Connecting
man to man to God
For
week of April 4, 2010
Issue 298
The
Men’s Ministry newsletter of Path Of Life Ministries.
Our
mission is to lead men to Jesus Christ and provide opportunity for
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“Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within
me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your
holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and
sustain in me a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
CONSIDER
“God
has no problems, only plans.”
Corrie ten Boom
CHRISTIANS
URGED TO AGREE ON COMMON EASTER DATE
Both
western and eastern Christians celebrated Easter on the same day
this year. And one ecumenical leader hopes that such a unified
celebration will continue in the future.
In
a letter to church bodies worldwide, the Rev. Dr. Michael
Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches,
renewed a call for a common Easter date. Almost every year, "the
Christian community is divided over which day to proclaim this
Good News," Kinnamon lamented. "Our split, based on a
dispute having to do with ancient calendars, visibly betrays the
message of reconciliation. It is a scandal that surely grieves our
God."
Protestant
bodies and the Roman Catholic Church use the Gregorian calendar
while Eastern Orthodox churches and Oriental Orthodox churches use
the Julian calendar to observe Easter, typically on a later date.
Rather than a difference in theological outlook, the conflicted
Easter dates between western and eastern Christians are mainly due
to the calendars and lunar tables employed, church leaders say....
Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100329/christians-worldwide-urged-to-agree-on-common-easter-date/index.html
THE
WORLD’S GREATEST DAY SINCE THE CREATION
by
Bill Ellis
“In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
(Genesis 1:1). Had it not been for this event, there would be
nothing else. No day or night, no animals, fish, birds, plants,
trees, flowers, people -- nothing. When! No dates necessary except
“in the beginning.”
The
greatest and most accurately documented event in our time was the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Men are often
sentenced to life in prison, or death, on the basis of one or two
witnesses. Not so with the resurrection of the Son of God.
Numerous witnesses saw him alive, touched him, saw the scars of
crucifixion in his resurrected body and talked with him-- too many
witnesses to ever doubt that he rose from the grave.
Norman
L. Geisler, the dean of modern Christian apologists, in his tome,
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker Publishing),
wrote: “The bodily resurrection of Christ is the crowning
proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be, God manifested in human
flesh.”
William
Lane Craig, philosopher of religion, states: “It is quite
clear that without the belief in the resurrection the Christian
faith could not have come into being”.
John
Ankerberg and John Weldon, in their book, Ready With An Answer
(Harvest House Publishers) mention 12 post-resurrection
appearances of Jesus Christ.... Read this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10030195.htm
THAT’S
MY KING
Watch
this inspiring video at
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=307c89842e23e7631f52
THE
RESURRECTION AND THE SECULAR MIND
by
Dr. Ray Pritchard
Secular
man may pretend to have an answer for everything, but an honest
man is baffled by the empty tomb. In the greatest question of life
there are only two possible answers. Either you believe Jesus for
who He is, or reject Him and His claims.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11570590/
IF WE ARE
COMPLETELY SAVED FROM OUR SINS THROUGH THE CROSS, WHAT'S THE POINT
OF THE EMPTY TOMB?
by
J. R. Daniel Kirk
The
story of salvation as I had learned it was, in its entirety, about
the Cross. I would teach other students about the Romans Road to
salvation and the Romans 6:23 bridge diagram. What each of these
captured beautifully was that we had a sin problem that God
overcame with the cross of Christ. But each presentation also
omitted the Resurrection entirely. And why not? Once our debt has
been paid, what else could we possibly need? What is so important
about Easter?
The
most important thing to say is somewhat shocking at first blush.
At his resurrection, Jesus becomes something that he was not
before. Jesus becomes the enthroned king of the world -- the
Messiah. But isn't the Jesus we meet on the pages of the Gospels
also the Messiah? Yes and no.
Jesus
in the Gospels is like David in the Book of 1 Samuel. He has
received God's anointing as the chosen king, but another king is
currently on the throne. The story of the Gospels is one in which
Jesus inaugurates a new reign of God and deals a deathblow to the
imposter king through his death on the cross. If the Cross is the
defeat of the old king, the Resurrection is the enthronement of
the new. Jesus now literally sits in the space that the kings of
Israel had figuratively occupied before him: at the right hand of
God. Though the preexistent Christ has always been God's agent in
the creation and rule of the world, the human Jesus is now joined
to that role as Lord and king over all.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/april/10.37.html
EASTER IS
FOR SECOND CHANCES
by
Greg Laurie
Do
you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter
needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would
never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only
denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times.... Read this in
full at
http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/harvestdaily/11628172/
A PASSION
PLAY FOR THE AGE OF TWITTER
A
passion play for the 21st century, happening in real time through
Holy Week, was chronicled in 140-character bites in the Easter
(LIVE) passion play, which started on Palm Sunday on Twitter and
Facebook.
The
story was told from the perspective of a number of people who were
in Jerusalem that fateful Passover week to witness the last days
before Jesus’ execution. Centurions, members of the Jewish
high court, pilgrims, and followers of Jesus alike, the characters
tweeted their experiences through the week as they saw the man
they love or loathe being put to death.
The
characters also have their own Facebook profiles, and posted onto
the Easter (LIVE) Facebook group. Followers interacted with the
play on Twitter by retweeting or discussing it at #EasterLIVE, or
on Facebook by responding to the wall posts.
Easter
(LIVE) is an initiative of Cliff College, Share Creative, and the
Evangelical Alliance as part of the Biblefresh movement of
churches and agencies, which seeks to help people engage with the
Bible. See the tweets at
http://www.eauk.org/EasterLIVE/missed-some-of-the-passion-tweets.cfm
PASTOR:
RADICAL LOVE AND RESURRECTION CATAPULTED CHRISTIANITY
Why
is it that Jesus' message lasted beyond his short life? Why did
the message and person of Jesus not evaporate like all the other
wannabe messiahs?
Because
at the core of his message was a brand new kind of love and at the
core of his experience and history was a resurrection, Andy
Stanley told his congregation at the start of Holy Week.
A
few years ago, Stanley was in Rome with his wife when he noticed
something that took him aback. Hanging over the entrance of the
Roman Colosseum where the emperor once entered was a cross.
Another hung over the entrance where gladiators had entered
through.
Stanley
posed to North Point Community Church members: "If you could
imagine going back 2,000 years ago and ... what if we were able to
gather ... some of the Christians that lived in Rome [and] say to
them 'someday there will hang in the entrance of this arena of
death a cross, a cross that does not reflect or represent the
power of Rome, a cross that does not reflect or represent the
anger and the death associated with crucifixion, ... [but] one
single crucifixion of a Jewish carpenter ... who never traveled
more than 25 miles from his home, was basically a public figure
for three years, was betrayed by his own people and executed by
the Roman authorities but whose message impacted the entire world
... and long after there was a Roman Empire people would worship
and celebrate this one Jewish carpenter." .... Read this in
full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100329/pastor-radical-love-and-resurrection-catapulted-christianity/index.html
LOVE VS
LOVE
“Romantic
love is blind to everything except what is lovable and lovely, but
Christ's love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole.
Christ's love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against
everything in us that diminishes our joy. The worst sentence Love
can pass is that we behold the suffering that Love has endured for
our sake, and that is also our acquittal. The justice and mercy of
the judge are ultimately one.”
Frederick Buechner
THE TRUTH
OF THE CROSS
by
R.C. Sproul
If
anything has been lost from our culture, it is the idea that human
beings are personally, ultimately, and inexorably accountable to
God. People are not concerned about an atonement. They are
convinced they have no need for it. But nothing could be further
from the truth.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11628179/
SOLDIER AT
JESUS' CRUCIFIXION LOST TO HISTORY
Steven
Maines stared at the Stations of the Cross and silently wondered,
who this soldier was who pierced Jesus’ side with a spear?
The 50-year-old stuntman and writer was sitting in a Catholic
church, which doubled that day as a movie set. He doesn’t
recall the name of the movie or the church, but he remembers being
captivated by the military man.
“It
hit me like an epiphany,” said Maines, the author of a novel
about Longinus. “What was that person’s story? Why did
he pierce the side of Christ? And what happened to him after
that?”
Writers,
theologians, visionaries, mystics, and bishops have been asking
those same questions about the Roman soldier -- and providing
creative answers -- almost since that fateful Friday afternoon
nearly 2,000 years ago. The Catholic and Orthodox churches have
made him a saint, writers have searched his guilt-wracked soul,
and his spear has inspired more baroque conspiracy theories than a
Dan Brown novel.... Read this in full at
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2010/10287.htm
EVANGELICAL
LEADERS SORT TRUE GOSPEL FROM 'GIMMICKRY'
Evangelical
theologians expressed concern at a recent conference that fewer
churches in America seem to be preaching the biblical gospel.
The
gospel is not "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for
your life," nor is it "God gives you meaning for life,"
said Dr. R.C. Sproul, prominent author and founder of Ligonier
Ministries.
Sproul
was in Los Angeles for Ligonier's West Coast conference, which ran
under the theme "Christless Christianity." He was joined
by prominent theologians including Dr. Michael Horton, John
MacArthur and Peter Jones to examine the popular misunderstandings
of the gospel today.
"Together
we’ll sort the true gospel from the gimmickry,"
conference organizers said.
Objectively,
the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, being
born under the law, as a human, living a perfect life (by the aid
of the Holy Spirit), and giving His life as a substitutionary
sacrifice for others, Sproul explained to conference attendees.
But
it doesn't stop there, he continued. By the power of the Holy
Spirit He was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and
promises to return to consummate His kingdom.
And
it is by faith alone -- sola fide -- that we are justified, he
added. Righteousness is imputed to you and appropriated to us by
faith alone, the theologian stressed.
The
biblical gospel, however, is not being faithfully preached in many
churches, the speakers indicated.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100330/evangelical-leaders-sort-true-gospel-from-gimmickry/index.html
MCLAREN
BOOK KICKS UP CONTROVERSY
In
its first month on sale, A New Kind of Christianity (HarperOne),
the latest book from Brian McLaren, has lit the fuses of critics
in the Christian press and blogosphere. Reviewers, bloggers, and
prominent evangelicals have called him a heretic and worse.
In
a review in Christianity Today, New Testament scholar Scot
McKnight writes, "Unfortunately, this book lacks the
‘generosity' of genuine orthodoxy and, frankly, I find
little space in it for orthodoxy itself."
On
March 11, Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, held a panel discussion on McLaren's book,
citing an "urgency" to respond to what the panelists
described as McLaren's "rejection of the gospel" and
"new kind of apostasy." .... Read this in full at
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/454718-McLaren_Book_Kicks_Up_Controversy.php
ZONDERVAN
AND GOBIBLE OFFER FREE PREVIEW OF NIV BIBLE FOR iPAD, iPHONE, AND
iPOD TOUCH
Zondervan
has announced that GoBible is offering a free preview app
featuring the Book of John for customers interested in purchasing
the Read it/Hear it NIV GoBible iPhone App. The NIV GoBible is a
comprehensive Bible program that lets the user both read and
listen to the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible on an
iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. The program has been developed with
the goal of making the Bible as accessible and enjoyable as
possible.
Users
may navigate the menu and begin simultaneous audio and text play
at any of the 31,000 plus individual verses in the Bible with just
a few clicks. The user may also, for convenience, browse and play
through the Story Index which has more than 225 of the most
popular Bible stories arranged by testament.
The
app also contains a Topic Index which gives Scriptural guidance on
approximately 30 different circumstances and emotions. Another
popular feature, the Holiday/Events Index, offers passages
relevant to more than a dozen important Christian and secular
holidays, as well as important days that mark our lives.
The
Read it/Hear it NIV GoBible App also has a Bible-in- a-Year plan
which allows the user, in about 10-15 minutes per day, read and
listen to the entire Bible in one year.... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2930213522.html
INTERVIEW
WITH N.T. WRIGHT
by
Cathleen Falsani
In
his latest book, “After You Believe: Why Christian Character
Matters,” Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright of Durham, England,
calls for a return to virtue as the means to reorient the church
and society at large.
Christians
have become so preoccupied with who gets their eternal reward and
who doesn’t, Wright says, that they’ve lost sight of
the bulk of the New Testament, which instructs believers on how to
live this life, here and now.
Rather
than a polemic in support of a more strident legalism or a
treatise on what some might call “cheap grace,” Wright
argues that the idea of virtue -- moral strength -- is the best
way forward through our troubled times.
Wright
discussed how virtue can be fostered in secular society as well as
how the church can reclaim the message of the gospel.... Read this
interview in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/tenminutes/10_minutes_with_nt_wright1/
A TIME TO
LAUGH: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF LAUGHTER FOR CHRISTIANS?
“For
every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under
heaven … a time to weep and a time to laugh,”
according to the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.
What
is the role of laughter and humor for Christians? When should
believers take time to laugh? Humor takes several forms -- from
stand-up comics to cartoons to clowns to storytelling. Many
Christians who practice some form of humor believe God granted
them the opportunity to use it to enhance believers’ lives
and to draw other people to Christ.
“God
makes his people happy, and happy people love to laugh,”
cartoonist Joe McKeever said, pointing to Psalm 4:7. “Laughter
is a tension-reliever, an anger neutralizer, the best icebreaker
and one of the sweetest sounds on the planet.”
“Humor
is a godsend that we as human beings need to give one another,”
said Joel Goodman, founder and director of the Humor Project, a
Saratoga Springs, NY, organization that offers humor resources,
training and life coaching.
Laughter
and humor cause physical changes that enhance people’s
lives, which can help defuse tension.... Read this in full at
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4995/53/
Also
see
Humor
an important spiritual practice, theologian says
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4991/53/
Was
Jesus a jokester?
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4989/53/
When
laughter ceases to be the best medicine
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4993/53/
Grieving
comic says faith, hope and laughter abide
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4994/53/
The
late Grady Nutt was a pioneer of Christian comedy
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/4992/53/
VIDEO:
GLENN BECK MEETS WITH JIM WALLIS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE DIALOGUE (HA!)
by
April Fuhl 04-01-2010
Video
footage of a top secret meeting between Jim and Fox News
commentator Glenn Beck! Apparently, Beck finally accepted Jim’s
offer to dialogue, and the two met in an undisclosed location. You
may not recognize their faces in the video, because they are
wearing disguises to avoid the media spotlight while discussing
such a sensitive topic. But we think you’ll find their
conversation a truly fascinating and unforgettable tete-a-tete.
Enjoy :)
http://blog.sojo.net/2010/04/01/video-glenn-beck-meets-with-jim-wallis-for-social-justice-dialogue/#video
HOW
DIFFERENT GENERATIONS VIEW AND ENGAGE WITH CHARISMATIC AND
PENTECOSTAL CHRISTIANITY
A
research study conducted by the Barna Group explored the degree to
which four different generations of American adults identified
themselves as charismatic or Pentecostal believers. The research
also examined generational gaps in terms of beliefs about the Holy
Spirit, speaking in tongues, and spiritual gifts.
Those
fitting the Pentecostal/charismatic criteria stated that they
considered themselves to be in that category of believers, said
they believe that they “have been filled with the Holy
Spirit,” and that God has given them at least one of the
charismatic gifts, such as tongues, prophecy, or healing. Overall,
that group represents 21% of all American adults and 25% of those
who describe themselves as Christian.
Baby
Busters (ages 26 to 44) were the generation of self-identified
Christians most likely to claim a charismatic or Pentecostal
connection (29%), slightly higher than the 26% among the Mosaics
(ages 18 to 25) and the 25% among the eldest of Americans (25%
among those 64 and older). Surprisingly, the generation that
introduced America to “Jesus freaks” and other marks
of spiritual intensity -- i.e., Baby Boomers (now 45 to 63) -- is
the generation currently least likely to identify as charismatic
or Pentecostal (20%).
In
terms of beliefs and attitudes, there are marked differences
between the generations. In general, the research shows that
younger Christians are more open to charismatic gifts, but more
skeptical about the nature of the Holy Spirit when compared to
older Christians.... Read this in full at
http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/360-how-different-generations-view-and-engage-with-charismatic-and-pentecostal-christianity
USC CENTER
AWARDS $3.5 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON PENTECOSTAL AND
CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY
The
Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of
Southern California is funding research in 23 countries on one of
the world's fastest growing religious movements: charismatic and
Pentecostal Christianity. Grants totaling $3.5 million will be
awarded to five centers, and another 16 individual scholars and
their teams, to conduct research in Asia, Africa, Latin America,
or the former Soviet Union. The USC research initiative is
supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
"Global
Pentecostalism is one of the most dynamic and potentially
transformative religious movements in the 21st century," said
Dr. Kimon Sargeant, vice president of human sciences at the John
Templeton Foundation. "The researchers selected for the
Pentecostal and Charismatic Research Initiative have a unique
opportunity to help scholars and the broader public understand how
this movement-inspired by powerful worship and religious
experience—is changing the cultural, social, and religious
landscape around the world." .... Read this in full at
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/usc_center_awards_35_million_in_grants_for_research_on_pentecostal_and_char/
RELIGION
IN THE NEWS: 2009
An
analysis of religion news coverage in 2009 by the Pew Forum and
the Project for Excellence in Journalism finds that Pope Benedict
XVI and the Obama administration generated the most
religion-related coverage in the US press last year. However,
online media outlets focused on a different set of faith-related
topics and featured religion more prominently than their
traditional media counterparts.... Read this in full at
http://pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Religion-in-the-News-2009.aspx
TV SHOW
'FOOTNOTE' DELVES INTO TRUTHS, RAW STORIES OF P*RN INDUSTRY
Every
second 28,258 Internet users are watching p*rn. The public is
familiar with the statistics and are well aware that p*rnography
is the biggest industry in the world and the most consumed media
worldwide.
But
most never hear about the young girl who was curled up in a ball
between takes in the production of a p*rn film, sucking her thumb
because her mind was so blown by what she did.
It's
those personal stories -- the "small things" in a big
and otherwise nameless picture -- that one crew of Christians is
hoping to communicate.
For
the last 18 months, a television show called "Footnote,"
a project launched by Back to the Bible (http://fntv.com/), has
been in pre-production, capturing the funny, the sad and the raw
stories of real people.
Donny
Pauling, an ex-p*rn producer, recalls seeing young women get
started in the p*rn industry. They would be paid $500 a day just
for having some photos taken of them, which sounded better than a
$200 paycheck every two weeks at Starbucks.... Read this in full
at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100331/-footnote-delves-into-truths-raw-stories-of-porn-industry/index.html
THERE'S A
CHEMICAL REASON WHY P*RNOGRAPHY IS ADDICTING
by
Mark R. Laaser
William
Struthers, a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at Wheaton
College, has written a book to help us avoid becoming seduced in a
culture where p*rnography can invade our homes.
The
bad news, he argues in Wired for Intimacy: How P*rnography Hijacks
the Male Brain (InterVarsity), is that the human brain can be
chemically hijacked by p*rnography.
The
good news is that the apostle Paul was right: The brain can be
transformed by a renewed commitment to sanctification. Yes, I mean
the brain, not just the mind. This book demonstrates that, while
the process of transformation is based on a spiritual commitment
of the mind to Christ, the result will be an anatomical rewiring
of the brain.
To
explain how this process works, Struthers goes into detailed
descriptions of the anatomy and physiology of the brain. Beware:
without some patience, wading through this material might feel
like sitting through a biology class. While some of the material
is daunting, it's also fascinating evidence of the magnificent
complexity of God's creation. There are more nerve cells in the
human brain than stars in the universe. While many of us have been
taught that we can find ways to improve other parts of our bodies,
like the heart, how many of us know that we can develop spiritual
habits that benefit our brains? .... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/march/27.61.html
JAMES
DOBSON’S NEW RADIO SHOW “FAMILY TALK”
Starts
May 3
http://myfamilytalk.com/
VERSE TO
PONDER
“Keep
your life free from love of money, and be content with what you
have; for he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake
you.’”
Hebrews 13:5
CONSIDER
“Criticism,
like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth
without destroying his roots.”
Frank Clark
JOHN
PIPER'S UPCOMING LEAVE
by
John Piper, March 28, 2010
As
you may have already heard in the sermon from March 27-28, the
elders graciously approved on March 22 a leave of absence that
will take me away from Bethlehem [Baptist Church] from May 1
through December 31, 2010. We thought it might be helpful to put
an explanation in a letter to go along with the sermon.
I
asked the elders to consider this leave because of a growing sense
that my soul, my marriage, my family, and my ministry-pattern need
a reality check from the Holy Spirit. On the one hand, I love my
Lord, my wife, my five children and their families first and
foremost; and I love my work of preaching and writing and leading
Bethlehem. I hope the Lord gives me at least five more years as
the pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem.
But
on the other hand, I see several species of pride in my soul that,
while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for
ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with
Noël [my wife] and others who are dear to me. How do I
apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing
character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it
now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I
don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a
spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can
that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.
Noël
and I are rock solid in our commitment to each other, and there is
no whiff of unfaithfulness on either side. But, as I told the
elders, “rock solid” is not always an emotionally
satisfying metaphor, especially to a woman. A rock is not the best
image of a woman’s tender companion. In other words, the
precious garden of my home needs tending. I want to say to Noël
that she is precious to me in a way that, at this point in our
41-year pilgrimage, can be said best by stepping back for a season
from virtually all public commitments.... Read this in full at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2010/4555
CHRISTIAN
FAITH: CALVINISM IS BACK
Five
centuries ago, John Calvin's teachings reconceived Christianity;
midwifed Western ideas about capitalism, democracy, and religious
liberty; and nursed the Puritan values that later cast the
character of America.
Today,
his theology is making a surprising comeback, challenging the
me-centered prosperity gospel of much of modern evangelicalism
with a God-first immersion in Scripture. In an age of materialism
and made-to-order religion, Calvinism's unmalleable doctrines and
view of God as an all-powerful potentate who decides everything is
winning over many Christians -- especially the young.
Twenty-something
followers in the Presbyterian, Anglican, and independent
evangelical churches are rallying around Calvinist, or Reformed,
teaching. In the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest
Protestant body, at least 10% of its pastors identify as
Calvinist, while more than one-third of recent seminary graduates
do.
New
Calvinism draws legions to the sermons of preachers like John
Piper of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis.... Read this
in full at
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0327/Christian-faith-Calvinism-is-back
THE ART OF
PROMOTING BIBLICAL CINEMA
A
Dominican friar's vast collection of movie posters -- dating back
to 1895 -- reveal evolving styles and interpretations while
drawing from the same source of inspiration.... Read this in full
at
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs22-2010mar22,0,3534281.story
CHURCHES
STRUGGLE TO MELD CULTURES IN AN ERA OF DIVERSITY
When
Calvary Baptist Church first tried to integrate its Sunday morning
services for English and Spanish speakers, the result was misery
for all. The congregants grew restless as they sat through endless
translations from one language to the other. The service dragged
on for 90 minutes. Nobody knew the hymns. Complaints raged.
"I
don't understand what they're saying on the pulpit." "I
don't know the words of the hymns." "Why are we singing
in Spanish?" longtime parishioners of the historic church in
downtown Washington told pastor Amy Butler.
Nonetheless,
Butler was determined to persevere, gambling her seven years of
progress rebuilding the fading congregation into a 200-member mix
of urban hipsters, Latino families and tradition-loving seniors.
Would the move to full-time bilingual services further fuel
Calvary's growth, or prompt an exodus of disgruntled worshipers?
.... Read this in full at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032603036.html
TRINITY U
TO WEIGH REMOVAL OF 'OUR LORD' FROM DIPLOMA
The
board of trustees at San Antonio's Trinity University are expected
to consider a request in May from a group of students asking that
the reference to "Our Lord" be dropped from their
diplomats, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
The
students, led by Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim and president of Trinity
Diversity Connection, argues that the reference does not respect
the diversity of religions on campus.
"A
diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly
display it in their offices and homes," says Qureshi. "By
having the phrase 'In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly
referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus
Christ."
Qureshi
has won the support of student government and a campus
commencement committee, the newspaper says.
Other
students and President Dennis Ahlburg have defended the phrase,
arguing that references to the school's Presbyterian roots are
appropriate and unobtrusive.
Trinity
has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969
but maintains a "covenant relationship" with the church,
the newspaper says.
Ahlburg
also notes that the university has thousands of alumni and donors
to appease, and many oppose the change.
"Democracy
is not letting a small number of people have their way,"
Ahlburg says. "Democracy is listening to the different voices
and making an informed decision." .... Read this in full at
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/03/board-to-weigh-removal-of-our-lord-from-trinity-universitys-diploma/1
PATRIOTIC
OR RELIGIOUS, ‘UNDER GOD’ IS HERE TO STAY
by
Charles C. Haynes
The
long, bitter and emotional legal battle over “under God”
in the Pledge of Allegiance may have come to a quiet end on March
11.
That’s
the day a panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decided by
a 2-1 vote that “the Pledge is constitutional.” The
ruling in Newdow v. Rio Linda Union School Dist. was greeted with
a big yawn by the news media -- and virtual silence on Capitol
Hill.
Eight
years ago, this same court sparked a very different reaction when
it ruled the other way, striking down the use of the Pledge in
public schools because it includes the phrase “under God.”
Cable news channels declared a national emergency and lawmakers on
both sides of the aisle in Washington, DC, lined up to defend God.
This
time around, the court (with two different judges on the panel)
saw no religious intent in the history and meaning of the Pledge,
giving particular weight to congressional action in 2002
reaffirming the secular and civic purposes of the flag salute....
Read this in full at
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=22761
URBAN
LEGENDS EXPERT DEBUNKS STORY THAT 'ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE DISCOVERED
THE FOSSILIZED REMAINS OF BIBLICAL GIANTS'
A
new forwarded email circulating widely on the Internet is catching
the interest of students of the Bible. It says that there has been
a new and unexpected archaeological discovery in Greece that
proves the existence of giants mentioned in the Bible.
Now
veteran American Christian radio broadcaster, Rich Buhler, an
expert on Urban Legends and who runs www.truthorfiction.com, has
weighed in on this latest e-rumor. Buhler, who’s been
looking into urban legends for many years, hosts the daily "Talk
From the Heart" radio show on station, KBRT AM 740 in
Southern California, says the new e-rumor "includes a series
of pictures that are reportedly from some of the archaeological
digs that include a snapshot of a giant skull being unearthed as
well as an enormous human skeleton."
Buhler
says the email references the fact that giants were mentioned in
the Bible such as in the books of Genesis and Numbers.... Read
this in full at
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10030194.htm
CRITICS
WELCOME 'DEFAMATION' DECLINE IN UN
A
United Nations body has again approved a controversial "defamation
of religions" resolution, but its support continues to
decline.
Resolution
opponents, who fear a binding version would harm global religious
freedom and undergird anti-blasphemy laws like those in some
Islamic states, disapproved of the UN Human Rights Council's
latest vote on the issue but welcomed its weakened backing.
The
council's vote on a non-binding resolution at a recent meeting in
Geneva, Switzerland, was 20-17 in favor, with eight abstentions.
Last year, the vote was 23-11, with 13 abstentions.
In
December, the UN General Assembly passed a "defamation of
religions" measure, again by a reduced margin from the
previous year. The latest General Assembly vote was 80-61 in
support, with 42 abstentions.
"This
is a really dangerous and bad idea masquerading as a good one, and
the fact that it keeps losing support shows that the masquerade is
being exposed," said Richard Land, president of the Southern
Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).... Read
this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32607
GOVERNORS
DECLARE APRIL AS ABORTION RECOVERY/AWARENESS MONTH
Governor
Rick Perry of Texas and Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota have
declared April as Abortion Recovery/Awareness Month.
"Ending
a pregnancy through abortion interrupts the natural birth process
and creates significant trauma and stress for those involved in
the pregnancy. An abortion is a tragic ending, not only because of
the loss of a life, but also because of the physical and
psychological trauma caused by the procedure itself." said
Governor Rick Perry of Texas.
"Abortion
Recovery Month encourages and promotes healing opportunities and
raises awareness of the aftermath of abortion experienced by
individuals and families." said Governor Tim Pawlenty of
Minnesota. "Abortion recovery programs help individuals heal
by providing counseling, support groups, encouragement, and
education.".... Read this in full at
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/1852613508.html
GROUPS
PRESS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ENVOY
In
an open letter sent to President Obama on March 30, 29 human
rights groups and faith leaders pressed the president to fill the
vacant position of ambassador-at-large for international religious
freedom.
"The
absence of senior level leadership in your administration on this
critical issue is of grave and urgent concern," said the
letter, which was signed by leaders representing Christian,
Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, and Mormon groups.
The
letter was also signed by a number of human rights groups, the
former director of the State Department's Office of International
Religious Freedom, and a former ambassador for international
religious freedom.
The
ambassadorship for religious freedom was created by law in 1998,
and is tasked with monitoring religious persecution and
discrimination worldwide. The post has been empty since Obama took
office last year.... Read this in full at
http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/03/groups-press-for-religious-fre.php
STUDY:
MAGNETIC WAVES ALTER MORAL COMPASS
A
device that emits an invisible beam affecting a person's ability
to tell right from wrong might sound like the kind of weapon a
comic book villain would use to wreak havoc around the world.
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say such a
device allowed them to observe the effects magnetic rays have on a
person's sense of morality.
In
a new study, volunteers were subjected to magnetic pulses just
above and behind of the right ear, focusing on the area of the
brain believed to be the area controlling morality. The pulses
were intended to block cell activity that contributed to the
volunteers' sense of right and wrong. MIT's researchers explain
the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"You
think of morality as being a really high-level behavior," Dr.
Liane Young, the study's lead researcher, told the British
Broadcasting Corporation. "To be able to apply a magnetic
field to a specific brain region and change people's moral
judgments is really astonishing." .... Read this in full at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/30/tech/main6347079.shtml
MARRIAGE
MORE STABLE THAN LIVING TOGETHER, UK OFFICE FOR NATIONAL
STATISTICS FINDS
Analysis
of Census results found that four-fifths of spouses who were
married in 1991 were still together a decade later, compared with
three-fifths of cohabiting couples. Older couples and those with
children were more likely to stay in the same relationships, the
independent statistics body said.
The
findings of the ONS in the United Kingdom are likely to reignite
the political debate over whether married couples should be given
tax breaks.... Read this in full at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7523186/Marriage-more-stable-than-living-together-Office-for-National-Statistics-finds.html
CONSIDER
“A
Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have
read lives of Christ, beautifully written; but the best life of
Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and
action of His people.”
Charles H. Spurgeon
VERSE TO
PONDER
"Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
Psalm
119:105
THIS
WEEK'S HYMN: O JOYOUS EASTER MORNING
Words:
Author unknown
Music:
adapted from Johann S. Bach (1685-1750)
O
joyous Easter morning,
That
saw the Lord of love arise!
O
bright and happy morning!
The
clouds have left the skies.
The
night of grief is ended,
The
smiling day has come again,
And
Christ has won the victory
For
all the sons of men.
O
gladsome Easter morning,
Our
hearts rejoice anew today,
The
grave and death are conquered,
He
is of life the Way.
The
hosts of sin are vanquished,
He
is the Victor, Savior, King;
Then
let us all with gladness,
Our
thankful praises bring.
O
blessèd Easter morning,
What
day so bright and fair as this,
When,
through His mighty triumph,
He
won the courts of bliss!
The
doors of heaven are open,
The
grave no more has power or dread,
For
risen is our Savior,
The
firstfruits of the dead.
>from
NetHymnal at
http://nethymnal.org/htm/o/j/ojoyemor.htm
ON PRAYER
“We
have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.”
Oswald Chambers
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.
Ultimate
Matzoh Balls game
http://www.jewishtvnetwork.com/matzohball/
Word
Flip
http://www.wordflip.in/
Toothpick
City -- Our World in Toothpicks
http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/toothpick-city-our-world-in-toothpicks.html
and
http://www.toothpickcity.com/
All
links to websites are provided as a service, and do not imply
endorsement by this ministry.
(BTW: whenever the URLs in
this newsletter are too long to turn into links on your e-mail
program, just copy the entire URL (two lines or more) and paste it
into a temporary email message. Then delete the return in the
middle of it and copy it again. Then paste it into your web
browser and hit enter.)
Time
flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Min.
Frank Coleman, Editor
Rev.frank@gmail.com
Thanks
for welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
----------
CONNECTIONS is a periodic newsletter of
announcements, news, recommendations, articles, and other
information helpful to men in our spiritual growth. Thanks for
welcoming CONNECTIONS into your in-box!
-----------
The
CONNECTIONS Team offers a variety of activities for men to
interact with other men on our journey of faith in Christ
together. Large group, small group, and one-to-one events
encourage relationship building and spiritual strengthening that
result in maximizing the potential we all have in Christ.
Contact
Min. Frank Coleman, 773-410-1483, frank@frankcoleman.com
if you'd like to participate in a men's discipleship program.
Path Of Life Ministries is located in Chicago, IL.
Visit
our website at: http://www.pathoflifeministries.net/
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