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9APRIL2012BODYOFCHRISTNEWSGod.JerusalemisnotonlyanhistoriccitywhichhasforcenturiesbeenthecenterofthelifeofthenationofIsraelandinfactthecenterofthebibli-calrecorditisalsoasymboliccity.JerusalemisalsousedinapictorialsensethroughouttheScriptures.WhatitpicturesistheplacewhereGoddesirestodwell.WhenthecitywasfirstdesignatedtoKingDavidastheplacewhereGodwantedhimtobuildthetemplehewastoldthatthiswastheplacewhereGodwoulddwellamonghispeople.JerusalemthereforethroughouttheOldandNewTestamentshaspicturedtheplacewhereGodseekstodwell.Howeveritisonlyapicture--itisnottheactualplacewhereGoddwellsforaccordingtotheNewTestamentmanistobethedwellingplaceofGod.Godseekstodwellinthehumanspirit.Thatisthegreatsecretthathuman-ityhaslargelylosttodaybutwhichNewTestamentChristianityseekstorestore.TheApostlePaulsgreatstate-mentinthelettertotheColossiansisChristinyouthehopeofgloryColossians127.ThisisGodsprovi-sionanddesireforman.Jerusaleminruinsthereforeisapictureofalifethathaslostitsdefens-esagainstattackandliesopentorepeatedhurtandmisery.Ifyouareatallacquaintedwiththeworldinwhichwelivetodayyouwillknowthateverytimeyouturnyourtelevisiononyouareexposedtothehurtandmiseryofpeoplewhosewallshavebeenbrokendown.Jerusaleminruinsisavividpictureoftheirdangeranddespair.ThebookofNehemiahdepictsthewayofrecoveryfrombreakdownandruintoaconditionofpeacesecurityrestoredorderandusefulness.Itisthestoryofanewbeginning.TraditionallyNewYearsDayisthedayonwhichwereviewourlives.WeexamineourwallsandourgatesasitwerereflectingonthedamageanddestructionthatmayhaveoccurredandweresolvetodobetterintheNewYear.ThispracticeofmakingNewYearsresolutionshaslargelyfallenoutofstylehowever.Itusedtobequitecommonbutithasfallenintoneglect.Peoplebreaktheirresolutionssoquicklytheyhavegivenupmakingthemorelsetheyhavegoneinforratherfoolishsillythingslikegivingupeatingicecreaminbedorwearingovershoesorsomethingelseeasytodoortostop.ButthisisthedaywhenwetraditionallyresolvetodobetterandsoisappropriatetobeginningthestudyofthebookofNehemiah.Ireadofarecentsurveytakenofabout200peoplewhohadmadeNewYearsresolutionslastyearsincerelyresolvingtodobetterincertainareasoftheirlives.ButthesurveyrevealedthatbytheendofJanuaryhalfofthemhadbrokentheirresolutionsentirelyandnoneofthe200madeitthroughthefirstyearThiswouldprobablybethesamestoryformostofus.Thereasoniswhenyouresolvetodobetteryouaredepend-inguponyourownwillpowertocarryitthrough--andwillpoweriswhatmostofuslack.Wefinditmorecomfortabletogobacktotheoldhabits.InNehemiahwelearnthereasonwhyitisdifficulttokeepNewYearsresolutionswhythereissomuchfail-ureinthisarea.ItisbecauseifImayputitveryclearlyrightatthebegin-ningthereisnorecognitionofGodasanecessarypartoftheprocessThemostwidespreadsecularillusionofourdayisthatwedonotneedGodtodowhatwewanttodo.Wethinkwecanfunctionquiteadequatelywithouthim.ItisamazingtomehowmanyChristiansliveonthatbasis.IfindinmyownlifetendenciestodependuponmyselftodocertainthingsandtoignoretheneedforGodinthisprocess.ThebookofNehemiahisdesignedtoteachusthatonlywithGodshelpcanweactuallychangeourselvesandrecoverfromthedamageandruinofthepast.LetusprayFatherweprayaswebeginthisjourneyintothebookofNehemiahyouwillcomeandrestorethebrokenwallsofourlives.TheHolySpiritwillhaveHiswayinrebuildingusandrestoringustotheplacewhereourreproachwillbetakenawayandyourgloryberevealedonceagaininourlives.InJesusx19namewepray.GREATESTNEED...frompage8SuperintendentMartinH.PhillipstoleadfirstDivineLoveDistrictMeetingTheColoradoJurisdictionundertheleadershipofBishopRooseveltDunnpresentsanothergreatSuperintendentMartinH.PhillipsSr.whowasespeciallyselectedtoserveovertheDivineLoveDistrict.SuperintendentPhillipswhowasrecentlyappointedtotheofficeofDistrictSuperintendentleadshisfirstDistrictMeetingfortheDivineLoveDistrict.TheDivineLoveDistrictisanewdistrictandisBishopRooseveltDunnx19svisionofgrowthandexpansionfortheColoradoJurisdictionChurchofGodInChrist.SuperintendentPhillipsFirstLadyPhilipsandDistrictMissionaryLavernMillsarepleasedtobethefrontrunnersofthedistrictandfeelprivilegedtohosttheirfirstannualdistrictmeeting.SuperintendentPhillipschoseMissionaryLavernMillsforhisDistrictMissionaryoftheDivineLoveDistrictWomenx19sDepartment.DistrictMissionaryMillsexpressesx1cIamdeep-lyhonoredtohavebeenchosentoservewiththismostoutstandinglead-er.Heisaprofoundleaderofvisionandinnovation.IamexcitedabouttheDivineLoveDistrictandthetrans-formingmoveofGodintheDistrict.x1dTheDivineLoveDistrictMeetingwillconveneSundayApril22throughFridaythe27th700PMnightly.SuperintendentMartinH.PhillipsFirstLadyJoycePhillipsandDistrictMissionaryLavernMillsinvitethecommunitytocomeoutandcelebratewiththeminworshipandpraise.TheDistrictMeetingwillbehostedatthedistrictheadquartersDivineLoveChristianCenterChurchofGodInChristlocatedat10690DelMarParkwayAuroraCO.80010.