Connecting man to man to God!

Week of December 24, 2006

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against such things."  Galatians 5:22-23

     CONSIDER

"Our tendency is to overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can do in 10 years."  Richard Foster

     WHO OR WHAT DO YOU WORSHIP

"Everyone worships something.  It is inevitable.  It is in our spiritual DNA.  We were designed to worship.  We were created to be temples.  Some people worship power.  Some worship money.  Some worship possessions.  Some worship themselves.  And some worship the true and living God."  Buddy Owens, The Way of the Worshiper

     CHRISTMAS MEANING

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes, or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

  Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

     HISTORICAL VERACITY

"After spending nearly two years investigating the identity of the Christmas child, I was ready to reach a verdict. For me, the evidence was clear and compelling. Yes, Christmas is a holiday overlaid with all sorts of fanciful beliefs, from flying reindeer to Santa Claus sliding down chimneys. But I became convinced that if you drill down to its core, Christmas is based on a historical reality-the incarnation: God becoming man, Spirit taking on flesh, the infinite entering the finite, the eternal becoming time-bound. It's a mystery backed up by facts that I now believed were simply too strong to ignore."  Lee Strobel, The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger

     ADVENT

"Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

Free from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart."

   Charles Wesley

     PRAYERS TO WELCOME THE PRINCE OF PEACE

by Cynthia Bezek, editor of Pray!

Responsibilities increase.  Resources decrease.  Decisions loom.  Someone insinuates an insult.  An expectation remains unmet.  Trust is broken.  These are some of the circumstances that regularly threaten my peace.

At His birth, the angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace on earth.  But I, for one, am still learning how to appropriate that peace.  Scripture tells us that the path to peace is prayer: "Pray about everything....Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Phil. 4:6-7, NLT).  Although transcendent peace is certainly not my constant experience, the Lord is patiently teaching me ways to pray that are helping that peace become more commonplace:

"It's not supposed to be like this, Lord."  A recent disappointment had me literally on my face, groaning before God.  As I offered that wordless prayer, I remembered the teaching about groaning prayers in Ro. 8:22-26.  Even though circumstances were decidedly not the way they should have been, I knew that my Spirit-led groanings were the normal and healthy expression of someone who is longing for redemption.  God understood.  And as His Spirit groaned with me, I experienced His peace.

"I surrender."  An ancient prayer written by Ignatius of Loyola is helping me with this one: "Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.  You have given all to me.  To You, Lord, I return it.  All is yours.  Dispose of it wholly according to Your will.  Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is enough for me."  I'm not always able to make this absolute surrender.  But when I do -- leaving God in complete control -- I almost always experience His unexplainable peace.

"I forgive, Lord." When I fail to release people who have offended me, a veritable tug-of-war takes place in my soul.  Although forgiveness is one of the hardest things I ever do, I'm finding that it is also the quickest shortcut to peace.

As I contemplate the Messiah this Christmas season, I'm focusing on Isaiah's prophecy about Him: "He will be called...Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6).  Even in unsettling circumstances, I am learning to respond in faith with the angels: "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased" (Lk. 2:14, NLT).

http://www.praymag.com

     FREE CHRISTMAS STORY PODCAST FROM THE BIBLE EXPERIENCE

Zondervan is giving away podcasts of the Christmas story from the new product, The Bible Experience.  This is a dramatic reading of the Bible from "an all-star cast of today's leading voices," including T.D. Jakes, Samuel Jackson, Blair Underwood, and more.

http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Bible/The+Bible+Experience.htm

     EXTRAORDINARY OUT OF THE ORDINARY

"Jesus' "adoptive" father worked as a simple carpenter, and his young mother wielded virtually no influence.  They placed the newborn king in a manger -- a feeding trough for animals.  They probably slept in a cave where the inn owners kept their animals.  Sure, the angels announced Jesus' birth and sang of his glory, but not to an audience of great men and women.  Instead, only simple shepherds tending their flocks out in the field heard the angels' fanfare.  Just as Jesus first came to ordinary people, God appears to ordinary people today.  You might feel more like a shepherd, farmer, or innkeeper than a king or prophet.  Take heart, Jesus will come to anyone who will receive him.  Know that when ordinary people decide to follow him, he can accomplish extraordinary things through them."

Source: Men's Devotional Bible, Zondervan

     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)

Marine Corps Leadership Traits

·         dependability: the certainty of proper performance of duty.

·         bearing: creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance and personal conduct at all times.

·         courage: the mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

·         decisiveness: ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.

·         endurance: the mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship.

·         enthusiasm: the display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

·         initiative: taking action in the absence of orders.

·         integrity: uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty.

·         judgment: the ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.

·         justice: giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question.  The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.

·         knowledge: understanding of a science or an art.  The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your marines.

·         tact: the ability to deal with others without creating offense.

·         unselfishness: avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

·         loyalty: the quality of faithfulness to country, the corps, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers.

http://www.uspharmd.com/usmc/mcleader.htm

     PASSAGE TO PONDER

"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10:9-13

     CONSIDER

"Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it.  A ship lives in the water; but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom.  So Christians may live in the world; but if the world gets into them, they sink."  D. L . Moody

     BARNA'S MOST SIGNIFICANT FAITH FINDINGS IN 2006

Researcher George Barna has narrowed his yearly religious surveys to the top 12 most significant or surprising findings and highlighted religious faith to be a hot issue in people's lives still today.  And the future of America's faith looks more diverse than ever.  The 12 most noteworthy outcomes, in the order listed in the Barna report, are:

1. Although large majorities of the public claim to be "deeply spiritual" and say that their religious faith is "very important" in their life, only 15% of those who regularly attend a Christian church ranked their relationship with God as the top priority in their life.  As alarming as that finding was, its significance was magnified by research showing that pastors on average believe that 70% of the adults in their congregation consider their relationship with God to be their highest priority in life.  Read the other 11 at

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061221/24445.htm

"Americans are very comfortable with religious faith," Barna notes.  "Most adults and even teenagers see themselves as people of faith.  Toward that end, they have definite opinions about religion; they possess well-honed beliefs, and invest substantial amounts of their time, money and energy in religious activities. Faith and spirituality remain hot issues in people's lives.  The mass media, through news and feature stories, also play a role in keeping spiritual issues in the forefront of people's minds."

He continues, "people do not have an accurate view of themselves when it comes to spirituality.  American Christians are not as devoted to their faith as they like to believe.  Very limited effort is devoted to spiritual growth. "Most Americans experience 'accidental spiritual growth' since there is generally no plan or process other than showing up at a church and absorbing a few ideas here and there.  Even then, few people have a defined understanding of what they're hoping to become, as followers of Christ."

Overall, the most intriguing finding that Barna highlights is the Revolutionary community -- deeply spiritual people departing form the conventional forms and communities of faith.  "The Revolutionary community -- which incorporates divergent but compatible groups of people who are seeking to make their faith the driving force in their life -- is reshaping American faith in ways which we are just beginning to understand," he points out.

     DON'T BE A STATISTIC

How much television will the average American watch next year?  According to the just-released Statistical Abstract of the United States, the answer is 1,555 hours (678 hours of broadcast TV and 877 hours of cable and satellite offerings).  That works out to 4.3 hours daily.  When other media are added in (radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, and video games), the daily media consumption figure rises to a whopping 9.65 hours.  Only one activity topped media use: breathing.

(Source: AP, 12/15/06 stats)

     NEW POLL SHOWS PARENTS AFRAID OF TALKING TO THEIR TEENS; AVOID TOUGH TOPICS, ESPECIALLY DRUG USE

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is urging parents to sharpen their conversation skills and monitor their teen's activities, after a new poll shows that most parents have difficulty getting through to their teens about important subjects, especially drug use.  According to a new survey, most parents of teens indicate that they are even afraid to talk to their teens about everyday issues....  Read this in full at

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061206/cgw047.html?.v=72

     TOGETHER

"The tiniest details of our lives never grow old to God.  He himself is filled with wonder at our faltering steps and stammering words -- not because we do them better than anyone else, but because he views them through the eyes of a loving Father.  God shows our pictures to the angels until even the angels get a little tired of looking.  And the story of the Bible is first of all God's story -- the story of a father rushing through the clouds to be at home with you.  One day apart is one day too many."  John Ortberg, God Is Closer Than You Think

     'ROCKY' MOVIE HAS EVANGELICAL THEME

Dissatisfied with the way the Rocky franchise ended 16 years ago, Sylvester Stallone has written a new final chapter -- one that brings his faith into the picture more than ever.  Previous Rocky scripts focused on the punches, but this final installment provides more insight to his character, a character that was meant to reflect the nature of Jesus, according to Stallone.  "He's very, very forgiving," says Stallone.  "There's no bitterness in him.  He always turns the other cheek.  And it's like his whole life was about service."

"As someone who began listening on the call as a giggling skeptic and who does not expect Rocky Balboa to be heralded as a Christian film, I have to confess I was won over by the real-life story of redemption I heard.  I'm believin' it," says Stuart Shepard, managing editor of Focus on the Family's Citizenlink.com

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/sylvesterstallone.html

     IRS OUTLINES NEW RULES ON DEDUCTIONS

Beginning in the 2007 tax year, the Internal Revenue Service says US taxpayers must provide bank records or other information when claiming deductions for charitable donations of money.  The IRS says bank records can include canceled checks, bank or credit union statements, and credit card statements that show the name of the charity and the transaction posting date.  Taxpayers may also submit a written communication from the charity with the organization's name, the date of the transaction, and the amount of the contribution....  Read this in full at

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061215/irs_donations.html

     CONSIDER

"The church is not a tribe for the improvement in holiness of people who think it would be pleasant to be holy, a means to the integration of character for those who cannot bear their conflicts.  It is a statement of the divine intention for humanity."  Harold Loukes

     VERSE TO PONDER

"And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"  Luke 1:30-33 (ESV)

     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Words & Music: Mark Lowry

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy

has come to make you new;

the child that you delivered

will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy

has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby,

you kiss the face of God!

Oh Mary did you know?

Oh Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear

the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak

the praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy

is Heaven's perfect Lamb?

The sleeping child you're holding

is the great I Am!

http://www.bonniesplace1.com/Marydid.html

     GOD FAQ

Question 104: What are the duties required in the first commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous for him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him, and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.

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

"The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere.  Prayer, in one phase of its operation, is a disinfectant and a preventive.  It purifies the air; it destroys the contagion of evil.  Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing.  It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence.  It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God's heart is alive to holy things.  God shapes the world by prayer."  E.M. Bounds

     PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY
http://christiansincrisis.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.

     SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES

Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.

Lee Strobel's Christmas FAQs

http://www.leestrobel.com/newsletters/2006DECEMBER/LS_FourChristmasTopics.htm#jesus

Christian Volunteering

http://www.ChristianVolunteering.org

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.)

Merry Christmas!

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

[email protected]

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