MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 10/17/04
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
connect you with God and with other men at NJD. If you'd like its delivery to
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"Go to the Lord for help, and worship him continually." 1 Chronicles 16:11 (TEV)
CONSIDER
"Let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average." A.W. Tozer
DON'T FORGET
October 23 - World Series begins!
October 31 – New Joy Divine Youth Sunday
October 31 - Big Ten Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship
http://bigten.collegesports.com/
Also October 31 - Daylight Saving Time ends in the U.S.
BARNA: EVANGELISM IS
MOST EFFECTIVE AMONG KIDS
Currently representing 38% of all adults and one-third of all teenagers, there are an estimated 98 million adults and children who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. A substantial majority of the people who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching their 18th birthday. This insight comes from a new research study from The Barna Group, based on interviews with 992 born again Christians nationwide. The survey also reveals that young people respond more positively to different outreach influences than do people who embrace Christ later in life.
For years, church leaders have heard the claim that nearly nine out of ten Christians accept Jesus as their savior before the age of 18. If that statistic was accurate in the past, it no longer depicts U.S. society. The current Barna study indicates that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday. One out of eight born again people (13%) made their profession of faith while 18 to 21 years old. Less than one out of every four born again Christians (23%) embraced Christ after their twenty-first birthday. Barna notes that these figures are consistent with similar studies it has conducted during the past twenty years....
Read this report in full at
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=172
FAITH UNDER FIRE
The new Saturday night program on PAX-TV, Faith Under Fire, now has group discussion study guides available for each episode. Faith Under Fire is Lee Strobel's weekly television program that looks at hot topics in a talk/debate show format. Check out this link each week to get the most recent study guide questions.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/faithunderfire.asp
A note from Lee Strobel: "We've had a lot of
great feedback from our first episode. In fact, more than 5,000 people
visited our website (http://www.faithunderfire.com/)
in the first two days after the show aired and we received 439 emails - of
which 99% were positive! One frequent suggestion is that we deal
with fewer topics each program so that we could have more discussion time with
each topic. In some of our upcoming programs, you'll see three
topics rather than four. And we plan to make more permanent changes
for our second season (if we get renewed by PAX!). In case you
missed it, the October 9 episode dealt with the following topics: Is the
Supernatural Real? Islam Examined. Can We Talk to Dead
People? Do All Roads Lead to God? Watch October 23 - 'Is
Prayer Dangerous?'"
COMPUTER SECURITY
If you use Microsoft, you'll want to protect your PC by downloading the latest Security Patch at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx
FAITH AMONG THE BEARS
If you're a Chicago Bears fan, you may find this article interesting:
IDENTITY BADGE WORN
UNDER SKIN APPROVED
(New York Times) - The Food and Drug Administration has
cleared the way for a Florida company to market implantable chips that would
provide easy access to individual medical records. The approval is
expected to bring to public attention a simmering debate over a technology that
has evoked Orwellian overtones for privacy advocates and fueled fears of
widespread tracking of people with implanted radio frequency tags, even though
that ability does not yet exist. Applied Digital Solutions, (http://www.adsx.com/) based in Delray Beach, Fla.,
says its devices, called VeriChips, could save lives and limit injuries from
errors in medical treatment. And it expressed hope that such medical
uses would accelerate the acceptance of under-the-skin ID chips as security and
access-control devices. Scott R. Silverman, chairman and chief executive of
Applied Digital, said the F.D.A.'s approval should help the company overcome
"the creepy factor" of implanted tags and the suspicion it has
stirred. But it is far from clear whether implanted identification
tags can overcome opposition from those who fear new levels of personal
surveillance and from some fundamentalist religious groups who contend that the
tags may be the "mark of the beast" referred to in the Book of
Revelation.
In Applied Digital's vision, patients implanted with the chips could receive more effective care because doctors, other emergency-room personnel and ambulance crews equipped with Applied's handheld radio scanners would be able to read a unique 16-digit number on the chip. The chip does not contain any records, but with the number, the care provider would be able to retrieve medical information about blood type, drug histories and other critical data stored in computers. The records could be easily updated. Tiny radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags similar to VeriChip have been embedded in livestock and pets in the millions in recent years as a more secure form of identification than external tags. But no device maker has yet been able to create a market for human implantable tags like VeriChip, which are the size of a grain of rice and are inserted under the skin of the arm or hand with a syringe....
Read this story in full at
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/technology/14implant.html?oref=login&oref=login&th
SEIZE THE MOMENT
"When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Examine where you have become sluggish, where you began losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do. You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it. But now you have no insight or discernment, and at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more." Oswald Chambers
JUST BECAUSE
HUGH HEFNER SAYS SO....
by Kelly Boggs
Hugh Hefner is a "pretty moral guy." If you don't believe it, just ask him. In a recent interview in the Chicago Sun-Times, the founder of Playboy magazine reflected on religion and morality. When asked whether he had ever sinned, Hefner replied, "Oh, sure, but I haven't pursued very much immoral behavior. I'm a pretty moral guy."
How can a man who is credited with mainstreaming p*rnography into American culture claim to be moral? "Now it's morality as I perceive it," Hefner said. "Morality is what is perceived as good for people.... I define it in a way that is truly, what I believe to be truly humanistic and rational and loving."
So there you have it. Hugh Hefner is moral because he says he is. Welcome to the world of postmodern ethics where morality is in the eye of the beholder. While not easily understood, postmodern thought is nevertheless becoming the dominant philosophy in America. In postmodernism, absolute truth does not exist. At best, truth is relative and a matter of individual interpretation. At worst, truth is a social invention designed to maintain a culture's status quo. As such, it is to be deconstructed and discredited....The only taboo to postmodern practitioners is an assertion that there are moral absolutes....
Even Hugh Hefner knows the futility of pursuing truth according to his own terms. "My life has been a quest for the world where the words to the song are true," he told the Sun-Times. "It's an impossible, impossible quest. But there is that yearning, that dream."...
Read this commentary in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/bpcolumn.asp?ID=1575
C.S. LEWIS'
NARNIA IS COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN.
To create the imaginative locales described in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, director Andrew Adamson is taking full advantage of New Zealand's natural resources. Battle scenes have been shot on the huge plains and glaciers around Flock Hill, a picturesque alpine region not far from Christchurch. A climactic confrontation between Peter's army and the White Witch's minions was filmed on some stepped plateaus in the region earlier this summer.
Read about it all at
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/552/552416p1.html
NARNIA'S TECHNICAL EXPERTS SHARE DETAILS
http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=119&dl=1271515
THE SET OF MR. TUMNUS' HOUSE
http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=121&dl=1292885
CHECK THYSELF
"Sometimes you think the whole world is falling, and it's only yourself that's leaning." Pearl Bailey
WE APPRECIATE OUR
PASTOR
Have you encouraged our pastor lately? October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and it's a great opportunity to remind overworked, underpaid pastors everywhere that their work and ministry are appreciated. Focus on the Family has gathered a series of articles with plenty of ideas to help us express our gratitude and respect for our pastor.
http://www.family.org/topics/A0022593.cfm
Also see
http://www.case-studies.com/articles/pastor_appreciation_month.htm
VERSE TO PONDER
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." Proverbs 15:30a (NIV)
PUN WARNING AHEAD
A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that the teller's name is Patricia Whack. So, he says, "Ms. Whack, I'd like to get a loan to buy a boat and go on a long vacation." Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how much he wants to borrow. The frog says, "$30,000." The teller asks his name and the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.
Patti explains that $30,000 is a substantial amount of money and that he'll need to secure some collateral against the loan. She asks if he has anything he can use as collateral. The frog says, "Sure, I have this," and produces a tiny pink porcelain elephant, about half an inch tall. Bright pink and perfectly formed.
Very confused, Patti explains that she'll have to consult with the manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000. And he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what IS this?"
The bank manager looks back at her and says, "It's a knick knack, Patti Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a rolling stone."
HOW PHILOSOPHICAL!
"Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together." Carl Zwanzig
Corollary: You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.
CONSIDER
"I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that he is indeed our Master." John Newton (1725-1807)
LEARN ABOUT MUSLIM
BELIEFS AS RAMADAN BEGINS
October 15 marked the beginning of Ramadan, a month of fasting and reflection for members of the Islamic faith. What does this mean for Christians? It's an opportunity to learn more about the Islamic religion, and a chance to compare and contrast Christian and Muslim beliefs. Arab World Ministries is a good place to start; its summary of Muslim beliefs and answers to frequently asked questions about Islam are excellent introductions to Islam. Elsewhere on the Web, Apologetics Index's extended entry on Islam has dozens of articles covering nearly every aspect of Islam and evangelism to Muslims.
If you want to further investigate the similarities and differences between Christian and Islamic beliefs, you'll find the material at the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry and the Islamic Studies in Christian Perspective useful. Answering-Islam.org also has a large collection of articles answering theological challenges made by Islam against Christianity. During Ramadan, consider the ways you can respectfully share your Christian beliefs with Muslims.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
http://www.gospelcom.net/awm/site/display3.php?article=41
http://www.gospelcom.net/awm/site/display3.php?article=42
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/i07.html
http://www.rim.org/muslim/islam.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/
CHRISTIANITY IN THE
WORKPLACE
October 16 was National Boss Day. It's a good excuse to delve into the often-difficult topic of being a Christian in the marketplace and business world. Here are several sites with material to help you hold true to your faith in the business world.
http://www.zondervan.com/Books/Detail.asp?ISBN=0310246091
http://ifc.gospelcom.net/ministry/201/
http://www.ivmdl.org/index.cfm
http://www.scruples.org/web/resource/articles/articles.htm
VERSE TO PONDER
"[Speak] ... only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
SPACE EXPLORATION AND
OUR FAITH
It was World Space Week a few weeks ago, and there's no doubt that 2004 has been an important year for space-related science and exploration. From the Mars Lander excitement earlier this year to President Bush's Mars announcement to the recent launch of Space Ship One, space exploration is back in the news. A recent Christianity Today article discusses space exploration in light of the Christian faith, and a longer article by Rodney Holder at Scibel Ministries discusses the SETI program and how the existence (or non-existence) of alien life would impact Christian theology. Lastly, from a creation-science perspective, the Answers in Genesis ministry has several dozen articles on the topic of astronomy for your perusal. To infinity and beyond!
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/116/21.0.html
http://scibel.gospelcom.net/content/scibelarticles.php?id=1
http://aig.gospelcom.net/home/area/faq/astronomy.asp
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: LORD,
KEEP US STEADFAST IN THY WORD
Words: Martin Luther, 1541
Music: 1543
Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He hath done.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy pow'r make known,
For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Defend Thy Christendom that we
May evermore sing praise to Thee.
O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/k/lkusitwo.htm
A PRAYER
"May the fiery and sweet strength of Thy love, I pray Thee, O my Lord, absorb my soul, and make all things under heaven as nothing unto me, that for the love of Thy love I may die, as Thou didst deign to die for love of mine. Amen." St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
PREP YOUR GARDEN FOR
WINTER
In a cold-winter climate, don't fertilize plants after midsummer. Fertilizer encourages plants to put on soft new growth, which is really vulnerable to frost damage. The onset of winter is the time to do a few things to protect your plants, if frosts and snows are an annual feature of your backyard:
* Water less frequently. Cutting down on water helps signal to the plants that they need to toughen up and hunker down for winter.
* Dig and store tender bulbs after the first frost has blackened the foliage.
* Cut back the stems on perennials (at least the ones that don't have pretty seedheads) to within 8 to 10 inches (20 to 26 cm) of the ground. In really severe winter climates -- where the temperature is often below 0 deg. F (-18deg. C), don't cut back your perennials until late winter or early spring. The debris helps protect them from the cold.
* Water the flowerbed once a month in dry-winter climates, whenever snow or rain hasn't fallen in recent memory. Water on a warm, sunny day, so that the water can soak into the ground.
* Replace mulch from under any perennials that were besieged by insects during the growing season. Getting rid of the mulch also gets rid of any eggs.
* For perennials that you planted in late summer and fall, add a 4- to 6-inch (10- to 15-cm) layer of organic mulch. Let leaves that fall into the flowerbed stay where they land to add to the mulch layer.
* Cover your whole flowerbed with a loose mulch of hay, straw, or evergreen boughs after the ground freezes (or in midwinter if the ground doesn't freeze). This extra layer protects your fragile perennials from severe cold. Leave this mulch in place until early spring and then remove it gradually as the weather starts to warm up.
Source:
ON PRAYER
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)
CRITICAL PRAYER
REQUESTS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONS
We're praying for our fellow believers in a different nation each week.
Please pray for...SOMALIA
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html
The Somali Church has been driven underground. A number of believers have been martyred; others have been publicly named as targets for execution. In 1991 there were about 500 Somali Catholics and several hundred Evangelicals -- most being secret believers and nearly all in the south; with few in Somaliland. Some have since fled the anarchy, taking refuge in Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen and elsewhere. Globally there may now be 2,000 Somali Christians. Pray for their protection, growth in the faith and boldness to witness when opportunities arise. Pray also for Somali Christian families to be raised up -- the great majority of Christians are men.
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
* Pastor Watson
* Pastor Verdale Goines
* Minister Aaron O’Tey
* Bro. Rudolph West
* Bro. Eric Gray
* Bro. Edward Corey Phillips
* Minister Arnold Whitehead
* Bro. Johnie Gray
* Bro. Jack Pratt
* Bro. Larry Powell
[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.
Biblical Hermeneutics
http://hermeneutics.kulikovskyonline.net/
C.S. Lewis sites
Wonderzone
Streaming Faith (best with DSL or cable connections)
http://www.streamingfaith.com/
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.)
Be. Know. Do.
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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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