Connecting man to man to God!

Week of August 5, 2007

Issue 168

"You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."  Psalm 119:114


     CONSIDER
"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief."  T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)


     STUDY TRACKS 'LEARNING CURVE' IN PROSTATE SURGERY
The more times a surgeon has performed prostate surgery, the better the odds are for the patient, researchers say in a study that validates common-sense advice to get an experienced surgeon.  They tracked success rates of a procedure to remove the prostate gland in men with prostate cancer and documented the "learning curve" doctors face as they perform operations over and over.  Previous research has shown a surgeon's level of experience can be important in influencing an operation's success.  In this study, experience was measured not by age or years as a surgeon but by the number of times doctors performed this operation....  Read this in full at
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/07/24/cancer.prostate.reut/index.html


     LOVING OTHERS
"When Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, it was not just for our neighbors' sakes that he commanded it, but for our own sakes as well.  Not to help find some way to feed the children who are starving to death is to have some precious part of who we are starve to death with them.  Not to give ourselves to the human beings we know who may be starving not for food but for what we have in our hearts to nourish them with this to be, ourselves, diminished and crippled as human beings."  Frederick Buechner, Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons


     7,000 MEN PUMPED INTO BETTER CHRISTIANS, HUSBANDS
Some 7,000 men were joined by audiences worldwide recently during Promise Keepers' 5th visit to Orlando, Fla.  One of the largest men's organizations in the nation, Promise Keepers has picked up on interactive media this year with on-demand podcasts and live webcasts from two of this year's seven nationwide conferences.  Viewers in 22 states and Latin America tuned in to the July 27-28 Orlando conference.

For the past 16 years, Promise Keepers has been intentional about transforming men into men of integrity - better Christians, husbands, fathers and breadwinners - and positioning them to be promise keepers.  Filling a gap in the church in America that is reportedly 61% female and losing touch with men, the prominent parachurch organization was "a huge eye-opening" to the needs of men, as Rick Kingham, president of the National Coalition of Men's Ministries, has described it....  Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070730/28672_7%2C000_Men_Pumped_into_Better_Christians%2C_Husbands.htm


     THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
"... As much as we all love to laugh at Homer, no one's confusing him for father of the year -- or Bart as the model son, for that matter.  In spite of the family's dysfunctional breakdowns over the last eighteen years, we know this family cares for each other, and that Homer is ultimately capable of doing the right thing when he remembers to love others over himself.  Peel away the layers, and there's a strange sweetness underlying The Simpsons -- again, one that's been lacking from the TV show lately, but happily restored here.  But like Harry Potter -- and many other cultural sensations -- The Simpsons have long been cause for division among Christians.  Here's where history is helpful: You've got 18 years of Simpsons to draw from between Sunday nights, syndication, and DVDs.  If you're not a fan by this point, or if you regularly find yourself offended by the irreverent humor, take a pass, knowing that nothing has changed for the movie, other than the fact that it's now rated PG-13"...  Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2007/simpsonsmovie.html
Also see PluggedIn's review at
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003318.cfm
and then see
Top Ten (Plus One) Religious Episodes on 'The Simpsons'
http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/simpsons.html


     CHRISTIAN BOOK SUMMARY
The extensive summary of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett is now available online.  The book's message: Have you ever been disillusioned, embarrassed, hurt, or betrayed by the actions of a fellow Christian?  Sometimes terrible damage is done to others and to our perceptions of Christ by the very people claiming to follow Him.  Each time it happens, precious lives are hurt and the credibility of the church is seriously weakened.  Both those who have been hurt and those guilty of causing the damage need to understand that there is a better way.  Christians need to relate to one another in ways that will model Christ's love and introduce healing and transformation to our world....  See the summary at
http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/
Buy the book at
http://www.christianconnectionbooks.com/content/search/product/view_item.php?dcn=16832&sm=


     U.S. EVANGELICALS ISSUE LETTER SUPPORTING A PALESTINIAN STATE
A broad coalition of evangelical leaders is attempting to "correct a serious misperception" that all evangelicals oppose creating a Palestinian state....  Read this in full at
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/29/america/29evangelical-web.php
Read the letter at
http://www.esa-online.org/Display.asp?Page=home


     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
Christian business consultant Jim Seybert has just written a book on leadership that goes on sale in October, and to promote it he's giving it away free!  You can download a PDF of the entire book online.

Here's a short description: "The One Year Mini for Leaders" looks at common leadership principles through the uncommon lens of Jim Seybert's unique perspective on life and work.  Using Scripture as a catalyst for his unconventional approach, Seybert tackles topics such as Time Management, Stewardship, Integrity, and Vision (among others) in a way that will force you to revise the way you lead.

His hope is that people will read portions of it, and buy the actual book when it's available.  If you'd like a free copy, go to his site
http://www.jimseybert.com/pub.htm


     VERSE TO PONDER
"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  Hebrews 12:1


     CONSIDER
"Let God love you through others and let God love others through you."  D. M. Street


     UP AND COMING
August 6-12 - PGA Championship (Tulsa, OK)
http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2007/index.html

August 9-12 - National Hobo Convention (Britt, IA)
http://www.hobo.com/convention.htm

August 12 - Perseid Meteor Showers
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

August 17-26 - Little League World Series (Williamsport, PA)
http://www.littleleague.org/worldseries_2007/index.html


     DOES YOUR JOB DEFINE WHO YOU ARE?
by Tom Petersen
"...There are certainly plenty of aspects of work that can feed a person's identity and self-esteem if you let them.  Salary comes to mind as the preeminent guide to worker and, sometimes, self-perceived human value.  But the problem with a salary is that it's not a good external yardstick. Unless you tell them, other people don't know how much money you make (the painful Salary Memo Incident of 2002, notwithstanding).  If other people don't know your salary, it's kind of hard to gloat about it.  And telling them borders on tacky. Well, OK, probably steps way over that line.  Of course, you can flaunt your salary with a little conspicuous consumption, but that's not foolproof, either.  Now that every U.S. citizen is guaranteed at least seven credit cards, buying stuff for the purposes of showing off is more the rule than the exception.  So, people look for more tangible indicators of their identity at work"....  Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/identityemployment.html


     PRACTICING FAITH AT WORK
Here's how some employers integrate religion into the workplace....
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/TakeControlOfYourLife/story?id=3391995&page=1
Also see Christ @ Work
http://www.fcci.org/


     SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMAN GIVES AWAY FORTUNE
A down-to-earth, anti-consumerism Christian businessman is fighting poverty by donating all his company's profit -- totaling millions -- to help low-income people.  Hal Taussig, 82, is the owner of the travel agency Untours, which seeks to provide travelers with a private home as an alternative to touristy hotels.  The company's goal is to help tourists better learn the people and culture they visit. While helping others avoid falling into luxuries, Hal and his wife Norma are themselves examples of living in modesty.  The Taussigs have given away $5 million in profits over the past 15 years to the Untours Foundation which loans money to low-income people trying to start new businesses or improve their lives....  Read this in full at
http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2897967/apps/nl/content2.asp?content_id={3AFDC3DE-38F6-413A-914C-272BC530E0AE}&notoc=1


     DIVINE VISION INSPIRED A 97-FOOT TREEHOUSE
Horace Burgess's treehouse may be as close to heaven as a body can get in Cumberland County.  It rises 97 feet into the sky, the support provided by a live, 80-foot-tall white oak 12 feet in diameter at its base. Six other trees brace the tower-like fortress, but Burgess says its foundation is in God.  "I built it for everybody.  It's God's treehouse.  He keeps watch over it," said Burgess, who received his inspiration in a vision that came to him in 1993.  "I was praying one day, and the Lord said, 'If you build me a treehouse, I'll see you never run out of material."' And thus far, as Burgess sees it, the Lord has provided.  Most of his materials are recycled pieces of lumber from garages, storage sheds and barns.  Now into his 14th year of construction, he is not finished....  Read this in full at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-07-29-treehouse-church_N.htm


     CHURCH OFFERS TEXT MESSAGES FROM POPE
Organizers of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Austria are offering the faithful a foretaste: daily cell phone text messages with quotes from the pontiff....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_on_re_eu/austria_papal_messages;_ylt=AvFFZcB7Wvoaa7seYis7jBU7Xs8F


     THE HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE IN FLORIDA
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected here six days a week. Snarling Roman soldiers whip and drag him, and somber audience members watch. Some quietly weep at a pageant bloody and cruel. It is the grand finale at the Holy Land Experience, and not the attraction most tourists envision in an Orlando vacation....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070802/ap_on_re/religion_today;_ylt=AiLVKi2ylyjOxUeZlf0UDJI7Xs8F
Also see
http://www.theholylandexperience.com/


     BONDS: AN UNJUST PURSUIT
by Tim Ellsworth
By the time you read this Barry Bonds might have already broken the most revered, most hallowed record in all of sports.  And outside of the hometown loyalists in San Francisco, a lot of sports fans couldn't care less.

Oh, we see the obligatory stories about the chase for Hank Aaron in the media.  We see ESPN break in to show every Bonds at-bat.  We hear the talk show hosts discussing the situation on the radio.

But the apathy shown by so many baseball fans, is indeed stunning.  Perhaps the lack of interest stems from the fact that baseball fans see Bonds' record as artificially enhanced and chemically aided -- and they are frustrated by the lack of justice confronting the Giants' slugger.  They are likewise sympathetic to Aaron, who played the game with integrity and deserved better than to have his most prestigious record broken by a cheater -- assuming that the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds are true....
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26157


     NEW WORDS
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.  Here are this year's winners. Read them carefully.  Each is an artificial word with only one letter alteration (either a substitution or an addition) to form a real word:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The Bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
4. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
5. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
6. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
7. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
8. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
10. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's, like, a serious bummer.
11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
12. Glibido: All talk and no action.
13. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
14. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

     CONSIDER
"God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us -- He only asks us to do the things that we are perfectly fit to do through His grace, and that is where the cross we must bear will always come."  Oswald Chambers


     VERSE TO PONDER
"I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:10


     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: I'LL LIVE FOR HIM
Words: Ralph E. Hudson, 1882
Music: C. R. Dunbar

My life, my love I give to Thee,
Thou Lamb of God Who died for me;
O may I ever faithful be,
My Savior and my God!

Refrain
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
How happy then my life shall be!
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
My Savior and my God!

I now believe Thou dost receive,
For Thou hast died that I might live;
And now henceforth I trust in Thee,
My Savior and my God!
Refrain

O Thou Who died on Calvary,
To save my soul and make me free,
I'll consecrate my life to Thee,
My Savior and my God!
Refrain

>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/i/illlive4.htm


     ON PRAYER
"It all depends upon what we are praying for.  If we are whimpering, and sniveling, and begging to be spared the discipline of life that is sent to knock some smatterings of manhood into us, the answer to that prayer may never come at all.  Thank God!  Though, indeed, it is not easy to say that, with honesty.  Still, it may never come at all, thank God.  But if you have attained as far as Epictetus -- pagan though you would call him -- whose daily prayer was this: 'O God, give me what Thou desirest for me, for I know that what Thou choosest for me is far better than I could choose;' if you are not bleating to get off, but asking to be given grace and strength to see this through with honor, 'the very day' you pray that prayer, the answer always comes."  A. J. Gossip (1873-1954), Experience Worketh Hope [1944]


     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
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.

72 Optical Illusions
http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/

The World Almanac for August
http://www.worldalmanac.com/newsletter/200708WAE-Newsletter.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 atheist's way leads to a hopeless end...God's way leads to an endless hope.

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

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