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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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January 10, 2005 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
Happy New Year. I hope you had a blessed holiday season.
Now we are in to another year. Yet, the things we face are often the
same as any other year. Each day we awaken to this great gift and mystery
of life. Sometimes it is difficult to see it that way, but that is where
your “tool” of gratitude comes in handy.
The terrible tragedy of the Asian Tsunami is on our minds. Nature’s
destructive forces have caused a lot of death and misery. Many people
wonder why such things happen. I, for one, do not believe it is God doing
something to punish anyone. God created our world and gave us the responsibility
of being stewards. Nature and weather happen and how we respond to the
crises speaks volumes about each of us. So, it is gratifying to see so
many people helping in the relief efforts. Most are helping with a financial
contribution. Let’s not forget to use the power of prayer and the
action of love in our responses.
I also hope that we can remember to reach out in love
everyday however we can to those that are hurting. Major disasters get
people’s attention. Sometimes the daily needs of the suffering
and oppressed go unrecognized.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Self Help Programs Are Not Enough
In The Spotlight: Aid for Asia Tsunami Victims
Daily Thoughts: On Your Feet – Alive and Whole
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Be On Guard
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Self Help Programs Are Not Enough
Article by Tom Gilbert
(note: this is an article I
wrote a while back, but it has some things to consider,
especially with our reliance on God. And that is especially important with
a new year.)
Browse the aisles of any large bookstore
and you will see a very large number of titles in the so-called "self-help" section.
This is big business, writing books that will turn people's
lives around, let them take charge, build self-esteem and
control their destinies. The public's appetite for this
is voracious.
Obviously, there wouldn't be a market unless there was a need. Too many people
are hurting, depressed, lacking direction and fearing life.
It's easy for some of us to look at people who are messed up and think if only
they would do "such and such" they'd be ok. You wish they'd stop feeling
sorry for themselves. Not be so fearful, so neurotic.
Deep psychological and emotional problems are not to be scoffed at. Mental illness
is real and can take various forms. However, there are certainly a lot of people
that could be doing better by just taking more responsibility for their actions.
Owning up to the problems we've created is a big step for some.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Aid for Asia Tsunami Victims
The continuing news of the devastation, loss
of life and great suffering in Asia from the earthquake and resulting tsunami
calls us to respond. There are many agencies providing relief efforts.
Below are some of them and please help if you can.
World Vision International
Gospel For Asia
Catholic Relief Service
Christian Aid
Church World Service
International Federation of Red Cross
Lutheran World Relief
Mennonite Central Committee
Mercy Corps
World Relief
See more at our Spotlight Specials page
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has resources to help you grow spiritually. It’s
secure, extensive with many great gift ideas!
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There is something for everyone. When you shop with us,
you support our ministry – thank you!
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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On Your Feet – Alive and Whole
This is what my Father wants: that anyone who
sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then
aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them
on their
feet alive and whole at the completion of time.
(John 6:40 — The Message)
Have you ever wondered what God wants, what He desires?
There it is in Jesus' own words, that all who believe in Jesus and commits
their hearts to Him will have eternal life and Jesus' part is to make us
come alive, make us whole, restore us back to what we were intended to be
when God first created us.
It sounds too simple, but it is true. That's what this life
is all about, that's what this war, this battle, we were born into is all
about. God's creation is being restored back to a relationship with Him
by believing in His Son and letting Jesus restore our hearts.
So if it is so simple why is it so hard? Because there is
a war for our hearts, our attention, and our affection. God wants it because
that is why and what He created us for, Satan wants our hearts and affection
to try and hurt the heart of God. The simple becomes hard because we are
being torn in two directions -- one is truth and one is a lie made to sound
like truth. One is life and one is death, but the lie confuses us and that
makes the simple seem complex. That is why we need to be spending time daily
with God, so we will know the difference between the lie and the truth and
so we will not be so easily deceived and confused.
God wants and needs us to be fully alive. The world needs
us to be fully alive, for our sake and the sake of others. We must recognize
that God loves us. Cling to God and keep your heart connected with His so
they to may come to know the Father, their Friend, and the Lover of their
souls.
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
like to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: Be On Guard
“We must always be on our
guard lest, under the pretext of keeping one commandment,
we be found breaking another.”
— St. Basil the Great
Copyright 2005 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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