Introduction

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

6 March 2001
Tuesday

Clinton, Iowa (USA)


Dear Friend,

I hope you are doing well. This month's newsletter comes to you from Clinton, Iowa (USA) where I have been called to do some computer work. I've kept this newsletter fairly short. For the latest updates you can visit our What's New page. I've also organized this newsletter in categories that correspond with the various destinations on our site. I apologize for sending two copies of this month's newsletter. The first copy went out with a special formatting attachment that would only apply for users of Microsoft Outlook. This copy is a purely text based e-mail message and should be more readable for everyone.

I continue to be very thankful for everyone who supports my work and the various outreach projects of Resources For Life. I am especially grateful for the kindness and encouragement extended to me. The gifts of food, office supplies, house wares, and financial support are going to good use. We continue to receive fresh fruit and vegetables. Most recently we received a brand new refrigerator and microwave oven. Thank you.

I appreciate the many people who have worked so hard to contribute writings and other content to the web site. It continues to grow to serve the varied interests of the diverse members and people who visit the site. I greatly value everyone's willingness to respect and value the different views and ideas expressed on the web site. You'll find several new writings listed in the Reading Room.

March is a very special month because millions of people around the world (who follow Biblical traditions) will be celebrating Purim in remembrance of Queen Esther who is a very courageous and well respected Biblical hero. In the days of Queen Esther, a government official was plotting the destruction of the Jewish people. Queen Esther considered that she had risen to her position for just "such a time" in order to use her influence to expose the plot and alert the King. Queen Esther's opportunity was not much different than our own. We are all in some position of influence "for such a time as this" to improve the world we live in. It is hard to imagine the kind of intolerance that Queen Esther was facing. Yet, at the time of this writing, the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan is destroying Buddhist statues and other artifacts that represent any belief or civilization besides the Islamic faith. There have been, of course, similar examples of intolerance throughout history.

The feast of Purim is an opportunity to renew and refresh our hearts and minds. It is a time to fill our hearts with hope and compassion for all people. It is a reminder for us to value diversity and avoid intolerance.

Later this month we will be visiting and reporting from Postville, Iowa. Postville is reported to have more Rabbi's per capita than any other city in the world. Postville is also home to a vibrant Mexican / Spanish community. This small Midwest town offers an example of diverse people learning to live together and respect each other.

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is just around the corner. I hope you have a wonderful month with many opportunities to learn and grow.

Best Regards,
Gregory

P.S. Please don't overlook item #2 below, Home for Sale. A home with these amenities would normally cost about $150,000 to build (we looked into it). We were originally asking  $65,000. However, we're now asking only $59,000 and considering reasonable offers. Final approval is at the discretion of the seller and contingent upon financing. Visit the virtual open house at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/forsale/house/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

CONTENTS

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

Remember that you can easily scroll past one topic to read the next. Just look for the numbered heading that is of interest to you.

1. PC DOC
2. HOME FOR SALE
3. FAITH SERIES
4. JEWISH LIFE
5. CHRISTIANS FOR JUDAISM
6. MESSIANIC LIFE
7. CHRISTIAN LIFE
8. THANK YOU


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. PC DOC

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

Springtime is traditionally a time of "Spring Cleaning," and it is a good time to think about cleaning up your computer. There are two kinds of cleaning that a computer requires: (1) Cleaning of the components, and (2) cleaning and organizing of the data and programs. Let us know if you would like help cleaning your computer(s). We are able to archive your old files to CD ROM which can help make your computer run faster and free up space for new data and programs. It is also a good idea to inventory what programs you are actually using so you can remove the ones that are only taking up space. It is important to be very cautious when deleting or moving any files. If you have any questions or concerns about this, feel free to give us a call.

We now have a toll-free number for voice messages. It is not checked as frequently as our direct line, but you may want to use the number for less urgent messages and save on long-distance.

Call 1-800-699-2466, Press # When Prompted and Enter 52408-8708-1 (this is the extension)

Let us know if you would like a toll-free number for your personal or business use at no cost to you.

Visit PC DOC online at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/pcdoc/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2. HOME FOR SALE

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

This beautiful 1800 square foot 3-bedroom home is fully equipped with every amenity you can imagine, including: ceiling fans in every room, sky lights in kitchen and bathrooms, large oversized kitchen with extra cupboard space, spacious dining room, huge living room with wood burning stone fire place, high vaulted ceilings, extra large master bathroom has two sinks with shower and Jacuzzi tub, guest bathroom has tub and shower, large sliding glass doors off of dining room, large window area in living room for extra light during the day, exceptional natural lighting conditions. Complete with stone landscaping. Located on very unique and spacious corner lot in an exclusive living community. Includes very nice custom made Mennonite "play house" design shed with real shingle roof and louver windows with plenty of storage space for gardening supplies and wood.

A home with these amenities would normally cost about $150,000 to build (we looked into it). We were originally asking  $65,000. However, we're now asking only $59,000 and considering reasonable offers. Final approval is at the discretion of the seller and contingent upon financing.

We've had a number of people calling to request additional information and would like to include it here for your convenience:
* Manufacturer: Skyline
* Model: Woodfield
* Year: 1999
* Outside Dimensions: 28' x 70' (1960 square feet)
* Inside Dimensions: at least 1,737 square feet of living space

For more information, Call (800) 699-2466, press # when prompted and enter 52408-8708-1 or e-mail to beautifulhome@resourcesforlife.com

Visit the virtual open house at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/forsale/house/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3. FAITH SERIES

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

The faith series of Resource Groups has become very popular and serves as an important component to the vision of Resources For Life. In our effort to help make people more effective, we don't want to overlook the roll that faith plays in each person's life. The following writing, submitted anonymously, is an example of how faith can help people rise above challenging circumstances.

"I Still Have Hope"

I was saddened.
I didn't eat or sleep for days.
I knew I had been seriously wrong.

I spoke out to apologize.
I reached out for forgiveness.
I reached out for help,
to become a better person.

I lost my wife.
I lost my children.
I lost my home.
I lost many friends.
I lost my job.
I lost possessions.
I was threatened.
I was cast out.
I was gossiped about.
I was rejected and despised.
I didn't know who I could trust.

There was no way to make amends.

I was told that
felons and prisoners would
have looked down upon me,
and probably killed me if
they had been given the opportunity.

Some believed I was deserving of
greater loss and pain.
Without mercy, I agreed,
and I became my most effective and relentless critic.

It was too much to bear.
It was more than can be humanly endured or comprehended.
Sometimes I would get dizzy
just thinking about my circumstances.

Life no longer had meaning.

The puzzle pieces of my life
had broken into little
glass shards that hurt
to touch.

The pieces were broken
and I could not put them
back together again.

But I was not alone.
I had not been completely abandoned.

The God who rescued Joseph
from the pit, from prison, and from death rescued me.

The God of Avraham, Yitz'chak, and Ya'akov rescued me from the muddy pit.
Like Nebuchadnezzar, I looked to heaven and my mind was restored.

Adonai sent messengers and servants to treat me with kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness.

Adonai has become my salvation.
HaShem has comforted me.
El Shaddai watches over me.

Despite everything,
I still have hope.


Additional Readings:
Being rescued from the pit: Psalms 30:3, Psalms 40:2-4, Ezekiel 16:6, 9
Nebuchadnezzar's sanity restored: Daniel 4:34
Repentance and God's forgiveness: Psalms 32
God's restoration and mercy: Job 33
Being hard pressed on all sides but not crushed: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9


Sometimes our circumstances are beyond our own ability to comprehend or handle. At these times, our faith can give us strength and hope. Faith can help us rebuild when we don't know where to start. The Faith Series of Resource Groups respectfully provides information about various faith communities and perspectives. Please let us know if there is any way we can be an encouragement to you.

For more information on the Faith Series of Resource Groups, visit:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

4. JEWISH LIFE

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

A friend of mine had his Bar Mitzvah this past Friday evening. Normally, the Bar Mitzvah is celebrated at age 13, but my friend didn't discover Judaism until he was an adult. During the week I had planned to stop by and deliver a small gift, but the gift I had in mind was not available in stores (or on TV). I wanted to give him a framed copy of the prayer "Adon Olam" which is a Jewish prayer often sung at morning prayer times and on Friday evenings for Shabbat.

I found a nice stone frame and typed up the prayer on my computer in a special font. During the week, I went to visit my friend and deliver the gift. When I handed him the gift, as soon as he saw the title, his face had an expression of astonishment and without a word he began searching around the room for something.

He brought me a book that he had just finished reading. The concluding words of the book were the words of this prayer. He had been thinking about the prayer the day I came to visit. So it was quite a coincidence.

Here are the words of the prayer.

"Adon Olam"

Master of the World 
who was king, before any form was created.
At the time when He made all through His will,
then His name was called 'King'.
And after all is gone, He, the Awesome One, 
will reign alone.
And He was, and He is, and
He will be in splendor.
And He is One, and there is no second,
to compare to Him or be His equal.
Without beginning, without end, 
to Him is the power and rulership.
And He is my God and my living Redeemer,
and the Rock of my fate in times of distress.
He is my banner and He is a refuge for me,
my portion on the day I cry out,
In His hand I entrust my spirit, 
when I sleep and when I wake.
And my soul shall remain with my body,
HaShem is with me and I am not afraid.


You can find more information about Jewish Life online at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/jewishlife/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

5. CHRISTIANS FOR JUDAISM

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

We are thankful for the positive response that Christians for Judaism has received from people around the world. We feel this Resource Group provides a very valuable service. Within Christianity today there continues to be a lack of appreciation or a lack of understanding regarding Judaism. Considering that Jesus was Jewish, it is hard to understand why there would be anti-Semitism or anti-Jewish sentiments within Christianity. Christians for Judaism presents Judaism from a New Testament perspective in a way that Christians can understand and appreciate.

There is now a beautiful brochure available titled "What advantage is there in being a Jew?" which presents a very persuasive defense of the Jewish faith from a Christian perspective. Christians will be challenged to rethink their view of the faith that was so meaningful to Jesus.

Sherman, from Maryland writes, "We got 'What advantage is there in being a Jew' in today's mail. Where do I sign?! I like the idea of giving the brochure to missionaries as a 'thoughtful gift'!"

We want to thank Sherman and others who have responded to the brochure. Yes, the brochure does tend to perplex Mormon's and other missionaries, and it's guaranteed to keep your doorbell from ringing (from unexpected visitors) for months on end. These brochures are available free for the asking, and membership to Christians for Judaism is also free.

Visit Christians for Judaism online at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/christiansforjudaism/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

6. MESSIANIC LIFE

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

The Messianic Faith is a unique expression of Christianity which adopts and embraces many Jewish traditions and beliefs. For this reason, it appears to offer a balanced, authentic, and reasonable response to the life and teachings of Jesus.

We recently helped develop a mirror portal page for Come to Zion Ministry in Israel. You can visit the mirror portal page online at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/friends/cometozion/

For more information about Messianic Life, visit:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/messianiclife/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

7. CHRISTIAN LIFE

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

I was recently sitting in someone's office and my attention was drawn to a fascinating looking book on the desk. As I looked at the cover of the book, I saw the author's name and realized it was a book written by a friend of mine.

The book, which was just released last week, is titled, "The War" and the author is Brad Sherman of Purpose Ministries.

At the time of this writing I'm only a few pages into the book, but it has been very interesting reading so far. I really like writings that challenge us to re-evaluate our beliefs and consider how we came to believe what we believe. It is especially interesting to consider how it is that Christians have come to believe things that aren't in the Bible or that are contrary to the Bible. How did these beliefs come to be? This book is a fascinating look at the role and responsibility of Christianity in our world today. Here are some excerpts from the book that will give you an idea of its content:

"It may surprise you to know that of the 255 times the word 'heaven' is used in the New Testament, not once is it used in the context of going to heaven. Most of us need to adjust our way of thinking about heaven, the kingdom, and our purpose as Christians. Consider this statement: 'One day Jesus will come and take all Christians to heaven to live eternally with Him.' Is it true or false? Most Christians would read over such a statement and never consider that it might be false, but it is! Did you know that the Bible never teaches that we are going to live in heaven eternally or that heaven is our ultimate goal? . . . All Christians are familiar with 'the Lord's Prayer' (see Matthew 6:10). It is a model prayer that Jesus used to teach His disciples how to pray. In this prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven. Again, our focus should therefore be on seeing the kingdom of heaven come on earth. Nevertheless, modern Christianity has focused on getting to heaven, while biblical Christianity is focused on getting heaven here." (from Chapter 1, The Gospel of the Kingdom, page 1)

". . . expecting to leave this world behind, they (Christians) take little or no responsibility for the condition of the world and are often found waiting instead of working." (from the Preface)

"We read, 'And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom' (Matthew 9:35). We have preached the gospel, but have we preached the gospel of the kingdom? Most presentations of the Christian message say little if anything about the coming kingdom of God. However, Jesus came preaching, not the gospel, but the gospel of the kingdom of God (see Luke 4:43). This was the central focus of His message. . . . If we don't preach the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel we do preach is likely to become another gospel, a self-centered, self-serving gospel. It will be a gospel that does not serve the purpose of God or hasten His coming. . . . God is working in partnership with man - He always has. The coming of the kingdom is no different. The kingdom won't just come while we sit by and wonder when. . . . The coming of the literal kingdom of God on earth was the primary topic that Jesus preached. It was Jesus' parting topic for forty days after the resurrection until He ascended (see Acts 1:3). It was also the topic the disciples preached (see Acts 8:12; 28:31)." (from Chapter 1, The Gospel of the Kingdom, page 6)

Endorsement:
". . . the Spirit of God is speaking through His servants today, drawing our attention to neglected truths, and we must have a listening, discerning ear. Brad's book is one of those current messages. An old truth which was long buried under church tradition and carnal reasoning is here clothed with new garments." - Reuven Doron from Jerusalem, Israel (of Embrace Israel).

To obtain a copy of the book, or for more information, visit Purpose Ministries online at:
http://www.getpurpose.org/

You can visit Christian Life online at:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/christianlife/


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

8. THANK YOU

[Contents | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

Many thanks to all of you who provide support and encouragement. Let me know if there is any way I can serve you better.


Sincerely,
Gregory



SUBSCRIBE
If you have received this e-mail from a friend and want to subscribe to
have it sent directly to your e-mail address, send a blank e-mail message
to: Resourcesforlifenews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


UNSUBSCRIBE
If you would no longer like to receive our monthly updates, please send
a blank e-mail message to: Resourcesforlifenews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

This page complies with Planning & Development Standards - Revision 20010209fr1010

Please use the QuickLinksİ below to jump to another location. [Index | Top of Page]

QuickLinks to Resources for Life Destinations
| Resources for Life Home | About Resources for Life | What's New  | Map |
| Technology Services Group | Life University | Resource Groups |
| Search | MegaLinksİ | News Room | Direct Shopping | Merchant Links |
| Our Monthly e-News | Online Community | Feedback & Guest Book |

Contacting Resources for Life
Postal: P.O. Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717 USA
E-Mail:
Internet: www.resourcesforlife.com

Copyright İ 1964-2002 Resources for Life | Revised: Friday, 21 March 2003 11:11:36 Central Time US