Connecting
man to man to God
For week of February 22, 2009
Issue
241
The Men’s Ministry 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 1,868 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://geocities.com/frankcoleman/page18.html
or
subscribe via rss feed
here:
http://www.connectionsnews.wordpress.com/feed
In
This Issue:
Stand Up For Jesus
When Thanks Is The Last Thing On Your Menu
Integrate Your Faith And Work
Leadership Tip
Teen’s Exposure To P*rn*graphy
This Week’s Hymn
Netaholics: Internet Addiction
Pray For A Brother Today – Daily Blessing Pact
Classifieds
Favorite Websites
Much, Much More!
“Do
everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become
blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and
depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life.” Philippians
2:14-16
CONSIDER
“Worship
is nothing more nor less than love on its knees before the
beloved; just as mission is love on its feet to serve the
beloved.” N.T. Wright, For All God’s Worth
COVERT
EVANGELISM
by
Charles Swindoll
I will always remember a young man named
Eddie. He and I met when we were serving in the Third Marine Corps
Division on the island of Okinawa, Japan. We shared the same bunk
in a tiny Quonset hut. Forty-six other Marines lived under the
same metal roof, giving new meaning to the phrase “up close
and personal.”
After Eddie’s arrival on the
island, it became obvious that my bunkmate had little interest in
knowing about Christ. Once he found out I was a Christian, he
forcefully stated, “I don’t want anything to do with
all your religious stuff. . . . Back off!”
While I
understood his resistance, I couldn’t ignore his need for
Jesus. As I prayed for wisdom, I remembered the apostle Peter’s
words, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1
Peter 3:15 NIV). Soon after, I thought of a creative way to share
my “reason” with Eddie.
Because we often had
time on our hands, I asked Eddie to help me memorize verses of
Scripture. At first he was really suspicious, but I assured him
that he only needed to check my work as I reviewed verses I’d
written on small cards. He reluctantly agreed. What he didn’t
know was that I deliberately selected verses about eternal
salvation. So I “stumbled” through verses like John
3:16.
“God so loved the . . . uh . . . uh . . .”
“World!” Eddie would shout. “Oh . . . yes. God
so loved the world that He gave . . . He gave . . .” “His
only begotten Son,” he read. “Ah . . . God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” And on we
would go for half an hour several times every week. I suppose you
could call this approach “covert evangelism.”
Over
the years, I’ve learned that sharing the gospel requires two
key elements: preparation and creativity. First, we must be
prepared. Christianity offers real, true answers to the world’s
complicated questions. We have solid, reliable evidence to support
our faith. And God’s Word offers wisdom, comfort, and
encouragement for life’s challenges.
Second, we must
be creative. Each person comes with his or her own unique
background, needs, presuppositions, and questions. We can’t
just rattle off a few verses and hope for the best. Effective
evangelism flows out of genuine relationships and presents the
truth in very personal, creative, and thoughtful ways.
Now
. . . back to Eddie. Almost 30 years after our tour of duty had
ended, my phone rang. Eddie’s voice boomed over the line;
I’d know it anywhere. “Hey, Swindoll; you know those
days on Okinawa when you tricked me into helping you memorize all
those Bible verses?” I confessed that I did. He laughed and
said, “Well, it worked! Earlier this year, I decided to
trust Christ as my Savior.”
God was working on
Eddie’s heart through all those years. He kept His promise:
“[My Word] will not return to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”
(Isaiah 55:11 NIV). God’s Word works!
http://www.insight.org
MINORITY
OF EVANGELICAL LEADERS REPORT CLOSE MUSLIM CONTACT
With
varying estimates of millions of Muslims in America and increased
interest in Muslim influence around the world only a minority of
evangelical leaders have direct contact with Islam.
The
February Evangelical Leaders Survey asked: “Do you have a
mosque in your neighborhood? Have you personally had a serious
discussion with a Muslim in the past year?” In response 27%
reported living or working in proximity of a mosque and 33% said
they had a serious conversation with a Muslim. A large majority
(73% and 67%) have no close contact with institutional Islam or
individual Muslims.
Some reporting serious discussions
indicated they were more likely to have had those discussions
through formal inter-faith dialogue, professional ministry or
international travel than personal friendships. One denominational
executive said that “except from a distance at an airport, I
have not even seen a Muslim with which to have a
conversation.”.... Read this in full
at
http://www.nae.net/index.cfm?FUSEACTION=editor.page&pageID=557&idCategory=1
TOUCHED
BY AN ANGEL
by
Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from
delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love
leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to
liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train
come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of
pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of
fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In
the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we
see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it
is only love
which sets us free.
LENT
2009
Lent,
in some Christian denominations, is the 40-day-long liturgical
season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The 40 days represent
the time Jesus spent in the desert, where according to the Bible
he endured temptation by Satan. The 6 Sundays in Lent are not
counted among the 40 days because each Sunday represents a
"mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin
and death. Different churches calculate the 40 days differently.
The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer -- through
prayer, penitence, tithing, and self-denial -- for the annual
commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of
Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ
and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
Lent in 2009 will start on Wednesday, the
25th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the
11th of April.
LENTEN
DEVOTIONAL
John
the Apostle talks about fixing the desires of your heart upon an
object. He tells us that it's not wise to love the world or
anything in the world. The world as referred to here is the realm
of sin organized against God and His righteousness. But the Holy
Spirit, who connects you to Jesus Christ, also produces the fruit
in your life of love, joy, and peace with God; patience, kindness,
and goodness with your neighbor; faithfulness to responsibility;
and humility and self-control as He duplicates the life of Jesus
in you (see Galatians 5:22-23). How will fixing the desires of
your heart upon things of the Spirit help you also to rightly
desire what is most important to you in your life?
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, lead us through these days as we approach Easter.
Teach us to keep our hearts fixed on Your priorities for our
lives. Amen.
http://www.lentendevotions.net/
also
see Lenten Prayers for Hungry
People
http://www.bread.org/get-involved/at-church/resources/bfw9-aa-tbltnt-12-9.pdf
BIBLE
ACROSS AMERICA, VERSE BY VERSE
Reading
the Bible aloud, start to finish, takes about 77 hours. Writing by
hand the entire holy book? Try 6 months. To celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the New International Version of the Bible, the
publishing house Zondervan is inviting people across the country
to copy a verse in their own hand. The Bible Across America tour
is producing 2 handwritten texts, one of which will go to the
Smithsonian Institution.... Read this in full
at
http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-bible17-2009feb17,0,194379.story
also
see
http://www.bibleacrossamerica.com/home.php
GOD
AND THE OSCARS
And
the winner is …! The 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony
just concluded. Films have long grappled with questions of
ultimate meaning, and this year’s crop is no exception.
Whether it’s the more overtly religious Doubt, based on John
Patrick Shanley’s Broadway production, or the “life is
beautiful” fantasy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,
there’s a lot of potential here for out-of-the-box stories.
Frost/Nixon explores moral ambiguity, and The Wrestler is a
redemption tale both for the main character and for its real-life
actor, Mickey Rourk.
Here are a few other observations....
Read this in full
at
http://www.religionlink.org/eminder_090217.php
MANY
SIDES TO THE 'BLACK CHURCH'
The
key findings of the study "A Religious Portrait of
African-Americans" are that blacks are far more likely to
belong to a religious organization, attend church weekly, pray
daily and express absolute certainty in the existence of God than
the overall population. Neal Krause, a University of Michigan
professor who studies and writes about the connection between
religious affiliation and health, gender, race and age, said he
wasn't surprised by the results of the Pew Forum on Religion and
Public Life poll. The church traditionally has been a place where
African-Americans could receive social services, find solace
during decades of discrimination as well as worship, Krause
said.... Read this in full
at
http://www.jacksonville.com/lifestyles/values_and_religion/2009-02-15/story/many_sides_to_the_black_church
OBAMA'S
THEOLOGIAN: DAVID BROOKS AND E.J. DIONNE ON REINHOLD NIEBUHR AND
THE AMERICAN PRESENT
Barack
Obama has cited the 20th-century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr as
one of his favorite philosophers who has influenced his
understanding of the world, of religion and of politics. In a
public conversation in Washington, D.C. with political
commentators David Brooks and E.J. Dionne, we explore how
Niebuhr's merger of intellect, faith, and realism might be
speaking to a new era of American turmoil and American power. This
live conversation took place on January 29, 2009 at the invitation
of Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World
Affairs.
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/obamas-theologian/
PASTOR
SAYS FAITH SUSTAINING FAMILY OF PILOT IN DEADLY PLANE CRASH
The
pilot of a deadly plane crash Feb. 12 in upstate New York was a
Southern Baptist. Marvin Renslow, captain of the Continental
Connection commuter flight that went down and crashed into a home
while trying to land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport,
attended First Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla. The 900-member
congregation is affiliated with the Florida Baptist Convention and
Southern Baptist Convention.
Alan Burner, an associate
pastor at the church, read a statement from the Renslow family.
"They're very proud of Marvin's accomplishments as a pilot,"
Burner said. "They know that he did everything that he could
to save as many lives as he could, even in the accident."
He continued, "They want you to know that their faith
is that God is sovereign and God is in control even when it seems
that everything is out of control. They want you to know that
their faith, their trust, their hope is in the Lord, the one true
and living God," he said. They know -- through their faith --
that life does not end on this earth, but life continues as
believers with God in heaven. They know that Marvin's physical
life as ended, but his eternal life has just begun." Read
this in full
at
http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3847&Itemid=53
“WHATEVER
BECAME OF SIN” REDUX
by
Dr. James Emery White
There’s no point in dancing around
this “sin” thing. Either it exists, or it doesn’t.
Either there is true culpability, or not. We are either
“mistakers” or “sinners.” Pay your quarter
and take your choice.
The latest edition of the Oxford
Junior Dictionary for children did just that. In a sweeping
revision, “crucial words used to describe…traditional
topics have been stripped…in favour of more ‘modern’
terms.” One analyst was more forthcoming, noting that over
six editions, dating back to the 1970’s, there seemed to be
an increasing and systematic purging of all words related to
Christianity.
Among the entries which have vanished in the
most recent edition: disciple, saint, abbey, bishop, altar,
chapel, christen, monk, and, yes, sin.
So whatever became
of sin in our culture? Future generations may never know that such
a word even existed.... Read this in full
at
http://www.christianity.com/blogs/JWhite/11599598/
CHRISTIANS
AND ATHEISTS BATTLE IN LONDON BUS WARS
The
word of God is on the move in London -- literally. Beginning Feb.
9, three separate Christian groups launched advertisements on more
than 200 of London's buses to convince pedestrians of God's
existence. "It may be unpopular and unpleasant," says
David Larlham, assistant general secretary of London's Trinitarian
Bible Society, a group that distributes Bibles worldwide. "But
there is a whole lot of truth in the Bible that people need to get
to grips with." His organization has paid $50,000 to display
posters on 125 of London's red double-decker buses that quote
Psalm 53: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God."
The move follows a monthlong campaign by atheists,
agnostics, and other nonbelievers that saw 800 London buses
plastered with a less God-fearing slogan: "There's probably
no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." Ariane
Sherine, an atheist and London-based comedy writer, devised the
scheme after seeing a Christian bus advertisement. "It
basically said that unless you believe this, you're going to end
up suffering," she says of a pro-Jesus poster that featured
what she describes as a "fiery apocalyptic sunset." "Our
campaign provides reassurance for people who might be agnostic and
don't quite believe and worry what will happen to them if they
don't.".... Read this in full
at
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1877658,00.html
AMERICANS
SKEPTICAL ABOUT END OF WORLD SOON
Despite
any popular doomsday predictions, most Americans aren't concerned
that the end of the world will occur in their lifetimes, according
to a new study by LifeWay Research.
Only 11% of 1,600
people who participated in a survey on the topic said they agree
with statement, "I believe that the world will end in my
lifetime," the division of LifeWay Christian Resources said
in the LifeWay Research Insights newsletter Feb. 3.
"Many
religions predict a time when the world will end, be recreated or
experience some cataclysmic transition," Ed Stetzer,
president of LifeWay Research, said. "For others, that is not
a religious issue but based on concerns from the environment to
nuclear war. However, the belief that 'the end is near' is not
that widespread, with a strong majority disagreeing with the
statement.".... Read this in full
at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29891
'YES,
DEAR,' UNDERSTANDING MANSPEAK IS A 'GUY THING'
by
Tom Rademacher
As a player in man's quest to understand the
opposite sex, I was all eyes when my wife forwarded me an e-mail
containing a primer on "Things Women Say" but don't
exactly mean. Example? The word "Fine," which "is
the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you
need to shut up." Oh, do I get that.
Another is
"Nothing," which foretells "the calm before the
storm." Arguments that begin with "nothing" usually
end in "fine." The seven others include phrases such as
"Five Minutes" (this means a half-hour), "Go Ahead"
(translation: if you value your life, don't!), and "That's
OK," one of the most dangerous things a woman can utter,
because "OK" means she wants to think before deciding
how and when you will pay for your mistake.
Of course, this
revelation on womantalk demands a response, preferably from a
columnist who works with words and has nothing to fear from his
wife. Figuring one out of two aren't bad odds, here are some
"Things Guys Say," and what they mean.
1. "You
look great" is guy talk for "Enough already; the car's
been running for 20 minutes."
2. "It's a guy
thing." There are a host of possibilities here, including "I
don't understand it myself" and "I am going to engage in
behavior so juvenile that I am too embarrassed to go into
detail."..... Read this in full
at
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/02/yes_dear_understanding_manspea.html
VIDEO
How
to Give a Great Man to Man
Hug
http://www.iamahappyman.com/2009/02/18/how-to-give-a-man-hug/
VERSE
TO PONDER
"No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that
you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
CONSIDER
“Youth
is not a time of life, it's a state of mind. You are as young as
your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your
self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as
old as your despair.” Unknown
SAVING
SOULS FOR LESS
Across
the US, the recession is pinching churches and missions
agencies--not to mention individual Christians such as Steven
Wilkes, who said he lost more than $60,000 in retirement savings
when Wall Street crashed last year. Yet Wilkes, editor of the
Journal of Evangelism and Missions, says he believes a bad economy
could be just what Christians need to evangelize the United
States.... Read this in full
at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/march/4.18.html
CHRISTIAN
BUSINESS LEADER DRAWS ECONOMIC LESSONS FROM PEARL HARBOR
The
date that has lived in infamy for nearly 7 decades can provide
lessons for Christian companies facing the same economic realities
as their secular counterparts, according to the head of one of the
largest Christian products and services provider in the world.
"People did not know if they could recover from Dec. 7,
1941," said Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay
Christian Resources, referring to the date Pearl Harbor was
attacked. "I am not saying the economy can compare to the
loss of lives, but, like then, many are asking if there is hope,”
he said during a recent meeting of trustees, according to a report
by the company. “They are asking where God is in this.”
.... Read this in full
at
http://www.christianpost.com/Business/Companies/2009/02/christian-business-leader-draws-economic-lessons-from-pearl-harbor-13/index.html
MORAL
REBOUND FINDS DUTCH EXPLORING CALVIN
Snuffed-out
candles, skulls and hourglasses were how the Old Masters portrayed
the vanity of greed. For the Dutch, the credit crunch has revived
a moralistic stance from back when the first share was issued in
Amsterdam. Erupting on the 500th anniversary of the birth of
Protestant theologian John Calvin, the financial crisis has
spawned a splurge of puritanical debate and self-analysis.
Calvin's 16th-century teachings were influential for the
Protestant Reformation in the Netherlands and across Europe, and
as people reassess the forces that unleashed the global credit
bubble, they are falling back on old truths. Even Prime Minister
Jan Peter Balkenende has turned to Calvin to explain the financial
mess…. Read this in full
at
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINTRE51F00R20090216
THE
BIOLOGY OF BELIEF
Most
folks probably couldn't locate their parietal lobe with a map and
a compass. ...What makes the parietal lobe special is not where it
lives but what it does--particularly concerning matters of faith.
If you've ever prayed so hard that you've lost all sense of a
larger world outside yourself, that's your parietal lobe at work.
If you've ever meditated so deeply that you'd swear the very
boundaries of your body had dissolved, that's your parietal,
too.... Read this in full
at
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879016,00.html
STIMULUS
PLAN FOR HOLLYWOOD: MORE UPLIFTING FILMS
Once
again, family-friendly, uplifting and inspiring movies drew far
more viewers in 2008 than films with themes of despair, or leftist
political agendas. Sex, drugs and anti-religious themes were not
automatic sellers, either. Among the 25 top-grossing movies alone,
14 out of 25 had strong or very strong Christian, redemptive and
moral content, and nearly all had at least some such content....
Read this in full
at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123449031400180527.html
200
YEARS LATER, LINCOLN'S FAITH REMAINS AN ENIGMA
Seven
score and four years ago, Abraham Lincoln stood on the steps of
the U.S. Capitol and said North and South alike must suffer for
the sin of slavery. "If God wills that (the war) continue
until ... every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by
another drawn with the sword, so it still must be said 'the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether,'"
Lincoln said in his second inaugural address, quoting the
Psalms.
Called "Lincoln's Sermon on the Mount,"
his 1865 address has been deemed the most religiously
sophisticated presidential speech in American history. It was
delivered by a backwoods lawyer with just one year of formal
schooling who never joined a church.
With the 200th
anniversary of Lincoln's birth just past (Feb. 12), the 16th
president and his unconventional faith continue to inspire and to
confound. Churches, community centers and colleges across the
country are celebrating the bicentennial by pondering the Great
Emancipator's words and mounting exhibits exploring his dealings
with various faiths.... Read this in full
at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-02-13-lincoln-christianity_N.htm
AUTHOR'S
ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE SCIENCE AND RELIGION IS MET WITH ATTACKS FROM
BOTH CAMPS
Karl
Giberson believes in Charles Darwin's theory and Jesus Christ's
divinity. What he can't believe is the anger this inspires among
some who embrace one belief and reject the other. His latest book,
“Saving Darwin: How to be a Christian and Believe in
Evolution,” was published last summer by HarperOne. Since
then, both sides have launched missiles at him, attacking in live
debates, Internet forums, magazine articles and book reviews....
Read this in full
at
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/02/1c02believe19147-where-faith-meets-fact/
PUCKER
UP: SCIENTISTS STUDY KISSING
When
your lips gently brush against the mouth of your beloved, it may
feel magically romantic, or sloppily slobbery, or blissfully
gentle, or perhaps too rough and toothy. Regardless, the practice
of kissing is nearly universal. It’s practiced in at least
90% of cultures among sexual or romantic partners, experts say.
Now, scientists are investigating the biological factors
underlying that ubiquitous expression of love. The science of
kissing even has a name: philematology. Research on the subject
was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy for
the Advancement of Science in Chicago on Feb. 13. "Kissing is
not just kissing. It is a major escalation or de-escalation point
in a powerful process of mate choice," said Helen Fisher,
professor at Rutgers University and author of the book "Why
Him, Why Her: Finding Real Love by Understanding Your Personality
Type.".... Read this in full
at
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/13/kissing.science/index.html
YOU
DECIDE WHAT TO STUDY IN SPACE
It’s
not every day that we get to direct a $2.5 billion,
school-bus-size instrument. But NASA is celebrating the
International Year of Astronomy by letting us decide which object
the Hubble telescope should target next. You get to choose from
six heretofore unexamined regions of the universe: two planetary
nebulae; two spiral galaxies, visible from different angles; the
amorphous “Star-Forming Region NGC 6334”; and —
the current front-runner -- two “interacting galaxies”
that appear to be merging and go by the joint name Arp 274. Voting
closes March 1. NASA will post the results on March 2 and photos
of the winner in early April.
http://youdecide.hubblesite.org/
HEALTHY
HABITS: A MONTH OF LIVING PERFECTLY
by
Carol Mithers
My habits weren't horrible, but they weren't
great, either. No sodas, fast food, or cigarettes, and I ate my
share of broccoli...but I also liked heavy cream in my coffee,
butter with dinner, and fortifying spoonfuls of ice cream when
afternoon hunger hit.
If I was stuck on what to have for
lunch, the solution invariably included melted cheese. I was too
fond of my evening cocktail(s). I exercised hard, but
sporadically, and I never stretched. I wore sunscreen...sometimes.
I usually forgot to floss. Etc.
I couldn't deny seeing some
changes as I hit my 50s: less energy, a growing pot belly, pain
that I assumed was early arthritis in my neck whenever I looked
over my shoulder. Caring for aged parents and in-laws offered a
none-too-gentle reminder that this was just the beginning. But
could it be slowed if I were very, very good? If I really cleaned
up my act?
What if, for a month, I embraced every health
dictate we all know we should follow but blithely ignore? Would I
feel rejuvenated, young? Or just like the butt of that old joke:
"Eating healthy doesn't make you live longer...it just feels
that way?"
With the help of the Internet, I researched
a plan for perfect living. I'd follow traditional USDA guidelines
for diet: 2,000 weight-maintaining calories a day, no more than 67
grams of fat (only 22 of them saturated fat), and no more than
1,500 milligrams of sodium.... Read this in full
at
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/16/oprah.habit.month/index.html
CONSIDER
“Christ
is God's self-disclosure. He is God showing himself to us in such
a way that he leaves no room for doubt or error in our minds as to
what God is like. This is why we call him the word of God. A
word is a true word only as it reveals him who speaks it. In
Christ we do not see all that there is of God; but all that we see
in him is God, and it is enough for our present need.”
Carroll Simcox
VERSE
TO PONDER
[Jesus
said,] “‘In everything, do to others what you would
have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.’”
Matthew 7:12
THIS
WEEK'S HYMN: BY PRECEPTS TAUGHT OF AGES PAST
Words:
Unknown author, 11th Century; translated from Latin to English by
John M. Neale
Music: Christliche Gesangbüchlein, 1568
By
precepts taught of ages past,
Now let us keep again the
fast,
Which, year by year, in order meet
Of forty days is
made complete.
The law and seers that were of old
In
divers ways this Lent foretold,
Which Christ Himself, the Lord
and Guide
Of every season, sanctified.
More sparing
therefore let us make
The words we speak, the food we
take,
Deny ourselves in mirth and sleep,
In stricter watch
our senses keep.
In prayer together let us fall,
And cry
for mercy, one and all;
And weep before the Judge, and say,
O
turn from us Thy wrath away.
Thy grace have we offended
sore
By sins, O God, which we deplore;
Pour down upon us
from above
The riches of Thy pardoning love.
Remember,
Lord, though frail we be,
That yet Thine handiwork are we:
Nor
let the honor of Thy Name
Be by another put to shame.
Forgive
the ill that we have wrought,
Increase the good that we have
sought;
That we at length, our wanderings o’er,
May
please Thee now and evermore.
Blest Three in One, and One
in Three,
Almighty God, we pray to Thee,
That Thou wouldst
now vouchsafe to bless
Our fast with fruits of
righteousness.
>from CyberHymnal
at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/y/byprecep.htm
A
PRAYER
“O
God, Who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired, should be
sought by labor, and Who, by Thy blessing, bringest honest labor
to good effect; look with mercy upon my studies and endeavors.
Grant me, O Lord, to design only what is lawful and right, and
afford me calmness of mind, and steadiness of purpose, that I may
so do Thy will in this short life, as to obtain happiness in the
world to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
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 the church guys to pray for your safety and
spiritual effectiveness. I'll add your name to the list for the
time you'll be away.]
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.
So Many a
Second
http://smas.studioludens.com/
Sculpting
the Impossible: Solid Renditions of Visual
Illusions
http://www.sciam.com/slideshow.cfm?id=sculpting-visual-illusions
MC
Escher
prints
http://www.mcescher.com/Shopmain/ShopEU/facsilimeprints/prints.html
The
Gettysburg Address on
Wordle
http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/554108/The_Gettysburg_Address_wordled_by_StrategicIMC.com
GeoEye
super-high-resolution satellite
images
http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx
(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.)
Where does all
the white go when the snow melts?
Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor
Rev.frank@gmail.com
Thanks
for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
Subscribe!
Subscribe
to CONNECTIONS here
Get Archives of all past issues
here:
http://www.geocities.com/frankcoleman/connections/archives_all.html
Check
out my blog