Studio G Magazine - Fall 2005

LESSONS I LEARNEDFROM SUPERMAN

STOP WAITING FOR CONFIDENCESTEP OUT WITH COURAGE

THE PERFECT AB WORKOUT

ORGANIZATIONALLYCHALLENGED?6MYTHS ABOUT

MONEY

FINANCES GOT YOU WORRIED?

EDITORIAL:Debbie Morris, Editor-in-Chief

Stacy Pack, Editorial Director

S. George Thomas, Editor

Loresha Worley, Circulation Director

Gelson Rocha, Creative Director

Katrina Sirmon, Graphic Designer

Gateway Media Services, Graphic Design

HOW TO CONTACT STUDIO G:STUDIO G

2121 E Southlake Blvd • Southlake, TX 76092

817.328.1000 • studiogmag.com

4 From the Editor by Debbie Morris

5 Family Busters by Joyce Simmons

6 Following God’s Call by Wilma Rummell

8 Altar Ego by Thomas Miller

12 Stop Waiting for Confi dence, Step Out with Courage by Jennifer Rothschild

14 Slice of Life by Laura Vice Byrne

15 Never Alone by Lenora Oldham

16 Somebody, Please Help Me! by Jeanne Preskenis

18 Order Over Chaos by Debbie Morris

20 I’ll Forgive You Over Your Dead Body by Terri Lugenheim

22 Miles Away from Ordinary by Linda Godsey

23 Fit 4 the Kingdom—Strengthening Your Core by Emily Gilstrap

by Lenora Oldham

16 Somebody, Please Help Me! by Jeanne Preskenis

18 Order Over Chaos by Debbie Morris

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From the Editor by Debbie Morris

Family Busters

STUDIO G CONTENTS

2121 E Southlake Blvd • Southlake, TX 76092Phone: 817.328.1000 • Fax: 817.416.5701

gatewaypeople.com

Hello Ladies!It’s time for Replenish again! I’ve been looking forward to this ever since last year’s conference

ended. As soon as our conference site cleared out, the planning team and I began to work

towards this year’s conference. I know you’re absolutely going to fall in love with Jennifer

Rothschild and Rita Springer. Each woman has a different style and focus, but they both share a

common love for God and His people.

Don’t you fi nd it discouraging when over the course of life, amidst our day-to-day activities,

we start feeling spiritually sluggish? It feels as though something is clogging our spiritual veins.

Worry, anger, resentment and lust clog the arteries which normally release life into our spiritual

beings. Gradually, the enemy’s wily schemes block and hinder essential elements from fl owing

freely. Our clogged arteries leave us lethargic and defenseless against attacks. Only the Great

Physician can perform surgery on our hearts and save us. My prayer to the Lord this year is drawn

from Psalm 51:10, “Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.”

I hope you will allow this year’s conference, as well as this issue of

Studio G, to minister to you. If any of the words written on

these pages should happen to touch your heart, stop and ask

the Lord to help you experience the vitality you once had in

your relationship with Him.

Blessings,

Debbie Morris

Editor-in-Chief

Debbie Morris has been married to Pastor Robert Morris for twenty-fi ve years. They are blessed with two children at home and one married son. Debbie is the Pastor of Gateway’s Women’s Ministries and is the Editor-in-Chief of Studio G.

FROM THE EDITORg

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ne of the easiest ways to cause stress and confl ict in your

family is by handling your fi nances improperly. God lays out

some pretty clear keys for fi nancial success; yet if we ignore

these principles we often fi nd ourselves jumping headfi rst into

the troubled waters of fi nancial woes and dragging our family

along with us.

The greatest reward of fi nancial freedom is gaining spiritual

perspective—knowing things here will not last forever.

Only what we do for God’s Kingdom will last for eternity.

Exhausting ourselves to pursue things and then searching to

fi nd some way to pay for them proves fruitless in the scope of

eternity.

by Joyce Simmons

In order to be fi nancially free, we must guard against

the following money myths:

• Money determines happiness.

• Money means success.

• Money is our ultimate security.

• Money is the answer to peace and contentment.

• Money makes our marriage or family life better.

• More money enables us to give more to God.

Joyce Simmons has been involved in women’s ministry for 27 years. She has authored several books that include Shared Joy is Double Joy and Selfl ess Love. Joyce, the mother of three and grandmother of six, is married and lives in Keller, Texas.

Talk about each one of these myths as a family and

understand how easily we can fall into the trap of believing

they’re true. With each point, discuss ways to recognize and

avoid falling into deception.

Remember, money is not good or bad—it is simply a tool.

However, when we use money unwisely, the stress of debt

can become one of the biggest family busters of all time!

ne of the easiest ways to cause stress and confl ict in your

family is by handling your fi nances improperly. God lays out

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FOLLOWINGGOD’S CALL by

Wilm

a Ru

mm

ell

IN PREPARATION FOR GATEWAY’S FIRST GLOBAL MINISTRY TRIP FOR WOMEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2006, I TRAVELED WITH A SMALL TEAM TO GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, TO EXPLORE THE CITY AND DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY.Founded by Spaniards in 1559,

Guanajuato is nestled in a beautiful valley

surrounded by majestic mountains about

200 miles northwest of Mexico City. With

its cobbled streets, stately cathedrals and

distinctive buildings, this gorgeous city is

Faffie Siekman de RomeroFirst Lady, State of Guanajuato

home for approximately 135,000 people.

Guanajuato was built upon the wealth

generated from silver mines. In fact, at

one time it supplied one-third of the

world’s silver supply.

Immediately upon arriving, we were

taken to Trigo y Miel, a church where

40 women leaders were waiting for us.

We had the opportunity to share about

persevering, believing and trusting in

a supernatural God, regardless of the

situation. Nearly all the ladies responded

to our call for prayer, and we had a

wonderful time of ministry. We gave the

women Spanish copies of Pastor Robert

Morris’ book, The Blessed Life, as well as

pink Gateway T-shirts. The women were

so thrilled and overjoyed with these

tokens of love.

The next day, God gave us another

ministry opportunity. This time it was

at El Cerezo prison. Every week for the

past five years, Trigo y Miel has provided

worship services, Bible studies and craft

workshops within the prison. Through

their efforts, half of the women in this

facility have received the Lord Jesus Christ

into their lives. During our meeting,

the women worshipped the Lord with

such joy and freedom. We concluded

our visit with a message of hope and

encouragement for the future. Upon our

departure, the prison captain asked for

an extra copy of the book we distributed

to the women so he could give one to his

wife.

After ministering at the local church

and community prison, I started

wondering if God had any other

opportunities for us. He did, and this

time my heart was touched like never

before. We had the opportunity to

meet Fernando Fernández Arriaga and

José Cruces Carrillo who direct the

Development of Family Integration (DIF)

in Guanajuato. They manage community

programs targeting the poor, and their

mission is to “eliminate the suffering

caused by extreme poverty and offer a

life with dignity.” As president of DIF,

the First Lady of Guanajuato, Faffie

Siekman de Romero, has been involved

in the creation and promotion of these

initiatives.

One of the programs offered by DIF is

“Mi Casa Diferente” (My Different House).

This program is specifically designed

for families currently living in extreme

poverty in cardboard boxes and tin-

roofed houses in the rural communities

of Guanajuato. DIF sends a social worker

to live in the community for a six-month

period in order to evaluate families.

Once a family qualifies for the program,

DIF provides them with construction

materials and technical support to

build the homes. The family, with their

neighbors’ help, constructs their own

home. In 2004, DIF was able to provide

1,508 homes. The waiting list for these

homes is long, because the primary

Wilma Rummell has been a member of Gateway Church with her husband, Richard, for the past five years, and is the mother of three beautiful children: Alexander, Katie and Joshua. She is the Ministry Trip Coordinator for the Women’s Ministries; she has served as a Life Group Leader and has helped the Women’s Ministries in countless ways.

challenge facing this ambitious project is

funding. The cost of one home is 18,000

pesos or approximately $1,800. Last year,

Gateway Church was able to provide

funding for eight homes.

In February of 2006, the women of

Gateway Church will have the opportunity

to impact the beautiful city of

Guanajuato. We will equip and encourage

local leaders, build homes, provide school

supplies for children, visit the prison

and so much more. There is so much to

be accomplished in this wonderful city.

Wouldn’t you like to get involved?

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by Thomas Miller

Being the red-blooded, all-American boy I was, my absolute favorite time of year during all of my “wonder years” was summer break—that time of year when all exercises of learning were suspended for the ultimate higher goal of

having fun! Waking up on the fi rst day of summer vacation, I experienced the most surreal feeling of freedom. I had the entire summer (which felt like an eternity) to do NOTHING!

Now, the one thing I looked forward

to more than anything else during

this break was church camp. In fact, it

was always THE highlight of my year.

I couldn’t wait for Camp Whitney to

start so I could be with some of my

best friends in the whole world, many

of whom I hadn’t seen since last year’s

camp. I loved being with my friends,

making new friends, and developing

new, uh, friendships with those of

the opposite gender. I anticipated

camp so much every year, I’d count

down the days (starting around Day

350) until the next camp rolled around. I

remember it all so clearly …

Finally, the fi rst day of camp is here! I

check into my dorm room, throw my beat-up

suitcase on the most comfortable-looking,

wire-framed bunk available, say “goodbye”

to my parents and immediately start

hanging out with all my friends. After an

afternoon of catching up, we all eat dinner

and go get cleaned up for the fi rst evening

service.

That evening, as I sit in the old chapel

building (without air conditioning), the

service begins with the camp director

welcoming us to another year of camp.

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by going to the altar? While the preacher

implores us to come, the God of all creation

speaks to me.

About two nervous minutes pass. Still, no

one goes to the altar. I know what I should

do, but I don’t want to look stupid. Finally,

after a few more moments of queasiness, I

surprise even myself by standing up,

walking past my friends and heading for

the altar.

As I kneel at the altar, I feel a sense of

peace and pleasure from God. I know I’ve

done the right thing. As I confess my sin

and my devotion to Him, God embraces me

with His love and grace.

Rising from the altar, I’m surprised to see

a lot my friends

also down at the

altar making things right with

God. You mean they were feeling

the same way?

Camp Whitney will always hold

a special place in my heart. It’s there

that the roots of my relationship with

God were given a strong foundation,

and I learned the truth of openly

confessing my devotion to God, even at

the risk of looking foolish.

In fact, I now view worship in the

same light as going forward to the

altar at that old country church camp

twenty years ago. Worship is meant for

God alone. It is openly confessing my

devotion to God, even at the risk of

looking foolish.

So the next time you want to kneel,

clap your hands, raise your hands, shout

or cry in the presence of God, don’t

worry about what others think. This act

of worship is for God alone. In fact, you

may even be surprised at how many

others join you.

Intermixed with the sound of whirling

ceiling fans, I hear her say that God is going

to do something amazing in our lives this

year at camp. At the moment, however, I’m

more interested in so many things other

than whether God does something amazing

in my life, although the thought does seem

quite intriguing. Next, the song leader

comes to the platform, sits down behind

his synthesizer (this is the ‘80s) and starts

leading us in the camp songs we’ve all

learned over the years.

After about twenty minutes of singing,

all of us sit and the preacher approaches

the pulpit. He begins by telling us we

shouldn’t wait until the end of the week to

“make things right” with God, but tonight,

the fi rst night of camp, is the absolute best

time to make sure our relationship with God

is in great condition. As he preaches, I feel

as though he’s speaking right to me. I know

this past year I haven’t been living for God.

Sure, I go to church on Sundays and youth

group on Wednesdays, but my day-to-day

life doesn’t refl ect a life surrendered to God.

As the message closes, the song leader

returns to his keyboard and softly begins to

play a song of surrender. With tremendous

humility, the preacher gets down on one

knee and pleads with us to come to the

altar and get things right with God.

As I sit there, my heart starts beating

faster and faster, my palms are sweating

(and not because of the heat) and my mind

is racing. Here’s my dilemma: Do I stay in

my chair and completely ignore everything

I’m feeling right now or do I risk making

a fool of myself in front of all my friends

Thomas Miller is the Executive Worship Pastor at Gateway Church. Before coming to Gateway, he founded the School of Worship and the Arts at Christ For the Nations Institute (CFNI) in Dallas, Texas. Thomas is the blessed husband of Mary Beth (whom he did not meet at church camp) and the proud father of Harrison.

I knowwhat Ishoulddo, butI don’twant to

lookstupid.

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gate·way (gāt´wā’) n. Something that serves as an entrance or a means of access.

connecting people into authentic community

Wherever you are in your journey of life, there’s a place for you at Gateway Church!

fu·sion (fyōō´zhәn) n. The act of coming together; the merging or blending of two or more things.

Dive into friendship and fun through Fusion Groups. These groups are your springboard to connecting with others who share your interests or hobbies. Choose from numerous small groups with diverse interests such as arts & crafts, business, drama, fitness, health, movies, music, nutrition, pets, sports and many more! You name it, and we’ve probably got a Fusion Group for it. If you’ve got a hobby, an interest or just something you’re absolutely crazy about and you’d love to meet others at Gateway who share your passion, find your place in a Fusion Group. The ideas are endless! The possibilities are limitless!

Contact » [email protected]

men·tor·ing (mĕn´tôr’ing´) v. To give wise and trusted advice; to act as a counselor or teacher.

Mentoring takes place when a person of experience helps someone discover more about themselves, their potential and their capability. Mentors lead through positive role modeling, help to make informed decisions, give confidence by walking alongside and provide opportunities for growth and development. Through active involvement, a mentor offers support, guidance and assistance through difficult times or during new challenges. If you have a desire to learn how to apply biblical principles to your everyday life, get involved in one of our Mentoring Groups!

Contact » [email protected]

life (līf) n. A source of vitality; an animating force; the quality that distinguishes the living from the dead.

The scriptural formula for a church is simple, yet powerful. Celebrate Jesus with the crowd. Come together for relationships and ministry in small groups. Love one another. Serve one another. Use your gifts and abilities to bless others. This is our vision for Life Groups. This is our passion at Gateway Church. Life Groups generally range between three to fifteen members. They meet weekly in area homes, restaurants and businesses. Life Groups incorporate worship, fellowship, teaching, discussion and prayer so you can mature and grow as a Christian. Join one of our many Life Groups today!

Contact » [email protected]

prayer (prâr) n. An act of communion with God.

At Gateway Church, we’re passionate about prayer. We’re not simply a church that prays—we are a praying church. It’s the heart of our DNA. It’s who we are. We are all called to bear each other’s burdens through prayer. However, we’re not all called to pray identically. God gives us each different, but equally vital, burdens to bear. We want prayer to play an essential role in your everyday life. Prayer Groups help you identify your burdens and connect you with others who share your same passion. Come be a part of a Prayer Group. Get involved. Your life will be changed forever!

Contact » [email protected]

For months I fought the urge to wear

the same style of clothes I’d worn for

the past decade. Not that there was

anything wrong with these clothes, it

was just time for a little adjustment.

The old wardrobe needed a little lift, a

little spice. It was time to step out!

You see, I was getting in a rut. I

owned four safe and traditional suits.

They were actually all identical, except

for the colors. And even the colors weren’t very adventurous:

black, gray, brown and you guessed it … the ever-exciting navy

blue! So, at the urging of my most honest and loyal friends, I

went shopping. That’s when I discovered I not only had a fashion

crisis, but also an identity crisis. I had no idea what to buy! I had

no idea what to wear!

I wasn’t sure how to update my style. The clothes my friends

brought into the fitting room were cheery, bold and colorful. As

only good friends can, each one reassured me that by nature I

was also cheery, bold and colorful! I could do this! I didn’t feel

much confidence in venturing out into the world of hot pink

and leather—especially when both were on the same piece of

clothing. But, I decided to be brave.

So, instead of gravitating to all the classic Jackie O. clothes

I would have normally chosen, I laid aside my insecurity and

added a splash of trendy J.Lo to my wardrobe. (My husband Phil

now calls me J.Ro!) Now, I’m the proud, yet slightly insecure,

owner of a pair of leather pants and a hot pink suede jacket.

Whew! I haven’t been brave enough to wear them out in

public yet, but I recently decided that I won’t wait until I feel

confident; instead, at the first available opportunity, I’m going

to slip my forty-year-old-self into those sassy pants and be

courageous! I will forge through my fashion crisis and turn my

insecurity into an adventure! In other words, I will have courage,

even if I don’t have confidence yet. Courage and confidence are

not the same thing, but I’m convinced we gain confidence when

we exercise courage. In our spiritual lives, many of us simply

wait for feelings of confidence to come before we exercise

courage. However, the Bible shows us countless examples of

those who had no confidence in the flesh, but they mustered up

their courage and did what brave believers do—they stepped

out! Do you think Abraham felt confident when he climbed Mt.

Moriah without a sacrifice? Did Yocheved feel totally confident

when she laid her precious baby, Moses, in a basket to float

down a river? We can all identify with how a grown-up Moses

wore his own lack of confidence on his sleeve when God asked

him to confront Pharaoh—he stuttered his way through all his

insecurities. God doesn’t require confidence; He only asks for

courage.

If we always wait for a feeling of confidence to settle in before

we step out, we can get stuck in a rut and grow stagnant in our

walk of faith. We have to be willing to get out of our comfort

zone. When we do, we find confidence—an amazing confidence

in God and in His promises.

When I step out, trust Him and kiss my comfort zones

goodbye, that is when I gain confidence. And so will you! Sisters,

God did not give us the spirit of timidity. Instead, He promised

us we can do all things through Christ. So

step out! Don’t let a minor identity crisis

keep you from walking by faith. Don’t wait to

feel confident in order to exercise courage.

God has given you all you need for life and

godliness. You, too, are cheery, bold and

colorful—live like it! As you do, you’ll find a

small risk is far more fun than a big rut.

“FOR WEWALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.” 2 Corinthians 5:7, NASB

STOP WAITING FOR CONFIDENCESTEP OUT WITH COURAGE

I WAS NEARINGTHE END

OF A FASHION

CRISIS!

Jennifer Rothschild will be

our guest speaker at Replenish

2005, Gateway Women’s

Conference, in September.

She lives in Missouri with her

husband, Phillip, and their

sons, Clayton and Connor. Not

only has Jennifer authored two

books, Lessons I Learned in

the Dark and Touched by His

Unseen Hand, she is also an

accomplished musician.

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SliceLifeof

Mama’s chocolate fudge is unsurpassed. It’s fall on the

fl oor, make you sass your grandmama, shout for joy

unsurpassed. I’ve eaten professionally and commercially-

prepared fudge in the candy shops of New Orleans, New

York, London and Paris and in an old Chocolate Factory

building in San Francisco, so I know what I’m talking

about. Everybody brags about the fudge produced in

their hometown. Those professional fudge-makers are

mere amateurs compared to my mama.

When Daddy was courting her after returning from

Japan at the end of World War II, she captured his heart

with her red hair and her fudge. She concocted a lot of

fudge on my grandmother’s butane-burning, cast-iron

stove, way out in the country on Grandpa’s rice farm. The

fudge was so intoxicating that Daddy thought Mama was

the best cook in South Louisiana. The truth is, the only

thing Mama knew how to cook was fudge, but Daddy

didn’t discover this until after they had been married for

a month and he couldn’t eat any more fudge. Try it out

yourself. I’m positive you’ll be shouting for joy when you

taste “Mama’s Chocolate Fudge” for the fi rst time!

by Laura Vice Byrne

Laura Vice Byrne and her husband, Greg, have been Gateway members for more than two years. They happily live only fi ve minutes from the church in Southlake. Laura leads a Women’s Life Group on Tuesday mornings.

Momma’s Chocolate Fudgeby Louise Vice

2/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa

3 cups sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups milk (Momma uses evaporated milk,not sweetened condensed milk.)

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in large, heavy sauce pan. Add

milk gradually. Mix thoroughly, bring to a bubbly boil on

high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium,

continue to boil without stirring until it reaches 234

degrees on a candy thermometer or forms a soft ball

when a small amount is dropped into cup of cold water.

Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla. Set pan in cold

water and cool to 110 degrees. Beat and stir until fudge

thickens. Pour and spread in lightly buttered pan. Cool.

Cut into pieces. Enjoy!2/

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S

Lenora Oldham is a graduate of Christ For the Nations Institute (CFNI) in Dallas where she received a Diploma of Practical Theology with a Music Minor. She holds a Certifi cate of Theology from Oral Roberts University and is also a licensed minister through the Fellowship of Ministers and Churches. Lenora and her husband, Matthew, have three children: Gabrielle, Michale and Ian. They attend Gateway Church and are actively involved in ministry.

Some people might say I had a tough

childhood. Growing up, I never knew

what it was like to have a “normal family.”

I was raised to believe in God, go to

church every time the doors opened and

live a moral life; but life at home was

far from normal. My father worked all

the time, not only to provide for our

family, but also to fi nd an escape from

the reality of life at home. My mother

had the mentality of an eleven-year-old

and was verbally abusive; two conditions

which left her unfi t to care for her

children.

Under the circumstances, I was forced

to become the “mommy” at a very

young age. My younger brother had the

privilege of being potty-trained by me

when I was three-years-old. As I grew

older, I continued to raise my brother,

clean the house, shop for groceries and

eventually balance the checkbook. It was

obvious we lived at poverty level, and

we grew used to kids making fun of us in

school. Although at times it was diffi cult

to bear the burdens of life, God was

always present.

One day, not too long ago, I was

thinking about my childhood and

wondering how my brother and I

survived without anyone to really care

for us. God reminded me that He was

the One providing and caring for us. He

reminded me of all the times during my

childhood when different people arrived

NEVER ALONEby Lenora Oldham

at our front door bringing food, clothing

and care.

As I headed into my teenage years,

another need surfaced—my own

bedroom. I was an eleven-year-old

girl having to share a bedroom with a

younger brother in a small, rundown

house. I remember consciously deciding

to pray every day for an entire month

that God would give us a new house. It

seemed like a total impossibility at the

time, since my father didn’t have any

money. However, when I came home

from school one day, my mother told

us someone had

contacted her

about moving into

a government-

funded home. We

went and looked

at it, and sure enough, it had three

bedrooms! I clearly remember my fi rst

night in our new home. I lay on my bed,

crying and thanking God for answering

my prayer.

You may ask, “So what’s your point?”

My point is simply this: God was with

me in the midst of it all. Although my

father wasn’t able to care for us like he

wanted, he did teach us to have faith in

God for whatever we needed. Thankfully,

I was saved at the age of three and

received the baptism of the Holy Spirit

when I was eleven. God alone enabled

me to overcome the many challenges I

faced while growing up. He was, and is,

my best friend and constant companion.

Whether it was food, clothing or just

the sheer ability to not lose hope, God

always provided everything I needed. It

was He who strengthened me and gave

me the tenacity to know that as long as I

had Him, I could do anything. He desires

to do the same for you. I encourage

you today to trust and rely on Him for

whatever you need because He is always

there for you.

“ … for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Hebrews 13:5, KJV

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“Somebody, please help me!” was the cry of my heart in 1988. I was

entering a unique phase of my life and I desperately needed some godly wisdom and vision. I was 38-years-old, my children were in high school and I knew the kids would soon be off on their own pursuing their own dreams. What was I supposed to do with my calling to be a mom, which seemed to be rapidly drawing to an end?

My husband’s vision was completely unlike mine, and this only

added to my need for godly wisdom. He was thrilled the children

were moving on and was expectantly ready for whatever God

had planned next in his life. In many ways he thought a new

life was beginning, and I thought my life was ending. It didn’t

take me long to realize my thinking needed to be realigned with

God’s.

At the time, we belonged to a non-denominational church in

Massachusetts, and I longed to fi nd an older woman from church

whom I could talk to, visit with and learn from. I couldn’t fi nd

any. Many of these “older women” felt they were done raising

their families, and they expressed their desire for the younger

SOMEBODY, PLEASE

HELP ME!by Jeanne Preskenis

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women to pick up the slack, so to speak. They wanted the

younger women to plan, teach, bring desserts and clean up for

the Bible studies. They seemed unapproachable, as though they

were part of a special club. I felt like a relationship with them

was off-limits for me; I didn’t want to bother them. And on top

of it, my mother was ill and couldn’t help me out either.

“Somebody, please help me!” continued to be the cry of my

heart. Soon I met two women, fi ve and ten years younger than

myself. We all desired the same thing—to live out God’s plan and

purpose for our lives. We started meeting at my kitchen table for

weekly Bible studies. As this continued, we realized something:

God viewed us as wives fi rst and mothers second. Children

eventually leave our homes, but our spouses remain. That’s how

we fi t into His design and plan. The more we studied, the more

God realigned our thinking to look at our lives as part of a much

bigger plan than we could ever imagine. Everywhere we turned,

He confi rmed His Word in us. It’s almost like God breathed a sigh

of relief when He saw His three little housewives getting the

picture.

During this time, I received a book about being a godly wife.

Our little group read and read that book and then turned around

and read it some more. I contacted the author and drove 100

miles to Boston to take her out for lunch and have her tell me

everything she knew. That was the beginning of a wonderful

mentoring relationship. I listened to her, checked things out with

the Word and acted on it. What an answer to prayer! The three

of us invited her into our lives to offer instruction as well as

correction. She always pointed us back to God’s Word and led us

towards an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Months later, our pastor’s wife asked us to lead the women’s

ministry in our church. Eventually some younger women started

Jeanne Preskenis attends Gateway Church with her husband, Mike, and is the proud mother of three married children and six grandchildren. Jeanne and Mike are marriage mentors with Marriage Ministries International, and she is an independent caregiver for the elderly.

coming

to us and

asking us to

mentor them. Months

turned into years. My children left the nest, and my life

took on a new job description. God wanted me to give to other

women what He had freely given to me through the light of His

word. I began teaching, planning, bringing desserts and cleaning

up. The surprising thing was that it became a pleasure and not a

chore.

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls …”

(2 Corinthians 12:15, NKJV). He is not done with my life yet.

There is no retirement for God’s “older women”—maybe a

change of job description, but no retirement.

“Train the young women to

love their husbands, to love

their children … that the word

of God be not blasphemed.”

Titus 2:4-5, ASV

Bible Fellowship Class 9:30 am | Sundays | Room 206

12:34 PrimeTime (50+) Singles Lunch 12:34 pm | 4th Sunday of each month | Location Varies

PrimeTime Excursion October 6–9 | Branson, Missouri

Global Ministries Trip for PrimeTime December 9–10 | Fort Worth Women’s Shelter

Night of Songs 6:30 pm | Sunday, December 11 | Gateway Church Auditorium

Global Ministries Trip for PrimeTime January 14–21, 2006 | Colima, Mexico

For more information on any of the PrimeTime events, contact Carol Roseat the church offi ce, 817.552.3636, or email [email protected].

PrimeTime Upcoming Events

I AM ORGANIZATIONALLY CHALLENGED.I lack the skills necessary to keep things in their

place. What’s worse, I really don’t care whether

these things have a home. I don’t mind that

books are displaced orphans without a shelf

to hang out. It doesn’t bother me that several

of my drawers are called “junk drawers” and

contain a broad range of items such as pens that no longer function,

sticky notes which have lost their stickiness and out-of-date pizza

coupons.

I was okay with my organizational lifestyle, or lack thereof, until I

recently visited two friends, Rachelle Copeland and Judy Brisky, who both

happen to be organizational gurus, complete with their private libraries

of organizational self-help books. They actually get excited about buying

and reading that stuff! This organized duo even knew of a website that

sends helpful tips and reminders if one has a desire to be organized.

Whether you’re super-organized like my friends, or whether you’re

more like me and you just have a slight desire to be a “little more

organized,” it’s important to remember that order was created by

Debbie Morris has been married to Pastor Robert

Morris for twenty-five years. They are blessed with

two children at home and one married son. Debbie

is the Pastor of Gateway’s Women’s Ministries and is

the Editor-in-Chief of Studio G.

OVERORDER

CHAOS

God—He is a God of order. Genesis 1:2 says,

“The earth was without form, and void.” Many

believe the earth was full of chaos. Chaos, by

definition, is the absence of order. It was God

who came and spoke order into the earth. I

would definitely be more into order if I could

just speak words like, “Kids, put order in

your rooms,” and their rooms would suddenly

become neat and orderly. However, I’m

obviously not God!

God’s order goes far beyond everything

merely having a place or things being kept

neat and tidy. He not only spoke order into the

universe, He spoke order into government. He

spoke order into the church. Most of all, He

spoke order into the family. He said children

should obey their parents and wives should

submit to their husbands. Why would God

speak order into our families and tell us as

wives to submit? It’s simple. He wanted families

to live a lifestyle void

of chaos. If chaos is

crouching at your

doorstep, check your

heart and actions for

unsubmissive attitudes

which could be the

open door that lets

in chaos. God spoke

order into those things

He cares about most,

thus a home in order

is important to Him.

by D

ebbie

Mor

ris

THOUGHTS ABOUT SUBMISSIONIt starts with a desire to obey God.

It’s a choice only you can make.

It comes from the heart.

It honors God.

It protects us.

It releases blessings in our home.

It transfers blessings to our children.

It brings order where there is chaos.

JUDY BRISKY’S TIPSAssign each room in the house a day of

the week to be cleaned. For example:

Monday=Family Room, Tuesday=Living

Room. My children help with this and are

also responsible for keeping their bedrooms

and bathroom tidy on a daily basis.

Dirty laundry can really mount up! Try to

do at least one load a day—wash, dry,

fold and put away. I’ve found if you leave

out the last two steps, a mound of clean

clothes can pile up.

Weekly menus are such a help. You know

what you need to buy in advance, and you

have everything you need when you’re

ready to start cooking. When you have a

full schedule, planning ahead helps alleviate

stress.

www.flylady.net

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley AKA The Flylady

Time to Enjoy Your Blessings by Dianne Haynes Miley

The Family Manager Takes Charge: Getting on the Fast Track to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel

Any book by Emilie Barnes including Survival for Busy Women and More Hours in My Day

Disciplines Of The Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund

The New Messies Manual: The Procrastinator’s Guide to Good Housekeeping by Sandra Felton

JUDY AND RACHELLE’S FAVORITEORGANIZATIONAL SELF-HELP RESOURCES

RACHELLE COPELAND’S TIPSUse see-through plastic shoe racks (the kind that hang on the back of a door) for different items. In the kitchen, hang it on the inside of your pantry door and put your spices in it. In the kids’ rooms, put small toy collections, such as Barbie dolls or Power Rangers, in each slot. In the game room, you can put art supplies in each pocket, and in the bathroom, you can use each slot for lotions, soaps and razors.

Organize just about everything in your house with baskets of all shapes and sizes. In the

bathroom, roll up towels and put them in a huge basket. In the kids’ rooms, use baskets for socks, art supplies and dress-up clothes. You can put small baskets on shelves to store books, CDs and envelopes. Use them in the pantry for packets of gravy and taco seasonings. You can even place one between the seats in the car for Kleenex, hairclips and very small toys.

Closets can often present a major challenge. It helps to organize the clothes in your closet by color. You can do this by placing all whites together, all blues together, all greens together and so on. You can also apply this system to your shoes and other items in your closet.

Although I’m a Christian and love

God with all my heart, I found

myself imprisoned in a self-made hell

after 11 years of marriage and three

children. I spent 10 of those 11 years

in unforgiveness! The gradual buildup

of my husband’s words and actions had

wounded me deeply. I could bring to

mind every single occurrence at will. I

could even tell you in great detail what

he was wearing, where he was standing

and describe the look on his face. But

thankfully, God in His mercy did not

leave me there.

One morning while preparing lunch,

I noticed my oldest son’s leg looked

considerably thinner than the other.

He’d been limping for several weeks,

but I simply attributed it to “growing

pains.” As more time passed and there

were no signs of improvement, I became

concerned. So I took him to the doctor

for a checkup. After several X-rays and

appointments with different specialists,

my son was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-

Perthes disease, a slow disintegration of

the top portion of the femur head, due

to a lack of blood flow.

Fear and doubt flooded my heart. I

cried out to God to heal my son, but

nothing happened. After a while, I began

to question my faith. If God promised to

heal ALL our diseases (Psalm 103:3), why

wasn’t my son healed?

Several long weeks of prayer and

medical visits culminated in our decision

to follow the doctors’ recommendation

and opt for surgery. My son suffered

in a body cast for four weeks while

physicians only gave us hope for a

possible 30% chance of recovery.

Over time, my second son started

having asthma attacks, and my marriage

began to fall apart. My entire family

was miserable! The enemy was having

a free-for-all, and I felt powerless to

do anything regardless of how hard I

prayed. I began to ask, “Where is the

Jesus I read about in the Bible? The One

who did miracles and healings?” The

intensity of my misery only seemed to

Have you ever considered how harmful it can be to hold a grudge against someone? Unforgiveness takes you further into bitterness than you ever planned to go, costs you more in grief than you were willing to pay and keeps you in longer than you intended to stay.

HOW DO I KNOW? THIS IS MY STORY.

I’LLFORGIVE

YOU

OVERYOURDEADBODY

by Terri Lugenheim

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grow with each passing day.

One day, from out of the blue, my

husband announced that he planned to

leave me. I thought to myself, “You’re

leaving ME? You should be grateful I’m

still here, after all you’ve done to me!”

My view of this desperate situation

became skewed. I began to pray, “Lord,

take him out! Just take him out in a car

accident.”

I really

believed

God was

on my side.

After all, I

was a really

good person and my husband was

defi nitely not. I reached a place—a

very dangerous place—where I was

entertaining thoughts of how my

husband should die and free me from my

misery!

Then one day, while still searching

for answers, I heard a message about

the unforgiving servant described in

Matthew 18:21-35. As the teaching

progressed, God gave me a vision of

my husband behind bars—bars of

unforgiveness—and I realized the

“wicked servant” was a refl ection of me!

Jesus’ words about receiving forgiveness

“in the same way we forgive others,”

hit me like a ton of bricks. I was

experiencing torment in various areas

of my life because I was unwilling to

forgive. My spirit grieved as I read the

last verse again, “So My heavenly Father

also will do to you if each of you, from

his heart, does not forgive his brother

his trespasses” (Matthew 18:35, NKJV).

The Lord dealt mightily with my heart.

I realized forgiveness was a decision. It

didn’t have anything to do with how

I felt or how I’d been wronged. The

task of forgiving, which once seemed

impossible, suddenly became easy.

That night I went to my husband

and repented for my unforgiveness. I

told him I loved him, forgave him and

nothing would ever cause me to live in

unforgiveness again. It was at this point

that God began to restore my marriage.

It seemed like such a long road, but I

was the one who had been holding back

the healing.

I began to seek the Lord like never

before with an obedient heart towards

all He showed me in His Word. God

started moving powerfully within my

family. My middle son was healed of

asthma, and soon after my oldest

son was healed of Legg-Calvé-Perthes

disease—

without the

prescribed

surgery!

I now

realize the

enemy

has no power over my marriage and

my family. With every new day, my

marriage moves towards restoration, and

my understanding of true forgiveness

and obedience has transformed my

tumultuous marriage into a peaceful

one.

I REACHED A PLACE—A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE—WHERE I ENTERTAINED THOUGHTS OF HOW MY

HUSBAND SHOULD DIE AND FREE ME FROM MY MISERY!

Terri Lugenheim attends Gateway Church. She has been married to her husband, Frank, for the past thirteen years and is expectantly looking forward to many more years together. She is the mother of three sons, Christian, Caleb and Joshua, and has been a licensed hairstylist for the past 23 years. Terri also leads the prayer team for the Healing room at Gateway Church.

Studio G is published quarterly by the Women’s Ministries of Gateway Church, a nonprofi t corporation, Southlake, Texas USA © 2005 Gateway Church. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Studio G has no subscription price and is supported through ministry contributions worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax deductible (in countries where this applies). For more information or to order, call 817.552.3643. Internet address: studiogmag.com

Do you have a friend that would love to receive Studio G? Contact Loresha Worley at the church offi ce,817.552.3643, or email their name and addressto [email protected].

Studio GGateway Church, a nonprofi t corporation, Southlake, Texas USA © 2005 Gateway Church. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Studio G

Do you have a friend that would love to receive Contact Loresha Worley at the church offi ce,817.552.3643, or email their name and addressto [email protected].

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Do you realize that it really is okay

to be ordinary? Are you aware, like

I am, that we all have limitations? I

personally believe people will only be

successful once they have come to

terms with this unvarnished truth.

I admit, it’s sometimes hard for me

to come to grips with this truth and

still remember that God views me as

a priceless treasure. Psalm 17:8 tells

me I’m the apple of His eye and that

I’m miles away from being ordinary

to Him.

Years ago while watching

Superman, I became

fascinated by the

superhero’s

desire

to be

ordinary.

In his

earthly

human

identity, he was

simply Clark Kent, reporter for the

Daily Planet Newspaper. That all

changed of course, whenever a

runaway locomotive threatened the

lives of innocent people. Then Clark

Kent became the extraordinary

Man of Steel.

In a flash, Clark’s supernatural,

extrasensory abilities kicked in.

He was instinctively aware of the

impending accident involving a

runaway locomotive. Clark knew

what he must do to stop the train

from crashing to its destruction.

But first, he had to dash into the

nearest phone booth to change into

his Superman outfit in order to keep

his superhero identity a secret. Then

he rushed off to perform his heroic

duty and “save the day.” Like a jet-

propelled bird, Superman flew

to his destination

and jumped in

front of the

locomotive. With

his incredible,

unlimited powers,

he stopped the

locomotive cold in its tracks!

The people always clapped and

cheered because their lives were

spared.

With his task completed,

Superman returned to the

office of the Daily Planet

as if nothing unusual

had happened. His fellow

co-workers always teased

him,

“Where

were you during all the excitement?

We were working on a headline-

making story!” Clark usually made

an excuse and sheepishly smiled,

while maintaining his persona as an

average, ordinary reporter who was a

little clueless and naïve.

I am fascinated by Superman’s

ability to just step back into his

ordinary role as Clark Kent. He never

seemed to feel the need to declare

to everyone what he had just done.

He would save hundreds of lives and

exhibit incredible power that was

nothing short of miraculous; yet

when faced with the opportunity to

show everyone he was somebody,

Clark Kent chose to remain an

obscure nobody.

If I’m perfectly honest with myself,

I have to admit that I’d want to

tell everyone what I had just done.

Wouldn’t you? Be honest now! I’d

probably have called everyone I

“Once you truly know

who you are, you won’t

feel the need for

anyone else to know.”

by Linda Godsey

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Strengthening Your CoreOne of the buzzwords fl ying around the gym these days is “core strength.” While

dancers and athletes have long known the advantages of having a strong torso, the

idea of core strength can benefi t the rest of us as well. What is core strength, and

why should we worry about it?

All of our movements are powered by our torsos. The abdominals and lower

back work together to support the spine when we sit, stand, bend over, pick up

things, exercise and more. The torso is the body’s center of power, so the stronger

you are in that area, the easier your daily activities will be. Movement originates

with these “core muscles.” They are the source of our stability. Whether running,

lifting weights or picking up a toddler, these muscles help keep the body stable and

balanced. Core training has many benefi ts including:

• Improved performance in sports.

• Reduction in the risk of injury and low back pain.

• Better ability to perform day-to-day activities.

• Interesting workouts that challenge you in new and different ways.

The following exercises can be a starting point for your core strength workout.

Both exercises require the use of a resist-a-ball.

know to brag about my great exploits.

I would bask in the praise and

accolades of my friends and relatives;

and enjoy the great level of respect

newly shown to me by the press.

Observing Superman’s display of

humility, I whispered to the Lord,

“How can he go about business as

usual without telling everyone what

he’s just done?” Deep inside, I heard

my answer, “Once you truly know

who you are, you won’t feel the need

for anyone else to know.”

I don’t know about you, but I want

to know who I am in Christ. I want to

know that simply belonging to Him

is more than enough. I want to fi nd

my completeness, my worth and my

value in Him. I want to be who He

has made me to be—no more and

no less. And I want to know that it’s

okay to be ordinary; it’s okay to have

limitations.

In reality, there are no supermen

or superwomen. The sooner we

accept that we’re ordinary, limited

human beings with a bent towards

sin, the happier we will become.

The fact of the matter is, we are all

ordinary until Jesus does something

extraordinary in us. Regardless of

IQ or human strength, we all need

a Savior. The truth is, I am a loved

and cherished child of God, seeking

for His excellent life to reside in my

ordinary life.

By Emily Gilstrap

FIT 4 THEKINGDOM

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price;

therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV

Excerpt taken from “Fit 4 the Kingdom” Wellness Newsletter.

Abdominal crunches: Start with 2 sets of 10 repetitions

and work up to 4 sets of 20.

Back extensions:Start with 2 sets of 10 repetitions

and work up to 4 sets of 20.

Emily Gilstrap, a former All-American gymnast, has a Masters degree in Adult Fitness Management and over 23 years experience in the Health & Fitness industry. She is an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and is married to Matthew, Gateway’s Director of Security.

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7:00 pm | Thursday, October 20Gateway Church Auditorium

WOMEN-CONNECTING-TO-WOMEN GATHERING

Do you have a desire to fi nd your place in God’s kingdom? Are you lookingfor friendships and a way to get plugged in at Gateway? Th is night is for you!Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship and delicious desserts. You will have

the opportunity to meet the leaders of Women’s Fusion and Life Groupsand hear about upcoming events for women. Come and get connected!

For more information, contact Katy Byrne at817.552.3600 or email [email protected].

Children’s Ministry is available for children from birth to 5th grade,but reservations are required. Please contact Kristen Rusche at

817.552.3657 by Monday, October 17 to reserve your child’s place.

All women of the churchand their friends are invited

to theAnnual Women’sChristmas Party

Thursday, December 8, 20057:00–9:00 pm

Gateway Church

Cooking DemonstrationsDesserts • Craft s

Bingo • Bunko

For more information,contact Loresha Worley

at 817.552.3643 or [email protected].

6:00-9:00 PM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27GATEWAY CHURCH

This is a fun time for all agesand best of all, it’s FREE!

For more information, contactMelanie Bailey at 817.552.3685

or email [email protected].

GATEWAYFALL FESTIVAL