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Connecting man to man to God! Week of January 6, 2008 Issue 189
"The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." Titus 2:11-12
CONSIDER "In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are." Max De Pree
THE CASE FOR THE REAL JESUS, PART FOUR: THE GNOSTIC JESUS by Lee Strobel As a Christian, I believe in the redeeming Jesus. Historically, Christians have taught that Jesus died on the cross in order to redeem humankind -- to pay the penalty for our sins as our substitute so he could offer forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift. But some people deny that. Rather than the redeeming Jesus, they picture Jesus as: "The Gnostic Jesus."
The word "Gnostic" comes from the Greek and means "secret knowledge." According to scholar N.T. Wright, Gnostics are a diverse group, but generally they believe the world is evil, it was product of an evil creator, salvation consists of being rescued from it, and the rescue comes through secret knowledge. That's a far different message than the one in the biblical Gospels.
The Gnostic picture of Jesus is reflected in several alternative gospels unearthed since 1945. The most prominent is the gospel of Thomas, which the far left-wing Jesus Seminar says is just as reliable as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But Jesus' message and mission are far different in Thomas than in the New Testament Gospels. For example, the gospel of John says we experience God only through the divine light embodied in Jesus. Thomas says the divine light Jesus embodied is shared by all humanity. In other words, we all have this divine spark within.. Read this in full at http://www.pastors.com/rwmt/article.asp?ArtID=11025
NEW ONLINE BOOK SUMMARY The book Glocalization: How Followers of Jesus Engage in a Flat World by Bob Roberts, Jr., is now summarized in detail online. The book's message: Technology has created a flat world, connecting "global" with "local" (hence the title "Glocalization"). The church must respond to this phenomenon by moving outside of its walls, not only to transform the local community but to strategize with believers globally for world impact. Some see the directives in Acts 1:8 as "sequential" steps that a church must take to reach the world. Roberts suggests that the verse represents the "dimensions" that the church must address at all times. To operate effectively in every dimension, the church must not depend upon mission agencies (global) and professional clergy (local); rather it must equip every believer to influence their local community and the world with the gospel. Read the summary in full at http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/
Purchase this book here: http://www.christianconnectionbooks.com/content/search/product/view_item.php?dcn=35236&sm=
NEW YEAR'S TIME KILLERS INVENTORY by Richard Doebler It was one of those defining moments -- a moment of enlightenment. I was 18 and wanted to entertain my 5-year-old brother, so I offered to take him to the rides at the county fair. With twenty-one dollars in my pocket, I was the model big brother.
Through the gate into the fairgrounds we went, past the farm implements, livestock barns, hot dog and popcorn stands, craft buildings with jams and quilts. We had one thing on our minds: the rides. The towering Ferris wheel marked our destination. Unfortunately, we didn't make it. A distraction diverted us.
Just past the gaming area I heard a hawker call my name. Or so I thought. I spun around to see who was calling, and a man in a booth beckoned me over. Suffice it to say that within five minutes he had most of my money, and I was still five points away from winning the stuffed panda. That's when I came to my senses. I was angry at the hawker, but mostly I was angry with myself. I'd lost 17 dollars and several rides for my brother. But I learned a lesson: Distractions can sidetrack you from your goal.
The Bible tells us to live wisely by making the most of our opportunities and by understanding God's will: "Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Eph. 5:15-17). Three time-management principles emerge from these verses:.... Read this in full at http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln71231.html
LETTING GO by Kristyn Komarnicki What if I resolved to let go of my life instead of making New Year's resolutions to change it by sheer willpower?.... Read this in full at http://www.esa-online.org/Article.asp?RecordKey=B1921007-0017-44D8-A35F-A3B49BDA934D
HOW TO SHARE YOUR FAITH USING THE BLOCKBUSTER FILMS OF 2007 And the top grossing films of 2007 were... * Spiderman 3 - $336,530,303 * Shrek the Third - $321,012,359 * Transformers - $319,071,806 * Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - $309,420,425 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - $292,004,738 * The Bourne Ultimatum - $227,471,070
What do an anachra-superhero, giant green ogre, techno-transformer lover, swash-buckling pirate, boy wizard and amnesiac ex-government agent have in common, besides their wildly successful runs at the box office? For help answering that question, check out the following multiple choice options: * They're all movie heroes who drew in huge teen audiences * They're all on a quest that involves searching for answers to an important question * They're all part of a struggle that pits good vs. evil * All of the above.
If you answered 'all of the above', you nailed it! Consider yourself a well-informed movie connoisseurs of the biggest hits of 2007, not to mention, a brilliant and insightful observer of the culture!
But stop and think for a minute about the bigger picture here regarding the big pictures of 2007. Why do all of the top films of the year share those three over-arching characteristics? Perhaps it's because teens are flocking in droves to movies that speak to the most basic human challenges and desires: to find answers to important questions and to understand more about the ever-present battle in this world between the forces of good and evil. Teens know that good story-telling wrestles with the big questions of life in fresh and creative ways, including the struggle of good vs. evil, and all of these movies do that in some dimension or other.... Read this in full at
LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE) "Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more." Gail Hamilton
VERSE TO PONDER "Teach us to number our days right, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
CONSIDER "Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin
TIME WITH GOD Lord, what a change within us one short hour Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make! What heavy burdens from our bosoms take, What parched ground refresh as with a shower! We kneel, and all around us seems to lower; We rise, and all, the distant and the near, Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear; We kneel, how weak! we rise, how full of power! Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong, Or other, that we are not always strong, That we are ever overborne with care, That we should ever weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer, And joy and strength and courage are with Thee! ... Richard Chevenix Trench (1807-1886)
TAKE TIME TO BE WHAT? by Gordon MacDonald In the early 1880s, William D. Longstaff wrote a poem that later became a hymn called "Take Time to Be Holy." Becoming a holy person is intentional; you have to work at it. When God says to Israel, "Consecrate yourselves," he is putting the ball in our court. In other words, pursue whatever it takes to be a holy man, a holy woman, a holy nation.
I've not seen myself as a holy man, although I have longed to be one. Sometimes I've reasoned that I don't have the temperament or the concentrative ability for that level of spiritual nobility. And there have been times when, despite my general intention to be holy, I have felt that I failed God so miserably that I was tempted, like someone else in the past, to settle for being a servant, not a son, in his household.
I am using the word as it was used in "be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16), where the apostle challenges a fresh Christian generation to a unique lifestyle that will set it in contrast with the pagan culture. Those who received the challenge would know instantly that they were being called to something extraordinary.
Holy starts out as descriptive of the character of God. And Christians are urged to order their lives in accordance with what they know about the nature of God. Holy can also be equated with Christlikeness and the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in the Galatian letter. This speaks to the quality of life to which Christians are to aspire.... Read this in full at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/004/12.96.html
NO REGRETS "Either your past is serving as a springboard to a better tomorrow, or it is the proverbial albatross keeping you from moving forward today." Les Parrott III, Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
TUNED TO THE MASTER'S VOICE by Vince D'Acchioli You will never appropriate God's ultimate resources unless you develop an intimate relationship with Him -- -period. Without an intimate relationship with God you will never understand His purpose for your life: intimacy with God = strength of vision. How can we have that kind of relationship with God? I believe we need to have a deliberate, scheduled time alone with God every day: reading the Word, praying, and praising God.. Read this in full at http://newmanmag.com/display_cms.php?id=6533
'IN GOD' MOTTO HEADED BACK TO FACE OF $1 COINS Presidential one dollar coins are the only U.S. coins currently being issued by the United States Mint that have the inscription "In God We Trust" along the edge, but public pressure is sending the motto back to the front or back of the coins.
Legislation introduced by Sens. Sam Brownback, R.-Kan., and Robert Byrd, D.-W.Va., that would return "In God We Trust" to a more visible location was signed into law by President Bush.
The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 was meant to honor the nation's presidents by issuing $1 circulating coins featuring their images in the order that they served. The first four honoring Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison were issued this year.
The coins feature what the mint calls edge-incused inscriptions -- used in other countries -- of the year of minting or issuance, "E Pluribus Unum," "In God We Trust" and the mint mark. The size, weight and metal composition of the presidential coins is identical to that of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar. The 2005 congressional bill mandated the inscriptions be placed along the edge to allow "larger and more dramatic artwork" on the front and back. It was not a decision made by the mint.
But some coins made it through production without having the inscriptions stamped on the edge, and some experts say the wording on the coin's edge could rub off over time. Others expressed concern that moving the "In God We Trust" motto to the side of the coins was the first step in removing it altogether.... Read this in full at http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27098
FIVE KEY FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008 by Steve Scalici, CFP It's that time of year when we make resolutions (resolution is a fancy word for soon-to-be-broken promise). As a financial planner, I have five "things" you should do to make 2008 a potentially financially successful year. Notice I didn't say "resolutions" for fear you won't keep them past January. 1. Create a budget. 2. Live on the budget that you create. 3. Have a plan to get out of debt. 4. Begin saving money. 5. Have faith.
Create a budget Less than 5% of the population has a budget. Why is that? Haven't people figured out that living without a budget hasn't worked so far? Isn't it time to try something new? I love when people tell me they can't live on a budget because it's too constricting. That's the point! It keeps you within your boundaries, which in turn keeps you out of trouble. If you need help, check out our website at www.tcfin.com and click on "Budget Counseling." We have an Excel spreadsheet that has a budget that you can use for free (that's good stewardship). If you don't have Excel you can choose to view the file online and print it out.
Live on the budget you create I know countless people that have beautifully planned budgets but never look at them. They've become glorified dust collectors. Having a budget and not using it is like having a car and not driving it. Used properly and regularly as a guide, that budget can make life really easy.
Have a plan to get out of debt Debt can be one of the great attributors of wealth in your life. However, for most people, it is the "great inhibitor." If you've found yourself being squeezed by the "borrow constrictor," as Ron Blue calls it, stop overspending. Of course, this is easier to do if you have a budget (sorry to keep coming back to that). One of the most effective ways of getting out of debt is to "snowball" it. Here's an easy three step process to help you:
1. Line up your debts starting with the smallest balance. Don't look at the interest rate. The only time the interest rate comes into play is if you have two balances that are very close.
2. Focus on paying the smallest debt first. Once that debt is paid off, you use the money you were sending that creditor and begin applying that to the balance of the next highest creditor. Pay that one off and keep doing it with the third, fourth, etc.
3. All the while, you make the minimum payments to the creditors that you are not currently focusing on. Focusing on one debt allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment when you pay one off. That will keep you interested in paying off your debt. You can even have fun with it.
Again, if you'd like assistance with this, check out our website and click on "snowball your debt." There's an excellent Excel file that can help you figure out how to pay off your debt.
Begin Saving Money I've heard it a thousand times: "I just don't have any money to save." That's gibberish. We live in the richest country in the world. What we consider to be middle class is outright wealthy in most parts of the world. We just have to get our priorities straight. Everyone can afford to save something, even if it's $5 per week. Start saving and allow the "eighth wonder of the world" to begin working in your favor instead of against you. What is the "eighth wonder of the world?" It's compound interest.
Have faith Sometimes it's easier said than done. We have to trust God in all areas of our lives, even when it seems silly or even trivial. I'm reminded of the story in Luke, Chapter 5 where Peter met Jesus. Peter and his friends had fished all night with nothing to show for it. But, Jesus told them to cast their nets again. Peter, without hesitation (and presumably going on faith) immediately said "OK." They put out their nets and this time they caught so many fish, the nets began to break. Faith tested is faith rewarded. Faith is the only test we are guaranteed to pass. Because even if we don't get what we want, we get what we need.
Steve Scalici is a Certified Financial PlannerTM with Treasure Coast Financial. He is co-host of God's Money, which can be heard on the internet at www.oneplace.com. You can contact Steve at [email protected].
CONSIDER "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
VERSE TO PONDER "[Jesus said,] 'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'" John 16:33
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: FOR THIS NEW YEAR Words: D. A. Sandy Coverett, 2006 Music: James Langran, 1861 For this New Year we humbly ask Your grace; Help us to always see Your loving face Shining upon us, bringing peace within, Keeping our feet from paths of mortal sin.
Dear Lord, we ask that we would always be Open to You, and that all men may see In how we treat them that we've made a pact. To let Your love shine through our ev'ry act.
Within our fam'lies may we know Your peace; As we share moments let our love increase. Teach us to share with those we truly love As we would do so in that home above.
Now for Your church, Lord, we would give You thanks, All kinds of people making up her ranks; Help her be true in all she longs to do That ev'ry act shall praise and honor You.
For this Your world, dear Lord, we beg You now Beat ev'ry sword blade into humble plow; We seek that peace that we can help to bring When we acknowledge You as Lord and King.
For me, O Lord, this too I simply ask; Help me to not shirk my appointed task, Teach me to trust, Lord, walking day by day, In simple faith that You show me Your way. >from CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/t/n/ftneyear.htm
ON PRAYER "I've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experience, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself." Anne Lamott
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.]
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Ethnologue http://www.ethnologue.com/home.asp
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