(Volume 35) April 2009
Inside This Issue:
Welcome
Who is New Beginnings
What’s New-
April 2009 Feature Article-
Monthly Fitness Tips-
Monthly Physical Fitness Article-
Monthly Devotional-
Team News/Prayer Requests and Praise Reports
What Have you Been Reading?
Book Recommendation
Book Blog
Upcoming Events-
Reminders-Church Link and Newsletter Signup
Word of Encouragement
New Beginnings Scripture for April
Our Mission Statement
Welcome-
Welcome to the New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries family. We consider it a privilege to support your fitness efforts. We welcome your suggestions and ideas, so please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience with the monthly newsletter, website, weekly messages or message board more beneficial. We can be contacted at contactus@mynewtemple.org. It is our prayer to bring you words of encouragement and inspiration to motivate you to become fit physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally. This is your New Beginning and we want to make it an awesome experience for you. As you begin this new adventure we are praying for you.
Who are we?
New Beginnings is a fitness ministry established in 2003 to offer a holistic approach to fitness that includes mind, body and spirit. A fitness ministry also serves to help people help themselves through physical and spiritual exercise. At New Beginnings we believe good health is a gift from God and can be obtained by following biblical principles as we lead a balanced life physically, mentally, spiritually and relationally.
What’s New?
Our relationships, our attitudes, our emotions, us, that is what’s new!
Monthly Feature Article-
Recovery = A New Beginning!
By Angela Willingham
I was sitting in a Recovery Group meeting at the church I attend. Most of you who have been with us for a while may be asking yourself, what was she doing there? I did not know that Angela had a problem with drugs or alcohol and you are correct I don’t. What I learned in the recovery group meeting was that drugs and alcohol are not the only things we recover from. Maybe you are recovering from a divorce, being abused verbally or sexually, an addiction to lying or pornography, struggling with feelings for individuals of the same sex, being a gossiper, sexual immorality, or a bad relationship. Maybe it was a spirit of pride or rejection. Whatever it is we are all recovering from something.
The vision for the Recovery Group at Desert Life Church (http://www.desertlifechurch.com/ ) is:
To see men and women delivered from hang-ups and habits that hurt themselves and others, through the love of Jesus Christ.
The vision makes it clear that recovery group just like a new beginning is for anyone and everyone. Each of us has struggled with some thing if we are not still struggling with it. There are no big struggles and little struggles. What is a problem for me may not be a problem for you, but that does not make it big or small. I shared with a friend once that sexual sin seems to be a huge deal even though it is the one we in the body of Christ seem to deal with the least.
Why did I say that? I do not have a natural bent towards drugs or alcohol, no matter how much society pushes that way, but we all have a physical body and we all have basic physical needs that scream at us from time to time to be dealt with. Yet, when we normally hear about recovery group that is not what we think of. We think you are cool if you are not messed up on drugs or alcohol. Whatever the issue or situation recovery and new beginnings are one and the same. You were in a place and now you are starting over, going in a different direction, leaving something behind. Maybe your issue like mine is not drugs or alcohol, maybe it is pride, disobedience, talking too much, judging others, being perfect or trying to be. Maybe your struggle is worry, un-forgiveness, being controlling, un-willingness to give God control of some area of your life. Whatever the issue or situation, whatever the circumstance we can turn that thing over to God and allow Him to walk us through our own personal recovery, to a new beginning a place of a fresh start.
You might be asking what made me go to the recovery group. I would say to you I went because I wanted to be an encouragement or a help to someone else. But what I have come to learn in my relationship with God is that every time we give of ourselves He rewards us in private, maybe by a word spoken from one of the other participants, maybe by an answer to prayer, but when you do what you are supposed to do He will present Himself strong on your behalf. Maybe you don’t think you are recovering from anything but let me assure you that we all are.
I guess I still didn’t tell you my deal. Well as Pastor John facilitated the group, God began to remind me of His desire for us to love unconditionally, the way that He does. I have dealt with un-forgiveness issues many years ago, but now He just wants to keep reminding me/us to walk in faith, to trust Him to handle our situations no matter how big or how small. He keeps reminding me that no matter how difficult the situation there is someone out there that is waiting for us to do what we need to do so that we can be a witness in that area of struggle. I keep learning too keep on loving as God did when He sent His son. In the Amplified Bible (AMP) Passage John 3:16 says, 16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) As one that is not perfect I need God and people to keep on loving me. What am I learning? That Jesus who knew no sin became a sin covering for me, in spite of His perfection. He knew I was going to mess up and He chose to take my punishment upon Himself.
When I think about all of us that are recovering, I think how grateful I am that He did not give up on us and I pray that He will help us not to give up on ourselves or on each other. God teach us to love like you do. A father that does not give up on His children and continues to give us chance after chance after chance.
My goal in recovery is gain greater trust and faith in God, to recover from my issue of pride, judging and whatever else God shows me and to love others the way that He does, sacrificially. Will it hurt sometimes? Yes, but it won’t hurt me any more than it hurts Him when I sin and He loves me anyway. While He hates my sin, I know that He loves me. God help me to love like that. Help me to exhibit Agape Love to others, to love them into a new beginning.
Check yourself today. What area in your life needs to go through some recovery? Where do you need a new beginning? We are all sinners saved by the loving grace of God, so it is okay to admit we are not perfect. The blessing is that God never expected us to be perfect. As sinners we fall short, but we can count on Him to make up the difference. Our only perfection is in Him. Be real with yourself and God today. Are you a recovering?
Gossiper
Liar
Porn Addict
Homosexual
Child abuser
Child abuse victim
Fornicator
Adulterer
Thief
Crime Victim
Maybe you are recovering from being a victim of identity theft that has ruined your life. Maybe it is a spirit of hatred because of something some one did to you. Maybe you are recovering from a spirit of rejection or bitterness that has a root so deep in your spirit that you see everything from a negative perspective. Maybe you are recovering from a spirit of racial prejudice based on your past or how you have been treated. Maybe you are learning to love again after years of abuse at the hands of the very people that were supposed to love you. Maybe it is a generational stronghold that has held your family for years. No one has ever gone beyond the sixth grade. Every man and woman in your family has had a child out of wedlock. Generational curses of stuff that has kept your family bound for generations and through recovery it is time for you to break the pattern.
Maybe you are recovering from an abortion that you had years ago or maybe it just happened yesterday. Maybe you are recovering from an unwanted pregnancy or from being a rape victim. I could go on an on and on, but what we all need to understand is that recovery comes in many forms from many different things. Society has fooled us into believing if we were not addicted to drugs and alcohol we were cool, but the truth is, there are some other things we have to recover from in order to take our place in the kingdom. There are some things we need to be open and honest about. Yes, I think the word transparent fits nicely here. In our transparency we will find healing and deliverance. In our transparency we will find the keys to unlock the doors the enemy has tried to keep us locked behind so that we could not experience the complete joy and freedom of our relationship in Christ.
Today ask God to show you that thing whatever it is that He wants you to begin your walk of recovery in. Don’t be afraid. Don’t turn away when it gets difficult. You have to walk through it to get to the place where He wants you to be. Pray for Him to send you to a person or group to help you walk through because we need each other to survive and make it to the place where He wants us to be. Maybe you have already made it through some stuff, then pray for Him to dispatch you as His witness to help somebody else get through. Galatians 6:1-3 says, 1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer[a] is overcome by some sin, you who are godly[b] should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. We have a job to do.
If you do not have a church home we encourage you to visit the website of Desert Life Church (http://www.desertlifechurch.com/) where the pastor is Pastor Troy Johnson. Please continue to visit weekly until you find the church home that God is calling you to. If you are in the Phoenix area please be encouraged to visit the church.
Scripture Reference:
2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
Monthly Article For The Family-
 Personal Parenting
By Minister Kimberley McNeil
A few weeks ago, my daughter now twenty and I were reminiscing on an experience concerning her, her brother, a chemistry set, and a microwave. Basically, my daughter (13) convinced my son (9) to put one of his chemistry experiments in the microwave.
After cleaning up the foam from the fire extinguisher, cleaning singed cabinets and walls, and convincing the warranty company to replace the decrypted, melted microwave that hung on for dear life over my stove, I was now ready to issue punishment.
The only thing I remember from my children’s explanations was “I told him to put it on for twenty seconds, not two minutes.” I immediately grounded my daughter from the phone for three weeks. I explained to my daughter that she was in trouble for encouraging her brother to do something she knew was wrong, for taking advantage of him, and breaking a house rule (no chemicals/experiments in the microwave). Although upset, she decided that the punishment fit the crime, and asked those all important words, “What’s going to happen to him?”
As I lead my son up the stairs, I could hear him trying to suppress his sobs. Although I was not a spanker, my son really thought he was going to get it as I led him to his room. Once we entered his room, I reminded him of the promise he made that he would never put his experiments in the microwave, and because he broke his promise, he could not have his set for two weeks. My son cried as we put each and every piece of his set in its box. As I left the room with the set in tow, I heard him flop on his bed and weep in his pillow.
As I put the set into my closet, my daughter runs behind me and says, “That’s it? That’s all he gets? There’s no justice here! He never gets punished. As I turned to my daughter, posed the question, “Who’s the one crying at their punishment, you or your brother? Would you like me to add something so you can cry too?”
While my daughter and I laughed about this memory she said, “I realize now how much that set meant to him. It meant just as much to him as the phone meant to me.” As we both sat quietly for a moment, my daughter broke the silence by saying, “I think that he still should have gotten three weeks like me.” However, her next sentence shocked me. As she looked me straight in the eye, she said, “I understand why grounding Kenneth would not have worked. We are two totally different people.”
Because my children are almost five years apart, I found out a few things very early. One of the first things I discovered was that I had two “only children”. Both of my children had their formative years focused on them. Soon after her brother was born, my daughter was on her way to school. She had received sole attention during her formative years, and did not have to share her parents with anyone.
Because we were a military family, I either stayed at home or worked part time until my son was four. Thus, he received his personal quality time while his sister was in school, at friends, or at practice. Although my daughter was always jealous of her younger sibling, she quickly realized that she was older, and had more freedoms than her brother. This was confirmed when she was able to ride on the airplane all by herself during summers to visit her grandparents at age seven. I remember her telling her brother before she skipped on the plane, “You can’t go, you are too little.”
I also found out that I could not discipline them the same way. This was not only due to their age difference, but due to their differing interests. What inspired motivated, and hurt them were different. My daughter is a social butterfly, while my son was very reserved and keeps the same group of friends. My daughter hated her being by herself in her room, as she felt disconnected from everything, while her brother loved the solace he found in the sanctuary of his room. It hit me that I had to do something different with them when I sent both of them to their rooms for fighting. My daughter moped to her room, while my son whispered, “Yes!” ran to his room, and yelled before he closed the door “If you want to ground me from dinner, that would be okay too.”
As I peeked into my daughter’s room, I found her asleep, while my son was wide awake. He made a small city for his hot box cars out of shoe boxes and duct tape. As I told him to get ready for dinner, he thanked me for sending him to his room. So the next time they got in trouble for fighting, I sent my daughter to her room, and had my son stay with me and help me clean up. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper. I was glad because I found a punishment that worked.
Another important thing I found out was that they had different motivators. For example, it hurts my son for me to tell him that I am disappointed in his choices (Important, I don’t say that I am disappointed in him, just in his behavior.) My daughter’s attitude is that I’ll get over it. Additionally, my son likes being paid for his chores, while my daughter likes me to acknowledge and thank her for her efforts. My daughter didn’t care about a weekly allowance, she just wanted money when she went to the mall, or out with her friends. However, my son likes an agreed amount. Once I found what motivated them, I spoke to or rewarded them in ways that would move them towards the way they needed to go (most of the time, sometimes were harder than others).
I also found that we had to compromise and find middle ground some things. For example, by the time my son was able to play Chutes and Ladders, and Candy land, my daughter was playing older games like Clue and Monopoly. Although she loved those games when she was her brother’s age, they were now for babies, and she no longer wanted to play them. And if she did, she felt the need to boss her brother. So, we came up with a compromise. For every game that she played without attitude or bossing, her father or I had to play 15 minutes of Barbie with her. Not only did that encourage my daughter to be kind to her brother, it also allowed us some personal time with her doing what she liked to do.
Please know that not everything was not a compromise, and there were just some things that both of the children had to do like it or not. I found that on those things, there could be no shades of gray, as it caused conflict and dissention between them.
However, as the years progressed and the children found similar interests, and a common enemy (their mother), they began realize that in spite of their individuality, they could compromise, work out their differences. They also found out that they actually liked each other. And although most of their differences were solved by the best two out of three in Rock, Paper, Scissors, they realized that although they are very different, they have a lot more in common as they previously thought.
I was speaking with my son a few weeks ago (we talk weekly, as he now lives with his father in Japan). He was explaining to me how he does not feel the need to conform to everyone else because he knows that he is loved for being who he is.
While telling me how much he appreciated me for letting him be him, for loving him for who he is, and always pushing him to fulfill his potential; I realized that is exactly what Jesus did. As I thought about this, it dawned on me that each interaction, each encounter, and each miracle chronicled in the gospels was custom made for that individual.
And as parents, we have the opportunity to demonstrate Christ to our children every day, by loving them for who they are, teaching, correcting and steering them in a way that motivates and encourages them, as well as prepares them to deal in and with the world in a way that will not engulf them in the ways of it.
My daughter once asked if I loved either of them more. My response was (and still is), “No, I don’t love either of you more; I just show my love to differently, because you are different people.” After all, it’s not just parenting, it’s personal parenting.
For further discussion contact contactus@mynewtemple.org or write to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html
Monthly Fitness Tips-
Weight Loss Tip# 38
Eat Right When You Are Out!
Forget the bread and butter. Order soup and salad with dressing on the side. Skip entrees with heavy sauces. If you must have dessert, order one and share it with a friend. Don't feel compelled to eat everything on your plate, even if that is what you were taught as a child. Get a take home container and save the rest for lunch the next day. If you really want to make sure you don't mess up ask for the take home container up front and divide the food in half as soon as you get it, or share one entree with a friend. We don't have to mess up when we go out for dinner we have choices. We have to exercise our options. If you have some eating out tips that you would like to share we would love to hear them.
Check out the New Beginnings Message Board for more tips that will benefit you under the Physical Fitness Category. www.mynewtemple.org. If you would like to add your own tips and suggestions please feel free to do so. If you have forgotten your password submit a request to have it sent to you or reset through the message board sign in screen.
As always we encourage you to see a physician before beginning any exercise program. Take the first step by getting up and doing something to take care of your most valuable resource, Your Health.
Monthly Physical Fitness Article-
Excerpt from Get Fit-Fitness Angel Newsletter
Your Most Neglected Body Part
I can't figure out why, but people universally neglect to train their legs. You know what maybe that was a mis-statement. I know why they neglect their legs. Because it hurts, at least that is what my clients and the members of my workout classes tell me. They wonder why I push so hard in that area, but it is because proper leg training will dramatically deliver total body results. As your Fitness Angel my goal is not to do what you like but to do what is best for you. If we only do the exercises that make you feel good we will miss the most important part of working out and that is the results.
Walk into any gym and you'll see the bench press taken, the dumbbells being curled-and an empty squat rack in the corner.
Leg exercises are tough, yes, it hurts, I won't deny that, but the benefits are more than worth the exertion.
A Case for Your Legs
Your legs are a major muscle group, so it's no surprise that training them will get you big time results. Training your legs will...
- Melt fat from your body. As I mentioned above, leg exercises are tough. Your legs are a large part of your body, so each exercise literally moves your whole body. This is precisely why a good leg workout will fire up your metabolism to melt fat away. You'll burn more calories while exercising your legs than any other body part.
Visit The Fitness Angel Fitness Community to read the article in its entirety www.myfitnessangel.com (Newsletter dated April 1, 2009).
Spiritual Fitness-
Trust God In Spite Of What It Looks Like!
God has made some promises to us. Some of those promises are over 7 years old. For those of you who believe in biblical numerology you know that 7 is the number of completion and I am looking forward to my New Beginnings (the number 8). Bless the Lord! I am ready for some stuff to be over. God has been telling me for years, “Angela, just trust Me!” If I am honest with you, I sense that I, like many of you, am on the verge of seeing the promises of God fulfilled.
Have I been afraid?
Have I wanted to give up?
Has my faith been brought into question?
Have there been days when I questioned what God promised me?
YES! YES! YES and YES!
God has told me that all I am going through is to move me into the purpose and plan He has for my life, but I have to trust Him.
If you want to read a story in the bible of someone just like us, who was operating based on a promise that he had not seen manifested and dealt with a whole lot of drama waiting for it to happen check out the story of Joseph in Genesis Chapters 37-50.I promise after you read Joseph’s story the stuff you are going through will not seem so bad. His life like yours and mine is a roller coaster ride sometimes up, sometimes down and sometimes spinning totally out of control, it was a rough ride.
Pastor Fredrick L. Fairley, the Senior Pastor of the Berean Church of Phoenix, AZ and my father in the gospel ministry preached, “Trust God In Spite Of What It Looks Like”, at a point in my life when I needed to be reminded. There was some crazy stuff going on at my job. I don’t know where you are or what your level of faith or trust in God is but where ever you are God wants you to trust Him like never before. Give Him control and recognize that your present level of trust, the trust you had yesterday, will not sustain you through the next level He has for you. A
llow Him to grow you and to grow your faith. Check out the podcast of the sermon from Pastor Fairley, “Trust God In Spite Of What It Looks Like!” Since the day I heard it I have listened to it everyday. Each time I listen I hear something new and different for me. I have seen God raising my level of trust in Him. Trust for this ministry, trust for my job and trust for my relationships. I pray as you take the time to listen God will raise your level of trust as well. Don’t give up, don’t throw in the towel, trust God.
Love and Blessings to you
Scripture:
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Monthly Devotional-
 Recognize the Signs of Lie Babies—Part 2 of 3
By Minister Charlotte D. Hillman
Hallel Ministries
I remember in my teenage years a girl at our church that was pregnant and no one knew, not ever her parents. That is the way it was with me as I carried the lie baby of pride. Pride is very subtle in its appearances, and many do not know how to recognize it. Here are some further *signs of pride, that Satan, the father of lies will try to birth in you.
6. Irritability and impatience. The root of impatience is anger and therefore pride. When we are unable to be patient with another and are irritated, it demonstrates a haughty view of self. We feel that our views, time or needs are more important that the other persons. This again is more an indication of our pride than someone else’s slow movement or imperfection.
7. Lack of submissive attitude. Submission is the voluntary placement of oneself under the influence, control or authority of another. When an individual pledges their submission to you or another, yet is critical or argumentative of that authority, then pride is the hidden issue. The test of humility and submission is being able to say ‘yes’, maintain a positive attitude and trust God, especially when the decision of your authority goes against your grain or better judgment.
8. Not easily corrected. Before he died, a pastor was noted for being easily entreated and able to receive corrective feedback from others. He would thank the person for the negative feedback and commit to pray about it, seek counsel and get back to the person with what conclusions he came to. He was a role model for many of us.
9. Receiving correction but not changing. To receive correction and say thank you for the feedback, but never change is a form of pride. Placating and people-pleasing, telling someone what I wanted to hear, is not really taking the feedback to heart. Don’t allow insecurity and fear to prevent you from truly changing.
10. Needing others to take your advice. Advice should always be offered without strings attached. If you find yourself resenting the fact that your advice is not followed, look deeper at the motivating issues in your life.
If you are carrying the baby of pride,
It is never too late for a spiritual abortion.
*Excerpt taken from “Unmasking Hidden Pride” Counselor's Corner,
by Alfred H. Ellis, Volume II, Issue 11, published by Counselor's Corner. Used With Permission
New Beginnings Team News-
The New Beginnings team members are finding themselves in a place of new beginnings in many aspects of their lives and ministries. God is calling for a change in thinking and even position as He has sent them to new churches with new congregational make ups and focuses. What can we tell you but it is all good. God has a perfect plan for our lives and we are looking forward to seeing how He is going to work it all out.
Joshlyn Barnet a member of the New Beginnings’ Team-
Auditions for the Biggest Loser Competition took place in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday March 7, 2009. Joshlyn Barnett sits on the floor of US Airways Center before the Biggest Loser auditions in Phoenix Saturday March 7, 2009. While Joshlyn and her parents were not selected to participate in the competition, she has still made a commitment to work on her own to do what she can. Please keep her in your prayers as puts her focus on being a loser. Write to her on the message board or to her personal e-mail at joshlyn@mynewtemple.org to give her some encouragement and maybe you can encourage each other. Talk her into starting her own personal blog. You can do it Joshlyn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are behind you.
What Have You Been Reading?
Many of you have read some awesome books that have really ministered to you, spiritually, emotionally, relationally or physically. Let us know what you have been reading by writing to us on the message board. Your recommendations might help someone else. Please let us know if you have read some good Christian fiction as well. Many of those books have awesome messages contained within them and we want to encourage people to grow spiritually any way they can.
The Ministries’ Monthly Book Recommendation-From The New Beginnings Team
This month we are recommending that you read Victory Over Darkness By Neil T. Anderson. Angela finally finished it and recommends it highly. If you have never read it we want to encourage you to do it. It deals with knowing who you are in Christ. If we know who we are that gives us all the power we need to fight the attacks that Satan brings against us. The accusations that he brings in trying to make us think less of ourselves or that we can never do any better than what we are doing. The truth is that we can. "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32. That is a promise from God. You can live triumphantly. The past, your past does not have to control you. In the book you will learn how to:
- Realize the power of your identity in Christ.
- Free yourself from the burdens of your past.
- Stand against the devil.
- Win the battle for your mind (this is a big one).
- Become the spiritual person you were ordained to be.
Check it out and let me know what you think. I have had this book in my library for years. I read it because a friend recommended I read chapter 3 because of the direction God gave me for this ministry. I told her I could not just read one chapter I was compelled to read the entire book after just reading the table of contents. It was full of gems to help me personally and to help my relationships.
I have been reading it for several months. I would recommend that you take your time going through it as well. You don't want to miss anything.
Look in the cover of the book and see what other resources he has written and check out the one that fits where you are today. Write to us on the message board and let us know what you think.
If you want to do some reading for fun- We have read books by Francine Rivers (Atonement Child), multiple books by Jacquelin Thomas, Victoria Christopher Murray, Terri Blackstock and many others. You can get many of these authors at your public library. They are excellent books and they all have a message that could be a blessing to you without being self-help books that tend to be boring too many. They deal with real life issues and you can actually see yourself or people that you know in the characters. Tell us about fiction books that you might be reading that might bless someone else.
Let us know what you have been reading by writing to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html or sending us a message at contactus@mynewtemple.org.
Monthly Book/Bible Study Blog
The book blog is on hold while we focus on making changes that will make it easier to post. Feel free to write about books you have read or to comment on the ones the New Beginnings Team suggests by going to our message board.
Upcoming Events-
Girlfriend’s Conference-Stolen Identity will be held in Mesa, AZ at the Central Christian Church of the East Valley. There is a link to this church on our find a church link. It’s never planned, but each of us has experienced a loss of self and direction in life. It just happens. This world can steal the very essence of who God has uniquely designed each of us to be, and we can drift from His purpose and the identity He has for us. It is time to re-engage who He intended us to be. It is time for mission mode. This is your moment–return to Him!
Every women from age 18 to 80, you are invited on May 1 and 2, as we join other women of Central to collectively worship God, and re-activate the very faith He first placed in you. This two-day conference will engage your senses, connect you with others, help you encounter His presence, and prepare you for what God has in store in the future.
Register now! Conference price is $59 until April 15. However, we are offering an early bird special price of just $39 until March 9. Do not delay! Take advantage of this great rate.
The guest speaker for May 1 is Nicolle C. Mullen. The Speaker for May 2 is Cal Jernigan, the Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church of the East Valley.
Women’s Conference at the Berean Church of Phoenix, AZ Friday night April 17th, 7pm and Saturday morning April 18th 8:30am to 12pm. Check out the church link for the address. The conference cost is $10.
Love Images Ministries, Inc. presents The 2009 “Brunch On The Court” focus this year is to raise funds to provide educational scholarships for women who desire to return to college. Please consider supporting this elegant event. There will be fabulous food, entertainment, door prizes, music and a hat extravaganza show. We invite you to wear your hats & gloves for the event; and if you would like to participate in the hat parade, you must pre-register upon your arrival the day of the event.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
8:30 a.m. —11:00 a.m.
Donation $50.00
Pre-sale tickets only
Complimentary Valet Parking
The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix
2401 East Camelback Road
Phoenix. Arizona 85016
For information call: 480.292.6791
www.loveimagesministries.com
Janet L. Denson, President and CEO
Spiritual Cleansing Ministries, Inc. presents
Forgiveness in the Desert IV
“Forgiveness In Relationships, God, Others and Self”
July 24 – 25, Phoenix, AZ
Registration $50
For more information visit www.sceministries.com
Wylene Lawson Bridgeman, Director
Watch for-
Watch for the Sister Girl Chat-Sisters just hanging out talking about the things that are on their minds.
Watch for an interview with a Breast Cancer Survivor-We are looking forward to doing a joint interview with a Breast Cancer Survivor, who survived a double masectomy. How did she handle it, how did it affect her mentally, how did it affect her family? If you have questions write to us at contactus@mynewtemple.org so we can get ready to ask your questions as well as our own.
Watch for the Why Do You Work Out Question to be answered-We were thinking it might be fun to get some snip-its from people in the park or at a gym to find out why they work out. Why do the personal trainers do what they do? What kind of satisfaction does a personal trainer get out of your success?
Watch for Health Tips-As part of our desire to help individuals become holistically fit we are presently working to incorporate health tips into our website. This information will assist by giving individuals basic information on such topics as diabetes and high blood pressure. These segments will be short but informative.
Relational Focus-Watch for upcoming podcasts and articles focused on our relationships, beginning with our relationship with God. If we get our relationship with God right our other relationships will also be better.
Divorce From the Male Perspective-What do you say when you think everything is okay and your wife comes home and asks for a divorce? What do you do? Normally this is the story we hear from women. We blame it on a man’s midlife crisis. This time we are going to hear it from the side of the man. The series will allow a man to share his feelings and struggles.
If you have suggestions for upcoming articles or New Beginnings content please write to us at contactus@mynewtemple.org.
New Beginnings Reminders-
The Fitness Angel’s Fitness Community and Newsletter-
You can create your own personal free account and sign up for the bi-monthly newsletter. Remember the newsletter is only a help to you if you open it so we encourage you to open it and read the articles that are included. If you have a spam filter on your e-mail account your copy of the newsletter may have been blocked. Check your spam folder and then set up the Get Fit Newsletter in your mailbox so you can receive it bi-monthly uninterrupted. Remember it is free, so don’t keep it to yourself. ww.myfitnessangel.com.
Church Link-
We have added a couple of churches to our church link. Please take the time to check it out and see if yours is there. If it is not already listed add it to our list by clicking the link below. Is there a church near you that does an outstanding job of promoting spiritual, emotional, relational and physical fitness? If you're looking for a church, check here to see if our members have recommended one near you. If you know of a church that should be on our list, please add it to our list.
If you want to ask for additional information or would like to have some one from our team contact you regarding the churches on our church link contact us at churchlink@mynewtemple.org.
Newsletter Sign Up-
 If you are receiving this message you are currently signed up on our New Beginnings message board. We have set up a new E-mail program for the New Beginnings and Women’s Faith Stories sites, and it will be necessary for each of you to click on this sign up button and complete the information or go to the website www.mynewtemple.org home page and click on the button at the bottom of the page. This will allow us to keep in contact with you in a more efficient manner.
Currently on Women’s Faith Stories (WFS)-
We are collecting articles about women who have survived cancer. If you have a faith story you would like to share send it to us at contactus@womensfaithstories. Your story might be a blessing and an encouragement for someone else.
We are still collecting pictures and stories for our Women That Have Gone Before Us Quilt. In an effort to honor her grandmother who passed away on January 11, 2008, Angela has decided to create a quilt. If you would like to submit a picture and brief tribute on behalf of a woman that meant something to you and helped you get to where you are today send it to us at contactus@womensfaithstories.com. Include their birth date and date of death. Maybe it was your grandmother, a school teacher or a female family member. It does not matter who she was, we would just like to take this opportunity to honor them. Check out last month’s newsletter for more information.
Contact us if you have a woman’s faith story you would like to share for the Women’s Faith Stories Website www.womensfaithstories.com. Send your comments to us at contactus@womensfaithstories.com
Word of Encouragement-
Have you had some issues in your past? Some stuff that happened and there were people who continued to consider you your issue instead of allowing you to get past it. You got pregnant as a teenager, but now you have a double doctorate and no one can seem to forget you were a pregnant teenager. You were a chunky child and so some one labeled you fat and now at every family reunion they feel the need to pull out your fat pictures or discuss the time you ate the whole peach cobbler. Whatever happened today we want to remind you that you are not your issue. Because you told a lie does not make you a liar. Because you once stole candy from the grocery store, you are not a thief.
Today we want to encourage you to begin taking off the labels that people have placed on you. The bible says that you are a new creature once you accept Christ, old things have passed away and all has become new. That means you and I have to stop accepting the labels people attempt to put on us. That is not who we are. We are new creatures in Christ. We have to walk and talk like the new creatures that we are. We have to stop people from addressing us in ways that God did not intend and that He has already told us we are not. Start taking the labels off and replacing them with the things that God has said about you. You are a new creature. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of Christ. You are a royal priesthood, the chosen of God. If you don’t know who God said you are get your bible out and start reading it. You won’t find Him calling you a liar, a gossip, an unwed mother or a drug addict. Read the word. Study the word and learn who God said you are and then walk in it.
Write your own I am statements and rehearse them in front on the mirror, telling yourself what God said about you. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. That is what God said about you.
New Beginnings Scripture for April 2009
2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission is to draw individuals to Jesus Christ through the Ministry of Holistic Fitness and to see the Body of Christ become fit in all areas by providing tools and information to empower you to succeed. New Beginnings is dedicated to helping you gain personal, spiritual, physical, mental and relational fitness by developing the courage and confidence necessary to set and achieve goals based on biblical principles. Most people encounter difficulty reaching goals, sticking with a diet or completing a task by trying to make an outward change without having made any inward spiritual changes. In other words, all improvements in your life begin with a change in your mind and spirit.
New Beginnings Contact Information-
Mailing Address: 5130 W. Baseline #117, PMB# 224, Laveen, AZ 85339
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