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Connecting man to man to God! Week of Issue 179 CONNECTIONS is the opt-in newsletter for the men
& friends of Minister Frank Coleman.
It's a periodic service that helps connect you with God and with other
men. If you'd like its delivery to
your email address stopped, scroll down and follow the instructions at the
end of this message. Also let me know
if you change your email address and want to keep subscribing to CONNECTIONS. "Trust
in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in
all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths
straight." Proverbs 3:5 - 6 CONSIDER "The
question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?" Henri J. M. Nouwen
(1932-1996), In the name of Jesus LET'S STOP BEATING UP ON MEN! by
Patrick Morley I
once heard a men's message that I would sub-title: "The 327 Things You
Need To Do To Be A Good Christian." While I'm exaggerating, the
underlying theme frightens me. I have
heard several speakers and communicators with good hearts tell men in their
messages about the many things they "ought" to be doing. For example, you "ought" to ... *
have a weekly date night with your
wife. *
carve out more time for your kids. *
cancel your Sports Illustrated
subscription because of the swimsuit edition. *
spend a certain minimum amount of time
with God every day. *
be in an accountability group. *
ask your pastor what more you can do
to serve, and so on. Each
of these things sounds like a good idea.
Indeed, they may even be a good application of biblical
principles. Yet, they also illustrate
an alarming trend in men's ministry that needs to be nipped in the bud.... Read this in full at http://www.newmanmag.com/newmanreport/2007/10/lets-stop-beating-up-on-men.html BE ATTENTIVE "A
person who is attentive is mindful. He
considerately sees to the comfort or wishes of another. He's thoughtful and watchful, looking for
ways to give care. He attends to
details -- little nonverbal behaviors that may speak more honestly than
words. As the dictionary makes clear,
to be attentive means "to express affectionate interest through close
observation and gallant gestures."
Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott, The Parent You Want to Be: Who You Are
Matters More Than What You Do THE RELEVANCY OF JESUS "Jesus'
approach is always fresh, surprising, new, and unexpected. Consequently, it always provoked a direct
reaction.... He shattered firmly formed convictions and beliefs. He often used nonreligious language,
avoiding the religious language of his contemporaries, a language that had
been used so long, and so often by so many people, that it had lost its
meaning almost completely. He
continually used examples from everyday life to express himself." Joseph G. Donders,
Praying and Preaching the Sunday Gospel THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAFEWAY by
Jeremy D. Lawson, Michael J. Sleasman, and Charles
A. Anderson Scantily
clad supermodels flash seductive stares and tabloids prophesy the next
apocalypse as we are funneled through a modified version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The magazine resting next to the
super-sized peanut butter cups promises we can shed 10 pounds in the next 15
minutes. Have we entered the seventh
heaven of hedonism? Or are we merely
among the 90% of American adults who each month pass through the gauntlet of
temptation known more commonly as the grocery store checkout line?' The
setup is virtually the same in every grocery store. Multiple rows of magazines guard the gates
of the aisle: So
where does this vision of the good life take us? Many Christians and non-Christians alike have
expressed concern over the explicit images and headlines of checkout-line
magazines. Consumer groups like the
American Decency Association and Morality in Media have accused stores of
indecent exposure. In response,
Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/octoberweb-only/142-23.0.html $ OUCH! Most
of us feel like we already pay a lot at the gas pump, but if the cost of gas
had increased at the same rate as college tuition over the last 25 years, it
would now cost $9.15 a gallon. By the
same comparison, a gallon of milk would cost more than $15. (AP LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) The
habits of highly successful bosses: *
Great bosses get the
small picture. *
Great bosses make
people feel smart. *
Great bosses know who
does what. *
Great bosses know when
they're not wanted. *
Great bosses
remember.... Read
this in full at http://www.inc.com/magazine/20071001/the-office-good-to-great.html VERSE TO PONDER "Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that
evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of
truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will
make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the
shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows
of the evil one. Take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:13-17 CONSIDER "Only
one act of pure love, unsullied by any taint of ulterior motive, has ever
been performed in the history of the world, namely the self-giving of God in
Christ on the cross for undeserving sinners." John Stott FULL SPEED AHEAD "We
all have one shot and one shot only to leave a lasting legacy-a definitive
mark on this world that reflects our decision to lean into, not away from,
our areas of holy discontent. A legacy that says, "I have been trusted
to carry God's message of hope to an aching, fractured world in need, and I
refuse to rest until my role in that is fulfilled." Bill Hybels, Holy
Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision NOW SHOWING: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON Stunning! This movie is inspirational as well as
historical. Leaders should encourage
their teams to see it just to understand the power of setting objectives and
setting a vision. In
the far-flung span of human history, only 12 men have ever stepped on the
surface of another celestial body. And
yet, somehow we have managed to convince ourselves that such acts of
mind-boggling ingenuity and stunning heroism are now commonplace. The
new documentary, In the Shadow of the Moon, reminds us all that America's
space program is nothing short of astonishing and that humankind's venture
into the vast, freezing abyss of outer space is one of the most extraordinary
and significant moments in the history of our species. It celebrates the know-how of thousands of
engineers and the daring-do of dozens of astronauts who embraced the most
audacious act of outlandish genius ever proposed. In
the Shadow of the Moon scoured NASA's film vaults, coming away with a
treasure trove of archival footage. Gone are the overused, iconic images so
familiar to all of us. The filmmakers
digitally re-mastered footage sealed in bins for more than three decades,
much of it of such breathtaking quality and magisterial beauty that it is
almost unthinkable that it has gone unseen until now.... Read this in full at http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2007/intheshadowofthemoon.html Watch
the trailer http://www.apple.com/trailers/thinkfilm/intheshadowofthemoon/trailer/ Website http://www.intheshadowofthemoon.com/ "I
have been around churches for a long time.
Do you know what the most frequently asked question about tithing is?
"Do I have to tithe on the net or on the gross?" Translation: "How little can I give
and not get God mad at me?" The
implied question is: "How much of my stuff can I keep and not get in
trouble?" This is like going to
your mom on Mother's Day and saying, "Mom, what's the least amount of
money I can spend on your present without severing our relationship?" "King
David once said to God, "But who am I, and who are my people,
that we should be able to give as generously as this?" He doesn't ask, "What's the least
amount I have to give and not get God ticked off?" He says, "Who am I,
that I should be able to give like this?
I want to use my stuff to build your kingdom, not my
kingdom." John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the
Box BASEBALL FILM SHOWS 'QUINTESSENTIAL' by
Phil Boatwright "It's
the only game on earth where the object is to get home," David Mickey
Evans says about baseball and his new film, "The Final
Season." An ardent fan of the game,
Evans made his directorial debut with 1993's "The Sandlot," a
pleasurable comedy about a new boy in town who finds his place after joining
the neighborhood baseball team. "The
sport of baseball is a metaphor for family, and for life, where you can be a
part of a team -- part of a tight unit -- but within that tight family unit,
you can stand out as an individual and shine." Sean
Astin, who plays the coach of the team in Evans'
movie, supports the director's philosophy, saying, "Baseball, and
especially high school baseball, is something that brings parents and kids
together." Astin,
who starred in "Rudy," another standout fact-based sports story,
joined The Final Season because of its positive elements. "I can sum up in two words what sets
it apart: heart and authenticity," Astin
said.... The
Final Season, set at a school that is closing its doors, "treats high
school baseball in a realistic way," Astin
continued. "Baseball's still the
national pastime. It's our sport, as a
country. But I can't think of a
baseball movie that takes you right into sophomore, junior, senior guts of
high school baseball as well as it's depicted here".... Read this in full at http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26605 REVIEW: BASEBALL GETS 'VISIONARY' TOUCH
IN FILM by
Phil Boatwright Tradition
in As
coach Jim Van Scoyoc (Powers Boothe)
leads the team to its 19th state title, a 20th seems to be a foregone
conclusion. But the unexpected strikes
when bureaucracy intercedes, merging the school district with another. Petty
jealousies and political designs conspire to rob http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26606 DEATH IS NOT... Death is not death if it kills no part of
us, save that which hindered us from perfect life. Death is not death if it raises us in a
moment from darkness into light, from weakness into strength, from sinfulness
into holiness. Death is not death if it brings us nearer
to Christ, who is the fount of life. Death is not death if it perfects our
faith by sight and lets us behold Him in whom we have believed. Death is not death if it gives us to those
whom we have loved and lost, for whom we have lived, for whom we long to live
again. Death is not death if it rids us of doubt
and fear, of chance and change, of space and time, and all which space and
time bring forth and then destroy. Death is not death, for Christ has
conquered Death for Himself and for those who trust in Him. Charles Kingsley CONSIDER "We
treat sensible and present things as realities, and future and eternal things
as fables: whereas the reverse should be our habit." Richard Cecil VERSE TO PONDER "May
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your
sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm THIS WEEK'S HYMN: O THOU IN WHOSE
PRESENCE Words:
Joseph Swain, 1791 O
Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight, On
whom in affliction I call, My
comfort by day, and my song in the night, My
hope, my salvation, my all. Where
dost Thou at noontide resort with Thy sheep, To
feed on the pastures of love? Say,
why in the valley of death should I weep, Or
alone in the wilderness rove? O,
why should I wander an alien from Thee, And
cry in the desert for bread? Thy
foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see, And
smile at the tears I have shed. Ye
daughters of The
Star that on Say,
if in your tents my Belovèd has been, And
where, with His flocks, He is gone. This
is my Belovèd; His form is divine; His
vestments shed odors around: The
locks of His head are as grapes on the vine, When
autumn with plenty is crowned. The
roses of Sharon, the lilies that grow In
vales, on the banks of the streams: On
His cheeks, all the beauties of excellence glow, And
His eyes are as quivers of beams. His
voice, as the sound of the dulcimer sweet, Is
heard through the shadows of death; The
cedars of Lebanon bow at His feet, The
air is perfumed with His breath. His
lips as a fountain of righteousness flow, That
waters the garden of grace, From
which their salvation the Gentiles shall know, And
bask in the smiles of His face. Love
sits on His eye-lids, and scatters delight Through
all the bright mansions on high; Their
faces the cherubim veil in His sight, And
tremble with fullness of joy. He
looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice, And
myriads wait for His word; He
speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice, Re-echoes
the praise of her Lord. Dear
Shepherd, I hear and will follow Thy call; I
know the sweet sound of Thy voice. Restore
and defend me, for Thou art my All, And
in Thee I will ever rejoice. >from
CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/othouwho.htm ON PRAYER "I need
Thee, O Lord, for a curb on my tongue; when I am tempted to making carping
criticisms and cruel judgments, keep me from speaking barbed words that hurt,
and in which I find perverted satisfaction.
Keep me from unkind words and from unkind silences. Restrain my judgments. Make my criticisms kind, generous, and
constructive. Make me sweet inside,
that I may be gentle with other people, gentle in the things I say, kind in
what I do. Create in me that warmth of
mercy that shall enable others to find Thy strength for their weakness, Thy
peace for their strife, Thy joy for their sorrow, Thy love for their hatred,
Thy compassion for their weakness. In
thine own strong name, I pray.
Amen." Peter Marshall,
former Chaplain of the United States Senate 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. MAKE MONEY MEET PEOPLE! Meet Thousands
of Business People Online FREE! Business Networking & Advertising Service
Entrepreneurs and Home Business Owners advertise your Company, Product, or
Service as apart of DirectMatches' online business networking service where
business people are matched with other business people to do BUSINESS! It's
the MySpace for business people! To register for a free business profile,
visit: http://www.directmatches.com/goglobal SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES Tell us what
sites you find enjoyable and why. Medical
Dictionary http://www.curehunter.com/public/dictionary.do Speed
Machines http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/barrier/machines.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.) Why does
"fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing? Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor Thanks for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your
in-box! We offer 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. Quick Links... · Start Your Domain Name Search Here · Visit my blog - comment & share your thoughts · Become a Leisure Travel Consultant email: [email protected] phone:
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