"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."  II Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

     CONSIDER

"God works through others -- so pay attention."  Vickie Girard

     SEE YOU AT THE POLE

September 21, 2005 @ 7AM (suggested local time)

SYATP is student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led.  That means it's all about students meeting at their school flagpole to pray -- for their school, friends, teachers, government, and nation.  This is not a demonstration, political rally, or a stand for or against anything....

http://www.syatp.com/

     HELP FOR GROWING CRISIS OF P*RNOGRAPHY ADDICTION AMONG TEENAGERS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

(Agape Press) Pure Online (http://www.pureonline.com) has two new initiatives designed to help college and teenage boys and girls deal with the growing crisis of p*rnography addiction.  "It's a massive problem," says Brandon Cotter, founder and CEO of Pure Online. "Our research indicates hundreds of thousands of young people have significant problems with p*rnography."  The company, which also runs a website that helps married men struggling with p*rn addiction, has begun enrolling youth in two separate programs -- one for boys and one for girls.  Cotter points out that Pure Online uses the anonymity of web surfing to its advantage by offering a completely confidential recovery workshop, thereby overcoming what experts and recovering addicts believe to be the biggest obstacle to treatment of s*x-related addictions -- fear of exposure.  The CEO says a key aspect of the program is its delivery system options that allow users to pay by credit card or, if they prefer, to cover the expense using PayPal, a secure and anonymous online payment service.  Pure Online's program for married men, launched last year, has already begun helping nearly 1,000 men from 18 different countries. Cotter says p*rn addiction "infects more than a million men in the United States," and that number is "probably more than double" if one counts college and high-school aged young men and women.

     NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

"Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men.  This year, thousands of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and thousands will die from the disease.  While great strides have been made in the battle against prostate cancer, we have more work to do.  During National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we renew our commitment to fight prostate cancer by finding better ways to prevent, detect, and treat this deadly disease.

"As we observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage all men, especially those over the age of 50, to talk with their doctors about the risk of prostate cancer and the appropriate screenings.  I commend those who fight this disease, and I applaud the dedication of researchers, health care providers, and all who are working to increase our knowledge of prostate cancer.  By raising awareness and supporting research, we can save lives...."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050829-8.html

   STATS

> Chance that a man will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime: 1 in 6

> Chance that a man will die from the disease: 1 in 33

http://www.usrf.org/

+++++AND NOW, A PAID ADVERTISEMENT…+++++

     CHURCHES ARE TECHNO SAVVY

Churches have jumped on the technology bandwagon in a big way during the first 5 years of the third millennium.  In its latest report, Barna explores how many Protestant churches are using ministry tools such as a church website, a large-screen projection system, e-mail blasts to congregants, a satellite dish for receiving broadcasts, and electronic funds transfer for donations.  Also, how many churches provide pew Bibles and use live drama presentations and video presentations in their services.  Read the report at

http://www.barna.org

     HOW COULD GOD ALLOW KATRINA?

The problem of evil forcefully reasserts itself.

by Will Reaves

"While the dead have yet to be counted and the damage to New Orleans is not fully assessed, it seems safe to say that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will be with us for years.  Already, the recriminations for Katrina are growing, with the federal, state, and city governments each being blamed for playing a role in the disaster response, and occasionally blaming each other in turn.

"For Christians, however, the primary focus-at least at this stage-should not be assigning blame but being salt and light in the midst of crisis.  Beyond the practical help, there are two particularly pressing questions of faith.  The first is, as many asked after the tsunami last year, "How could God let such horrid things happen?"  The second, after witnessing the breakdown of order and civility in the hours following the storm, is, "How could we let such horrid things happen?"

"Both of these questions deal with theodicy: Why does God allow evil to exist?  Can't God stop both human and natural evil?  If he can, why doesn't he?  That these perennial questions arise in response to every tragedy, war, and disaster shows the enduring nature of our doubt and the magnitude of the question.  Both "natural" evil (natural disasters, disease, suffering of animals) and "human" evil (wars, genocides, injustice) mock our ability to make the reality of an omnipotent, loving God sensible in the wake of suffering...."  Read this in full at

http://ctlibrary.com/31140

     SEEING GOD IN THE DARK

by J.I. Packer

The scene is familiar: You see it with heartbreaking regularity on TV.  A strong, rugged man stands beside a pile of burnt-out rubble that was once his home.  He is in tears.  He does not know where his family is or even if they are still alive.  He has nowhere to turn for food or help.  We find him pitiful and pathetic, but we are glad we are not in his shoes.

Where is this scene?  Beirut?  Baghdad?  Dubrovnik?  No, we are in Ziklag, a little Philistine town some forty miles southwest of Jerusalem.  It is just over three thousand years ago, about 1015 B.C.  The man is David, who later will be Israel's king.  But at this point he is in his late twenties -- a refugee, an outlaw, and a failed leader who seems doomed....

I believe that David ran before his mind five thoughts, as follows:

1.    My God reigns....

2.    My God forgives....

3.    My God cares....

4.    My God is consistent....

5.    My God is faithful....

Read this in full at

http://www.navpress.com/Magazines/DJ/ArticleDisplay/069.07/?aCode=NL80905

     SCAMS IN THE WAKE OF KATRINA

The public is being warned to watch out for dangers posed by scam artists who prey off the generosity of people wanting to donate money to the disaster relief efforts.  To make sure donations get to hurricane victims, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have put together these tips to protect the public:

*         Beware of phony e-mails soliciting money on behalf of well-known charities.  There are many websites claiming to collect donations for Hurricane Katrina victims that may not be legitimate.  FTC advises you to never click on any link in an e-mail solicitation because you may end up at a site that looks real but is set up by identity thieves to get confidential information.  For example, if you get an e-mail from the Red-Cross, close the e-mail and instead go to the Red Cross Web site, or phone them.

*         Donate to established charities or nationally known organizations.  For a list of reputable organizations, visit http://www.FirstGov.gov and click on "How You Can Help."

*         Donate to charities you've given to before.

*         Watch out for charities that have sprung up overnight.  They may be well-meaning, but may lack the infrastructure to provide assistance.

*         Do not give out personal or financial information -- including your Social Security number or credit card and bank account numbers -- to anyone who solicits a contribution from you.  Scam artists use this information to commit fraud against you.

*         Do not give or send cash.  For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card.  Write the official name of the charity on your check.

*         (Source: http://www.FirstGov.gov or call toll-free 1-800-333-4636 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for more info)

     HOW'S YOUR FAITH?

Paul was concerned about people's faith. Five times in ten verses he mentions their faith.  Where does your faith appear on this list?

            I.      Dead Faith (James 2:17, 20, 26),

        II.      Little Faith (Matthew 6:30),

     III.      Weak Faith (Rom. 4:19),

      IV.      Increasing Faith (Luke 17:5),

          V.      Obedient Faith (Heb. 11:8),

      VI.      Working Faith (Gal. 5:6),

   VII.      Growing Faith (2 Thess. 1:3),

VIII.      Strong Faith (Rom 4:20),

      IX.      Great Faith (Matthew 8:5-10),

          X.      Mustard Seed Faith (Matthew 17:20),

      XI.      Perfect (Complete or Accomplishing Its Destined Purpose; James 2:22),

   XII.      Conclusion: "Nevertheless: when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)  If the Lord should come today, what degree of faith would He find in you?   

SOURCE: Victor Knowles "How's Your Faith"

     CHRISTIANS IN BUSINESS HAVE AN HONORED PLACE IN GOD'S PLAN

"...First, the Christian's calling in the business world is not primarily about evangelism.  Nor is it about being "nice."  As good as those things may be, business is fundamentally about serving others.  As Robert Sirico of the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute writes: "When people accept the challenge of an entrepreneurial vocation, they have implicitly decided to meet the needs of others through the goods and services they produce.  If the entrepreneur's investments are to return a profit, the entrepreneur must be 'other-directed.'  Ultimately, business persons in a market economy simply cannot be both self-centered and successful."  That may overstate the short-term realities of modern capitalism.  But in the long run, one does not have to be greedy to be successful.  Business for the Christian is a form of neighbor-love, a way to fulfill the second Great Commandment.  And that is hardly an impediment to success.  Consider this word from Sir John Templeton, one of the most successful investors in history: "My advice to a school of business management is to teach the business manager to give unlimited love, and he'll be more successful."....

Read this in full at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/10.37.html

     BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINE

The Doctrine of the Church

I.  The Nature of the Church - What is it?  The church exists in two forms:

A. The universal church: All believers from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

1. Christ promised to form the Church (Matthew 16:18).

2. The Holy Spirit "baptizes" - places people into the "body of Christ," which is the universal church (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27).  This function of the Holy Spirit began at the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 11:15-18).

B. A local church: A group of believers in this age meeting regularly and organized biblically to do God's will.  (Examples: Romans 16:1, 3-5, 14-16).

http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=424

     LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)

"Strength comes from having a clear set of beliefs that you're willing to fight for every day.  If your causes are part of who you are, if they give you purpose, you never stop fighting."  John Edwards, former U.S. senator and 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee

     MOTOROLA'S EDGE

Geoffrey Frost, chief marketing officer of Motorola, talks about the success of the Razr, the meaning of the Pebl, and the future of "the device formerly known as the cell phone." (Download PDF)

http://hubmagazine.com/?p=12

     '50 WAYS TO HELP PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS'

Christian Freedom International has released a new publication titled "50 Ways to Help Persecuted Christians."  This new ministry guide provides concrete details on exactly how to assist Christians living under persecution in places like Burma, China, Iraq, Indonesia and many other countries.  From praying or volunteering your time to making on-site visits to those living in repressive regimes, the Christian Freedom International '50 Ways to Help' publication is a call-to-action for all caring Christians.  It's free, simply for the asking.  Call 1-800-323-2273 or visit online their website which is: http://www.christianfreedom.org

+++++AND NOW, A PAID ADVERTISEMENT…+++++

     CONSIDER

"The church is working hard to show the world that we love God.  The difficulty is not a heart issue.  The issue is much more subtle than that.  We have lost our vision.  In the 20 centuries since Jesus first handed us the keys to the kingdom, we have lost our way."  Dan Southerland, Transitioning

"Britain's churches will be well on the way to extinction by 2040 with just 2% of the population attending Sunday services, according to a new report.  If current trends continue, churchgoing will plummet by two thirds over the next three decades, while Islam will mushroom."  The London Daily Telegraph

"One fifth of humanity lives in countries where many people think nothing of spending $2 a day on a cappuccino.  Another fifth of humanity survives on less than $1 a day and lives in countries where children die for want of a simple anti-mosquito bed net."  The United Nation's Human Development Report as reported in The Guardian

     EARLY REVIEWS PROVIDE A GLIMPSE OF "THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE"

The upcoming Narnia movie is still a ways from hitting theaters, but early reviews are starting to leak out -- and rumor has it that the film stays true to C.S. Lewis' novel in most important respects.  You can read some initial thoughts on the film at NarniaWeb[1] and the film-geek site Ain't It Cool News[2].  For some additional insight into the film, ComingSoon has posted an interesting interview with actor William Moseley[3], who plays the role of Peter, the oldest of the four siblings in Lewis' tale.

[1] http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=394&dl=4209890

[2] http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=21148

[3] http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=10985

     WHY AREN'T CHRISTIANS MAKING MORE HORROR MOVIES?

Is the horror genre a perfect fit for Christians who want to talk about faith and spirituality through film? Long dismissed by many Christians for its associations with gratuitous violence and gore, the horror movie genre is getting renewed attention in Christian circles with the recent release of "The Exorcism of Emily Rose."  The movie's director, a Christian, raises many questions about the moral and spiritual potential of the horror genre in a fascinating interview[1] with Christianity Today.  Hollywood Jesus and TheSource are also talking about many of the same issues in separate interviews [2] and [3] with "Emily"'s director.  The common theme in these discussions is the idea that the horror genre, when handled carefully by Christians, could present an opportunity to talk about real-life spiritual fears and issues that get overlooked or ignored in many Christian books and films.

[1] http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/scottderrickson.html

[2] http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/comments/kevin/2005/08/exclusive-interview-with-scott.html

[3] http://www.thesource4ym.com/interviews/ScottDerrickson.asp

Critics review the movie: Tom Neven (Plugged In) writes, "This is not a movie one sees merely to be entertained. It's pretty grim in places and quite dark. But it is not exploitative. It also tells a story of faith and compassion. ... The exposition during the courtroom scenes also provides excellent fodder for discussion revolving around the relationship between faith and science -- and between faith and doubt."  See more reviews at

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/filmforum/050915.html

     CONSIDER

"When believers and unbelievers live in the same manner- I distrust the religion."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

     VERSE TO PONDER

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."  Proverbs 3:5-6 (Msg)

     THIS WEEK'S HYMN: MY HOPE IS BUILT

Words: Edward Mote, circa 1834; first appeared in Mote's Hymns of Praise, 1836.

Music: William B. Bradbury, 1863 (MIDI, score).

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,

Support me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh may I then in Him be found.

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

>from CyberHymnal at

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/myhopeis.htm

     GOD FAQ

Question 38: Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?

Answer: It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.

http://www.shortercatechism.com/

     ON PRAYER

"What a glorious thing it would be if millions of us would avail ourselves of the greatest privilege and the greatest power this side of heaven-the privilege and power of prayer!"  Billy Graham

     PRAY FOR A COUNTRY TODAY

http://www.gmi.org/ow/index.html

     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

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).

     CLASSIFIEDS

Are you looking for something or do you have something to sell?  Let me know and I'll put it in this newsletter.

+++++AND NOW, A PAID ADVERTISEMENT…+++++

     SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES

Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.

Tips for Parents

http://www.4parents.gov/

A Place for Truth

http://www.aplacefortruth.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.)

God never presents to us a challenge he doesn't empower us to meet.

Min. Frank Coleman, Editor

[email protected]

===== /\ =====

MSM CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of announcements, news, recommendations, articles, and other information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks for welcoming MSM CONNECTIONS into your in-box!

Who to contact:

Minister Frank Coleman, Men Servants Ministry Chairman, 773-410-1483,

Minister Arnold Whitehead, Men Servants Ministry Vice-Chairman, 773-846-6090

===== /\ =====

The mission of New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church is to be a Christ-centered, Bible based, Spirit guided church meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of its members and the community it serves.

The Men Servants Ministry (MSM) 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.

New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church is located at 7625 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60620.

Tel: 773-224-5683. Founded & Pastored by Apostle Aaron L. Royster & Prophetess Mable L. Royster.

Visit our website at: http://www.newjoydivine.org/

===== /\ =====

To subscribe to MSM CONNECTIONS, send a message to [email protected] with "subscribe MSM" in the subject line.

To unsubscribe, send a message to [email protected] with "unsubscribe MSM" in the subject line.

THANK YOU FOR READING

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

It is my prayer that, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:18

© 2004, 2005 Frank Coleman