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Life Lessons
Listen to the Holy Spirit! Sounds easy enough, so
what's the problem? The problem for me has been one
of discernment and faith.
During these past three months I've become more
sensitive to the Spirit working in my life. I'm
learning to follow those inner promptings that lead me
in a certain direction or to make a particular
decision.
For me, a woman who grew up without a healthy
understanding of how the Spirit functions in the life
of a Christian, this lesson hasn't been an easy one.
I'm used to concreteness, dealing with the facts, and
making decisions based on those facts.
However, being led by the Spirit
sometimes runs counter to facts. Being led by the
Spirit has to do with faith, rather than facts. When
the facts say something is impossibe, faith says,
"With God all things are possible."
So, this life lesson has taught me to listen to and
obey the Spirit, and leave the details to God!
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Dear irie,
Whew! We made it through another three months.
Boy how time flys when you're busy.
Check out what we've been up to these past few
months and read the stories of two of our newest
members. Hopefully their stories will remind you
that God is still transforming lives.
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Your Body
Is My Business
Since June 2007, my body has been "her" business.
Nikki Scott-a Personal Trainer and Life Coach with
over 10 years experience in health and fitness
with Bally's Total Fitness, has been my
personal trainer and fitness coach since June of
this year. Nikki, a member of New Life Christian
Church, is the owner of Your Body Is My
Business - a fitness consulting company.
Like many bi-vocational
pastors, I was busy working, teaching, preaching,
traveling, mothering, and serving others, and
neglecting my own health. However, in June I got
a wake up call! I was tired all the time, not
really happy about the way my clothes were fitting
(they were getting too small--okaay), and I had a
doctors visit that convinced me I needed to make
some changes and quick. So I joined Weight
Watchers and hired Nikki.
Three months and 16lbs
later I'm feeling much better about my health. My
energy level has significantly increased. I feel
good. I eat healthy, and I still workout with
Nikki--an amazing trainer.
During our workouts Nikki
always manages to tie in a biblical principle
while I'm excercising on the treadmill or when I'm
doing lunges (I hate lunges!). She combines faith
and fitness which encourages me to keep going! It
also helps that I like seeing the results of all
my hard work. I've already dropped two pant sizes
(I'm sure this is more information than you
need).
One of the greatest
features of Your Body Is My Business is
that Nikki makes house calls! I have a workout
room in my apartment complex and twice a week
we're in there doing our thing. She sees all of
her clients either in their home, the park or
wherever they choose. Nikki also develops a
fitness and meal plan that is personally
customized for each individual client. So if
you're out there and are like me, a
procrastinator--it's not too late, your body can
be "her" business too.
For more information
about Your Body Is My Business you can
contact Nikki at (214) 938-1389. |
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The King Has
Fallen-by God's Grace
On his tricep he sports a
tatoo that says, "King of My Cut." Now for those
of you who are not street wise, let me
decipher.
Karlos was "the man"--in "his" world. The
world of the underground--drugs, gambling, and
gangsters. His "cut" was the neighborhood in
which he carried on his business. Any illegal
money that was made in that neighborhood, Karlos
was to receive a cut. At forty six years old,
Karlos thanks God everyday that he's out of what
he calls, "The Game." Another tatoo on his body
reveals how the grace of God has kept him alive
to be a witness and testimony of God's long
suffering love and forgiveness--it says of the
Game--"One Way In and No Way Out! But Karlos
got out!
Growing up in the projects of New York City,
Karlos say's his heroes were drug dealers and
gangsters. He saw the lifestyle they lived,
flashy cars, fine clothes, beautiful women,
and lots of money in their pockets, he told
himself, "that's gonna be me". But at
thirteen years of age he couldn't have
realized what that life would cost him down
the road. He remembers the adrenaline rush
when he became a "stick-up kid" at age
thirteen. He found his father's gun in the
house and showed it to the wrong kids. They
told him there was money to be made and
the gun would seal the deal. This one
decision led to more guns, shoot outs, prison,
tears and broken hearts.
Many years later he moved to Texas to get a
fresh start. But it was a long time coming.
It wasn't long before he met a notorious East
Dallas gangster who promised to make him the
richest black man in east Dallas--so Karlos
was back in The Game.
But there was something about Karlos that
caused people to love him. He has a magnetic
personality, a charisma that draws people to
him. People want to know him--people follow
him because he's a natural born leader. A
Dallas police officer saw something in him and
urged him to clean up his act before it was
too late. He was also told by his own mother
that God would not continue to allow him to
live the way he was living and that he should
stop on his own rather than have God break
him.
Karlos was no stranger to God or the
Church. He was baptized when he was eleven
years old. He grew up in the church going to
Sunday school and he even sang in the choir.
He confesses that all the while he was in The
Game he knew it wasn't right. In his own
words he said, "I would filter in the church
every now and then" but as soon as he left the
church building, he was back in The Game.
Then came the fall.
One night he and that notorious East Dallas
gangster were to go to dinner. But Karlos
needed to stop by the phone store first. He
told the man he would meet up with him later.
Shortly afterwards, Karlos received a phone
call telling him the man and everyone else in
the car with him, had been murdered.
A few months later, Karlos was arrested for
violating parole. He says that arrest was "a
God thing." After his arrest he was given a
bond of a million dollars. But the judge
revoked the bond which meant he couldn't get
out of jail--this he also says, "was a God
deal". You see, four months after his arrest
everyone in his crew was arrested and
subsequently sentenced to anywhere from 65-85
years. Karlos received two years.
He acknolwedges that it's a challenge allowing
God to change his life, "when you've spent
most of your life in The Game, it's hard
living a square life, not being able to get
what you want when you want it." But he say's
he's happy, he's safe, he has a job he enjoys,
and he knows God is working in his life. He's
also happy about finding a church that accepts
and loves him. He says he wants to "bring
cats from other crews to church". And that is
exactly what he is doing. He's already led
two men to Christ.
Karlos sort of reminds me of the Apostle
Paul. Paul was a dangerous and treacherous
man before he fell before Christ on that
Damascus road. But once Paul accepted the
truth and surrendered his whole life to living
for Christ he became one of the most
influential men in the Christian Church.
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I'll Never Be Broke Again!
Rufus shared his
personal testimony with the congregation during
our One Year Anniversary Celebration. He has
graciously allowed me to print it in this
newsletter. As you read his story please pray for
other young men you know who may be lost and in
need of God's love and forgiveness.
Pastor Session
I'll
never be broke again! That was a promise I made
to myself when I was a young boy.
By any means necessary I was
determined never to live in poverty again. No
more going to school with worn out clothes. No
more being hurt to my core from the laughter and
taunting of my classmates. I'm never going to
live in the Dallas Life Foundation again! Can you
believe that I was a poster boy for poverty? On
the front page of the Dallas Morning News. "What
do you want when you grow up" they asked, my
response-"to live in a big house with lots of
windows"-I wanted to be rich.
I found a way to get
rich-hustling was the answer!
By the time I was 16
hustling had only landed me in the
Juvenile Detention Center.
When I got out, not much had
changed-the neighborhood was
the same and I was still
in poverty. So I went back
to what I knew best. By the
time I was 21 I had earned
myself three more drug cases
but by then I was grown
and had to go to prison.
In prison I came face to
face with God's amazing love. You
see I was sentenced to two
years for Possession. But there
were other men who had
committed the same crime as I did
but they had much longer
sentences. I felt like I was blessed not to
have been given more time. In prison I realized
just how easy my life could be taken away. And
so I went to church in prison and prayed every
night that if God would give me a chance I would
not mess it up.
God did give me a chance.
I've been out of prison one year.
I kept telling my wife
we're going to go to church. I knew I didn't
want to attend a big church because I thought I
might feel awkward and like I didn't belong.
Then a friend of mine-Karlos, said his sister
was a pastor and had started a church and he
invited me to New Life Christian Church.
The very first time I
attended services I was welcomed with open
arms. This church doesn't discriminate-people
are accepted for who they are. Since I've been
at New Life-it seems like I'm learning something
new everyday. When Pastor Session preaches she
breaks things down and makes it plain and easy
for me to understand.
My life is much better now.
I have a job that I enjoy-I just
got a promotion and things
are coming together slowly but
surely.
Because of God's amazing
love I have a second chance. I
have a church home and the
old things I used to do just don't fit anymore.
Rufus
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Free Health
Clinic at Rosemont
Rosemont Christian Center
under the very capable leadership of Rev. Raul
Tejera opened up their doors to the Oak Cliff
community on August 25-26th with a Community
Health Clinic. The clinic provided medical
check-ups, prostrate screenings, chiropractic
exams, haircuts for children, fitness & nutrition
consultation (provided by Nikki from New Life
Christian Church), and oh yeah, the gospel
message!
The first couple of hours
the flow of traffic seemed non-stop. There were
husbands and wives, single women with children,
and even grandparents coming to particpate in this
outreach effort. Each person who walked through
the door received a hearty welcome and was invited
to complete a registration form that clued us in
to their particular need. There was a doctor on
hand to check blood pressure and listen to some of
the health concerns of individuals...some of whom
couldn''t recall the last time they had seen a
doctor.
The clinic was a wonderdul
success and established Rosemont as a loving and
caring congregation in the Oak Cliff community.
You go Raul and the Rosemont family!
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Rev. Irie L. Session
Senior Pastor
New Life Christian Church |
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