MSM CONNECTIONS
For the week of 12/19/04
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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VERSE TO PONDER
"The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)
CONSIDER
"If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'Here lived a great sweeper, who swept his job well.'" Martin Luther King Jr.
ADVENT'S SPIRITUAL
PILGRIMAGE
by Robert E. Webber
"...Over the past centuries the liturgy of the church has developed a spirituality particularly for Christians during Advent. Both the Sunday liturgies and the daily Scripture readings have been designed to direct our journey into the Advent experience of the mystery of Christ. Our parents in the faith have chosen Scriptures that accent three Advents: the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, the Advent of Christ's physical birth in Bethlehem, and the Advent of his second coming at the end of history. While the liturgies and daily readings of Advent begin with the second coming and move as in a funnel toward the first coming, we are called to a vital personal encounter with Christ through all the readings. As we prepare to be enriched by the Advent liturgies and our personal daily readings, it will be helpful for us to think about how we should journey through the season.
"The spirituality of Advent calls us to start our journey in expectation of the second coming of Christ. The end time is the period in history when the work of Christ will be consummated, when the powers of evil will be put away forever, when the earth will be restored to the golden age described by Isaiah and St. John (see Isa. 65; Rev. 20-22). How is this hope for a future restoration of the world to guide our meditation?
"First, the hope of a world restored under God proclaims that evil is not the final word....What the second coming says to us is that the evil of this world is doomed. It will be judged and burned by fire because God in Christ has already dealt a decisive blow to the powers of evil. God has dethroned these powers and taken away their ability to have ultimate control over history and over our lives (Col. 2:15). Next, the second coming says that the ultimate word in history is the triumph of God, the reign of God's kingdom, the eternal and lasting rule of the good....
"Advent spirituality is not a time to meditate on the actual birth of Christ. According to tradition, we ought not to sing Christmas carols until Christmas itself, for Advent is not a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the manger but a time to long for the coming of the Savior. The appropriate sense of this season is captured in the pleading of "O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel."....
Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/149/52.0.html
NEWS MAGAZINES FOCUS ON
FAITH
Prayer has become familiar terrain in modern America. It's woven into the daily rhythms of life, its ethos embedded in the public and private experiences of millions. A recent Roper poll found that nearly half of all Americans said that they pray or meditate every day -- far more than those who regularly participate in religious services. Prayer has been called "the native language" of the soul -- the universal expression of an innate human desire to make contact with the divine. Read this article at
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/041220/misc/20prayer.htm
* How painters have represented the nativity through the centuries
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101041213/index.html
* Newsweek: The Birth of Jesus
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6699200/site/newsweek/
* Most Americans believe the virgin birth is literally true
Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus. Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas-the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East-is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55% of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6650997/site/newsweek/
WHITE HOUSE
SPEECHWRITER TALKS ABOUT THE BUSH CODE
Like many evangelical Christians, President Bush believes that God is at work in his life. But he has avoided claiming that God is behind his presidency or U.S. foreign policy, his chief speechwriter said. Read this story at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/150/22.0.html
A CHRISTMAS QUIZ: IS IT
SCRIPTURE OR IS IT TRADITION?
1. For the journey to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph
2. When Mary became pregnant, Mary and Joseph were
a. married
b. just friends
c. engaged
d. none of the above
For the answers and more questions, go to
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=3261
10 QUESTIONS TO ASK AT
CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS
by Don Whitney
Many of us struggle to make conversation at Christmas gatherings, whether church events, work-related parties, neighborhood drop-ins, or annual family occasions. Sometimes our difficulty lies in having to chat with people we rarely see or have never met. At other times, we simply don't know what to say to those with whom we feel little in common. As Christians we want to take advantage of the special opportunities ("divine appointments) provided by the Christmas season to share our faith, but are often unsure how to begin. Here's a list of questions designed not only to kindle a conversation in almost any Christmas situation, but also to take the dialogue gradually to a deeper level. The questions can be used in a private conversation or as a group exercise, with believers or unbelievers, with strangers or with family.
1. What's the best thing that's happened to you since last Christmas?
2. What was your best Christmas ever? Why?
3. What's the most meaningful Christmas gift you've ever received?
4. What was the most appreciated Christmas gift you've ever given?
5. What was your favorite Christmas tradition as a child?
6. What is your favorite Christmas tradition now?
7. What do you do to try to keep Christ in Christmas?
8. Why do you think people started celebrating the birth of Jesus?
9. Do you think the birth of Jesus deserves such a nearly worldwide celebration?
10. Why do you think Jesus came to earth?
LAUGH OUT LOUD!
Watch this hilarious video commercial
http://www.video-ranger.com/IceScraping.wmv
ATHEIST NO MORE
One of the most prominent atheists of the last century now says he believes there must be some kind of God, based on scientific evidence. But Antony Flew is careful to say that he's merely a deist, and rejects any notion of a God of revelation.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/149/51.0.html
CONSIDER
"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid touch, which I've got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." George Bernard Shaw
THE LIFE OF OUR LORD by
Charles Dickens
This charming little manuscript was written in 1849 by Charles Dickens, 21 years before his death, solely for the eyes of his young family. Charles Dickens often told his children the gospel story, and this led him to write down the life of Jesus in his own words. It was never corrected and prepared for publication, and was simply bound with a few ribbons to hold the pages together. In March 1996 the rare and little known book of 11 chapters "The Life of Our Lord" was published by the Charles Dickens Heritage Journal Ltd. (UK). This was the first publication of "The Life of Our Lord" by the direct descendants of the Charles Dickens Family, and was limited to one thousand copies. You can read it at
http://www.dickensfoundation.org/The_Book/Introduction_book.htm
EVANGELICALS SPEAK AT
MORMON TABERNACLE
Noted Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias and other evangelicals shared the stage November 14 with leaders of the LDS church for the first time since D.L. Moody preached there in 1899. The joint event -- dubbed "An Evening of Friendship" -- was organized by ex-Mormon Greg Johnson, director of Standing Together Ministries, a coalition of evangelical churches working to improve relations with the LDS church. He worked alongside Robert Millet, the prolific LDS author and professor at BYU, to put on the evening.
The Tabernacle was filled to capacity with 7,000 tickets distributed. Some estimate one-third or more of the audience was Mormon; evangelicals made up the balance. "We're amazed this happened, period," said Craig Hazen, professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, who gave the closing prayer. "The Mormons have been changing a great deal since the 19th Century," he noted. "The changes in Mormonism made this possible."...
The focal point of the evening was Ravi Zacharias's message "Defending Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life." The Christian apologist received a standing ovation for a message that emphasized the sufficiency and exclusivity of Jesus Christ. He described the resurrection of Jesus as mankind's only hope, and also taught about the Trinity....
Mormon leaders sat on one side of the stage and evangelical leaders sat on the other. "After many of the points people would applaud," one attendee observed. "The Mormons applauded on almost every point except for one," he said. "When Ravi said, 'The only way to find unity in diversity is in community in the Trinity,' the Mormon scholars sat there with their hands on their laps."...
Read this news story in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s04120036.htm
Also see The New Mormon Challenge
http://www.zondervan.com/Books/Detail.asp?ISBN=0310231949
MR. CHRISTMAS
"For Wally Bronner, Christmas is more than a favorite holiday; it's his life. Since 1945, Frankenmuth, Michigan's most famous resident has made his living celebrating Christmas every day of the year. Two million guests visit Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland annually in search of Christmas decorations, one-of-a-kind gifts, or the chance to experience what most consider the largest Christmas store in the world.
"The CHRISTmas Wonderland complex is situated on more than 40 acres, 90 miles north of Detroit, in a town known as Michigan's Little Bavaria. The retail store, in which over 50,000 gifts are stocked, covers seven acres under one continuous roof. This indoor extravaganza features 500 different types of nativity scenes from 59 nations, more than 350 decorated trees, and 6,000 types of ornaments. The twinkling lights, Christmas music, and holiday scents are a delight to the senses. The place really is a wonderland, a surreal setting that will have you convinced it's Christmas even in the middle of July...."
Read the rest of the story at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2004/006/16.38.html
VERSE TO PONDER
"He died for all so that all who live -- having received eternal life from him -- might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them." 2 Corinthians 5:15 (LB)
CONSIDER
"The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head." Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788
RELIGION NEWS REVIEW
AND FORECAST
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, the television newsmagazine, will feature consecutive roundtable discussions of this year's top stories in the world of religion and ethics and those expected to make the news in 2005. The discussions will be included in the December 24 and 31 PBS programs.
The past year's top religion news stories include the 2004 Presidential election, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur; Muslim tensions in Europe, debates over stem cell research, and the new administration's policies. Headlining the discussion of the year ahead will be stories dealing with the prospects for Iraq, the Bush presidency, possible Supreme Court nominations, divisions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality, and the significance of Arafat's death to the Mid-East peace process between Israel and Palestine.
CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS
Twas the night before Christmas and all round my hips
Were Fannie May candies that sneaked past my lips.
Fudge brownies were stored in the freezer with care,
In hopes that my thighs would forget they were there.
While Mama in her girdle and I in chin straps
Had just settled down to sugar-borne naps.
When out in the pantry there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the kitchen I flew like a flash,
Tore open the icebox then threw up the sash.
The marshmallow look of the new-fallen snow
Sent thoughts of a binge to my body below.
When what to my wandering eyes should appear:
A marzipan Santa with eight chocolate reindeer!
That huge chunk of candy so luscious and slick
I knew in a second that I'd wind up sick.
The sweet-coated Santa, those sugared reindeer,
I closed my eyes tightly but still I could hear;
On Pritzker, on Stillman, on weak one, on TOPS
A Weight Watcher dropout from sugar detox.
From the top of the scales to the top of the hall
Now dash away pounds; now dash away all.
Dressed up in Lane Bryant from my head to nightdress
My clothes were all bulging from too much excess.
My droll little mouth and my round little belly
They shook when I laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
I spoke not a word but went straight to my work
Ate all of the candy then turned with a jerk.
And laying a finger beside my heartburn
Gave a quick nod toward the bedroom I turned.
I eased into bed, to the heavens I cry
If temptation's removed I'll get thin by and by.
And I mumbled again as I turned for the night
"In the morning I'll starve...
'til I take that first bite!"
CONSIDER
"Our mission for Jesus is built upon the fact of the resurrection. Before we head out the door to reach the world for Jesus, we need to be sure of the resurrection. Jesus gave this assurance to us through his willingness to be visibly inspected, touched and handled. There was no doubt in the hearts of our first Jewish brothers long ago. After spending time with Jesus and being assured it was truly the same tortured body, they were ready to give their lives for the message of God's love." Matthew Lee Smith, pastor, Miramar Evangelical Free Church, Miramar, Fla.
VERSE TO PONDER
"Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1 John 3:17 (NKJV)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: JOY
TO THE WORLD
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Music: Lowell Mason, 1836
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/o/joyworld.htm
BEWARE OF THE ID THIEF
We lock our car and house to keep thieves away from our possessions, but what are we doing to keep them away from our financial identity? Learn how to protect yourself with "ID Theft: What's It All About?" from the Federal Trade Commission.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/idtheftwhat/idtheftwhat.htm
ON PRAYER
"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." Max Lucado
CRITICAL PRAYER
REQUESTS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONS
We're praying for our fellow believers in a different nation each week.
Please pray for...YUGOSLAVIA (Serbia and Montenegro)
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/yi.html
Evangelical believers among Serbs number only a few thousand. Most Evangelicals are Hungarian and Slovak in Vojvodina and increasingly among the Roma (Gypsy). Evangelical congregations are few, small and scattered outside Vojvodina. The sufferings of the 1990s and outreach by Evangelicals to Serbian refugees from Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo have won appreciation and open hearts. Some congregations doubled in size in 1999 through conversions among refugees. Some Baptist and Pentecostal churches were damaged during the Kosovo War because of their perceived links with the West. Pray for continued growth in commitment, outreach and numbers.
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. Arthur Carr
* Minister Corey “Keyz” Martin
* Apostle Meredeth Shackleford
* Minister Frank Coleman
* Bishop Chester McLaurin
* Bro. Fred Simms
* Minister Maurice Collier
* Bro. Danielle Metcalf
* Min Lamont Smith
* Bro. Travis Collins
[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.]
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE
WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
What Was the Star?
The St. Nicholas Website
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23
Christmas in Cyberspace
http://www.christmasincyberspace.com/
Christmas Resources
http://www.gospelcom.net/content/christmas/
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.)
Attitude is the difference between ordeal and adventure.
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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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