EX-MUSLIM: PROPOSAL THAT ISLAM IS TOLERANT IS FALLACIOUS, DANGEROUS - CONNECTIONS Newsletter - 10/31/2010

Your latest issue of CONNETIONS (for week of 10/31/10) is now available at: http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/connections-103110/


Here's an interesting little teaser to think about:

     EX-MUSLIM: PROPOSAL THAT ISLAM IS TOLERANT IS FALLACIOUS, DANGEROUS
Though most Muslims are tolerant and peace-loving, Islam itself is not a religion of tolerance, a former Muslim asserted. Well-known activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali made the argument Oct. 25 at the National Press Club as security guards stood in the back of the ballroom. An outspoken critic of Islam, Hirsi Ali has been living under a fatwa, a religious ruling or in this case an order to kill, for years.

The Somali native addressed the question "Is Islam a Religion of Tolerance?" to highlight the political dimension of the widely practiced faith. "I'm frustrated with the continuous belief and, I think, self-delusion that Islam is only a religion," she said. "Islam is more than a religion. It does have a spiritual dimension ... but there is another dimension to Islam -– a political dimension."

In general terms, religious tolerance is understood to be the willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs and practices of others, she noted. But there are different levels of tolerance, she added.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101026/ex-muslim-proposal-that-islam-is-tolerant-is-fallacious-dangerous/

There are many additional and interesting articles here:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/connections-103110/


Be Blessed.

Min. Frank Coleman
PathOfLifeMinistries.org

Frank's Desk - 10/31/10

From The Desk of Min. Frank Coleman 
Sunday October 31, 2010

Thanks for Work!

A man got up in the morning, ran to the window, jerked up the shade, looked outside and moaned, "Oh, no! Not another day!"

Is that the way you feel about your daily work? Is it a burden to be carried until this weary life is over or is it a God-given privilege for which you give thanks?

Is work something eternal, or is your work forever over after you die? What attitude should Christians have about work? Let's look at some key lessons the Bible teaches about work.
What Does God Say?The first mention of work in the Bible is in Genesis 2:2-3, where you see that God worked six days to accomplish His entire creation.

The first mention of work as it relates to human beings is in Genesis 2:5, where you find that "there was no man to work the ground."

Now, look up Genesis 2:15, what do you discover there about man and work?

All of those events took place before Adam and Eve sinned, showing that work is not a result of sin but a lasting gift of God.

Sin, however, made work more difficult and less rewarding--but no less necessary. Read Genesis 3:17-19.

The Bible makes it clear that God expects His people to work. Even Jesus, on the night He was arrested and condemned to be crucified, said in His prayer to the Father: "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4, ESV). He came to earth with an assignment from the Father, and He finished the job.

Paul says in Colossians 3:23, ESV, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Work will continue in eternity on the new earth with the curse lifted forever: "There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him." (Revelation 22:3, NASB). To work in an environment of freedom and blessing will be a glorious experience.

With the above information in mind, look up the following Bible passages and write down what you find concerning a Christian's attitude about his or her work.

• Proverbs 16:3
• Proverbs 18:9
• Ephesians 4:28
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13
• 1 Corinthians 15:58

"Just think, God, the Creator of heaven and earth will be watching over you as you work today. He will delight in every extra effort you make. Then on Judgment Day He will say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant'" (Matthew 25:21,23, ESV).


Think today about two great gifts God has given you. One is the gift of life--for without that you could do nothing. The other is the gift of strength and skill to do work. Without that, you would have no way to give meaning to your life. Whether your work is driving a semi or praying for others, it is important to God.

Your daily work may seem insignificant, but consider what Lowell Lundstrom says in his devotional book, Daily Power Thoughts for Busy People:
"Your work is your ministry unto the Lord. Remember that when Jesus was sawing boards in the carpenter shop of Nazareth, he was fulfilling the will of God as much as when He preached the Sermon on the Mount. Your work as a secretary, housewife, farmer, mechanic or whatever is the expression of your love for God. So do your job well. The Bible says, 'Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might'" (Ecclesiastes 9:10, ESV).

Take pen and paper and write down some ways that you can make your work more of a blessing to yourself and a testimony to others. Give God thanks today for the work He has given you and the strength to do it.

Amen

Thought for today - 10/31/10

Your mouth is the microphone of your heart.

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/30/10

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." 
     ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/29/10

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." 
     ~Leviticus 19:18

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

FRANK'S DESK - 10/28/10

TO LIFE

Every day you get a gift. God handed it to you the moment you were conceived. It's called your life. And no matter how well your day goes or what your physical, mental or emotional condition might be, life is a precious gift--one you need to thank God for.

 

What Does God Say?

Genesis 2:7 describes that first life-breathing gift: "The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature"(ESV).

 

In Job 33:4, Elihu says,

 

"The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (ESV).

 

And "in his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10, ESV).

 

Isaiah talks about the Lord God as the One "who gives breath to the people on it [the earth] and spirit to those who walk in it" (Isaiah 42:5, ESV).

 

It sounds so simple, doesn't it? God gives you life--the air you breathe, the energy you burn, the muscles and thought, skills, emotions, personality and soul--all come from Him.

 

In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher (King Solomon) records a long and thoughtful search for meaning and purpose in life. In the end, he comes down to a few simple truths: daily food, good work and obedience to God. "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1, ESV), and to "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13, ESV).

 

This type of "remember" is more than not forgetting something; it's a conscious choice to recall and reflect on something (specifically God) with gratitude, worship, honor and respect. It translates into how you live, not just what you say.

 

Ecclesiastes focuses on life--what makes it meaningful or pointless, pleasant or unhappy. See what these verses say about the basic elements of a good life.

 

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Ecclesiastes 8:15

 

What activities do these verses talk about?

What attitudes keep cropping up?

What is/are God's gifts according to these verses?

What are some ways you can translate these things into your view of daily life?

 

When the alarm goes off too early, when your body doesn't work like it used to or your job drags you down, it's easy to forget that life is a gift from God. When you view your activities and routine as meaningless, difficult or without any joy, maybe it's like that because you've forgotten to be thankful. God calls us to be thankful. First Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."(ESV)

 

Take a few moments to list some of the gifts you receive every day that you have life. Make it as basic as you want; maybe start with just two or three things. Then write God a thank-you note for those. Over the next week, take a moment to read your note out loud to Him (in prayer, if you like), adding to it whenever something else catches your attention. Making that conscious choice to be thankful for the basics of life can change your perspective.

Thought for today - 10/28/10

"Not only do we not know God except through Jesus Christ; we do not even know ourselves except through Jesus Christ." 
     ~Blaise Pascal

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/27/10

     DO YOU HAVE DANGEROUS FAITH?

"We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with.  But we are "harmless," and therefore unharmed.  We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the death with principalities and powers in high places.  Meekness must be had for contract with men, but brash, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross.  We are "sideliners"- coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged.  The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own.  Oh that God would make us dangerous!" 
     ~Jim Elliot

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/26/10

"The philosopher [Immanuel] Kant was right long ago to notice that moral activity implies a religious dimension.  The atheist [Friedrich] Nietzsche also saw the point and argued forcefully that the person who gives up belief in God must be consistent and give up Christian morals as well, because the former is the foundation of the latter.  He had nothing but contempt for fellow humanists who refused to see that Christian morality cannot survive the loss of its theological moorings, except as habit or as lifeless tradition. As Ayn Rand also sees so clearly, love of the neighbor cannot be rationally justified within the framework of secular humanism.  Love for one's neighbor is an ethical implication of the Christian position.  This suggests to me that the world's deepest problem is not economic or technological, but spiritual and moral.  What is missing is the vision of reality that can sustain the neighbor-oriented life style that is so urgently needed in our world today."
     ~Clark H. Pinnock, Reason Enough

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Were you aware that ...

Were you aware that ...

Since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, 43,000,000 Christians have become martyrs. Over 50% of these were in the last century alone. More than 200 million Christians face persecution each day 60% are children.   Every day over 300 are killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.   Christians in Crisis exists as an advocate and a voice for God's people.   Won't you pray with us, be one of the 500,000 intercessors all over the world.

http://christiansincrisis.net/


Frank Coleman

Thought for today - 10/25/10

"He who has a *why* to live for can bear almost any *how*."
     ~Victor Frankl

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

BLACK PREACHERS WHO 'WHOOP' -- MINSTRELS OR MINISTERS? - CONNECTIONS Newsletter - 10/24/10

Your latest issue of CONNETIONS (for week of 10/24/10) is now available at: http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/connections-102410/


Here's an interesting little teaser to think about:

     BLACK PREACHERS WHO 'WHOOP' -- MINSTRELS OR MINISTERS?
The Rev. E. Dewey Smith Jr. bangs on the pulpit with his fist. He shuts his eyes and moans. Then a high-pitched sound rises from his throat like the wail of a boiling tea-kettle.

"I wish you'd take the brakes off and let me preach," he tells his congregation during his Sunday morning sermon.

Rows of parishioners stand to shout. One woman in a satiny blue dress jumps up and down like she's on a pogo stick. A baby starts to cry.

Smith had already given his congregation the "meat" of his message: scriptural references, archaeological asides, modern application -- all the fancy stuff he learned in seminary. Now he was about to give them the gravy.
It was the time to "whoop.".... Read this in full and watch the video at
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/20/whooping/index.html?hpt=C1

There are many additional and interesting articles here:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/connections-102410/


Be Blessed.

Min. Frank Coleman
PathOfLifeMinistries.org

Weekly Prayer Focus - 10/24/10

God loves you! God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for you. If you were the only person on earth, God still loves you more than you can imagine.

Are you a parent? Do you have someone on earth that you love? Picture that love — and multiply it by a million — and you begin to have a picture of God's love for you.

How should we respond to God's love? We can accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, and we can be faithful to God. How can you be faithful to God? You can ask His help by His Holy Spirit to love God, and obey Him, and love others. God can help you live a godly life by the power of His Holy Spirit. So rejoice that God loves you and forgives you in Jesus Christ!

This week, let us pray that God will

• Help us to love and serve Him always

• Bless our families and those we love

• Cover and protect us as we continue our global outreach

Can we pray for you? If you have a prayer request, just hit "Reply" to this email and send us your prayer request; one of our staff or volunteers will pray to God for you.

May God bless you!

Min. Frank Coleman
PathOfLifeMinistries.org

Thought for today - 10/24/10

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 
     ~2 Peter 3:9

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/23/10

"God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost isn't a consulting firm we bring in to give us expert advice on how to run our lives.  The gospel life isn't something we learn about and then put together with instructions from the manufacturer; it's something we become as God does His work of creation and salvation in us and as we accustom ourselves to a life of belief and obedience and prayer."
     ~Eugene Peterson

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/22/10

"By the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." 
     ~Romans 12:3

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/21/10

It is better to follow the straight path than to move in the best circles.

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net

Thought for today - 10/20/10

"True prayer is asking God what He wants." 
     ~William Barclay

http://www.pathoflifeministries.net