Connections
Connecting man to man to God!
Week of
Issue 107
CONNECTIONS is the opt-in newsletter
for the men & friends of
"From everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with
those who fear him, and his righteousness with their
children's children -- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey
his precepts." Psalm 103:17-18
CONSIDER
For what purpose has God given you the 1,440 minutes of this
day? And how will you invest that time
for His glory?
BE A SOMEBODY TO
SOMEBODY
by Chip Ingram
I've come across a revolutionary truth in my life: Everyone
behaves in a way that makes sense to themselves. Now that doesn't mean that they behave in a
way that makes sense to me. But if we
understand that they behave in a way that makes sense to them, we'll go a long
way toward understanding a human being's desperate search for love. There are a lot of theories out there that
try to explain why people behave the way we do.
Freud said our behavior is determined by primal drives. Adler disagreed, saying our life really
revolves around self-esteem. Goldberg
said it's all about stages of moral development. Maslow thought our
behavior fit a certain hierarchy of needs on the road to
self-actualization. Skinner argued that
it has more to do with stimulus responses.
But there's one thing everyone agrees on: We all want to be a
"somebody" in the eyes of someone who loves us.... Read this in full at
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/ministry_articles/1318423.html
IT'S TRUE: MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE JUST DON'T BELONG HERE
by Doug Mendenhall
"The great melting pot is lumpy. It threatens to boil over.
THE SOUL OF WAR
Chaplain Major John Morris is interviewed on Speaking of Faith
about the challenge military service presents to a life of faith and how the
experience of war bruises a soldier's spirit....
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/soulofwar/index.shtml
Chaplains in the War Zone by Martin Marty
http://marty-center.uchicago.edu/sightings/archive_2006/0515.shtml
PRAY IT WITH SONG
by Dick Eastman
It was a day that started tentatively, to say the least. As I began to sing a spontaneous song,
unaccompanied, in the presence of six other intercessors, my first thought was,
This is going to be a long day.
It was mid-December 1987, and I had decided just days earlier that
I would devote a month entirely to prayer.
Entirely meant that I would cancel all appointments,
speaking engagements, and office work.
My goal was to spend the same amount of time each day in prayer that I
would spend doing my normal activities.
I invited other intercessors to spend several days praying with
me, thinking I would be better able to sustain a month of prayer with their
support. One day, for example, we
decided to focus entirely on thanking God for everybody and everything He had
done to bless us. But the day that
turned out to be the most unique and memorable was the day we spent in
song.... Read this in full at
http://www.navpress.com/EPubs/DisplayArticle/2/2.39.2.html?aCode=NL100506
WORLD CUP SOCCER (
June 9-July 9
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/
YOUR
PURPOSE, YOUR PASSION, YOUR PROFIT
Work is important. But what
motivates you at work? Is there a
purpose -- something beyond your reward -- that animates your daily work
life? Or are you driven by a passion for
a way of working or a project? Is it
profit -- either money itself or some other form of measurable reward -- that
motivates your work? Take the Triple P
Quiz, and learn more about what drives your work life.
http://www.triplepquiz.com/start.aspx
FENCES & WALLS
by Stephen V. Monsma
"Church-state relations continue to be a source of
controversy in the
"But I want a fence not a wall separating church and
state. The two can best be seen as
neighbors, as good neighbors, but neighbors nonetheless. Like good neighbors, there are places and
times when, for the greater good, they need to cooperate together, coordinate
their activities, and recognize and honor one another".... Read this in full at
http://www.cpjustice.org/stories/storyReader$1389
A POSSIBLE INVISIBILITY
SHIELD
Researchers in
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/25/invisibility.cloak.ap/index.html
STRATEGIES FOR A SUPER
SUMMER WITH YOUR KIDS
by Kathy Peel
"Back to home" in June is just as big a deal as
"back to school" in the fall.
Kids don't turn off their eyes, ears, and minds when school's out. They continue to learn and develop in June,
July, and August as well. These months
are ripe with opportunities for you to help your children grow in positive
ways, explore and learn new things together, and make positive family memories
that will last a lifetime -- and you don't have to break the bank to do
it! A few simple strategies are all you
need.... Read this in full at
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9482
LEADERSHIP TIPS
(BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
Listen With Full Attention
When an employee or coworker approaches you for advice,
inspiration, feedback or a discussion, listen to understand what the individual
needs from you. If you can't fully
attend to the staff person at the minute for any reason, it is better to
reschedule the conversation. If you are,
for example, on your way to a meeting, struggling with a deadline, trying to
leave early, or experiencing any other distraction, it is better to make an
appointment when you can really listen to the person. Don't try to half way pay attention. You
insult the person; you will never fully comprehend their position or need.
Worst, the employee walks away feeling that you don't care about his or her
concerns. It is far better to reschedule
the discussion when you have time to listen with your full and deep attention.
http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/
VERSE TO PONDER
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. TAKE my yoke upon you,
and LEARN from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will FIND rest
for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light." Matt.11:28-30
(RSV)
CONSIDER
"O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire Thee with our whole
heart; that, so desiring, we may seek, and seeking find Thee; and so finding
Thee may love Thee; and loving Thee, may hate those sins from which Thou hast
redeemed us." St. Anselm
(1033-1109)
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO
BEFORE 100?
You've never been the kind of person who lets life pass you
by. You like breaking boundaries, being
active in mind and body, forging new territory and creating memorable
experiences with friends and family.
With age comes perspective, experience, and
control. Eons, a new company launching
this summer dedicated to helping 'baby boomers' and seniors to live the biggest
life possible, understands that -- and wants to celebrate it!
That's why they've launched a free-to-enter contest that
encourages adults 50+ to list, discuss and achieve their life goals. Want to tour the country or learn to play
piano? Have you always wanted to
research your family tree or paint the landscapes of
It's been said that the first step to achieving goals is to write
them down. So, the Eons "How Old
Are You?" challenge is asking you to make a list of things you want to
achieve before age 100. Submit the goals
and dreams you'd like to accomplish before the attainable age of 100 and be
eligible to win $15,000 towards making your dream a reality! Just go to the following website and type in
Prize Code number 60711 ... then tell your family and friends to do the same.
TIME FOR YOUR NEXT
SPIRITUAL RETREAT
by Jane Rubietta
Are you tired? On the verge of burnout?
If you can answer "yes" to either of these questions, it's time
for a spiritual retreat. All of us need
to take time away to focus on God and his purposes for our lives. You need a resting place if these soul
fatigue symptoms crop up in your life:
*
Burnout
*
Trigger temper
*
Irrational thinking
*
Lack of joy or laughter
*
Loss of focus
*
Chronic headaches or other pain
*
Hyper-controlling of others
*
Physical Fatigue
*
Depression
*
Resentment
*
Unforgiveness
*
Giving in to temptation
*
Lack of feelings
*
Loss of passion
*
Inability to love your family
*
Judgmentalism
http://www.pastors.com/rwmt/default.asp?id=261&artid=9489&expand=1
WORTHWHILE
FREE TIME?
Asked how they prefer to use their free time, Americans say their
top 5 choices are watching TV (96%), going to movies (60%), exercising (55%),
gardening (47%), and reading (47%).
Source: USATODAY.com
BE A WORLD CHANGER
"What we would like to do is change the world -- to make it a
little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God
intended for them to do. And we can
change the world: we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace
in a harried world. We can throw our
pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach
around the world." Dorothy Day
YOUR CREDIT SCORES
There are many types of credit scores -- developed by companies,
credit reporting agencies, even lenders.
Learn more about your credit scores and how they're calculated with
"Your Credit Scores," from the Consumer Federation of America and
Fair Isaac Corporation. Find out why
your credit scores matter, what good and bad scores are, and how you can raise
your score.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/creditscores/your.htm
CONSIDER
"It is Truth which we must look for in Holy Writ, not cunning
of words. All Scripture ought to be read
in the spirit in which it was written.
We must rather seek for what is profitable in Scripture, than for what ministereth to subtlety in discourse." Thomas a Kempis
(1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ [1418]
VERSE TO PONDER
"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders - he'll carry your
load and help you out." Ps. 55:22
(MSG)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: BE
NOW IMITATORS OF YOUR LORD
Words: Susan H. Peterson, 1998
Music: H.A. César Malan,
1827
Be now imitators of your Lord;
You're His children through His love outpoured.
Let love show now in all you do,
As Christ loved and gave Himself for you,
As a sacrifice to God.
All impurity put far away.
Don't be greedy; watch the things you say.
These aren't proper for God's dear children;
You will never gain the wealth of Heaven,
In the kingdom of Christ and God.
Don't be taken in by empty words;
Those who disobey, God's wrath incur.
You were darkness, but now you're light;
Let your life be good and true and right,
And find out what pleases God.
Stay away from fruitless deeds,
Done in secret out of lust and greed.
Let Christ's light shine on all that's dark,
And expose what's missed God's mark.
Bring to light every sinful act.
So be careful in the things you do;
Act with wisdom in whate'er you pursue.
Make the most of every hour;
Don't let evil exercise its power.
Be not foolish, but know God's will.
Let the Spirit now your life control,
And let psalms and hymns flow from your soul.
In your heart, speak to God and sing,
Giving thanks for everything,
In the name of Jesus Christ.
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/e/n/bnioylor.htm
GOD FAQ
Question 75: What is sanctification?
Answer: Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom
God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time,
through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and
resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of
God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put
into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened,
as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.
http://www.shortercatechism.com/
PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY
http://christiansin crisis.net/
PRAY FOR A COUNTRY TODAY
http://www.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
Business Growth
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.
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE
WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Get in the music business
ChristianCops.org
Reference books
An easy-to-use search engine
Search the Bible
http://www.zondervanbiblesearch.com
Christian History Institute
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.)
God's mercy underlies.
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/
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