N E W L I F E T E M P L E

December 1

Got Life

Why We Celebrate

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

His coming was prophesied to a needy people. People waited. Mother’s hoped. When would He come?

But He did come on a day when no one was looking for Him, in a place no one would have expected.

There was no fan fair or pomp and circumstance. There are no recordings in scriptures of people bowing as Mary entered the smell stable to give birth to the King of Kings.

I can’t imagine what it was like for Mary as she prepared for the unknown. I’m sure she was frightened at having to give birth with no family around to give her support. But within her was the Prince of Peace to comfort her.

And on that night Mary gave birth to the greatest Gift ever given to mankind. The promise that God gave to Adam and Eve thousands of years before was now being fulfilled.

Many people will spend hundreds of dollars buying gifts that will be forgotten months later. But they will think little of given back to God, after all He already has everything, right?

Remember that Jesus came to give us something to celebrate. Without Him, there would have never been a St. Nicolas that so many will worship instead of God.

While Santa Clause has never told my parents, “take a break this year, I’m buying all the gifts!’ Jesus did give us the gift that keeps on giving - His life.

Friends, let’s make Jesus the reason for the season, and not the lying men who dress up in red and white suites pretending to do your job.

Let us join the angels and say “Glory to God in the highest, peace, goodwill towards all men

-Mel A. Perry.

Mel serves as Global Relations Director and Assistant Pastor of NLTC

A newsletter about spiritual enrichment for the Body of Christ

Knowing The Time

An address from the Senior Pastor.Page 2

Words From Our Ministries.Page 6

What’s Going OnThe monthly calendar, birthdays and anniversaries, and Daniel’s Fast resource information. Page 3

Church InformationNLTC ministry staff, service information and statement of faith.Page 10

A Monthly Newsletter December ‘10

Little Chocolate BoyCharles Ademolu’s monthly column Page 8

N E W L I F E T E M P L E

2 December

I N O T H E R W O R D S

I pray that all of you had a grand Thanksgiving holiday. I’ll admit I was so looking forward to making my pilgrimage to the Thanksgiving dinner at the San Louise in Galveston, Tx. And when the plans were changed I was disappointed.

But it’s a contradiction to be disappointed and celebrate Thanksgiving. So I had to quickly remove that sad face, after all I would get to see my sister and share in thanksgiving of her safe return from Afghanistan.

So I can say that I had a blessed and delightful Thanksgiving Day.

As I think about the holiday season, for most, Christmas is the highlight. But for those who celebrate Chunukah, there is a common thread with those who celebrate Christmas. And that thread is the word “miracle”. Chanukukah is the celebrations of the miraculous burning of the candles in the temple. And Christmas is the celebration of the miracle of the birth of the Savior of the world, Emmanuel, God with us in human form - Jesus is His name.

I don’t think I have ever thought about it before, we end the year celebrating a miracle. So my new year expectations should be fueled by the last celebration of the year.

For me, it doesn’t matter that Jesus was not born on December 25. However, what does matter is that a miracle did happen in that little small town on a hill. And because of that miracle I can look at a new year with expectation. And not just the new year, but every day.

So I’ve decided that this month for me is miracle celebration month. And I’m going to live like it is. The miracle has come, now let us celebrate it!

Mel A. Perry, Editor In Chief

Commercialism VS the Traditional Christmas

By Bishop Brenda K. Perry

God’s goodness has allowed me to remain upon this earth, and to

see those things that we enjoyed as a child completely come to an end. One of the greatest holidays, outside of Easter, has become so commercialized and materialist that it sadden my heart.

The question to be asked is, “Is Jesus the real reason for the season”? When you read the beginning story of Jesus’ birth, in Matthew and Luke, it tells us the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. In the gospel of Luke the angel tells the shepherds not to be afraid, “for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” In Matthew an angel appeared to Joseph, Jesus earthly father, saying, “…and she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” When we see gifts in the picture, they are not presented to Joseph or Mary, but to the Child. “….and when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” If I had the time, I would give you the true meaning of those gifts. This would be a good Bible study for you to research, why these gifts.

Christmas is celebrated all over the world, whether one participates or not. Anyone can see that the subject is about Christ, our Lord that was

birthed at Bethlehem. As a child growing up, we were no different from the children today. The thing that makes the difference was our parents. We had a Christmas tree, gifts, and plenty of food and laughter. We went house to house visiting friends and family. As a child in our family, we never gave our parents a list of demands we must have for Christmas. We were grateful for the big apples and oranges, and plenty of candy and nuts, beside the cakes and pies, and homemade dressing and ham, and all the trimmings.

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The Unconditional Love of God

I JOHN 4: 7 – 12

By Minister Isaac Bazile

Have you ever wondered could our Lord’s love for us be truly unconditional, even though we know how he gave his life for us? Why did God love the world so much that He gave us Jesus Christ as demonstrable proof? It surely wasn't and isn't because the world is so good. Statistics can be sighted to show it isn't.

AIDS casualties are doubling every six months. More Americans are more afraid of AIDS than of an atomic bomb. World hunger, war, and man's inhumanity to man all add up to show God doesn't love the world population simply because it is so good. Watch the evening news and see how many stories report on people and events that indicate those involved are lovable. The unalterable fact is God loves us and Jesus proved it. He then stated for us that which can make this old world a lot more enjoyable for

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N E W L I F E T E M P L E

December 3

Looking AheadPlease mark your calendars for the upcoming events for December & January

DECEMBER4 Dickens On The Stand5 Senior Connection Annual Fundraiser8 New Ministers Questionnaire11 Leadership Prayer/ Leaders’ Meeting 12 Sunday School Breakfast PLM Graduation Installation of New Deacons24 - 27 Office Closed25 Christmas31 New Year’s Eve Service

JANUARY!1 New Year’s Day2 Seed Offering Celebration3 Office Closed Start of the Daniel Fast11 Leadership Prayer16 Healing Service Last Day of Daniel Fast17 MLK Holiday/ Office closed19 Start of Small Group sessions22 Leadership Prayer & Leader’s Meeting23 Church Family Business Meeting30 Outreach Sunday

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Monthly birthdays and anniversaries of NLTC members. If your birthday is not listed, email the church office.

Dec. 3! ! Armsted J. Chambers Sr.

Dec. 4! ! Madell King

Dec. 6! ! Brian Conner

Dec. 10! ! Ruth Knox

Dec. 10! ! Sonja Blouin

Dec. 10! ! Phoebe Roquemore

Dec. 11! ! DeLesa Alexander

Dec. 11! ! Kristina Davila

Dec. 12! ! Eldora Christian

Dec. 15! ! Lela Chambers

Dec. 18! ! Pam Clark

Dec. 19! ! Danielle Hardiman

Dec. 20! ! Natalie Williams

Dec. 23! ! Winifred O’Conner

Dec. 28! ! Marva Coney

Dec. 30! ! Clara Britton

Dec. 31! ! Katie Alimon

Anniversaries

Warren & Robin Green Dec. 13

Elmer & Catherine Powell Dec. 23

Holiday/ Winter Events As we have come to the end of the warmer months and enjoy the cool breeze, the city of Houston continues to give Houstonians and visitors plenty to do. Find out what makes H-Town the city it is.

* Festival of Lights, Nov. 13 - Jan. 1. A great way to get into the holiday mood with over a million lights. Come see the lights and hear the music. Other activities include live entertainment, an outdoor skating rink and holiday movies. http://www.moodygardens.com/

* Dickens On the Strand, Dec. 4 - Dec. 5. Galveston Island’s most famous holiday event recreates the Victorian London of Charles Dickens for an entire weekend in December. Characters from Dickens novels walk the streets and food and entertainment fill the area with sights and smells that take you back to another era. www.dickensonthestrand.org

* Season of Sharing at the Children’s Museum of Houston, Nov. 13 - Jan 3. Children will learn about holidays and costumes celebrated around the world this time of the year. http://www.cmhouston.org

* St. Joseph Medical Center' Ice at Discovery Gree, Now - Jan. 17. he Ice at Discovery Green offers you the chance to go ice skating outdoors downtown no matter what the temperature. Holiday-themed attractions will include a toddler-friendly rink with a visit from Santa Claus and holiday art exhibits such as David Graeve's illuminated globes and Andy Mann's Video Tree. www.discoverygreen.com

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4 December

Thanks from page 2

Parents had an understanding that you must learn to work for something you want. They were not going to get in debt just for a moment’s thrill. We learned to play together, share our toys with one another, and those years were filled with much fun and games. My parents let us know that money was hard to come by. Yes, they gave their best. Yes, there were some parents that were able to give their children their wishes. Life is more than just receiving, but giving with an understanding. In our house sometimes we had new furniture, or something everybody benefited from. I thank God for Sear and Roebuck because during that time they give out toys with the purchase of furniture. And, me being the youngest, I reaped the benefits. I remember a couple of Christmases my young brother and I tried to put our nickels and dimes together to get our mother some of that (hahaha) cheap perfume. We knew our father didn’t want anything.

Many Christmases have passed sense I was a child, and our daughters are well grown themselves. I enjoyed the years of having Christmas with my daughters and spouse, staying up all night cooking and wrapping gifts, having friends and family over, what great memory. We always had prayer and devotion before any gifts were opened or any food eaten. Jesus Christ was to be exalted first. During the day, after we finished eating, the family and friends were entertained by Melissa and my godson Deon with their great Christmas drama.

Let’s keep Jesus in Christmas, and not so much debt, stress and purchasing of things that are not even appreciated. And, by all means, please do not be so lazy in not writing out “Christmas”. Don’t use “Xmas”; neither “Happy Holiday”. Christ is a live and He lives so much so that He lives within me, and those that believe. Let’s continue to acknowledge His birth. Without the birth

there would be neither death nor resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You can eliminate the stress and debt by just keeping Jesus as the main focus. The world and the devil are working very hard to take Christ out of Christmas. If they cannot “X” Him out, or “Happy Holiday” Him out, well the next best thing is to “commercialize” Him out. Christmas, along with all seasons, is about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Life from page 2

us. Jesus Christ said, "As I have loved you -- you should love one another". If we dare accept Christ as our role model and set out to love, we need not necessarily expect to be loved.

Have you asked yourself, “Could I ever love unconditionally as he does?” Love is a valid test to our fellowship and our son ship because "God is love". Love is part of the being and nature of God. If we are united to God through faith in Christ, we share His nature. And since His nature is love, love is the test of the reality of our spiritual life. Love flows from Him and love finds its origination in Him. It has been accurately said that "love does not define God, but God defines love. He does not say that love is God. That would mean that God is impersonal, an abstract kind of being. But, he says, "Love is of God", and God is love".

Here are some questions we should all consider asking ourselves from time to time.

1. Do you believe that a person comes into a relationship with God as the result of the gift of grace from God?

2. Do you believe that God saves us not because of anything we have done to earn it but because Jesus died on the cross for our sins?3. Do you believe that God forgives your sin because of what Jesus did in dying on the cross or because you deserve to be forgiven?4. Does God love you because you deserve to be loved?5. Alright then, based on what you know about God's love, his forgiveness and his grace, let me ask you this: How many of you want to please God more than anything else?6. NOW HERE IS THE CLINCHER: How many of you think God is really pleased with you?

Here is what I have discovered all these years of dealing with thousands of fine Christian people. Very few believers actually believe that they are pleasing to God. Most feel at least some degree of forgiveness, and maybe a little bit of acceptance from God. But to think that God is actually pleased with them is a whole different matter. Here is the way we think - A person can choose to love you because of their own goodness, but to be please with you don't they have to actually like your performance? All authentic Christians really do believe that the only way we can be in a right relationship with God is through Christ as the result of faith. We all agree that our salvation is based on the free, unmerited, and undeserved grace of God. We also agree that we enter eternal life, and that when we leave this life we are headed for heaven. But the reality is most of us live as though that experience between when we accept Jesus into our lives and when go to heaven is on different terms. It is not that we have

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N E W L I F E T E M P L E

December 5

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relationship with God is based 50 percent on our performance and 50 percent on the grace of God. Rather it is a subconscious assumption we make that is based on the culture we live in. Consider this article the next time you start feeling that your sins are so great the God could not possibly love you unconditionally.

God Bless

Minister Isaac J. Bazile

Men of the Tower Director

Guest Writers Wanted

If you would like to share a thought or an article with our readers, we invite you to

contact us at global_relations@newliftemplechurch.com

or 713-991-5972 for more information.

To You and Yours

May your Christmas and holiday season be one filled with much joy and grace as we celebrate the coming of our savior who lives for ever!

Many blessings!!!

Help Us Help Others

The Outreach ministry is asking for donation for their winter outreach event. They

are collecting new items such as blankets, caps, socks,

sweatshirts

N E W L I F E T E M P L E

6 December

Ladies of the Light

“ A W O R D F R O M T H E L A D I E S ’ M I N I S T R Y ”

Fortitude and Perseverance

Ephesians 6: 18 reads, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.

I looked up the words “Fortitude” and “Perseverance”. Fortitude means strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger, or bear pain, or adversity with courage. Perseverance means steadfastness, not giving up.

Successful people don’t allow failure to determine if they will succeed at their dream or vision, so why should you?

If most of us ever got the chance to meet someone who has made it to the top like a famous writer, pastor of a mega church, a movie star, an athlete, baseball player, or even a professor at a major collage, they will all tell you this did not happen over night. Many heart aches came with the territory.

One thing for sure, they did not give up. They kept the fortitude and

determination, and were able to preserver until they met their success. Some would even say it wasn’t easy; others will give God all of the glory. I was watching the news the other night and this race car diver had just won a major car race. During his interview he told the news caster how much he and his family believe in the power of prayer. He also talked about how many times he’d tried to win a race. He even talked about an accident he was in that almost discouraged him from racing, but because he persevered, he believed that’s why he has the success now with God’s help.

When trying to accomplish the goals you have set, you will have adversities that will try to discourage you from continuing on. Don’t give up. Stay focused. Don’t get discourage or change your mine about what you set your mine to do. When God gives you a dream, you must then seek after God for the plan he has that will allow the dream to come to pass. Anyone can have a vision, but only God can give us the wisdom and knowledge of a well thought out plan to give it life. Only those who master fortitude and perseverance will be able to see the end successfully.

Remember our fortitude comes from God, which is our strength, and perseverance is our steadfastness. We must stand on the word and promises

of God, never giving up, but standing on what we believe we can do with the help of the Lord.

Peace and Blessings!

Sis. Donna Stephens, Ladies of the Light Coordinator

Outreach Ministry

Never Give Up

As you drive through the cities, you see red and green decorations fixed to the light poles. The malls are filled with toys to buy and suggestions for gifts. Your neighbor to your right has already decorated his house with colorful lights. Your neighbor to your left has a nativity scene on display. Christmas songs are already flooding the radio airways. Yes, it is the holiday season, whether you are ready, or not.

However, there are some of us who are just not ready. For whatever reason, some of us have not recovered from last year’s holiday season. And given the fact that our economy has not been kind to us, throwing in the towel is just about where we are now.  

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New Life Temple MinistriesWords from our ministries

N E W L I F E T E M P L E

December 7

Dead from page 5

The joy for the reason for the season just is not in our spirit. So my words of encouragement to you are “never given up.” Proverbs 24:10 states, "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" Translation: never give up.

Good advice, wouldn’t you say? Let's face it. Anybody can have strong faith when not being tested. It's when the storms of life come, when the report from the doctor is not good, when the voice on the other end of the line bears tragic news, when that pink slip comes right before the holidays. All of us eventually go through seasons of unhappiness, sorrow, and even despair. It's impossible to be thankful, cheerful, and charitable all the time, and these times of emotional and spiritual emptiness come on us all. They can be as brief as a few moments or as enduring as decades—or even a lifetime—and each Thanksgiving or Christmas presents fresh challenges to personal joy during "the most wonderful time of the year." That’s when we need strong faith in God. Strong faith is not a given. In fact, it's not even likely, unless we are convinced of God's righteous character in the good times of life. It's the knowledge of who God is and how He works in our behalf that gives us strength in the day of adversity. What has God put on your plate today? Is something too difficult to bear?Is it some unexplainable disaster? Is life getting tougher for you insteadof sweeter? If so, remember the advice of King Solomon: "Don't give up when tough times come. God will

help you through them. Trust Him. You'll see brighter days if you never give up."

My prayer is that our Lord will help you to face the increasingly difficulties of life with His grace. That He will help you to hang in there when others hang it up. That He will give you the courage to do your best and look beyond the difficulty of today to the victory of tomorrow.

The Outreach Ministry wishes you a blessed and joyous Christmas season.

Min. Edna Johnson, Outreach Ministry

Couples In Unity

Giving Thanks

 Thanksgiving season is a good time to take stock of all the many blessings God has afforded us his people. Each new day is a blessing which offers new challenges and new opportunities. We should strive to live each day to the fullest on purpose. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chron. 16:34, Psalm 106:1)

The scripture tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. He that comes to God must first believe that He God is, and that He rewards all who diligently seek him! (Heb. 11:1) This alone gives great reason for rejoicing! God rewards all those who will seek him. He tells us that we will find him when we search for him with all our hearts. (Jer. 29:13) Put your heart into making the most of all your special relationships; i.e.

first and foremost our relationship with God, our marriages, parenthood, siblings and friendships. We are very wealthy in this regard.

God’s love is steadfast. (Heb. 13:5, Jer. 31:3, John 3:16) David said where can I go from your presence? God is all around us and is actively involved in our lives. It’s up to us to recognize it and appreciate it. Look for God’s favor to be revealed each day for he gives us benefits daily.

It’s good to know God is with us. (Matt 1:23) He is not far from any of us. (Acts 17: 27) He has given us all things richly to enjoy. We are blessed with families, loved ones, friends and church members. We are a part of a community of faithful believers. Although we face challenges at times, God’s love is revealed even in those times- he always gives us a way of escape that we are able to bear it. It’s largely about our attitude! When we are grateful we can see God’s hand in every situation and will emerge victorious! Don’t allow “stinkin thinkin” to make us have to go around the mountain again and again. What God is after is to change the way we see things. Our perspective and our world view. We should look through the eyes of faith and confidence knowing “He is faithful”.

Use this holiday season to show God’s love to someone who may not know him. We are his image in this earth and the only Jesus some will see. Be kind, it’s worth the effort. Share your good fortune with someone who may not have family nearby. Remember, we reap what we sow. What you give out ultimately comes back to you. Be blessed and remember to always “Give Thanks”!

Min. Pamlar Clark, Marriage Ministry

N E W L I F E T E M P L E

8 December

LIL Chocolate BoY

Hello O Israel, God’s chosen and appointed people called to be the holy nation for the nations, the world. They were specifically handpicked by God to be His representation. And yet we, like Israel in the Old Testament, are still having problems trusting God, turning away from our ways, and walking by the substance of all things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen – FAITH!

In the Exodus, God sends the people of Israel a deliverer from their Egyptian oppressors, Moses. After God makes the impossible possible and frees Israel from slavery, Israel still has a mouth to complain and would rather go back to where God so purposely delivered them from. Despite Israel’s faith to see God’s special purpose for their lives for His divine plan, He still guided them and allowed them to enter the promise land. God, as He always does, kept His promise. Plus, God dwelled among Israel within the promise land so that they had an undeniable intimate connection with Him.

Exodus 29:45–46 says that God “will dwell among the Israelites and be their God They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought

them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Truly, Israel was God’s chosen and special people. But when we go to 1 Judges, the Israelites no longer have a physical leader in their presence like they had with Moses and Joshua.  Israel then seemed to have a bad case of amnesia, forgetting everything that God has done for them. They began to take His goodness, love, holiness, word, and mostly His Spirit for granted. We, the reader, then get this pattern that Israel so easily repeats, yet still does what is evil in God’s eyes. God soon gives them into the hands of their enemies (back to slavery).

There is a downward spiral that Israel consistently affiliates themselves with. All throughout Judges Israel falls back into apostasy (backsliding into their same old ways). God gave them to an oppressor; the Israelites cry out to God because of the mess they get themselves in; God sends them a deliverer again and again and allows them rest. Israel kept forgetting that God set them apart from the world to be His people. Since God purposely set them apart, they could not live like the world, do what the world did, and be similar to the world. In Romans 12:2, Paul said that we “should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” As Israel failed to live up to the expectation as God’s appointed people, God had to momentarily withdraw His Spirit from Israel but would still use them to be a light to all the nations, thus sustaining His credibility and word for Israel.

In the New Testament, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God does something new, fresh, and simply remarkable: He equips His people with His Holy Spirit, the ultimate weapon (Acts 2:1–4). Now, not only does His Spirit just dwell among His people, but he now dwells within us. But Israel – the chosen people, the church, God’s own paradigm – was still having the same recurring issues from the Old Testament.

Let me switch gears and bring this on home. We today, as the body of Christ, cannot live like the world. I repeat. We, as the ordained body of Christ, cannot live like the world because “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world” (John 4:4). If we are really living just like world, then who is leading who? We say were are Christians, but our actions find fault with our words. Not to sound condescending in any form or fashion because I

N E W L I F E T E M P L E

December 9

know “We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, there should be an unquestionable separation and appearance between us and the world. If the blind is leading the blind, then where does that leave the lost souls that are seeking refuge? We know the Word and can even apply the Word, but are we living it?

We are in the middle of the Old Age (sin, death and evil), and the New Age (love, joy and justice), the present age and the age to come, what was and the not yet. We are in the end of days waiting for Jesus’ second return, and there has always been time to be real with others, with ourselves, and with God. Let's let our actions drown out our words. Before we even talk, the world should be able to tell by the way we walk that there is something really different about us, and they cannot explain why. In the three Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they talk about how good salt is and how we are to be the salt of the earth. Salt is so good that it has the tendency to make you thirst for something. Salt makes your mouth water for something much greater, and that something is Jesus. If we stand out, walk in God’s path as His chosen people, be unashamed of the Gospel and all that is has done for our lives, the world

would constantly flock not to us, but the God that is within us. The world is constantly bringing their best game. So let us, the body of Christ, bring ours harder. We already have the victory. Let's just walk in it.

It’s no secret that we are in my favorite time of the year!

I don’t know if I laugh more

during this time of the year, after all I laugh all the time -a

regular laughing box. But I do seem to feel the cheer this time of the year.

And it’s probably the one time of the year I enjoy being around big crowds. YIKES! Did I just say that out loud? Oh, my!

But yea, I do enjoy the malls, the festivals and anywhere there are people wrapped up in their coats.

And I know I say it every year, but the air takes on a different scent. There aren’t even any pine trees near, but I smell pine and fresh snow tucked in a blanket of beautiful sounds of classic Christmas songs.

Boy, I’m getting all excited and I’m just staring at a screen with a blinking curser. But even these green letters filling up the screen warmly say CHRISTMAS.

WIth all of my joy, I can’t help but think about those who find it hard to smile this Christmas. Maybe it’s because finances are tight and they can’t give their children all of the toys they want, or maybe someone has lost a loved one and find it

hard to be jolly. In my heart I offer a prayer to God that He would wrap them up in His big arms and show them the reason to celebrate. I have faith that He will.

This holiday I’ve decided to share some of my season’s cheer. I mean what good is it to keep it all to myself anyway.

So I’ve decided, each week in December, I will make a visit to Walmart and pick up a few small fleece blankets to keep in my Jeep. And when I pass a homeless person, or see someone who look like they can use a little extra warmth, I will reach back and hand them one of those warm and fuzzy “Christmas cheers”. And if I don’t get a “thank you”, that’s ok because that’s not what’s important.

You see this year it’s not about what I get but what I can give. As I reflect over my short 36 years I realize that I’ve been blessed. I may not have always seen it that way, but in retrospect I know it’s the case.

So for once I really want to do what Jesus did at His birth - give.

At Thanksgiving my sister said something I’ve wanted to do for years, give our Christmas morning to those who are less fortunate. So we’ve decided that during that

time when we would usually gather to read the Christmas story and open gifts, we will go and GIVE our time to help others enjoy their Christmas.

That will be a first, but I pray not the last. I have to admit I’m looking forward to it. I know it will require me to give up some sleep and the warmth of home. But hey, God gave up so much more so that I can enjoy eternal life.

As I sip my coffee and listen to my delightful Christmas music this year, I’ll be thinking of how I can help someone else enjoy their Christmas. Will you join me? I know you will enjoy bringing a little cheer to someone else.

The Lite

Side

“Giving away som

e

Christmas”

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10 December

NLTC Ministry Leaders

Bishop Brenda K. Perry, Senior Pastor pastor@newlifetemplechurch.com

Pastor Steve Stephens, Associate Pastor sstep72508@sbcglobal.net

Pastor Elmer Powell, Associate Pastor elmerpowell@sbcglobal.net

Donna Ross-Powell, Administrator donna.ross@newlifetemplechurch.com

Karen Watson, Financial Manager

Mel A. Perry, Global Relations Director global_relations@newlifetemplechurch.com

Deacons Roy & Veronica Seivwright, Head Deacons rs5587@att.com

Pastor Elmer & Cathy Powell, Marriage Min. elmerpowell@sbcglobal.net

Minister Isaac Bazile, Men of the Tower lawfalcon@aol.com

Donna Stephens & Mary Colemon, Ladies of the Light dmstep2003@yahoo.com

Pastor Raymond & Capricious Wright, Young People On Fire raymondwright24@yahoo.com

Towanna Thompson, Perfecting Light Ministry towanna10@sbcglobal.net

Minister Edna Johnson, Outreach ednajohn60@yahoo.com

Statement of Faith

We believe in one eternal God; infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose, as well as omniscient and omnipresent.

We believe this one true God, who revealed Himself as Father in Creation, as Son in redemption, and as Holy Ghost in regeneration.

We believe that - in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.

We believe in the death, burial and resurrection.

We believe in being born again of water-by immersion in the name of the Lord “Jesus” Christ for the remission of sins, and in Spirit baptism of the Holy Ghost - speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

We believe in divine healing, communion and foot washing.

We believe in presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.

We believe in expressions of praise with lifted hands, hand clapping, playing of musical instruments, voice of praise and dancing.

The purpose of New Life Temple Church is to instill the faith of Jesus Christ into the lives of all people, bringing them into spiritual perfection with a spirit of excellence.

Weekly Service Schedule

SundaySunday School! ! ! 9:00amSunday Worship ! ! 10:00am

WednesdayPastoral Bible Study! ! 7:30pmYoung People On Fire! ! 7:30pm

ThursdayMusic Ministry! ! ! 7:30pm

Saturday! ! !Intercessory Prayer! ! 9:00am

*Senior Connection Monday - Fridays 10:00am - 2:00pm for all seniors 60+

New Life Temple Church4828 Almeda Genoa Houston, TX 77048

713.991.5972

www.newlifetemplechurch.com