~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down
his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our
brothers." 1 John CONSIDER "Christ has given us the most glorious interpretation of
life's meaning that man has ever had.
The fatherhood of God, the fellowship of the Spirit, the sovereignty
of righteousness, the law of love, the glory of service, the coming of the
Kingdom, the eternal hope -- there was never an interpretation of life to
compare with that." Harry Fosdick OUR PRAYER TODAY O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to
death on the Cross, and by His glorious resurrection has delivered us from
the power of our enemy: Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our
Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving
Spirit. Grant us so to die daily to
sin, that we may evermore live with Him in the joy of His resurrection,
empowered and transformed by your grace in and among us. O Lord, so stir up in your church, indeed in each of us, that
Spirit of adoption and reconciliation that is made possible by your grace
revealed in Jesus the Christ, that we being renewed in both body and mind,
may worship and serve you in sincerity and truth. We pray this in the name of the same Jesus
Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer) IMPLICATIONS OF THE
RESURRECTION "The Resurrection of Christ is one of the great foundation
stones of the Christian Church. In
place of importance it's second only to the crucifixion. In fact there's nothing more disastrous
than considering the cross apart from the Resurrection. It's one of the great non-negotiables of the Christian faith. Paul makes this clear in the first letter
to "The Resurrection is God's divine signature that all is
well with His work (Romans "The overall benefits of the resurrection can be summarized
in the following points: *
Christ's deity was vindicated. Romans
1:4 *
Christ's mission and teaching is
confirmed. John 16:10 *
Death has been vanquished. Acts *
Believer's salvation is sealed. Romans
4:25 *
Final resurrection is secured. John
11:25-26" Read more at http://www.abu.nb.ca/ecm/topics/life10.htm THE TRUTH ABOUT
DECEIT by David P. Gushee Many times we lie because we are unwilling to face the
consequences of the truth. Most lies are pitiful efforts to protect our
pride. We lie because we fear being
shamed or embarrassed. Our fragile reputations and even more fragile egos
must be protected at all costs. And
so, pitifully and too cheaply, we sell out the truth. Sometimes we lie because we have already done wrong. We have
slipped into the darkness rather than remaining in the light, and we do not
wish our deeds to be exposed (John At times we lie because we believe it is justified to accomplish
our urgent goals. This happens every day in politics and commerce. We have
grown accustomed to it. But sometimes it happens in Christian activism and
church life as well. We want to win "by any means
necessary".... Read this in full
at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/003/23.68.html
PROFANITY IS MORE
COMMON As if you needed to be told, profanity is on the increase in
American society, as reflected in a recent AP-Ipsos
poll. According to the survey, 74% of
respondents encounter profanity in public frequently or occasionally, and
two-thirds said they think people swear more than they did 20 years ago Young adults admit to using bad language more often than older
people; 62% of 18 to 34-year-olds acknowledged swearing in conversation at
least a few times a week, compared to 39 percent of those 35 and older. The survey also showed that women more than men hear people
swearing more now than 20 years ago - 75%, compared to 60%. Also, more women said they were bothered by
profanity - 74% at least some of the time -- than men (60%). And more men admitted to swearing: 54% at
least a few times a week, compared to 39% of women. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060329/D8GKU61G0.html VERSE TO PONDER "In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) CONSIDER "There is never any peace for those who resist
God." Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) SATAN'S MEETING Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening
address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their
Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't
even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus,
our power over them is broken. So let
them go to their churches; let them have their covered Dish dinners, but
steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with
Jesus Christ. "This is what I want you to do", said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of
their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their
day!" "How shall we do
this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend,
and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade
spouses to each go to work for long hours and 6-7 days a week, so they can
afford their empty lifestyles. Keep
them from spending time with their children.
As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape
from the pressures of work! "Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that
still, small voice. Entice them to
play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive...to keep the TV, VCR,
CDs, and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every
store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that
union with Christ. "Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a
day. Invade their driving moments with
billboards. Flood their mailboxes with
junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and
promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes. "Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll
become dissatisfied with their wives.
Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands. "Even in their recreation, let them be excessive...have
them return from their recreation exhausted.
Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's
creation. Send them to amusement
parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy! "And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, leave with
troubled consciences. "Crowd
their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from
Jesus. Soon they'll be working in
their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the
cause." It was quite a plan! The
demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to
having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the
power of Jesus to change lives. I
guess the question is, has the devil been successful
at his scheme? You be the judge! Does "busy" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke? PSALM 23 FOR THE WORK
PLACE The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when chaos is all around
me. He gently reminds me to pray and
do all things without murmuring and complaining. He reminds me that he is my source and not
my job. He restores my sanity everyday
and guides my decision that I might honor him in all that I do. Even though I face absurd amounts of
emails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping
co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't
cooperate every morning, I still will not stop -- for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power will
see me through. He raises me up, even
when they fail to promote me. He
claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go. His faithfulness and love is better than
any bonus check. His retirement plan
beats every 401k there is! When it's all
said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I
BLESS HIS NAME! PROMOTING CHRISTIAN
GOSPEL TO BALLPLAYERS Brian Roberts makes his run through the Orioles' spring training
clubhouse on Sunday mornings. Chapel
in five minutes, the All-Star second baseman advises his teammates. The men are busy eating breakfast, working
out or getting treatment before the afternoon's Grapefruit League game. But right fielder Jay Gibbons will break
away to join Roberts, as will outfielder David Newhan
and a few others, in the palm-shaded outbuilding beyond the first-base
grandstand at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.
Taking over a small room ordinarily occupied by the reporters who
cover the team, the players will set aside the pressures of big-league
baseball for a moment to turn their attention to God. During a brief service that is closed to
the media, the Rev. Dave Krueger typically leads a core group of five to
eight players in prayer, highlights a Bible passage and delivers a short
message, participants say.... Read
this in full at FAITH "I am serene. I have
full awareness of what I have chosen ... If I must die, I will die. Somebody,
a long time ago, did it for all of us ... I never thought it would end this
way. But I am ready to face the consequences." - Abdul Rahman, an Afghan convert to
Christianity, quoted in AP IDOLS CLOSER TO HOME by Jim Wallis "Grace is the logic of a loving God. There is nothing we can do to earn it, win
it, or deserve it. Grace is simply a
gift, not a reward. We can receive it
only by faith, not through good works.
As familiar as that is to us, we have great difficulty coming to terms
with the meaning and reality of grace.
We seem to find innumerable ways to deny the grace that is the free
gift of God's love to us. Either we
abuse it and make grace self-serving, or we dismiss its reality altogether by
acting to establish our own righteousness.
In twisting God's purposes to suit our own or in striving to justify
ourselves through our own efforts, we have, in fact, denied the grace of
God. In so doing, we have denied ourselves
the ability to simply rest in that grace, to be changed and used by God's
love."... Read this in full at CONSIDER "Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment
of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's goodness, as if
you had seen it, and all things, new -- created upon your account: and under
the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so
good and glorious a Creator."
William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life [1728] VERSE TO PONDER "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
(NIV) THIS WEEK'S HYMN: Words & Music: Paul Rader, 1920 Mary beheld Him, and "Master!" cried, After He came from the tomb; Suddenly Jesus stood in their midst, Entered the tight shut room. Refrain He Who was dead is alive again! He Who was dead is alive again! Broken the stout, icy clutches of death- He Who was dead is alive again! Peter beheld Him there on the shore, Ate with Him there by the sea; Jesus was saying, with lips once dead, "Peter, dost thou love Me?" Refrain Thomas beheld Him there in the room, Called Him his Master and Lord, Put forth his fingers into the holes Made by the nails and sword. Refrain >from CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/aliveaga.htm GOD FAQ Question 67: What is effectual calling? Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power
and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from
nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite
and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; savingly
enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so
as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able
freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and
conveyed therein. http://www.shortercatechism.com/ On http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/greatquake/ ON PRAYER Prayer: Our key to life and ministry by Henry T. Blackaby and Norman C. Blackaby Jesus understood that his life and ministry depended on his
constant communication with the Father.
If Jesus depended upon prayer as the fuel for his ministry, how much
more should we depend upon prayer in our ministry?.... http://www.pastors.com/rwmt/default.asp?id=252&artid=9263&expand=1 PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY PRAY FOR A COUNTRY TODAY DAILY BLESSING PACT PERSONAL FINANCIAL Settlements "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 http://www.thechristianconnection.net 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. Tired of bad customer service? One Verse at a Time 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.) Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of announcements, news,
recommendations, articles, and other information helpful to men in our
spiritual growth. Thanks for welcoming 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 Visit
our website at: http://www.newjoydivine.org/
To
subscribe to CONNECTIONS, send a message to [email protected] with
"subscribe MSM" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, send
a message to [email protected]
with "unsubscribe MSM" in the subject line. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |