Connecting
man to man to God
For week of December 7, 2008
Issue
234
"When
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of
the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life.’” John 8:12
CONSIDER
“The
spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ.
The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is
eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of
Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human
product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all
the difference in the world.”
Stuart Briscoe
RELIGION SHAPED 2008 IN BIG, DRAMATIC WAYS
The
unprecedented and extraordinary prominence of religion in the 2008
election was easily the year's top religion story. Both political
parties battled hard for religious voters, and both were forced to
distance themselves from outspoken clergy whose fiery rhetoric
threatened to become a political liability. In the end, the top
prize went to Barak Obama, the son of a Muslim-born father and an
atheist mother, who spent much of the campaign fighting off
persistent -- and untrue -- rumors that he was a closet Muslim.
His party, after years of consistently losing churchgoers to
Republicans, decisively won Catholics, Jews, black Protestants and
made small but significant inroads among some evangelicals....
Read this in full
at
http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=17046
MORE DADS MAKING HOME THEIR DOMAIN
Thirty-seven
percent of working fathers say they would leave their jobs to look
after their kids if they felt they could swing it financially,
according to an annual poll by CareerBuilder. The number of
stay-at-home dads has more than doubled since 1999, according to
the US Census Bureau.... Read this in full
at
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/26/business/chi-sun-stay-at-home-dadsoct26
HUNT IS ON FOR MORE MEN TO LEAD CLASSROOMS
At
a time of increased emphasis on improving student achievement,
especially in inner-city schools, education specialists are
raising serious concerns that male flight from classrooms could be
hindering boys' ability to learn.... Read this in full
at
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/11/18/hunt_is_on_for_more_men_to_lead_classrooms/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Front+Page
A NEW ADVENT MEDITATION
Let
this video collage of words and images, created by contemporary
Christian mystic Christine Sine, usher you into the Advent
season....
http://godspace.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/a-new-advent-meditation/
HAVE YOURSELF A SIMPLE LITTLE CHRISTMAS
It's
time to "Unplug the Christmas machine," states a book
with the same title by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli. And
members of First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo., are
challenged to do just that.
"Simple Christmas,"
the church's Advent theme this year, is a plan to "take back
Christmas," so it isn't driven by consumerism, commercials
and things material, Pastor Doyle Sager said.
"It's
to help place the focus on the spiritual meaning, to be set free.
The things that mean the most don't cost anything." The idea
for the churchwide emphasis began last October at a Central
Baptist Theological Seminary Advent planning workshop. Holly
McKissick, senior pastor at St. Andrew Christian Church in Olathe,
Kan., led a breakout session on simplifying Christmas.... Read
this in full
at
http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3683&Itemid=53
STINGY CHRISTIANS IN AN AGE OF OPULENCE
A
book review by Ron Sider
Many have lamented the meager giving
of American Christians. Others have questioned the data on which
this criticism was based or pointed out that American Christians
give more than those in most other nations. Now we have a careful,
scholarly analysis of how much -- i.e., how little -- American
Christians give, plus a sophisticated sociological analysis of
why. The book Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't
Give Away More Money is a powerful study about the pitifully small
charitable donations of the richest Christians in history. In
spite of the fact that most Christian denominations support
tithing, only a tiny fraction of American Christians actually
tithe. Authors Christian Smith, Michael O. Emerson, and Patricia
Snell set out to discover why. Using a number of the best
currently available data sets plus a survey and personal
interviews of their own, the authors offer the best available
information on what American Christians actually give to
charitable causes and then try to figure out why such rich
Christians give so little.... Read this review in full
at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2008/006/5.11.html
CHURCH GIVING DECLARED 'LUKEWARM'
Americans
spent nearly twice as much on first-day sales of the video game
Grand Theft Auto IV as would be needed by the Southern Baptist
Convention to share the gospel with all the world's 'unreached
people groups' by 2010, according to a new report on church
giving. The annual report, by the Illinois-based group Empty Tomb
Inc., found a general downward trend in church member giving
through 2006, which led authors to propose a 'global triage to
treat what ails the church.' Read this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-11-church-giving_N.htm
FOOD BANKS CAN'T MEET GROWING DEMAND
Donations
to many of the USA's food banks are not keeping pace with growing
demand as the sour economy forces more people to seek help,
charitable organizations say. "We have seen a 100% increase
in demand in the last year … and food donations have
dropped precipitously," says Dana Wilkie, CEO of the
Community Food Bank in Fresno, Calif.... Read this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-25-foodbanks_N.htm
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SALVATION ARMY
The
Salvation Army has a devoutly religious mission, rooted in its
founding in 1865 by an evangelical protestant minister (and former
pawn broker) named William Booth.... Read this in full at
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1863162,00.html
DIAMOND GIFT!
Morris
ran into Jacob while shopping at the mall the other day in front
of one of the jewelry stores. Noticing a conspicuously small gift
wrapped box in his hand, Morris asked if was a gift for Jacob's
wife Becky.
Jacob told Morris, "With Christmas coming
up, I asked Becky what she wanted and she said, "Oh, I don't
know, just give me something with lots of diamonds in it."
"So
what did you get her?" Morris asked.
Jacob smiled and
replied, "I bought her a deck of
cards."
http://www.mikeysFunnies.com
DO IT ANYWAY
People
are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive
them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of
selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are
successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine
enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere,
people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What
you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create
anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be
jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often
be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and
it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the
final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between
you and them anyway.
>Adapted
from
http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/
FORGIVE ME, AMERICA, FOR I HAVE SINNED
It
has become one of the predictable spectacles in American public
life: a disgraced politician, apologizing for some adulterous
shenanigans before a phalanx of microphones, with his grim-faced
wife stationed at his side. ...Even when it comes to their own
church leaders, religious conservatives seem so unpredictable.
Both Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were caught fooling around with
women who were not their wives, but Swaggart was embraced while
Bakker was jettisoned. Susan Wise Bauer's The Art of the Public
Grovel: Sexual Sin and Public Confession in America offers an
answer to these conundrums and a canny analysis of American
political symbolism.... Read this in full
at
http://www.salon.com/books/review/2008/10/15/grovel/index.html
WHEN CONFESSION HAPPENS ONLINE
We
all know confession is good for the soul. In the Internet age, it
turns out, it is also good for Web traffic. In the past few years,
a growing number of Web sites have popped up offering visitors a
chance to anonymously post, read and, in some cases, comment on
people's deepest and darkest secrets. Originally secular, the
sites, with names like DailyConfession.com and GroupHug.us, have
even inspired some pastors to adopt the online confessional to
engage congregants.... Read this in full
at
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1853325,00.html
MYSTERY WORSHIPERS EVALUATE CHURCHES
The
person sitting next to you in church today may look like an
average visitor, but be careful, he might be taking notes. A
growing number of churches are using mystery worshipers,
consultants giving congregations the same kind of unbiased,
unfiltered feedback that secret shoppers give retail stores or
restaurants. The mystery worshipers give churches the kind of
honest responses that newcomers almost never do. From angry
parking lot attendants to boring sermons, they let the churches
know what they are doing right and wrong.... Read this in full
at
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810260397
MEASURED WORSHIP: HOW GOD MEASURES OUR WORSHIP SERVICES
The
God of Scripture has set forth at least three yardsticks in which
he measures our worship practices. The first is the priestly
yardstick recorded in the levitical liturgy describing the
presentation of tithes (Deuteronomy 26:1-15). The second is the
prophetic yardstick proclaimed by the prophet Amos in his critique
of Israel’s worship (5:21-24, et al). The third is the
messianic yardstick that’s based upon Christ’s
personal mission statement (Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 7:21-23)....
Read this in full at
http://www.mindheart.com/?page_id=8
"SEVEN BLUNDERS OF THE WORLD"
1.
Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3.
Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5.
Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7.
Politics without principle
-- Mohandas Gandhi
LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
The
5 Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your
Organization
Peter F. Drucker, editor
A tool for
self-assessment and transformation, answering these 5 questions
will fundamentally change the way you work, helping you lead your
organization to an exceptional level of performance:
* What is
our Mission?
* Who is our Customer?
* What does the Customer
Value?
* What are our Results?
* What is our
Plan?
http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/67/04702275/0470227567-2.pdf
VERSE TO PONDER
"Jesus
declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will
never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty.’”
John 6:35
CONSIDER
“Joy
is the echo of God’s life within us.”
Joseph
Marmion
ATHEISTS DEMAND GOD BE TAKEN OUT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
A
group of atheists have filed a lawsuit seeking to remove part of a
state anti-terrorism law that requires Kentucky's Office of
Homeland Security to acknowledge it can't keep the state safe
without God's help. American Atheists Inc. sued in state court
over a 2002 law that stresses God's role in Kentucky's homeland
security alongside the military, police agencies and health
departments.... Read this in full
at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/02/national/main4644133.shtml
STUDENTS LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, BUT SAY THEY'RE GOOD
In
the past year, 30% of US high school students have stolen from a
store and 64% have cheated on a test, according to a new,
large-scale survey suggesting Americans are too apathetic about
ethical standards. The survey finds that 35% of boys and 26% of
girls – 30% overall -- acknowledged stealing from a store
within the past year. One-fifth said they stole something from a
friend; 23% said they stole something from a parent or other
relative. Despite such responses, 93% of the students said they
were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77%
affirmed that 'when it comes to doing what is right, I am better
than most people I know.' Read this in full
at
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=337502
DIVORCES RISE AMONG MILITARY COUPLES
Enlisted
soldiers and Marines divorced their spouses at a higher rate in
fiscal 2008 than at any other time in at least 16 years, according
to Pentagon data. About 4% of married enlisted troops in the Army
and Marines, or 8,842 GIs and 2,842 Marines, obtained divorces
during fiscal 2008, the numbers show. The data reflect a steady
upward trend in divorce among the Army enlisted since 2003 and
enlisted Marines since 2005…. Read this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-12-02-divorce_N.htm
MOST ADULTS BELIEVE IN ANGELS
A
new survey of the USA's religious beliefs and practices finds 55%
of all adults -- including one in five of those who say they have
no religion -- believe they have been protected from harm by a
guardian angel. 'I would never have expected these numbers. It was
the biggest surprise to me in our findings,' says sociologist
Christopher Bader of Baylor University in Waco, Texas.... Read
this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-09-18-baylor-angel_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
YOUTUBE GETS RELIGION
When
people think of religion on YouTube, most probably flash to
'gotcha' videos of Sarah Palin's old church or Barack Obama's old
pastor. But the video-sharing site is also being used by a wildly
diverse collection of pastors, rabbis, imams, gurus, and pious
laypeople ... to celebrate and explain their creeds.... Read this
in full (and see sample videos)
at
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1847259_1847281_1847274,00.html
CONSIDER
“Tears
are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven.”
Henry Ward Beecher
VERSE TO PONDER
“So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For
what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
THIS WEEK'S HYMN:
Words
& Music: Ralph P. Merrifield, 2002
Anointed One,
Messiah, Lord.
Savior, Christ, Good News, Great Joy,
Eternal
God, now dwelling with man.
The Baby of Bethlehem, the Baby of
Bethlehem.
Immanuel, the Holy Son, Shepherd, Ruler, Mighty
One.
Descended to Earth according to plan,
The Baby of
Bethlehem, the Baby of Bethlehem.
Refrain
With angels we
sing Your glory,
With shepherds we give God praise,
With
wise men we come before You,
To worship You all our days!
The
Word, now flesh, in Him is life.
One and Only, Shining
Light.
Full grace and truth, we now understand,
The Baby of
Bethlehem, the Baby of Bethlehem.
Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace,
Wonderful Couns’lor, King of Kings.
No end
there will be to Your increase,
The Baby of Bethlehem, the Baby
of Bethlehem.
Refrain
Alpha and Omega, Master and
Friend.
All in all, Forgiver of sin,
Creator, Designer,
Beginning and End.
The Baby of Bethlehem, the Baby of
Bethlehem.
All glory, honor, blessing and strength,
Wisdom,
power, mercy and grace,
Past, present, and future contained in
His hands,
The Baby of Bethlehem, the Baby of Bethlehem,
The
Baby of Bethlehem.
>from CyberHymnal
at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/a/babybeth.htm
ON PRAYER
“Prayer
does not equip us for greater works- prayer is the greater work.”
Oswald Chambers
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.
Book your next
vacation with us!
ChristianConnectionTravel.com
Books,
Music & More!
ChristianConnectionBooks.com
Get
your domain name here!
GoGlobalDomains.com
Let
me show you how to earn money as you
travel!
http://FrankColeman.WorldVentures.biz/
It's
as easy as 1-2-3!
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell
us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
IM Acronym
Dictionary
http://www.aim.com/acronyms.adp
OpenOffice
http://www.openoffice.org/
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.)
How does Santa Claus take pictures? With his
North Pole-aroid.
Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor
[email protected]
Thanks
for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
Subscribe!
Subscribe
to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues
here:
http://www.geocities.com/newjoydivine/connections/archives_08.htm
Check
out my blog