Connecting
man to man to God!
Week of April 6, 2008
Issue 202
“Within
your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”
Psalm 48:9
CONSIDER
“Meditation
is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and
dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one
knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God.”
J. I. Packer
TED TURNER APOLOGIZES, JOINS CHURCHES' $200M MALARIA
FIGHT
Ted Turner has formed
a $200 million partnership with Lutherans and Methodists to fight
malaria, apologizing for his past criticism of religion as he
announced the effort. Turner's United Nations Foundation, which he
started in 1997 with a $1 billion donation, launched the malaria
project with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the United Methodist Church.
The Protestant groups have been working overseas to fight poverty
and prevent disease for more than a century. Turner, 69, said he
had only made a few disparaging comments a long time ago and that
he is "always developing" his thinking as he grows
older. "I regret anything I said about religion that was
negative," he said in a brief interview with The Associated
Press. He said he has attended church a few times, but isn't a
regular. Turner now says he does not consider himself agnostic or
atheist, as he had sometimes described himself previously. He
prays for sick friends because "it doesn't hurt," he
said. "I find it really hard to believe I'm going to hell,"
Turner said.... Read this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-01-turner-churches_N.htm
TREASURE TODAY
“We
have received freely from the hand of a loving Father. We've
received grace, provision, talent, and countless other blessings.
We are called to give as freely as we have taken. We are not
entitled to anything. "Who has ever given to God, that God
should repay him?" (Romans 11:35). God owes us nothing. He
gives us today. We are not entitled to tomorrow. We have only
today, only this moment really. And this moment is all that we
need. A moment to pray, a moment to smile. A moment to praise, a
moment to encourage. A moment to decide that, should we be given
more moments, more days, and more years, we will spend them
wisely, concerned not with what we can get but how we can give.”
Mary Pierce, When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister?
APRIL 27 IS INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY
With
over 1 billion people already online, the potential for Web
evangelism is staggering. This is a day of opportunity! Take time
to look at the Internet Evangelism Day website, and discover how
God is using this new medium. You may have the gifts to be
involved in Web evangelism yourself -- and surprisingly, you don’t
need to be technical....
http://www.InternetEvangelismDay.com
MARRIAGE & DIVORCE IN THE USA
4
out of every 5 US adults (78%) have been married at least once and
of those, 1 out of 3 have been divorced at least once, according
to a new study from The Barna Group. An even higher proportion of
born again Christians (84%) tie the knot. That eclipses the
proportion among people aligned with non-Christian faiths (74%)
and among atheists and agnostics (65%). Among all Americans 18
years of age or older, whether they have been married or not, 25%
have gone through a marital split. The groups with the most
prolific experience of marriage ending in divorce are downscale
adults (39%), Baby Boomers (38%), those aligned with a
non-Christian faith (38%), African-Americans (36%), and people who
consider themselves to be liberal on social and political matters
(37%). Among the population segments with the lowest likelihood of
having been divorced subsequent to marriage are Catholics (28%),
evangelicals (26%), upscale adults (22%), Asians (20%) and those
who deem themselves to be conservative on social and political
matters (28%). Born again Christians who are not evangelical are
indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of
divorce: 33% have been married and divorced.... Read this in full
at
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=295
AFRICA POISED TO BECOME TOP CHRISTIAN CONTINENT
"The
new face of Christianity will be the black woman," a renowned
theologian told a Lexington, Kentucky audience recently. Kwok Pui
Lan, the William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and
Spirituality at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.,
explained that in mid-2007, Europe laid claim to the greatest
number of Christians in the world: 532 million, followed by Latin
America at 525 million and Africa at 417 million. But by 2025,
Africa will climb to the top spot with 634.6 million Christians,
with Latin America a close second at 634.1 million, and Europe
dropping to third at 521 million. The United States had 223
million Christians mid-2007 and is predicted to grow slightly to
252 million by 2025.... Read this in full
at
http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/359347.html
THE GOD WE SEEK
"The
God we seek is the God we want, not the God who is. We fashion a
god who blesses without obligation, who lets us feel his presence
without living his life, who stands with us and never against us,
who gives us what we want when we want it. We worship a god of
consumer satisfaction. . . . Without encountering God in worship,
we easily forget doing justice or loving-kindness, or if we
remember, they become mere tasks rather than the substance of
life." Mark Labberton in The Dangerous Act of Worship (IVP,
2007)
LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
“In
business and in life, imaginary difficulties are harder to
overcome than real ones.” Unknown
VERSE TO PONDER
“Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew
6:19-21
CONSIDER
“Build
your nest in no tree here...for the Lord of the forest has
condemned the whole woods to be demolished.” Samuel
Rutherford
GET IT RIGHT
“A
knowledge of the real Jesus is essential, not just for Christians
but for wider society, because his influence is so wide. The
reality of an individual who has set the western calendar,
permeated human thought and history for over 2,000 years, and
influenced the culture of the dominant nations for a millennium
demands to be taken seriously. The huge questions about just who
Jesus is are more than mere theological musings. And getting Jesus
right is also vital because those who claim to follow him do so
much in his name. When they get his identity wrong, we see the
cruelty of the Crusades, the Inquisitions and entrenched political
conservatism. When they get it right, they are inspired to lead
sociopolitical campaigns, battle slavery, and establish
humanitarian services. This Jesus turns out to be far more at home
in the issues affecting communities than he is in ivory towers or
church politics.” Joel Edwards, An Agenda for Change: A
Global Call for Spiritual and Social Transformation
EVANGELICAL LEADERS: 'JEWS NEED JESUS CHRIST'
Dozens
of prominent evangelical leaders recently endorsed a statement
declaring what many Christians already hold to be true -- that
Jewish people need the gospel and Jesus Christ to receive eternal
life. The statement, sponsored by the World Evangelical Alliance,
expresses friendship and love for the Jewish people, but
unapologetically declares that salvation comes only through Jesus
Christ. "It is out of our profound respect for Jewish people
that we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, and
encourage others to do the same, for we believe that salvation is
only found in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the
World," reads the evangelical statement on The Gospel and the
Jewish People. Evangelical Christian leaders who affirm the
statement include the Rev. Dr. Lon Allison, director of the Billy
Graham Center; Dr. Mark Bailey, president of Dallas Theological
Seminary; and Charles Colson, founder of Prison
Fellowship....
http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/view.htm?id=1732
Also
see Christianity Today: “Why Evangelize the
Jews?”
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/31.76.html
NEW BOOK SUMMARY ONLINE
A
detailed summary of Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham, Jr.
(Crossway) is now online. The book’s message: Christian
children are leaving the faith in startling numbers. Efforts to
stop the flow are proving to be pointless. Parents have turned to
the church to fix the problem, but the church is not equipped to
do the work of that magnitude. It’s up to parents -- not an
outside source -- to learn how to train, educate, and disciple
their children in the faith. God equipped the family to be the
heart and soul of multi-generational faith, and families are given
the guidelines in the Scriptures, notably in Deuteronomy 6. No
matter how ineffective or unprepared parents feel about spiritual
leadership in the home, they can rely on the Bible to guide their
families toward godliness. Read the detail summary
at
http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/
Purchase
your copy
now:
http://www.christianconnectionbooks.com/content/search/product/view_item.php?dcn=63266&sm=
VALUE
“Every
child needs to feel accepted and valued. He constantly wonders
about himself and wrestles with competing self-perceptions -- his
abilities versus his inabilities. Ideally, the people closest to
him will help tip the scales in this internal battle. When a
parent or other respected adult rises to the challenge, the
healthy self-worth this creates can help the child's confidence to
blossom. The thought process works something like this: ‘My
dad believes in me -- so I should believe in myself.’
Sometimes the result is a wobbly step only six inches long. Other
times, larger strides take place.
“A child propped
up by such confidence will face the inevitable challenges of life
with resolve. Such was the case with Wilma Rudolph. Early in life,
doctors told her mother that, due to a debilitating disease, Wilma
might not walk again. Wilma decided to embrace a different
prognosis. ‘My mother told me I would, so I believed my
mother.’ And that belief became the foundation that later
enabled her to become a US Olympic Gold Medalist in the 100, 200,
and 400 (relay) meter races.” David Staal, Words Kids Need
to Hear: To Help Them Be Who God Made Them to Be
CONSIDER
“There
is a major disaster when a person allows some success to become a
stopping place rather than a way station on to a larger goal. It
often happens that an early success is a greater moral hazard than
an early failure.” Halford E. Luccock (1885-1960)
LAWS OF LIFE
Law
of Mechanical Repair -- After your hands become coated with
grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to go to the
bathroom.
Law of the Workshop -- Any tool, when dropped,
will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of
Probability -- The probability of being watched is directly
proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of the
Telephone -- If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy
signal.
Law of the Alibi -- If you tell the boss you were
late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning
you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law -- If you change
lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move
faster than the one you are in now.
Law of the Bath -- When
the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law
of Close Encounters -- The probability of meeting someone you know
increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to
be seen with.
Law of the Result -- When you try to prove to
someone that a machine won't work, it will.
Law of
Biomechanics -- The severity of the itch is inversely proportional
to the reach.
Law of the Theater -- At any event, the
people whose seats are farthest from the aisle arrive last.
Law
of Coffee -- As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your
boss will ask you to do something that will last until the coffee
is cold.
Murphy's Law of Lockers -- If there are only two
people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law
of Rugs/Carpets -- The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich
landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to
the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Location --
No matter where you go, there you are.
Law of Logical
Argument -- Anything is possible if you don't know what you are
talking about.
Brown's Law -- If the shoe fits, it's
ugly.
Oliver's Law -- A closed mouth gathers no
feet.
Wilson's Law -- As soon as you find a product that
you really like, they will stop making it.
Doctor’s
Law -- If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the
doctor; by the time you get there, you'll feel better. Don't make
an appointment, and you'll stay sick.
CONSIDER
“Money
has never yet made anyone rich.” Seneca
VERSE TO PONDER
“Be
rich in good deeds; be generous and willing to share.” 1
Timothy 6:18
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: COME YE THAT SEEK THE LORD
Words:
Charles Wesley, 1746
Music: Lowell Mason, 1843
Come ye
that seek the Lord,
Him that was crucified,
Come listen to
the Gospel word,
And feel it now applied;
To every soul of
man
The joyful news we show,
Jesus for every sinner
slain,
Is risen again for you.
The Lord is risen
indeed,
And did to us appear,
He hath been seen, our living
Head,
By many a Peter here:
We, who so oft denied
Our
Master and our God,
Have thrust our hand into His side,
And
felt the streaming blood.
Raised from the dead we are
The
members with their Lord,
And boldly in His Name declare
The
soul reviving word;
Salvation we proclaim
Which every soul
may find,
Pardon and peace in Jesus’ Name,
And life
for all mankind.
O might they all receive
The bleeding
Prince of Peace!
Sinners, the glad report believe,
Of Jesus’
witnesses;
He lives, who spilt His blood;
Believe our record
true,
The Arm, the Power, the Son of God
Shall be revealed
in you.
>from CyberHymnal
at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/y/coytsetl.htm
ON PRAYER
“Theirs
is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before
they seek for God.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), On
the Love of God
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.
CNN Video:
baseball park made of
Legos
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/04/01/paolantonio.lego.stadium.wisn
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 way some people love to find fault, you'd
think there was a reward.
Min. Frank Coleman,
Editor
[email protected]
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