November Newsletter

OUR NEW LOGO!
Life Journey Ministries focuses on spiritual development that brings meaning and purpose to life. For us, Spirituality is all about our union with God especially growing in His passionate embrace of us and our passionate embrace of Him and others. Through our union with God we are a resurrection (Sunday) people F.I.T. to know and bring meaning, purpose, healing and reconciliation to a broken world. Our new logo, therefore, emphasizes movement and involvement. We seek the leading of the Spirit to find and know our purpose within God's purpose and show us where and how to live out that purpose in the world!

GEETINGS From Carolyn Schoenborn, Founder and Executive Director!
In Ephesians 2:8-10, it fascinates me that we have been saved not so we can some day go to heaven, but because we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. These are not works that we do in order to be saved; but we have been saved and are in Christ in order to do some good work! It is when we are involved in work that is made good because of our faith that we begin to fulfill our reason for being, live out our God-given purpose and experience a sense of wholeness and completion. While the church keeps us in The Body of Christ, it is our vocational arenas of work that keep us in (not of, but in) the world. Our reason for being is to be fulfilled in the world, and it is in the world that God has called, blessed, and given us some good work to be doing! Our labor or work was never meant to be separated from our spirituality. My prayer is that you will find resources provided through Life Journey Ministries that will help empower and enable you as the Priesthood of Believers to be Gods presence in the world!

WEST COAST PRAYER RETREAT for Laity January 23-25, 2009:
You are invited to New Beginnings! - A prayer retreat rooted in a study of the Trinity. This retreat should be of interest to those who value taking time for reflection, study, prayer and meditation as prerequisites for a genuine capacity to act within their various vocational arenas whether that is in the home, community, church, or places of work! Pastor Tom and Carolyn Schoenborn are this years facilitators. Pastor Tom will lead people through interactive bible studies on the three persons of the trinity; while Carolyn will concentrate on providing you with a variety of prayer and meditation experiences.
WHO: Any Christian male or female, young or old, married or single seeking to have more intimate time with God in preparation for being in the world!
WHEN: January 23-25, 2009
WHERE: The Evangelical Center in Milwaukie, Oregon
COST: $115 + a $10 linen fee if you choose to use the center's linen services. (Financial aid available upon request.) To register, go to www.lifejourneyministries.org.

VISIT OUR WEB SITE at www.lifejourneyministries.org:

WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE GREAT SALT GATHERING in Seaside, Oregon.
If you're in the area, stop by and visit our booth, we'd love to chat with you in person.

CAROL HOFELMANN - Healing with Horses.
I have always had a passion for horses and I love serving God in whatever way I can. In the past this service was primarily within the church. Somehow I did not ever see my love of horses as something that was very useful to God. In my Life Journey online groups and prayer retreats, I became increasingly more conscious of the truth that I am a new creation in Christ and that by Him dwelling in me I carry His presence wherever I go. I can touch people with His love in all of the arenas of my life. Through a Life Journey experience of exploring an area of ministry outside church and family, God brought to the forefront of my heart a long-dormant desire to investigate healing with horses through therapeutic riding. I located a center called Healing Reins in my new home community of Bend, Oregon and became involved with the hippotherapy program there. As stated on the Healing Reins website (www.healingreins.org), Hippotherapy is a treatment approach that uses the movement of the horse to enhance neuromotor function and sensory processing. The physical therapist directs the movement of the horse; analyzes the clients response; and adjusts the treatment accordingly. It also aids in sensory integration which is defined as the neurological process that organizes sensation from one's own body and the environment, thus making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment. The work I do is fairly simple. I prepare the horse for each session by grooming, putting on the desired equipment and warming the horse up in the arena. I greet parents as they arrive and have learned great admiration for them as I see them come to the barn, sometimes with smiles on good days, sometimes looking just plain exhausted on more difficult days. As the session begins, I act as a side-walker, assisting the physical therapist as needed in the treatment she has planned. The work is simple, but the rewards have been immeasurable. My God-given passion for horses has become a way for me to bring His love to the children and parents I see each week and to be involved in their lives in a small way, but consistent and meaningful way. I love the way God works!