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Connections Connecting man to man to God! Week of Issue 110 CONNECTIONS is the opt-in newsletter for the men & friends
of "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the
glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is
yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all."
1 Chronicles 29:11 CONSIDER "The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of
more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." Thomas Moore KEEPING YOUR FAITH ON
COURSE by Sigmund Brouwer While this is a golf story, in the end, it is about learning how
a man can live his faith quietly and calmly by repeating simple yet difficult
body mechanics in a professional sport known for pressure and unpredictability,
where there are no safety nets for athletes who fail to perform. My friend, Jack Countryman, publishes golf books, and he had
been able to arrange a game with another guy. The three of us had agreed to a
simple match play format with one condition: Hole by hole, Jack and I would
pit the best of our two scores against what the other guy shot. Yes, it was
unfair, but Jack and I were too proud and too optimistic to ask for the extra
strokes we would badly need.... Read
this in full at http://www.newmanmagazine.com/faith/Articles/keeping-faith-course.html LAWS OF GOLF LAW 1: No
matter how bad your last shot was, you should have inner peace knowing that a
worse one is yet to come. (This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since
it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a
summer and, eventually, a lifetime.) LAW 2: Your
best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round
ever. The probability of the latter
increases with the number of people you tell about the former. LAW 3: Brand
new golf balls are water-magnetic.
(Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it's a known fact that the
more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water. Expensive clubs have been known to be partly
made with this most unusual natural alloy.) LAW 4: Golf
balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of
the universe and should be cut down. LAW 5: No
matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must
solemnly chant "You looked up," or invoke the wrath of the
universe. LAW 6: The
higher a golfer's handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an
instructor. LAW 7: Every
par-3 hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its
desire. LAW 8:
Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man. LAW 9: Palm
trees eat golf balls. LAW 10: Sand
is alive. It will swallow golf balls. LAW 11: Golf
carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse. LAW 12: A
golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your
group. Likewise, a group you
accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional
wrestler, a convicted murderer, and an IRS agent, or some similar
combination. LAW 13: All
3-woods have a mind of their own. LAW 14: Golf
balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another,
particularly out of bounds or into the water (See Law three). LAW 15: A
severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty. LAW 16:
"Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy
putt." Similarly, "tough
break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one." LAW 17: The
person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you. LAW 18: The
last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it
really should be. LAW 19: Golf
should be given up at least twice per month. LAW 20: All
vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset. AN INTERVIEW WITH
BILL MOYERS by Molly Marsh What is prayer? Why do
some kill in the name of religion? How
should we talk about religion in public life?
Journalist Bill Moyers put these and other questions to writers Salman
Rushdie, Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Mary Gordon, Jeanette Winterson,
Richard Rodriguez, and others for his latest PBS series, Faith &
Reason. The topics are diverse, the
writers even more so. He spoke with
Sojourners associate editor Molly Marsh about the 7-part series, which began
June 23. Sojourners: How did you
choose this particular set of writers to interview for the series? Bill Moyers: These were
people invited to the recent PEN World Voices festival of writers. PEN is the
international literary and human rights organization of poets, essayists, and
novelists, an international consortium of independent writers who come
together every year to talk about hot-button issues. Salman Rushdie, the former president of the
PEN American Center, gathered these writers to see if they could imagine a
different conversation about faith and reason than the one going on right
now, which is driven by passionate fervor, fundamentalism -- what he calls a "political
religion." All over the world,
the consequence of that collision between faith and reason is tragic.... Read this interview in full at http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_article&mode=C&NewsID=5442 WORLD CUP Until July 9 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/index.html Kickoff 2006 -
Kick-Start Your Faith June 26-July 9 http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html
THE TRADITIONAL
FAMILY IS THREATENED--BUT BY WHOM? by John W. Whitehead "While evangelicals in the so-called "Bible Belt"
states have been leading the charge to protect and defend the institution of
marriage, divorce rates in that region of America are higher than in
traditionally liberal states....A study released by the Barna Group in 2004
shows that the incidence of divorce among "born-again Christians"
is identical to that among "those who are not born again." According to this survey, 35% of born-again
Christians who have married eventually divorce. That is identical to the
figure for married adults who do not identify themselves as "born-again
Christians." This same survey
also indicates that relatively few divorced Christians got divorced before
their religious conversion, and that among divorced Christians, nearly
one-quarter get divorced two or more times".... Read this commentary in full at http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06192006/198070 LEADERSHIP TIPS
(BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) 6 Critical Questions by John D. Hull My friend Paul Borthwick is a feisty and brilliant New Englander
who has written several dozen books, most of them surrounding the concerns of
strategically sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. About a decade ago, Paul gave an address that I heard which has
stayed with me to this day. He
developed "6 Critical Questions Which Shape Your World View." With Paul's permission, I have spoken on
this same topic now dozens of times.
It's the best summary of how to quickly frame up how an individual
sees the world. Before I lay out the 6 questions, keep in mind that worldviews
really do matter. The way we see the
world, current events, interpret the news, the economy, the role of
government and business and charities, really is shaped by our view of the
world. Jesus Christ loved to ask his disciples questions. I think the questions were designed, in
part, to help them shape their worldview.
A vivid example of that is in Matthew 16:13-16. Jesus asked, "Who do people say the
son of man is?" And the disciples
answered with some of the things they had heard from those around them about
who those folks thought Jesus was.
Then Jesus narrowed his focus and said, "But what about you? Who do you say that I am?" Jesus knew the way they answered that
question would shape their entire lives.
He knew that their answer would dictate their very futures. So, what are those 6 questions Paul Borthwick poses? 1.
Who is Jesus Christ? - Is
Jesus the only way to heaven or is he just one way to heaven? The way we answer the "Jesus"
question is huge in how we see the world.
Is Jesus the way, the truth and the life or just another selection on
the salad bar of life? Jesus is the
hinge upon which everything in our Christian faith swings. 2.
Do I believe in heaven? - If
one believes in heaven, it translates into how you see life and death. It impacts how you view courage in tough
times and taking risks for the glory of God.
Belief in heaven promotes forgiveness, implies accountability, and
fosters hope. 3.
Do I believe in hell? -
Jesus spoke about hell more than he did heaven; and when he did he
used awful images like worms, fire, darkness and separation. If someone believes in a literal hell it
impacts their worldview, how they see the urgency in evangelism and
missions. We live in a world where
people have lost the concept that they will be judged before God. But is a lost concept equal to being a lost
truth? 4.
Do I believe Christianity is relevant to
my world? Does Christianity still have
a relevant presence in the world? The
way one views this issue is critical as to how one sees the world and the
world's problems. Does Christianity
have anything to say about terrorism?
The AIDS pandemic? Genetic
cloning or biotechnology? The
environment? Unemployment? Human rights violations? Third-world debt relief? What is your answer to these? Do you believe that the great perils of our
world need to be addressed through a Biblical voice? The way you answer that question shapes
your worldview. 5.
Do I believe God wants to use my
life? If one's view of God is that He
only uses others but could never use you, hat will shape your worldview. The opposite it true too. If you believe God can actually use you
that will make a difference in how you get up in the morning and face the
challenges of the day. 6.
Whose agenda will I live by? This is the issue of Lordship! Will I live by Christ's agenda or my
agenda? http://www.leadershipmoment.org VERSE TO PONDER "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 CONSIDER "One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger
and try to run away from it. If you do
that, you double the danger. But if
you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by
half. Never run away from
anything. Never!" Winston Churchill HOUSE CHURCH
INVOLVEMENT IS GROWING IN THE Americans are increasingly designing their lifestyles in ways
that meet their needs more efficiently.
This is true even in the spiritual realm, as evidenced by the rapid
growth of participation in house churches across the nation. Whereas most people continue to think of
"going to church" as attending a service at one of the many church
buildings located throughout their community, a new study from The Barna
Group shows that millions of adults are trying out new forms of spiritual
community and worship, with many abandoning the traditional forms
altogether. The study, based on interviews with more than 5,000 randomly
selected adults from across the nation, finds that 9% of adults attend a
house church during a typical week.
That's remarkable growth in the past decade, shooting up from just 1%
to near double-digit involvement. In
total, 1 out of 5 adults attends a house church at least once a month.... Read this in full at http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=241 DRIBBLING CIRCLES
AROUND JESUS Good question: What did Jesus mean when he said that we would do
greater things than he did? Answered by Darrell Bock An initial reading of John 14:12 leaves one startled: "I
tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been
doing. He will do even greater things than these." How is it possible to do greater works than
Jesus did? Consider just a few of his miracles. He healed the blind. He made the lame walk.
He raised the dead. He exorcized
demons. He made the deaf hear. He made the mute talk. He cleansed leprosy and
cured fever. He walked on water. He calmed the storm and multiplied food for
crowds of 4,000 and 5,000, not including women and children. In other words, Jesus exercised power over
nature, demons, disease, and death. (Mark So how could Jesus say that his followers would do greater
things? Read this answer in full at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/006/25.56.html GO SEE PIXAR'S
"CARS" David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "Pixar
continues to raise the bar with Cars, a delightful, family-friendly film with
a full tank of humor and emotion that is likely to leave its summer
competition in the dust. ... [G]iven our hectic world of fast food, express
lanes and high-speed Internet access, the film's gentle message charmingly
reminds us that on the highway of life it is important to slow down and
appreciate the scenery." http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/06mv105.htm Adam R. Holz (Plugged In) says it's "a terrific story. It's a blast to watch ... and it's loaded
with positive messages about selflessness, slowing down, enjoying life and
learning how to be a good friend. In a
world where image-conscious superstar athletes often hog the spotlight, Cars
reminds us why being a team player is ultimately more satisfying-and
significant-than being the center of attention." http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0002737.cfm "Cars has all the elements of an Oscar-winning movie,"
raves Lisa Rice (Crosswalk). "[A] perfect script with humor and heart,
an all-star cast, an adorable love story, state-of-the-art special effects
and a gripping score by a number of talented musicians. ... The cars seem
like people with whom you fall in love, and the love story is better than
anything that's on the silver screen this summer." http://www.crosswalk.com/fun/movies/1401490.html NEW GOLD COIN
ANNOUNCED The U.S. Mint is taking orders for new gold coins that have an
Indian chief on one side and a buffalo on the other. Officials believe they've found a winning
combination that will appeal to nostalgia buffs and investors. The coin will be slightly larger and
thicker than a Kennedy half dollar, will contain one ounce of gold and will
be designated a $50 gold piece. The
actual price will depend on the market price of an ounce of gold, plus
markups. The Mint will sell two versions of the coin: * A bullion coin, designed for investors. Starting Monday, the
Mint will sell the coin only to authorized buyers who will distribute the
coins to a network of several thousand local dealers -- coin shops, banks and
other financial institutions. The Mint
will base its sales price for this coin on the market price of gold and a
premium of about 3 percent; other markups in the distribution chain are
expected to push the final sales price to about 5% to 7.5% above the market
gold price. * A proof coin, which is aimed at collectors. This coin has a finer finish and a higher
quality strike. The Mint is setting
the initial price at $875 per proof coin and will only produce 300,000 of
them. Collectors can buy the proof coins directly from the Mint by
going to the Mint's website -- http://www.usmint.gov
-- or by calling 1-800-USA-Mint. The
site also has a listing of local dealers who will be selling the coins. CONSIDER "It is strange that in our praying we seldom ask for a
change of character, but always a change of circumstances." Unknown VERSE TO PONDER "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may
have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high
and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge
- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:17-19 THIS WEEK'S HYMN:
PRAISE OUR CREATOR Words: Fanny Crosby, 1895 Music: Theodore F. Seward, d. 1902 Praise our Creator and Savior eternal, Him Who redeemed us from death and the grave; Sing of His greatness, O hail and adore Him, Strong to deliver, and mighty to save. Refrain Praise Him, praise Him, Glory in the highest unto
Him ascribing; Praise Him, praise Him, Blessèd be His Name, our
Lord and King! Praise our Creator and gracious Defender, Rock where in safety we still may abide; He is our Shepherd, how gently He leads us, Where in the valley the cool waters glide. Refrain Praise our Creator, the Fountain of goodness, Now in His grandeur exalted above; Rest in His mercy and trust in His promise, Ever to keep us, upheld by His love. Refrain >from CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/o/c/pocreatr.htm GOD FAQ Question 78: Whence arises the imperfection of sanctification in
believers? Answer: The imperfection of sanctification in believers arises
from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual
lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with
temptations, and fall into many sins, are hindered in all their spiritual
services, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God. http://www.shortercatechism.com/ ON PRAYER "One use of prayer is to maintain in us a higher standard
and prevent our principles insensibly sinking to our practice, or to the
practice of the world around us."
Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893) 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. Library of Congress Reviews of Biblical Literature 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 you see God's
hand in everything, it's easy to leave everything in God's hands! 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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