they really can “fly.” Welcome to the “Empty Nest Syndrome.” There are new challenges when the children leave home. Moving On To the Second Half

Life changes can generally either be seen as losses or as gains. We have lost a child at home but gained a new son-in-law or a new daughter-in-law, and eventually new grandchildren. All of a sudden the house is quiet, the phone hardly rings, there are no more school events to go to, no more prom dresses to buy, and no more groups of teenagers spending the night. It hits us in the “pit of our stomachs” that our child is really gone and does not officially live with us anymore. Also, when they do come home, it is only for a visit. The only reminders that they lived here are the pictures on the walls of their growing up years, or the ones we have in photo albums. And all of their things in the hall closet or the attic. The hard-

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est part is going into their old bedroom. The “Empty Nest” Syndrome is something new.

As we seek for guidance, we really get little help from looking back to how people have approached this in the past, largely because the “empty nest” has not been part of life for a long time historically. The researchers who wrote Lifetrends: The Future of Baby Boomers and Other Aging Americans, point out: “the existence of the ‘empty nest’ stage of family life is more recent than many people realize. In 1900, a 22-year-old woman who married would, on the average, become a widow at age 60 and die herself at age 64. Since it’s likely that she would have had many children throughout her reproductive years, there is a good chance that her last child would still have been living at home at the time of her death.’” Going back even further to biblical

times, most parents kept their adult male children living with them, along with their daughters-in-law and their grandchildren. Freedom all of a sudden

There is no doubt about it-as much as we may love our children, they do tie us down. Our lives center around them from that first day we bring them home as an infant and they keep us up all night, through those days we are going 10 different directions trying to attend all their ball games and recitals, to those times we stay up all night worrying because they are out late with that person we just don’t trust. The empty nest brings the potential of a new freedom from those constraints, and for looking to our own interests. While this freedom can be a relief for many of us, it can also mean some adjustments. Perhaps for the first time ... you feel free to focus

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on yourself and your own needs. And then you don’t really know what those needs are anymore because all of your needs have been caught up in your children’s needs for the past 18 years or so. A New Family Role

When our last child leaves, it is almost certain that our family role will change. But in what way that role will change is subject to many variations. The best-case scenario is that we will change from a parent-child relationship with our children to more of a relationship of deep friendship and respect between adults. Certainly even in this there will be remnants of the old parent-child relationship around, but the basic relationship will gain a new quality. For others there is no relationship at all with our adult children. They leave, meet new people, move across the country, find their place in the world, and somehow, your contact with them is reduced to the holidays. Distance plays a huge part in just how close you can be with you adult children. If you are fortunate enough to have them

still live in the same town then as the family roles change, new experiences are born. You get to watch your hard work pay off as your children become parents. When the last child moves out of the house, we don’t lose our family, but rather we take on a new family role. That role can involve some or all of the following: Grandparenting However, while this new sense of intimacy often develops, there are also some roles which we find ourselves in that require new skills, and sometimes more work than we thought we had bargained for. These include grandparenting, caring for elderly parents, and helping with adult children in crisis. Grandparenting can involve anything from occasionally helping with grandchildren, a task most grandparents relish, to taking on a major parenting role for our grandchildren because our adult children cannot or will not perform it. A popular bumper sticker says, “If I had known how much fun grandchildren are, I would have had them first!” Certainly

grandchildren can be fun. As a grandparent, you can usually enjoy your grandchildren without having to take the same level of responsibility and burden you did with your children. Usually that is the case-not always. Sometimes today, grandparents are forced into a more active role, either because parents are irresponsible, or because parents run into especially difficult circumstances, such as financial, relationships, or health problems. Caring for Elderly Parents: Sometimes no sooner do we finish caring for our children than our parents become less able to care for themselves, and we must take a role in their care. Often this task falls to the woman of the household. Such care can mean anything from helping with cleaning and the more physically exhausting tasks of running a home, to having power of attorney, to constant nursing care of an invalid. Taking a parent or in-law into the home often brings a great deal of stress. In fact, a University of Michigan School of Nursing study showed that those caring for the aged suffered from depression three times as often as OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

the older people they cared for.” Once again, distance plays a major role in just how close you are to your aging parents. Even Jesus took on a new role as part of his earthly family. Jesus never married, and so he never had children and experienced “the empty nest.” But he did come to a point in his life where he took on a new family role, and he did have to deal with a mother who was not too sure she wanted him to leave the safety of “the family nest.” Most biblical scholars believe that Jesus’ earthly father died shortly after Jesus was 12 years old, for that is the last time we hear of his father. Therefore, as the eldest son, he probably had to take on the role of the “man of the house” for many years. However, when he was 30 he left the home to begin his three-year ministry of teaching and healing. In that ministry he met much stress, opposition and danger. It is probably in reaction to that stress, opposition and danger that his mother came to “rescue” him in the following little story. “Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind”... Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and brothers?” he asked. ‘Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” -- Mark 3:20-21, 31-35. When Jesus’ mother and brothers came to “rescue” him, what do you think Jesus was feeling? • Embarrassed over her doing this in front of his followers? • Angry that she was treating him like a kid?

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• Angry that she didn’t understand? • Thankful she cared? • Nostalgic-maybe he wanted to go back home? Jesus’ emotions are similar to how your adult child feels when you remain in the role of the mother or father when they were living under your household. Just like Mary, the mother of Jesus, it is very hard to just turn your child loose into the world when you know how dangerous the world can be. Something new is happening. Adult children are returning home in great numbers today. Adult children run into many kinds of stress. It is much harder to make it today than it was 50 years ago. Divorce and financial hardship in an increasingly tight economy are the two most common. In such times, we learn that our adult children are not quite as ready to be on their own as they, and we, once thought. Adult children may ask us for loans, or even for the chance to move back into our home

“just for a while-until things get better.” In 1980, according to the United States census, almost five hundred thousand divorced men and women in their 20s, and three hundred thousand married couples lived with their parents. What do we do if we are asked to fill such a role? A New Purpose

Besides being a time of changing family roles, the time of the empty nest is also a time of flux in relation to one’s sense of purpose. For most men, as well as more and more women, sense of purpose is closely tied to paid work. Most women, on the other hand, have traditionally gotten their sense of purpose from their role as a mother. When children leave home, what happens to that sense of purpose? Interestingly, women do one of four things: (1) They continue to play the mother role, with continued nurturing, of their husband, the careers of their older children, and the care and

nurturing of their grandchildren; (2) Or, they begin to try out all the things they had dreamed of doing, but never did because they were mothers instead. Some may go back to work, or start a new career or develop latent talents. (3) Others who have worked while raising children continue in those jobs. (4) And last, the ones who become “displaced homemakers” who due to a divorce or the death of their husbands have to re-enter the job market just to survive. For those in this latter category, Cynthia Coad has written a handbook to help women with this transition called, Your Full Future: After the Empty Nest. She writes in that book, “The first onehalf of the female’s life has been occupied in serving others. It was a path she chose, and one she accomplished well. In many cases this meant that her personal career goals were not fully developed. A time comes, however, when the woman looks for her full future in the form of a career. The second one-half of her life offers her that opportunity.” And so, whether one is male or female, the time of the empty nest can be a time

when we look to a new life purpose. A New Marriage Partnership:

Growing and changing are the central indications that something is living, and so if our marriage is truly alive it must change and grow. Especially is this true when the last child leaves the home. When children are in the home much activity centers around them. They provide a common focus for parents who share in the task of raising them. But when they are gone, what will then be the common focus that the couple has to hold them together? Many couples at this stage discover that the children were the only thing they had in common. This discovery generally means a time of strain for the marriage, unless they explore and discover some common interests. What is more, since the empty nest period has other big life changes, like a woman’s new professional explorations, or a man’s retirement, unless a couple learns to adapt to those changes, the marital strain will be even more severe. Those marriages which survive and even thrive in this period are those where both persons are willing to change and to not hold on to the past relationship, but look forward to a new, different and exciting

one. This is a danger period for many marriages, because some couples have stayed together ONLY because of the children and were just waiting for the last one to leave before they divorce. Then add to that male mid-life crisis, and female menopause and the strains are very tough on any marriage. A New Spirituality

When we are young we have a tendency to be preoccupied with the material aspects of life. But as we mature we see more and more that the physical is not all there is to life. While we still feel there is much of life ahead, we realize that we are aging, and we start to think more of where life is headed, and what is beyond it. All of this leads us to consider our spiritual nature more and more. This is one reason that most churches are filled with the elderly. By this time in life, many people have matured and given up on their dreams of becoming the President of the company, or the greatest actress in the world. They have also accumulated many of the material things that they pursued as youth, and are looking for a deeper purpose in life that is invisible.

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This can be one of the most productive times in someone’s life when they can turn their full attention to God and develop a strong, intimate relationship with Him. A New Future

At each stage of life a person has to make the decision, do I spend my time looking back at what I have lost, or do I look ahead to the new future that is in store for me? Certainly, we do lose something when our children go off on their own. We lose a role we have lived with for 20 or 30 years, and we put behind us a time when we nurtured young lives and had them constantly around to provide companionship. We have also lost our youth, and some mourn that as well. We are taught in our culture to idealize youth and fear aging as nothing more than a path toward death. But for those with their eyes open to the possibilities, our 40s, 50s and 60s provide new opportunities for self-exploration. We have often gained wisdom and a self-confidence that we longed for in our younger years, and these can help us toward a life that is more fulfilling. The time of the empty nest, then, will be what we make it. For those of us who look only at what we have lost, it will be a hard time. But for those of us who look at the new things this period of life brings to us, it will be a time of exciting discovery. This is a poignant period of adjustment because we miss the presence of each son or daughter who made so many demands on our time. We miss the conversation, the mealtimes, the things we once did with them as a family unit. Sometimes the absence of our children robs us of our own identity. Mel Roman and Patricia Taley wrote in The Indelible Family: “When all of the children leave home and the nest is empty, some parents have no idea who they are or what to do with themselves. Their identity, both as individuals and as family members, has been so tied up in mothering and fathering that they are lost. They feel worthless and useless. They feel robbed of their roles and of their children. Although they mourn the loss of their children, they also mourn the loss of themselves. The children will be all right;

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We are taught in our culture “ to idealize youth and fear aging as nothing more than a path toward death. But for those with their eyes open to the possibilities, our 40s, 50s and 60s provide new opportunities for self-exploration.

”

they have everything to look forward to. The parents are not sure that they have ‘anything to look forward to.” This empty sadness often hits one parent more painfully than the other. Sometimes it hurts the wife most, especially if the husband’s life is still wrapped up with his job. He can turn his energies elsewhere, but she has to face this meaninglessness alone. Sometimes it is the other way around, and the husband may feel he has lost his best companion when a child leaves home. Besides missing the children, there is also the crisis of becoming reacquainted with the one who was there with you before the children ever came onto the scene. It may sound absurd to talk about become reacquainted with your own spouse, who has been at your side through all the childhood illnesses, the excitement of Little League heroics, graduations, and recitals. Although your mate has shared your worries and your joys, it may be difficult to take up just where you left off 30 years ago! And what if you have been divorced and then have to face the “empty nest?” Then you are really facing it alone, without even a spouse to turn to for companionship. This is the hardest scenario to face, going through a divorce, being single again, and losing your children all at the same time. Or maybe you are divorced and then you meet someone right at the time your children are leaving home. Then you not only have to get used to them being gone, but you have to get used to having a new spouse and so do your children. It could not be more complex.

COPING WITH THE EMPTY NEST

How you cope with the “empty nest” will differ for each person. It will depend on how close you were to your child as they grew up, and how close you both want to remain. While it is a time of great joy, it is also a time of great sadness, because you are losing an identity that you had as a parent of some 20 years, and now you no longer have that identity. If you can look at it though as another passage of life that we all go through and realize that you are now in another phase, one of great rewards and rediscovery of yourself and your relationship to God and your eternal future then it can go smoothly and be one of the most rewarding and productive times of your life. Patricia Jones, M.A., has a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling and Psychology, and also an undergraduate degree, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Psychology. She has owned her own Pastoral Counseling Center, Dove Counseling since 1994, and has substantial counseling experience dealing with marriage, family, adolescents, divorce, domestic violence issues, remarriage, depression, and many other issues, etc. She has also worked with other Pastoral Counseling Centers, Pregnancy Crisis Centers, Mental Health Clinics, the prison population, and in a Psychiatric Hospitals with severely disturbed schizophrenic patients (inpatient therapy). She sees her counseling gift as her “way of serving God by helping others in whatever way that I can.” For information on her counseling services which are available via phone visit: www.dovechristiancounseling. com.

A) Jumping Bean B) Jack’s Bounce C) Jumping Jacks D) None of the Above Even if you don’t know the answer, all you need to know is that any activity is a good activity. So play sports, run, dance, jump in place, ¡Lo que sea! whatever, just get up and play at least one hour a day! For fun activities and ways to stay healthy visit

www.letsmove.gov

What is God’s Will Concerning My

Career?

Courtesy of Xenos.org GOD’S WILL FOR EACH OF OUR LIVES IS THAT WE BE reconciled to God by accepting His gift of life through the payment Christ made on the cross. Once we acknowledge, accept and abide in that, we can begin to see God’s will in every area of our life – including the workplace or our careers. Have you submitted your career to God, including how you do your job? Do you ask God every day for his leadership and power to do your job while depending on him? There are several excellent teachings on this topic in our Study Center and on the Web. Gary DeLashmutt taught on this topic from Colossians 3:21-4:1. In this teaching, you will learn God wants you to cultivate a respectful heart attitude toward work and your employer, and to do excellent work, as if you were reporting directly to God as your boss.

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This means being willing to do what you’re asked to do. It also means not grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:14), or working just when someone’s watching you. It means coming to work with a servant attitude toward not only your boss, but also toward your coworkers (including those not in your department), your customers, your suppliers, and your subordinates. By doing these things, you honor God as an exemplary employee. As any diligent Christian manager in a secular business may come to know, it is dismaying when Christians earned the reputation of slackers. They can be eager to have others see them reading their Bibles in the workplace, or coming late or leaving early in the name of ministry... but sadly it is at the expense of the jobs they were supposed to be doing! If you are being paid for 40 hours of work, it’s wrong and also detrimental to the name of Christ to not give your company their money’s worth.

God’s Will in Career Choices

Career choices usually are not a moral issue, meaning we have a lot of freedom to follow our own judgment and consciences in making these decisions. And most of the time, these choices are not black and white. When you go through career moves, God can teach you first-hand about applying key biblical principles, learned from personal experiences that we can then share with others. Some principles that may be helpful follow. “Grow spiritually where you’re planted.” This is a general default guideline the apostle Paul gave to people who were restless in the church of Corinth. Especially if you are growing spiritually where you are, be wary of temptations to move away geographically. Satan and the world system always promise more money and power somewhere else to try and lure a growing Christian away from where they are making an impact. Don’t fall into this trap! Have you prioritized your ministry and God’s will above your career? If you work for a business that actively promotes immoral activity or unethical business practices, consider making a change for conscience sake. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should only work for a Christian business. Don’t run away from problems where you have unfinished business such as a conflict to resolve or a challenge that appears too tough. God twice shut the door on my making a career change until I dealt with spiritual character issues he had his finger on in the workplace. The workplace is a fantastic arena for developing our character and spiritual maturity. P r a y about your opportunity and ask God for wisdom with a willing heart to do what he shows you. Do you get the sense you’re bucking against his leading? Are there signs suggesting you’re forcing or

manipulating a situation versus moving toward an open door? If you’re married, are you and your spouse on the same page after you’ve prayed about it? Consult mature Christians who know you well enough to ask you questions, pray with you and help you lean against your tendencies. For example, one extreme is to lunge ahead; the other extreme is to never take a calculated risk. Your home group leaders can be a valuable resource. My home group leaders gave me some useful tools for walking through my decision, without trying to make the decision for me. Finally, if you have an opportunity to improve your situation, and you’ve considered these principles without finding any red flags, go ahead and make the move (1 Corinthians 7:17-24; James 4:1315). Xenos Christian Fellowship is a culturally relevant, non-traditional and non-denominational church with mainstream biblical doctrines. We develop community through home groups led by volunteers. Xenos is known for its equipping ministries for developing Christian workers and leaders. For additional information and a wealth of Biblical resources, please visit www.xenos.org

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Transition: Choices, Changes and Challenges

Elder George Fishburne, Jr.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY BUFF. The White House and its many occupants have so intrigued me over the years. What is most impressive about the presidency is how the institution is designed to pass from one duly elected leader to the next. An essential component to the process is the clear and concise understanding that one presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for leading a nation, shaping world history, and affecting domestic/ international long-term policy, has now come to an end. The existence of this fact is not enough if it is not accompanied by its twin, called acceptance. I recall one of the most touching moments that I have ever witnessed on the morning of January 20, 2001. That day, President William Jefferson Clinton departed the White House for the final time as our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader. Traditionally, before leaving, presidents leave notes of encouragement and advice to their successor, a tradition President Clinton upheld. Soon after the presidency was transferred to incoming president,

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George Walker Bush, President Clinton, his wife, Hillary and their daughter, Chelsea, sped off to Andrews Air Force Base. As president, he habitually, boarded Air Force One, the official presidential air transport. Today, as ‘Citizen Clinton’, he boarded a benign U.S. Government aircraft whose mission was to transport him to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The code name was titled by the Air Force as ‘Special Air Mission 28000.’ With the niceties and the elaborate trappings of the Oval Office in his rear view mirror, President Clinton remarked, “Now we have to go on to the next part of our lives.” He continued, “Maybe for the first time in eight years I’ll be in the driver’s seat in a lot of ways I wasn’t before.” With those words, the youngest president since Theodore Roosevelt left office. As he climbed the plane’s stairs to the top, he turned and waved to supporters, disappearing not only into its entryway but also into the annals of history. This scene, which has been repeated time and again throughout presidential history, is merely an example of what each of us has had to endure many times over in our respective lives..........Transition. While some view the wholesale changes that litter the landscape of their lives as negative, God’s outlook is altogether different. Change is good primarily because it affords Him the op-

portunity to purge an entity/person of its outdated ways, jaded personalities, and complacency. Often, we can be in place or hold a position for so long, that we become cynical about our mission and thus our ability to carry forth that which God has entrusted to us is negatively impacted. How we greet and adapt to change may determine whether or not God’s next assignment in our lives will manifest. Often transition causes us to wrestle with and reassess our past productivity. Accomplishments measured in the form of statistics can sometimes be misleading because they fail to take into consideration the human element, which is a significant part of ministry. There is also invisible element to ministry that you and I will never understand. It involves the incalculable relationships that you and I have developed over the span of our lives. The people that you have been able to reach, empower, and encourage, also have a sphere of influence and friendship circles that you will never experience. So now, what begins to happen is the equivalent of what I call the ‘Spiritual Domino Effect.’ When we line up appropriately with God’s will for our lives, then those persons that we have direct interaction with become beneficiaries of our obedience. Not only do the blessOIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

ings pass from person to person but our families and communities are also strengthened in the process. Remember, singular obedience wills always yield plural reward.

began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”

When perfectly aligned dominoes fall in designed succession, each is ‘touched’ indirectly by the initial domino in that row. When we fall in line and adhere to the ‘Master’s -Master Plan’, we become the catalyst to others also being introduced to and experiencing God’s ongoing favor, even during periods of unfamiliarity and transition. Always know that the collective force of our trials and life experiences that attempt to illicit fear from us, are hardly a match for the supernatural and timely saving power of our God. Because God has deposited so much in us, He has made it clear that He intends to see it through. The Amplified Bible translation of Philippians 1:6 says; “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who

A good friend and powerful young preacher in his own right, Minister Tariq Craig of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania once prayed these words: “Seasons should not only lead us to new levels but also to new dimensions. New levels can be reached with our power but new dimensions are only within the reach of our God!”

Elder George Fishburne, Jr. (www. georgefishburne.com) is the Senior Consultant of A Higher Calling Consultants and the Managing Editor of The Write Stuff, a writing and communications company which offers an array of writing and editing services. Additionally, he is the former Chief Operating Officer of the Elizabeth Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia and is the author of “A Higher Calling: Serving God, His Leaders and His People with Excellence” and the accompanying guide and workbook.

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Remember that no season is ever larger than the whole. The many seasonal transitions that await each of us are not our enemies, but rather our friends. When we greet them with open arms and fervent prayer, they can only work in our favor.

refrIgerate LeftoVers promptLy, and Keep tHe frIdge at 40ºf or BeLoW to sLoW BaCterIa groWtH.

CHILL

T:10”

fresH BaCterIa CasseroLe. mmmm.

Keep your famILy safer from food poIsonIng Check your steps at foodsafety.gov

T:7”

What can happen next? How many tim es have I asked myself that question wh en it comes to school, my career, finances , and just life in general. How can I map out a plan to fully develop all that I can be personally and professionally? ______________________________ ______________________________ _________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ _________________________

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GOALS, TO Dos, ASSESSMENTS GOAL AREA: PERSONAL/CAREER DEVELOPMENT DATE RANGE: __________________ OVERALL GOAL: _________________________________________

TO DO LIST DO

PROGRESS

CHALLENGES ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES TO COMPLETING GOAL

DID I ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

PLANS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE AREA

( ) YES

(

) NO

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WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK. J O I N O U R O N L I N E C O M M U N I T Y AT Text VETS to 69866 to get started.

D A T A A N D M E S S A G E R A T E S M A Y A P P LY.

FINANCES 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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THE FAILURE TO PLAN YOUR ESTATE WILL LEAD TO FAILURE

Vernita C. Williams, Esq.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FAMOUS painter, Pablo Picasso? Picasso was strange and extreme in many ways. He lived his life just as abstract as he created art. He was extremely successful, yet also extremely disheveled. When I die, it will be like a shipwreck, and as when a huge ship sinks, many people all around will be sucked down with it. It will be worse than anyone imagines. (From Ariana Stassinopoulos Huffington, Picasso: Creator and Destroyer, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988) Pablo Picasso foretold his legacy accurately. When Picasso died in 1973 he had built an empire worth 260 million dollars but, strangely, his personal affairs were in chaos. He left no will, but did leave three illegitimate children born to various mistresses and was estranged from

When I die, it will be like a shipwreck, “and as when a huge ship sinks, many

people all around will be sucked down with it. It will be worse than anyone (From Ariana Stassinopoulos imagines. Huffington, Picasso: Creator and Destroyer, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988)

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everyone in his family except his second wife, Jacqueline. No one was sure who the heirs were or what was in his estate. It took five years of litigation to settle Picasso’s estate because the mistresses, wives and their children were scratching and wrangling for their entitlement. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation

of Islam, left an estate valued at $19 million. He left no will when he died in February 1975. That little snafu generated more than a decade of litigation. It appeared that for years prior to the death of Elijah Muhammad, cash had been allocated into and out of the Nation of Islam with no accountability and Elijah Muhammad’s personal holdings proved inseparable from those of the Nation of Islam. There was the unanswered question of whether the assets, comprised mostly of real estate holding, would go to his religious orga-

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Another common misconception is that if a person’s estate is small, a plan is unnecessary. Here are some truths you need to accept. If you plan your estate, it will not speed up your death. You need a plan, regardless of the size of your estate. Some of the biggest fights I have seen as an attorney were over very small estates. You can alleviate some of the drama by simply making your wishes known in a Last Will and Testament or a similar legally-binding plan. Mistake #2: I love all my babies the same.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and family photographed by the Legendary Gordon Parks nization or to his heirs. The real drama began in 1979 when several of Muhammad’s 22 children filed suit to recover their father’s personal assets that were turned over to the Nation of Islam at the time of his death. They were awarded a share of the estate (more than $5 million) in 1986, but the decision was reversed when an appellate court ruled that the bank had acted properly when it transferred funds from accounts controlled by Muhammad to those of the Nation of Islam. In addition to battling over cash, there were also legal battles of property which Muhammad’s children believed were the personal holdings of their father. THE REASON YOU NEED AN ESTATE PLAN

Are you like Pablo Picasso? Shipwrecked and can’t make a decision? Do you more closely resemble the Honorable Elijah Muhammad your money is all tied up in your business or ministry or collective family holdings? Their stories emphasize the severity of legal drama and trauma that one can incur when death and estates are not planned for. Hopefully, your life does not in

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any way resemble these two men; however, there are still many reasons you need a plan and many reasons that your plan needs to be prepared by an attorney who knows the laws that pertain to estate planning. There are mistakes being made every day by people who do not have a plan or people who did their own plan improperly. If I were teaching a class on estate planning, I could easily identify at least 25 common mistakes or errant concepts when it comes to estate planning. The proper development of an estate plan requires a good understanding of laws related to: wills and trusts, probate matters, insurance matters, real estate conveyance and financial matters. When an individual or an attorney is inexperienced in estate planning matters, mistakes are inevitable and mistakes cost money. Here is a list of ten of those 25 most common estate planning and probate errors. Mistake #1: Having no plan at all/Procrastinating

Somehow, people tend to think that if they do not plan for their death, they will not die!

Unless you are instructing that your property be sold and the proceeds divided equally among your children, it is seldom a good idea to have several children placed on the deed to a property. The more names on a deed, the more likely it is that confusion will reign. Several names on a deed also strengthen the inability to make a decision concerning the property. Five children, who did not get along while you were alive, will not resolve a property matter peacefully - simply because their names are on a piece of paper. Mistake #3: They’ll have it when they’re all grown up and not a minute sooner

You may be creating an unnecessary headache for the minor and the person responsible for their care in drafting a document that does not provide for minor care until they are adults; especially if the amount

of the insurance benefit is sizeable. Most insurance companies will not pay the insurance proceeds directly to the minor and will require the minor’s next of kin, even the parent, to go to court to get court authorization for the release of the money. In some states, even when the court authorizes the release of the money, it may also require that the money is placed in a restricted bank account from which no funds can be released without court order. Yes, that means every time you need funds from that account, you and your attorney will be back in court which means attorney and court fees. You may want to consider establishing special trusts that include the insurance proceeds or establishing a custodianship in accords with your state laws. Mistake #4: I’m leaving enough to put me in the ground decently.

The amount of life insurance you should carry is not solely based upon the amount of money needed to bury you. The amount of life insurance you carry should depend upon what financial matters your family will need to take care of after you die. This includes the amount of money needed to handle your financial arrangements, the amount of money needed to care for any minor children until they become self supportive adults and the amount of money to handle mortgage payments on any property you own. Make sure there are insurance proceeds or cash to pay any outstanding mortgage obligations on property you own.

person has access to property and money that may be designed to assist in the care of beneficiaries; you need to be sure they have the integrity to handle your business. Mistake #6: Oh, I didn’t fix those papers?

This is a big one. Creating conflicting documents simply means you composed a will that says John gets the money in the bank but you indicated on bank records that Sally gets the money in the bank. Well now, who really gets the money? Be sure that your insurance and bank papers do not conflict with your last will and testament. Creating conflicting documents is usually an oversight, you should in fact establish a will; however, be sure that the beneficiary information precisely matches what is on bank records and insurance documents. Whenever you update your will, take the time to also update your other documentation. A Last Will and Testament will not determine the final outcome. While you will not be there to see it, trust me when I say there is nothing more chaotic than dealing

with people who are disappointed to learn that they are not getting what they thought they were. Mistake #7: Eenie meenie miny moe – pick a guardian you surely know

If you have minor children, you need to choose a guardian who will care for them and you should designate your choice in your Last Will & Testament. Bear in mind that if your children are minors when you pass away and their other parent is still living, that parent will have the right to take custody of the children over any other person you appoint as their guardian in your Last Will & Testament. If the surviving parent is unable to care for the children, you should have already discussed alternate care with the proposed guardian to confirm that they agree to serve in that capacity if the need arises. You should choose a guardian of the person who has demonstrated the ability to relate very well with the child or children. You should also should a guardian of the property who has demon-

Mistake #5: Don’t choose the one that won’t let you rest in peace

Your executor or trustee should be a person who has already demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility in business and financial matters. It should be a person who is diligent and responsive when it comes to paperwork and deadlines. It should be a person who is orderly and financially prudent. If the person you are considering nominating for the executor or trustee position has a history of stealing, inability to pay their own rent or mortgage, gambling and other financial malfunctions, the person is not a good candidate. Remember this OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

strated the ability to handle money. The guardian of the person can be the same person as the guardian of the property, provided the person is good at caring for the person as well as handling the child’s money. If the guardian of the person is a poor money manager, appoint someone else as the guardian of the property. Mistake #8: My family will take care of me – I just know it

If illness or an accident leaves you unable to make intelligent decisions and you have no incapacity plan (a plan that states who will care for you if you are sick or disabled) – you are left to wiles of whomever. It is no longer sufficient to just have an estate plan that distributes your assets in the event of your death. You must have an incapacity plan which tells who you have placed in authority to assist you if you are alive but are in need of help with your business, financial and medical transactions. You should give medical power of attorney to parties whom you authorize to make medical decisions. In addition, you should authorize parties to handle your financial and business transactions in the event you cannot. Bear in mind that appointees in medical and durable powers of attorney have tremendous power, so trust beyond measure the people you appoint in these positions of authority. Mistake #9: I already talked to them about that.

Your estate plan should be reviewed annually to accommodate and take into consideration changes in circumstances and seasons of life. Here are some of the times when you should definitely review your estate plan to determine if you need to make changes: a new marriage, a new baby, a divorce, death of a close family member, gaining a windfall, start of a new business, when planning for retirement, after the purchase or sale of property Mistake #10: Uncle Sam will get none of mine

Laws governing the transfer of wealth stipulate that if you die and your estate is a fairly large one, you may be liable for taxes. For instance, the threshold for the payment of taxes in the year 2004 was $2,000,000. This meant, if your estate exceeded

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$2,000,000 and you died in 2004, you would be liable for taxes on the amount by which you exceeded the $2,000,000. Usually the tax liability would be between 35 and 55% of the amount by which you exceed the threshold amount. For instance, if your estate was worth $3,000,000, you will have exceeded the threshold by $1,000,000 and would therefore have a tax liability of between $350,000 and $550,000 depending upon your circumstances. Estate tax planning allows you to create the type of estate plan containing special trusts and other strategies designed to reduce your tax liability. The best thing you can do right now to circumvent problems in the future is to plan properly. The estate plan best suited for you will depend upon your age, marital status, health condition, and the value of your assets, the age and independence of your children and other factors unique to your situation. When you hire an attorney to develop your estate plan, it should be done in a manner that alleviates common estate planning errors, eliminates or decreases

estate taxes, saves on court cost and attorneys fees and assures the transfer of your assets to the people of your choice.

Attorney Vernita C. Williams specializes in wills, trusts and estate planning. She is a highly-sought after speaker on subject matters related to her areas of specialty. An ordained minister, she is additionally the Pastor of Stewardship at New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International. She is additionally the host of a radio program heard Wednesdays on www.wmbm. com, called Victorious Life Management. She is completing her first two books PRINCIPLES OF ABUNDANCE and LEAVING A LEGACY (from which this article was excerpted).

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What exactly is a power of attorney medical and durable? Kimberly Larkins-Robinson 90 OIKONOMIA

Dec 2011/Jan 2012

EACH OF US HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS to our person. We can even choose to give that responsibility to someone else. God expects us to manage ourselves as responsibly as He asks us to manage other aspects of our lives. So in choosing people to do certain things for us and to make certain decisions on our behalf we must choose carefully and responsibly. This article focuses on a person who is capable of making decisions for themselves and they have decided to put in place safeguards that guarantee only the person(s) they chose will be able to make decisions about and for them in their absence or when/if they become incapable of making such decisions for themselves. In the legal realm documents that designate who these decision makers will be are known as medical and durable powers of attorney. Let’s explore both options, their purpose, how long they last as well as a few other factors. Most people have no idea what is involved in managing this type of decision so we have taken our questions to South Florida attorney Ms. Keisha N. Harris, and here are her responses. What is the general purpose of a Durable Power of Attorney?

• A Power of Attorney is a legal document giving another person (Attorney in Fact) the right to do certain things for the maker (Principal). A Principal giving a Power of Attorney can make it very broad or can limit the powers granted to certain acts. • A regular Power of Attorney terminates upon the incapacity of the Principal. However, a Durable Power of Attorney remains effective even when the Principal becomes incapacitated. The only thing that distinguishes a Durable Power of Attorney from a regular Power of Attorney is special wording that states that the POA survives incapacity.

What is the general purpose of a Medical Power of Attorney?

• A Designation of a Health Care Surrogate [or “Agent” in some jurisdictions] is a legal document in which a person appoints another person to make health care decisions on his or her behalf in the event of future incapacity. The authority of the surrogate decision-maker becomes effective on a determination by the person’s attending physician and a second physician that the person lacks the capacity to make health care decisions or provide informed consent. The authority of the surrogate terminates in the event the attending physician determines that the person has regained the capacity to make such decisions. [This document is known as a Medical Power of Attorney.]

Is there another name for the Durable Power of Attorney; for the Medical Power of Attorney?

• [For the ] Durable Power of Attorney [no] and [a Medial POA can be referenced as] Designation of a Health

Care Surrogate. Should people have both powers of attorney or is one more necessary than the other?

• They have different purposes, so it is best to have both.

What makes a Durable Power of Attorney invalid or what would cause it to expire?

• All Powers of Attorney are cancelled at the death of the Principal and only a Durable Power of Attorney remains legal after the incompetency of the Principal.

What makes a Medical Power of Attorney invalid or what would cause it to expire?

• The Designation of a Health Care Surrogate [or Medical Power of Attorney] also is cancelled at death.

How does a person make a valid Durable Power of Attorney and who should have copies?

• It is always best to consult an attorney to make sure it is prepared in accordance with Florida [or your State’s] law. The person appointed as the Attorney in Fact should definitely have a copy of the Durable Power of Attorney. [This person will use the document as proof that they have the authority given by you to do certain things for you, whether you are competent or incapacitated.]

How does a person make a valid Medical Power of Attorney and who should have copies?

• Same as above. Additionally, your doctor should have a copy of your Medical Power of Attorney which is also known as Designation of a Health Care Surrogate. [This 2.062" to make medinforms the physician of who is authorized ical decisions about your person.] Please note that before making and major decision about legal or medical advise you should seek professional advice from licensed/certified individuals in each field. This article provides details for information purposes only. You may visit www.findlegalhelp. org and visit www. healthfinder.gov to Everyday moments can be learning search for qualified moments with your kids. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org professionals in your area.

I spy something green.

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

BUILDING WEALTH:

The Next Generation’s PERSPECTIVE

Ionnie McNeill, “The Baby Billionaire” “BUILDING WEALTH” IS USUALLY A PHRASE THAT evokes a sense of responsibility adults adopt, once they have established themselves in their careers and settled down with their families. In short, it’s what older people do. Or is it? Wealth can be defined in many different ways, yet the first form that comes to mind is money. It is also the first aspect of life that we perceive we are lacking. When you think about what your parents and grandparents left you, do you quickly feel disadvantaged because they didn’t leave you a trust fund or do you immediately think of the generational wisdom they have passed down to you, thereby, equipping you with the tools to face the trials of today? With that perspective acknowledged, I encourage you to embrace the lessons learned from the past in order to secure financial independence in the present and future. In my lifetime, I have had the wonderful opportunity to live through tragic financial events that devastated my family. As a re-

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sult, I observed how my parents handled the situations and I learned alongside them. The key to establishing generational wealth is to provide the next generation the opportunity to grow with the present one. This levels the learning and experience curve for the next generation. By having the young learn from the mistakes of the old, they can easily begin to embrace the prosperous rewards of the road less traveled. Lemons are needed for Lemonade

When I was very young, in elementary school to be exact, my mother experienced a sad loss with the passing of my grandmother. But what made the situation worse was that we later lost my grandmother’s house, which I have vivid childhood memories in. By not knowing the difference between a will and a trust, my mother fought a losing battle for over a decade and lost, by the decision of the courts. However, in reality, what losing the house really did was expose my family’s misunderstanding of how to protect wealth and consequently gave birth to a child now known as “The Baby Billionaire”. The interesting part about life is that you never really lose, unless you give up. So, losing my grandmother’s house in probate, wasn’t really a lost, it was the spark needed to ignite my mother towards educating herself on her own personal finances. It was here that she began the building wealth journey and took her youngest daughter along for the ride. In an environment where both generations are learning and growing together, mistakes are minimized and opportunities capitalized. On this educational journey towards financial success, it was more than just a family affair. It developed into an everyday lifestyle that included close friends and extended family. One of my best memories during this time was reading the same financial books together with my mom. Before there were books on tape, my mother had at her demand in the passenger seat a “book amplifier”. This living, breathing device would read aloud every word in the book, at the speed that she wanted. In fact, this technology was so advanced that all she had to do was say, “repeat that” and the book amplifier would slow down and reread the previous passage with more emphasis. I am sure she was thinking that this on-demand book amplifier was much better than trying to flip a tape from

side A to side B or even pressing fast forward and rewind on the tape deck, while driving. Reading books together such as “Smart Women Finish Rich” by David Bach and “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill quickly became the conversation pieces between the mother and daughter. Right after the usual, “What did you learn today in school?” I guess some would call it a mini book club or others a small study group, either way; we transformed our car time into quality learning sessions that we both cherished. And

naturally, I became the passenger seat navigator reading aloud the directions from the Roadmap of Financial Success. While we read books on financial success, we also became members of an organization that built its reputation on quality investment education for individuals and investment clubs, Better Investing (formerly known as NAIC – National Association of Investors Corporation). Better Investing (BI) provided the ideal educational environment for the novice investor. When I began to frequent its investing seminars and conferences, I was usually the quintessential opposite of the regular attendee. Despite those differences, I adapted easily due to my main difference, being young. In that environment, I was easily the granddaughter of both the instructors and the attendees. And just like a granddaughter, I relished in the excitement and attention strangers showered me with. The main line that I could always count on hearing at least 20 times a day was, “I wish I would have started at your age”. In the beginning, it was nice to hear, but after a while, I began to think there was some truth in it. Why was it that almost every single investor that I met wished they had started at my age? Well, within a few months, I would soon find out that it was because I possessed the most precious and valuable asset any investor could ever dream of, Time. If you’ve heard the dire or frantic phrase, “If only I had more time”, then you know exactly what I mean. Every older investor looked at me with promise and opportunity. Although some would interpret their words as signs of regret, I internalized them as “The Secret to Success”. From my eyes, these people were already wealthy and successful and they were constantly telling me that had they started a little earlier, they would be that much more ahead. Not long after hearing this again and again, I began to ask some of them to explain why they wished they started at my age. It was as if I struck a gold mind. As quick as I could get the question out, they proceeded to explain OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012

how much more money they would have had, how much earlier they could have retired, and overall how easier life would have been. With that wisdom being constantly spoken into my ear, I knew I did not want to make the same mistakes, so I took their advice and started early. As a child, I quickly became aware of my untapped potential and consequently, started investing. Even though I didn’t have a lot of money, I started with what I had. With less than $25 I began purchasing just one share of the brands that I was familiar with at the time.

Be a Visionary! You have the awesome opportunity to visualize the success of your future generations. Consequently, don’t take this exercise lightly. Stretch your imagination and Have Fun doing it. However, please remember that the richest legacy you can leave behind includes learned experiences from previous generations and a memory of who they are. Laying this foundation will ensure that subsequent generations will not totally squander what you and previous generations have built and worked hard for.

Making your money work for you

Watching the successes and failures of my parents and listening to the wisdom of my grandparents and other older generations, inspired me to take advantage my youth and live life on “the good foot”. In fact, I can distinctly hear my grandmother now, saying, “I just want you to do better than I did”. Fast forward almost fifteen years later and I am able to stand in a financial position better than many adults. And it was not because I came from money nor had an inheritance; it was because I was encouraged to “do better than the generation before me” and “start investing at an early age.” Furthermore, remember that the wealth building process starts now, especially for the young at heart (an in age). By capitalizing on the most valuable asset that you have now, time, you can begin a legacy that will bear fruit far into the future and past where the eye can see. So, be encouraged that you came into this information now, rather than later. All you have to do is transmute it into power by applying it. And be sure to have fun while you do it.

What really makes money grow? TIME and INTEREST. Therefore, in the game of building wealth, the youth of today have an instant advantage. By being young, children, teenagers and young adults have a longer time horizon to reach their capital-intensive goals, such as purchasing a home and retiring comfortably. A teenager would easily have 20-50 years to reach those goals; whereas, an adult with kids may only have 5-20 years to reach those same goals. From that same vantage point, the interest earned on your investment usually generates its best positive returns the longer the time frame it has to work for you. The icing on the cake is that by combining these two elements, more Time and Compound Interest, the faster your money will grow at an exponential rate. With this being said, I am sure you can see why it is important for the building wealth process to be started earlier in life, rather than later. By waiting, you are losing the only asset that not even the richest man can ever get back, TIME. Therefore, start now! If you are the first in your family to make efforts toward financial independence, Dream Big!

Ionnie McNeill started her investment education journey at the age of seven and had already purchased her first stock before leaving elementary school. By the time she was in middle school, she was already speaking on the national circuit to other kids, and their parents, about the importance of investing at an early age. Being able to relate to her young audience, through her age and experience, Ionnie immediately had the ears of her peers across the country. As a teenager, Ionnie began to conduct educational workshops for high school and college students to not only manage their money, but also learn how to make it work for them. By the time Ionnie was a freshman in high school, Black Enterprise recognized her as the embodiment of its Financial Empowerment Principle, “Teach Business and Financial Principles to My Children”. Since then, Ionnie has been featured in Seventeen Magazine and has participated in the ESSENCE Young Women’s Leadership Conference, inspiring young women to be future business leaders and financially empowered, through her words and her actions. Most recently, Ionnie was a finalist on the Ford HBCU Business Classic, which aired on TV One, showcasing the dynamic impact The Baby Billionaire has on youth across America. For speaking engagements, contact her at info@thebabybillionaire.com

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I glanced at my bank statement when it came in the mail recently. I sorta balanced my checking account last month . I continue to think about starting a savings, emergency and investing plan. The truth is my finances are not as he althy and productive as I would like them to be. I need to make some transitions in my finances and I need to start withâ&#x20AC;Ś

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“WHEN I HAVE AN

ASTHMA ATTACK I FEEL LIKE A FISH

WITH NO WATER.” –JESSE, AGE 5

Don’t Let Mortgage Problems Petrify You.

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AT SCHOOL BECAUSE I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT.

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED

Michael Cleveland is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG.

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98 OIKONOMIA

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CHURCH Ephesians 2:20-22 ESV

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

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T:10”

BY GIVING JUST A FEW HOURS OF MY DAY

I HELP CHILDREN PREPARE FOR

ABECAUSE LIFETIME OF LEARNING I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED

Ruth Rusie is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG. ®

“He’s Still There. . .” Pastor Dameon Madison DEUTERONOMY 31:6 (NKJV) 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Pausing for a moment to reflect, I thumb through the files in my mental hard drive. There are so many memories. Reflections of times with family and friends, thoughts of accomplishments, flashbacks to favorite television shows and intimate recaptures of time spent with the beloved in my life. There is much to mull over. Yet, as I dig a bit deeper, there is one recurring memory – Church. Church has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Every since I was a child, church was an integral part of my life. I can’t imagine life without it. For me, church has always been a place of respite, empowerment, equipping, fellowship and love. But, in reality it has been more than that. Church is the one place where I have always felt at home. It has always felt right, safe. Even though church has always been there, admittedly it hasn’t always been without hurt. Some of my deepest hurts have come from the church. Yes, the church. Fortunately, God has gifted me with a resilience that has

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allowed me to persevere and to never walk away from the church. However, that is not true for everyone. There have been many to leave the church for one reason or another. Some have been hurt by people in the church; others have been drawn away by the “world,” careers, economics or some other force. Whatever the reason people often times find themselves absent from the one place they once found solace – the Church. Church hurt is one of the most dyer experiences any individual can encounter. I once heard a preacher say “The church is the only place where we shoot our wounded.” As I have grown older, I have found this to be a far too familiar instance. The church is in actuality a clinic full of wounded individuals - persons who have been wounded by life, people, and situations. Knowing this, one would expect the church to be ceaselessly welcoming and non-judgmental. I mean hey, we’ve all got issues. Sorry to say, occasionally it is not. There are times where we forget what Romans says: Romans 2:1 (NKJV) 1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. There are times when we are hurt by the judgment of others and subsequent rejection. As a result, one may leave the local church broken by experience in a place that should have been an arch of safety. On the other hand, there are those who leave because of work constraints or some other force. Life will always have something that can draw our attention away from church. The appeal of overtime pay on the weekend, the extra hours we’ve got to put in to maintain our status (a stewardship discussion for another day), the fun of having “our time,” or just “not feelin’ it.” However the absentee alibi falls, the reality is there can been something to pull one away. Whatever the case may be, we have to be careful not to equate our physical absence from brick and mortar to absence from God. God is so much larger than a building. As a matter of fact, there is no building in this world that can seize the en-

tirety of God. The place we meet called church is merely the fellowship site of those who worship Him. When an individual leaves the physical church, truly there is no escaping God. God doesn’t turn on us because we turn from the church. In fact we become that more precious to God. Matthew 18:12-13 (NKJV) 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Matthew lets us know that God celebrates our return. In order for Him to celebrate He must have had a concern for where we were. We were of concern. Even when we turn from the church and find ourselves astray, God doesn’t do us like a fairweather friend. Rather, He is the One who is there and cares until the end. He wants to heal us of the hurt we may have experienced in church and even position us to no longer be distracted by lures that can tug

at our attention. God is more concerned about us being whole, than playing tit for tat on church. Yes, you may have been hurt by church, may have even been distracted by life. But, take a moment thumb through your own faith file and look at how even in your worst moment – God was still there. No matter how far gone or church distant the shadow of the almighty has been there. His Word promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. So, no matter where we go. . . He’s Still There!

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 103

Does turning away from the church mean

God will turn away from you? THE WORLD HAS CONDITIONED MANY to look outside of themselves when there is a problem. God has always called us inward; looking at our heart, our motives, before ever casting outside. To answer this question of whether God turns away from those who turn away from the church, we first have to get to the heart of the matter – WHY did you turn away from the church? (Note: If you are thinking about turning away from the church then this is a must read also.) So, why HAVE you turned away from the church?

Have you left the church because of injustice, iniquity running rampant? Have you become afraid that these unholy, unrighteous acts will compass the righteous and devour them? Do you believe God will not come and judge his people? What vision has God given you? What courage, what faith has God given you that you would abandon this in the face of such wickedness? Or believe that God would abandon you in the face of such wickedness? Or have you left the church because someone hurt your feelings; you didn’t get the position you wanted in the ministry of choice; they did not approve your idea? When you felt heavy with despair, and misused, or were unheard and neglected, was that when you decided to forsake the gathering with other believers to worship God? Maybe it was when you felt they no longer worshipped as you did; they lacked the reverence for God that you feel? Why did you leave the church? Was it

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something that seems simple now, or is it something that appears so complicated people “wouldn’t understand?” What do you feel the church was missing that moved you to turn away? Did God call you away for a time or do you just tell people that when they ask why? Take a moment, and strip away all the excuses and come to the place where you face the reason you really turned away from the church. Identifying and confessing the real reason for our behavior is the only way to effectively resolve an issue. Why did you do what you did? Let’s examine a familiar story

Genesis 4 is about the first family of the bible, specifically the brothers Cain and Abel. 1 Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Eve said, “With the LORD’s help, I have given birth to a man.”2 After that, Eve gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel took care of flocks, and Cain became a farmer. 3 Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God.4 Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected. 6 The LORD asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you look so unhappy? 7 If you do things well, I will accept you, but if you do not do them well, sin is ready to attack you. Sin wants you, but you must

rule over it.” Abel’s bringing of choice animals from his flock demonstrated his sincere worship and reverence of His God. Cain also came to the Lord with an offering from among his produce. God accepted Abel and his well prepared gift with respect. God did not accept Cain or his gift. At Cain’s anger the Lord questioned Cain’s reaction. Then, God gave Cain instruction. On the surface it appears Cain’s offering was not adequate gift for God; but a closer look reveals that Cain’s heart was not an adequate gift for God so his actions in bringing his offering to God, and even his offering, were also inadequate. What are the reasons behind your actions? What is your motive? What is in your heart? An exercise in faith

Before you leave a church, before you decide not to gather in worship with other believers for a time, examine, assess yourself. Have you persevered in faith? Have you taken the time to draw closer to God? Have you placed your trust in God for the situation? Start here:

1. Ask God to reveal to you why you are having these challenges. Is there something He wants you to learn in the midst of these situations? 2. Search and meditate on scripture passages that deal with what you are facing. 3. Spend time in prayer with God listen-

ing to Him guide you in this matter and journal what you learn about yourself, about God and the results of being obedient. 4. Ask God to reveal to you how other believers’ behavior in the body of Christ has negatively impacted your ability to successfully continue your faith walk? Seek God’s guidance on how to move past these obstacles. Journal results as you apply his instructions. 5. Now it’s time to seek God’s guidance on how you can be a solution to the problem. – Yes God may guide you to leave the church. On the other hand God may guide you to remain in that church so when the time comes He can use you to rebuild and restore His ways among this portion of His body of believers.

To show you all of the seriously ill children that local health worker Khalada Yesmin helped save this year, we’d need 122 more pages.

Conclusion

The Bible is replete with reasons why God will turn away from His people. And there are equally numerous instances where God’s word emphasizes the significance of our inner man, of our heart in judging who we are and how our faith walk should look. So, God will not turn away from you when you turn away from the church. But beware, as God instructed Cain, God will not accept you unless you do well, unless you are sincere; because anything less opens the door for sin. Be sure in your heart that your actions are well pleasing to God, showing Him reverence and giving Him worship. If your actions reflect a heart filled with God’s love in a bond of completeness, and His peace rules your heart then your decision to turn away from a church that does not edify and progress your faith walk will be accepted by God and he will align you with another portion of His body of believers in his infinite wisdom and grace. But if you have acted without sincerity, without faith and trust in God, without having persevered in faith, then God is not honored and He cannot accept your actions. In which case you have turned from Him and all He offers to you as one of His believers.

HELP ONE.SAVE MANY. See where the good goes at GoodGoes.org

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 105

I have to be real, because there have been transitions and changes in churc hI have not always served the way I sho uld, I have not always attended the way I should and I did not always evangel ize and encourage like I should. Bu t if I go through transition and have to be ma ture and responsible enough to go thr ough it, should I also give the church the res pect to do the same. So as a steward, I accept the transition in church asâ&#x20AC;Ś

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GOALS, TO Dos, ASSESSMENTS GOAL AREA: CHURCH

DATE RANGE: ________________________

OVERALL GOAL: _________________________________________

TO DO LIST DO

PROGRESS

CHALLENGES ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES TO COMPLETING GOAL

DID I ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

PLANS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE AREA

( ) YES

(

) NO

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There is no spokesperson with a catchy phrase to remind the driver to slow down, stop eating, LIk_\Jgfb\jg\ijfe%Zfd

quit messing with the radio or pay attention to the road.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Only You. Speak Up.

ENJOYMENT 2 Corinthians 7:4 ESV

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

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The LATCH system makes it easier to be sure your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car seat is installed correctly every time. Just clip it to the lower anchors, attach the top tether, and pull the straps tight. To find out more, visit safercar.gov.

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 111

Christian Meditations:

Are They Really Biblical? Ameera Lewis

I WILL MEDITATE ON YOUR MAJESTIC, GLORIOUS splendor and your wonderful miracles. ~Psalm 145:5 (NLT) More and more people are asking questions about using Christian meditations. What is meditation really? Is there anything about meditation in the Bible? Why should we use Bible meditations? What are different Christian meditation techniques? Years ago, most Christians cringed at the very word meditation, and many still do. In their minds, they automatically connect this discipline to Eastern religions or some other type of mystical activity. In all actuality, we all meditate on different things every day. The only issue is that, typically, we are meditating on the wrong things... Maybe you meditate on your long to-do list that never seems to end. Or the bills that you are not sure how you are going to pay. Or that negative diagnosis that the doctor gave you. You sit, and you think on it over and over. You focus your thoughts on it. You contemplate how it might affect other areas of your life.

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You meditate on it.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, meditation is “to engage in contemplation or reflection; to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over.” Does anything about that sound mystical to you? The difference between using Christian meditation techniques and pagan meditative practices is revealed when we look at one thing - The focus of those meditative thoughts. In eastern religions, their focus is emptiness - To totally empty themselves and their minds. But, the goal of using Christian meditations is exactly the opposite. When we meditate, our goal is not to be made empty, but to be made full. To be filled to the brim with Christ! What Does God Say About Meditation in the Bible?

We see several occasions in the Bible where God’s children

are meditating on His goodness, His deeds, and His Word. Here are just a few of the many examples: • God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. -Psalm 48:9 (NLT) • I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. -Psalm 145:5 (NLT) • But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity] - Psalm 1:2-3 (AMP) These children of God are filling their minds with thoughts of Him. His love for them. His glory. His teaching. And the miracles that He has already done in their

lives and the lives of others. I love Psalm 1 because it reveals God’s promise for those of us willing to discipline our minds through Bible meditation. It says that we will bear fruit, and that everything we do shall prosper. Christian meditations are one of the most effective ways of moving God’s Word from your head to your heart. Meditation is both the most vital AND the most forgotten piece of every Christians Bible study puzzle. God tells us to: Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. -Joshua 1:8(NLT) We all want the prosperity, but are we willing to do what it takes to get it? Are you willing to develop the discipline of Bible meditation? Control Your Negative Thoughts with Bible Meditation

Earlier, we discussed what most Christians spend their time meditating on - Their problems. One of the hardest

Christian Meditation Techniques

There are many Christian meditation techniques. Here are a few to get you started: Daily Bible Meditation

Select a specific scripture that addresses a challenge you are facing. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and allow your entire consciousness to be filled with that single thought. Roll that truth over and over in your mind for several minutes. Throughout the rest of your day, continue meditating on that Word from God. Take an inventory of your thoughts and actions, and ask yourself if they line up with your daily Bible meditation. Christian Meditation CDs

Even veterans at meditating on God’s promises can benefit a lot from this technique. Tips: Be sure to select CDs that focus on God’s promises, and not faulty new-age doctrine. You also want to pick a CD that isn’t generic, but addresses the specific areas you are personally struggling with. When you find the right meditation CD for you, it can help you win control over your thoughts, and connect more deeply with God. Scripture Meditation Cards

Many people call these scripture memory cards. But, while memory deals with your mind, meditation deals with your heart. The goal is not just to stick as many scriptures in your mind as you can, but to hide God’s Word in your heart so that it becomes the very core of your being. To create meditation cards, select 3-5 scriptures on a specific topic. Write them on an index card and carry your card with you wherever you go. Several times each day, pull out your bible meditations and read them. Close your eyes and think on the promises to yourself. – PUT THIS SECTION IN SPECIAL FRAMED BOX, accompanying story but not in story OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 113

things you will ever do as a Christian is to get control of your mind for Christ! Each day we are bombarded with negative thoughts. Much of the time, we do not even realize they are there until we stop and think about what we’re thinking about. Christian meditations help you discipline your thoughts. They are an excellent way for you as a child of God to take control of the negativity that can otherwise overtake your mind. • Fear • Jealousy • Doubt • Worry • Anger • Depression • Procrastination • Timidity And the list goes on... These are all things that we as Christians must overcome if we ever want to walk in God’s ultimate plan for our lives. And, yet, they are things that most of us struggle with every single day. Christian meditations will help you to grab hold of those thoughts and attitudes that you have been battling against, and bring them captive to the Word of God! For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasoning and ev-

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ery proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) -2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (AMP) As Christians, controlling our thoughts is a major battle in the war against darkness that we fight each day. In order to win that battle, we must learn to discipline our minds to focus on God’s Word in every single situation. And that is exactly the kind of discipline that Bible meditation develops. Using Bible meditation is one of the most powerful methods of studying the Bible available. Over time, you’ll notice that, when trials hit, you naturally begin to meditate on God’s goodness instead of on the problems. In fact, you will have pondered His promises so deeply, that they will become more real to you than any situation you are experiencing.

Ameera Lewis is Founder and Director of Hem of His Garment Bible Study Online: Helping You Connect to God Through His Word. Enjoy her ministry work by visiting www. hem-of-his-garment-biblestudy.org

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Find Pockets Of Peace Wherever You Canâ&#x20AC;Ś Carol Lynne Watson IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS ARE INCREASINGLY HECTIC, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND some peace. World peace would be ideal, but in lieu of that, we should seek to experience peace of mind and/or inner peace. The simple act of turning on the morning news can be enough to ruin our whole state of well-being. Our kids are under attack at school and some are coming under attack in their own homes by people that are being trusted to care for them. Where we once held our elderly citizens in the highest regard, now they are being victimized at an alarming rate. Mother Nature is wreaking havoc in all parts of our world and our income is getting lower while the cost of living is skyrocketing. Now more than ever, we need to find some peace. We could benefit from an escape from all of this madness. A few years ago my sister and I were seeking out a place to go on vacation together. She was paying for the trip but told me to pick the place I wanted to go. The very first thing I suggested was a Dude Ranch, but Lisa did not think that a place without television or wireless Internet was a great idea for a vacation. At the same time my dad was surprising my mom with a cruise to Alaska. Lisa called me up and suggested that we take the cruise with them. Brilliant idea! I discovered a form of peace on that trip that I had never encountered before. It was during this trip that I discovered the beauty of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creation. I would love to travel to Alaska whenever I need to be reminded of that sense of peace I felt, but that of course is unrealistic. I have discovered what I call little pockets of peace and it is

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thing like; “Hello, you have successfully reached me, but you have called at a time when I have turned off my phone and scheduled some peace time for me. Leave a message and after I have returned from this little vacation I will give you a call.” This message will let people know that you are valuable enough to yourself that you have scheduled some time for your own well being and it may encourage them to do something similar. This could also open up some much-needed dialog between you and a friend about your journey towards peace. When things start getting a little crazy around you; and they do tend to get crazy…schedule a pocket of peace. Visit your local bookstore and visit a faraway place. Go on the Internet and read the local paper in a town much different than the one you live in. And for God sake, turn off your cell phone. economical and practical. Whenever I long for Alaska and I need to escape there, I get on the Internet and go to the sites for some of the local papers of the places I visited. Reading the local paper for Sitka or Juneau Alaska makes me feel refreshed. This little pocket sized vacation is the next best thing to being there. Another example of these little pockets of peace is taking a trip to the local bookstore. The travel section of the bookstore is the best place to visit when the real thing is hard to get to. I have yet to visit a few places that are on my “To Do” list, but I am already in love with these places based on my little pocket of peace vacations. One of the places I virtually visited (prior to actually going) thousands of times is Vermont. I have looked at numerous pictures of trees in Vermont adorned in their finest fall colors. I have taken virtual hikes in the mountains and have walked along a trail around Lake Champlain all while sitting in the aisle at my favorite bookstore. I have walked around Mackinac Island in Michigan and experienced the annual Lilac Festival. I have gone horseback riding in this Equestrian friendly environment and gone on nature walks. Another way to experience pockets of peace (this will offend a few of you) is to turn your cell phone off. Do not schedule this during the times when your children are at school because in case of emergency your cell phone is essential for contacting you. However any other time you schedule this pocket of peace should suffice. If you are trying to encourage others to take this journey with you, leave a different recording for callers to hear when they try to reach you. Perhaps your message can say someOIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 117

When the Praises Go Up – At the sound of Your great name All condemned; feel no shame, At the sound of Your great name Every fear; has no place At the sound of Your great name The enemy; he has to leave; At the sound of Your great name Such are the powerful opening lyrics from Natalie Grant’s smash hit song on Christian radio stations across the country, YOUR GREAT NAME. The song is from Grant’s must-experience project Love Revolution. If you want to get into a place of worship, where your heart and spirit can just commune with God, all the while releasing the woes of the day Steven Curtis Chapman is an artist that can help you just that. One his newer projects DO EVERYTHING, warmly reminds us that no matter what it is, how trivial it seems do it all to the glory of God. The song is one of the top ones being played on K-LOVE radio and is from the album Re-Creation. FOR YEARS MANY HAVE WEIGHED THE EFFECTS OF music in the healing and relaxation process. It is no secret; there is something about the beat, rhythm and words of a favorite song that seem to move us. Christian (including gospel) music is no different. It ushers us to a place of release and encourages reaching a place of strength so that we are able to live and do so more abundantly. David danced before the Lord, unashamedly letting go of every chain, every thought and every care so that he might let God know how much he loved Him and that His presence allowed him enjoyment, liberty and safety. Find the rhythm and the words that put you in that place and enjoy Christ with a beat that speaks to your spirit. Here are some suggestions for you. Lost are saved Find their way

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FALL APART, is one awesome praise song by Christian artist Josh Wilson. One of my favorite lines in the song, “Why in the world did I think I could, only get to know You when my life was good?” It’s one of those lines that make you say – “DUH! Me too.” Wilson has a heart for praise and it is evident in his latest project See You. Oikonomia didn’t want to tell you what we think should be in your music collection to help you enjoy the blessings of the Lord. MJ Smith, host of the Rhythm Ride Home, on Gospel AM 1490 WMBM in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Market, told us what some of his favorites are and why they will quickly become some of yours too. Smith is also a 2009 Stellar Award Nominee for Gospel Announcer of the Year and a 2010 South Florida Gospel Music Award Radio Announcer of the Year Nominee; and serves as Vice President of South Florida Gospel Announcers’ Guild.

Here’s MJ’s must-experience list: WILLIAM MCDOWELL - ARISE, this newly released live 2 disc CD is filled with praise and worship. If you loved his chart-topping I GIVE MYSELF AWAY, please know this new project truly surpasses it. The project has elements of live worship and praise. This is one that you are sure to love.

MAURETTE CLARK BROWN- THE SOUND OF VICTORY is her highest charting CD release to date. It is all about worship. The title TRACK THE SOUND OF VICTORY was recorded live and is just a wonderful taste of what this CD has - from the beginning to the end this CD screams encouragement.

MAURICE GRIFFIN - His CD is -I Am Somebody: I Peter 2:9. This Chicago Native is also a Top 20 Sunday’s Best Finalist. This is an exceptional debut project. His first single “MY HEAVENLY FATHER” is an upbeat song that bops away the challenges. My other favorites include MY PRAYER TO YOU, PRAISES, and RAIN ON ME. I believe that this CD is one that can just be left on repeat.

THE WALLS GROUP - MIGHTY YOU ARE is the single that is not to be played with. This Family was actually discovered via YouTube and quickly built a fan base on social networks like Facebook, with unbelievable harmonizing. Once you hear the worship of this family’s kids, you will wonder how some so young would know the value of true worship. However this family that sings gospel together shows that the fruit truly represent the tree. You are truly sure to fall in love with The Walls Group as they take you on a Journey of Worship.

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I think the last time I really just enjoy ed God was â&#x20AC;Ś wow, why is it taking me so long to remember. Having life and having it more abundantly means I sho uld enjoy it as well. So, I have to ask mysel f do I enjoy God and if I do how can I give Him glory by enjoying the life Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ble ssed me with?

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GOALS, TO Dos, ASSESSMENTS GOAL AREA: ENJOYMENT

DATE RANGE: ________________________

OVERALL GOAL: _________________________________________

TO DO LIST DO

PROGRESS

CHALLENGES ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES TO COMPLETING GOAL

DID I ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

PLANS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE AREA

( ) YES

(

) NO

OIKONOMIA Dec 2011/Jan 2012 121

Closing Prayer LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO share this wisdom with your people. As we continue on this journey, we ask that you enlighten and enhance our committed connection to your Spirit. Show us how to be better stewards over every area of our lives. With the economy constantly changing, help us to understand that you are still in control and all we need to do is trust you. Help us to trust you with our finances, health, community, church, spiritual and personal development. We also, ask that you help our readers stand still in troubling times and see Your salvation and deliverance in every area of their lives. Lord, as always our prayer is that you are pleased with the information that is presented in Oikonomia Magazine! We ask all of these things in Jesus name. Amen! Elder Kimberly M. Archer

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There is no spokesperson with a catchy phrase to remind the driver to slow down, stop eating, LIk_\Jgfb\jg\ijfe%Zfd

quit messing with the radio or pay attention to the road.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Only You. Speak Up.