MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 10/10/04
The Men’s Ministry e-mail newsletter of
Our mission: 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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MSM CONNECTIONS is the opt-in newsletter for the men
of New Joy Divine Full Gospel Church. It's a periodic service that helps
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"You are the light of the world. A city on a
hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone
in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that
they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
CONSIDER
"God has called us to shine, just as much as Daniel was sent into Babylon to shine. Let no one say that he cannot shine because he has not so much influence as some others may have. What God wants you to do is to use the influence you have. Daniel probably did not have much influence down in Babylon at first, but God soon gave him more because he was faithful and used what he had." Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
OCTOBER IS CLERGY
APPRECIATION MONTH
Thank you, pastor, for all you do for us!
http://www.christianitytoday.com/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/clergy/
http://www.family.org/pastor/cam/
http://www.family.org/pastor/pdf/cam.pdf
http://www.navpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=247
http://rev-fun.gospelcom.net/artchives/results.php?request=pastor
FORUM FOR WORLD
EVANGELIZATION
The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization in partnership with the Great Commission Roundtable, held the "2004 Forum for World Evangelization" in Thailand at the end of September. With a focus on global evangelism, contemporary issues included "The Uniqueness of Christ in a Post-Modern World," "The Persecuted Church," "Holistic Mission" (including poverty and AIDS), "Confronting Racial, Tribal and Ethnic Conflict within the Christian Community" and more.
http://www.gospelcom.net/lcwe/2004/
BOOKS THAT HAVE SHAPED
OUR FAITH
Indelible Ink asked 22 best-selling Christian authors to write essays about the non-fiction and fiction books that have shaped their lives and careers. Another 136 other Christian leaders also were asked about the books they hold in highest esteem.
Read about them at
PARENTING BOYS
Are boys more challenging to raise than girls? For 7 principles that may help, go to
http://dvlp.focusonyourchild.com/develop/art1/A0000718.html
THE SERIOUSNESS OF
GOLF!
One lovely morning, Ben and Tom were out golfing. Ben sliced his ball deep into a wooded ravine. He grabbed his 8-iron and proceeded down the embankment into the ravine in search of his ball. Ben searched diligently through the thick underbrush and suddenly he spotted something shiny. As he got closer, he realized that the shiny object was in fact an 8-iron in the hands of a skeleton lying near an old golf ball.
Ben screamed out to his golfing partner: "Hey Tom, come here, I've got big trouble down here." Tom came running over to the edge of the ravine and called out: "What's the matter Ben?" Ben shouted back in a nervous voice: "Throw me my 7-iron! Looks like you can't get out of here with an 8-iron."
DEFINITION:
'Put' means to place a thing where you want it. 'Putt' means a vain attempt to do the same thing.
THE BIBLE GATEWAY IS
GETTING A MAKEOVER
An all-new, redesigned Bible Gateway is coming. Get a sneak preview of it at
VERSE TO PONDER
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Psalms 126:5 (KJV)
CONSIDER
The Lord can clear the darkest skies
Can give us day for night.
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
RELIGION MEETS BILL
O'REILLY
Is God a Republican or a Democrat? Did Jesus rise from the dead? Are Mormons Christians? Is God a she? Is the Bible reliable? Do all roads lead to God? Is God pro-choice? Is the war in Iraq moral? These are just a few of the controversial spiritual topics to be discussed every week on Lee Strobel's provocative new national television show, "Faith Under Fire." This network program airs Saturdays on PAX-TV, 10 pm Eastern and Pacific, 9 pm Central and Mountain. Guests from all over the spiritual spectrum debate today's hottest moral, spiritual, and faith issues. People like: Joni Eareckson-Tada, Cal Thomas, Michael Medved, Rick Warren, Tony Campolo, Al Mohler, Randy Alcorn, and even Hugh Hefner!
For details about the show, go to
http://www.faithunderfire.com/
THE FLU SEASON
With the beauty of autumn comes the threat of influenza, the contagious disease caused by a virus. When someone who has influenza sneezes, coughs, or even talks, the influenza virus is expelled into the air and may be inhaled by anyone close by. For more information on how to protect yourself, visit the American Lung Association at
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35426
HELP FOR ONLINE
TEMPTATIONS
Internet p*rnography is a constant temptation and danger for countless web users. "Using the Internet with Integrity" is devoted to helping men who struggle with Internet p*rn. Take purity seriously. Read the articles at this link to find out how.
http://www.promisekeepers.org/resc/resc120.htm
GAMBLING: A PROBLEM FOR
CHRISTIANS?
More than half of weekly churchgoers have participated in some form of gambling. If you're addicted to it, read these articles
http://www.caringchurches.com/display_article.asp?objectID=83
http://www.caringchurches.com/display_article.asp?objectID=52
http://www.caringchurches.com/display_article.asp?objectID=12
http://www.caringchurches.com/display_article.asp?objectID=10
MINISTRY TO COLLEGE
STUDENTS
Everystudent.com confronts college students with the claims of Christ in non-threatening and attention-grabbing articles. Articles include "Tonic P*rn: Toxic Sex"; "Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy?" "Beyond Blind Faith" and "Is There a God?" Find answers to life issues, learn about Jesus and other religious beliefs, participate in a q/a forum, mature spiritually and socially with God and other people, subscribe to a monthly newsletter and visit a video room for life stories. EveryStudent.com creatively evangelizes the online college community and supports campus ministry.
CONSIDER
Do you have a problem with your temper? One man said, "I occasionally lose my temper, but it's over quickly." Her pastor replied, "So is an atom bomb explosion, but think of the damage it causes. So is a cyclone, but think of the destruction it leaves. So is a bullet fired, but think of the death it can cause."
In his famous address, "The Greatest Thing in the World," Henry Drummond said that lack of patience, lack of kindness, lack of generosity, lack of courtesy, and lack of unselfishness are all symbolized in one flash of temper. "Hence," Drummond wrote, "it is not enough to deal with the temper. We must go to the source and change the inmost nature . . . Souls are made sweet not by taking the acid fluids out, but by putting something in - a great love, a new spirit, the Spirit of Christ." (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 9-13-04)
VERSE TO PONDER
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
SELECTED WORKS OF
MARTIN LUTHER
October is Reformation Month. It was October 31, 1517, that the German monk Martin Luther, having come to a spiritual crisis with doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of the day, posted his famed 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. This is taken today as the beginning of the Reformation, the movement that gave birth to the Protestant portion of the church. There are a number of sites devoted to Luther with information on his life and times and capsule descriptions of what he said and thought. But here is text from Martin Luther himself.
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-luther.html
(Source:
http://www.worldvillage.com/sitereviews/believers.html?id=419
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: THAT
MAN A GODLY LIFE MIGHT LIVE
Words: Martin Luther, 1524
Music: 1200
That man a godly life might live,
God did these Ten Commandments give
By His true servant Moses, high
Upon the Mount Sinai.
Have mercy, Lord!
I am thy God and Lord alone,
No other God before Me own;
Put thy whole confidence in Me
And love Me e'er cordially.
Have mercy, Lord!
By idle word and speech profane
Take not My holy Name in vain
And praise but that as good and true
Which I Myself say and do.
Have mercy, Lord!
Hallow the day which God hath blest
That thou and all thy house may rest;
Keep hand and heart from labor free
That God may so work in thee.
Have mercy, Lord!
Give to thy parents honor due,
Be dutiful, and loving, too,
And help them when their strength decays,
So shalt thou have length of days.
Have mercy, Lord!
Kill thou not out of evil will,
Nor hate, nor render ill for ill;
Be patient and of gentle mood,
And to thy foe do thou good.
Have mercy, Lord.
Be faithful to thy marriage vows,
Thy heart give only to thy spouse;
Thy life keep pure, and lest thou sin,
Use temperance and discipline.
Have mercy, Lord!
Steal not; oppressive acts abhor;
Nor wring their life blood from the poor;
But open wide thy loving hand
To all the poor in the land.
Have mercy, Lord.
Bear not false witness nor belie
Thy neighbor by foul calumny.
Defend his innocence from blame;
With charity hide his shame.
Have mercy, Lord!
Thy neighbor's house desire thou not,
His wife, nor aught that he hath got,
But wish that his such good may be
As thy heart doth wish for thee.
Have mercy, Lord!
God these commandments gave therein
To show thee, child of man, thy sin
And make thee also well perceive
How man unto God should live.
Have mercy, Lord!
Help us, Lord Jesus Christ, for we
A Mediator have in Thee.
Our works cannot salvation gain;
They merit but endless pain.
Have mercy, Lord!
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/thatmana.htm
DEVELOPING A STRATEGY
FOR SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
by Terry C. Muck
Like the marriage relationship, our relationship with God needs constant care. Though prayer is the communication vehicle through which a relationship with God develops, many pastors struggle to maintain a consistent prayer life. Yet, prayerlessness saps the power of ministry.
Weakness of the flesh attacks all of us, especially when it comes to sustaining an active prayer life. As Paul notes in Romans 8, there is no way to overcome our lower natures but by the power of the Holy Spirit. You can utilize the Comforter's power by putting into practice three common techniques:
Set up a system of accountability for prayer....
Provide positive and negative reinforcements for prayer....
Turn prayer into a physical act....
Read this article in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/spiritualgrowth/articles/bcl-030422.html
ON PRAYER
"The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him. The Lord detests the way of the wicked but He loves those who pursue righteousness." Proverbs: 15:7-9 (NIV)
CRITICAL PRAYER
REQUESTS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONS
We're praying for our fellow believers in a different nation each week.
Please pray for...SINGAPORE
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sn.html
Major challenges facing the Church:
a. Coping with affluence - while maintaining a spiritual cutting edge, and using wealth effectively for God's Kingdom. Many young Christians become inactive once they marry and become enmeshed in the materialistic rat-race.
b. Handling restrictive government legislation limiting outreach. Christians need sensitivity in Singapore's multi-faith context, but also boldness to stand firm when fundamental issues of freedom of religion are challenged.
c. Maintenance of adequate family life and witness in high-rise flats and full employment.
d. Unity among churches. The Love Singapore Movement has been a means of drawing churches together. There is great expectation of a significant harvest of people into the Kingdom from 2001 onwards. The Union of Chinese-speaking Christian Churches of Singapore brings together the Chinese-speaking congregations.
e. Mobilization. Creative ways of releasing more long-term workers must be found. Compulsory military service for men, career concerns in a competitive society and cultural perceptions about overseas service are obstacles.
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).
PRAY FOR THESE BROTHERS
* Bishop Chester McLaurin
* Min Lamont Smith
* Minister Maurice Collier
* Bro. Danielle Metcalf
* Bro. Robert Turner
* Bro. Antonio Dawkins
* Elder William Moore
* Bro. Eddie Watson
* Minister Byron Dickens
* William Moore, Jr.
[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.
Cluster Balloon Flight Page
http://www.clusterballoon.org/
The Best of the Hubble Telescope
http://www.inspi.net/best-of-hubble-telescope/slideshow/index.html
Get a Life
http://www.gospelcom.net/guidance/gospel/
Life Answers
http://www.gospelcom.net/guidance/
Adventures in Missions
http://www.adventures.org/a/missions/
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 are you doing at being a peacemaker today?
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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
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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/
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