Connecting man to man to God!

Week of April 15, 2007

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"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act."  Ps. 37:7 (NLT)

     CONSIDER

"The number one problem in our world is alienation, rich versus poor, black versus white, labor versus management, conservative versus liberal, East versus West.  But Christ came to bring about reconciliation and peace."  Billy Graham

     JOHNSON WINS MASTERS, CREDITS THE MASTER

Zach Johnson's 2-shot victory at the 2007 Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday surprised those inside and out of the golf world -- but as no surprise to those who know him, Johnson boldly used the occasion to proclaim his love and faith in Jesus Christ.  "Being Easter, my goal was the glorify God and hopefully I did that today," said the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native, who attended the same high school as fellow Christian and former NFL MVP quarterback Kurt Warner.

Johnson credited his faith in God and the counsel of longtime PGA Tour chaplain Larry Moody of Search Ministry, whose Bible study Johnson attends on a weekly basis, for allowing him to remain calm in the competitive and often chaotic final round.  He became the second professing Christian to win the Masters Tournament on Easter Sunday -- Bernhard Langer did so in the 1980s.  Read this in full at

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=25354

     MASTERS WINNER BUOYED BY FAITH, MARRIAGE http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=25361

     GOLFING MINISTRY

In His Grip Golf Association teaches churches how to intentionally use golf as a way to share the gospel.  "We see guys standing on the first tee on Sunday morning as we drive by and we've been cursing the darkness [condemning them for not being in church]," says John Jaye, former associate pastor of administration and recreation at First Baptist Church in Jasper, Ala., and now a fulltime volunteer working with the organization.  "[However] we haven't done anything to shine a light into that darkness.  That's what we see In His Grip doing -- trying to shine a light into that area.  Not all those guys are bad guys; they just need to know the Lord."  More information at

http://www.inhisgripgolf.com

     FYI

*          There are more than 60 million golfers worldwide.

*          There are more than 30 million golfers in the United States -- 20 million males, making golf one of today's most popular sports.

*          Americans spend more than $600 million per year on golf balls alone.

*          There are more than 15,000 golf courses in North America.

*          Nearly 600 million rounds of golf are played each year.

[Source: In His Grip Golf Association]

     TO KNOW TONY SNOW...

by Cal Thomas

"Nobody dislikes Tony Snow.  By acclamation, people who know him say the White House press secretary is the most decent, kind and encouraging human being they have ever met.  Speaking from personal experience, I can testify not only to his inner warmth and outer kindness, but also to the goodness of his wife, Jill, and their three children.

"The return of Snow's colon cancer comes only days after Elizabeth Edwards announced the return of her breast cancer.  Mr. Snow was quick in his warm comments about the wife of the presidential candidate, which came just days before the discovery that cancer had moved to his liver.  He can identify with Mrs. Edwards.

"At a Jan. 31 Washington dinner for media people in conjunction with the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Snow revealed his soul to the 100-plus hardened journalists and others in a hotel banquet room.  He told us, "In many ways, having cancer was the very best thing that ever happened to me, other than marrying my wife.  Mr. Snow spoke about the importance of 'faith and attitude.  You have to make a choice about whether you want to live.'  Snow says his deepening faith didn't happen overnight.  It began with realizing 'how many people loved me.'  He said a lot of life is figuring out you're not in charge and figuring out who is.  He started to pray, he said, and began to sense a growing presence of God in his life....  Read this in full at

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/CalThomas/2007/03/28/the_tony_snow_i_know

     THE LIFE HEREAFTER

"We picture death as coming to destroy; let us rather picture Christ as coming to save.  We think of death as ending; let us rather think of life as beginning, and that more abundantly.  We think of losing; let us think of gaining.  We think of parting, let us think of meeting.  We think of going away; let us think of arriving.  And as the voice of death whispers 'You must go from earth,' let us hear the voice of Christ saying, 'You are but coming to Me!'"  Norman Macleod

     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)

How to Become a Great Small-Group Leader

by Sue Kline

The best small-group leaders I've known...

*          Loved God's Word.  It showed in the depth of their Bible study preparation and in their enthusiasm for talking about what they'd discovered.  It also showed in their wise counsel based on scriptural truth, not pop psychology.

*          Weren't afraid to flex.  If we all dragged to our small group like people who'd barely survived a horrendous week, these leaders would recognize that more than cranking through one more chapter of Bible study, we needed to spend the evening focusing on God in prayer and drawing strength from Him.  If on occasion one person would need special love and encouragement, these leaders would value that person more highly than some prearranged schedule.  They didn't allow chaos to reign -- far from it -- but they recognized that small groups were about people.  People always took precedence over plans.

*          Were real people.  They didn't try to prove they were spiritual giants.  They were honest about their flaws and struggles.  In fact, they convinced me that even I could lead a small group!

*          Modeled faithfulness.  They showed up week after week.  No big deal?  Now that I lead small groups, I wonder how many times they wanted to do what I sometimes feel like doing-spending the evening on the couch with a mindless video instead of guiding people through a convicting study of God's Word.  Faithfulness counts.

*          Depended on God.  This was most evident in their prayer lives.  During our group prayer times, they would talk with God as if they knew Him intimately.  And later I would learn that before the rest of us even arrived at their homes or churches, they had bathed the evening in prayer.  They knew who was really in charge of our growth.

*          Were creative.  The best leaders I've known made every week different in some small way.  Maybe it was an icebreaker, maybe the way they led into the study, maybe the surprising use of music or communion, or maybe just the challenging application questions they would ask.

*          Brought truth to life.  At the end of the evening, we had a clear sense of what that week's scripture had to do with how we lived our lives.  And there wasn't a pat answer to be found anywhere.

(Source: adapted from Discipleship Journal(r) (Issue #99, May/June 1997). All rights reserved.)

     VERSE TO PONDER

"If, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"  Romans 5:10

     CONSIDER

"'What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.'  I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the languages in Europe."  John Newton (1725-1807)

     CREATION SUNDAY IS APRIL 22

by Rusty Pritchard

Many churches find a way to celebrate Creation Sunday on the Sunday closest to Earth Day.  This year Earth Day is on a Sunday!  The Evangelical Environmental Network has posted some materials to help in preparing (http://creationcare.org/resources/sunday/).  This year's theme is "Loving our Neighbors".

Caring for creation is part of Jesus' command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37ff).  After all, loving God entails respecting, admiring, and caring for what he has made.  But Jesus followed his first command with a call for us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This, too, is a part of creation care, because people, though made in the image of God, are still a part of Creation!  Loving our neighbors was one of the primary motivations for many of us as we come to the creation care conversation....  Read this in full at

http://tinyurl.com/2x7443

     SERVE GOD, SAVE THE PLANET

by Matthew Sleeth, M.D.

"...A decade ago, I would have told you that our family was concerned about the environment.  I would have said that we were true "conservatives," working to preserve nature.  That was talk.  We have progressed from talking a good talk to walking a better walk.  How did we go from saying we were concerned to actually making a difference?

"When God called me to this creation care ministry, I was a physician -- chief of staff and head of the emergency department -- at one of the nicest hospitals in America.  I enjoyed my job, my colleagues, my expensive home, my fast car, and my big paycheck.  I have since given up every one of these things.

"We now live in a house the exact size of our old garage.  We use less than one-third of the fossil fuels and one-quarter of the electricity we once used.  We've gone from leaving two barrels of trash by the curb each week to leaving one bag every few weeks.  We no longer own a clothes dryer, garbage disposal, dishwasher, or lawn mower.  Our "yard" is planted with native wildflowers and a large vegetable garden.  Half of our possessions have found new homes.  We are a poster family for the downwardly mobile"....  Read this in full at

http://creationcare.org/magazine/winter07.php#serve

     40,000 ATTEND AUSTRALIAN GOSPEL MUSIC FEST

The city of Toowoomba, located in Queensland, Australia, was filled to the brim as 40,000 Christians gathered over the Easter weekend to listen to their favorite gospel artists.  In its 9th year, the Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF), also dubbed the Christian Big Day Out, saw thousands of people from Friday to Sunday wanting to celebrate Easter with worship-themed rock, pop and blues, and it's remained a major event in the country, drawing in more than just locals.  This year also featured the standard music festival practice of camping out so patrons would not miss any of the events.  "It is very joyous; it is a very happy thing and I think people are wanting to celebrate their Easter," said Wes Jay, the festival spokesman, in the Australian.  "It is positive music, it is music that encourages people; it is music which uplifts people."....  Read this in full at

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070409/26785.htm

     THIS IS FUNNY! :)

-- Go to Google.com

-- Click "Maps"

-- Click "Get Directions"

-- In the "From" box, type New York, New York

-- In the "To" box, type Paris, France.

-- Read line #23.

http://www.google.com

     CHRISTIAN BOOK SUMMARY

A detailed summary of the book Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith by Bill Hybels is now posted at Christian Book Summaries.  Just walking across a room to engage in conversation may be the very catalyst God uses to change one's eternal destiny.  There's no greater divine mandate than telling others about Jesus.  And there is no greater joy than playing a role in someone's life-changing decision.  With so much at stake, why don't more believers proactively share their faith with others?  After all, most Christians acknowledge that God has given them this responsibility.  At some point, what the Bible clearly teaches must collide with one's level of obedience and prompt him to take that walk across the room.

http://www.christianbooksummaries.com

Purchase this book now:

http://www.christianconnectionbooks.com/content/search/product/view_item.php?dcn=27225&sm=

     MEMO FROM THE DESK OF GOD

Effective Immediately:

Please be aware that there are changes you need to make in your life.  These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfil my promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life.  I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you.  I know, I already gave you the 10 Commandments.  Keep them.  But follow these guidelines as well...

1. QUIT WORRYING

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry.  Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you?  Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST

Something needs done or taken care of.  Put it on the list.  No, not YOUR list.  Put it on MY to-do-list.  Let ME be the one to take care of the problem.  I can't help you until you turn it over to me.  And, although my to-do-list is long, I am, after all, God.  I can take care of anything you put into my hands.  In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME

Once you've given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back.  Trust in me.  Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials.  Problems with the kids?  Put them on my list.  Problem with finances?  Put it on my list.  Problems with your emotional roller coaster?  For my sake, put it on my list.  I want to help you.  All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE

Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now?  It's simple. You gave me your burdens and I'm taking care of them.  I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace.  Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started?  Leave them with me and forget about them.  Just let me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME

I want you to forget a lot of things.  Forget what was making you crazy.  Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control.  But there's one thing I pray you never forget.  Please don't forget to talk to me -- OFTEN!  I love you.  I want to hear your voice.  I want you to include me in on the things going on in your life.  I want to hear you talk about your friends and family.  Prayer is simply you having a conversation with me.  I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH

I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are.  Have faith in me that I know what I'm doing.  Trust me, you wouldn't want the view from my eyes.  I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs.  You only have to trust me.  Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part.  How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE

You were taught to share when you were only two years old.  When did you forget?  That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you.  Share your joy with those who need encouragement.  Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time.  Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry.  Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences.  You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much.  How can you be so impatient then when it takes me a little longer than you expect to handle something on my to-do-list?  Trust in my timing, for my timing is perfect.  Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you.  They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all.  Please try to get along, for my sake.  I created each of you different in some way.  It would be too boring if you were all identical.  Please know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF

As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself?  You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return.  I am a God of Love.  Love me.  Love your neighbors.  But also love yourself.  It makes my heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong.  You are very precious to me.  Don't ever forget that!

With all my heart, I love you,

GOD

[Source: Author Unknown]

     THE MORNING I HEARD GOD'S VOICE

by John Piper

Let me tell you about a most wonderful experience I had early Monday morning, March 19, 2007, a little after 6 a.m. God actually spoke to me.  There is no doubt that it was God. I heard the words in my head just as clearly as when a memory of a conversation passes across your consciousness.  The words were in English, but they had about them an absolutely self-authenticating ring of truth.  I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God still speaks today....

...As I prayed and mused, suddenly it happened.  God said, "Come and see what I have done."  There was not the slightest doubt in my mind that these were the very words of God.  At this very place in the 21st century, God was speaking to me with absolute authority and self-evidencing reality.  I paused to let this sink in.  There was a sweetness about it.  Time seemed to matter little.  God was near.  He had me in his sights.  He had something to say to me.  When God draws near, hurry ceases.  Time slows down....  Read this in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/aprilweb-only/115-22.0.html

     CONSIDER

"God is not a power or principle or law, but he is a living, creating, communicating person -- a mind who thinks, a heart who feels, a will who acts, whose best name is Father."  Robert Hamill (1912-1975)

     VERSE TO PONDER

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."  Hebrews 1:3

     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: LOW IN THE GRAVE HE LAY

Words & Music: Robert Lowry, 1874

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;

Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

>from CyberHymnal at

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/lintgrav.htm

     GOD FAQ

Question 120: What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?

Answer: The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: from God's challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

http://www.shortercatechism.com/

     ON PRAYER

"Jeremy Taylor (q.v.) gives us some fundamental rules for prayer.  And the chief of them is this: "Do not lie to God."  And that curt piece of advice, so bluntly thrown down for us, is indeed all-important.  Do not burn false fire upon God's altar; do not pose and pretend, either to Him or to yourself, in your religious exercises; do not say more than you mean, or use exaggerated language that goes beyond the facts, when speaking to Him whose word is truth."  A. J. Gossip (1873-1954), In the Secret Place of the Most High [1947]

     PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY

http://christiansincrisis.net/

     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

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Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

[email protected]

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