MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 11/21/04
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
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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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"God ... gives a fresh start to those ready to quit." Psalm 145:14 (Msg)
CONSIDER
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
Nov. 21-28 (http://www.nationalbible.org/)
Seven ways to ignite a passion for reading the Bible.
by Kathy Widenhouse
In American homes the Bible has taken on the status of an icon with little practical value. When asked, "What book has most influenced your life?" in a recent Library of Congress survey, respondents awarded the Bible the top position. But only 34% of American Christians read God's Word on their own during the week, and of that group, only 13% claim to read it daily.
"Americans revere the Bible," says pollster George Gallup, Jr., "but, by and large, they don't read it."
Here are seven excuses that prevent us from cracking the Book -- and how to overcome them.
1 "I don't have time to read."
"Half the books of the Bible can be read in 10 to 45 minutes each, and many of them can be read in less than 20," says Nashville-based pastor and author Robert Morgan. "The entire Old and New Testaments can be read aloud slowly and with expression in less than 71 hours." Read just one chapter of the Bible each day, and in a month you will have completed the book of Proverbs (31 chapters) once or the epistle of James (five chapters) six times.
2 "I don't know where to begin."
If starting "In the beginning" with Genesis seems too daunting, flip to the Psalms or Proverbs and start there. Or begin your journey in the New Testament with Matthew. You can also poll Bible-reading friends and ask them what their favorite book is -- then try reading it. Or use a Bible with a built-in reading plan. These devotional Bibles present Scripture in manageable portions and work through it in logical sequences.
3 "I just don't get it."
Many of us think of the Bible as a technical manual written in Christian-ese. But there are "biblical help" buttons a reader can push to get some quick guidance:
* Translations. Choose an easy-to-read translation, like the New International Reader's Version (NIrV; written at a third-grade level) or The New Living Translation (NLT).
* Reference tools. Invest in a few basic references, such as a Bible dictionary (an index of biblical-word definitions), a Bible atlas (a collection of maps of biblical lands), and a concordance (a biblical word locator) to bring clarity to the text....
Read the rest at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/areas/biblestudies/articles/cr-2003-004-3.42.html
WISDOM FOR LIVING
1. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
2. There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, be thankful that wrinkles don't hurt.
3. Don't assume malice for what stupidity can explain.
4. The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
5. A penny saved is a government oversight.
6. He who hesitates is probably right.
7. The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
8. The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.
9. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth!
10. If you think there is good in everybody, you haven't met everybody.
11. If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
12. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.
13. The mind is like a parachute; it works much better when it's open.
(The Daily Dilly)
WHY DADS MATTER NOW
MORE THAN EVER
by Chip Ingram
According to David Blankenhorn in his book, Fatherless America, fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation. (Today four out of ten children live in homes without dads.) And research on fatherless Americans shows that the single greatest indicator of whether children will grow up in poverty, get on drugs, end up in prison, get pregnant before marriage, or end up in juvenile hall is ... whether they have a father at home who is engaged, caring, and loving.
That tells me that fathers are important. So, if you're a dad, you have a vital role to play in your family, and you have a tremendous responsibility for your kids. But what does a good dad really look like?
Role Number 1: Dads are leaders who make things happen. As a dad, you're the one who's primarily responsible for setting the direction for your family. You need to make the plans for your future. You must decide on goals, plan a course to get there, and evaluate your progress along the way.
That doesn't mean you have to be a dictator who makes all the decisions or a slave who does everything. You certainly should utilize the resources God has given you-your wife, your family, your church, and godly friends. But remember that, ultimately, God will hold you responsible for your family.
Role Number 2: Dads are priests who make God known. Just as Moses was a priest for the people of Israel, so a dad is the priest for his family. It's his responsibility to reveal God to his family and to take the needs of his family to God.
To do so, first, make sure you have an accurate view of God yourself. Study God's Word, be diligent in prayer, and be devoted to living for Him. Then reveal what you know about God to your kids.
Use structured times like reading Bible stories to them, having family devotions, or memorizing Scriptures to help them discover God, but talk to them at "teachable moments" as well to show them how God is part of every aspect of their lives.
Most important, be a model for them so they can see what a godly man looks like. Be the initiator in taking your family to church and Sunday school. Lead your family in prayer and devotions. Ensure that the magazines you read and the programs you watch are acceptable to God. Be a model of integrity and godliness that your family can imitate....
Read the rest at
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/ministry_articles/1263571.html
VERSE TO PONDER
"Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness." Ephesians 4:1b-2a (NKJV)
CONSIDER
"Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee." St. Augustine (354-430), Confessions [397]
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
From the History Channel - 17th Century Table Manners:
* The pilgrims didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers. They wiped their hands on large cloth napkins which they also used to pick up hot morsels of food.
* Salt would have been on the table at the harvest feast, and people would have sprinkled it on their food. Pepper, however, was something that they used for cooking but wasn't available on the table.
* In the seventeenth century, a person's social standing determined what he or she ate. The best food was placed next to the most important people. People didn't tend to sample everything that was on the table (as we do today), they just ate what was closest to them.
Read the rest at
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/thanksgiving/thnkmeal.html
From
Christian History Magazine:
The Separatists (only much later known as "Pilgrims") who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620 disdained most holidays. In fact, they recognized only three: the weekly Sabbath, the Day of Humiliation and Fasting, and the Day of Thanksgiving and Praise. The latter two were not set on the calendar but could be proclaimed in response to God's perceived disfavor or favor. Because colonial life was so bound to the growing cycle, though, fast days were most often called in the spring, when there wasn't much to eat anyway, while feast days often accompanied the fall harvest. Both observances occurred on weekdays -- usually the day of special sermons known as Lecture Day, which was Thursday in Massachusetts....
Read the rest at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2001/nov16.html
Other resources:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/thanksgiving/
http://www.directory.net/Society/Holidays/Thanksgiving/
http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/
http://www.directory.webguest.com/Society/Holidays/Thanksgiving
ALSO, DON'T FORGET
TURKEY DAY FOOTBALL
Thursday, Nov. 25
Indianapolis at Detroit, 12:37 p.m. ET
Chicago at Dallas, 4:35 p.m. ET
LUST LURES IN YOUR HOME
by Nancy C. Anderson
Internet pornography is one of the fastest growing web-industries in the world, and it's been the cause of countless affairs and divorces. If Internet access is a problem for anyone in your family, apply the verse in Matthew 5:29: "If your . . . eye causes you to sin, pluck it out." And if your Internet access causes you to sin, plug it out! Keep the computer, but get a filter that blocks all questionable sites and unwanted pop-up ads.
Cable television and movie channels are another problem area in many homes. Men are visual creatures, and they are naturally attracted to beautiful women wearing . . . nothing. If a man has easy access to adult movies, he'll be tempted to watch them. Even strong Christian men can get caught in the "just one more" trap that ends in divorce. If a husband is comparing his wife to eighteen-year-old hotties in porno movies she will not, literally, measure up. Their marriage will suffer.
X-rated movie channels called out to Jerry, a married Christian man, who watched them in the middle of the night. The more he saw, the more he wanted to see. Eventually, the thoughts of his late-night "dates" with these beautiful willing-to-do-anything women consumed his life.
He lost interest in his middle-aged wife, and when she caught him in his secret sin, he convinced her that it was her fault. She was ashamed to tell any of her friends or talk to their pastor, so she suffered in silence. He persuaded her to watch the movies with him, but it didn't solve their problems because she felt used, unloved, and dirty. He gave her his lust, but not his love.
Just as we're on guard to protect our home from robberies, we want protect our homes from dangerous mental, sexual, and spiritual intrusion too. Your home can be a refuge and a safe haven if you are willing to make this verse your "Power Statement": "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh. 24:15).
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/1294613.html
TELLING IT LIKE IT IS
Bob was telling his friend that he and his wife had a serious argument the night before. "But it ended," Bob said, "when she came crawling to me on her hands and knees." "What did she say?" asked the friend. Bob replied, "She said, 'Come out from under that bed, you coward!'"
CHRISTIAN HEDONISM?
"Christian Hedonism is desiring the vast, ocean-deep pleasures of God more than the mud-puddle pleasures of wealth, power or lust. Christian Hedonists believe Psalm 16:11, 'You show me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy, in Your right hand are pleasures for evermore.'"
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/christian_hedonism/ch_index.html
CONSIDER
Don't wait for the hearse to take you to church.
VERSE TO PONDER
"They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right." 1 Peter 2:23 (Msg)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: WITH
GRATEFUL HEART MY THANKS I BRING
Words: The Psalter, 1912.
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1863
With grateful heart my thanks I bring,
Before the great Thy praise I sing;
I worship in Thy holy place
And praise Thee for Thy truth and grace;
For truth and grace together shine
In Thy most holy Word divine,
In Thy most holy Word divine.
I cried to Thee and Thou didst save,
Thy Word of grace new courage gave;
The kings of earth shall thank Thee, Lord,
For they have heard Thy wondrous Word;
Yea, they shall come with songs of praise,
For great and glorious are Thy ways,
For great and glorious are Thy ways.
O Lord, enthroned in glory bright,
Thou reignest in the heavenly height;
The proud in vain Thy favor seek,
But Thou hast mercy for the meek;
Through trouble though my pathway be,
Thou wilt retrieve and strengthen me,
Thou wilt retrieve and strengthen me.
Thou wilt stretch forth Thy mighty arm
To save me when my foes alarm;
The work Thou hast for me begun
Shall by Thy grace be fully done;
Forever mercy dwells with Thee;
O Lord, my Maker, think on me,
O Lord, my Maker, think on me.
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/i/withgrat.htm<a
WEIGHT-LIFTING
GUIDELINES
Fitness expert Wayne Westcott, PhD, says the guidelines for weight lifting call for using 60% to 90% of maximum resistance -- maximum being the heaviest you can lift or resist in one attempt. Here's how to translate those percentages into a useful figure at the gym...
At 90%, you can do only four repetitions... 80%, eight reps... 70%, 12 reps... and at the minimum, 60%, about 16 reps. You’ll know when you've reached your max because you simply won't be able to do one more rep -- your muscles will be too fatigued to work anymore, whether you are lifting a free weight or pushing against a resistance machine.
Of course, the idea of strength training is to build muscle continuously until you reach a plateau, what Dr. Westcott calls your strength potential. (Unless you're hoping to compete in bodybuilding contests, there is no reason to go past this point, he says.) Start with a weight that allows you to do about eight reps. This will challenge your muscles, but it is in a range that will protect them from injury. You will know you're ready when you can reach 16 reps with the resistance you are currently using... or when you can do 12 reps at this level for two consecutive workouts. At that point, increase resistance by 5% to 10%. (Some older gym equipment and free weights don't allow for such small increases, in which case you'll have to go to the next weight available. Dr. Westcott recommends that you then wait until you can get to 20 reps before increasing.)
If you're training the recommended two to three times a week, you should be able to increase the amount of resistance every few weeks or so. Bonus: By pushing yourself to fatigue level in this way, you won't need to do more than one set of reps per exercise, a real time-saver.
http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/
ON PRAYER
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.
... Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
CRITICAL PRAYER
REQUESTS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONS
We're praying for our fellow believers in a different nation each week.
Please pray for...TUNISIA
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ts.html
There are a number of new believers and new church groups that have come into being over the past few years. Pray for their continued growth and discipleship. However, the Church is still a tiny proportion of the total population. Some are isolated, fearful, with very limited opportunities for fellowship and discipling. To some, emigration is an easy option; pray that God may give them a vision of the Church He wants to build through them. Pray for lasting commitment to Jesus, as few Tunisian believers have stood in the faith for more than 10 years. Amongst the increasing numbers of new believers, pray for safety, encouragement, integration into the Body and boldness – many have a vision for evangelism.
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
* Bro. Robert Turner
* Minister Byron Dickens
* William Moore, Jr.
* Bro. Eddie Watson
* Pastor Verdale Goines
* Minister Aaron O’Tey
* Pastor Watson
* Bro. Eric Gray
* Bro. Edward Corey Phillips
* Bro. Rudolph West
[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.
HOUSE
FOR SALE
BEAUTIFUL 3BR 2
BATH TRI-LEVEL 4133 W 148TH st.
MIDLOTHIAN IL OAK CABINETS, CERAMIC TILE, NEW ROOF, NEW CARPETING THROUGHOUT, FIREPLACE, LARGE FENCED YARD, SIDE DRIVE 2 CAR GARAGE, MUCH MORE. ASKING $209,000, CONTACT BRIDGET DELESIO 708-743-3007 FOR SHOWING |
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE
WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Christian College Link
http://www.christiancollegelink.com
Just Letters
http://web.okaygo.co.uk/apps/letters/flashcom/
Guinness World Records
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.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.)
Never let a computer know you're in a hurry.
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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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