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MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 03/26/06
The Men’s Ministry e-mail
newsletter of
New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church
Our mission: Our mission is to
lead men to
Jesus Christ and provide
opportunity for
Christian men to grow in their
faith
and minister to others.
newjoydivine.org
ISSUE 97
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MSM
CONNECTIONS is
the opt-in newsletter for the men of New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church.
It's a periodic service that helps connect you with God and with other men at
NJD. If you'd like its delivery to your email address stopped, scroll down
and follow the instructions at the end of this message. Also let me know if
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CONNECTIONS.
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Make
every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and
to knowledge, self- control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing
measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
CONSIDER
"I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is
no hurt, but only more love." Mother Teresa
MARCH MADNESS
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Japan
won.
http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/ind
ex.jsp
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN MIGHT LOOK MORE
LIKE FALLING IN LOVE THAN BAKING COOKIES
by Donald Miller
"My friend Greg and I have been talking quite a bit about what it means
to follow Jesus. Greg wouldn't consider himself to be somebody who takes
Jesus seriously, but he admits to having questions. I didn't have a formula
for him to understand how a Christian conversion works, but I told him that
many years ago, when I was a child, I had heard about Jesus and found the
idea of him compelling; then much later while reading the Gospels, I came to
believe I wanted to follow him. This changed things in my life, I said,
because it involved giving up everything and choosing to go into a
relationship with him. "Greg said he'd seen a pamphlet with four or five
ideas on it, ideas such as man was a sinner, sin separated man from God, and
Christ died to absolve the separation. He asked me if this was what I believed,
and I told him, essentially, that it was. 'Those would be the facts of the
story,' I said, 'but that isn't the story'"... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity
today.com/outreach/articles/searchingforgospel.html
THE REVIVAL I LONG FOR
by Anne Graham Lotz
We all long to see revival in our churches. But that revival has to start
with the person behind the pulpit. Do you long for a personal revival that so
transforms you that it will transform your entire congregation? Anne Graham Lotz longs for that kind of revival. And she believes the
starting point is Jesus.... Read this at
http://www.pastors.c
om/rwmt/default.asp?
id=250&artid=9247&expand=1
WHEN DAD IS MISSING
Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship, made
it a point to visit juvenile detention centers when he was attorney general
of Virginia.
In all of his visits, Earley says he met not one
kid behind bars who had a father living at home. Indeed, children without
fathers are significantly more likely to commit suicide, exhibit behavioral
problems, drop out of school, abuse drugs or alcohol, and find themselves in
prison.... Read this in full at
http://tinyurl.com/zrz
k5
AMERICANS REVEAL THEIR TOP PRIORITY IN
LIFE
Is America undergoing a spiritual revival? The signs are decidedly mixed.
George Barna explores the numbers of people who call themselves "deeply
spiritual" and those who say their top priority in life is their faith.
Catch a glimpse of what Americans claim is their most important priority....
http://tinyurl.com/ep
kch
RADICAL INTERDEPENDENCE
by Shane Claiborne
"In Philly, we have an ongoing dialogue about creating a village of
communities, bartering with one another, sharing things we need -- even creating
a new currency where people exchange hours of work and are valued not because
they have money but because they're willing to contribute to others and offer
their time to service".... Read this in full at
http://tinyurl.com/gfo
q7 (PDF)
BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
It seems like every day there are new discoveries being made in biblical
archaeology in the Middle East.
Here are some sites to check out for the latest news
http://www.bib-
arch.org/bswbOOnews.html
http://www.christiananswers.net/archaeology/
http://www.ba
seinstitute.org/
http://ww
w.biblicalarcheology.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_archaeology
htt
p://www.archaeologicalstudybible.com/
LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
Leadership Network
Leadership Network connects high-capacity Christian leaders to develop
innovative ministry ideas and multiply them among other church leaders. The
site offers a range of training events and learning resources to help church
leaders identify and implement the best new ideas for leading churches into
the future.
http://www.leadnet.
org/
HOMOSEXUALITY
Homosexuality: Finding a balance between grace and truth
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?
ArtID=8509
Locating a counselor
for the person with unwanted same-sex attractions
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?
ArtID=8510
Why Christians
dont get help for sexual addiction
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?
ArtID=8511
VERSE TO PONDER
"In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
(NIV)
CONSIDER
"If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a
Christian anywhere." Henry Ward Beecher
DRAGONFLIES
by Cami Sigler
"A friend recently asked me about my thoughts on the kingdom of God here in Sierra Leone.
"Uh, what?" I thought, drawing a blank and fumbling like a clueless
oaf. So much for all that Bible school training. Like a desperate Daffy Duck,
I pleaded with my slow brain, "Think, think, think!"
"Dragonflies," I cautiously posed. Then, with more certainty, as if
trying to convince myself, "The kingdom of God is like blue
dragonflies."
"Then I laughed.
At myself. Madeleine L'Engle writes that unless we
take ourselves lightly, we will never truly take ourselves seriously. So I
laughed, and then I tried to unpack what I meant.
"Rusty razor
blades are strewn along the lane where I live. The gutters overflow with all
kinds of rotting, smoldering refuse. The stench produces a gag response in
the tropical climate where fish, citrus, feces, plastic, tin, all manner of
paper and who knows what else bubble, foam, and ooze in the slimy, tarry
gutters.
"Some days I feel
as if all of life is like those gutters; my soul is overwhelmed with the
constant suffering that barrages my soul. Desperate, hungry, pleading
children beg for bread in chaotic traffic; they cling to my arms and clutch
at my shirt. You would think that after living here for two years I would
recognize most of the beggars on my daily walk to work. But there are always
more, more, more. I find myself constantly wondering just how many amputees
there are from the rebel attacks in the war. Pretty teenage girls, about my
niece's age, prostitute themselves to UN workers, just so their families can
cook a pot of plain rice this evening. Tempers burst shortly like artillery
fire from all around, all day, every day: taxi drivers with their horns and
fists, mothers with their canes and brooms. I remind myself that months of sleeping on the street with malaria and not
enough to feed my children would soon make me an emotional wreck as well.
Still, the yelling and cursing explode in my ears, in my soul, from dawn till
dusk most days. Even at night, as I sweat and wrestle to sleep under my
mosquito net, the curse, "Halaki!" (worthless bastard) resonates in my dreams.
"Here is where the
dragonflies come in. As I walk home each day, weary and often at my wits'
end, the blue dragonflies dance and soar, playing over the reeking gutters.
These magnificent little creatures remind me that despite all the suffering,
God is good. Beauty and hope are here. And as many times as I get overwhelmed
and forget, those little flitting beings remind me how to be here: simple,
joyful, free. The dragonflies don't wallow or get stuck in the muck. Instead,
they play in God's rays of love.
"Jean Vanier
writes in COMMUNITY AND GROWTH, "We are simply a tiny sign, among
thousands of others, that love is possible. We are a sign that there is hope,
because we believe that the Father loves us and sends His Spirit to transform
our hearts and lead us from egotism to love, so that we can live everyday
life as brothers and sisters."
"As much as I
yearn to, I cannot end all the suffering in Freetown. But, like the
dragonflies, I can be a tiny sign of hope and love."
http://www.wordmadeflesh.com/learn/summ
er2005.pdf (PDF, page 15)
FAITH LIKE KING DAVID'S
Surviving today's economy, inoculating your children against decadence,
meeting the demands of work, home and church -- sometimes you feel like David
as he stared up at Goliath. What did David do? He was just a teenager when he
walked unshielded between two armies, armed with just a slingshot, to go man-
to-man against a giant. Why? Because he trusted in something.... Read this
article in full at:
http://www.newmanmagazine.com/faith/ki
ng_david.html
FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AS QUICKLY AS
YOU CAN
Do not go to the next calculation before you have finished the previous one.
Do not write down your answers. Just do the following in your head and scroll
slowly. Start:
How much is:
15 + 6
3 + 56
89 + 2
12 + 53
75 + 26
25 + 52
63 + 32
123 + 5
QUICK! THINK ABOUT A
COLOR AND A TOOL!
You just thought about
a red hammer, didn't you? If this is not your answer, you're among 2% of
people who have a different way of looking at life!
CONSIDER
"Christianity is not a religion but a relationship of love expressed
toward God and men. The church is committed by its Founder to reach out in
love to every movement that upbuilds character and
integrity in men, and every gesture that aims to resolve the differences that
estrange human beings from each other. The Gospel in its free course goes
hand-in-hand with the cup of cold water." Sherwood Eliot Wirt, The
Social Conscience of the Evangelical [1968]
VERSE TO PONDER
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting." Psalm 139:23 and 24 (NIV)
THIS WEEK'S
HYMN: OUT OF THE DEPTHS TO THEE I CRY
Words: Elizabeth E. Marcy, 1877; first appeared in the Methodist Episcopal
Hymnal, 1878.
Music: "Naomi," Hans G. Nägeli; arranged
by Lowell Mason, 1836 (MIDI,
score).
Out of the depths to Thee I cry,
Whose fainting footsteps trod
The paths of our humanity,
Incarnate Son of God!
Thou Man of grief, Who once apart
Didst all our sorrows bear,
The trembling hand, the fainting heart
The agony, and prayer!
Is this the consecrated dower,
Thy chosen ones obtain,
To know Thy resurrection power
Through fellowship of pain?
Then, O my soul, in silence wait;
Faint not, O faltering feet;
Press onward to that blest estate,
In righteousness complete.
Let faith transcend the passing hour,
The transient pain and strife,
Upraised by an immortal power,
The power of endless life.
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/u/outdepth
.htm
GOD FAQ
Question 65: What special benefits do the members of the invisible church
enjoy by Christ?
Answer: The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and
communion with him in grace and glory.
http://ww
w.shortercatechism.com/
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
Kids and Alcohol
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/press/nfckid
sandalcohol06.htm
Your Credit Scores
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/press/shortc
reditscores06.htm
Indoor Air Hazards
Every Homeowner Should Know About
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/press/shortindoo
rair06.htm
KIDS AND ALCOHOL
One out of every three teenagers (aged 12-20) consumes alcohol. Before your
kids are confronted with the opportunity to drink, be prepared. Help them say
"no" to alcohol with a new, free package of brochures from the Federal Citizen Information Center. Developed by
the Century Council and Nickelodeon, "Ask, Listen, Learn -- Kids and
Alcohol Don't Mix" is a new program which includes two brochures -- one
specifically designed for kids and one for parents.
"Ask, Listen,
Learn-How to Talk to Your Adolescent About Alcohol" gives tips on having
an ongoing dialogue with your kids so they can learn how to resist peer
pressure and avoid the dangers of alcohol. Not yet teenagers, but no longer
little kids, young adolescents or "tweens"
are aware of drinking. And as they get older, their chance of being exposed
to alcohol increases. Before they have to make a decision about drinking,
take advantage of opportunities to talk. This brochure also includes sections
such as "Help Them Say No" and "All Important Answers"
that will help in conversations with your kids about alcohol.
Written for kids,
"Ask, Listen, Learn-What You Don't
"NO" Can Hurt You" educates children about the dangers of
underage drinking. This brochure includes sections such as "You Are What
You Drink," which describes the damaging effects of alcohol on a kid's
body, and "10 Ways Out," which provides creative ways for kids to
say "no" to alcohol. The kids' version of Ask, Listen, Learn also provides trivia cards and interactive games to
help them better understand the dangers of alcohol.
It's never too early to
start talking to your kids about alcohol.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
cic_text/family/talkalcohol/talkalcohol.htm
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic
_text/family/kidsalcohol/dontmix.htm
ON PRAYER
"I commend intercessory prayer, because it opens man's soul, gives a
healthy play to his sympathies, constrains him to feel that he is not
everybody, and that this wide world and this great universe were not after
all made that he might be its petty lord, that everything might bend to his
will, and all creatures crouch at his feet." Charles Haddon Spurgeon
PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY
http://christiansin
crisis.net/
PRAY FOR A COUNTRY TODAY
http://ww
w.gmi.org/ow/index.html
DAILY BLESSING PACT
Use the following list as your daily prayer guide. Think of a brother or
situation that applies and lift them up in prayer.
I am agreeing in prayer with you for God’s blessings to overtake you!
PERSONAL
Marital harmony
Family unity
Children saved
Faithful pastor
Spirit-filled church
Real friendships
Relatives redeemed
Educational benefits
Recreational time
Fulfilling career
Favor with God and man
Be in God’s will
FINANCIAL
Better Jobs
Raises or bonuses
Benefits
Sales & commissions
Settlements
Estates & inheritances
Investment increase
Rebates & returns
Checks in the mail
Gifts & surprises
Money to be found
Bills decrease while blessings increase
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee,
if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God" (Deut. 28:2).
[As you travel on
business or vacation, let me know if you'd like the church guys to pray for
your safety and spiritual effectiveness. I'll add your name to the list for
the time you'll be away.]
CLASSIFIEDS
Are you looking for something or do
you have something to sell? Let me
know and I'll put it in this newsletter.
Bookstore Entrepreneur Wanted
Top income potential, flexible hours,
Christian oriented, online required.
1-866-439-1617
Looking for a good book? A new Bible? How about
some inspiring music? We’ve got what you need.
Visit our online Christian bookstore to get the best prices around. Visit us
today and you’ll find a huge inventory, totally convenient shopping and great
prices on the products you’re looking for. Are you using the power of books
to grow in your relationship with God and lead people to Christ? Books really
do change lives. Take this opportunity to bless your congregation so they can
go and bless others. Visit our bookstore today!
http://christianconnectionbooks.spreadtheword.com
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Pure Online
http://www.pureonline.com?
a_aid=TM0005
All Pro Dad
http://www.allprod
ad.com/
All links to websites
are provided as a service, and do not imply endorsement by our church.
(BTW: whenever the URLs
in this newsletter are too long to turn into links on your e-mail program,
just copy the entire URL (two lines or more) and paste it into a temporary
email message. Then delete the return in the middle of it and copy it again.
Then paste it into your web browser and hit enter.)
When someone gets you hot and bothered, just turn on
your "prayer conditioner"
Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor
[email protected]
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MSM
CONNECTIONS is
a periodic newsletter of announcements, news, recommendations, articles, and other
information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks for welcoming MSM
CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
Who to
contact:
Minister
Frank Coleman, Men Servants Ministry Chairman, 773-410-1483,
Minister
Arnold Whitehead, Men Servants Ministry Vice-Chairman, 773-846-6090
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The mission of New Joy Divine Full
Gospel Church is to be a Christ-centered, Bible based, Spirit guided
church meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of its members
and the community it serves.
The Men Servants Ministry (MSM) Team
offers a variety of activities for men to interact with other men on our
journey of faith in Christ together. Large group, small group, and one-to-one
events encourage relationship building and spiritual strengthening that result
in maximizing the potential we all have in Christ. Contact Min. Frank
Coleman, 773-410-1483, [email protected] if
you'd like to participate in a men's discipleship program.
New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church is located at 7625 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60620. Tel: 773-224-5683. Founded
& Pastored by Apostle Aaron L. Royster & Prophetess Mable L. Royster.
Visit
our website at: http://www.newjoydivine.org/
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