Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Activated January 2010
Activated January 2010
Vol 11 • Issue 1
PUZZLE PIECES
Sorting out the year ahead
Got Potential?
How to do more and be more
have what it takes to turn our dreams into reality. And we’re usually Activated India
P.O. Box 5215
right about that. We can make some changes by sheer willpower or G.P.O.
working harder, like reaching a new sales quota or dropping a dress Bangalore – 560 001
or pants size. But what about the bigger changes, the changes inside India
that we know would make us happier and better people? It’s that Email: activatedIndia@activated.org
kind of change that is often most elusive. Activated Philippines
We’re not good enough, we tell ourselves. We have too many P.O. Box 1147
Antipolo City P.O.
flaws and make too many mistakes. We’ve tried and failed too many 1870 Antipolo City
times. What’s the use? It’s just not in us! If that’s the way you feel, Philippines
this issue of Activated contains some very good news for you. Cell: (0922) 8125326
Jesus summed it up simply when He said, “With men it is impos- Email: activatedPI@activated.org
sible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”1 The Activated Australia
+61 2 8011 4345
secret lies in putting ourselves in God’s hands and letting Him do
Email: info@activated.org.au
the impossible for us and through us and sometimes in spite of us. www.activated.org.au
We may be small and weak and incapable, but there is a very big,
Editor Keith Phillips
strong, capable God just waiting to give us a hand. With His help,
Design Yoko Matsuoka
it’s easier than you ever imagined to make those “impossible” chang-
Production Jessie Richards
es in yourself.
© 2009 Aurora Production AG
www.auroraproduction.com
Keith Phillips All Rights Reserved
2
life’s editing
By Scott Montrose
I had struggled with and more objectively. The edited go through the editing process.
overcome the demons of version was indeed better. The God sees in each of us that spark
self-doubt and fear of central idea I wanted to convey of promise, like the editor spots a
failure, launched out was still there, the imagery promising thought as he scans the
into the deep, put pen was intact, and the tone was rough drafts that cross his desk.
to paper, and written my unchanged, but the superfluous Then God works to transform us
first short inspirational parts had been cut to get to the step by step into a finished article
piece. heart of the piece. that will make worthwhile read-
I sat back and read it through As I contemplated this, my eye ing. Our substance is reshaped
several times. Pleased with my caught a picture of a diamond repeatedly by the choices and
modest effort, I submitted the ring in a magazine lying open on decisions we make, the superficial
piece to a monthly magazine for my table. I thought about how and superfluous bits are purged
possible publication. someone had mined the chunk through life’s trials, and we are
Some time later the magazine’s of rock that had contained that fine-tuned and polished through
editor contacted me, saying he diamond, and about the skilled our daily interaction with others.
would like to print my article. He hands of the lapidary that had Like my roughly penned story,
also enclosed an edited draft for transformed that diamond in in the hands of the Great Editor
my approval or further revision. the rough into a thing of beauty, my life has become more than it
Edited! As I sat and stared at “my” highly valued and greatly desired. was to begin with—and He’s not
work, now before me in edited Like a diamond trapped in a done yet.
form, a strange mix of feelings chunk of rock, my rough piece
swept over me. I had seen myself had not been the final product. Scott Montrose is a member
as an up-and-coming writer, but The diamond had been there, but of the Family International in
that image vanished like a mirage it had taken other skilled hands the Middle East.1
in a gathering sandstorm. to retrieve, cut, and polish it.
After the initial shock subsided, Life is like this too. We are
I tried to think about the situation created as rough drafts that must
3
Perfect Love
By Maria Fontaine
These are a few of the words that foresight and wisdom, knew this but also modern and current.
come to mind when I think about and chose to love us with no It’s always. Even before we knew
Jesus’ love for each of us: Perfect. strings attached. Him, He loved us. He has loved
Free. Unconditional. Everlasting. His love is unconditional. He us from the very beginning of
His love is perfect. It is the doesn’t only love us through the time, and He will love us through-
only thing in the world that is good times. out eternity.
absolutely perfect. There are a lot He doesn’t just love us when Being confident in how much
of things that are nice, beautiful, we’re happy, progressing in the Jesus loves you won’t just make
and wonderful, but nothing is school of life‚ or making a positive you happier; it will be a stabiliz-
perfect like His love. We live in an difference in the lives of others. ing force in your life. When you
imperfect world, with imperfect He loves us when we’re up and are assured of His love for you,
humans, in imperfect conditions, when we’re down. He loves us when you trust and believe in it,
but His love is what makes it pos- when we’re well and when we’re then that knowledge will steady
sible for us to weather everything sick. He loves us when we do and give you peace, even when
that life brings our way. He is things worthy of His praise, and you face disappointments, heart-
perfect, and so is His love. He loves us even when we do breaks, difficulties, or anything
His love is free. It’s not some- things that sadden Him. To think else that life sends your way. His
thing that we have to work for, or that there isn’t even one condition love is strong enough to see you
earn‚ or somehow prove that we’re to His love is truly amazing! through anything. It’s durable,
worthy of. That’s a good thing, His love is everlasting. It’s not dependable, and forever!
too, because we all sin and make something that will be here one
mistakes. If we had to earn Jesus’ day and gone the next. Jesus’ love Maria Fontaine and her
love, none of us would have it, will not expire or fade. It can’t be husband, Peter Amsterdam,
because we’re all men and women stolen or forfeited. It doesn’t get are the administrative and
of similar weaknesses and human old with the times or go out of spiritual overseers of the
frailties. Jesus, in His divine style. It’s traditional and historic, Family International. 1
4
got potential?
By Peter Amsterdam
5
puzzle pieces
By Nyx Martinez
When everyone lit Then one day, a package arrived I hesitated, but eventually gave
fireworks at the stroke of in the mail. Along with clothes and in. “Okay, we’ll do it together,” I
midnight on New Year’s Eve, did chocolates, my aunt had sent me said. “It’s easy!”
you celebrate in vibrant cheer? a child’s puzzle. Amused, I laid it I had intended for RJ to color
Or did the clock’s chime bring aside to give to my little brother. the picture before he took the
a kind of melancholy as you When four-year-old RJ saw puzzle apart, but he hadn’t. The
silently pondered the future? it, he excitedly took the box into pieces were a mess of black and
As the shouts of “Happy another room to open. Soon, white lines that didn’t seem to
New Year” rang out, was it a though, he was back—and he was fit together. But RJ wouldn’t be
joyful moment for you? Or was in a frenzy. deterred.
it tinged with anxiety about the “The puzzle has no picture!” he I showed him how to find the
future? exclaimed. “You have to draw the corner pieces first, then the edges,
Last year, it was all a little picture!” and then to hunt for pieces where
hazy to me. We clinked our “What?” elements of the picture were
glasses and toasted one another “The puzzle has no picture!” RJ recognizable—eye pieces over here
with the usual buzz of a New repeated. with nose pieces, leaf pieces with
Year’s celebration, but as I tossed Looking closer, I realized it was flower pieces, etc.
in my bed later, I wondered what one of those do-it-yourself puzzles, Bit by bit, it started to come
was in store for me. and so, at RJ’s insistence, I drew a together.
I was excited about many picture on the not-yet-disassem- I watched as RJ slowly found
future prospects; I knew that bled puzzle. He was overjoyed. and fitted each puzzle piece into
change was in the air. I was on Just when I thought he would its proper place. He sometimes
a high and a low at the same leave me alone, RJ said, “Now you shook his head in frustration.
time, and while on the verge of have to help me do it!” Other times he threw up his
making decisions, couldn’t quite He scattered the pieces on hands in exasperation and said
come to any. the floor, raked them into a pile, aloud, “Aw, that doesn’t go here!”
The following days of uncer- spread them out again, and sat And each time he was con-
tainty stretched into a week, then there, arms crossed, cheerfully vinced there was something wrong
two. I pondered, procrastinated, confident that I would do the work with the puzzle itself. Time and
and prayed. A lot. To no avail. for him. again I had to reassure him that
6
the pieces would indeed all fit of frustration that I didn’t know
together once he had each one in what went where. And there
the right place. He was, all the time reassuring
“It’s all part of the same pic- me that it was going to be okay,
ture,” I would say. “We just need that all the pieces would come
to find where it goes.” together. He could be certain of
It took a half hour before the that because He was the artist I understood that
picture of a cat playing in a garden who had drawn it. It would take
was completed, but when it finally time and I would have to be I was like a little
was, a look of smug satisfaction patient, but when all the pieces
spread across RJ’s face. were finally in place, I too would child, trying to
I was smiling too, because right smile with satisfaction.
then I understood that I was like And that’s just what happened. sort out the puzzle
a little child, trying to sort out the With a few more hints from Jesus,
puzzle pieces of my life, getting a few days before I sat down to pieces of my life,
confused and frustrated, wanting write this story, the pieces all
to say I couldn’t do it. came together. getting confused
All those pieces are part of the Today I look at the puzzle of
same puzzle, whispered a gentle the next year, and I am excited! and frustrated,
inner voice that I have come to Things are already beginning to
recognize as Jesus’. We just need to fall into place. I’m sorting the wanting to say I
find where they go. corners and the edges. I’m seeing
Just as I had sat with my little something unfold before my eyes. couldn’t do it.
brother, hinting where pieces I have learned that all the pieces
would fit, Jesus would sit with me are needed.
as I sorted out this pile called my And yes, it’s going to be a
future. beautiful picture.
There I was, trying to get
rid of parts that didn’t seem to Nyx Martinez is a member of
make sense, crying out in a fit the Family International in
the Philippines. 1
7
NOW AND FOREVER
By Maria Fontaine
N E W Y E AR , N E W YO U
“I have come that you may have life,” Jesus said, “and that you may have it more
abundantly.”1 And He wasn’t talking only about eternal life in heaven. If you have
received Jesus, things you never dreamed possible are possible for you right here
and now! In fact, anything is possible. 2 With His help, you can reach goals that
have eluded you and overcome bad habits and weaknesses that have held you
back.
His power is unlimited, 3 but He needs your cooperation. How much and how
quickly you change depends largely on how much you desire it, how much you
ask for His help, and how much you depend on Him. It’s not a matter of trying to
bring about the change yourself through willpower or self-effort, but rather of
learning to let Jesus do the work. You do that by spending time with Him, reading 1. John 10:10
His Word and meditating on it, and then applying it as you go about your day. 2. Mark 9:23
Jesus promises, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what 3. Matthew 28:18
you desire, and it shall be done for you.”4 Now that is power to change! 4. John 15:7
9
11 Tips Making Resolutions Realities
10
Seize the Day!
One of the most tragic things I You had better live your best G O FO R G O LD I N 2010
know about human nature is that and act your best and think your By the apostle Paul, writing from
all of us tend to put off living. We best today; for today is the sure the 1st century
are all dreaming of some magi- preparation for tomorrow and all
cal rose garden over the horizon the other tomorrows that follow. In a race everyone runs, but only
instead of enjoying the roses that —Harriet Martineau one person gets first prize. So
are blooming outside our windows run your race to win.1
today. I, not events, have the power
—Dale Carnegie to make me happy or unhappy I do not count myself to have
today. I can choose which it shall apprehended [attained]; but
The only limits to the possibili- be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow one thing I do, forgetting those
ties in your life tomorrow are the hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one things which are behind and
“buts” you use today. day, today, and I’m going to be reaching forward to those
—Les Brown happy in it. things which are ahead, I press
—Groucho Marx toward the goal for the prize of
Learn from yesterday, live for the upward call of God in Christ
today, hope for tomorrow. Never let yesterday use up too Jesus. 2
—Albert Einstein much of today.
—Will Rogers Let us lay aside every weight, and
What is not started today is never the sin which so easily ensnares
finished tomorrow. I am not afraid of tomorrow, for us, and let us run with endurance
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe I have seen yesterday and I love the race that is set before us,
today! looking unto Jesus, the author
Today is a most unusual day, —William Allen White and finisher of our faith. 3
because we have never lived it
before; we will never live it again; The best preparation for tomor-
it is the only day we have. row is doing your best today.
—William A. Ward —H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Build to-day, then, strong and sure, Light tomorrow with today!
With a firm and ample base; —Elizabeth Barrett Browning
And ascending and secure
Shall to-morrow find its place.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1. 1 Corinthians 9:24 TLB
(“The Builders”) 2. Philippians 3:13–14
3. Hebrews 12:1–2
11
FEEDING READING
The Dawn of a New Year Changing for the better
Andrew Mateyak is a member of the Family Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for
International in the Philippines. 1 me. Please forgive me for all the wrongs I
have done. I now open the door of my heart
1. Romans 8:28 and I ask You to come in. Give me Your gift of
2. Psalm 37:4–5 eternal life, fill me with Your love, and help me
become all I can be. Amen.
12
PARENTING
FROM THE HEART “Sorry-ness”
By Josie Clark
13
The Seasons
of Life
A meditation on Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
By Abi F. May
To everything there is a season, a time “To you who fear My name the
for every purpose under heaven… Sun of Righteousness shall arise
Thank You, God, for the seasons with healing in His wings.”
of my life, each having its own —Malachi 4:2
special beauty.
“This is the day the Lord has A time to break down, and a time to
made; we will rejoice and be glad in build up…
it.”—Psalm 118:24 There have been disappointments
and losses; thank You for how they
A time to be born, and a time to die… have made room for better things.
Thank You for the gift of life, and “We know that all things work
thank You that one day I will pass together for good to those who love
from this life to the next, carried God.”—Romans 8:28
onwards through Your love.
“My times are in Your hand.” A time to weep, and a time to laugh…
—Psalm 31:15 Thank You for seasons of sorrow
and of joy, for the sunshine that
A time to plant, and a time to pluck is even more appreciated after a
what is planted… storm.
Thank You for both success and “Weeping may endure for a night,
failure; experience is a hard but but joy comes in the morning.”
faithful teacher. —Psalm 30:5
“The steps of a good man are
ordered by the Lord. Though he fall, A time to mourn, and a time to
he shall not be utterly cast down; dance…
for the Lord upholds him with His Thank You that despite the
hand.”—Psalm 37:23–24 sadness I feel at the loss of loved
ones, I have the enduring comfort of
A time to kill, and a time to heal… knowing they are happy in heaven
Thank You for the sicknesses and we will be together again.
and other troubles that You have “You have turned for me my
allowed in my life, so that I could mourning into dancing.”
rely more on You. Thank You for —Psalm 30:11
bringing me through them all.
14
A time to cast away stones, and a time A time to tear,1 and a time to sew…
to gather stones… Even when I go astray, You never
Thank You for changes, which withdraw Your love. Your mercy and
remind me that You are the one forgiveness make me want to do
constant in my life. better.
“[Nothing] shall be able to “If we confess our sins, He is
separate us from the love of God faithful and just to forgive us our
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” sins and to cleanse us from all
—Romans 8:38–39 unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:9
15
FROM JESUS WITH LOVE