"In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."  Ephesians 1:5 (NIV)

     CONSIDER

"You can be committed to church and not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church."  Joel Osteen

     LONDON ATTACKED

Our prayers are with our brothers and sisters in London as they've endured deadly attacks on their mass transit system.  For perspective, read this dispatch

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/127/44.0.html

and

http://www.eauk.org/contentmanager/Content/press/statements/7705.cfm

Special Coverage

CNN

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/london.bombing/

USA TODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/londonbombing/front.htm

London Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1685584,00.html

BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2005/london_explosions/default.stm

     JULY IS...

UV Safety Month

http://www.aao.org/aao/patients/eyemd/uv.cfm

     ONWARD, MODERATE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

by John C. Danforth

[Ambassador John C. Danforth is an Episcopal priest and the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.  He served for 18 years as a Republican Senator from Missouri.  This Op-Ed article appeared in the June 17, 2005 edition of the New York Times.]

It would be an oversimplification to say that America's culture wars are now between people of faith and nonbelievers.  People of faith are not of one mind, whether on specific issues like stem cell research and government intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, or the more general issue of how religion relates to politics.

In recent years, conservative Christians have presented themselves as representing the one authentic Christian perspective on politics.  With due respect for our conservative friends, equally devout Christians come to very different conclusions.

It is important for those of us who are sometimes called moderates to make the case that we, too, have strongly held Christian convictions, that we speak from the depths of our beliefs, and that our approach to politics is at least as faithful as that of those who are more conservative.  Our difference concerns the extent to which government should, or even can, translate religious beliefs into the laws of the state....

Read this in full at

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_63345_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=undefined

     THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE MOVIE?

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

     PROMOTING AND UNITING EUROPEAN EVANGELICALS

[Last month, former Pentecostal pastor, TV producer, and Danish politician Tove Videbaek assumed her role as the European Evangelical Alliance's representative to the European Union in Brussels.  Her daunting task is making sure that Europe's evangelicals are heard by E.U.'s governing bodies and that the implications of EU's decisions register with the evangelicals.  She spoke about her new job by e-mail with Christianity Today associate editor Agnieszka Tennant.]

Q: Christians in the United States regretted the omission of Europe's Christian roots in the draft of the E.U. constitution.  What do you think about it?  What consequences is it likely to have for Europe's future generations?

A: I, too, regretted the omission of God and Christian values in the EU treaty.  In my job at the Danish parliament I really struggled and discussed this in the chamber.  I struggled to make our foreign minister take a neutral stand and refrain from voting against countries like Poland and Spain, who wanted these words in the treaty.  But I did not succeed in this.  Denmark voted against the mentions of God and Christianity.  But now France and Holland have said no to the treaty, and at the time being no one knows what is going to become of the treaty.  Maybe we won't even have a treaty several months from now...."

Read this interview in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/125/53.0.html

     WE'RE PRIME TIME, BABY!

"Except for cases still found in some places ... evangelicals can no longer complain about a media conspiracy against them.  We're no longer overlooked, persecuted, discriminated against, and misquoted in the mainstream news media....The news and features reporters, editors, and producers exhibit more awareness of complexity in the evangelical world -- now featuring Sojourners founder Jim Wallis, Focus on the Family's James Dobson, and voices in between.  We're represented on PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, in David Van Biema's reporting for Time, and on NPR's Morning Edition...."

Read this Christianity Today editorial in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/007/20.23.html

     '616' INSTEAD OF '666'?

A newly discovered fragment of the Book of Revelation challenges the conventional belief that the Antichrist's mark is 666, indicating instead that it's 616.  Expert classicists used multi-spectral imaging to get a better view of the text, which is written in archaic Greek and dates to the late third century.

Fear of 666 is so extensive it actually has a name -- hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia -- and has inspired everything from televangelist speeches to Hollywood films.  The numbers have long been appropriated into the heavy-metal lexicon and symbology.  The recent 616 discovery, which was found in a collection of documents recovered in Egypt, isn't exactly a new revelation.  While it dates back the furthest, other ancient manuscripts of the Book of Revelation have the number as 616 instead of 666, provoking some debate in the past as to which were the original digits.  Both Greek and Hebrew letters have numeric values that can be added up to arrive at a total.  One common explanation of 666 is that it comes from the numerical value of "Nero" transliterated into Hebrew letters.  A small change in the transliteration can result in 616.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1501490/20050509/index.jhtml?headlines=true

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44169

http://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/POxy/beast616.htm

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/166/story_16630_1.html

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/11134

     CELIBACY DEBATE

There's a lively discussion going on about Jeff Sharlet's interesting but unsettling Rolling Stone article on celibacy among young people today (please note -- very graphic language).

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7418688/?rnd=1120673356675&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.1040

Al Mohler responds,

http://www.christianpost.com/article/editorial/407/8|15|25/the.new.virgin.army%97rolling.stone.meets.sexual.abstinence/1.htm

and Sharlet in turn responds to Mohler

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/timely_002012.php

     CONSIDER

"Keep God's word in this way.  Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness."  St. Bernard of Clarivaux

     BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINE

The Doctrine of Satan (continued)

V.  The Activity of Satan

Satan is seeking to oppose God's plan by promoting evil in every way possible.

 A. Indirect Activity - He works indirectly through the world (in which he has great freedom and power - John 12:31; 1 John 5:19) and the flesh (Gal.5:19-21).  The world, the flesh and the devil are not three separate enemies of the Christian.  Rather Satan works through the evil world system (1 John 2:13-15) to exploit the fleshly nature that still wars within us (Rom.7:18; Gal.5:19-21).

B.  Direct Activity - He works directly by deception, temptation, attack and possession.

1.   In Christ's ministry

a.   He tempted Christ (Matt.4:1-11).

b.   He attempted to thwart Christ's work (John 8:44; Matt.16:23; Luke 22:31).

c.   He possessed Judas to accomplish the betrayal (John 13:27).

2.   In unbelievers

a.   He blinds their minds to hinder their understanding of the gospel (2 Cor.4:4).

b.   When the gospel is heard or understood, he tries to hinder its effect (Luke 8:12).

c.   He uses persecution (Rev.2:10) and false religions (Rev.2:13) to hinder the effect of the gospel.

3.   In believers

a.   He tempts believers (to pride - 1 Chron.21:1-8; to materialism - John 2:15; James 5:1-7; to immorality - 1 Cor.7:5; to lie - Acts 5:3; to discouragement - 1 Pet.5:6-10; to be unforgiving - 2 Cor.2:10,11 etc.).

b.   He hinders the ministries of believers (1 Thess.2:18; Rev.2:10).

c.   He promotes false teaching among believers (1 John 4:1-4).

d.   He promotes anger, bitterness and division (Eph.4:26,27; 2 Cor.2:5-11).

Note: See the supplement - "Satanic Activity and Spiritual Warfare" for more information on how Satan and his demons work and how we must respond.

http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=388

     THE GREATEST VALUE

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.  College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.  In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.  There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.  He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night.  The funeral is Wednesday."  Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.   "Jack, did you hear me?"  "Oh, sorry, Mom.  Yes, I heard you.  It's been so long since I thought of him.   I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.  "Well, he didn't forget you.  Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing.  He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over on 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

About two weeks after Mr. Belser died, Jack returned home from work one day to discover a package.  The return address caught his attention.  "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.  Jack took the box out to his car and ripped it open.  Inside was a gold box and an envelope.  "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.  It's the thing I valued most in my life."  A small key was taped to the letter.  His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.  Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.  Inside he found these words engraved:  "Jack, Thanks for your time! - Harold Belser."  Jack realized, "The thing he valued most...was...my time!"

     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)

Sneak Peek: A leadership secret from Billy Graham...

4. Laser in on the mission.

It's easy to lose focus, especially with tasks that are closely related to your core mission.  Without a clear purpose and well-channeled efforts, energy is diffused and power is dissipated.  Billy Graham has focused on one element -- connecting with broad audiences and bringing them to the point of decision.  That means he primarily leaves to others the task of helping people grow in faith.  "I just want to lobby for God." Billy Graham

This is just one of 21 secrets you'll find in THE LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF BILLY GRAHAM.  Look for it in bookstores this August.

http://www.zondervan.com/Books/Detail.asp?ISBN=0310255783

Also see

Thoughts and Reflections on Billy Graham's Life Principles

http://www.inspiriogifts.com/detail.asp?isbn=0310810604

     RELIGION ROAD TRIP

A few years ago, Case Western Reserve University religion professor Timothy Beal piled his family into a motor home and hit the highway on a tour of religious attractions in the American South. Beal documents his journey in a new book, Roadside Religion.  See some photos and listen to the report at

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4711466

     VERSE TO PONDER

"The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles."  Psalms 119:71 (NLT)

     CONSIDER

"God is delighted to watch your soul enlarge."  Meister Eckhart

     THE 'CAPTURE THEIR HEARTS' CAMPAIGN

There's a crisis in American churches and Christian homes today.  Teenagers are fleeing the church in record numbers upon graduation.  To make matters worse, up to 50% of Christian teenagers are forsaking their faith by their senior year of college.  Not only are pastors and parents failing to reach the members of this generation who don't know Christ, they're failing to capture the hearts of the teenagers in their own homes and churches.

What could possibly explain this mass exodus from the church, this great graduation evacuation if you will?  Quite simply, many of these teenagers have not been spiritually equipped to face a post-high school existence, especially on the secular college campus.

Dare 2 Share Ministries and Focus on the Family have teamed up to capture the hearts of every teenager in America for Christ, starting with the teens in our own homes and churches.  This extensive and intensive multi-year, multi-level initiative is designed to come alongside the parents and pastors with the training tools necessary to keep their teenagers serving Christ with passion long after high school.  The Capture their Hearts Campaign is built around pastors, parents and youth leaders taking personal responsibility for the spiritual development of their teenagers.  This campaign is built on enabling Christian teenagers to know and practice the 30 core truths of their faith....

http://www.capturetheirhearts.com/

30 Core Truths

http://www.capturetheirhearts.com/questions

     TEENS GIVE ADULTS MEDIOCRE GRADES

The 7th annual Uhlich Report Card is a survey that gives teenagers a chance to grade adults on how well they're solving problems teens and the rest of the nation face.  This year the adults' overall grade came out to a C; they scored 10 B's, 13 Cs, one D and no As when their grades in 24 categories were averaged.

As in all the surveys since 1999, more than 50% of teens surveyed gave superior grades (As and Bs) to adults for providing quality education, creating job opportunities and spending quality time with their families.  For the first time in the survey's history, more teens gave positive rather than negative grades to adults for stopping youth smoking.

Highest grades:

B, for "Providing a quality education for young people"

B, for "Spending quality time with their families"

B, for "Preparing young people for successful futures"

Lowest grades:

C-, for "Stopping young people from drinking"

C-, for "Reducing bullying among young people"

D+, for "Understanding why teens leave home"

For all the survey results, go to

http://www.ucanchicago.org/reportcard/Grades.htm

     CONSIDER

"Learn to know Christ and him crucified.  Learn to sing to him, and say, 'Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin.  You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours.  You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.'"  Martin Luther

     VERSE TO PONDER

"I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised."  Psalm 130:5 (Liv)

     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: TRUST AND OBEY

Words: John H. Sammis, 1887

Music: Daniel B. Towner

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

>from CyberHymnal at

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm

     DOCTORS SAY THEY'RE SPIRITUAL

A survey examining religion in medicine finds that most U.S. doctors believe in God and an afterlife -- a surprising degree of spirituality in a science-based field, researchers say.  In the survey of 1,044 doctors nationwide, 76% said they believe in God, 59% said they believe in some sort of afterlife, and 55% said their religious beliefs influence how they practice medicine.  A previous survey showed about 83% of the general population believes in God.

Religions among physicians are more varied than among the general population, the survey found. While more than 80% of the U.S. population is Protestant or Catholic, 60% of doctors said they were from either group.  Compared with the general population, more doctors are Jewish, 14% vs. 2%; Hindu, 5% vs. less than 1%; and Muslim, almost 3% vs. less than 1%.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/22/health/main703580.shtml

     EUROPEANS WORRY MORE ABOUT TRASH THAN ABOUT CURSING

Europeans are more upset about litter than about cursing.  That's one of the results of a survey in 17 European countries carried out by the magazine Reader's Digest in Stuttgart, Germany.

The magazine gave citizens a choice of 20 incidents and asked them which ones they found most annoying.  At the top of the list with 86% came "people who just throw their trash away".  In second place are dog droppings on sidewalks (82%).  Jumping the waiting line is in third place (81%).  Cursing and swearing came in 14th place. 52% of all Europeans are irritated by foul language.  The same number say that operating instructions of mobile phones get on their nerves.  What Europeans find least offensive are smoking in public (50%), road construction (35%) and low necklines or short skirts (22%).

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05060074.htm

     GRAPEFRUIT MAY MAKE WOMEN SEEM YOUNGER

A study of smells shows that the scent of grapefruit on women make them seem younger to men - about six years younger.  However, a grapefruit fragrance on men does nothing for them.  The study by the Smell and Taste Institute in Chicago was conducted to determine what makes a women smell young -- but not too young, like pink bubble gum.  Institute director Alan Hirsch said he smeared several middle-aged woman with broccoli, banana, spearmint leaves, and lavender but none of those scents made a difference to the men.  But the scent of grapefruit changed men's perceptions.  Hirsch said that when male volunteers were asked to write down how old the woman with grapefruit odor was, the age was considerably less than reality.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-06202005-504836.html

     GOD FAQ

Question 28: What are the punishments of sin in this world?

Answer: The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, a reprobate sense, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile affections; or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes, and all other evils that befall us in our bodies,names, estates, relations, and employments; together with death itself.

http://www.shortercatechism.com/

     ON PRAYER

"The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous."  Proverbs 15:29 (NIV)

     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. Antonio Dawkins

*        Bro. Carl Modica

*        Minister Byron Dickens

*        Elder William Moore

*        Bro. Robert Turner

*        Pastor Verdale Goines

*        William Moore, Jr. 

*        Bro. Eddie Watson

*        Bro. Eric Gray

*        Minister Aaron O’Tey

 [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.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/SearchContext.asp?topic=1019&super=112&Branch=5

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.)

For the glory of Christ and no other reason.

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

[email protected]

===== /\ =====

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 New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church is to be a Christ-centered, Bible based, Spirit guided church meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of its members and the community it serves.

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 Joy Divine Full Gospel Church is located at 7625 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60620.

Tel: 773-224-5683. Founded & Pastored by Apostle Aaron L. Royster & Prophetess Mable L. Royster.

Visit our website at: http://www.newjoydivine.org/

===== /\ =====

To subscribe to MSM CONNECTIONS, send a message to [email protected] with "subscribe MSM" in the subject line.

To unsubscribe, send a message to [email protected] with "unsubscribe MSM" in the subject line.

THANK YOU FOR READING

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

It is my prayer that, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:18

© 2004, 2005 Frank Coleman