MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 06/12/05
The Men’s Ministry e-mail
newsletter of
New
Our mission: Our mission is to lead
men to
Jesus Christ and provide
opportunity for
Christian men to grow in their
faith
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"Let
all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those
who love your name may rejoice in you."
Psalm 5:11(NIV)
CONSIDER
"The
more we empty ourselves to make room for God's love, the more he fills us with
himself and the more united to him will we be." St. Alphonse Liguori
'FATHER OF THE YEAR' CONTEST
Register
your father to win a prize package.
Describe in 125 words or less why your Dad should be Father of the
Year! The contest is promoting Letters
From Dad by Greg Vaughn, a book that seeks to unlock the hearts of fathers and
help them leave a legacy of faith, hope, and love to their families all through
the simple art of letter writing. The
winner of the contest will receive a multimedia package, including a 42-inch
Panasonic diagonal PlasmaScreen television and a digital DVD camcorder. Contest ends June 30.
http://www.lettersfromdad.com/contest/
THE RETURN OF
WATERGATE
by Charles
Colson (BreakPoint, June 6, 2005)
"Mark
Felt, a consummate FBI professional, whom I dealt with often and trusted completely,
turns out to have engaged in cloak-and-dagger escapades worthy of a Fredrick
Forsythe novel in order to bring down what he believed was a corrupt
presidency. Was he a hero? That's the question the secular media have
been asking me all week....
"I'm
willing to give Felt the benefit of the doubt that he acted to end corruption,
not because Nixon had passed him over for FBI director. That's why many today say he's a hero. But before we jump to that conclusion, let's
look at what he really did. FBI files
are maintained on perhaps half of all Americans. Grand-jury records and FBI interviews are
sacrosanct. Felt sneaked around in the
dark of night, looking for flower pots on a balcony to give sensitive FBI
information to reporters-something that was illegal. He could have used good means to pursue his
noble objective: He could have met with
the president, or if we had refused to see him, he could have held a press conference
to announce what the bad guys in the Nixon White House were doing. He would have been well within his rights....
"Let
Mark Felt live his remaining years in peace, but please, don't make him a role
model for our kids. The lasting legacy
of this sad era in American life ought to be a sober reminder that the ends do
not justify the means. Integrity means
doing the right thing in every area of your life, and it's the real mark of a
true hero."
Read this
commentary in full at
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O35F2363B
ALMANAC KNOWLEDGE
Do you
want to know what happened on this day in history? Or learn about prominent June birthdays? Or read about notable May obituaries? Or learn about CNN's 25th anniversary? Go to the World Almanac Newsletter at
http://www.worldalmanac.com/200506WAE-Newsletter.html
REMINDER
Men's
Health Week: June 13-19
http://www.menshealthweek.org/
http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/
Father's
Day: June 19
JESUS DIED OF A BLOOD CLOT?
An Israeli
researcher has challenged the popular belief that Jesus died of blood loss on
the cross, saying he probably succumbed to a sometimes fatal disorder now
associated with long-haul air travel.
Professor Benjamin Brenner wrote in The Journal of Thrombosis and
Haemostasis that Jesus’ death, traditionally believed to have occurred 3-6
hours after crucifixion began, was probably caused by a blood clot that reached
his lungs. Such pulmonary embolisms,
leading to sudden death, can stem from immobilization, multiple trauma and
dehydration, said Brenner, a researcher at
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V2D431A3B
VERSE TO PONDER
"A
heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
CONSIDER
"Take
care of your body with steadfast fidelity.
The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the
whole world is clouded." Johann
Wolfgang Von Goethe
THE WAR IN YOUR BODY
Just as
the military needs to be kept lean and strong to fight off a rapid attack, so
must our immune system.
by H. Jay
Hiddinga
It's
closer than you think: Foreign invaders are gathering, unseen terrorists are
silently arming themselves, preparing to strike and take control. Is this a plan for world domination by a
foreign country? No. It's a battle fought every day -- inside your
body, against bacteria, viruses, cancer cells and toxic chemicals. Our defensive fighting force is our immune
system, and its warriors are the individual immune cells.
If you
look at a drop of blood under a microscope, you'd see several million small red
blood cells. These are the transport
systems of the body, the trains and trucks that move energy stores, oxygen and
waste products through the body.
Scattered among the red blood cells are a few larger cells, the white
blood cells of the immune system. These
are the foot soldiers of the body's defenses. Their mission is to cruise the
bloodstream, find invading germs, viruses or cancer cells, and attack and
destroy them.
Just as
the military needs to be kept lean and strong to fight off a rapid attack, so
must our immune system. The armed forces
stay strong and ready by training and exercise.
Likewise, your immune system can be trained to respond faster and more powerfully
to the enemy's attack. Let's look at how
you can be healthier by "training" your immune system....
Read this
article at
http://www.newmanmag.com/article.php?sid=590&mode=thread&order=0
CONSIDER SELENIUM TO PROTECT VS. PROSTATE CANCER
Evidence
is mounting that selenium, a little-known trace element, can help protect
against one of the most common cancers in men.
Researchers at the
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5288973/
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/men/9906/17/selenium.prostate/
WHY ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES MAY BENEFIT HEALTH
The number
of Americans who attend religious services at least once a week jumped nearly
three points to 27.5% during the two years ended in 2004, according to
statistics by the
This leap
could be good news for the nation's health.
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that Americans who attend
religious services at least once a week enjoy better-than-average health and
lower rates of illness, including depression.
The studies show that weekly attendance confers a significant reduction
in mortality risk over a given period of time.
Read more at
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16616_1.html?rnd=348
THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION
Here's a
series of arrest photographs of the same individual over the course of 10
years. Powerful and tragic!
http://www.hollywoodpolice.org/special_units/pic79_11.htm
BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINE
The Holy
Spirit's role in the End Times
A. In
the 7-year Tribulation Period
1. In
unbelievers - The Holy Spirit will be instrumental in the salvation of
Israelites at the close of the tribulation (Zech.12:10).
2. In
believers - The Holy Spirit will provide special enablement for spiritual tasks
as in Old Testament times (Acts 2:17-21).
B. In
the Millennium
1. In
believers - The Holy Spirit will enable believing Israelites to live
righteously (Ezek.36:27).
2. In
Christ - The Holy Spirit will be active in Christ's righteous rule (Isa.11:2).
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=392
LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
In an
article in the current issue of Leader Links, famed basketball coach John
Wooden emphasizes the need for leaders to take initiative and not be
immobilized by a fear of failure:
"If
we allow the fear of failure to keep us from acting, we will never be a success
or reach our full potential. Let's face
it, we're all imperfect and we're going to fall short on occasion; but we must
learn from failure, and that will enable us to avoid repeating our
mistakes. Through adversity, we learn,
grow stronger and become better people.
When pondering this principle, I think of a poem I once memorized:
When I
look back, it seems to me,
All the
grief that had to be,
Left me
when the pain was O'er,
Stronger
than I was before. (Author Unknown)
"My
college coach once said, "The team that makes the most mistakes will
probably outscore the other one."
What he meant is that doers make mistakes, but if we aren't doing
anything we're making the greatest mistake of all. We must not fail to act when action is
needed. We cannot be afraid. We must act anyhow, knowing that at times, we
will fail."
WOULD YOU BE A SLEAZY CEO?
If you
were in charge of a major company, how would you behave? The answer may be in how you handle your
personal finances. Test your business
ethics with this quiz.
http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=176
A MYSTERY SCULPTURE
For 15
years, a bronze sculpture in the CIA's courtyard has taunted amateur and
professional code-breakers alike.
Kryptos is a copper wall that features four long coded passages. Cryptographers from the National Security
Administration and the CIA have cracked the first three. But it's been six years since anyone reported
progress, and sculptor Jim Sanborn claims to be the only man alive who knows
the solution. Dedicated on November 3,
1990, the theme of this sculpture is "intelligence gathering."
"Kryptos" incorporates Native American materials such as wood and
metal. A piece of petrified wood
supports a large S-shaped copper screen that looks like a piece of paper coming
out of a computer printer. On the
"paper" are inscribed several enigmatic messages, each written in a
different code. The sculpture continues
to be a source of pleasure and mystery for Agency employees with a few
employees taking the challenge to "break the code."
Hear the
NPR report about it at
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4684720
Visit the
CIA site about it at
http://www.cia.gov/cia/information/tour/krypt.html
Kryptos
solutions revealed at
http://elonka.com/kryptos/index.html#spoilers
CONSIDER
"I
have found (to my regret) that the degrees of shame and disgust which I
actually feel at my own sins do not at all correspond to what my reason tells
me about their comparative gravity. Just
as the degree to which, in daily life, I feel the emotion of fear has very
little to do with my rational judgment of the danger. I'd sooner have really nasty seas when I'm in
an open boat than look down in perfect (actual) safety from the edge of a
cliff. Similarly, I have confessed
ghastly uncharities with less reluctance than small unmentionables -- or those
sins which happen to be ungentlemanly as well as unchristian. Our emotional reactions to our own behavior
are of limited ethical significance."
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Letters to Malcolm [1964]
CUSTOMER SERVICE: HOW TO COMPLAIN EFFECTIVELY
Many times
we don't complain effectively to businesses and that in turn causes more
consumer frustration and more complaining, often accompanied by yelling and
screaming. Forbes.com spoke with
customer service consultants -- the people who're trying to help companies
serve people better -- to find out the secret weapons in the complaint arsenal.
Rule No.1:
Know Exactly What You're Complaining About And What Action You Want
Rule No.2:
Never Demand To Talk To The Manager
Read the
full article at
http://www.forbes.com/2005/05/16/cx_jw_0517complaint.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4632330
AVOIDING TRAVEL MISHAPS
5 Tips:
Preventing problems when you travel overseas
http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/27/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htm?cnn=yes
AUTHOR HIGHLIGHTS FAITH ON THE BATTLEFIELD
For most
soldiers, the battlefield becomes as much a test of faith as a test of arms,
author Stephen
AVOIDING OFFICE SNACKS
The office
can be a dangerous place for those trying to stick to a diet. Whether it's the holiday party, the frequent
birthday celebration, or the occasional coffee and doughnut breakfast,
unhealthy foods are everywhere. Here are
three ways to avoid temptations at work:
*
Tell
your coworkers that you are on a diet.
It may not prevent them from sharing a bag of candy amongst themselves,
but they'll know not to offer any to you. And if you know that they are aware
of your efforts, you may be more likely to practice self-control.
*
If a
birthday or holiday party is on the way, make sure to keep some healthy snacks
in your desk or purse. Then, when everyone
else reaches for that fattening piece of cake or candy, you can opt for
something you won't regret eating.
*
If
your cravings take over, and you find yourself reaching for a slice of pizza or
a homemade cookie, take a moment to remember why you went on the diet in the
first place. A reality check may be all
you need to stand up to temptation.
http://www.southbeachdiet.com/
IT'S POSSIBLE TO SEE A FAMILY FRIENDLY R-RATED MOVIE
Three
young companies -- CleanFilms, CleanFlicks, and Family Flix -- offer
family-safe edited DVD versions of PG, PG-13, and R movies, deleting the
objectionable content. Another budding
company, ClearPlay, sells a DVD player with the capability of muting profanity
and "skipping" offensive scenes.
In all instances, the profanity, sexual dialogue, nudity, and graphic
violence are gone. PG movies become
G-rated. R movies turn PG-friendly. And
movie night becomes less worrisome....
Read this
article in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20894
For more
information about the companies, visit their websites:
CONSIDER
"Whether
our work is a success or a failure has nothing to do with us. Our call is not to successful service, but to
faithfulness." Oswald Chambers
VERSE TO PONDER
"The
Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: DEAR GOD, OUR FATHER
Words:
Katherine L. Bates (1859-1929)
Music:
Dear God,
our Father, at Thy knees confessing
Our sins
and follies, close in Thine embrace,
Children
forgiven, happy in Thy blessing,
Deepen our
spirits to receive Thy grace.
Not for
more beauty would our eyes entreat Thee,
Flooded
with beauty, beauty everywhere;
Only for
keener vision that may greet Thee,
In all Thy
vestures of the earth and air.
The stars
and rainbows are Thy wondrous wearing,
Sunlight
and shadow moving on the hills;
Holy the
meadow where Thy feet are faring,
Holy the
brooklet that Thy laughter fills.
Not for more
love our craving hearts implore Thee,
But for
more power to love until they glow
Like
hearths of comfort, eager to restore Thee,
Hidden in
human wretchedness and woe.
In souls
most sullen Thou art softly dreaming
Of saints
and heroes wrought from Thy divine
Pity and
patience, still the lost redeeming,
Deepen our
spirits for love like Thine.
>from
CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/d/g/dgofatkc.htm
GOD FAQ
Question
24: What is sin?
Answer:
Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given
as a rule to the reasonable creature.
http://www.shortercatechism.com/
ON PRAYER
"Lord,
thou hast given us thy Word for a light to shine upon our path; grant us so to
meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the
light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our
Lord." Jerome (c. 342 - 420)
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
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).
PRAY FOR
THESE BROTHERS
*
Bro. Johnie Gray
*
Minister Larry Powell
*
Bro. Lester Wilkerson
*
Pastor Marvin Gray, Sr.
*
Bro. Jack Pratt
*
Bro. Patrick Wilkerson
*
Bro. James Green
*
Minister Timothy Pulliam
*
Bro. Gerald Williams
*
Minister Tony Hampton
[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.
Virtual
http://vmk.disney.go.com/vmk/en_US/index?name=VMKHomePage
THIS ISSUE IS SUCH A
STRONGHOLD, I DECIDED TO RUN IT AGAIN
Helping Pastors Struggling With Pornography
http://www.xxxchurch.com/gethelp/justforpastors.asp
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.)
GODISNOWHERE
(now read it again)
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MSM
CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of announcements, news, recommendations,
articles, and other information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks
for welcoming MSM 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
The Men
Servants Ministry (MSM) 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
Tel: 773-224-5683. Founded &
Pastored by Apostle Aaron L. Royster & Prophetess Mable L. Royster.
Visit our
website at: http://www.newjoydivine.org/
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