Connecting
man to man to God
For week of August 30, 2009
Issue 267
The
Men’s Ministry newsletter of Path Of Life Ministries.
Our
mission is to lead men to Jesus Christ and provide opportunity for
Christian men to grow in their faith and minister to others.
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“Ah,
Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your
great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
Jeremiah 32:17
CONSIDER
“Christianity is not engrossed by this transitory world,
but measures all things by the thought of eternity.”
J. Gresham Machen
CMA
DOCTORS WARN OF NEW PRO-SUICIDE BIAS IN U.S. LAW AND POLICY
The Christian Medical Association (CMA, www.cmda.org), the
nation's largest faith-based organization of physicians, warns of
the potential for pro- suicide ideology to seep into law and
government policy. The organization pointed to pro-suicide
influence in a controversial Veterans Administration (VA) manual
and a section of the main House healthcare overhaul bill.
The
VA manual, titled, "Your Life, Your Choices: Planning for
Future Medical Decisions," was co-authored by Dr. Robert
Pearlman, who unsuccessfully pleaded for a constitutional right to
assisted suicide in a 1996 Supreme Court case.
The VA
manual lists scenarios such as being in a wheelchair, needing
kidney dialysis, or requiring a feeding tube and then asks the
patient to consider whether those situations might make his or her
life "Not worth living."
Dr. Gene Rudd, Senior
Vice President of the 16,000-member Christian Medical Association,
said, "As physicians, we recognize the value of advance
planning and counseling and appointing a personal healthcare
proxy. The VA manual goes a step further, however, subtly raising
with vulnerable patients the possibility that physical impairments
might make their lives, in the words of the manual, "not
worth living." .... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/249011355.html
Also
see “Why HR 3200 Is No Healthcare ‘Reform’”
http://www.cmda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=This_Week_s_News_and_Views&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23007
And
“The Health Care Debate, Early Church Style”
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/augustweb-only/134-31.0.html
LIONIZING TED
There is a phrase obituary writers use to describe the human
tendency to "de mortuis nil nisi bonum," or, speak no
ill of the dead. They call it the posthumous parallax, and define
it "as a bending of life histories toward all that is light
and wholesome, away from anything that might reflect unfavorably
on the dead."
What brings these thoughts to mind, of
course, is the passing of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. For the past
half-century, Kennedy and his clan have been lauded as liberal
gladiators who fought on behalf of the last and the least. But
they've also been denigrated as hopeless leches whose personal
moral failings taint their accomplishments.
Regardless,
Ted Kennedy was a Catholic, this much we know. USA Today called
him "devout," and said Kennedy clung to a Christian
belief in redemption (Lord knows how many times his own career was
resurrected) while publicly disagreeing with church leaders on
abortion and gay rights. Notably, Kennedy apparently declined to
take Communion when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in
Washington.
Stepping into the Wayback Machine here,
Kennedy spoke of his faith in a speech in 1983 at the late Jerry
Falwell's Liberty Baptist College, now called Liberty University.
Almost immediately, Kennedy noted that he was a fish out of water,
saying some people "seem to think it's easier for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle than for a Kennedy to come to the
campus of Liberty Baptist College." .... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnsblog/lionizing_ted/
and
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedytruth&tolerance.htm
See
also “Kennedy's Catholic Faith”
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2009/08/kennedys_cathol.html
LOVE YOUR
ENEMIES, CIVILITY ADVOCATES SAY
Mark DeMoss, to borrow a line from the U2 song, still hasn't
found what he's looking for. The veteran Christian public
relations executive couldn't find it last year when he advised
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. It was missing again in the
controversial battles over Proposition 8, the California measure
that put an end to same-sex marriages last November. And he's
having a hard time finding it in the heat of the debates over
health care reform.
“Civility isn't ruling the day,”
said DeMoss, who represents leading evangelicals like evangelist
Franklin Graham and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson. That's
why, just before Inauguration Day, DeMoss joined forces with
Democratic consultant Lanny Davis to launch The Civility Project,
an online forum that aims to help people who disagree be less
disagreeable.
As people shout over each other at town hall
meetings, with some resorting to name-calling and even defacing a
Democratic congressman's sign with a Nazi swastika, DeMoss and
others say religious leaders can play a role in cooling down the
ranting and rhetoric.... Read this in full at
http://www.newsok.com/love-your-enemies-civility-advocates-say/article/feed/70233
FILM ASKS HOW THE
GOSPEL BECAME SO DIVISIVE
Even though he was always taught that religion and politics
shouldn’t be discussed in polite company, Dan Merchant
decided someone needed to start the conversation.
In his
documentary-style film, “Lord, Save Us from Your Followers,”
which hits theaters nationwide on Sept. 25, Merchant marches
around the country asking everyone he meets why what he calls the
“Gospel of Love” is dividing the nation.
Wearing
a painter-suit covered in bumper stickers that illustrates every
side of the “Christian issue,” Merchant travels the
country asking tough questions. What Merchant really wants to
know: How are Christians supposed to act, and how are they really
acting?
In short, does following Jesus mean loving others
or being right?.... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext/film_asks_how_the_gospel_became_so_divisive/
MISSION AVIATION
HISTORY HITCHES A RIDE ON SPACE SHUTTLE
Proving that space flight is not the highest calling for a
pilot, astronaut Patrick Forrester took a bit of missionary
history onboard space shuttle "Discovery" on its most
recent mission.
The item comes from martyred missionary
pilot Nate Saint's Piper PA-14, which is on display at the
headquarters of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) in Nampa, Idaho.
Saint and four other missionaries were martyred on a sandbar in
Ecuador on Jan. 8, 1956, by a tribe of Waodani Indians.
The
incident sparked international news coverage and renewed interest
in missionary service. Several of the tribesmen that killed Saint
and the others were later converted to Christianity by relatives
of the slain missionaries.
"Bringing attention to and
renewing interest in missions would be a great result of this
experience," said Forrester, who was born in El Paso, Texas,
the year after the martyrdoms. "My deepest intent is to honor
Nate Saint, the Saint family and all missionaries around the
world.".... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/mission_aviation_history_to_hitch_a_ride_on_space_shuttle/
CHOOSE TO LIVE
EXTRAORDINARILY
by Cliff Young
“Every man dies. Not every man really
lives.” —William Wallace. This profound statement was
made by the man who led a resistance during the Wars of Scottish
Independence, depicted in the movie Braveheart. He was speaking
not to seasoned warriors, but rather fellow farmers, tradesmen,
and landowners, as he challenged these simple men to step out from
their rather routine lives to do something extraordinary -- to
stand up and fight against the tyranny of the English.
Likewise,
God calls each of us -- many out of what we think are our mundane
everyday lives -- to do something extraordinary, to really live
for Him. “We pray this in order that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit
in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”
(Colossians 1:10). Who and what are you living for? How deep are
you choosing to live your life?.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11606759/
PRISON MINISTRY
LEADER: VICK IN 'FAR BETTER' POSITION THAN FELLOW EX-OFFENDERS
Since serving 18 months in prison, former Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Michael Vick has been conditionally reinstated by the
NFL commissioner and signed a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Though Vick still faces some taunts and jeers for his
“key” role in an extensive unlawful interstate
dogfighting ring, which led to his incarceration, the president
and CEO of Prison Fellowship is reminding the public that Vick is
in a far better position than nearly all the other estimated
700,000 prisoners who will be released this year.
“Vick
possesses a very rare and, thus, very marketable set of skills. At
any given moment, only 32 men are good enough to start at
quarterback in the NFL.” notes Mark Earley.
Unfortunately,
however, the vast majority of ex-prisoners does not get a second
chance and often have trouble finding work after their release
from prison. In some communities, 75% of ex-offenders remain
unemployed a year after their release -- and that’s in good
economic times.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090824/prison-ministry-leader-vick-in-far-better-position-than-fellow-ex-offenders/index.html
TONY DUNGY ASKED
MICHAEL VICK: 'WHERE WAS THE LORD IN ALL OF THIS?'
While NFL coaches, players and analysts have speculated how
Michael Vick will fare in returning to pro football after two
years in prison, his closest mentor, former Colts head coach Tony
Dungy, said Vick will succeed only by putting his faith in God.
"I know Michael feels he's let a lot of people down
and disappointed a lot of fans and family, but I told him the only
way you can correct that is to put yourself in the Lord's hands
and let Him guide you.
"After speaking with Michael,
he's given me hope that he's headed in the right direction."
Dungy spoke to Baptist Press Monday afternoon in advance
of his inaugural "Tony Dungy's Red Zone '09," a high
school football kickoff event to be shown in more than 450 movie
theaters tonight nationwide.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31138
KEEP YOUR HEAD
“Jesus warned us, ‘Be careful, or your hearts will
be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of
life’ (Luke 21:34). We are also cautioned in several places
to watch our emotions. The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be
afraid; do not be discouraged’ (Joshua 1:9). Jesus said, ‘Do
not worry’ (Matthew 6:25). Paul wrote, ‘Do not be
anxious about anything’ (Philippians 4:6). The psalmist
wrote, ‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret
-- it leads only to evil’ (Psalm 37:8). Paul wrote, ‘Keep
your head in all situations’ (2 Timothy 4:5). If we are
going to avoid unnecessary temptations, it will be by keeping our
heads.
“This is why the Apostle Peter calls on us to
be always clear minded, self-controlled and alert, that is to say,
emotionally stable, so that we can pray (1 Peter 4:7, 5:8). He
talks of prayer as having the potential to keep us emotionally,
psychologically and spiritually stable. This stability, which
comes from real communication with God and faith in him, gives us
the necessary poise to either avoid or overcome temptations.”
from The War Within: Christians and Inner Conflicts by A. C.
Chukwuocha
THE
CASE FOR CHRISTENDOM
by Collin Hansen
Two of every three young American adults
(66%) say that older Americans have better moral values than they
do, according to new polling released by the Pew Research Center.
A similar number, 67%, say their elders are more respectful of
others. And 68% attribute a stronger work ethic to more
experienced generations.
Mere Orthodoxy blogger Matthew
Lee Anderson struck a nerve earlier this year when he identified
young evangelicals as another group desperately seeking social
acceptance. In a twist on the Pew data, Anderson sees his fellow
20-something evangelicals lobbying for acceptance by denigrating
their elders.
According to Anderson's reading of
evangelical youth, they believe older evangelicals were seduced by
the Religious Right and didn't do enough to fight poverty and
racism. They were preoccupied with a narrow set of values, such as
abstinence from alcohol and sex outside of marriage. These same
rubes even bought Left Behind books and watched The Late Great
Planet Earth.
If young evangelicals had reached these
conclusions for principled reasons, then Anderson might not be so
concerned. But he suspects more nefarious trends at work.... Read
this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/augustweb-only/134-11.0.html
RAVI ZACHARIAS
AND OTHERS TO ARGUE THEIR 'CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY'
On November 6-7, 2009, Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, Lee
Strobel, Gary Habermas, Ron Rhodes, Ergun Caner, Ed Hindson, Greg
Koukl, and others will assemble in Diamond Bar, California, at
'The Case for Christianity' conference sponsored by Veritas
Evangelical Seminary.
http://veritasseminary.com/edu/pages/home/conference-registration.php
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
“It awes me to think that Jesus wants to help me to help
Him accomplish God's desires for this world. I'm not alone in it.
I'm not leading a one-woman parade. I don't have to weaken under
the pressure.
“It doesn't all fall on my sagging
shoulders. Christ stands with me -- just as He stood with the
blind man that day (John 9:2-3). And He's standing with you today
too. Especially if you feel as though you're desperately holding
together all the loose ends. Be comforted; it won't all fall apart
without you. Jesus is saying to you, ‘We -- we must do the
works of God’ (John 9:4). How can I be lonely in my work
when Jesus has rolled up His sleeves to help me and partner with
me?” From A Lifetime of Wisdom: Embracing the Way God Heals
You by Joni Eareckson Tada
JONI AND FRIENDS
DISABILITY MINISTRY CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
As Joni Eareckson Tada observes her 60th birthday in October,
this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the ministry she
founded to provide support and outreach to individuals with
disabilities and their families -- inspired from her own
experience as a quadriplegic trying to adapt and survive in an
inaccessible world.
Tada became a quadriplegic at the age
of 17 as the result of a diving accident. As part of her
rehabilitation, she learned to paint beautiful pictures with her
mouth, which she showed at local art fairs. She was featured on a
local television program, after which NBC's "The Today Show"
booked her for an interview with Barbara Walters.
"After
that interview, things kind of exploded," Tada said. "A
publisher asked if I would write a book (I did and its called
"Joni") and the Billy Graham film ministry did a story
on my life.
"This resulted in thousands of letters
from disabled people," Joni continued. "These letters
inspired me to begin this important ministry, responding to people
seeking advice and encouragement." .... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2594111340.html
“ORGANIZED
RELIGION’S ‘MANAGEMENT PROBLEM’
By Gary Hamel
What’s wrong with organized religion?”
That’s the question I addressed at a recent conference
organized by Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington,
Illinois. For nearly 30 years, Willow Creek has been one of
America’s most progressive churches, and since 1999 it’s
been running an annual a seminar for church leaders from around
the world. The “Leadership Summit” features innovative
pastors as well as non-church speakers. This year’s roster
included Carly Fiorina, Bono, Tony Blair, Jessica Jackley,
co-founder of Kiva, and a slightly nerdish business school
professor.
So there I was, in front of 7,000 preachers and
laymen, with another 60,000 or so by satellite. I’m used to
flashing my PowerPoints in front people who are richer, smarter
and more powerful than me. But this was the first time I had to
face a stadium’s worth of folks who were probably more
virtuous than me. It wasn’t so much a case of Daniel in the
lion’s den as Gary in the Christians’ den. (By the
way, I donated my small honorarium to charity).
Obviously,
no one dragged me on stage in chains. I went for two reasons.
First, I believe that religious institutions, like other sorts of
organizations, need a management reboot, and I know a little bit
about how to make this happen. My hypothesis: the problem with
organized religion isn’t that it’s too religious, but
that it’s too organized. And second, I believe that the
“church” (in the broadest, ecumenical sense of the
word) plays an essential role in constructing the moral
foundations of a democratic society—a view advanced 147
years ago by that famous French tourist, Alexis de
Tocqueville:.... Read this in full at
http://blogs.wsj.com/management/2009/08/21/organized-religions-management-problem/
EXPRESS YOUR
EMOTIONS
“Long
before he was a successful coach, Jim Valvano was a very funny
man. He charmed people into listening to him not just by sharing
humor with them but by tapping into their funny bones as well.
Essentially, he lifted people up because he saw the world as a
wonderful place. A lot of others feel their lives are great, but
for some reason they cannot let their emotions come to the
surface. Not only does this cheat the world by denying it a few
more upbeat moments, but it can affect your health too.
“Several
different highly regarded medical studies seem to prove that the
old saying ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ is right on
the money. When Jim Valvano prescribed laughing, he was actually
giving sound medical advice. But Valvano's formula for a full day
didn't stop with laughter. It also included crying, which we know
is also a great stress reliever. But beyond the positive effects
that expressing your emotions can have on your health, think what
it can mean to others. Being honest about all of your emotions
opens the door for others to feel. Your openness and comfort level
with your feelings create an atmosphere in which others want to
know why you were so moved.” from Sticks and Stones: Using
Your Words as a Positive Force by Ace Collins
LEADERSHIP TIPS
(BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
“God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can
possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly
and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling
of an eye. Creation seems to be delegation through and through. I
suppose this is because He is a giver.”
C.S. Lewis in The World’s Last Night
VERSE TO PONDER
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
CONSIDER
“There is nothing more harmful to you than improving
only your material, animal side of life. There is nothing more
beneficial, both for you and for others, than activity directed to
the improvement of your soul.”
Leo Tolstoy
'WICKEDLY
ENTERTAINING'
When Harvey Weinstein and Quentin Tarantino showed Inglorious
Basterds -- a fictional film about Jews enacting brutal revenge on
the Nazis -- to a group that included children of Holocaust
survivors, the reaction was mostly positive.... Read this in full
at
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctmovies/2009/08/wickedly-entertaining.html
See
also “'Inglourious Basterds' latest in Jewish vengeance film
genre”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-08-25-basterds-jewish_N.htm
OLDEST KNOWN
PORTRAIT OF ST PAUL REVEALED
Vatican archaeologists have uncovered what they say is the
oldest known portrait of St Paul. The portrait has been made
public only after restoration. It shows St. Paul with a high domed
forehead, deep-set eyes, and a long pointed beard, confirming the
image familiar from later depictions.
L'Osservatore
Romano, the Vatican newspaper, which devoted two pages to the
discovery, said that the oval portrait, dated to the 4th century,
had been found in the catacombs of St. Thecla, not far from the
Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, where the apostle
is buried. The find was “an extraordinary event”, said
Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for
Culture.... Read this in full at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6597914.ece
250TH BIRTHDAY OF
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE MARKED WITH REFLECTION, ACTION
Admirers
of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce remembered him
Aug. 24 – the 250th anniversary of his birth date – by
reflecting on his life and carrying on the British statesman’s
call for the end of slavery.
At the Wilberforce House
Museum in Hull, Yorkshire, where Wilberforce was born, a ceremony
was held to celebrate Wilberforce’s life and started with
one of his most famous speeches, which proclaimed the slave trade
as “an abhorrent trade.” “I shall not rest until
I have affected its abolition,” Hull-born actor Chris Cade
stated in redelivering Wilberforce’s speech. Although
Wilberforce was a prolific philanthropist, establishing 69
philanthropies during his lifetime, he is best known for leading
an 18-year fight for the abolition of the British Empire’s
slave trade, which legally ended in 1807 in England and 1808 in
the United States.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090825/250th-birthday-of-william-wilberforce-marked-with-reflection-action/index.html
PREPARATION
In his blog, Mike Glenn shares the following: "You don't
have to talk to me very long to understand I am an avid fan of
college football. Most of the teams have reported back to begin
practice, and we are days away from the first games! I can't wait!
But as intense as every Saturday promises to be, do you realize
that most of the games are being won and lost right now -- before
they are even played? Who shows up in shape? Who was watching
extra film? Who is most focused and determined in practice right
now? People who study successful men and women always point out
how intentional they are with their time and work. Every action
today is done with tomorrow's contest in mind -- a contest they
will be most prepared to win.
"I remind you all of
the time that we have to 'get ready' because there will come a
time when we will have to 'be ready.' The contest will begin, and
the time for preparation will be over. We will win or lose by how
prepared we are for the moment. We will face temptation. We know
that moment is coming. What are you doing right now to get ready
to resist that temptation? We know someone will ask you about your
relationship with Jesus. What are you doing to get ready for that
moment? Just as football games are won in practice, spiritual
victories are won and lost in our preparation. The moment is
coming…and what we are doing right now will determine how
well we do."
http://www.brentwoodbaptist.com/brentwood/blog
OBAMA'S
THEOLOGIAN: DAVID BROOKS AND E.J. DIONNE ON REINHOLD NIEBUHR AND
THE AMERICAN PRESENT
President
Obama has cited the 20th-century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr as
one of his favorite philosophers who has influenced his
understanding of the world, of religion, and of politics. In a
public conversation in Washington, DC with political commentators
David Brooks and E.J. Dionne, the radio program Speaking of Faith
explores how Niebuhr's merger of intellect, faith, and realism
might be speaking to a new era of American turmoil and American
power. This live conversation took place on January 29, 2009 at
the invitation of Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace,
and World Affairs. Hear the discussion at
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/obamas-theologian2/
THE MIKE WALLACE
INTERVIEW: REINHOLD NIEBUHR (4/27/58)
Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, vice president of Union Theological
Seminary in New York, on leave to the Institute for Advanced Study
at Princeton, and one of the most important and challenging
religious thinkers in the world, talks to Wallace about the
separation between church and state, Catholicism, Protestantism,
anti-Semitism, communism, and nuclear war. See the video at
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/niebuhr_reinhold.html
HOW MONEY MAKES
US HAPPY
Money
used in a certain way does make us happy. In a study of a group of
employees following a special profit-sharing bonus, researchers
“found that the only factor that reliably predicted which
workers would be happy six to eight weeks after the bonus was
their prosocial spending -- the more money people spent on charity
and gifts for others, the happier they were.” .... Read this
in full at
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2009/08/how_money_makes.html
15 YEARS LATER:
GORDON COLLEGE TO HOST ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE THAT EXPLORES THE
SCANDAL OF THE EVANGELICAL MIND
Fifteen years after history professor Mark Noll first claimed
that "the scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is
not much of an evangelical mind," many still consider his
landmark book a wake-up call. Scholars who hold to the Christian
faith, especially in higher education, view Noll's work as a
seminal guide to academic excellence within the evangelical
tradition.
"He challenges Christians to take the life
of the mind more seriously," said Thomas Albert Howard,
associate professor of history at Gordon College and director of
the Jerusalem and Athens Forum. "Noll's book has inspired a
new generation of young people to give themselves to rigorous
study and to understand the vocation of scholarship as a way to
honor God." .... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/fifteen_years_later_gordon_college_to_host_anniversary_conference_that_expl/
ANDY STANLEY
PREACHES ON 'LOSING YOUR RELIGION'
Pastor Andy Stanley has met many people over the years who
said they stopped believing in God, are on the edge of losing
their faith, or are just lost. It's not that a bad experience or
circumstance pushed them away from God or caused them to doubt.
And it's not that they're on some campaign against God and
religion. But many of them just woke up one day and wondered if
they really did believe. It's as if they just put their faith away
in a box somewhere. His short but memorable conversations with
such people have prompted Stanley to launch a series on "Losing
Your Religion" at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta,
Ga.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090825/andy-stanley-addresses-plight-of-losing-your-religion/index.html
REACH MORE, SPEND
LESS WITH LOW-COST NIV BIBLES
For the price of a greeting card or a café latte,
individuals and churches can now purchase Biblica's full-size,
easy-to-read paperback Bible or New Testament in the popular New
International Version® (NIV) translation at their local
Christian bookstore.
Biblica, formerly International Bible
Society (an affiliate of IBS-STL), will release the outreach NIV
Bible ($3.99 each) and New Testament ($1.50) in August. Both are
also available in case lots at discounted prices from Christian
retail stores everywhere.
The Bibles and New Testaments
are ideal for:
* evangelism
* church small groups
*
Sunday school classrooms
* back-to-school ministry
*
community outreach
* prison ministry
* Christmas outreach
Biblica's NIV Bibles and New Testaments feature an
attractive four-color cover; easy-to-read two-column format easy
on readers' eyes; and just enough helps (a short Bible-reading
plan and abridged concordance/dictionary) to guide readers new to
the Bible without overwhelming them.
"These outreach
Bibles provide individuals and churches with a great opportunity
to reach out to their community with God's Word," said Mike
Dworak, Biblica Marketing Director. "The NIV is the most
popular modern-English Bible version worldwide. It's easy to read,
it uses contemporary language, and yet it's faithful to the
original Bible texts and languages."
Dworak said the
low-cost Bibles are especially welcome during the economic
downturn. "Churches and individuals need affordable ways to
share God's Word with their community. The price on Biblica's
ministry-priced outreach Bibles is a great value, especially for
full-size NIV Bibles and New Testaments."
About
Biblica (formerly IBS-STL) Biblica's vision is to transform lives
through God's Word by translating, producing, and distributing
Bibles, Scripture materials, and other Christian resources through
ministry, distribution, and retail channels so people around the
world may become disciples of Jesus Christ. Biblica operates in 46
countries and is the sponsor and copyright holder of the New
International Version® family of contemporary-English Bible
translations. For more information, visi
http://www.Biblica.com
IF FAMOUS
HISTORICAL FIGURES WERE LOOKING FOR A JOB TODAY...
~ Julius Caesar: My last job involved a lot of office politics
and back stabbing. I'd like to get away from all that.
~
Jesse James: I can list among my experience and skills:
leadership, extensive travel, logistical organization, intimate
understanding of firearms, and a knowledge of security measures at
numerous banks.
~ Marie Antoinette: My management style
has been criticized, but I'd like to think of myself as a people
person.
~ Joseph Guillotin: I can give your company a head
start on the competition.
~ Hamlet: My position was
eliminated in a hostile takeover.
~ Pandora: I can bring a
lot to your company. I like discovering new things.
~
Genghis Khan: My primary talent is downsizing. On my last job I
downsized my staff, my organization, and the populations of
several countries.
~ Macbeth: Would I go after my boss's
job? Do I look like the kind of guy who would knock off his boss
for a promotion?
~ Lady Godiva: What do mean, this isn't
"business casual"?
~ Elvis: My last boss and
I...say, are you going to eat those fries?
http://www.mikeysFunnies.com
CONSIDER
“No Christian is where he ought to be spiritually until
the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ is being reproduced in daily
Christian life.”
A. W. Tozer
VERSE
TO PONDER
“He
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6
ON PRAYER
“I
cannot pray in the name of Jesus to have my own will; the name of
Jesus is not a signature of no importance, but the decisive
factor. The fact that the name of Jesus comes at the beginning
does not make it a prayer in the name of Jesus; but this means to
pray in such a manner that I dare name Jesus in it, that is to
say, dare to think of Him, think His holy will together with
whatever I am praying for.”
Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Journals, ed. Alexander Dru,
Oxford University Press, 1959, p. 336-337
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!
Http://www.ChristianConnectionTravel.com
Books,
Music & More!
http://www.ChristianConnectionBooks.com
Get
your domain name here!
http://www.GoGlobalDomains.com
Let
me show you how to earn money as you
travel!
http://www.earnGlobalVacations.com/
It's
as easy as 1-2-3!
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE
WEBSITES
Tell
us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Synchronized
bicycle riding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b36Yi-Pb1wM&feature=player_embedded
LIFE
photos
http://www.life.com/channel/animals
All
links to websites are provided as a service, and do not imply
endorsement by this ministry.
(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.)
A
bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor
[email protected]
Thanks
for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
----------
CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of
announcements, news, recommendations, articles, and other
information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks for
welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
-----------
The
CONNECTIONS Team offers 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.
Path Of Life Ministries is located at 6459 S. Campbell Ave.
Chicago, IL 60629.
Visit our website at:
http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/
----------
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