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Connecting man to
man to God! Week of Issue
112 CONNECTIONS
is the opt-in newsletter
for the men & friends of Minister Frank Coleman. It's a periodic service that helps connect
you with God and with other men. 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 you change your email address and want to keep
subscribing to CONNECTIONS. "The
whole point of what we're urging is simply love -- love uncontaminated by
self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God." 1 Timothy 1:5 (Msg) CONSIDER "The
history of all the great characters of the Bible is summed up in this one
sentence: They acquainted themselves with God, and acquiesced in His will in
all things." Richard Cecil ARE YOU AN ACTIVIST FOR YOUR FAITH? "We are
never more powerful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus than when we ourselves
are following Jesus." Os Guinness "Here
are the weapons of Jesus' Kingdom: rakes, brooms, listening ears, open hands,
generous hearts, and emptying wallets. Jesus' idea is that when someone is
saved it is Good News for everybody.
It is Good News for their neighbors -- whether their neighbors are
Hindu, Atheist, or Muslim. It is Good
News for the office. It is Good News
for the school. If the Gospel isn't
Good News for everybody, it isn't Good News for anybody!" John Ortberg, in
a March 12 message to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "Compassionate
service is not only a command for all churches, it
is also an easy way for people to connect with others as they serve
together. You don't have to be a
Christian to serve those in need, but often those
serving alongside Christ-followers see a supernatural love and motivation
that attracts them to Christ and his community." John Burke , No Perfect People Allowed:
Creating a Come-as-You-Are Culture in the Church by "Sin is
blatant mutiny against God, and either sin or God must die in my life. The
New Testament brings us right down to this one issue -- if sin rules in me,
God's life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be
killed. There is nothing more fundamental than that. The culmination of sin was the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ, and what was true in the history of God on Earth will also
be true in your history and in mine -- that is, sin will kill the life of God
in us. We must mentally bring
ourselves to terms with this fact of sin. It is the only explanation why
Jesus Christ came to Earth, and it is the explanation of the grief and sorrow
of life." Oswald Chambers, My
Utmost for His Highest THE PURPOSE DRIVEN COVENANT Today I am
stepping across the line. I'm tired of
waffling and I'm finished with wavering, I've made my choice, the verdict is
in, and my decision is irrevocable.
I'm going God's way. There's no
turning back now! I will live
the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet
for God's glory. I will use my life to
celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family,
demonstrate his love, and communicate his word. Since my past
has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or
energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing,
useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to
maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his
family. Because this
life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth,
"we" over "me", character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and
pleasures. I know what matters most
and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do
the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today. I won't be
captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise,
frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the
devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines
or those running by me. When times get
tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or
backslide. I'll just keep moving
forward by God's grace. I'm
Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will
not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race. I'm a trophy
of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for
everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me. http://www.saddleback.com/flash/default.htm AUTHOR RICK WARREN INVITED TO SPEAK IN North Korean
officials have invited bestselling author Rick Warren to preach to at least
15,000 people in the communist country, a spokesperson from http://www.abpnews.com/1192.article Also read
Rick Warren's blog during his trip Rick Warren
named by Newsweek as one of 15 People Who Make America Great http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13530551/site/newsweek/?page=5 EXCERPT FROM 'the liberator' by Rob Lacey ...."The
Spirit of God is coursing through every part of me. He's commissioned me to announce the
breaking news-fantastic news for the poor!
He's sent me to liberate those slammed up in dark prisons. He's sent
me to liberate the blind from their darkness.
He's sent me to liberate those just existing under the weight of
oppressive forces. He's sent me to
announce the news that this is the era of God doing people good." Jesus hands
The Complete Works of Isaiah back to the altar boy and sits down to coach the
congregation. All eyes are locked onto
him like wisdom-seeking viewfinders. His sermon is just, "Today! All these words have come to life. Right
here. Right now. In 3-D.".... (See Luke 4:18-21.) http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310258179 TOUR DE Now-July 23 http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR GAME July 11 ( http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/events/all_star/y2006/index.jsp ABOUT 'SUPERMAN' "There's
a bit of the Moses story in the origin of Superman-the parents who send their
child downriver to fulfill his destiny. There's a very strong Christian
allegory as well, particularly in our film, which is about saviors and
sacrifice. I was very conscious of that.
But [Siegel and Shuster] were born of immigrants, and Superman is very
much the ultimate immigrant. That's
what I think it's really about-being an outsider." Superman Returns director Bryan Singer
[Newsweek, 'SUPERMAN RETURNS' AS A SYMBOLIC JESUS "Superman
Returns" is as moving as Mel Gibson's "Passion," and possibly
more affecting, writes Beliefnet's reviewer,
Stephen Skelton. Less literal than
"The Passion," it speaks of Christ through symbolism, which is harder
for nonbelievers to dismiss.... Read
more at http://www.beliefnet.com/story/194/story_19418_1.html GET UP AND GO Devotional Key Bible
Verse: "I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to be
a blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26). Bonus I was in the
bar for a higher purpose. I'm a member
of a new church in a rural area where there's been none for almost 100
years. When we first built the church,
the locals were indifferent to our invitations to join us for worship. We soon realized they wouldn't be
interested in our faith until they knew we cared about them. So we decided to go out and make
friends.... Read this devotional at http://www.christianitytoday.com/moi/2006/004/jul/7.7.html ARE CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS GETTING HARDER TO
FIND? Could the
truly good friend be a fading phenomenon?
A new study finds more Americans than ever admitting to a decrease in
their social circle, with many saying they have no one to tell their troubles
to. The study, conducted by
sociologists at "The
evidence shows that Americans have fewer confidants, and those ties are also
more family-based than they used to be," study author Lynn Smith-Lovin, a professor of sociology at Duke, said in a
prepared statement. "This change
indicates something that's not good for our society. Ties with a close
network of people create a safety net. These ties also lead to civic engagement
and local political action," Smith-Lovin
adds.... Read more at http://healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=533485 LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) Warren Buffett's 5 Secrets of Success As the
world's richest investor (and second-richest person after Bill Gates), Warren
Buffett attracts a lot of attention for his
stock-market savvy. Unfortunately,
most people in business do not have the time, the skill or the money to
follow in his financial footsteps. But
just about anyone could learn and profit from Buffett's
business skills and philosophy. He's
unusually open about how he runs his business and lives his life. Buffett's
business philosophy and his own persona have been achieved by his adherence
to 5 not-so-secret secrets: Secret #1: Know your
strengths and weaknesses; admit your likes and dislikes. Secret #2: Don't take
yourself too seriously. But take what
you do -- especially for your stakeholders -- very seriously. Secret #3: Treat money
as a tool, not a ticket to immortality. Secret #4: Make friends
with the media. Dance to their tune
and let them crown you belle of the ball. Secret #5: Focus on the
fundamentals. Practice them with the
ruthless discipline of a master. Read more
about these at http://new.businesscommonsense.com/enews/fullStory.bsp?sid=31386&var=story VERSE TO PONDER "Give
thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he
has done and proclaim that his name is exalted." Isaiah 12:4 CONSIDER "In the
last analysis it is our conception of death which decides our answers to all
the questions life puts to us." Dag Hammarskjold ON THE JOURNEY TO GREATNESS by Andy
Crouch (Address to
the Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship on the occasion of Jeff Barneson's 49th birthday, I'm very
grateful for the modern advertising industry, because I've found that advertisers
tell us truths about ourselves that we might not say out loud. Not long ago a lavish 16-page booklet from
the motorcar manufacturer Jaguar tumbled out of my Economist magazine. It featured two-page spreads, beautifully
illustrated and cleverly worded, on each of the seven deadly sins -- lust,
envy, sloth, greed, and so forth -- assuring me that the Jaguar motorcar
excelled at fulfilling each one of them.
Where else could you find such honesty? Well, when I
arrived in If that were
not self-congratulatory enough, there was another, my favorite of them
all: "On the journey to
greatness, this is an inevitable stop." There's a lot
packed into that short sentence, and it shows that the purveyors of Bass Ale
certainly did their homework. They
understood some of our most cherished beliefs here in First, we are
on our way to greatness. The minister
here in the Read more at http://www.culture-makers.com/articles/on_the_journey_to_greatness TO: JESUS, SON OF JOSEPH Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop FROM: JORDAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Dear Sir: Thank you for
submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions
in your new organization. All of them
have now taken our battery of test; and we have not only run the results
through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them
with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. The profiles of all tests are included, and
you will want to study each of them carefully. As part of
our service and for your guidance, we make some general comments, much as an auditor
will include some general statements.
This is given as a result of staff consultation and comes without any
additional fee. It is the
staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background,
education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are
undertaking. They do not have the team
concept. We would recommend that you
continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven
capability. Simon Peters
is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of
leadership. The two brothers James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest
above company loyalty. Thomas
demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you
that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business
Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus have radical leanings, and they both registered a high
score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates,
however, shows great potential. He is
a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business
mind and has contacts in high places.
He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your comptroller
and right-hand man. All of the other
profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you
every success in your new venture. Sincerely
yours, FIVE STEPS HELP MEN LIVE LONGER A 16-year
study of almost 43,000 men, ages 40 to 75, was just published. Among its findings: the identification of
heart-healthy behaviors, such as keeping a body mass index (BMI) of less than
25 (the threshold for overweight) and exercising daily for at least 30
minutes. A healthy diet of fruits and
vegetables, cereal fiber, nuts, legumes, chicken, and fish, low-intake of
trans and saturated fats, and taking a multivitamin for at least five
years.... Read more at http://healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=533558 CONSIDER "We need
not despair of any man, so long as he lives.
For God deemed it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit
evil at all." VERSE TO PONDER "The heart
is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the
mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds
deserve." Jeremiah 17:9-10 THIS WEEK'S HYMN: O BROTHERS, LIFT YOUR
VOICES Words: Edward
H. Bickersteth, Jr., 1848 Music: D.
Evans, 1865 O brothers,
lift your voices, triumphant songs to raise; Till Heav'n
on high rejoices, and earth is filled with praise; Ten thousand
hearts are bounding, with holy hopes and free; The Gospel
trump is sounding, the trump of jubilee. O Christian
brothers, glorious shall be the conflict's close; The cross
hath been victorious, and shall be o'er its foes; Faith is our
battle token; our Leader all controls; Our trophies,
fetters broken; our captives, ransomed souls. Not unto us,
Lord Jesus: to Thee all praise be due, Whose
blood-bought mercy frees us, has freed our brethren, too. Not unto us:
in glory the angels catch the strain, And cast
their crowns before Thee exultingly again. Great God of
our salvation, Thy presence we adore; Praise,
glory, adoration be Thine forevermore; Still on in
conflict pressing on Thee Thy people call, Thee King of
kings confessing, Thee crowning Lord of all. >from
CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/b/l/oblyvoic.htm GOD FAQ Question 80:
Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace,
and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation? Answer: Such
as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience
before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the
truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in
themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing
witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly
assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein
unto salvation. http://www.shortercatechism.com/ ON PRAYER "None
can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those
who have learned it by personal experience." Martin Luther SOUND ADVICE ABOUT AGE-RELATED HEARING
LOSS If you're not
hearing as well as you used to, you're not alone. Age-related hearing loss occurs in one out
of every three http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/hearing/loss.htm 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. WANTED: SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES Tell us what
sites you find enjoyable and why. The Christian
Post American Film
Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/cheers.htm 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.) The easiest
way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement. 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,
773-410-1483 We offer 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.
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
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