For week of October 2, 2011
Issue 376
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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“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10
CONSIDER
"We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks of changing the world, but where, oh where, are those who think of changing themselves?"
Richard Foster
6 REASONS YOUNG CHRISTIANS LEAVE CHURCH
Nearly three out of every five young Christians disconnect from their churches after the age of 15, but why? A new research study released by the Barna Group points to six reasons as to why young people aren't staying in their pews:
#1 – Churches seem overprotective.
#2 – Teens’ and twentysomethings’ experience of Christianity is shallow.
#3 – Churches come across as antagonistic to science.
#4 – Young Christians’ church experiences related to sexuality are often simplistic, judgmental.
#5 – They wrestle with the exclusive nature of Christianity.
#6 – The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt.
.... Read this in full at
http://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/528-six-reasons-young-christians-leave-church
REPORT SAYS TRENDS FOR US CHURCHES MOSTLY POINTING DOWN
American congregations have grown less healthy in the last decade, with fewer people in the pews and aging memberships, according to a new Hartford Seminary study.
But there are also "pockets of vitality," including an increase in minority congregations and a surge in election-related activities at evangelical congregations.
The findings coming from the new Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey are based on responses from more than 11,000 Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations in 2010 and more than 14,000 congregations in 2000.
In the first decade of the 21st century, the median worship attendance at a typical congregation decreased, from 130 to 108.
"It means we have a lot more smaller congregations," said David Roozen, author of the report, "A Decade of Change in American Congregations, 2000-2010," and director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-09/report-says-trends-us-churches-mostly-pointing-down
OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH
by Bill Ellis
Throughout many countries, October has been known as “Pastor Appreciation Month” for many years. It is the one month when most churches learn more about their pastor and realize why that pastor should be deeply appreciated every day of the year as well as during this one special month.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11090190.htm
Also see:
http://www.parsonage.org/cam/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/clergy/
[NOTE: My study of the scripture does not support the "office" of Pastor. The above is added for those that believe in it]
WORLD SERIES 2011
The World Series will begin Oct. 19
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_World_Series
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb
THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS ARE NOW SEARCHABLE ONLINE
In a perfect blending of 21st-century advances with the cutting-edge technology of an earlier age, starting this week internet users can, for the first time, use Google search and scanning technology to examine five manuscripts from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Google and the Israel Museum unveiled the project Sept. 26 in Jerusalem with the launch of a museum website that allows users to interact with the ancient texts in a way impossible just a few years ago.
"You have the capability with high-resolution definition to look at the scrolls in a comfortable setting - to enlarge them, to magnify them, to translate them into English and to search for words, phrases or verses that you want to find on your own," said James Snyder, director of the Israel Museum. "It really allows for your own interactive research with the material."
Made up of 30,000 fragments from 900 manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls are considered by many historians to be one of the most important archaeological finds ever made.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/google-makes-5-dead-sea-scrolls-searchable/
INSIGHTS INTO A COMING REVIVAL IN CANADA
by James Watt
I read an article on Christianity.ca by Grant Corriveau titled “Does God Care About National Boundaries?” He believes it is inappropriate to pray for a national revival for Canada.
If this thought had been addressed to Oswald Chambers of My Utmost for His Highest fame, he would have responded with pleasure and excitement, "Exactly how do such articles on behalf of national revival for Canada distress you?" For Chambers, opposition to his concepts did not distress him, but rather brought an exhilarating challenge!
So in this same spirit, I see Grant's uneasiness as an evidence of his sincerity, which demands a courteous and understanding response.
A while ago I again read The Covenant by James Michener, and how the Afrikaners used the Old Testament covenant as the basis of justifying their presence, goals and activity in South Africa. No doubt the majority of Evangelical believers would acknowledge that their application of these Scriptures on the basis of their understanding of covenant was misplaced.
But could we not see that perhaps the understanding of the New Covenant in Europe could also be misplaced by covenant believers of the past centuries – when promises to Israel in both Old and New Covenant have been taken from Israel and applied to the Church – in what is termed "Replacement Theology?" .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.ca/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=7560
IS YOUR WORK SACRED?
“We spend much of our time focused on what we consider to be the ideal type of work. But what if our occupation is less about what we want and more about what we're being asked to do? What if our work is more of a calling?
“[Our] calling emerges out of a context of close family friendship. In fact, the greatest vision comes out of great relationships. This calling is not simply about a job description. This is about understanding our essence to fulfill our destiny. Remember that when God revealed his plans to Moses, to free the thousands from slavery in Egypt, Moses responded by asking God, ‘Who am I?’ And God said to him, ‘You're with me’ [see Exodus 3:11]. That was all that mattered. It wasn't the specific tasks that God was asking Moses to do that mattered most of all (though those were important). What was most important was that Moses grasped that he was with God, in God. That he was part of the family. Whatever would come, God had his back.
“Our job description is equally simple. Be with the Father. Follow his lead. What matters most is not the specific job we do; it's whether we are following Jesus and doing the Father's will. All of our work is sacred work. The excellence of all our work speaks to who he is. And the extraordinary spirit of our work emerges anyplace we serve.”
Dave Gibbons in Xealots: Defying the Gravity of Normality
IN BOOK, CHAN COUNTERS BELL'S 'LOVE WINS'
Francis Chan, the popular author of "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God" who has waded into the controversy surrounding eternal punishment, says the conclusions of a book he has written make him sick.
With "Erasing Hell," co-written by Eternity Bible College associate professor Preston Sprinkle and published by David C. Cook, Chan engages the theological firestorm that has been brewing for months over the ideas of controversial pastor Rob Bell.
Bell, outgoing pastor of the nondenominational Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., discards major tenets of historical Christianity in his book, "Love Wins," including the necessity of professing faith in Christ in this life and the doctrines of eternal heaven and hell.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36199
UPDATE: ROB BELL TO MOVE TO L.A. AND LAUNCH A TOUR
Rob Bell has decided to leave Mars Hill Church, the Grandville, Michigan, megachurch he and his wife founded 12 years ago, to focus on a broader audience, the church announced today.
Flickering Pixels author Shane Hipps will take over for Bell during spring 2012 after Bell finishes his series on Acts in December.
Rob Bell told Mars Hill Sept. 25 that he will leave for Los Angeles to follow a “calling to share God's love” in new ways, WZZM reports from Grand Rapids. He will move with his family to California to continue writing books and speaking on national and international tours, but he will not start a new church, he said.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/rob-bell-leaves-mars-hill.html
TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES
by Clare De Graaf
Have you noticed that no one sins anymore? We now have issues. But I sinned/issued spectacularly (again) and I sensed this impression of God that I needed to share it with you.
I gossiped about another person. Gossip isn’t a lie – it’s truth inappropriately told. Nevertheless, the Bible calls it sin (II Cor. 12:20). I simply had no reason to pass on certain information about a private conversation I had with this person, other than to impress the small group, with whom I was teleconferencing. I made him to appear lazy and me clever – another sin, slander. (I Peter 2:1)
The root cause of my sin was/is pride, and it’s the spring board for the sin of gossip and slander. If you dig deep enough, you too will find that when you sin, there’s often another, more private sin at the root. It’s that root sin you and I have to get at, to have any chance at all “of getting on top” of our sin problem. The place to begin is repentance. I believe the Bible teaches there are four elements to true repentance: .... Read this in full at
http://www.claredegraaf.com/2011/09/26/truth-and-consequences-2/
CHRISTIANS LAUNCH 'DOING THE RIGHT THING' MOVEMENT
America is in what evangelical leader Chuck Colson is calling an "ethical mess" and it's time for Christians and the rest of the population to start "doing the right thing."
Tens of thousands of Christians from across the country tuned in to a live webcast Sept. 24 to witness the launch of the "Doing the Right Thing" movement (http://doingtherightthing.com/). The grassroots movement is being led by Colson, who believes an ethics revolution is "desperately needed."
Unfortunately, Christians and the majority of the American population have been afraid to speak up and have allowed the "cultural elite" to force them into silence, Colson said.
"The vast majority of people just listen to what a small group that run the culture talk about – the elite," the founder of Prison Fellowship said. "I think we're intimidated," he commented.
But, he stressed, "there is time to get a movement of people ... who aren't willing to sit in the spiral of silence but want to speak out and want to make a difference around them." .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-launch-doing-the-right-thing-movement-56457/
BIBLE EXHIBIT TELLS STORY OF GOD'S WORD IN CHINA
How did the Bible, which has changed millions of lives in China in recent years, reach this communist nation, and how was it translated, published and distributed? A month-long exhibition launched Sept. 28 in Washington DC answers these questions.
The exhibition titled, “The Word is the Truth: The Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Protestant Church in China,” was inaugurated at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. Wednesday, and covering the event was China’s official news agency, Xinhua.
In a recorded message, former US President Jimmy Carter addressed the 300 international and American Christian leaders at the event’s opening ceremony. The exhibition, he was quoted as saying, “not only helps us better understand the evolution of Christianity in China but also the development of Chinese society.” .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/bible-exhibit-tells-story-of-gods-word-in-china-56791/
COURAGEOUS MOVIE PORTRAYS A DIFFERENT KIND OF COURAGE
by Meg Korpi and Rusty Wright
The movie Courageous begins as a fast-paced police drama with plenty of heart-pounding action, and a spine-tingling surprise within the first three minutes. Good-natured banter and comic mishaps had us laughing, but the movie quickly reveals an introspective side that portends more than levity and brave guys in uniforms chasing bad guys in do-rags.
Indeed, Courageous tells a grounded, human story that focuses on the crucial role of fathers. It intertwines action, humor, pathos, male bonding, a couple of insightful women, and five complex main characters to portray ordinary men evolving into modern-day heroes who find the call to valor in their everyday lives.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11090161.htm
JUST TAKE THE WALK
“‘It's everything!’ I exclaimed. ‘It's people at the kids' school, it's my job... Life is throwing me nothing but curveballs.’ I took a breath and tried to calm myself as I explained further.
“‘I don't need to hit a home run. I could use just a basic single to right. But I can't get any decent pitches. There's nothing normal coming my way ... Life's throwin' me nothing but junk in the dirt!’ I was ranting, but I let her in for just a second.
“‘Then take the walk.’ Gina's voice was clear and firm. And startling. ‘What?’ It didn't register. ‘Take the walk. Stop swinging wildly at the junk. Just take the walk. Get to first base and see what happens next.’
“I sat in my chair thinking for a long time. As I thought, I realized Gina was right. I needed to adjust my perspective. Life had been throwing me garbage. Curveballs. Pitches in the dirt. Instead of flailing away trying to make contact, instead of arguing with the umpire or trying to force something unnatural — something perhaps from my former life — I quite simply needed to relax a bit and let some pitches go by. I started looking at the annoyances in my life and tried to see them differently.
“Ball one. I would let [my mother-in-law] do more for us. Yes, she did some things differently than we were used to, but the truth was, I could be clearer as to exactly how I wanted those things done. Perhaps we could find a middle ground.
“Ball two. My sister, Lynn, wanted to come and stay with us for several weeks... This would mean a change to our routines, a certain amount of lost privacy. But the kids loved their aunt and it would be nice to have the help.
“Ball three. The mommies at St. John. Those tireless, relentlessly helpful, and overly organized women I tried to avoid as I dropped my kids off at school... They weren't trying to run my life or change my life. They were simply trying to help. I would begin to let them.
“Ball four. I would get my family to church on Sunday. I was ready to admit that, despite my natural tendency to resist group worship, I did feel refreshed when I came home from church at St. John... I was actually learning to recognize Bible verses and it felt good. I decided to wade into those waters a bit deeper.”
Michael & Gina Spehn in The Color of Rain: How Two Families Found Faith, Hope, & Love in the Midst of Tragedy (A True Story)
'HATE' IS TOO BIG A WORD TO BE USED WITH SUCH LITTLE RESTRAINT
by Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family
We all know the old saying about falsely yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. It's a metaphor designed to explain that while free speech is protected in our country, speaking with reckless disregard for the truth and inciting panic is, at best, irresponsibly dangerous, and, at worst, beyond the covering of the First Amendment.
The phrase has its roots in a 1919 opinion by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, but there's a version of it growing increasingly common today: Falsely yelling "hate" in a crowded public square.
A recent New York Times story chronicled how some individuals and organizations eager to see same-sex marriage legalized have stopped trying to win others to their point of view through reasoned argument and have turned, instead, to emotional epithets as their main rhetorical tool.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/29/my-take-hate-is-too-big-a-word-to-be-used-with-such-little-restraint/
WHY ART SHOULD MATTER TO CHRISTIANS
by Melissa Kircher
Imagine a world without poetry, dance, song, comedy, film, architecture, painting, stories, symphonies, theater, or sculpture. Such a world would be bland. Art brings vibrance and beauty to our lives. Creativity is both a fully human and fully divine experience. It is an acknowledgement that something eternal and full of truth lies behind the temporal world in which we live. It focuses our eyes on the pain around us, the injustice in front of us, the joy abounding within us, and the pull we feel towards meaning and significance. Music moves us. Poetry connects us. Paintings shout at us. Dance energizes us. Art draws us back into the fold of humanity when we wander out full of pain, discouragement, and bitterness. It whispers, “You are not alone.”
In today’s society though, real art is slowly becoming less and less present. Our generation experiences art as a constant stream of marketing. Creativity is now harnessed to push product. When we only experience art in advertisements, websites, brands, and logos, we lose the invaluable ways that it helps us understand who we are and what life is all about.... Read this in full at
http://neuemagazine.com/blog/6-main-slideshow/1320-why-art-should-matter-to-christians
VERSE TO PONDER
“[The Lord says,] Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4
CONSIDER
“Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), "Christian Apologetics", in God in the Dock [1970], ed. Walter Hooper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1994, p. 101
PSYCHOLOGISTS DECIPHERING MYSTERIES OF MORAL BEHAVIOR
How do honesty, compassion, empathy, and other traits combine to create human character? That's what the first grants from The Character Project, a three-year, multi-million dollar program at Wake Forest University, aim to discover as psychology scholars around the world attempt to decipher the mysteries of character.
Twelve grants totaling nearly $2 million have been awarded to researchers looking for new insights into character. Two Wake Forest psychology professors, William Fleeson and Michael Furr oversaw the review process and the selection of the winning research proposals from 128 applicants. The research will complement Fleeson's and Furr's pioneering work on the nature of personality traits.
"The question of what drives and determines moral behavior has occupied thinkers for thousands of years, originally in the field of philosophy and relatively recently in psychology," Fleeson said. "This project will increase the amount of scholarly work by psychologists on individual differences in moral behavior and shed important light on moral character." .... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/psychologists_decihphering_mysteries_of_moral_behavior/
FAITH IS HOLDING SURVIVOR CONTESTANT BACK
by Austin Carty
Last night, while watching Survivor, I felt I was looking in a mirror. I had this same experience last season, too. Meanwhile, I would be shocked if it didn't happen to me in a future season, as well. And, no, I don't say this simply because I was once on the show and now, watching it years later, I find myself reliving the past. Instead, I am referring to the dizzying display of naiveté shown last night by Brandon Hantz (nephew of famous Survivor villain Russell Hantz).
Last night, Hantz suffered a veritable mental and emotional breakdown. Which is fine; having played the game before, I know firsthand how mentally and emotionally draining the contest can be. But this is not what makes me relate to young Hantz; rather, I relate to him because of why he suffered this breakdown: His faith. .... Read this in full at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/austin-carty/brandon-hantz-faith_b_976149.html
HOW MEN SHOULD DRESS FOR EVERY OCCASION
"Many men think it no longer matters how they dress, but it most definitely does," says Glen R. Sondag, a Chicago investment advisor. "Whether we like it or not, we are often judged by what the wear -- to work, at church, at social events, and numerous other outings. It never hurts to look your best. When you dress properly it shows respect for yourself and others," says Sondag.
The problem, Sondag acknowledges, is that men get little guidance from each other and often resist advice from their girlfriends or wives. They don't read or trust articles on the latest fashions for men, and vague terms such as "business casual" leave them confused.
Sondag, known as a sharp dresser ever since his youth, realized he could help out. He has written Anything Other Than Naked (http://anythingotherthannaked.com/), a practical guide for men on how to dress properly for every occasion. Among the 45 Tips for Dressing Well are:
* When tied, your necktie should be no shorter than the top of your belt buckle and no longer than the bottom.
* Never secure the bottom button on a suit jacket, but always button the one above it.
* Your socks should be the same color as your trousers (or darker).
* Your shoes should be darker than your suit.
.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2181517879.html
JESUS OR JAIL? ALABAMA TOWN OFFERS OPTIONS FOR SERVING TIME
If you're charged with a nonviolent crime in one Alabama town, you might just have the chance to pray it all away.
Under a new program called Operation ROC (Restore Our Community), local judges in Bay Minette, Alabama, will give those found guilty of misdemeanors the choice of serving out their time in jail, paying a fine or attending church each Sunday for a year.... Read this in full at
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/27/jesus-or-jail-alabama-town-offers-options-for-serving-time/
Update: Church/jail sentencing program under review
http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-09/update-churchjail-sentencing-program-under-review
STUDY OF RELIGIOUSLY-MEDIATED SEXUAL ORIENTATION CHANGE PUBLISHED IN RESPECTED SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
Many professional voices proclaim that it is impossible to change homosexual orientation, and that the attempt to change is commonly and inherently harmful. Psychologists Stanton L. Jones (Wheaton College, IL) and Mark A. Yarhouse (Regent University) have just published in the respected, peer-reviewed Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy the final results of their longitudinal study of individuals seeking sexual orientation change through involvement in a variety of Christian ministries affiliated with Exodus International. The results show change to be possible for some, and the attempt not harmful on average. These results stand in tension with the supposed professional consensus; more information is available at http://www.exgaystudy.org.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9545517868.html
IRD PRAISES REAUTHORIZATION OF US RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMMISSION
Passage of legislation by the US Congress to continue funding the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) (http://uscirf.gov/) will equip American church members and other concerned citizens with an important tool in their advocacy for persecuted people globally, according to an official with the Institute on Religion & Democracy. IRD Religious Liberty Director Faith J.H. McDonnell says that Christians and other religious minorities in Sudan, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, and elsewhere are commonly denied their right to freedom of worship and belief.
The independent US government commission was created by the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998. Threatened when a US senator placed an anonymous hold on legislation reauthorizing the USCIRF, it was set to expire September 30.... Read this in full at
http://www.theird.org/page.aspx?pid=2078
IN BROOKLYN, HORN LESSONS BY A RABBI RING OUT
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Meisner is an expert on the shofar, the ram’s horn whose wailing, shivering sounds Jews will hear in synagogues across the world on Rosh Hashana, the two-day holiday that began at sundown Wednesday. Though he no longer blows the shofar at formal services, he has taught scores of shofar blowers who do, especially in the heavily Hasidic neighborhood of Borough Park, where he lives.
.... Read this in full at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/nyregion/rabbi-levi-meisner-gives-brooklyn-shofar-lessons.html?_r=1
100,000 CHRISTIANS HAVE LEFT EGYPT SINCE MARCH
In a pattern that follows the exodus of Christians from several Middle Eastern countries, a new report says that at least 100,000 Coptic believers have left Egypt in recent months, especially since the uprising which resulted in the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
According to Mary Abdelmassih, writing for www.aina.org - the Assyrian International News Agency -- the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations (EUHRO) has published a report on emigration of Christians from Egypt, saying that nearly 100,000 Christians have emigrated since March 2011.
The report, which was sent to the Egyptian cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), warned that this emigration has been prompted by the escalating intimidation and attacks on Christians by Islamists.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11090177.htm
PROFILING CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE SUFFERED UNDER CHINESE COMMUNISM
by David Aikman
Every so often, you come across a narrative of courage under suffering that is so well reported, so restrained and sensitive in its intelligence, that you are momentarily altered by the experience. Alexander Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich had that effect upon millions, both Russians and foreigners, in 1962. The publication of Solzhenitsyn's novels — like Cancer Ward and The First Circle, for which the Russian writer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature — even contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
It is far too early to guess whether Liao Yiwu's latest book, God Is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China (HarperOne), will have any long-term impact on the author's homeland. But readers will surely come away inspired by the landmark account of Chinese Christians living under the vicious political campaigns of the Mao era. (No stranger himself to political persecution, Liao was imprisoned during the government's post-Tiananmen Square crackdown. He described his prison experience in Testimonials, an expanded version of which has just been published in German.) .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/october/christians-suffering-china-communism.html
BBC UNDER FIRE FOR 'WRITING OUT CHRISTIANITY'
The BBC has come under strong criticism after reports appeared in the media stating that it is encouraging the use of the secular date references Common Era and Before Common Era, over Anno Domini and Before Christ.
Anger has grown following a recent article by Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens, who accused the British broadcaster of bowing to political correctness and attempting to “write Christianity out of our culture” after University Challenge presenter Jeremy Paxman used CE rather than AD in reference to a date.
The BBC clarified in a statement on Saturday that it does not insist on the use of the CE and BCE terms.
“The BBC has not issued guidance on the dates system. Both AD and BC, and CE and BCE are widely accepted dates systems and the decision on which term to use lies with individual production and editorial teams,” it said.
James Naughtie, the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today program, told The Telegraph he was not aware of any change.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/bbc-under-fire-for-writing-out-christianity-56484/
I HAVE SISTINE CHAPEL PAINTED IN MY HOME
An apartment-dweller in England has transformed his tiny flat into a replica of the Sistine Chapel — after being inspired by a book about the Vatican.
Retired decorator Robert Burns has plastered his home in murals that mirror Michelangelo's awe-inspiring images in the home of Catholicism in Rome.
The 64-year-old decided to try his hand at the intricate paintings after buying the book about the Holy City. And he said he was stunned to find he was better with a paint brush than he previously realized.... Read this in full at
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3841841/Council-tenant-I-have-Sistine-Chapel-painted-in-my-home.html
TOP 10 SIGNS YOUR HOSPITAL IS MAKING COST-SAVINGS CUTS
by Dave Tippett
10. They encourage your Facebook friends to 'like' one of your surgery options
9. Rescue helicopter also does traffic reports for local radio station
8. Paper or plastic colostomy bags
7. Discount drug bins on every floor
6. Etch-a-Sketch X-Rays
5. Guy from Office Depot now stapling up surgery patients
4. Pull start heart-lung machines
3. Shaking bag of chicken bones at wound now considered a 2nd opinion
2. Nurse pull cord replaced with friend request on their Facebook page
1. Coin-Operated I.V.s
Copyright 2011 Dave Tippett (djtipp@aol.com). Permission is granted to send this to others, but not for commercial purposes.
http://www.mikeysFunnies.com
CONSIDER
“I have found in the Bible words for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterance for my hidden griefs and pleadings for my shame and feebleness.”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
VERSE TO PONDER
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”
Titus 2:2
THIS WEEK'S HYMN: EVERY MORNING THE RED SUN
Words: Cecil F. Alexander, 1848
Music: George C. Martin, 1889
Every morning the red sun
Rises warm and bright;
But the evening cometh on,
And the dark, cold night.
There’s a bright land far away,
Where ’tis never-ending day.
Every spring the sweet young flowers
Open bright and gay,
Till the chilly autumn hours
Wither them away.
There’s a land we have not seen,
Where the trees are always green.
Little birds sing songs of praise
All the summer long,
But in colder, shorter days
They forget their song.
There’s a place where angels sing
Ceaseless praises to their King.
Christ our Lord is ever near
Those who follow Him;
But we cannot see Him here,
For our eyes are dim;
There is a most happy place,
Where men always see His face.
Who shall go to that bright land?
All who do the right:
Holy children there shall stand
In their robes of white;
For that Heav’n, so bright and blest,
Is our everlasting rest.
>from NetHymnal at
http://nethymnal.org/htm/e/m/emredsun.htm
ON PRAYER
“Above all, it is not necessary that we should have any unexpected, extraordinary experiences in meditation. This can happen, but if it does not, it is not a sign that the meditation period has been useless. Not only at the beginning, but repeatedly, there will be times when we feel a great spiritual dryness and apathy, an aversion, even an inability to meditate. We dare not be balked by such experiences. Above all, we must not allow them to keep us from adhering to our meditation period with great patience and fidelity.
“It is, therefore, not good for us to take too seriously the many untoward experiences we have with ourselves in meditation. It is here that our old vanity and our illicit claims upon God may creep in by a pious detour, as if it were our right to have nothing but elevating and fruitful experiences, and as if the discovery of our own inner poverty were quite beneath our dignity. With that attitude, we shall make no progress.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954], tr. Daniel W. Bloesch & James H. Burtness, Fortress Press, 2004, p. 88
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.
Beyond Justice
http://www.worldvisionacts.org/beyondjustice
Religion News RSS feeds
http://www.netvibes.com/somersault#News
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.)
A friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart.
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.org/
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