Connecting man to man to God
For week of July August 24, 2008
Issue 221


"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
"Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God."
John Quincy Adams


FOR COACH, GOD AND ARCHERY ARE A PACKAGE DEAL
Two weeks before leaving to compete in the Olympics, the archer Brady Ellison waded into a pool not far from the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., and was baptized in the Christian faith.

In the water with him was Kisik Lee, the head coach of the United States archery team and a Christian who has become a spiritual guide for Ellison, 19, and the larger group of athletes who train and live full time at the Olympic Training Center. He has also served as a sponsor in the baptism of three other resident archers.

During the Olympics, Lee and at least three of the five United States archers who qualified to compete in Beijing met every morning to sing hymns and read from the Bible, and to attend church together in the chapel at the Olympic Village. Lee believes having a strong faith makes for better archers because it helps quiet their minds. To that end, he tailored Ellison's Olympic schedule to include spiritual and athletic objectives....Read this in full at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/sports/olympics/20archery.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


DECATHLETE ONCE WAS A REBELLIOUS TEEN
Bryan Clay, an Olympic decathlete, began his walk with Christ in college when he realized his life was heading in the wrong direction.

"I decided I needed to make a change and I turned to God," Clay said on his website, bryanclay.com.

Clay, 28, grew up in Honolulu and became a household name in Hawaii after winning a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. The biography section of his website described him as a rebellious teenager who often found himself in trouble.

"Bryan credits two things with getting his life back on track: His success in sports that led him to college, and his belief and acceptance of the Christian faith," the site says. "At [Azusa Pacific University in Southern California] Bryan really began to accept the Christian faith that his mother had been trying to instill in him for many years.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5912


SOME OLYMPIANS DISSATISFIED WITH RELIGIOUS CENTER
The Olympic Village's religious center was the target of a quiet protest by athletes, coaches and other delegates who say its staffing and services fall woefully short of the promises made by Chinese organizers.

Previous Olympic hosts welcomed foreign chaplains, but China has banned them from living with the athletes. It has instead pledged that it will provide equivalent services from its pool of state-employed pastors, imams and other clerics.... Read this in full at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/13/AR2008081303772.html


COMPETITION & CHRIST: COMPATIBLE?
by Shawn McEvoy
"For me sport was a religion... with religious sentiment." Pierre de Coubertin, French educator, primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894.

Whenever a group of highly-competitive Christian sport fans get together to talk about, well, highly-competitive Christian sport fans, the banter is likely to be revealing, even thought-provoking.

It all started when I, in my work capacity, came across a very good article on Christianity Today by Collin Hansen titled, "You Trying to Say Jesus Christ Can't Hit a Curveball?" In it, Hansen, a Christian and Kansas City Royals fan, notes how gleefully many fans (and even managers) turn their ire and blame upon Christian athletes they perceive as soft. Finding it interesting, I passed the link on to my group of 12 Christian friends from my fantasy baseball league. I didn't anticipate the comments that followed, seeking to answer the question of how important sports and competition have become to us -- and whether they run counter to the life Jesus called us to.... Read this in full at
http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/men/11580434/


YOUR MISSION IS NOT ABOUT YOU
"Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth.' But salt does not exist for itself. When is the last time you went to someone's home for a meal and said, 'Man, this is great salt. Honey, how come we don't have salt like this at home? We gotta switch brands.' Salt's calling is to lose itself in something much bigger and more glorious; and then it fulfills its destiny. We were made to count. We were made to be salt. But the quest for significance is a delicate dance. If I do it by myself for myself, it's death. If I do it with God for others, it's life." John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box


REVIVAL EVANGELIST TODD BENTLEY SEPARATES FROM WIFE
The evangelist at the center of contentious revival meetings in Lakeland, Fla., has filed for separation from his wife. Todd Bentley has also taken the decision to step down from the leadership of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries, which stated on its website that the evangelist had "entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff."

"On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors, we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness," the statement said.

The heavily tattooed evangelist courted controversy in recent months as videos began circulating on the Internet, apparently showing Bentley at raucous revival meetings using violence to heal sick people in the audience and shove people to the ground while shouting "Bam." Critics have also questioned his claims of miraculous healing and raising people from the dead.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080820/revival-evangelist-todd-bentley-separates-from-wife.htm


RICK AND KAY WARREN AT SADDLEBACK
The NPR Speaking of Faith radio program revisits a 2007 conversation with evangelical leaders Rick and Kay Warren -- exploring where they came from and what motivates them. Rick Warren hosted the first post-primary joint appearance of Barack Obama and John McCain at his Saddleback Church in southern California, one of the largest churches in the US. This two hour event, broadcast live on CNN, is just one sign of the cross-cultural authority he and Kay have achieved in a handful of years. Hear the interview at
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2008/warren/


LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
Top 3 Qualities Christians Should Look for in a Leader
by Rick Warren
Integrity, humility, generosity. Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080820/rick-warren-reveals-the-kind-of-leader-america-needs.htm


VERSE TO PONDER
"I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." Psalm 119:60


CONSIDER
"Satan, like a fisher, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish."
Thomas Adams


FRANKLIN GRAHAM CRITICIZES FILM ABOUT HIS DAD
When Franklin Graham made a recent statement that somewhat criticized Billy: The Early Years-an upcoming movie about his father-Franklin's oldest sister came to the film's defense and questioned her brother's judgment.

"I don't want to say anything wrong about my brother, but I just don't see it the way he does," Gigi Graham, the oldest of Billy Graham's five children, told Christianity Today. "Franklin called me and said he thought the movie was dorky. But I think it's good and positive, and I think it honors the Lord and my mother and daddy. I don't know why Franklin felt like he had to make a public statement. I wish he'd just left it alone."

Billy: The Early Years chronicles Billy Graham's teen years, young adulthood, and calling to the ministry. Directed by Robby Benson and starring Armie Hammer, the film doesn't hit theaters until October 10, but a rough cut is already being shown to pastors and churches to get the early buzz going.

Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, released a statement on the organization's official website, saying that the BGEA "has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie, Billy: The Early Years." Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/augustweb-only/134-41.0.html
and
http://www.billytheearlyyears.com/


'SWINGTOWN' AND THE BOOMER EXPERIENCE
by Chuck Colson
CBS is nostalgic this summer for the good old days that never existed. The network's summer series Swingtown examines the lives of three suburban couples in 1976 and their experiences with drugs and "swinging" -- or, what was called then, "wife swapping."

Before I go on, you must know that this is a commentary in which I express my outrage not only over the filth spewed out by the networks, but on the tragedy of the so-called sexual revolution.

Swingtown was portraying something that never existed. Sure, swinging and drug abuse were part and parcel of the sixties and seventies. But Swingtown would have you believe that swinging and drugs were not just "cool" and "fun," but were also without consequences. The characters of Swingtown behave as if their openness to these experiences keeps their marriages fresh and healthy. Total rubbish.

As the New Republic points out, all of this is tied in with the theme of women's liberation, rather than being shown for what it really is: the exploitation of women and the destruction of families. The New Republic sums up the appeal of Swingtown: "Think of it as a foxy summer fling -- except, you know, without the real-life burden of gut-wrenching heartbreak and [disease]." Read this in full at
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=8382


LIFE IS DIFFICULT: A LESSON FROM THE LIFE OF JOB
by Charles R. Swindoll
Life is difficult. That blunt, three-word statement is an accurate appraisal of our existence on this earth. When the writer of the biblical book named Job picked up his stylus to write his story, he could have begun with a similar-sounding and equally blunt sentence, "Life is unfair."

No one could argue the point that life is punctuated with hardship, heartaches, and headaches. Most of us have learned to face the reality that life is difficult. But unfair? Something kicks in, deep within most of us, making it almost intolerable for us to accept and cope with what's unfair. Our drive for justice overrides our patience with pain.

Life is not just difficult, it's downright unfair. Welcome to Job's world.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11580243/


CONSIDER
"One of the miracles of the grace of God is what he is able to do with the torn nets of lives surrendered to him." G. B. Duncan


VERSE TO PONDER
"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." Psalm 112:5


THIS WEEK'S HYMN: O FOR THAT FLAME OF LIVING FIRE
Words: William H. Bathurst, 1831
Music: Samuel Webbe, Sr., 1782

O for that flame of living fire,
Which shone so bright in saints of old!
Which bade their souls to Heav'n aspire,
Calm in distress, in danger bold.

Where is that Spirit, Lord, which dwelt
In Abraham's breast, and sealed him Thine?
Which made Paul's heart with sorrow melt,
And glow with energy divine?

That Spirit which, from age to age,
Proclaimed Thy love, and taught Thy ways?
Brightened Isaiah's vivid page,
And breathed into David's hallowed lays?

Is not Thy grace as mighty now
As when Elijah felt its power;
When glory beamed from Moses' brow,
Or Job endured the trying hour?

Remember, Lord, the ancient days;
Renew Thy work; thy grace restore;
Warm our cold hearts to prayer and praise,
And teach us how to love Thee more.

>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/f/o4tflfir.htm


ON PRAYER
"Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks."
Thomas Goodwin


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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Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- but so was yesterday and look how you messed that up.
Min. Frank Coleman, Editor
[email protected]


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