Connecting man to man to God!

Week of July 23, 2006

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him."  Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

     CONSIDER

"Your vision has not truly captured your heart until it captures your wallet."  Andy Stanley, Visioneering

     BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND

July 28-31, Cooperstown, NY

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/events/hof/y2006/index.jsp

     WILLOW CREEK TOPS LIST OF 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL CHURCHES IN AMERICA

Willow Creek Community Church moved up as the number one most influential church in America in this year's list of the top 50 released by The Church Report.  Saddleback Church moved to 2nd. Next come North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA.; Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX; and Lakewood Church in Houston.  Most top 50 churches are located in the North Central and southern regions and only one in the Pacific Northwest.  Read more at

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060712/22895.htm

Also see

http://www.thechurchreport.com/mag_article.php?mid=672&mname=July

     CHURCH INFLUENCE: MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE

by Rebecca Barnes, editor, Church Central

I recently spotted a list of today's "50 Most Influential Churches."  Now, this top 50 list was compiled by surveying 2,000 church leaders of the largest non-Catholic congregations in the United States.  Among other things, the Report noted that 40% of these churches aren't affiliated with a denomination.  It also said the consensus of these pastors was that while they don't share a universal view of biblical doctrine, they represent "the passion and sense of missions mandated in the New Testament."  We're talking behemoths; topping the list are five megachurches that average more than 16,000 in weekend attendance.  Their comment seems predictable and may be interesting to churches of like-kind.  But should a bunch of mega-church pastors commending one another's ministerial influence interest anyone else -- namely, any other church leaders?....  The church's ultimate influence should be felt in the world. If we are interested in making an impact on the world, the ultimate top 50 list would have to come from people outside the church.  Or, at least people formerly outside the church....

Read this in full at

http://www.churchcentral.com/cgi-bin/avantgo/avantgo_article.pl?id=24396

     TED W. ENGSTROM DIES AT 90

Dr. Ted W. Engstrom, president emeritus of World Vision International, past president of Youth for Christ International and former general manager of Zondervan, died July 14 at his home in Bradbury, California.  He was 90.  A gifted preacher, an astute manager and the author of more than 50 books, Dr. Engstrom was a giant in American evangelical circles for more than half a century. As executive vice president and later president and chief executive officer of World Vision, he helped turn a small Christian agency focused on war orphans into one of the world's largest and most extensive relief and development organizations.  He served as vice president for 19 years and president for two, retiring in 1987.  Read more at World Vision

http://tinyurl.com/fb5sa

Also see

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/129/13.0.html

     THE MIDDLE EAST'S DEATH WISH - AND OURS

by David P. Gushee

Conflict in the Middle East is nothing new.  In fact, it is a chronic state of affairs.  But developments in recent days may foreshadow a level of regional conflict that has not been seen in decades, if ever.

One has to wonder sometimes whether a kind of death wish will eventually prevail in the Middle East over the more rational desire for peace and survival.  It is often said that "everyone" really wants peace, and that if diplomacy is skillful enough and statesmen are wise enough, then peace will prevail.

I think it is more accurate to say that the desire for peace, while God-given, competes in the human heart with the desire for destruction-at least, the destruction of one's enemies.  Reading Freud recently, I was reminded that in his later work, he set up the problem as the Eros instinct (which fosters life) versus the aggressive instinct (which seeks destruction).  Some thought Freud too pessimistic, but his basic insight here is certainly congenial to an appropriate Christian pessimism about human nature.  Peace, as Augustine said, is what we were made for and what we (normally) yearn for.  But we do have a strand within human nature that licks its chops at the prospect of our enemy's destruction, even if it results in our own destruction as well....  Read this in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/128/53.0.html

     ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW: EVANGELICAL BLINDNESS ON LEBANON

by Martin Accad

"....If, like me, you had lived through the 17 years of Lebanese civil strife from 1975 to 1991 and were presently facing the real and gruesome prospect of another extended conflict, you'd be far from hoping and believing in any benevolent and sincere peace efforts of any external broker, supposedly neutral.

"Having come to the U.S. at the wrong time to teach a course for two weeks, I find myself at the wrong place at the wrong time, stranded after my country's airport was sent up in flames by Israeli jets.  There are two Israeli soldiers imprisoned by Hezbollah hands, 10,000 Arabs in Israeli jails, and one poor soul imprisoned in the U.S. by human madness and bloodthirsty governments.

"I am angry at self-centered Hezbollah, which has done the inadmissible of taking a unilateral war decision without consulting the Lebanese government of which it is part, never giving a second thought to the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of Lebanese who will perish as a result of its selfish decision.  I am angry that citizens of a nation like Israel, who have so suffered at the hands of others, would allow themselves such an out-of-proportion reaction, oh-so-far from the "eye-for-an-eye and tooth-for-a-tooth" principle that we might have forgiven them.  I am just as angry at -- I have lost hope in -- the international community that is keeping silent and not even budging with an official condemnation of this senseless instinct of extermination...."  Read this in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/129/42.0.html

     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)

New Yorker article on the ministry of Rick Warren

by Malcolm Gladwell

Rick Warren's great talent is organizational.  He's not a theological innovator.  When he went from door to door, 25 years ago, he wasn't testing variants on the Christian message.  As far as he was concerned, the content of his message was non-negotiable.  Theologically, Warren is a straight-down-the-middle evangelical.  What he wanted to learn was how to construct an effective religious institution.  His interest was sociological.  Putnam compares Warren to entrepreneurs like Ray Kroc and Sam Walton, pioneers not in what they sold but in how they sold.  The contemporary thinker Warren cites most often in conversation is the management guru Peter Drucker, who has been a close friend of his for years.  Before Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life, he wrote a book called The Purpose Driven Church, which was essentially a how-to guide for church builders.  He's run hundreds of training seminars around the world for ministers of small-to-medium-sized churches.  At the beginning of the Internet boom, he created a website called pastors.com, on which he posted his sermons....  Read this in full at

http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9636

     VERSE TO PONDER

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy."  Ephesians 5:25-26

     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 (1686-1761), A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life [1728]

     IS THERE A CHRISTIAN THEME IN 'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN?'

This is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," (Fox News) July 13, 2006.

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: "Back of the Book" segment tonight, already "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" has grossed about $350 million worldwide.  It's only been out a week.  That is almost miraculous.  And while we're on that subject, the website MovieMinistry.com says there is a Christian theme running through the pirate movie, which may be news to some of our swashbuckling friends.  Joining us now from San Diego is Dr. Marc Newman, the president of MovieMinistry.com.

DR. MARC NEWMAN, PRESIDENT, MOVIEMINISTRY.COM: Hi, Bill.

O'REILLY: I didn't see "The Dead Man's Chest."  I did see the first one.  I didn't see a lot of church going in there or praying as Johnny Depp cut people to ribbons, but maybe I missed it.  So what's going on in this one?

NEWMAN: Well, all of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies so far have had deep spiritual content in them.  The easiest way to slip it in is by making sure that people are having a good time.  "Dead Man's Chest" is about how people in peril, wager their souls and why people are so interested in forestalling some kind of day of judgment.  So all the way through the film we have people gambling for their souls or selling their souls to Davy Jones with the express purpose of holding off the time in which they're going to have to meet their maker.

O'REILLY: All right.  So I get it.  None of the pirates wants to die because they think they're all going to hell so they're trying to delay the grim reaper.  But there isn't any reference outright to Christianity, is there?

NEWMAN: Well, there's a wonderful scene very early in the film where a couple of the pirates are rowing in a boat.  They've just escaped from jail. And they used to be these immortal ghosts from the first film, but they have been humanized, as a result of getting their treasure back and having their blood sacrificed, which happens in the first movie.  And so the guy is looking at a Bible.  Now, he's reading it upside down because he's illiterate.  But the guy asks him, he says, "You know, we're not immortal anymore, so now we have to take care of our immortal souls."

Read this interview in full at

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203549,00.html

Also see

http://www.movieministry.com/

     A DOG'S DIARY

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!

8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!

9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!

Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!

2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!

3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!

4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!

6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!

7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!

8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!

9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!

11 pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!

     A CAT'S DIARY

Day 183 of my captivity.

My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.  They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal.  The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture.  Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded.  Maybe I should try this at the top of the stairs.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair.  I must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts.  They only cooed and condescended about what a good little kitty cat I was.  This is not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices.  I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event.  However, I could hear the noise and smell the food.  More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing something called "allergies."  Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.  The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return.  He is obviously a half-wit.  The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant.  He speaks with them regularly, and I am certain he reports my every move.  Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.  But I can wait.

It's only a matter of time.

     PROOF THAT GOD LOVES BALD MEN!

(Slate) "Some skeptical readers doubted that my Bible reading would last past Exodus.  'Oh, it's all thrills and giggles when you're dealing with the Ten Plagues and the Tower of Babel -- but wait till you get to Leviticus!'  So, it was with trepidation and a large cup of coffee that I cracked open Leviticus (while on vacation, no less!  How's that for commitment?).  I'm happy to report that it's not quite as awful as advertised"....

http://www.slate.com/id/2145574

     CONSIDER

"It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates his presence to men."  C.S. Lewis

     VERSE TO PONDER

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"  Mark 8:36

     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: GREAT KING OF NATIONS, HEAR OUR PRAYER

Words: John H. Gurney, 1838

Music: Day's Psalter, 1563

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,

While at Thy feet we fall,

And humbly with united cry

To Thee for mercy call;

The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine,

O turn us not away;

But hear us from Thy lofty throne,

And help us when we pray.

Our fathers' sins were manifold,

And ours no less we own,

Yet wondrously from age to age

Thy goodness has been shown;

When dangers, like a stormy sea,

Beset our country round,

To Thee we looked, to Thee we cried,

And help in Thee was found.

With one consent we meekly bow

Beneath Thy chastening hand,

And, pouring forth confession meet,

Mourn with our mourning land;

With pitying eye behold our need,

As thus we lift our prayer;

Correct us with Thy judgments, Lord,

Then let Thy mercy spare.

>from CyberHymnal at

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/k/gkonahop.htm

     GOD FAQ

Question 82: What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

Answer: The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life, immediately after death, and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment.

http://www.shortercatechism.com/

     SPIRITUAL WINGS

Receive daily meditational ponderments capsulized as simple one-liners in your e-mailbox as yet another path to spark the soul in thought. Includes a daily spiritual acronym; a weekly spiritual affirmation, a weekly spiritually oriented artwork, a weekly spiritual sharing, a weekly spiritual prayer, a weekly spiritual poem, a weekly spiritually oriented joke, and a weekly spiritually oriented cartoon. Ecumenical, nondenominational.

-"May the road always lead, where you need to be."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpiritualWings/

     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.

WANTED:
Honest contractor to offer professional advice on a problem with water seepage in the basement.
Options needed.
Contact: Frank Coleman @ frankcoleman @yahoo.com or 773-410-1483

     SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES

Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.

The P.E.A.C.E. Plan

http://www.thepeaceplan.com/

Gas-saving tips

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/driving/articles/106842/article.html

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 tongue weighs little but few can hold it.

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

[email protected]

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