BrotherInJC's Xanga

Diane got hired today. (8/20)

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:59:30 GMT

Diane got hired by a new grocery store coming into town in Mid-Sept to early Oct. I was overqualified and they hired the positions I applied for from within the company. So I keep looking and she waits until it starts.
Thanks for your prayers for her. I hope this finds you and your family well. - Rick

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DIANE!!!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:21:47 GMT

HAPPY 31st ANNIVERSARY DIANE!!!! IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE (most of the time lol) TO BE WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEARS WE HAVE TOGETHER AHEAD OF US

AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:28:11 GMT

As a NEEDHIM volunteer, (www.needhim.org or 1-888-633-3446) I have been asked to be interviewed on a station in San Antonio via taped voice as to one of my recent experiences working with them. Here is an account of one of the people I've spoken with.

I have had the joy of leading several people to Christ, explaining the gospel message to them as well as helping with other issues. Recently I spoke with a young gentleman who desperately wanted to know the message. He wrote down the verses, drew the picture of the bridge diagram as I shared with him. He was thirsty for Him. I also have a website that gives Christian encouragement. www.GivingChristianEncouragement.com that he looked at as we talked. It has had many responses of helping people and I lead many to www.needhim.org from that site as well.

Today he is growing and I've received comments that it has helped him. Due to a phone mix up on his part I was also connected to two others that I was able to share Christ with and have also receive comments from them on this website. I am thankful first to God for what He has done for me and then to my family for allowing me to do this. I am also thankful for NEEDHIM to give me this opportunity to reach others for Him. He was unable to visit a real church so I directed him to a caring and Bible believing online church where there are many he can approach and receive prayer and biblical instruction. My posts as of late have been geared to help people such as those I speak with through NEEDHIM. God gives one such joy when receiving Christ, but even more when He uses you to help others know Him.

Thanks and God Bless,

Rick Newman (A child of God)

THE WORKPLACE-A STRATEGIC PLACE TO SHARE CHRIST AND MODEL CHRIST-LIKE TRAITS

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:12:26 GMT

If you are fortunate enough to have a job today, it is the most strategic place to share Christ. If you consider that you work 60 hours per week including travel, lunch, getting ready for work, etc. and there are only 168 hours in a week. Say you sleep 49 hours of that week, it leaves you only 119 which is less than the 60 mentioned. Therefore you are there or getting prepared to be there more than 1/2 of your waking hours. Granted some work more and some less than that. While your mission field as a Christian is anywhere you are around the most people, be it neighbors or other places in society, for those in the workforce, it is around coworkers. Evangelism should be considered an opportunity, not a chore or duty.

Many people at work are skeptical and have questions, whether they ask them or not. They will watch the way you act under different circumstances and react to unpleasant situations. You may be the only Bible they read or as close to a church they come. Your lifestyle will say a huge amount to them about all Christianity if that is the case. Don't be a 'closet Christian' and there may be others who consider themselves Christians, but are afraid to come out of their closets and need an example of someone who does come out and stand firm for Him to spur them onto living a more courageous faith. Maybe you feel inadequate to do so, but trust in God to give you the right words at the right time to the right people. Never forget that God is in control and He may merely be using you to reach certain people. Consider that a privilege to be used that way by Him.

Modeling Christ through your lifestyle is often the most powerful witness you many have. Philippians 2:5 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." With an attitude like His you will catch the attention of far more people than through a self-centered attitude that is so prevalent in this world. Like the saying goes, 'actions speak louder than words.' They will get noticed much easier too when done for His sake. This does take faith and Corrie Ten Boom described FAITH as Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. Faith worn inside out can be described as FEAR or False Evidence Appearing Real. Do you love God with ALL of your heart and would you be willing to sacrifice some things you'd planned on doing for your pleasure if it meant helping others know Him better? You may have someone that works very close to you that has questions and merely needs to talk to someone such as yourself. Are you giving the impression that you are approachable for such a need? It doesn't mean that you must sacrifice your life for them like Jesus did for you, but you may have to give up some planned time for something else out of His love, rather than out of your human efforts.

There is much confusion between 'happiness' and 'joy' today among many people. Happiness is based on outward circumstances, while joy is an outward expression of an inward commitment. People may ask you while you seem happy so often and it opens the door for you to explain that what they see is the joy you experience having Christ in your life. You may feel it an appropriate time to ask them if they would like to experience this joy. If they respond 'yes' be ready to explain what God did for you and then what He also did for them and what He offers them if they decide to accept Him into their heart. Trust the Holy Spirit to do what is necessary to change them, but be willing to be there for them and assist them to grow in His love. Trials and hardships occur in all of our lives. Some question if He is truly the Prince of Peace, then why is their so much hardship in the world and uncomfortableness in their lives. That type of peace is temporal and we all want everlasting peace. With God in your life that is very possible. Jesus rode to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a donkey. People thought He was bringing the world's view of peace. He did bring peace, but eternal peace. Back in those days when a king rode a donkey to people it was a symbol of 'peace' and humility. If they went to war they rode a large horse, possibly white to be distinguished, to symbolize war and power.

If something is of great value, it is usually worth the wait. When you show patience to coworkers, you are showing them a Fruit of the Spirit and giving them high value. Two kinds of kindness God has shown us that we should likewise show others are 'grace' and 'mercy'. The two are often confused in definition. Grace is a free gift of God, given to us, that we cannot earn. Mercy is not giving us the punishment that we do deserve. James Dobson said "When things don't seem to make sense, they make perfect sense to God." Allow God's goodness to shine through you to others. The best way to do this is to spend quality time with him and model his life through yours regularly for others to notice. To be a representative for the King of all kings is quite an honor and is a privileged responsibility. Trust God's Sufficiency to Overcome Your Feelings of Inadequacy and you will experience a HUGE spiritual growth experience! Your faithfulness will NOT go unnoticed by God, even if others don't make mention of it.

There is a difference between gentleness and passive kindness. Jesus could be very gentle with people in certain need, but he also did not passively avoid confrontation when someone such as the religious leaders of that day were twisting or distorting God's perfect law. I doubt they thought he was being gentle when he confronted them and called them 'a brood of vipers.' Likewise, he did not lose self-control when he overturned the tables the moneychangers were using to make a mockery of his Father's temple. He was using righteous anger. When we get angry because our self-centered choices are not being met, we sin with unrighteous anger. Ask God daily to control your speech and actions and 'release to God what you hands cannot control, so that His hands can release to you what He can control.'

The beatitudes in Mattew 5 address many issues, but the foundation was set with the first one. He started off with, paraphrased, a person must be humble. Humility was a starting point for all the other beautitudes. This chapter lists, not all but many of, the Christ-like traits a person in the workplace can exhibit to be more like Him. Remember to demonstrate them to others in you actions and gestures. A study showed that 55% of all communication, not on the internet, is done through gestures and actions. Another 38% is shown be the tone of voice used when we communicate. Only 7% is the actual words used. That 7% is often feared by most people when sharing Christ, even when the remember or know that He is in 100% control. While we have the responsibility to share His Word it does take the responsiblity of the outcome off us and we need to be content to leave the outcome in His hands. That is what will ALWAYS be best!!

Lifestyle Evangelism at Work: trusting God's sufficiency to overcome our feelings of inadequacy can be found at http://www.EncouragingChristianGrowth.com. (ISBN 1597814857)

Add ChristianProductsReveiw to your friends list

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:36:40 GMT

While I still have this xanga site, I also can be found on http://christianproductsreview.xanga.com/ and invite you to read it regularly as it will review many Christian products in the future.

Thanks,
Rick

The Lord WILL PROVIDE!!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:30:17 GMT

Something I remember often is the story of Genesis 22 and especially the comment made in 22:8. When God had instructed Abram to sacrifice his only son through Sarai, a lump in his throat had to take place. It had to be a long walk up Mt. Moriah, later named 'God Will Provide.' Isaac told his father that they had everything for the sacrifice to be made, but asked 'Father, where is the Lamb?' Abram said, 'God himself, my son, will provide the lamb' (or the need). Abram went through with everything and tied Isaac to the altar. As he raised the knife and began the downward thrust, an angel stopped him shouting Abram, Abram! Do not lay a hand on the boy. It was then that he noticed a ram caught in the thickets and untied Isaac and replaced him with the ram which was sacrificed just as God promised. Abrahm's name was then changed to Abraham since the Lord knew that he would not withhold anything from Him. So in short, Proverbs 22:8 restated could be:

GOD WILL PROVIDE THE NEED!!!

My wife and I have been in that situation for a long time. She's been unemployed for 6 months and me for 2 months and just yesterday I was to have an interview that got called off due to the ecomomy. It was an insides sales job for a company that thought they could hire 5-6 people. But the owner told them they could only hire 2 and they already had hired 3 and now had to tell him that they were no longer able to keep that promise. It had to be a difficult thing for the managers to do, as well as tell other applicants they couldn't hire, so there would be no use to interview now. If people didn't work out, I was told I'd be at the top of the list, but that was probably a pat statement to everyone, especially the 3rd one they hired and had to let go. Things are tough when you don't know where the money will come to pay rent for next month and food is short, etc. One thing I've told my wife many times and do believe that relates to the above Bible story and God's divine grace is that 'He is in control and knows our needs.' Relating to Abraham's knife thrusting down, God may be gearing us up for something big.

He may however know that the knife is only being raised and not in the downward motion yet. We still have 15 days of rent paid. But it may be at the last moment He will give us a huge breakthrough when He knows we've trusted in Him to provide our need in His time and in His way. Joshua 24:15 says, 'As for me and my household, we WILL serve the Lord! It doesn't always mean it is easy or comfortable, but we know enough that it is the right thing to do. Trust in the Lord today and TRUST=To Rely Upon The Savior's Timing. Always remember:

GOD HIMSELF, WILL PROVIDE THE NEED!!

P.S. I have begun a new xanga site as well titled ChristianProductsReview where I am currently going over the book "Lifestyle Evangelism At Work: trusiting God's sufficiency to overcome your feeling of inadequacy." After summarizing the chapters, I will go into lifestyle applications that will help people grow seriously. Then I will try to write reviews of other articles, songs, etc.

Questions, Resources, and Answers

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:49:36 GMT

It has been a joy to help people with Salvation decisions, Assurance of these decisions, and Re-dedication or assistance to those backsliding in the faith of Jesus Christ. (As a NEEDHIM volunteer. You can also call them at 1-888-633-3446. Rather than make a long post here, I encourage you to go to http://www.GivingChristianEncouragement.com many times over the next few weeks. I will be addressing these issues followed by spiritual disciplines that will help one grow stronger in their faith with Him.

Also here is the link to a Christian store for inspiring and uplifting other items to grow one's faith.
http://www.EncouragingChristianGrowth.com.

God Bless,

Rick

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:46:27 GMT

Enjoy your holiday weekend and Happy 4th!

BECAUSE THE LORD IS IN CONTROL, I WILL NOT FEAR!

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:27:52 GMT

One of the most used phrases in the Bible is 'Do not fear' or 'Do Not be Afraid!' We all have things that we get concerned about or worry over. (Which is usually a waste of time since 92% of things worried about never happen. 7% may happen but they are not things we control. That leaves 1% that may happen and that we can do something about.) Don't shorten your life worrying over things you can't control. My wife has been out of work for 5 1/2 months now, me 2 1/2 and we only have until the third week in July before finances run out. Yet, we refuse to worry, since God is in control and WILL provide as he has for the past 31 years of marriage.

I am now a NEEDHIM representive/counselor (www.needhim.org) and it is a pleasure to lead people to Christ or help them grow in Him. We are hoping it will lead to a missions support in doing this and the 2 Christian websites (below). There are a number of ways God may provide finances for us to continue this ministry. I will give the site addresses below. Please consider if God wants you to help us in this ministry. Remember, that God's sufficiency will ALWAYS overcome your feelings of inadequacy and that His timing is NEVER late! God Bless,

Rick
http://www.GivingChristianEncouragement.com (use the site search box to help you through dark times)
http://www.EncouragingChristianGrowth.com (Christian store to help benevolent causes)

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Rick L. Newman
"Commit to the Lord, whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3)

YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:55:59 GMT

This is a wonderful true story!!!!!!