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Connections Connecting man to
man to God! Week of Issue 118 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. "Pride
only leads to arguments." Prov. CONSIDER "Life
affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of
the next generation." C. Everett
Koop WHAT GOOD IS KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT FEAR OF
GOD? by Thomas à
Kempis (1427) He who
follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord (John The teaching
of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has
His spirit will find in it a hidden manna.
Now, there are many who hear the gospel often but care little for it
because they have not the spirit of Christ.
Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to
pattern his whole life on that of Christ....
This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through
contempt of the world. Read more at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/130/52.0.html MARRIAGE "The
basis of marriage is not mutual affection or feelings of emotions and
passions that we associate with love, but a vocation, elected to build
together a house for God in this world, to be like the cherubs whose outstretched
wings sheltered the Ark of the Covenant and created a space for Yahweh to be
present." Henri Nouwen, Clowning
in THE NEED FOR STRONG MALE LEADERSHIP IN
CRISIS by Kenny Luck When a crisis
hits, families, churches, and nations need men to step up and be the leaders
that God has called them to be. Kenny
recounts how he and his brother had to shoulder the weight of leadership last
year when their mother passed away.... http://www.pastors.com/rwmt/default.asp?id=258&artid=9432&expand=1 START YOUR DAYS "I
pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ -- savior of my soul, master of my life --
and to his command, "Love one another, as I have loved you." I pledge to live this day by faith in God,
to love him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to bear the Holy
Spirit fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control." c. 2002,
[email protected] MOST IMPORTANT Follow two
Oklahomans on a 2-week faith-sharing trip through Western Central United
States. On the site, you'll find a
travel blog and an opportunity tap into their "roadcast" where
they'll broadcast a gospel presentation on FM radio to those near them on the
road. From the
site: "What's the most important thing that has ever happened to
you?" When we ask that question
to people, we receive many different answers.
What would be your answer? Was
it the day you got the job you have now?
Your wedding day? The day your
kids were born? The most important
thing that can happen to you is the result of the most important thing God
has ever done for you".... Go to
the site at http://www.mostimportantthing.com/ WATCH OUT! "Satan
never plays fair; he is a deceiver and a liar. He does not like you or me, and it might
surprise you that he has a plan of destruction for your life. The only hope for people is to know the
true and living God." Wayde
Goodall, The TENNIS August
28-Sept. 10 http://www.usopen.org/home/default.sps GOING, GOING, GREEN by Eviana
Hartman "If
skyrocketing oil prices, the booming world population and the threat of
global warming hadn't already grabbed people's attention, last week's record
power demand and air-quality warnings certainly served as a reminder that the
world faces pressing questions about its climate and energy use. "While
"doing something for the environment" once meant tossing a
newspaper in a recycling bin or buying organic lettuce, now nearly every
aspect of daily life -- from the toilets we flush to the flowers that
decorate our dinner tables -- is being radically rethought. Entrepreneurs, scientists, and thinkers are
working to transform industry so that it functions more like nature,
lessening pollution and inefficiency while propelling the economy
forward. Here are 13 ideas -- some
far-fetched and far-off, others thriving right here, right now -- that can
make the world a greener place"....
Read this in full at http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_article&mode=S&NewsID=5521 THE FALL OF PHONAK In another
chapter of the downward saga in what was once this year's Tour de France
glory story, the Swiss-based Phonak team announced it will cease all
operations at the end of this year.
The last straw for the scandal-plagued team was the positive dope test
of its leader, Tour de France winner Floyd Landis. Team owner Andy Rihs said, "As a
passionate cyclist I am bitterly disappointed that the sport of cycling
apparently has become a synonym for doping".... Read this in full at http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/article/0,6802,s1-7-127-15010-1,00.html LET US NOW PRAISE HONEST MEN by Roy
Berendsohn "Somewhere
along the line, I don't know when, I stopped servicing my vehicles. There
just wasn't enough time, with two kids, volunteer work, four hours of
commuting a day, a widowed father living three states away. Time is precious and, not being
particularly good at auto service or being well equipped for it, I just
turned it over in carte blanche fashion to my mechanic and friend, Kris Sassi
of Riverview Service Center, a typical small town car repair
business".... Read this in full
at http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog/automotive/3553797.html WOW! You won't
believe your eyes on these quick-change artists. This video is from a TV show where people
said, "Hey, I have talent!" and judges would decide if they did or
did not. When this couple did their act,
there was no question. Everyone was
floored. The video is about two
minutes and includes some snappy music.
They put on an incredible act. http://www.youtube.com/v/RB-wUgnyGv0 LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) 1.
Name the five wealthiest people in the
world. 2.
Name the last five Heisman trophy
winners. 3.
Name the last five winners of the Miss
America contest. 4.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel
or Pulitzer prize. 5.
Name the last half dozen Academy Award
winners for best actor and actress. 6.
Name the last decade's worth of World
Series winners. How did you
do? The point is, none of us remember
the headliners of yesterday. These are
no second-rate achievers. They're the
best in their fields. But the applause
dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with
their owners. Here's
another quiz. See how you do on this one: 1.
List a few teachers who aided your
journey through school. 2.
Name three friends who have helped you
through a difficult time. 3.
Name five people who have taught you
something worthwhile. 4.
Think of a few people who have made you
feel appreciated and special. 5.
Think of five people you enjoy spending
time with. 6.
Name half a dozen heroes whose stories
have inspired you. Easier? The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with
the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They're the ones that care. VERSE TO PONDER "Remember
those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Heb. 13:3 (NIV) CONSIDER "There
is nothing that is more dangerous to your own salvation, more unworthy of God
and more harmful to your own happiness, than that you should be content to
remain as you are." Francois
Fenelon, French Archbishop, 444 Surprising Quotes about Jesus 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE GOING TO
HEAVEN by David
Bordon & Tom Winters Heaven. If you're a committed follower of Jesus
Christ, it's your final, glorious destination. But there's a life to live "down
here" in the meantime, and too many of us drift through it without any
real sense of purpose or joy. While
this world is full of heartache, God still wants us to be people of faith and
hope ( 1.
Give Away Something Valuable 2.
Reconnect with a Long-Lost Friend 3.
Spend a Day Alone with God 4.
Touch an Untouchable 5.
Dance with Abandon 6.
Refuse to Retire 7.
Change Churches for One Sunday 8.
Select a Life Verse 9.
Bake Bread from Scratch 10.
Refuse to Act Your Age Read about
these in full at http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2006/004/4.20.html THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT by Lois
Mowday Rabey "My
grandson Justin is on the verge of taking his first unassisted steps. For several weeks he has stood alone
confidently for moments at a time, squealing with delight at the
accomplishment of balancing his 10-month-old body on his own little feet. "Now he
seems to be considering the advisability of moving one of those firmly
planted little feet in front of the other.
He gets very quiet, knits his brow, and studies his parents, who are
coaxing him to venture toward them. "'You
can do it! Come on, Justin,' his
mother encourages him, arms outstretched to catch him if he stumbles. 'Look at you! What a big boy!' his father declares. "Justin
responds with thoughtful trust -- complete trust in his parents but measured
caution in his own ability. When he
does finally take that first step, I am confident that his parents' loving,
consistent, cheering presence will be a major ingredient in his
decision." We all live
in a world of daily challenges, but the encouragement of others helps us move
forward in faith despite uncertainty.
In this month's Disciple Journal article, "The Power of
Encouragement," Lois Mowday Rabey explores our need for encouragement
and shows us how we can offer this invaluable gift to others.... http://www.navpress.com/EPubs/DisplayArticle/1/1.97.13.html?aCode=NL80806 ARE YOU IN TROUBLE? "Make
sure you are in trouble for Jesus, because if the idols that are surrounding
you are leaving you alone, chances are that's because you are worshipping
them and not walking the way of the cross." Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, Faith that Endures CATS & TEENAGERS 1.
Neither teenagers nor cats turn their
heads when you call them by name. 2.
No matter what you do for them, it's not
enough. Indeed, all humane efforts are
barely adequate to compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and
foot. 3.
You rarely see a cat walking outside of
the house with an adult human being, and it can be safely said that no
teenager in his or her right mind wants to be seen in public with his or her
parents. 4.
Even if you tell jokes as well as Jay
Leno, neither your cat nor your teen will ever crack a smile. 5.
No cat or teenager shares your taste in
music. 6.
Cats and teenagers can lie on the
living-room sofa for hours on end without moving, barely breathing. 7.
Cats have nine lives. Teenagers live as
if they did. 8.
Cats and teenagers yawn in exactly the
same manner, communicating that ultimate human ecstasy -- a sense of complete
and utter boredom. 9.
Cats and teenagers do not improve
anyone's furniture. 10.
Cats that are free to roam outside
sometimes have been known to return in the middle of the night to deposit a
dead animal in your bedroom. Teenagers
are not above that sort of behavior. Thus, if you
must raise teenagers, the best sources of advice are not other parents, but
veterinarians. It's also a good idea
to keep a guidebook on cats at hand at all times. And remember, above all else, put out the
food and don't make any sudden moves in their direction. When they make up their minds, they will
finally come to you for some affection and comfort, and it will be a
triumphant moment for all concerned. MERCK MANUAL OF MEDICAL INFO Here's a free
online manual that explains disorders, who is likely to get them, their
symptoms, how they're diagnosed, how they might be prevented, and how they
can be treated. It also provides
information about prognosis. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/index.html KNOWLEDGE IS MONEY What you
don't know may be costing you money, especially when it comes to home energy use. Save up to 30% a year on your energy bills
by following a few simple steps in "Power$mart: The Power Is In Your
Hands" from the http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/power-smarts/ CONSIDER "That
man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has
gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has
filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than
he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who
looked for the best in others and gave the best he had." Robert Lewis Stevenson VERSE TO PONDER "Do not
merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 THIS WEEK'S HYMN: RISE IN THE STRENGTH
OF GOD Words: Music: Sidney
Nicholson, 1916 Rise in the
strength of God, And face
life's uphill way, The steps
which other feet have trod You tread
today. Press onward,
upward still, To win your
way at last, With better
hope and stronger will Than in the
past. Life's work
more nobly wrought, Life's race
more bravely run, Life's daily
conflict faced and fought, Life's duty
done. >from CyberHymnal
at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/i/s/riseisog.htm GOD FAQ Question 86:
What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the
invisible church enjoy immediately after death? Answer: The
communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church
enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their souls are then made perfect
in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the
face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their
bodies, which even in death continue united to Christ, and rest in their
graves as in their beds, till at the last day they be again united to their
souls. Whereas the souls of the wicked
are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter
darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till
the resurrection and judgment of the great day. 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/ ON PRAYER "Declare
a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in
the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the
Lord." Joel 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. How Stuff
Works http://www.howstuffworks.com/index.htm One-stop reference
site 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.) I'm not a
complete idiot; some parts are missing. Thanks for welcoming CONNECTIONS
into your in-box! 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. Quick Links... · Here's How to Download & Share Your Favorite Music email: [email protected] phone:
1-773-224-5683 --- 1-773-410-1483 To subscribe to CONNECTIONS, send a
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