~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), "The Efficacy of Prayer," in The World's Last Night: And Other Essays
PROPHETIC MOVEMENT in AN UPROAR - Please Forward -Andrew Strom.
Earlier this week we published big chunks of Dennis Cramer's "Word for 2011" in which he basically tears into a lot of the flakey and dangerous "New Age"-type practices found in today's Prophetic movement. Well, to my great amazement, I found that the Elijah List had actually published Cramer's piece as well! And it caused such a storm that they had to remove it after just one day - for "clarification"! But then they re-published it - only slightly changed!
For those who don't know, the Elijah List is the main email List for the Prophetic movement - publishing the likes of Todd Bentley, Patricia King, Rick Joyner, Bob Jones, etc. It also sells mounds of their books and CD's. For the Elijah List to publish something that basically refutes all the "Spirit Travel" and "Third Heaven Visitation" stuff is simply unbelievable. It would almost be like the Pope refuting the veneration of Mary!
I don't know what the Elijah List was thinking, but I'm sure glad they did it. Now maybe there's a chance that some of their readers will get out from under those dangerous deceptions.
But I am left a bit dazed by it all - because the very ones who have been advocating "spirit travel AT WILL" and "Trance dancing"
and 'Third Heaven visits AT WILL' are the very ministries that the Elijah List has been promoting all these years!
Here is what the Elijah List founder Steve Schultz wrote after they pulled the first article when it caused such a storm- "Dear Elijah List Readers, There was a huge number of people who were unclear on a few issues with Dennis Cramer's word...
The most controversial aspect was the "AT WILL" issue. Apparently, there are some out and about who are teaching that you can transport or go to Heaven "AT WILL" - i.e. whenever you want. This is truly not taught in Scripture. The word "Doctrine" is another word for "teaching." It's an untrue teaching that anytime you want, you can go to Heaven or be transported... As soon as Dennis Cramer sends us a more in-depth explanation of the items he listed, we plan to repost my friend's word."
ANDREW AGAIN: Steve - I'm so glad you wrote this, but do you truly realize what you are saying? Don't you know that Bob Jones and Todd Bentley and Patricia King, etc, are the VERY BIGGEST promoters of all this "AT WILL" deception that you are talking about?
Patricia King even has a whole movement of "Ekstasis" Trance dancing! These guys have entire reams of teaching on how to "visualize" your way into the Third Heaven 'AT WILL'. They have been promoting it for years. Surely you know this? That's why your readers are so upset. Dennis Cramer is finally exposing and rebuking this stuff as the 'New Age' heresy that it really is.
On January 15, Elijah List reposted the "re-clarified" word from Dennis Cramer on their website. It was a little softer in places, but still it said the following very clearly:
"One cannot go to Heaven like Paul or be transported physically like Phillip simply because they want to or because they feel like it (at will). Teachings like this often crossover into dangerous methods and techniques that resemble New Age, Mysticism, Spiritism or other occult manipulative practices. A Believer cannot and must not force, manipulate, or otherwise attempt to reproduce a sovereign supernatural Bible experience by merely following a method, a series of steps, or worst of all "willing it" to happen."
In the same re-posted word, Dennis Cramer went on to say-
"· Open Heaven/Spiritual Portals = BAD DOCTRINE · Third Heaven Experiences At Will = BAD DOCTRINE · Going to Heaven At Will to Get Your Gifts = BAD DOCTRINE · Transporting Physically At Will = BAD DOCTRINE · Over-Emphasis on Angels and Specifically Arc-Angels = BAD DOCTRINE · Going into Trances At Will = BAD DOCTRINE · Trance Dancing = BAD DOCTRINE · Hyper-Grace: Christians Do Not Need to Repent of Sin = BAD DOCTRINE"
Well - there goes the Prophetic movement!!
Seriously - I cannot believe they posted this on the Elijah List!
Steve - This is exactly all the stuff your followers have gotten into!
Most of the guys you promote - these are the exact 'New Age'-type practices that they teach! Surely you know this?
So now, to finish this article, I need some "clarification" from Steve Schultz. I am very encouraged by this apparent change of heart, Steve, but I need to know if you will now CEASE forthwith any and all publication of the materials and teachings of these people - until they publicly repent and apologize for this 'New Age' heresy. And I need to know if you - Steve Schultz - will now publicly renounce the promotion of these deceptive preachers around the world. (Sorry to be so blunt about it, but we really need to hear this from you).
I am so glad that you published Cramer's piece. But now we really need to know where Elijah List stands - and whether things have truly changed or not. We look forward to your reply.
And I ask everyone reading this to please forward it to your Charismatic friends. People need to know that this stuff is finally being declared as "BAD DOCTRINE" - even by the Elijah List itself.
Please let everyone know, so this deception can be stopped. You would be amazed how widespread it is.
-You can comment on this article at the following website-
http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/
God bless you all.
-Andrew Strom.
--
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MODERATOR:
Andrew Strom.
For week of January 23, 2011
Issue 340
The weekly newsletter of Path Of Life Ministries.
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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"This is what the Lord says, 'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:16, 18, 19
CONSIDER
"The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else."
Oswald Chambers
OKLA. CHURCH'S POPULAR BIBLE APP TAKES FAITH TO PHONES
The world's most popular Bible program for mobile phones was developed by an Oklahoma church. Since its introduction in 2008, 12.5 million people have downloaded the YouVersion Bible application and have spent 4 billion minutes reading the Bible with it, the designers calculate.
In an 11-day period in late December, a million people downloaded the app, which is available on iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and other mobile phone platforms. Every 2.8 seconds, a new user installs the program and 12 people run it. It recently ranked No. 7 in popularity among all 300,000 iPhone apps.... Read this in full at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-01-16-bible-iPhone-Droid-Blackberry-16_ST_N.htm
2011 HONORS INNOVATION THROUGH THE CENTURIES
What do the King James Bible, the US transcontinental telegraph system, the UNIVAC 1 computer, and MTV all have in common? They're examples of innovation that are all having a milestone anniversary in 2011. They also happen to be included in an interactive PDF Infographic created by Somersault Group (http://somersau.lt) that honors 22 landmark anniversaries this year.
A variety of pundits predict 2011 will be the year of the cable TV cord cutter, the year of the computer tablet, even the year of the vegetable. Somersault, the international publishing strategy and services agency founded by five former Zondervan marketing and editorial executives, highlights the early sparks through the centuries that ignited the fire for the 21st century's stunning advancements.
The Infographic (http://somersault.posterous.com/somersault-infographic-2011) recognizes and celebrates the significant and life-changing milestones achieved over time in the areas of publishing, technology, and innovation.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11010123.htm
A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO IMMIGRATION REFORM?
by Michael J. Gerson
In December Congress began debate on the DREAM Act. This is a bill that would give illegal immigrants who were brought to America as children a path to citizenship—provided that they have graduated from high school, have no record of serious crime and attend college or enter the military.
I support the DREAM Act for a number of reasons. The young people in question are called illegal immigrants, but they have done nothing illegal themselves. They are condemned to a shadow existence entirely by the actions of their parents. The bill is narrowly limited, welcoming exactly the kind of immigrants we want as potential citizens: immigrants who are law abiding, focused on education and willing to serve. Allowing them to develop their skills would be good in the long run for our military, for our economy and for our country.
Others, however, raise serious, principled objections. They are concerned about the cost of educating hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Or they believe the bill, in parts, is poorly written. Or they think that the DREAM Act should only be considered as a part of broader immigration reform.... Read this in full at
http://www.capitalcommentary.org/immigration-reform/christian-response-immigration-reform
DO EVANGELISTS DO LAUNDRY?
"One summer when I was part of a group of young people who went out street-witnessing every day pamphleteering for the gospel and trying to talk about Jesus with whomever would spend a few moments in conversation with us ... [It] was easy at first to talk about him to these searching souls. But when they found out we were Christians, most people snapped shut and wouldn't listen to our message.
"After a few days of this, one afternoon five us headed to the Laundromat on Telegraph Avenue a few blocks from the campus to wash some clothes ... We were sitting in a circle on the floor, laughing and singing songs together as we waited for our clothes to tumble dry. One member of our group tacked on the bulletin board a poster for our end-of-the-week evangelistic meeting. Nearby was a fellow also doing his wash who was eavesdropping on our group ... We didn't know it at the time, but he was involved in some pretty destructive behavior. We never spoke to him. After all, we weren't there to witness, but to do laundry. But after we left, he took the poster off the bulletin board, wondering who we were and what we were all about. Something about us intrigued him.
"That Friday he came to our meeting and met Jesus. He was radically transformed - forgiven, cleansed, and set on a new path of life. As far as I know, he was the only lasting fruit from that entire week of ministry. And it didn't happen because we "witnessed" to him, but because he saw the community of faith alive in that Laundromat. He joined our group and went on to be involved in ministry in the Bay Area...
'This is how evangelism works: loving relationships are magnetic. God loves us. We love him and each other - and that is the most powerful force on earth.
"Witness isn't a verb; it's who you are. Start being. Be together. Love. Remember, God has already got you on display."
Bob Kilpatrick and Joel Kilpatrick in their book The Art of Being You: How to Live as God's Masterpiece
FAITH, TRADITION, SEWAGE MEET IN THE RIVER JORDAN
Some 20,000 pilgrims walked past minefields Jan. 18 to reach the traditional site of Jesus's baptism on the Jordan River. They came to wash their faces with the muddy brown water, immerse themselves and even drink the water to mark the date that Jesus began his holy ministry. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem, Theophilos III, led a ceremony in which he threw plants into the water and released doves, which symbolize the Holy Spirit.
Qasr al-Yahud is in the Israeli-controlled West Bank and dozens of Israeli flags swayed in the breeze. Just across the river, hundreds of pilgrims congregated on the Jordanian baptism site, visited annually by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. As the Patriarch approached, bells tolled and they began singing hymns in Greek, which were echoed by the pilgrims on the Israeli side. The pilgrims came from Orthodox churches around the world, especially Greece, Russia and Ethiopia.
The Jordan River is the official border between Israel and Jordan, two countries that were at war for decades. The site is surrounded by fields that have been mined. Barbed wire and bright yellow signs urge visitors not to wander off the path.... Read this in full at
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/924088--faith-tradition-sewage-meet-in-the-river-jordan
TWEETING THE ENTIRE BIBLE, ONE CHAPTER A DAY
A dedicated Christian worker in the United Kingdom is tweeting the entire Bible, one chapter per tweet per day.
Chris Juby of Durham, in northern England, began his effort August 8, 2010 and, as of January 19, 2011, has more than 17,000 followers, according to his Twitter page (http://twitter.com/biblesummary).
The summaries can never exceed 140 characters, per Twitter rules. Here are some examples:
"Gen1: God created the heavens, the earth and everything that lives. He made humankind in his image, and gave them charge over the earth."
"Gen2: God formed a man and gave him the garden in Eden, except for the tree of knowledge. Adam was alone so God made a woman as his partner."
"Gen7: Noah and his family went into the ark with two of each creature. It rained for forty days and forty nights and the earth was covered."
Juby says it should take approximately 1,189 days to summarize the text, which is actually about 800,000 words long. If all goes as planned, he should complete the task November 8, 2013, Juby says.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11010121.htm
KJV 400: CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE
by Kristopher Barnett
The King James Version of the Bible marks its 400th year of publication in 2011, which will provide diverse opportunities to celebrate the KJV, including several marathon reading sessions, a History Channel documentary, and a flipbook of an entire 1611 printing of the KJV. Reaction to the quadricentennial of the KJV varies widely. Some see the event as worthy of celebration while others stifle a yawn. The diversity of reaction reveals the disparity in perception of the grand old English translation.
The current perception of the KJV is similar to that of an elderly grandfather. Some hold the grandfather in high esteem, revering the wisdom of experience. Others see the grandfather as out of touch and unapproachable, distant and disconnected. While the Bible, and certainly a translation of the Bible, never should be worshipped, the KJV certainly deserves appropriate respect for its impact on language, literature, and faith.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11643922/
ANTI-CHRISTIAN CRIMES DOWNPLAYED
by Steve Huntley
We've heard outlandish allegations of Islamophobia sweeping America. Not getting nearly as much attention is the bloody persecution of Christians in parts of the Muslim world.
Every report of an Islamist terrorist plot is accompanied by a chorus of warnings against Americans hating or attacking Muslim Americans. Yet, that much-ballyhooed bigotry almost never seems to arise. The latest FBI hate crime statistics, for 2009, found that 8.4% of the 1,575 victims of anti-religious crimes were attacked because of anti-Islamic bias. In contrast, 71.9% of the victims were Jews.
No doubt acts of intolerance against Muslims can be found, and they should be condemned. But Muslims aren't fleeing America in fear of their lives like Christians are leaving some Islamic nations.
Open Doors, an organization supporting persecuted Christian churches, asserts 100 million Christians worldwide are targeted for their faith. It found that eight of the top 10 countries that are the most dangerous for Christians to practice their religion are nations with Islamic majorities, including Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen. Topping the list was communist North Korea.... Read this in full at
http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/3170704-452/christians-christian-anti-attack-christianity.html
FRANKLIN GRAHAM: THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST IS EVERYWHERE
Franklin Graham told students at John Brown University on Jan. 18 to remain committed in their faith in Jesus Christ and preach the gospel in spite of the persecution they may face. Speaking during a special chapel service, the evangelical preacher asked the students of the private Christian university in Siloam Springs, Ark., to "set the sail for the course that God has in front of you," while overcoming the pitfalls, temptations and challenges in their path. "The last thing the devil wants you to do is serve the Lord Jesus Christ," he said.
Graham, the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, shared about his ministry's relief response in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, telling the audience that the gospel message has always been at the core of their work.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20110119/franklin-graham-the-spirit-of-anti-christ-is-everywhere/
SATAN APPEARS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
by John Murdock
"What do you think about Satan?" That's not a typical question at the Supreme Court, but those words were indeed uttered by Justice Scalia on January 10. The question drew a near belly laugh from the packed gallery, leaving one to wonder whether the Devil has become nothing more than a joke in modern America.
Satan showed up when the justices, as they often do, sought to push the bounds of each side's arguments with extreme hypothetical questions. Would unfounded rumors of satanic connections (such as have dogged Procter & Gamble for years) be material enough to warrant a company's formal disclosure under the Court's test addressing information that a "reasonable shareholder" would need to know? It's not an entirely crazy question: such strange allegations dogged Procter & Gamble for decades and became the subject of a high-profile lawsuit in which the company sued some Amway distributors for spreading the rumors. A jury eventually awarded Procter & Gamble $19.25 million in 2007.
I have no reason to doubt the sincere religious faith of any of the justices, but while some remained silent none in any way sought to suggest that, rather than being a laughing matter, perhaps the hypothetical questions were straying into a truly dangerous domain. I laughed too, but quickly began to feel quite uncomfortable with the scene. While I worry about those who see the Devil everywhere, I worry even more about a culture that fails to see the demonic (or the sacred) anywhere.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/januaryweb-only/satanappears.html
SUPER BOWL XLV (45)
The game, to be played on Feb. 6, 2011, will pit the champions of the AFC and the NFC and will be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLV
NATIONAL PORNSUNDAY: FEBRUARY 6
On Feb. 6, 2011, churches throughout the country will be hosting PornSunday presented by XXXChurch.com. Here's the story behind the national event.
The crowd is diverse on a recent Sunday morning at The People's Church in Franklin, Tenn., full of unfamiliar faces not usually part of the middle Tennessee congregation. They've come to check out why one of the Nashville area's most well-known churches is talking about a subject most would consider out of place in a house of worship. What does a church have to say about pornography?
For the 90-minute service, The People's Church has brought in two Southern California pastors to help church leaders address this often taboo topic. To ensure this message gets to people outside the church who might be struggling with sexual addiction, the church has spent the last month promoting this Sunday morning to its local community. It seems to have worked, as camera crews from two local TV stations are there to cover the event billed as "PornSunday." .... Read this in full at
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/features/3930-National-PornSunday-February.html
SURVEY: ONLY 1-IN-5 GIVE 'MORAL STATE OF THE UNION' HIGH MARKS
A new PRRI/RNS Religious News Survey released today finds that fewer than one quarter (22%) of Americans say they would give the current 'moral state of the union' a grade of an "A" or a "B." The survey, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service, found that nearly 4-in-10 (37%) give the country's moral climate low marks (a "D" or "F"), and 38% give it a "C."
"We find Americans view the country's moral climate through a partisan lens," said Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO and founder of PRRI. "Both Republicans and those who identify with the Tea Party Movement are more than twice as likely as Democrats to give the nation's moral climate a D or an F." .... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/survey_only_1_in_5_give_moral_state_of_the_union_high_marks/
DOES GRATITUDE BORE YOU?
"I think I know this [story]. Jesus restores ten lepers to wholeness. And only one returns to offer any thanks ... Yes, I think I know this one.
"'One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan' (Luke 17:15-16 NIV). Yes, thankfulness, I know. Next verse.
"Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?' Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.' (Luke 17:17-19 NIV)
"Wait. I trace back. Hadn't Jesus already completely healed him? Exactly like the other nine who were cured who hadn't bothered to return and thank Him. So what does Jesus mean, 'Your faith has made you well'? Had I underinterpreted this passage, missed some hidden mystery? I slow down and dig. I read Jesus' words in Young's Literal Translation, 'And [Jesus] said to him, "Having risen, be going on, thy faith has saved thee."' Saved thee? I dig deeper. It's sozo in the Greek. Many translations render sozo as being made 'well' or 'whole,' but its literal meaning, I read it – 'to save.' Sozo means salvation. It means true wellness, complete wholeness. To live sozo is to live the full life. Jesus came that we might live life to the full; He came to give us sozo. And when did the leper receive sozo - the saving to the full, whole life? When he returned and gave thanks. I lay down my pen.
"Our very saving is associated with our gratitude."
Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
SURVEY: MOST BRITISH EVANGELICALS SAY JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
The UK-based Evangelical Alliance and Christian Research surveyed 17,000 British evangelicals on a range of issues, from their beliefs concerning miracles and the Bible, to their stance on abortion and homosexuality.
The report is titled "21st Century Evangelicals" and is designed to provide a comprehensive picture of evangelicals in the United Kingdom. Results are based on questionnaires completed by evangelicals at Christian festivals throughout 2010.
There's clear consensus on the uniqueness of Christ, with 91% of evangelicals strongly agreeing that Jesus is the only way to God.
Evangelicals in the UK also prove to be devoted believers, with 96% attending a church service at least once a week and praying at least a few times a week. Eighty-eight percent strongly agreed that faith was the most important thing in their life, while 83% strongly agreed that faith was an important factor in decision making.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20110114/survey-most-british-evangelicals-say-jesus-is-the-only-way-to-god/
LIFE COACHING MAKES ITS WAY INTO CHURCHES
Career coaching has been around in the business field for decades. More recently, it spun off a concept of life coaching. Now, the coaching concept is starting to make its impact in churches.
Most experts credit Benjamin Karter, a former football coach turned motivational speaker, as one of the originators of the personal coaching field. As coaching began to be viewed as having a broader application than just leadership training for business executives, Karter's background in athletics prompted speeches focused on mentoring, role modeling and helping people identify and then pursue life goals.
Today, a "life coach" is a person who provides general guidance and support seeking to improve others' professional and personal lives.... Read this in full at
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/6040/53/
ADOPTION GROWING AMONG EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
Religious groups such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Focus on the Family, a prominent Colorado-based evangelical organization, have made a strong push in recent years for adoptions.
Christianity Today, the flagship evangelical journal, published a cover story in July promoting adoption, authored by Russell Moore, a dean at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.
The movement does have critics, who see it as severing adoptees from their culture and religion, particularly in the case of foreign adoptions.... Read this in full at
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110118/FEATURES10/301120034/1008/NEWS01/
VERSE TO PONDER
[Jesus said,] "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
CONSIDER
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
Stephen Covey
APOLOGIST RESPONDS TO BART EHRMAN'S CRITIQUE OF HISTORICAL JESUS
Evangelical apologist William Lane Craig recently delivered a lecture that responded to Bart Ehrman's critique of the historical Jesus by presenting New Testament evidence for the historicity of Jesus' resurrection.
Ehrman has written several books, including bestseller Misquoting Jesus, questioning the textual reliability of the New Testament. He is also the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Craig, a research professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Calif., pointed out there is a distinction between "scholarly Bart" and "popular Bart" or what he termed "Good Bart" and "Bad Bart."
"Scholarly Bart knows that the text of the New Testament has been established in 99 percent accuracy," said Craig during the Jan. 11 lecture at Azusa Pacific University. "Popular Bart misrepresents this to unsuspecting laymen through innuendo and implication to make them think that the text of the New Testament is highly uncertain.".... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20110117/apologist-responds-to-bart-ehrmans-critique-of-historical-jesus/
GENERIC CHRISTIAN U
Faith-based universities with historically strong denominational ties — Nazarene, Mennonite, and Southern Baptist schools among them — are enrolling fewer students from within their own ranks.
Paul Corts, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), said the trend, seen even in institutions with "very strong, close connections" to denominations, is bound to shape future denominational leadership.
For example, at 18 schools associated with the Churches of Christ (non-instrumental), members of associated churches composed 70 percent of first-year students a decade ago. By fall 2009, that figure had dropped to 53 percent, according to a study by the Harding University Center for Church Growth.
The perceived high cost of a Christian education alongside drops in denominational loyalty have contributed to the changing demographics, said Corts and others.
"So many people now think that everything is just a different flavor," said Mike O'Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian University, a Church of Christ school. "If I'm a Methodist, generally I don't care that a university is Nazarene or Calvinist or whatever. The perception is, we're all alike.".... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/january/22.14.html
NEW YORK IS EXPERIENCING A FAITH REVIVAL
by Julia Duin
I know it's hard for many folks outside the Big Apple - who write off the country's largest city as hopelessly secularized - to grasp this. But Tony Carnes, president of Values Research Institute in Manhattan and a senior writer for Christianity Today, has had a vision since 1989 to chart religion in New York. What he wanted to do was a census of who worships what in this immense city.
In 2009, he and several research associates started researching Manhattan's religious sites, going road by road down 5,000 miles of New York City streets. The local papers were offering minimal religion coverage in the five boroughs, which was "a huge gap there considering the amount of activity going on," he told me. "We've gotten these incredible discoveries. Like on West Jamaica Avenue in Queens, there's Blessed Barbershop, a group of Ecuadoran brothers who started going to church and wanted to stay accountable to each other. They are very successful." And not far away, he added, there's a Buddhist barbershop and yet a third barbershop that houses an African church.... Read this in full at
http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2011/01/new_york_not_so_godless.html
FUNERAL HOMES FIND NEW LIFE BY HOSTING OTHER EVENTS
Paulita and Tony Flores took their wedding vows in December in an elegant rotunda with marble floors amid glimmering chandeliers and a bubbling fountain. t didn't bother them that a room down the hall showcased caskets and urns. Or that the building was surrounded by a large cemetery with 100,000 gravestones on 60 acres. Or that on other days, the facility hosts something a lot more somber — funerals.
The Flores' wedding at the Community Life Center at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis illustrates a growing trend. Across the USA, funeral homes are building and marketing such centers as not just a place to mourn the dead but as sites for events celebrating the living, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday parties, and proms.
The lure? It is often less expensive; there is greater availability; and the settings — inside and outside — can be nothing short of wedding-picture perfect.... Read this in full at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2011-01-19-weddingsandfunerals19_ST_N.htm
LIFE LESSONS
Regina Brett wrote this column for Cleveland's Plain Dealer: "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood, but the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow; but, it's still a gift."
http://www.preaching.com/
MARK TWAIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY RENEWS DEBATE: WAS HE ANTI-CHRISTIAN?
"There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money-grabbing and predatory ... ours is a terrible religion."
As this quote from his recently released autobiography illustrates, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was not one to sugarcoat his views about organized religion.
Sprinkled among his novels, essays, speeches and personal memoirs are numerous remarks by Clemens -- better known by his pen name of Mark Twain -- that would be distressing to devout Christians. In fact, Twain quotes are often featured on atheistic websites.... Read this in full at
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100050.htm
TREE OF FAILURE
by David Brooks
Civility is a tree with deep roots, and without the roots, it can't last. So what are those roots? They are failure, sin, weakness, and ignorance.
Civility is the natural state for people who know how limited their own individual powers are and know that they need the conversation. The problem is that over the past 40 years or so we have gone from a culture that reminds people of their own limitations to a culture that encourages people to think highly of themselves.
Over the past few decades, people have lost a sense of their own sinfulness. Children are raised amid a chorus of applause. Politics has become less about institutional restraint and more about giving voters whatever they want at that second. Joe DiMaggio didn't ostentatiously admire his own home runs, but now athletes routinely celebrate themselves as part of the self-branding process.... Read this in full at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/opinion/14brooks.html
CONSIDER
"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way."
Napoleon Hill
VERSE TO PONDER
[Jesus said,] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:1-3
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: O LORD, OUR FATHER, THANKS TO THEE
Words: Cyriacus Schneegass, (1597); translated from German to English by August Crull, 1880
Music: Martin Luther (1524)
Lord, our Father, thanks to Thee
In this new year we render,
For every evil had to flee
Before Thee, our Defender.
Our life was nourished, we were fed
With rich supplies of daily bread,
And peace reigned in our borders.
Lord Jesus Christ, our thanks to Thee
In this new year we render;
Thy reign hath kept Thy people free,
Hath shown Thy mercies tender.
Thou hast redeemed us with Thy blood,
Thou art our Joy, our only Good,
In life and death our Savior.
Lord Holy Ghost, our thanks to Thee
In this new year we render,
For Thou hast led our eyes to see
Thy truth in all its splendor
And thus enkindled from above
Within our hearts true faith and love
And other Christian virtues.
Our faithful God, we cry to Thee:
Still bless us with Thy favor,
Blot out all our iniquity,
And hide our sins forever.
Grant us a happy, good new year
And, when the hour of death draws near,
A peaceful, blest departure.
>from NetHymnal at
http://nethymnal.org/htm/o/l/o/oloftthe.htm
ON PRAYER
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle."
Phillips Brooks (1835 - 1893)
PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY
http://christiansincrisis.net/
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
Business Growth
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).
[As you travel on business or vacation, let me know if you'd like us to add you to our prayer chain 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.
Book your next vacation with us!
http://www.ChristianConnectionTravel.com
Books, Music & More!
http://www.ChristianConnectionBooks.com
Get your domain name here!
http://www.GoGlobalDomains.com
Let me show you how to earn money as you travel!
http://www.earnGlobalVacations.com/
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Visual Slider Clock
http://home.comcast.net/~vonholdt/test/clock_slide/index.htm
Color Theory Quick Reference Sheet for Designers
http://www.paper-leaf.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ct_1440.jpg
Impossible Nail Through Wood Trick (video)
http://www.break.com/index/impossible-nail-through-wood-trick-1981710
Kinetic Sculpture (video)
http://www.artcom.de/kinetik/
TheFunTheorgy.com
http://thefuntheory.com/
All links to websites are provided as a service, and do not imply endorsement by this ministry.
(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.)
Care more than others think wise. Risk more than others think safe. Dream more than others think practical. Expect more than others think possible.
Min. Frank Coleman, Editor
Rev.frank@gmail.com
Thanks for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of announcements, news, recommendations, articles, and other information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
The CONNECTIONS 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, frank@frankcoleman.com if you'd like to participate in a men's discipleship program.
Path Of Life Ministries is located in Chicago, IL.
Visit our website at: http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/
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