“The Gospels cannot explain the Resurrection; it is the Resurrection which alone explains the Gospels.”
- John S. Whale (1896-1997), Christian Doctrine [1966]
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thought for today - 06/30/2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thought for today
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
- Romans 15:4 (NIV)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thought for today - 06/28/2012
ONLY GOD
"It's the only phrase I intentionally overuse, but it's for good reason. When God accomplishes activity that no human being could possibly orchestrate, you have to respond somehow. And the simple phrase I've landed on in recent years is "Only God." It's more than an axiom. It is a theology that has been alive and well at Willow Creek Community Church since the beginning. We watch for our heavenly Father to move and stir and act and call. And when he does, we humbly thank him with the only two words that could even begin to give credit to the one to whom alone credit is due: 'Only God.'"
- Bill Hybels, Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thought for today - 06/27/2012
LISTEN FOR THE LIVING VOICE OF GOD
Through its posture of silent, attentive listening, the meditative approach to Scripture opens the reader up to the quiet voice of God. It sets a tone of humility and receptivity, rather than one of assertiveness and control. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German martyr, like many others, commended this approach. He claimed that it was the best way to wait for the Word to address us personally. In Life Together , his little classic on Christian community, Bonhoeffer warned against neglecting to listen for the living voice of God. The obscene alternative is just to prattle on in God's neglected presence. The Bible is a repository of God's past communication, and where God has already spoken is a logical place to look for him to continue to speak."
- Glen G. Scorgie, A Little Guide to Christian Spirituality: Three Dimensions of Life with God
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Thought for today - 06/26/2012
"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road."
- Henry Ward Beecher
- Henry Ward Beecher
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Connections News for week of June 24, 2012 is now available!
Connecting man to man to God
For week of June 17, 2012
Issue 412
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.
Read the entire edition here:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/connections-news-06242012/
Here are a few excerpts from this week's edition:
HAS CHURCH 'ORPHANED' ITS MEN TO OUTSIDE CULTURE?
Despite the fact that millions of Christian men are members of local churches, many are looking outside the Christian community for their purpose in life, says the founder of Every Man Ministries and the men's pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
"It's time for the church to address that 800-pound gorilla in the room," said Pastor Kenny Luck, who wrote the book Sleeping Giant – No Move of God Without Men of God in order to help point churches and men towards a more Christ-centered direction.
"There's 2.1 billion Christians in the world, over three quarters of them being Christian men, but where are they? The majority of them are finding significance outside the church. They are not finding their purpose or significance inside the church," Luck told The Christian Post.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/has-church-orphaned-its-men-to-outside-culture-76867/
NEW RESEARCH ON CHILDREN OF SAME-SEX PARENTS SUGGESTS DIFFERENCES MATTER
A number of studies and articles have suggested that research shows no difference in outcome between children whose parents have same-sex relationships and those raised by heterosexual parents, but two peer-reviewed articles published in the academic journal Social Science Research challenge the validity of the "no difference" assertion, the Heritage Foundation reports.
One study, conducted by a Louisiana State University family scholar, concluded that data from previous research showing no difference in outcomes between children with gay parents and those with heterosexual parents was insufficient to support a strong generalizable claim either way.... Read this in full at
http://www.religiontoday.com/blog/new-research-childrensame-sex-parents-differences.html
7 SIGNS OF A HEALTHY WALK WITH GOD
by Joni Eareckson Tada
You have a healthy walk with God when, even during seasons of suffering, you are:
1. Aware of God's sustaining power, his grace, and power.
2. Dependent on God for stability and balance.
3. Obedient in hardships.
4. Thankful in times of sorrow.
5. Accepting of God's purpose and will in ALL circumstances.
6. Patient while praying and waiting for God to answer.
7. Focused on Him instead of your fears and doubts.
Making Sense of Suffering pamphlet by Joni Eareckson Tada.... Read this in full at
http://www.rose-publishing.com/Assets/ClientPages/echart213.aspx
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/connections-news-06242012/
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!
Subscribe!
Subscribe to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues here:
http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/connections/archives_all.html
Check out my blog
Issue 412
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.
Read the entire edition here:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/connections-news-06242012/
Here are a few excerpts from this week's edition:
HAS CHURCH 'ORPHANED' ITS MEN TO OUTSIDE CULTURE?
Despite the fact that millions of Christian men are members of local churches, many are looking outside the Christian community for their purpose in life, says the founder of Every Man Ministries and the men's pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
"It's time for the church to address that 800-pound gorilla in the room," said Pastor Kenny Luck, who wrote the book Sleeping Giant – No Move of God Without Men of God in order to help point churches and men towards a more Christ-centered direction.
"There's 2.1 billion Christians in the world, over three quarters of them being Christian men, but where are they? The majority of them are finding significance outside the church. They are not finding their purpose or significance inside the church," Luck told The Christian Post.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/has-church-orphaned-its-men-to-outside-culture-76867/
NEW RESEARCH ON CHILDREN OF SAME-SEX PARENTS SUGGESTS DIFFERENCES MATTER
A number of studies and articles have suggested that research shows no difference in outcome between children whose parents have same-sex relationships and those raised by heterosexual parents, but two peer-reviewed articles published in the academic journal Social Science Research challenge the validity of the "no difference" assertion, the Heritage Foundation reports.
One study, conducted by a Louisiana State University family scholar, concluded that data from previous research showing no difference in outcomes between children with gay parents and those with heterosexual parents was insufficient to support a strong generalizable claim either way.... Read this in full at
http://www.religiontoday.com/blog/new-research-childrensame-sex-parents-differences.html
7 SIGNS OF A HEALTHY WALK WITH GOD
by Joni Eareckson Tada
You have a healthy walk with God when, even during seasons of suffering, you are:
1. Aware of God's sustaining power, his grace, and power.
2. Dependent on God for stability and balance.
3. Obedient in hardships.
4. Thankful in times of sorrow.
5. Accepting of God's purpose and will in ALL circumstances.
6. Patient while praying and waiting for God to answer.
7. Focused on Him instead of your fears and doubts.
Making Sense of Suffering pamphlet by Joni Eareckson Tada.... Read this in full at
http://www.rose-publishing.com/Assets/ClientPages/echart213.aspx
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/connections-news-06242012/
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!
Subscribe!
Subscribe to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues here:
http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/connections/archives_all.html
Check out my blog
Thought for today - 06/24/2012
"Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks."
- Thomas Goodwin
- Thomas Goodwin
Friday, June 22, 2012
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry
The early church attracted others simply by meeting their needs: healing the sick, feeding the poor, fathering the fatherless, and so on. Today’s churches now have to pander to people’s wants as well (such as entertainment and activities), then try hard to add the more important things into the mix once people are in the door. This bait ‘n switch technique became necessary as we moved away from building church communities and started building church corporations. Essentially, we turned all of our members into customers.
Thought for today - 06/22/2012
"None can become fit for the future life, who hath not practiced himself for it now."
- St. Augustine (354-430)
- St. Augustine (354-430)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Matthew 18:20 – Institutional Version
Matthew 18:20 – Institutional Version
Today's churches are organizations. This isn't what Jesus had in mind. The early churches used "family" language: they referred to other church members as "brothers" and "sisters" and "fathers" and "mothers." And they gathered together the same way real families do: in living rooms, not classrooms, around dinner tables, not pulpits, pews and platforms.
Thought for today - 06/20/2012
"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."
- Psalm 116:1-2
- Psalm 116:1-2
Monday, June 18, 2012
Thought for today - 06/18/2012
YOUR TIME IS YOUR LIFE
"No matter what you want to do, wish you had done, plan to do, or fantasize about while you are doing something else, the final reality of your life is how you spent your time. So, one of the greatest structures that you have to build the life you want to have is the direction of your time. Turning your time into a life that you want involves more than time management. While time management tools are helpful (we all need to write stuff down somewhere), there is still a person who has to use them. And in my experience, people do not take enough time to look at themselves and their use of time to find out what their patterns and issues are that are causing them to not use their time wisely."
- Dr. Henry Cloud , The One-Life Solution: The Boundaries Way to Integrating Work and Life
"No matter what you want to do, wish you had done, plan to do, or fantasize about while you are doing something else, the final reality of your life is how you spent your time. So, one of the greatest structures that you have to build the life you want to have is the direction of your time. Turning your time into a life that you want involves more than time management. While time management tools are helpful (we all need to write stuff down somewhere), there is still a person who has to use them. And in my experience, people do not take enough time to look at themselves and their use of time to find out what their patterns and issues are that are causing them to not use their time wisely."
- Dr. Henry Cloud , The One-Life Solution: The Boundaries Way to Integrating Work and Life
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Connections News for week of June 17, 2012 is now available!
Connecting man to man to God
For week of June 17, 2012
Issue 412
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.
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/connections-news-06172012/
Here are a few excerpts from this week's edition:
7 VERSES FOR FATHERLESS MEN WHO ARE NOW FATHERS
by Rudy Carrasco
When my first child was about to be born, I freaked out. It was the 9th month. I was 33. I was in the bathroom and thought, “I don’t know how to father her. What am I going to do?”
I grew up without a father and without a mother. My sister, God bless her, raised me. The thing is, I knew a lot about caring for people, following Christ, and knew enough about what it takes to be a father and husband that I felt ok. But it was one of those moments when you look deep inside yourself — and I freaked out.
“I can’t do this,” I thought. “I am going to mess her up.” .... Read this in full at
http://evangelicalsforsocialaction.org/7versesfathers
PEW SURVEY: DOUBT OF GOD GROWING QUICKLY AMONG MILLENNIALS
The percentage of Americans 30 and younger who harbor some doubts about God’s existence appears to be growing quickly, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. While most young Americans, 68%, told Pew they never doubt God’s existence, that’s a 15-point drop in just 5 years.
In 2007, 83% of American millennials said they never doubted God’s existence.
More young people are expressing doubts about God now than at any time since Pew started asking the question a decade ago. Thirty-one percent disagreed with the statement “I never doubt the existence of God,” double the number who disagreed with it in 2007.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/12/pew-survey-doubt-of-god-growing-quickly-among-millennials/?hpt=hp_c3
TO HEAVEN AND BACK
by Mary C. Neal MD
One lesson I learned after I drowned on a South American river was that to face life's challenges with gratitude and joy, a person must first lose his or her faith.
I am an experienced kayaker, but when I crested the top of a moderate waterfall while kayaking the Fuy River, I saw no clean exit to the tremendous turbulence at its bottom. I pragmatically assumed I would tip over at the bottom, then exit my boat and be briefly tossed about in the turbulence before surfacing and swimming downstream.
When my boat struck the bottom with a thud, I was immediately submerged. As a spine surgeon, I am familiar and comfortable with stressful situations. I remained calm as I sequentially went through the steps to extricate myself: detaching my spray skirt (neoprene fabric that keeps water out of the boat by stretching between the kayaker's waist and the boat's cockpit rim), pushing myself out of the boat with my feet, and trying to free the boat by rocking back and forth. I had no air, was too far from shore for anyone to reach me and my self-rescue was prevented by the flowing water flattening my torso against the front deck of my boat. After a lifetime of fearing a drowning death, the irony of my predicament almost made me chuckle.... Read this in full at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-c-neal-md/to-heaven-and-back_b_1572272.html
THE DANGER OF LOVING OTHERS TOO MUCH
by Clare De Graaf
“Mr. De Graaf, I understand what the Bible says, but what do you say to people who are gay, love each other and want to commit their lives to each other in marriage? Didn’t Jesus say we should love others and want for them, what we want for ourselves? Besides, how can that be wrong if that’s the way God wired them?”
On my recent teaching trip to Europe with four Christian college seniors, this question regarding homosexual marriage came up in light of President Obama’s recent statements on the subject. In an interview with ABC News he even invoked the Golden Rule, “It’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated.”
This blog isn’t political or a thorough discussion of the homosexual issue. Neither were the guys on the trip advocating gay marriage, but were searching for a more thoughtful, yet biblical way to dialogue with those who are. So, here’s how I believe followers of Jesus ought to frame this and similar discussions when what is being advocated seems to be clearly at odds with the Bible.... Read this in full at
http://www.claredegraaf.com/2012/06/11/the-danger-of-loving-others-too-much/
DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE A MASCULINE FEEL?
by Tim Challies
John Piper sparked quite a storm with his biographical message on the “frank and manly” J. C. Ryle. One of his conclusion was that Christianity is meant to have a masculine feel to it. Response to his message ranged from outrage to applause. I found myself perplexed and needed to give it some time to work itself out in my mind. For a while I gave up, but then decided that it would be worth the effort, so sat down and began to hash out my thoughts. It took a long time, but having done so, I find that I am pretty sure I disagree with Piper. I will tell you why, but first, a short refresher on his message.... Read this in full at
http://blogs.christianpost.com/overflow/does-christianity-have-a-masculine-feel-10341/
A CONVERSATION WITH ERWIN LUTZER
Erwin Lutzer has led the historic Moody Church in downtown Chicago for more than 30 years, authored more than 30 books, and is featured regularly on three national radio programs. In this interview, Dr. Lutzer offers his perspective on spiritual warfare. He shares his thoughts on deliverance, temptation, the role of the community, and why he believes Satan needs God's permission "even to wiggle." .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/spring/contesteduniverse.html?paging=off
HEALING A WOUNDED HEART
by Saralee Perel
I'm finally beginning to recover from the loss of our dog, Gracie. She died in October. A veterinarian said, "Remember the good times and she'll always be with you."
Well, that's easier said than done. All I've thought about was her ending ... until now.
Ever since my spinal cord injury, Gracie became my guardian. She would have given up her life for me by blocking cars I hadn't seen or bikers or aggressive dogs. Because of her help, I defied medical opinions and learned to walk again, making it to 10 miles. She truly was my saving Grace.
During her last months, she'd get confused wandering in our backyard. She wasn't afraid because I'd be by her side — the same way she had been by mine. The feel of my hand on her golden forehead always grounded her in safety and love.... Read this in full at
http://www.mikeysfunnies.com/archive/20120608/
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/connections-news-06172012/
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!
Subscribe!
Subscribe to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues here:
http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/connections/archives_all.html
Check out my blog
For week of June 17, 2012
Issue 412
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.
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/connections-news-06172012/
Here are a few excerpts from this week's edition:
7 VERSES FOR FATHERLESS MEN WHO ARE NOW FATHERS
by Rudy Carrasco
When my first child was about to be born, I freaked out. It was the 9th month. I was 33. I was in the bathroom and thought, “I don’t know how to father her. What am I going to do?”
I grew up without a father and without a mother. My sister, God bless her, raised me. The thing is, I knew a lot about caring for people, following Christ, and knew enough about what it takes to be a father and husband that I felt ok. But it was one of those moments when you look deep inside yourself — and I freaked out.
“I can’t do this,” I thought. “I am going to mess her up.” .... Read this in full at
http://evangelicalsforsocialaction.org/7versesfathers
PEW SURVEY: DOUBT OF GOD GROWING QUICKLY AMONG MILLENNIALS
The percentage of Americans 30 and younger who harbor some doubts about God’s existence appears to be growing quickly, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. While most young Americans, 68%, told Pew they never doubt God’s existence, that’s a 15-point drop in just 5 years.
In 2007, 83% of American millennials said they never doubted God’s existence.
More young people are expressing doubts about God now than at any time since Pew started asking the question a decade ago. Thirty-one percent disagreed with the statement “I never doubt the existence of God,” double the number who disagreed with it in 2007.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/12/pew-survey-doubt-of-god-growing-quickly-among-millennials/?hpt=hp_c3
TO HEAVEN AND BACK
by Mary C. Neal MD
One lesson I learned after I drowned on a South American river was that to face life's challenges with gratitude and joy, a person must first lose his or her faith.
I am an experienced kayaker, but when I crested the top of a moderate waterfall while kayaking the Fuy River, I saw no clean exit to the tremendous turbulence at its bottom. I pragmatically assumed I would tip over at the bottom, then exit my boat and be briefly tossed about in the turbulence before surfacing and swimming downstream.
When my boat struck the bottom with a thud, I was immediately submerged. As a spine surgeon, I am familiar and comfortable with stressful situations. I remained calm as I sequentially went through the steps to extricate myself: detaching my spray skirt (neoprene fabric that keeps water out of the boat by stretching between the kayaker's waist and the boat's cockpit rim), pushing myself out of the boat with my feet, and trying to free the boat by rocking back and forth. I had no air, was too far from shore for anyone to reach me and my self-rescue was prevented by the flowing water flattening my torso against the front deck of my boat. After a lifetime of fearing a drowning death, the irony of my predicament almost made me chuckle.... Read this in full at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-c-neal-md/to-heaven-and-back_b_1572272.html
THE DANGER OF LOVING OTHERS TOO MUCH
by Clare De Graaf
“Mr. De Graaf, I understand what the Bible says, but what do you say to people who are gay, love each other and want to commit their lives to each other in marriage? Didn’t Jesus say we should love others and want for them, what we want for ourselves? Besides, how can that be wrong if that’s the way God wired them?”
On my recent teaching trip to Europe with four Christian college seniors, this question regarding homosexual marriage came up in light of President Obama’s recent statements on the subject. In an interview with ABC News he even invoked the Golden Rule, “It’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated.”
This blog isn’t political or a thorough discussion of the homosexual issue. Neither were the guys on the trip advocating gay marriage, but were searching for a more thoughtful, yet biblical way to dialogue with those who are. So, here’s how I believe followers of Jesus ought to frame this and similar discussions when what is being advocated seems to be clearly at odds with the Bible.... Read this in full at
http://www.claredegraaf.com/2012/06/11/the-danger-of-loving-others-too-much/
DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE A MASCULINE FEEL?
by Tim Challies
John Piper sparked quite a storm with his biographical message on the “frank and manly” J. C. Ryle. One of his conclusion was that Christianity is meant to have a masculine feel to it. Response to his message ranged from outrage to applause. I found myself perplexed and needed to give it some time to work itself out in my mind. For a while I gave up, but then decided that it would be worth the effort, so sat down and began to hash out my thoughts. It took a long time, but having done so, I find that I am pretty sure I disagree with Piper. I will tell you why, but first, a short refresher on his message.... Read this in full at
http://blogs.christianpost.com/overflow/does-christianity-have-a-masculine-feel-10341/
A CONVERSATION WITH ERWIN LUTZER
Erwin Lutzer has led the historic Moody Church in downtown Chicago for more than 30 years, authored more than 30 books, and is featured regularly on three national radio programs. In this interview, Dr. Lutzer offers his perspective on spiritual warfare. He shares his thoughts on deliverance, temptation, the role of the community, and why he believes Satan needs God's permission "even to wiggle." .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/spring/contesteduniverse.html?paging=off
HEALING A WOUNDED HEART
by Saralee Perel
I'm finally beginning to recover from the loss of our dog, Gracie. She died in October. A veterinarian said, "Remember the good times and she'll always be with you."
Well, that's easier said than done. All I've thought about was her ending ... until now.
Ever since my spinal cord injury, Gracie became my guardian. She would have given up her life for me by blocking cars I hadn't seen or bikers or aggressive dogs. Because of her help, I defied medical opinions and learned to walk again, making it to 10 miles. She truly was my saving Grace.
During her last months, she'd get confused wandering in our backyard. She wasn't afraid because I'd be by her side — the same way she had been by mine. The feel of my hand on her golden forehead always grounded her in safety and love.... Read this in full at
http://www.mikeysfunnies.com/archive/20120608/
READ THE ENTIRE EDITION HERE:
http://connectionsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/connections-news-06172012/
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!
Subscribe!
Subscribe to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues here:
http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/connections/archives_all.html
Check out my blog
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Thought for today - 06/16/2012
"When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."
- Psalm 94:18-19
- Psalm 94:18-19
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thought for today - 06/15/2012
"Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks."
- Thomas Goodwin
- Thomas Goodwin
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thought for today - 06/14/2012
"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice."
- Psalm 112:5
- Psalm 112:5
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Thought for today - 06/13/2012
"One of the miracles of the grace of God is what he is able to do with the torn nets of lives surrendered to him."
- G. B. Duncan
- G. B. Duncan
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Thought for today - 06/12/2012
"Satan, like a fisher, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish."
- Thomas Adams
- Thomas Adams
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Thought for today - 06/10/2012
YOUR MISSION IS NOT ABOUT YOU
"Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth.' But salt does not exist for itself. When is the last time you went to someone's home for a meal and said, 'Man, this is great salt. Honey, how come we don't have salt like this at home? We gotta switch brands.' Salt's calling is to lose itself in something much bigger and more glorious; and then it fulfills its destiny. We were made to count. We were made to be salt. But the quest for significance is a delicate dance. If I do it by myself for myself, it's death. If I do it with God for others, it's life."
- John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box
"Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth.' But salt does not exist for itself. When is the last time you went to someone's home for a meal and said, 'Man, this is great salt. Honey, how come we don't have salt like this at home? We gotta switch brands.' Salt's calling is to lose itself in something much bigger and more glorious; and then it fulfills its destiny. We were made to count. We were made to be salt. But the quest for significance is a delicate dance. If I do it by myself for myself, it's death. If I do it with God for others, it's life."
- John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Thought for today - 06/09/2012
"Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God."
- John Quincy Adams
- John Quincy Adams
Friday, June 08, 2012
Thought for today - 06/08/2012
"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
- Hebrews 12:1
- Hebrews 12:1
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Thought for today - 06/07/2012
"Always respond to every impulse to pray. The impulse to pray may come when you are reading or when you are battling with a text. I would make an absolute law of this -– always obey such an impulse."
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Thought for today - 06/06/2012
[Jesus:] "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make
it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
- Mark 9:50 (NIV)
it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
- Mark 9:50 (NIV)
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Thought for today - 06/05/2012
"Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to
exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise,
the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others
from the love which he imparts to us."
- Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929)
exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise,
the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others
from the love which he imparts to us."
- Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929)
Monday, June 04, 2012
CONNECTIONS NEWS - 06/03/2012
Connecting man to man to God
For week of June 3, 2012
Issue 410
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.
Today's issue is going out to 2,142 weekly subscribers. Thank you in advance for forwarding this issue to friends, family and associates! To have a friend start their own Free subscription to CONNECTIONS, please have them visit:http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/page33.html
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“But the LORD’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him. And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant and remember to keep his commands.”
- Psalm 103:17-18 (CEB)
CONSIDER
“You are the only one who can keep you from becoming the person God wants you to be.”
- Neil Anderson
BATTLEFIELD CHAPLAIN’S WAR UNFOLDED ON MANY FRONTS
Darren Turner insisted on going to war, even though the Army usually reserves desk jobs at home for new chaplains like him.
Turner was young and green, enthusiastic about taking God to the battlefield. The Army captain had learned that people in pain are often wide-open to inviting God into their lives.
Jesus always ran to crises. Turner was going to do the same.
He’d enrolled in seminary in 2004 at Regent University in Virginia, founded by evangelist Pat Robertson. And early in his spiritual journey, he was inspired by Christian writer John Eldredge, who suggests that American men have abandoned the stuff of heroic dreams, aided by a Christianity that tells them to be "nice guys."
God, says Eldredge, designed men to be daring, even dangerous.
Chaplain Turner’s war would unfold on many fronts. He would be a soldier on the battlefield. A counselor behind closed doors. He was a friend, even a father, to his men.
And when his 15-month tour was over, Turner returned home to face all the problems he had counseled his soldiers about: anger, depression, stress and – most important for him – preserving relationships with loved ones.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/26/battlefield-chaplains-war-unfolded-on-many-fronts/
DECORATION DAY
by Benjamin J. Dueholm
As a child in Wisconsin, I looked forward to Memorial Day for the family reunions. At full sail, with 20-odd aunts and uncles and all their kids, this became a considerable event, complete with dirt-bike riding, beer-fueled volleyball and lots of laughter.
Eventually I came to understand that Memorial Day is related to military service. My grandfather was a tail-gunner during World War II; he was shot down over the Aleutian Islands and again over German-occupied Europe. He was taken prisoner the second time and escaped the camp, crossing Allied lines a month before V-E Day.
These stories, which I knew only in their outlines, thrilled my boyish sense of adventure and swelled my sense of family pride (though my grandfather once got in trouble for giving my brother his service revolver, unloaded, to play with in lieu of a toy gun). Only later did I come to understand the more difficult meaning of Memorial Day.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2012-05/decoration-day
VOWS AND VOW BREAKING (AND A SON’S LETTER TO AN UNFAITHFUL FATHER)
by Clare De Graaf
“As a divorced person, I feel like I’m a second class citizen in my church and around my Christian friends. Why is the church so tough on divorce? It’s not the unpardonable sin, is it?”
“You’re right”, I tell them. “Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin and Christians don’t always handle those who’ve been divorced well and I’m sorry about that. However, there are some very human, and also some very biblical reasons why divorce gets both God’s and the church’s attention, more than many other sins. And, it has to do with vow breaking.” .... Read this in full at
http://www.claredegraaf.com/2012/05/28/vows-and-vow-breaking-and-a-son%e2%80%99s-letter-to-an-unfaithful-father/
MOTORCYCLISTS REACH REMOTE VILLAGES FOR CHRIST
Motorcycle Sunday School Mission (MSSM) is looking for Canadian groups to sponsor Sunday schools in hard-to-reach African regions.
Josiah Frey of MSSM says they use locally-trained circuit riders to "go into remote villages and disciple people in places where there no churches, no pastor, no real spiritual foundation."
These include remote bush areas of Malawi, Zambia and Cameroon that are beyond the reach of traditional outreach methods, due to a lack of roads and bridges, or due to extreme weather conditions during certain times of the year.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=2010
JOSH MCDOWELL LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO FIGHT PORN, 'CHURCH'S NO. 1 THREAT'
Apologist and author Josh McDowell has launched http://Just1ClickAway.org, a new website to raise awareness about online pornography which he says is a problem big enough to cause the downfall of the church.
"The downfall of the church will not come from a lack of apologetic teaching; it will come from disintegration of the families in the church," says a video posted on the website.
"The greatest threat to the cause of Christ is pervasive sexuality and pornography," McDowell, known as an articulate speaker, said in a statement. "Today we have, by and large, lost control of the controls because an intrusive immorality is just one click away from our children. With just one keystroke on a smartphone, iPad, or laptop, a child can open up some of the worst pornography and sexually graphic content you can imagine. There's never been such access in history. " .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/josh-mcdowell-launches-website-to-fight-porn-churchs-no-1-threat-75584/
CHRISTIANS: BE ON THE INTERNET, NOT OF IT
by Albert Mohler
The Mets might not be selling out Citi Field, but the Orthodox Jews did. Recently, more than 40,000 Orthodox Jewish men and boys filled the stadium for a gathering intended to consider the dangers of the Internet - dangers to their souls.
That gathering is just one indicator of the concerns many people have about the Internet. Like the Orthodox Jews at Citi Field, most evangelical Christians see real and present dangers on the Internet, ranging from pornography to a loss of authentic communication and human relatedness. Thanks to the Internet, a toxic dump of pornography is just a click away, destroying lives and souls. Even for those who resist and escape pornography, the Internet has tempted many people to substitute online relationships and conversations for the old fashioned kind - face-to-face.
The Internet offers endless chatter and distraction. It sometimes seems that the entire population is suffering from a shared case of attention deficit syndrome. On the Web, irresponsible voices are just as accessible as trustworthy voices. Often, it seems that the voices of reason and truth are drowned out by the swarm of the reckless, the vulgar, and the ridiculous.
At the same time, the Internet has been one of the greatest gifts to the church, offering unprecedented opportunities to communicate, share content, establish contact, and deliver our message.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/is-the-internet-the-enemy-of-faith/2012/05/25/gJQAhH8KqU_blog.html
THE $10 EVANGELISM PROJECT
by Mark Coppenger
When planting a church on Chicago's North Shore, we hosted a variety of short-term mission teams who joined us in a range of outreach efforts, all with a Gospel witness -- from door-to-door surveys to concerts in the park to bottled water handouts along pedestrian and bike paths.
One approach we used repeatedly involved cash handouts to the volunteers. We'd give them $5 or $10 and send them into the community to buy things and to strike up spiritual conversations in the process. They wouldn't be interrupting business but, rather, piggybacking on it.
The results were gratifying. It gave our workers focus and accountability, knowing we'd all report back in short order. It planted Gospel seeds and surfaced prospects. And despite what you might think, it didn't cost that much when compared to other projects, where we rented generators and sound systems, printed special T-shirts, and such.
I'll let two of the students speak for themselves.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=37896
PLAN NOW FOR THE OLYMPICS
The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games is on Friday, July 27, 2012.
http://www.london2012.com/
http://www.nbcolympics.com/
I’M DONE WITH LIVING LIKE A CHRISTIAN
by Kurt Williams
I’m done serving the poor. I’m done going the extra mile. I’m done being a husband who strives to love his wife as Christ loves the church. I’m done visiting the sick. I’m done opening up my life to Christian community. I’m done loving my neighbor. I’m done living with integrity. I’m done loving my enemies. I’m done giving finances to global causes. I’m done opposing violence. I’m done speaking out against hatred. I’m done standing up for the marginalized.
I’m D-O-N-E done…because now I realize that doing all these things won’t change the world ... unless God first changes me.... Read this in full at
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thepangeablog/2011/07/25/i%E2%80%99m-done-with-living-like-a-christian/
ANCIENT INSCRIPTION FOUND ON SITE OF BIBLICAL CITY
An archaeological survey led by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has discovered a bilingual inscription at the ancient site of Tel Gezer, Israel.
Gezer, a biblical city, was situated on the border between the Israelite and Philistine territories guarding the route to Jerusalem. The city was given as a dowry to Pharaoh's daughter, who married King Solomon. Gezer is well known in the later Maccabean period for its boundary stones with inscriptions in both Hebrew and Greek.
In addition to finding the new inscription during the week of May 21, Southwestern's survey team has rediscovered an inscription that had been lost to the archaeological community for more than a century.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37929
VERSE TO PONDER
“But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.”
- Acts 20:24 (CEB)
CONSIDER
“Make a list of 25 things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.”
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
YOU'RE INVITED TO A HEAVENLY PARTY
“Before we realize it, we shall find ourselves in the embrace of our Savior at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Heaven will have arrived. The Lord's overcoming of the world will be a lifting of the curtain of our five senses.
“Now, enjoy an unseen divine reality. Rev up your heart and picture yourself taking a seat at the Wedding Supper. As you pull up a chair to the banquet table, take a look at what's on the menu from Isaiah 25:6: ‘On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines.’
“I get a charge just thinking about it! I wonder who will sit next to me, or across from me. I glance down the table and there's my friend, Verna Estes, mother of seven, swapping baby stories with Susanna Wesley, mother of seventeen. There's Moses toasting Martin Luther. St. Augustine giving a bear hug to that jungle missionary.
“Then I'll look up, and walking toward me will be Dad. And Mother. Before you know it, we'll break up into uncontrollable laughter. We will laugh and cry with a kind of tears that never flowed on earth. We will wipe our eyes and try to stop, then break up again, crying and laughing and pointing at everybody. "We're here! They are here! I knew it was true, but not this true!"
“Christ will open our eyes to the great fountain of love in His heart for us, beyond all that we ever saw before. It will hit us that we, the church, are His bride. Not just individually, but together. United. One with each other, and one with Him. Suddenly, our joy is multiplied a millionfold.
“Most poignantly, when we're finally able to stop laughing and crying, the Lord Jesus will really wipe away all our tears. And then, we join hands around the banquet table, and ‘in that day [we] will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”’ (Isaiah 25:9).
“And the party is just beginning!”
- Joni Eareckson Tada in NIV Voices of Faith Devotional Bible
CREATION MUSEUM CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH HOLOGRAPHIC 'LUCY' EXHIBIT
To celebrate its fifth year of operation, the Creation Museum in Kentucky has set up a holographic exhibit of the famous "Lucy" discovery.
Answers in Genesis opened the museum on Memorial Day weekend in 2007, and to celebrate its anniversary this year it added a special holographic exhibit of the famous fossil as a permanent fixture.
Mark Looy, co-founder and chief communications officer for Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, told The Christian Post that "Lucy" was chosen as a focus due to proponents of evolution continually using it as evidence for their belief.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/creation-museum-celebrates-anniversary-with-holographic-lucy-exhibit-75782/
FOXWORTHY HOSTS 'BIBLICAL' NEW GAME SHOW
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will host "American Bible Challenge," a new show premiering this summer on GSN. CNN's Carol Costello reports...
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/25/foxworthy-hosts-biblical-new-game-show/
KANSAS GOVERNOR SIGNS SHARIA BAN INTO LAW
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a measure banning the use of Islamic law in the state. The new law doesn't specifically mention sharia law, but prohibits Kansas courts and government agencies from basing decisions on foreign legal codes.
Supporters of the measure, who cited cases around the country where judges or state agencies took Islamic law into account in their rulings -- say the new law reassures Kansas residents that courts will rely solely on state and US laws.
Muslim groups oppose the measure, arguing that it promotes discrimination and saying that it could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says a court challenge is likely.... Read this in full at
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/May/Kansas-Governor-Signs-Sharia-Ban-into-Law/
WASHINGTON REPORTS AT LEAST 70 ASSISTED SUICIDES
Washington state may already have surpassed Oregon as the leader in legal physician-assisted suicides. According to data released earlier this month by the state's Department of Health, at least 70 Washington residents died in 2011 as a result of taking lethal drug doses prescribed by doctors.
The total may have been higher, however; it is uncertain if five other people who died after receiving prescriptions of lethal medication did so after taking the drug. Another 19 people who received the prescription died without taking the medication.
Oregon set its record of 71 assisted suicides in 2011, and has recorded 596 since it became the first state to legalize assisted suicide in 1997. Washington, which legalized the practice in 2009, has reported at least 157 such deaths. As in Oregon, the three leading concerns expressed by Washington residents who received lethal prescriptions in 2011 were reduced ability "to engage in activities making life enjoyable" (89%), loss of autonomy (87%) and "loss of dignity" (79%).... Read this in full at
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37899
IRAQ CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SITES LIE NEGLECTED
"[Hira] has historical importance, because it is rich in antiquities, including especially the remains of churches, abbeys and palaces," said Shakir Abdulzahra Jabari, who led excavations there in 2007, 2009 and 2010. "But now, the antiquities have been neglected for a year, and they do not receive any attention, despite the fact that many Western countries are interested in Hira's history as the main gateway of Christianity into Iraq." .... Read this in full at
http://wwrn.org/articles/37362/
SEEK AND YE SHALL BE SURPRISED
“I almost said no to a miracle.
“A couple who had just started attending National Community Church requested a meeting, and I almost denied the request because they said they wanted to talk about church government. I love talking about the mission and vision of the church. Church government? Not as much! Plus, I was fighting a book deadline, so I didn't have much margin in my schedule. So I almost said no, and if I had, I would have missed out on a miracle.
“After answering nearly ninety minutes worth of questions, they ended by asking me about our vision. I had so much pent-up passion after talking about policies and protocols that I just let it rip. I shared our vision of ... turning our coffeehouse on Capitol Hill into a chain of coffeehouses, with all the net profits reinvested in missions. I talked about launching our first international campus ... and our vision of launching multi-site campuses in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the greater Washington area. Then the meeting came to a rather abrupt and awkward ending. They said they wanted to invest in National Community Church, but they didn't say how or how much. They left, and I was left scratching my head.
“I wasn't sure anything would come of that meeting, but a few weeks later I received one of the most unforgettable phone calls of my life. ‘Pastor Mark, we wanted to follow up on our meeting and let you know that we want to give a gift to National Community Church.’ My mind immediately started racing.
“‘We want to give a gift, and there are no strings attached. But before I tell you how much we're going to give, I want you to know why we're giving it. We're giving this gift because you have vision beyond your resources.’
“Those four words, vision beyond your resources, have become a mantra for the ministry of National Community Church. We refuse to let our budget determine our vision. That left-brained approach is a wrong-brained approach because it's based on our limited resources rather than on God's unlimited provision. Faith is allowing your God-given vision to determine your budget. That certainly does not mean you practice poor financial stewardship, spend beyond your means, and accumulate a huge debt load. It does mean that you take a step of faith when God gives you a vision because you trust that the One who gave you the vision is going to make provision. And for the record, if the vision is from God, it will most definitely be beyond your means.
“Having vision beyond your resources is synonymous with dreaming big. And it may feel like you're setting yourself up for failure, but you're actually setting God up for a miracle. How God performs the miracle is His job.
“‘We want to give the church $3 million dollars.’ I was speechless. It was one of those holy moments when time stands still. I heard it, but I could hardly believe it. I was blindsided by the blessing. God's provision came out of nowhere.
“It's not our man-made plans that move the Almighty; the Almighty is moved by big dreams and bold prayers. In the awkward silence of my speechlessness, I heard the still small voice of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit hit the rewind button and reminded me of a prayer circle that I had drawn four years before.”
- Mark Batterson in The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
THE BIBLE: GOD'S STORY, NOT GOD'S TEXTBOOK
by Subby Szterszky
When I was 12, I made a deal with God.
Being 12 and not yet a Christian, I didn't realize how misguided, even foolish, such a proposition was. Nevertheless . . .
My mother was gravely ill at the time, fighting for her life following complications from two major surgeries nine days apart. I pleaded with God to spare my mom's life the best way I knew how, and when He did, I decided to return the favour by reading the Bible cover to cover.
It started out great. Each bedtime, the book of Genesis would open up its treasury of wondrous stories: the creation, the fall, the flood, the adventures of Abraham and his descendants, culminating in the rags-to-riches tale of Joseph in Egypt.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=2009
CHRISTIAN VILLAGES ATTEMPT TO REVIVE LANGUAGE JESUS SPOKE
A number of centuries after it disappeared from the Middle East region, efforts are being made to revive the ancient Aramaic language that many believe Jesus spoke.
The Palestinian village of Beit Jala, which is close to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is one of two villages where elders are trying to teach the language to young children hoping they will take it up.
The other village is the Arab-Israeli community of Jish, where Christ once lived and preached – there children in elementary school are being taught Aramaic. The village is of the Maronite Christian community, which is one of the few that still chant prayers in Aramaic, though not many understand the meaning of the words.
"We want to speak the language that Jesus spoke," says Carla Hadd, a 10-year-old Jish girl studying the language.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-villages-attempt-to-revive-language-jesus-spoke-75666/
ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITH TEAM ISRAEL
Israel is sending a team to the World Baseball Classic (http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/) for the first time. A bunch of major leaguers could qualify to represent the Jewish state.... Read this in full at
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/on-the-ground-floor-with-team-israel/
EXPERT: AMERICAN MISUNDERSTANDINGS ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AFFECT EFFORTS ABROAD
A former director of the State Department's Office of Religious Freedom believes misunderstandings regarding religious liberty in America have made it hard to advance religious liberty abroad.
"The United States is required by law to advance religious freedom in its foreign policy. It has been required to do that since 1998," said Dr. Thomas F. Farr, referring to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. "By and large we have done very poorly and there are many reasons for that. One of them is we are so confused about the meaning and reach of religious liberty."
Farr, who was among many speakers at the 2012 National Religious Freedom Conference on Thursday, feels that over the past half-century a series of court decisions have distorted the concept of religious liberty that the United States was founded on.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/expert-american-misunderstandings-on-religious-liberty-affect-efforts-abroad-75496/
CONSIDER
“Surrender the thing you fear into the hands of God. Turn it right over to God and ask Him to solve it with you. Fear is keeping things in your own hands; faith is turning them over into the hands of God.”
- E. Stanley Jones
VERSE TO PONDER
“Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.”
- James 1:19 (CEB)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: GRACIOUS SPIRIT, HOLY GHOST
Words: Christopher Wordsworth, 1862
Music: Friedrich Filitz, 1847
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Taught by Thee we covet most
Of Thy gifts of Pentecost
Holy, heavenly Love.
Faith, that mountains could remove,
Tongues of earth or heaven above,
Knowledge—all things—empty prove,
Without heavenly Love.
Though I as a martyr bleed,
Give my goods the poor to feed,
All is vain—if Love I need;
Therefore, give us Love.
Love is kind, and suffers long
Love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
Love than death itself more strong;
Therefore, give us Love.
Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day,
Love will ever with us stay;
Therefore, give us Love.
Faith will vanish into sight;
Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright;
Therefore, give us Love.
Faith and Hope and Love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;
But the greatest of the three,
And the best, is Love.
From the overshadowing
Of Thy gold and silver wing
Shed on us, who to Thee sing,
Holy, heavenly Love.
>from NetHymnal at
http://nethymnal.org/htm/g/r/gracspir.htm
ON PRAYER
“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is- and nothing more.”
- Robert McCheyne
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.
The Complete Gift Solution
http://www.FranksWorldOfGifts.com
Books, Music & More!
http://www.ChristianConnectionBooks.com
Get your domain name here!
http://www.GoGlobalDomains.com
Up to 50 Free Penny Auction Bids
I'm giving away up to 50 free bids to use in my penny auction site. I will be giving away TONS of free bids for you to start bidding in our exciting Penny Auctions. Register a Free account today to lock in your spot.
http://www.fdcoleman.zeekler.com/splash/
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Clouds that look like things
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9287627/Clouds-That-Look-Like-Things-a-new-book-from-the-Cloud-Appreciation-Society.html?frame=2229050/
3D sidewalk chalk art
http://www.nickcannon.com/post/insane-sidewalk-chalk-art/
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.)
I've had amnesia for as long as I can remember.
Frank Coleman, Editor
frank@frankcoleman.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.
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For week of June 3, 2012
Issue 410
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.
Today's issue is going out to 2,142 weekly subscribers. Thank you in advance for forwarding this issue to friends, family and associates! To have a friend start their own Free subscription to CONNECTIONS, please have them visit:http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/page33.html
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“But the LORD’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him. And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant and remember to keep his commands.”
- Psalm 103:17-18 (CEB)
CONSIDER
“You are the only one who can keep you from becoming the person God wants you to be.”
- Neil Anderson
BATTLEFIELD CHAPLAIN’S WAR UNFOLDED ON MANY FRONTS
Darren Turner insisted on going to war, even though the Army usually reserves desk jobs at home for new chaplains like him.
Turner was young and green, enthusiastic about taking God to the battlefield. The Army captain had learned that people in pain are often wide-open to inviting God into their lives.
Jesus always ran to crises. Turner was going to do the same.
He’d enrolled in seminary in 2004 at Regent University in Virginia, founded by evangelist Pat Robertson. And early in his spiritual journey, he was inspired by Christian writer John Eldredge, who suggests that American men have abandoned the stuff of heroic dreams, aided by a Christianity that tells them to be "nice guys."
God, says Eldredge, designed men to be daring, even dangerous.
Chaplain Turner’s war would unfold on many fronts. He would be a soldier on the battlefield. A counselor behind closed doors. He was a friend, even a father, to his men.
And when his 15-month tour was over, Turner returned home to face all the problems he had counseled his soldiers about: anger, depression, stress and – most important for him – preserving relationships with loved ones.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/26/battlefield-chaplains-war-unfolded-on-many-fronts/
DECORATION DAY
by Benjamin J. Dueholm
As a child in Wisconsin, I looked forward to Memorial Day for the family reunions. At full sail, with 20-odd aunts and uncles and all their kids, this became a considerable event, complete with dirt-bike riding, beer-fueled volleyball and lots of laughter.
Eventually I came to understand that Memorial Day is related to military service. My grandfather was a tail-gunner during World War II; he was shot down over the Aleutian Islands and again over German-occupied Europe. He was taken prisoner the second time and escaped the camp, crossing Allied lines a month before V-E Day.
These stories, which I knew only in their outlines, thrilled my boyish sense of adventure and swelled my sense of family pride (though my grandfather once got in trouble for giving my brother his service revolver, unloaded, to play with in lieu of a toy gun). Only later did I come to understand the more difficult meaning of Memorial Day.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2012-05/decoration-day
VOWS AND VOW BREAKING (AND A SON’S LETTER TO AN UNFAITHFUL FATHER)
by Clare De Graaf
“As a divorced person, I feel like I’m a second class citizen in my church and around my Christian friends. Why is the church so tough on divorce? It’s not the unpardonable sin, is it?”
“You’re right”, I tell them. “Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin and Christians don’t always handle those who’ve been divorced well and I’m sorry about that. However, there are some very human, and also some very biblical reasons why divorce gets both God’s and the church’s attention, more than many other sins. And, it has to do with vow breaking.” .... Read this in full at
http://www.claredegraaf.com/2012/05/28/vows-and-vow-breaking-and-a-son%e2%80%99s-letter-to-an-unfaithful-father/
MOTORCYCLISTS REACH REMOTE VILLAGES FOR CHRIST
Motorcycle Sunday School Mission (MSSM) is looking for Canadian groups to sponsor Sunday schools in hard-to-reach African regions.
Josiah Frey of MSSM says they use locally-trained circuit riders to "go into remote villages and disciple people in places where there no churches, no pastor, no real spiritual foundation."
These include remote bush areas of Malawi, Zambia and Cameroon that are beyond the reach of traditional outreach methods, due to a lack of roads and bridges, or due to extreme weather conditions during certain times of the year.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=2010
JOSH MCDOWELL LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO FIGHT PORN, 'CHURCH'S NO. 1 THREAT'
Apologist and author Josh McDowell has launched http://Just1ClickAway.org, a new website to raise awareness about online pornography which he says is a problem big enough to cause the downfall of the church.
"The downfall of the church will not come from a lack of apologetic teaching; it will come from disintegration of the families in the church," says a video posted on the website.
"The greatest threat to the cause of Christ is pervasive sexuality and pornography," McDowell, known as an articulate speaker, said in a statement. "Today we have, by and large, lost control of the controls because an intrusive immorality is just one click away from our children. With just one keystroke on a smartphone, iPad, or laptop, a child can open up some of the worst pornography and sexually graphic content you can imagine. There's never been such access in history. " .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/josh-mcdowell-launches-website-to-fight-porn-churchs-no-1-threat-75584/
CHRISTIANS: BE ON THE INTERNET, NOT OF IT
by Albert Mohler
The Mets might not be selling out Citi Field, but the Orthodox Jews did. Recently, more than 40,000 Orthodox Jewish men and boys filled the stadium for a gathering intended to consider the dangers of the Internet - dangers to their souls.
That gathering is just one indicator of the concerns many people have about the Internet. Like the Orthodox Jews at Citi Field, most evangelical Christians see real and present dangers on the Internet, ranging from pornography to a loss of authentic communication and human relatedness. Thanks to the Internet, a toxic dump of pornography is just a click away, destroying lives and souls. Even for those who resist and escape pornography, the Internet has tempted many people to substitute online relationships and conversations for the old fashioned kind - face-to-face.
The Internet offers endless chatter and distraction. It sometimes seems that the entire population is suffering from a shared case of attention deficit syndrome. On the Web, irresponsible voices are just as accessible as trustworthy voices. Often, it seems that the voices of reason and truth are drowned out by the swarm of the reckless, the vulgar, and the ridiculous.
At the same time, the Internet has been one of the greatest gifts to the church, offering unprecedented opportunities to communicate, share content, establish contact, and deliver our message.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/is-the-internet-the-enemy-of-faith/2012/05/25/gJQAhH8KqU_blog.html
THE $10 EVANGELISM PROJECT
by Mark Coppenger
When planting a church on Chicago's North Shore, we hosted a variety of short-term mission teams who joined us in a range of outreach efforts, all with a Gospel witness -- from door-to-door surveys to concerts in the park to bottled water handouts along pedestrian and bike paths.
One approach we used repeatedly involved cash handouts to the volunteers. We'd give them $5 or $10 and send them into the community to buy things and to strike up spiritual conversations in the process. They wouldn't be interrupting business but, rather, piggybacking on it.
The results were gratifying. It gave our workers focus and accountability, knowing we'd all report back in short order. It planted Gospel seeds and surfaced prospects. And despite what you might think, it didn't cost that much when compared to other projects, where we rented generators and sound systems, printed special T-shirts, and such.
I'll let two of the students speak for themselves.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=37896
PLAN NOW FOR THE OLYMPICS
The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games is on Friday, July 27, 2012.
http://www.london2012.com/
http://www.nbcolympics.com/
I’M DONE WITH LIVING LIKE A CHRISTIAN
by Kurt Williams
I’m done serving the poor. I’m done going the extra mile. I’m done being a husband who strives to love his wife as Christ loves the church. I’m done visiting the sick. I’m done opening up my life to Christian community. I’m done loving my neighbor. I’m done living with integrity. I’m done loving my enemies. I’m done giving finances to global causes. I’m done opposing violence. I’m done speaking out against hatred. I’m done standing up for the marginalized.
I’m D-O-N-E done…because now I realize that doing all these things won’t change the world ... unless God first changes me.... Read this in full at
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thepangeablog/2011/07/25/i%E2%80%99m-done-with-living-like-a-christian/
ANCIENT INSCRIPTION FOUND ON SITE OF BIBLICAL CITY
An archaeological survey led by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has discovered a bilingual inscription at the ancient site of Tel Gezer, Israel.
Gezer, a biblical city, was situated on the border between the Israelite and Philistine territories guarding the route to Jerusalem. The city was given as a dowry to Pharaoh's daughter, who married King Solomon. Gezer is well known in the later Maccabean period for its boundary stones with inscriptions in both Hebrew and Greek.
In addition to finding the new inscription during the week of May 21, Southwestern's survey team has rediscovered an inscription that had been lost to the archaeological community for more than a century.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37929
VERSE TO PONDER
“But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.”
- Acts 20:24 (CEB)
CONSIDER
“Make a list of 25 things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.”
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
YOU'RE INVITED TO A HEAVENLY PARTY
“Before we realize it, we shall find ourselves in the embrace of our Savior at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Heaven will have arrived. The Lord's overcoming of the world will be a lifting of the curtain of our five senses.
“Now, enjoy an unseen divine reality. Rev up your heart and picture yourself taking a seat at the Wedding Supper. As you pull up a chair to the banquet table, take a look at what's on the menu from Isaiah 25:6: ‘On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines.’
“I get a charge just thinking about it! I wonder who will sit next to me, or across from me. I glance down the table and there's my friend, Verna Estes, mother of seven, swapping baby stories with Susanna Wesley, mother of seventeen. There's Moses toasting Martin Luther. St. Augustine giving a bear hug to that jungle missionary.
“Then I'll look up, and walking toward me will be Dad. And Mother. Before you know it, we'll break up into uncontrollable laughter. We will laugh and cry with a kind of tears that never flowed on earth. We will wipe our eyes and try to stop, then break up again, crying and laughing and pointing at everybody. "We're here! They are here! I knew it was true, but not this true!"
“Christ will open our eyes to the great fountain of love in His heart for us, beyond all that we ever saw before. It will hit us that we, the church, are His bride. Not just individually, but together. United. One with each other, and one with Him. Suddenly, our joy is multiplied a millionfold.
“Most poignantly, when we're finally able to stop laughing and crying, the Lord Jesus will really wipe away all our tears. And then, we join hands around the banquet table, and ‘in that day [we] will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”’ (Isaiah 25:9).
“And the party is just beginning!”
- Joni Eareckson Tada in NIV Voices of Faith Devotional Bible
CREATION MUSEUM CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH HOLOGRAPHIC 'LUCY' EXHIBIT
To celebrate its fifth year of operation, the Creation Museum in Kentucky has set up a holographic exhibit of the famous "Lucy" discovery.
Answers in Genesis opened the museum on Memorial Day weekend in 2007, and to celebrate its anniversary this year it added a special holographic exhibit of the famous fossil as a permanent fixture.
Mark Looy, co-founder and chief communications officer for Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, told The Christian Post that "Lucy" was chosen as a focus due to proponents of evolution continually using it as evidence for their belief.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/creation-museum-celebrates-anniversary-with-holographic-lucy-exhibit-75782/
FOXWORTHY HOSTS 'BIBLICAL' NEW GAME SHOW
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will host "American Bible Challenge," a new show premiering this summer on GSN. CNN's Carol Costello reports...
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/25/foxworthy-hosts-biblical-new-game-show/
KANSAS GOVERNOR SIGNS SHARIA BAN INTO LAW
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a measure banning the use of Islamic law in the state. The new law doesn't specifically mention sharia law, but prohibits Kansas courts and government agencies from basing decisions on foreign legal codes.
Supporters of the measure, who cited cases around the country where judges or state agencies took Islamic law into account in their rulings -- say the new law reassures Kansas residents that courts will rely solely on state and US laws.
Muslim groups oppose the measure, arguing that it promotes discrimination and saying that it could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says a court challenge is likely.... Read this in full at
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/May/Kansas-Governor-Signs-Sharia-Ban-into-Law/
WASHINGTON REPORTS AT LEAST 70 ASSISTED SUICIDES
Washington state may already have surpassed Oregon as the leader in legal physician-assisted suicides. According to data released earlier this month by the state's Department of Health, at least 70 Washington residents died in 2011 as a result of taking lethal drug doses prescribed by doctors.
The total may have been higher, however; it is uncertain if five other people who died after receiving prescriptions of lethal medication did so after taking the drug. Another 19 people who received the prescription died without taking the medication.
Oregon set its record of 71 assisted suicides in 2011, and has recorded 596 since it became the first state to legalize assisted suicide in 1997. Washington, which legalized the practice in 2009, has reported at least 157 such deaths. As in Oregon, the three leading concerns expressed by Washington residents who received lethal prescriptions in 2011 were reduced ability "to engage in activities making life enjoyable" (89%), loss of autonomy (87%) and "loss of dignity" (79%).... Read this in full at
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37899
IRAQ CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SITES LIE NEGLECTED
"[Hira] has historical importance, because it is rich in antiquities, including especially the remains of churches, abbeys and palaces," said Shakir Abdulzahra Jabari, who led excavations there in 2007, 2009 and 2010. "But now, the antiquities have been neglected for a year, and they do not receive any attention, despite the fact that many Western countries are interested in Hira's history as the main gateway of Christianity into Iraq." .... Read this in full at
http://wwrn.org/articles/37362/
SEEK AND YE SHALL BE SURPRISED
“I almost said no to a miracle.
“A couple who had just started attending National Community Church requested a meeting, and I almost denied the request because they said they wanted to talk about church government. I love talking about the mission and vision of the church. Church government? Not as much! Plus, I was fighting a book deadline, so I didn't have much margin in my schedule. So I almost said no, and if I had, I would have missed out on a miracle.
“After answering nearly ninety minutes worth of questions, they ended by asking me about our vision. I had so much pent-up passion after talking about policies and protocols that I just let it rip. I shared our vision of ... turning our coffeehouse on Capitol Hill into a chain of coffeehouses, with all the net profits reinvested in missions. I talked about launching our first international campus ... and our vision of launching multi-site campuses in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the greater Washington area. Then the meeting came to a rather abrupt and awkward ending. They said they wanted to invest in National Community Church, but they didn't say how or how much. They left, and I was left scratching my head.
“I wasn't sure anything would come of that meeting, but a few weeks later I received one of the most unforgettable phone calls of my life. ‘Pastor Mark, we wanted to follow up on our meeting and let you know that we want to give a gift to National Community Church.’ My mind immediately started racing.
“‘We want to give a gift, and there are no strings attached. But before I tell you how much we're going to give, I want you to know why we're giving it. We're giving this gift because you have vision beyond your resources.’
“Those four words, vision beyond your resources, have become a mantra for the ministry of National Community Church. We refuse to let our budget determine our vision. That left-brained approach is a wrong-brained approach because it's based on our limited resources rather than on God's unlimited provision. Faith is allowing your God-given vision to determine your budget. That certainly does not mean you practice poor financial stewardship, spend beyond your means, and accumulate a huge debt load. It does mean that you take a step of faith when God gives you a vision because you trust that the One who gave you the vision is going to make provision. And for the record, if the vision is from God, it will most definitely be beyond your means.
“Having vision beyond your resources is synonymous with dreaming big. And it may feel like you're setting yourself up for failure, but you're actually setting God up for a miracle. How God performs the miracle is His job.
“‘We want to give the church $3 million dollars.’ I was speechless. It was one of those holy moments when time stands still. I heard it, but I could hardly believe it. I was blindsided by the blessing. God's provision came out of nowhere.
“It's not our man-made plans that move the Almighty; the Almighty is moved by big dreams and bold prayers. In the awkward silence of my speechlessness, I heard the still small voice of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit hit the rewind button and reminded me of a prayer circle that I had drawn four years before.”
- Mark Batterson in The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
THE BIBLE: GOD'S STORY, NOT GOD'S TEXTBOOK
by Subby Szterszky
When I was 12, I made a deal with God.
Being 12 and not yet a Christian, I didn't realize how misguided, even foolish, such a proposition was. Nevertheless . . .
My mother was gravely ill at the time, fighting for her life following complications from two major surgeries nine days apart. I pleaded with God to spare my mom's life the best way I knew how, and when He did, I decided to return the favour by reading the Bible cover to cover.
It started out great. Each bedtime, the book of Genesis would open up its treasury of wondrous stories: the creation, the fall, the flood, the adventures of Abraham and his descendants, culminating in the rags-to-riches tale of Joseph in Egypt.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=2009
CHRISTIAN VILLAGES ATTEMPT TO REVIVE LANGUAGE JESUS SPOKE
A number of centuries after it disappeared from the Middle East region, efforts are being made to revive the ancient Aramaic language that many believe Jesus spoke.
The Palestinian village of Beit Jala, which is close to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is one of two villages where elders are trying to teach the language to young children hoping they will take it up.
The other village is the Arab-Israeli community of Jish, where Christ once lived and preached – there children in elementary school are being taught Aramaic. The village is of the Maronite Christian community, which is one of the few that still chant prayers in Aramaic, though not many understand the meaning of the words.
"We want to speak the language that Jesus spoke," says Carla Hadd, a 10-year-old Jish girl studying the language.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-villages-attempt-to-revive-language-jesus-spoke-75666/
ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITH TEAM ISRAEL
Israel is sending a team to the World Baseball Classic (http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/) for the first time. A bunch of major leaguers could qualify to represent the Jewish state.... Read this in full at
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/on-the-ground-floor-with-team-israel/
EXPERT: AMERICAN MISUNDERSTANDINGS ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AFFECT EFFORTS ABROAD
A former director of the State Department's Office of Religious Freedom believes misunderstandings regarding religious liberty in America have made it hard to advance religious liberty abroad.
"The United States is required by law to advance religious freedom in its foreign policy. It has been required to do that since 1998," said Dr. Thomas F. Farr, referring to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. "By and large we have done very poorly and there are many reasons for that. One of them is we are so confused about the meaning and reach of religious liberty."
Farr, who was among many speakers at the 2012 National Religious Freedom Conference on Thursday, feels that over the past half-century a series of court decisions have distorted the concept of religious liberty that the United States was founded on.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/expert-american-misunderstandings-on-religious-liberty-affect-efforts-abroad-75496/
CONSIDER
“Surrender the thing you fear into the hands of God. Turn it right over to God and ask Him to solve it with you. Fear is keeping things in your own hands; faith is turning them over into the hands of God.”
- E. Stanley Jones
VERSE TO PONDER
“Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.”
- James 1:19 (CEB)
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: GRACIOUS SPIRIT, HOLY GHOST
Words: Christopher Wordsworth, 1862
Music: Friedrich Filitz, 1847
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Taught by Thee we covet most
Of Thy gifts of Pentecost
Holy, heavenly Love.
Faith, that mountains could remove,
Tongues of earth or heaven above,
Knowledge—all things—empty prove,
Without heavenly Love.
Though I as a martyr bleed,
Give my goods the poor to feed,
All is vain—if Love I need;
Therefore, give us Love.
Love is kind, and suffers long
Love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
Love than death itself more strong;
Therefore, give us Love.
Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day,
Love will ever with us stay;
Therefore, give us Love.
Faith will vanish into sight;
Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright;
Therefore, give us Love.
Faith and Hope and Love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;
But the greatest of the three,
And the best, is Love.
From the overshadowing
Of Thy gold and silver wing
Shed on us, who to Thee sing,
Holy, heavenly Love.
>from NetHymnal at
http://nethymnal.org/htm/g/r/gracspir.htm
ON PRAYER
“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is- and nothing more.”
- Robert McCheyne
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.
The Complete Gift Solution
http://www.FranksWorldOfGifts.com
Books, Music & More!
http://www.ChristianConnectionBooks.com
Get your domain name here!
http://www.GoGlobalDomains.com
Up to 50 Free Penny Auction Bids
I'm giving away up to 50 free bids to use in my penny auction site. I will be giving away TONS of free bids for you to start bidding in our exciting Penny Auctions. Register a Free account today to lock in your spot.
http://www.fdcoleman.zeekler.com/splash/
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.
Clouds that look like things
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9287627/Clouds-That-Look-Like-Things-a-new-book-from-the-Cloud-Appreciation-Society.html?frame=2229050/
3D sidewalk chalk art
http://www.nickcannon.com/post/insane-sidewalk-chalk-art/
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.)
I've had amnesia for as long as I can remember.
Frank Coleman, Editor
frank@frankcoleman.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.
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