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Connections Connecting man to man to God! Week of Issue 108 CONNECTIONS is the opt-in
newsletter for the men & friends of "Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me
safely through them, your power will save
me." Psalm 138:7 (TLB) CONSIDER "Any such distinction between disreputable and respectable
sins...Jesus Christ absolutely refuses to allow. In His eyes avarice, pride,
refusal to forgive, hypocrisy, are at least as bad as fornication or
adultery or violence." Charles
Gore (1853-1932), Christ and Society [1928] WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY
SIGHT by Charles R. Swindoll Read Job 1:1-12. Without
Job's knowing it, a dialogue took place in the invisible world. As the Lord and Satan had their strange
encounter, the subject quickly turned to this well-known earthly man. The Lord calls Satan's attention to Job's
exemplary life, and Satan responds with a sinister
sneer. "Of course, who wouldn't
serve You the way You've prospered and protected him. Take away all the perks and watch what
happens; the man will turn on You in a flash." God agrees to let the Adversary unload on
Job. And so, in today's terms, the Lord bet Satan that Job would
never turn on Him. Philip Yancey
refers to that agreement as the "divine wager." Satan instigates a sudden and hostile
removal of all the man's possessions, leaving him bankrupt. Within a matter of minutes, everything he owned
was gone. This brings us to the first lesson worth remembering: we never
know ahead of time the plans God has for us. Job had no prior knowledge or
warning. That morning dawned like
every other morning. The night had
passed like any other night. There was
no great angelic manifestation-not even a tap on his window or a note left on
the kitchen table. In one calamity after another, all the buildings on his land are
gone, and nothing but lumber and bodies litter the landscape. It occurred so fast, Job's mind swirled in
disbelief. Everything hit broadside...his world instantly changed. You and I must learn from this!
We never know what a day will bring, whether good or ill. Our heavenly Father's plan unfolds apart
from our awareness. Ours is a walk of
faith, not sight. Trust, not touch.
Leaning long and hard, not running away.
No one knows ahead of time what the Father's plan includes. It's best that way. It may be a treasured blessing; it could be
a test that drops us to our knees. He
knows ahead of time, but He is not obligated to warn us about it or to remind
us it's on the horizon. We can be
certain of this; our God knows what is best. Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great
Lives: Profiles in Character from Charles R. Swindoll ( http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/devotionals/ WHO ARE YOU? by Robert Wolgemuth In a single day, Job lost his possessions -- thus his livelihood
-- and his children...and in a matter of a few days, his own health. How could a loving God allow a man who had
been so upright to suffer like this?
What was he really doing to Job -- and why?... In spite of how much we love our children and how important our
role as their father may be, nothing can be more critical than the answer to
his question: "Who are you?"
Our answer: "I am yours."...
Read this in full at PASTOR OF SLAIN The pastor of a http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/14770864.htm SUPERSTAR FATHER by Ace Collins Archie Boone was more than just the father of an entertainment
superstar. He was a man who taught his
son that Bible study and growth are not just for the young, that knowing what
and why you believe is not just for pastors.... Read this in full at WORLD CUP June 9-July 9 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/index.html Kickoff 2006 -
Kick-Start Your Faith June 15-18 JUNE 18 IS FATHER'S
DAY Here are ideas to help involve men in church worship this
Father's Day. June 26-July 9 http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html LEADERSHIP TIPS
(BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) Keys to effective leadership In a recent edition of his TIPS newsletter, Philip Humbert
writes, "Harry Truman didn't find a career until late in life. He didn't marry until well into his 30s,
and before that he tried a variety of jobs and ventures, including farming
and selling men's clothing. His
clothing store went bankrupt and he referred to himself as a 'failed
haberdasher' for the rest of his life.
Because of poor eyesight, he barely made it into the Army, but served
with distinction and courage in World War I.
In his 40s and 50s he drifted into politics and served as a county
commissioner, mainly dealing with road repair. "He never had money and he and his wife spend most of their
married life living upstairs in his mother-in-law's home. When he was elected to the U.S. Senate, he
was seen as a party hack and given little respect. In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt selected him to
run for Vice President after the 'better' candidates were all rejected. FDR thought so little of him, they never
had a serious conversation and Truman was told nothing about the atomic bomb
until several days after he was sworn in as the new President. "And yet this 'common man' is often viewed as one of the
greatest Presidents of the 20th century.
How can this be? Truman himself
often said that there 'are probably a million people more qualified than me
to be President, but I'm the one with the job, and I'll do my best.' Throughout his life, he was always known
for doing his best, and often astonished people by exceeding their
expectations. Here are some of my
observations about how he did it. 1.
First, he out-worked everyone around
him. FDR rarely got to work before 2.
Second, he was decisive. Where FDR delayed and avoided decisions,
Truman listened to advice, read the reports, made decisions promptly, and
once they were made, he rarely changed his mind. He made bold decisions and
once made, he knew how to hold a steady course. 3.
Third, his personal integrity was beyond
reproach. At the Potsdam Conference
after the war, he went into Berlin and a staffer suggested they could go
drinking or get some 'women of easy virtue,' to which Truman coldly responded
that he loved his wife and didn't mess around on her. He kicked the staffer out of his car and
never spoke to him again. 4.
Fourth, he knew the value of
loyalty. He was famous for his
life-long friendships and personal warmth.
He knew the names of staffers in the White House, and remembered their
families. When members of his staff came under political fire, he ignored the
newspapers and kept his team together. 5.
Fifth and most important, he knew who he
was. In the face of enormous pressures
and criticism, Truman knew his goals and purposes, remained firm in his
beliefs and seldom wavered. He had enormous personal courage and quiet
confidence in his own judgment. "Sooner or later, life confronts each of us with problems
that seem beyond our abilities and asks us to meet them anyway. Whether from illness or business gone bad, or in some other form, eventually we must dig deep to
see what we are made of. These
'impossible' challenges reveal our character and give us the opportunity to
surprise ourselves. President Truman
did it, and so can we." (Copyright (c) 2006, all rights reserved.
Contact Humbert at www.philiphumbert.com
or email to [email protected]) KAY WARREN:
CHRISTIANS MUST DO MORE TO COMBAT AIDS, COMFORT VICTIMS This article by Kay Warren recently appeared on CNN.com. In the article, she encourages Christians
and non-Christians alike to get involved in the global battle against
HIV/AIDS. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/05/warren.aids/index.html VERSE TO PONDER "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like
the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19 CONSIDER "I think that if God forgives us we must forgive
ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like
setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than
Him." C. S. Lewis Sometimes Here are three quick lessons: 1)
2)
3)
Christian reactions tend to be
unproductive: cocooning, combating and conforming won't do. We've been called
to be a loving transforming presence in the word. There is a better way: A.
We need to create a richer culture by
producing art that tells the truth and does so in a craftsman-like way; B.
We need to counterculture, resisting and
fleeing when appropriate; and C.
We need to communicate like ambassadors
in culture, mastering the language of faith and culture and connecting the
two.... Read this article in full at http://www.dickstaub.com
(June 6th, 2006) FROM CHRISTIANITY
TODAY MOVIES The editor went to http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/news/nativity.html CHRISTIAN FILM RATED
PG TO WARN OF 'THEMATIC ELEMENTS' by Terry Mattingly The Motion Picture Association of America is crystal clear when
it describes why its "PG" rating exists -- it's a warning flag. "The theme of a PG-rated film may itself call for parental
guidance," the online explanation of the rating system states.
"There may be some profanity in these films. There may be some violence or brief nudity.
... The PG rating, suggesting parental guidance, is thus an alert for
examination of a film by parents before deciding on its viewing by their
children. Obviously such a line is
difficult to draw." "What the MPAA said is that the movie contained strong
'thematic elements' that might disturb some parents," said Kris Fuhr,
vice president for marketing at Provident Films, which is owned by Sony
Pictures. Which "thematic
elements" earned this squeaky-clean movie its PG? "Facing the Giants" is too
evangelistic. The MPAA, Fuhr noted, tends to offer cryptic explanations for
its ratings. In this case, she was told that it "decided that the movie
was heavily laden with messages from one religion and that this might offend
people from other religions. It's
important that they used the word 'proselytizing' when they talked about
giving this movie a PG.... "It's kind of interesting that faith has joined that list
of deadly sins that the MPAA board wants to warn parents to worry
about".... Read this in full at http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=23426 SUPERMAN MOVIE: Does Superman, the decades-old superhero who stands for truth,
justice, and the American way, have direct parallels with Jesus Christ? Stephen Skelton says yes. Skelton believes the upcoming movie on the
superhero, Superman Returns, will be an effective tool for leading others to
Christ. He recommends all believers,
pastors, and laypeople alike, grapple with the imagery and metaphors the
writers intentionally plugged into the story, because it will give them a
unique opportunity to discuss this phenomenon with spiritual seekers. http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9501 CONSIDER "If a poet or an artist puts himself into his Productions
he is criticized. But that is exactly
what God does, he does so in Christ.
And precisely that is Christianity.
The creation was really only completed when God included himself in
it. Before the coming of Christ, God
was certainly in the creation, but as an invisible sign, like the watermark
in paper. But the creation was
completed by the Incarnation because God thereby included himself in
it." Søren Kierkegaard
(1813-1855) VERSE TO PONDER "I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my
circumstances. I'm just as happy with
little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy
whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make
it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:12-13 (The Message) THIS WEEK'S HYMN:
COME, O SPIRIT Words: John A. Dalles, 1983 Music: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1872 Come, O Spirit, with Your sound Like a wind, quick rushing; Come from heaven and stir our hearts, Each disciple touching! Mold our actions to Your will, You our service giving; Move within our fellowship, Transform now our living! Come, O Spirit, with Your flame, Leaping tongues of fire; Come, and with Your glorious light All our thoughts inspire! Rest upon each servant's head Till each one is speaking Of our Christ, the Holy One All the earth is seeking. Come, O Spirit, fill Your church, Making strong our mission; Fill Your daughters and your sons With a mighty vision, Till the great and glorious day When the whole creation Sings Your praise as Lord and King, Giver of salvation! COME, O SPIRIT (c) 1990 John A. Dalles. Used by permission. >from CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/s/cospirit.htm
GOD FAQ Question 76: What is repentance unto life? Answer: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the
heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby, out of the sight
and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness
of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ to such as
are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from
them all to God, purposing and endeavoring constantly to walk with him in all
the ways of new obedience. http://www.shortercatechism.com/ ON PRAYER "The first requirement in prayer is to believe. Believe
that God is and that "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Believe that God is alive and therefore has
power-not only for Peter's deliverance, but for ours. Believe that God is
love and that He cares for His own.
Believe that God is power and therefore no power can stand against
Him. Believe that God is truth and
therefore cannot lie. Believe that God
is kind and that He will never abdicate His throne or fail in His
promise." Leonard Ravenhill 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. SHARE YOUR FAVORITE
WEBSITES Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why. Connect 4 online game http://members.iinet.net.au/~pontipak/connect.html Interactive Photo Mosaic (just keep clicking) http://interact10ways.com/usa/information_interactive.htm Websites for mobile devices http://www.zondervan.com/mobile 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.) Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
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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