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THE MARKS OF GENUINE REVIVAL

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:03:57 +0000

THE MARKS OF GENUINE REVIVAL

Julio Ruibal, who was martyred for his faith in 1995, left us a legacy of revival. His widow, Ruth, shared how the gospel transformed Bolivia in the 1970s—and then Colombia in the 1990s.

Last week J. Lee Grady shared an interview with Ruth Ruibal, the widow of Bolivian evangelist Julio Ruibal—who was known as the “apostle of the Andes.” Ruth described for us how the gospel transformed Bolivia in the 1970s. She offers some words of warning to the American church.

-excerpt-
Charisma: What would you say to the American church today as we seek to pursue genuine revival?

Ruibal: We desperately need a revival today in the United States. I think most of us are in agreement with that. However, historical revivals start with repentance. We need to move beyond the generic needs of the church and become more personally involved in seeking His face. Once we see His holiness, we can truly repent.

We live in a day where much of the world has filtered into the church. Paul tells us that the last days are dangerous days, but it is not the same kind of danger as terrorism. The danger of the last days is man’s own heart, which is selfish, self-loving, self-gratifying, independent and disobedient. Man’s heart loves the Lord yet loves pleasure more. The last day people are a religious people (you can find them in church and Christian meetings!), but they deny the power to live the true Christian life.

The Word tells us that holiness is not an option. I am not referring to a list of dos and don’ts, but of the heart. When we come into His presence and see more of His holiness, we realize how unworthy and sinful we are and yet how great His love is. When we experience deep repentance, we can know His healing power—first to the inner man, then to the outer man.

We need to learn to seek Him for Himself and not what He can give us. Once we have our priorities right, once we really come to our knees in repentance, I do believe a revival will come and with signs and wonders that will follow. And the revival will affect all of society and heal our land as well.

True revival would change the direction of our nation. If we don’t have such a revival, I am afraid we are on our way to destruction. May God bless America and have mercy on her.

J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma. For more information about Julio C. Ruibal Ministries, go to ruibalministries.com. The Sentinel Group has produced a powerful video called Transformations I that profiles Julio and Ruth Ruibal’s work in Cali, Colombia. To order the video, go to sentinelgroup.org/dsg2087.asp. The video is available in five languages.

WERE YOU BLESSED BY THESE WORDS?
WERE YOU CHALLENGED BY THESE WORDS?

Please let me know by writing me and sharing your testimony/praise reports.

(Scroll down for 9 picture slide shows)

profplumb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:08:54 +0000

Christy's blog about her experience

This following is taken from Christy's blog (with her permission). Thanks, Christy!

Remember: blogs are usually posted with the most recent on top. If you wish to read a person's posting in chronological order begin with the post at the end.--MMP

June 28

Back Home

It's good to be home! And it's nice to be creating this blog on a computer that works quickly! The flights home today were smooth and on time which was a blessing! When booking the flights, I did not pay Airtran $6 to choose my seats. On the flight from Atlanta to Canton, I sat by Pastor Chet! The other lady traveling with us sat in front of me - go figure! Upon arriving home, a thunderstorm rolled through. Guess I won't be cutting my grass today and it's getting so tall! My garden really took off since I have been gone. Amazing what plenty of water and some sun will do!

Reflecting back on the trip, I am still amazed at how God took care of even the tiny details. There wasn't a time that I was truly uncomfortable or irritated. The people on our team were amazing! I learned so much about them. I also learned a lot about myself. This trip allowed my plenty of time to reflect on myself and where I am in my walk with Christ. Let's just say that God spoke to me concerning several things. I pray that I can act on what I discovered.

Something else that I can't stop thinking about is the amount of devastation that still exists in the Gulfport/Biloxi area. I met two families whose homes were damaged from Hurricane Katrina. They are going through the process of obtaining homes from Habitat. I guess it's still going to be at least a couple of years and probably many more before this area is back to the way it was before Katrina.

I am really exhausted tonight! I can't wait to take a bath in my tub and then sleep in my bed!

Here are a few pictures from the week:

Loving the nail gun!!!

The bunkhouse where the women stayed

Sebastian the cat who was curious about paint.

Tight fit!!!

One of the homes we helped finish. All it needs is carpet before the family moves in!

Each team who stays in Habitat Village can leave their "mark" in Yankie Stadium!!! Thanks to Martha for creating and painting this lasting memory! Go Buckeyes!!!

DO NOT BE AFRAID!

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:24:54 +0000

Do Not Be Afraid!

By Edward T. Welch

Quick. What is, by far, God’s most frequent command?

The usual suspects include “Do not commit adultery,” “Have no other gods before me,” and “Love one another.” The next group includes whatever commands you know you have violated, in which case they only feel as if they appear on every page of Scriptures.

The actual answer is “Do not be afraid.”

Here is a small sampling (italics added) of its over three hundred occurrences in Scripture.

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “what is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.” (Genesis 21:17)

The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, with his whole army and his land.” (Numbers 21:34)

Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. (Isaiah 54:4)

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Now envision pages more of such references. Do you get the sense that God is alert to your fears?

The God Who Hears and Cares
“Don’t be afraid.” “Don’t worry.” They can be said so casually. I have said them to my wife when we have been on airplanes together and her palms were sweating before takeoff. My words, of course, were meaningless. They veered off into self-starving platitudes because I didn’t really want to hear about her fears. Already engrossed in the flight magazine’s crossword puzzle, I didn’t want to be bothered. But God’s words are nothing like my own.

Think about them. God never says anything just to get you off his back. The sheer number of times he speaks to your fears says that he cares much more than you know. He is not so busy that he attends only to macro-level concerns. Instead, he is close and speaks to the details of your troubles.

Do your troubles seem trivial, at least when compared to the dangers other people face? He knows you and has compassion. He does not compare your worries to those of others, decide which ones get priority, and then give everyone a number based on need. The way he repeats himself suggests that he understands how intractable fears and anxieties can be. He knows that a simple word will not banish our fears. He knows that our worries aren’t patiently waiting for permission to leave.

Search Scripture and find that our fears are not trivial to God. “Do not be afraid” are not the words of a flesh-and-blood friend, a mere human like yourself. They are not the hollow words of a fellow passenger on a sinking ship, who has no experience in shipwrecks, can’t swim, and has not plan. These words are more like those of the captain who says, “Don’t be afraid. I know what to do.” When the right person speaks these words you might be comforted. Remember, “Do not be afraid” are the words of the One who can match speech with action. He is the sovereign King who really is in control. The efficacy of the words is directly related to the authority, power, and love of the One speaking them

This article is taken from Running Scared by Edward T. Welch. To buy the book
click here!

CONNECTIONS 07/13/08

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:06:10 +0000

Connection man to man to God
For week of July 13, 2008
Issue 215

“To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

CONSIDER
“All life is holy. If we are truly oriented toward God, then our slightest activities- shaving, reading the newspaper, putting out the cat- are a form of prayer.” Wendy Beckett

STUDY: BIBLE STILL RECOGNIZED AS TOP 'HOLY' BOOK
A new Barna survey shows that more Americans accept the Bible as "holy" or "sacred" than they would other books. Respondents of the survey for The Barna Group identified around 12 books they thought fit the bill as "sacred literature" or "holy books." The list included expected titles such as the Bible and the Koran and others such as Quiet Strength by football coach Tony Dungy. However, the Bible stood out by far from other texts with 84% of Americans deeming it a holy book.

Only 3 books are recognized as holy by at least 1% of Americans. The Koran trails behind the Bible in 2nd place with 4%; the Book of Mormon is labeled by 3% as sacred/holy; and the Torah is deemed holy by 2% of the public.... Read this in full at
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=302

SCHOLARS DOWNPLAY TABLET DEBATE ON MESSIAH, RESURRECTION
An eclectic Jewish scholar is causing a media stir by claiming that Jesus and his disciples copied the idea of a messiah rising again after three days, basing his interpretation of scattered text found on a so-called ancient tablet. This idea fails to hold up when compared with the assessment of other biblical scholars -- many who say the relic is too badly preserved to even read.

The tablet is not a new find but is catching news waves because Israel Knohl, a professor of Bible studies at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, was slated to present his interpretation of the text at a Jerusalem conference marking the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The three-by-one foot tablet -- dubbed "Gabriel's Vision" because it contains apocalyptic text ascribed to the angel -- contains 87 lines of text on gray-colored stone. It is owned by a collector in Zurich who said he acquired it from an antiquities dealer in Jordan.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080708/scholars-downplay-tablet-debate-on-messiah-resurrection.htm

FLORIDA EVENT CAUSES RIFT IN CHARISMATIC COMMUNITY
Todd Bentley believes God acts through him to cure cancer, heal the deaf and raise the dead. So do hundreds of thousands of people who have visited his raucous revival meeting, now in its third month and broadcast nightly from a huge tent in the middle of Florida.

The 32-year-old Canadian, tattooed to the fingers and neck, puts a palm to the forehead of the sick, desperate and faithful. Bentley yells "Bam!" they collapse and he proclaims them cured. Attendees dance in the aisles, shout to Heaven, laugh, shake violently and cry.

Such revivals aren't new, but Bentley's stage show has become a phenomenon in the religious world -- for both its pull and the criticism it has attracted -- in just a few months. He claims to have medical proof of mass healings, but has not produced widely convincing evidence. His tactics, sometimes violent, have made skeptics even of Pentecostals who believe in concepts that aren't accepted by all branches of Christianity such as speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, and spontaneous twitching from the Holy Spirit.... Read this in full at
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Business/Default.aspx?id=175300

CAN WE AVOID A CHARISMATIC CIVIL WAR?
by J. Lee Grady
Some leaders say the controversial Lakeland Revival is forcing us to choose sides. But I don’t believe God wants to split our movement. It’s been more than 10 years since charismatic prophet Rick Joyner predicted in his popular book The Final Quest that believers would experience a Civil War in the church. Joyner’s book, based on a series of visions he says God showed him, describes in graphic detail a turbulent conflict that redefines Christianity as we know it.

Other charismatic leaders have echoed this theme since Joyner’s book was published in 1996. They have predicted that our movement will be divided between “Blues” (those who constantly live in the supernatural realm of dreams, visions and miracles) and “Grays” (those who rely more on their intellect), and that the Blues will win and usher in true revival as champions of the Holy Spirit’s power.

Even in early 2008, before the Lakeland Revival erupted in Florida in April, some charismatic prophets were declaring that a great rift would divide those who believe in “the glory realm” and those who have a more conservative, left-brained approach to their faith. When GodTV began its nightly broadcasts of evangelist Todd Bentley’s healing meetings in Lakeland, the Civil War prophecies reappeared overnight on hundreds of blogs and e-mail blasts.... Read this in full at
http://charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2770

NEITHER FAITH NOR HEALING
by William A. Dembski
Todd Bentley's healing ministry has gained national attention. His daily meetings for the past three months in Lakeland, Fla., have attracted hundreds of thousands from all over the world. The press has begun to question Bentley's legitimacy -- Is his financial accounting above board? Are miracles really happening? I want here to raise some more personal concerns.

On July 3, my wife, three children and I attended Bentley's "impartation service" in Denton, Texas, north of Dallas. Why? We have twin 7-year-old boys, one of whom is autistic (largely nonverbal, still not fully toilet trained, serious developmental delays). Friends urged that we attend the meeting for his miraculous healing.

Call us stubborn, but my wife and I are unimpressed with doctors who see our son's condition as hopeless. We believe that God still heals and that His means of healing include conventional medicine, alternative medicine, prayer, fasting, love, and, yes, miracles. In any case, we haven't given up on our son's recovery (we still remember the day when he was developmentally on track). So if God wanted to use Todd Bentley, we were open to it.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28460

DRAPER: HEALING ENTAILS GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
Healing lies within the sovereignty of God, and He chooses to heal people according to His will, former LifeWay Christian Resources President Jimmy Draper wrote in a series on biblical doctrine last year. In an article from April 20 titled "Doctrine: Does God heal today?" Draper made these concluding points:....
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28461

MAN SUES TN CHURCH OVER SPIRIT-INDUCED FALL
A Tennessee man says he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while worshipping. Now he wants the Lakewind Church of Knoxville to pay $2.5 million for his medical bills, lost income, pain, and suffering.

Matt Lincoln says he is suing after the church's insurance company denied his claim for medical bills, including two surgeries since the June 2007 injury. He says he was asking God to have "a real experience" while praying. Lincoln says he has fallen from the force of the spirit before but has always been caught by someone.

Lawyers for the church say other congregants saw him on the floor laughing after his fall. They say he failed to look out for his own safety.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=174040

GLOBAL POPULATION TO HIT 7 BILLION IN 2012
World population is projected to reach 7 billion only 4 years from now. The world added its 6 billionth resident in 1999. Today, the population is approximately 6.7 billion. World population growth is slowing down -- it took about 12 years for the world population to rise from 5 billion to 6 billion while the increase from 6 to 7 billion is a 13 year time span.... Read this in full at
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012112.html

LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
Follow Rich Wagner on his Family's Bike Tour. Rich, author of The Expeditionary Man: The Adventure a Man Wants, the Leader His Family Needs, is cycling across America this month with his 3 sons (his wife is driving the support van). Read his blog posts....
http://whythebike.com/blog/

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 (NIV)

CONSIDER
“God always gives us strength enough, and sense enough, for every thing that He wants us to do.” John Ruskin (1819-1900)

RENOWNED FAITH-RELATED PHILANTHROPIST DEAD AT 95
The adage says that an institution is the lengthening shadow of a man, but in the case of John Templeton, who died July 8 at the age of 95, the lengthening shadow is the answer his life gave to the biggest of questions. As the founder of the Templeton Prize, he combined his lifetime of financial acumen and personal generosity in an effort to ensure that accomplishments in advancing spiritual knowledge would receive the kind of worldwide recognition accorded to advances in medicine, science, peacemaking and other arts through such vehicles as the Nobel Prize. He devoted energy and resources to demonstrating that religion and science are not at odds, that insight into the created order and a yearning for the Creator could be reconciled in the modern world.

Templeton’s prize, now widely considered the largest in the world, has been bestowed on such figures as Dr. Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Chuck Colson. Before the award that bears his name, however, came a long and meritorious career on Wall Street, where Templeton turned his business acumen and willingness to invest in struggling enterprises into the wealth that fueled his tremendous philanthropy. By all accounts, this success did not change him, but only enabled him to demonstrate ever more widely the interest in ideas and in the good of people that became the hallmarks of his near century of living in this world....
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/julyweb-only/128-31.0.html

CHRISTIANS HAVE BEGUN MARKING THE SECOND MILLENNIUM OF ST. PAUL
Christian denominations are celebrating the Pauline Year, June 29, 2008 - June 29, 2009. Many adherents plan to retrace Paul's final journey to Rome as part of the commemoration. Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians have agreed to participate in the programs. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, was converted from Judaism on the road to Damascus. His evangelisation quest before he was beheaded in c. AD 67 took in scores of countries in Asia Minor, Arabia, and present-day Europe. His biblical epistles show him to be a profound religious thinker with an enduring formative influence in the development of Christianity....
http://www.paulineyear.org/
and
http://www.pauline-year.com/

A GENERATION FORGOT
“It was my generation, and the generation that preceded me, that forgot. The younger generation is not primarily to be blamed. Those who are struggling today, those who are far away and doing that which is completely contrary to the Christian conscience, are not first to be blamed. It is my generation, and the generation that preceded me, who turned away. Today we are left, not only with a religion and a church without meaning, but... with a culture without meaning.” Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984), Death in the City [1969]

RELIGIOUS AMERICANS: 'MY FAITH ISN'T THE ONLY WAY'
America remains a deeply religious nation, but a new survey finds most Americans don't believe their tradition is the only way to eternal life -- even if the denomination's teachings say otherwise. Among the more startling numbers in the survey of 35,000 adults, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attenders say they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching. In all, 70% of Americans with a religious affiliation share that view, and 68% say there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.... Read this in full at
http://religions.pewforum.org/

STUDY ADDS DOUBT ABOUT PEW POLL'S CLAIMS REGARDING EVANGELICALS' 'UNIVERSALISM'
In a partial release of a study planned for publishing in full this fall, LifeWay Research's findings about evangelicals' beliefs regarding the exclusivity of Christ differed from the recently published results from a Pew poll.

The Pew findings indicated widespread agreement with universalism in the U.S., "70% of Americans with a religious affiliation say that many religions -- not just their own -- can lead to eternal life." Pew also indicated 57% of those attending evangelical churches agree that many religions can lead to eternal life. Only 36% chose the alternative, "My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life."

The LifeWay study used more specific wording than Pew's use of "religion" which can be confused as meaning "denominational affiliation." Asking Protestant churchgoers whether a person can obtain eternal life through "religions other than Christianity," LifeWay found only 31% agreed "strongly" or "somewhat." Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=28386

A REAL GOD
“Only if your God can say things that outrage you and make you struggle (as in a real friendship or marriage) will you know that you have gotten a hold of a real God and not a figment of your imagination.” - Tim Keller, Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism

CONSIDER
“Many are willing that Christ should be something, but few will consent that Christ should be everything.” Alexander Stuart

VERSE TO PONDER
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17

THIS WEEK'S HYMN: BY FAITH IN CHRIST I WALK WITH GOD
Words: John Newton, 1779
Music: Robert H. Earnshaw, 1856-1929

By faith in Christ I walk with God,
With Heav’n, my journey’s end, in view;
Supported by His staff and rod,
My road is safe and pleasant too.

I travel through a desert wide
Where many round me blindly stray;
But He vouchsafes to be my Guide,
And will not let me miss my way.

Though snares and dangers throng my path,
And earth and hell my course withstand;
I triumph over all by faith,
Guarded by His almighty hand.

The wilderness affords no food,
But God for my support prepares;
Provides me every needful good,
And frees my soul from wants and cares.

With Him sweet converse I maintain,
Great as He is I dare be free;
I tell Him all my grief and pain,
And He reveals His love to me.

Some cordial from His Word He brings,
Whene’er my feeble spirit faints;
At once my soul revives and sings,
And yields no more to sad complaints.

I pity all that worldlings talk
Of pleasures that will quickly end;
Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk
With Thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.

>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/f/bficiwwg.htm

ON PRAYER
“Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God.” Andrew Murray

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!
ChristianConnectionTravel.com

Books, Music & More!
ChristianConnectionBooks.com

Get your domain name here!
GoGlobalDomains.com

Let me show you how to earn money as you travel!
FrankColeman.com
It's as easy as 1-2-3

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.

InfoPlease Year by Year
http://www.infoplease.com/yearbyyear.html

Exercises for happy feet
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91661083

All links to websites are provided as a service, and do not imply endorsement by our church.

(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 flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
Min. Frank Coleman, Editor
rev.frank@gmail.com

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Bertemu di Tanah Suci

roisz — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:29:42 +0000

Seorang kawan yang baru pulang dari Umrah di Tanah Suci, Makah Al Mukarramah bercerita, bahwa dia beberapa kali bertemu dan teringat akan saya ketika thawaf dan qiyamul lail di Masjidil Haram.

Sekembalinya ke Indonesia, orang yang beliau kontak pertama kali adalah saya. Menanyakan, apakah saya berada di Tanah Suci pada waktu yang sama. Kontan beliau kaget, karena saya ada di sini. Indonesia.

Saya bercerita kemudian pada sang bunda mengenai hal tersebut, tanggapannya hangat dan pasti. Beliau berkata "InsyaAllah, kalau dirimu sudah mampu, jangan lupa untuk menunaikan yang satu itu, setidaknya ada sebuah jalan di sana".

Itu adalah takzim dari kisah yang diceritakan. Biasanya kalau orang bersliweran di tanah suci dan sering terlihat oleh yang lain, sekalipun jasadnya ada di tempat lain dan bukan di Tanah Suci, artinya akan ada banyak jalan menuju ke tanah suci. Selama ia berikhtiar.

InsyaAllah.

Semoga

Pictures and thoughts from our journey

profplumb — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:30:20 +0000

When I first went on a mission trip (last year), I didn't know what to expect. I believe many of us (if not all) didn't know. Some of the others on the 2007 mission trip to Biloxi had been on other missions (including Tyrand). I believe that most of us last year went to Biloxi with the idea of building at least one entire Habitat house that we could point to as "our" or "Dueber's" Habitat house. We quickly found that this would not happen.

What we did was to finish what others had started (sometimes redoing shoddy work of others). We were not able to claim any one house as "ours," which is entirely appropriate, as the work was not about us.

Actually, I eventually figured out that the mission isn't really about the physical work, either.

Of course, the physical work (or helping others in some way) is a "vehicle" or agent for those on a mission trip to learn (more) about God's will for us.

The work is necessary, but it is the mental/spiritual growth that is available to us when we are out of our comfortable environment that is essential. If others did not learn from this or last year's experiences, it may be that they were not ready for it yet.

The following is a commentary from a Dueber Mission Trip member who was not on the previous year's trip.

MMP

Some thoughts about what I saw ---

I could say that God really laid this mission trip on my heart and that I just couldn't resist His calling, but that would be a lie. This trip just kind of happened. I was asked to go, did some fund-raising, and figured the worst that could happen would be a small case of heat exhaustion and maybe, just maybe, God would use me in some mighty way... so here I am.

After seeing just a small part of where the hurricane hit, I am stunned. It's three years after the storm, and there are so many things still completely destroyed. There are so many people here that are volunteering, and I'm not sure that any of us really understand what a huge thing that is. The families moving into these houses that we're helping build will be forever impacted by this labor of love, if you will. I realize now that I don't need to be used in a mighty way. Painting, hanging shelves, and washing walls is just as important as anything.

There is a part of me that is glad to see the church working together to help each other. There is also another part of me that is at peace with the fact that though time has gone on, people are still volunteering money and labor to support our family in Christ.

However, there's a part of me that wonders why this is the first thing that I, myself, have done for Hurricane Katrina victims. A part of me that wonders why there are people (Christians, no less) all over the world who have contributed nothing.

I'm not passing judgment. However, I am praying that the support will not stop as the years pass and that the "church" will be able to respond to even little needs with such "oomph" in the future.

THE TRIP: Three groups--Blue van leaves early, second groups flies, third group to leave Sunday, after ALIVE at Clay's Park.

Most of these pictures are from those in the blue van group.

Slide Show Number 1 :
We leave early to take our time and to sightsee a little before our scheduled rendezvous at Yankie Stadium, Biloxi on Monday night.

We stop in Hattisburg to thank Heritage United Methodist Church for the use of their Prayer Book for our ENGAGE fundraiser.

!!!

Slide show Number 2:
Still on our way. The blue van does a quick buzz-through of New Orleans before heading to ANTIOCH Dominion Restoration Center in Pass Christian for the night.

!!!

Slide Show Number 3:
ANTIOCH Dominion Restoration Center in Pass Christian, Mississippi, is a wonderful refuge for those helping to restore the area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

At Antioch, we stay the night. In the morning, the blue van travels to the Biloxi Airport to get our Dueber folks who traveled by jet.

Back at Antioch, we have food and fellowship, then leave with our Hosts' prayers and good wishes.

!!!

Slide Show Number 4

Before meeting our Dueber group from the white van, we buzz through New Orleans (less than an hour?) for Dueber people who just flew in, and then head for Biloxi. Our deadline to be at Yankie Stadium (Habitat for Humanity/Salvation Army HQ in Biloxi) is 5 pm on Monday. Because of a traffic jam on the bridge, we barely make it----phew!

!!!

Slide Show Number 5:

Nightly devotions took place in different locations. One night, we got to visit the beach at Biloxi. Other nights we met at picnic tables or on the bleachers at the stadium.

!!!

Slide Show Number 6:

These slides are from on the work sites. It was difficult to take pictures while working in many cases, but we made sure to get pictures of some of the people who came to work with us. Some were far from home, such as the young woman from Colorado who worked for Habitat, but some were from the Biloxi area and working toward a home. All had their story to tell, and most (but not all) told of how God had come into their lives and saved them. Some of their stories will appear in future posts.

!!!

Slide Show Number 7:

!!!

Slide Show Number 8:
!!!

Slide Show Number 9:

Finally, after a hot, humid, busy, and fulfilling week, it was time to say, "Good bye," take folks back to the airport---and to leave. MMP

!!!

"DOING CHURCH" BY THE BOOK

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:44:45 +0000

In May 2008, I shared a thought about "The Church without Walls Ministry." This thought has expanded and my recent studies have helped to clarify and define a very important question God has placed on my heart; "Why do I do what I do when it comes to worshiping God?"

I'm going to address this subject in the "first person" because I believe there are many reading this that have the same or similar questions and have kept it to themselves out of a fear of being persecuted or called a heretic because they would DARE to question the "status quo." So, I'll take the heat off you and be the one to say what you've wanting to say for years.

I must admit, that question was WAY on the back-burner for me, however, the more I thought and prayed about it, the more I realized that I do what I do simply because that is what I was told...shown...demanded to do because, "that's what we do." I never questioned it; I just did it.

* Why do I wait until Sunday to worship God?
* Is the building we call the church really "God's House?"
* Why do I put on my "Sunday Best" to worship God?
* Just what is a "denomination" anyway?
* Is there a Biblical basis for what I do?

These questions just led to more questions and the answers God led me to, have "rocked my world." Ok, I'll say it: The Christian church in America is in a sad state today: Lacking in power and being an ineffective witness to the world.

[again from the first person]
I have allowed tradition and man's thirst for singular significance to cloud and otherwise stifle the Spirit of God as it was demonstrated and recorded in the book of Acts.

I have allowed myself to become less than a sheep as I am entertained into submission and believe I have met my "spiritual obligation" because I have "done church."

[Now collectively]
We have slowly turned what God started as a living organism into a business organization.

We have taken a fully functioning body of active believers and turned it into a group of powerless and passive observers.

Jesus asked this question: "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Mat 15:3 NASB)

What is your answer?

As I read and research material for my weekly newsletter, I have come across many articles on this subject but admittedly glazed over them because they didn't fit the mold I was told, shown, and demanded to fit into because, "that's what we do." [Doing Church]

Now, God has placed me on a new journey in Him, to rekindle the fire that He started in me. A fire that I allowed to smolder and nearly go out. A fire that needs "fanning" by the breath of God's Word. A fire that can only be sustained by returning to my first love; God and God alone without the shackles of tradition.

Why is tradition so strong in our lives? It give us a felling of "belonging" because, "that's what we do."
It's easier to go "with the flow" than to follow the path less taken.

"There is perhaps nothing worse than reaching the top of the ladder and discovering that you're on the wrong wall."
.:::Joseph Campbell:::.

As devastating this would be for a Firefighter during a rescue attempt, how much more devastating the effect on our spiritual lives to be "Doing Church" and not pleasing God.

From my observation of the scriptures, the "church" looked like this:

* Met in homes
* Lord's Supper taken as a full meal
* Worship was open and participatory
* Spiritual Gifts were employed by all members
* Was seen and acted like family
* Elders were to oversee the various home gatherings
* Established & aided by itinerant apostolic workers
* Fully united - no denominations
* No honorific titles
* No hierarchical organization

Where is this church today?

We are separated by dogma and tradition.

The "Church" is people - not buildings.

Jesus defined the simplest form of a church "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matt. 18:20).

A church is where its members are, at any given time.
Part of our problem, in reaching the world today, results from our "building" mentality. When we think of the activities of the church, we tend to think only of what goes on within the four walls of the church building, rather than what takes place in the world through what believers say, do, and are.

Limiting our spiritual activity to a building (church) tends to allow us to do whatever we want to do (sin) whenever we are away from that building and thus elevating that location to "hallowed ground" status.

We have returned to the temple of Old Testament times.
We have again limited access to God through one location and through one person - the high priest.

Jesus tore the division between man and God at the cross. He illustrated to us that the temple was no longer "His House", that He lives in the heart of every believer.

How the angels must wonder that we make so little use of this privilege of a personal audience with the King!

I feel deeply in my heart that God is looking for His people to worship him in spirit and in truth. God is looking for His "Church" to re-emerge and become the vibrant, growing, organism it once was. God is looking for a remnant of people to help educate the masses to the fact that tradition has stunted the growth of the body of Christ. God is looking for His people to remove the idols we have built up and placed before Him.

shalat dan parameternya,...

roisz — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:39:57 +0000

parameter apa sebenarnya yang menunjukkan bahwa shalat kita sudah ditegakkan?

bukan hanya sekedar dilakukan,...

begitu banyak bacaan dan buku yang mengupas mengenai kedahsyatan ibadah yang satu ini,

setiap lembar demi lembarnya selalu menuntun kenyataan bahwa terbuang sia-sianya waktu kita ketika melakukan shalat, bukan karena apa, tapi karena kita (lebih tepatnya saya) belum sadar dan tahu betapa pentingnya shalat bagi kita secara sisi fisik, dan ataupun psikologis, sehingga shalat hanya menjadi sebuah rutinitas dan aktivitas yang begitu-gitu saja

jika Engkau berkenan, mudahkan hamba untuk dapat mengenali setiap maksud yang tersembunyi atas titahmu. Amin

Bisa Gila

roisz — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:51:35 +0000

lama-lama memang bisa gila, itu adalah kalimat yang tercetus kala mendengar gumam seorang penjaja barang dagangan yang sudah tiga hari tidak berhasil menjual barang dagangannya. kuberanikan untuk bertanya

"memangna kunaon kang?" tanyaku (memangnya kenapa, kang?)

"ieu den, tos tilu dinten meni teu acan ngalarisan" (ini den, sudah tiga hari belum ada penglarisnya)

"oh" balasku

"muhun da, pami teu disabaran mah, panginten tiasa gelo kieu teh, tapi da percaya bapak mah, rejeki mah tos aya nu ngatur, ngan kadang teu karaos we ku urang" balasnya (iya, sebenarnya kalau tidak diiringi rasa sabar, bisa gila jadinya. tapi saya percaya kalau rejeki sudah ada yang ngatur, tapi kita saja yan kadang tidak merasanya kalau rejeki itu ada bersama kita)

setelah satu dua tiga kalimat saling bertukar, akhirnya sang bapak pun berlalu bersama dagangannya.

memang sepantasnya harus lebih banyak bersyukur, setidaknya masih banyak orang di luar sana yang kurang beruntung jika dibandingkan dengan kondisi kita saat ini. Subhanallah, Walhamdulillah.

Getting Ready!

profplumb — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:02:39 +0000

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Getting Ready!
Current mood: blessed
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Hello! This is Rik and Martha, and we're getting ready for the journey (mental and physical) to the Biloxi/ Gulf Port region. Last year's experiences were great---I didn't realize that we were the ones being blessed---until afterward!

We are going there to physically help where and when we can---certainly, but I (Martha) believe that what we are to learn will come from the people with whom we come into contact.

For example, last year, Rik, being the friendly guy he is, introduced himself to a neighbor living in an older house that was near a Habitat for Humanity house. The fellow said he was grateful that so many folks were willing to help build the neighborhood. Rik told him a little about our church and gave witness.

Last year, we also met many people who had "weathered" Katrina and the other storms and lost almost everything but their faith. Many (if not all) had their faith in God strengthened by this trial. What a blessing to meet these folks and hear their stories!

That's about it for now. To whom will God lead us?

Blessings!

Martha and Rik

Currently reading :
Devotional Classics: Revised Edition: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups
By Richard J. Foster
Release date: By 2005-06-28

YOUR WORD FOR TODAY

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:22:57 +0000

YOUR WORD FOR TODAY

"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things." Joel 2:21.

This is the Word for you today. I rebuke every fear in your life in the name of Jesus. The fear of the unknown, the fear of what is going to happen next. Fear is a torment and is a spirit. Fear will reduce or remove your Faith. Where there is fear, there is no faith. So therefore, refuse to fear. "Perfect love casteth out fear..." I John 4:18. Release yourself from fear and hold on tight to faith.

The Lord said He will do great things in your life. "Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth ... I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isa 3:19. This week, you shall prosper in whatsoever you lay your hands upon. The Lord will make a way for you and give you a breakthrough, in Jesus name.

If you believe it, say it to yourself, I RECEIVE, in Jesus name.

The Divine Algorithm

ujjwalkumar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:53:47 +0000

We can create worlds out of CAD.. Even the GOD does so.. I wonder if there is SOMEBODY who has a VERY DYNAMIC SOFTWARE with perfect blends, textures and curves.. & we r all programmed by him involoving matrix multiplications, complex calculations & a lot more things which only HE understands..

The part of HIS program which we understand, we call it SCIENCE..

& the one which is beyond the scope of SCIENCE, it is called RELIGION..

MAN=(UNDERSTOOD PROGRAM)?GOD:MAN;

The Divine Plan

ujjwalkumar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:50:01 +0000

A common feedback from most of my friends was,’ you do not write readable blogs’.. This one is a readable post, but I am afraid, not the easiest one to understand..

History of the whole world has been the history of a few hundred people who had faith in themselves..

Things that I thought impossible were only a bit more difficult than the possible ones..

For me, technology is not a bottleneck, but innovation is..

Human Brain is a technology that was developed by God long ago.. Look, first he released a beta version, then release candidates (rc’s) and then finally a full version of Human Brain, completely free to all humans, compatibility issues with other species..

Human beings can never create an intelligence matching their own, for simply the reason that, men can never equal the technology that god has polished over time..

Human Brain has got immense capabilities, something beyond the imagination of Human Brain itself.. I have played symphonies of Beethoven, given finest of speeches, created the best of compositions in dreams, waking up just to wonder how could it be me? Not the person in the dream, but the one who fabricated it.. It is true that many of my innovations were seeded in dreams.. It is also true that I have fixed lots of bugs in dreams.. All forms of training involve nothing but the training of the Brain..

A thought that struck my mind all of a sudden in the NCC camp, puzzles me still now.. Our body is something over which, definitely, we have got all the rights.. Still, we can control only some of its actions.. A boy gets a moustache at 15, his body produces the necessary hormones, its his Brain that stimulates the pituitary.. Why can’t he reverse it, if he doesn’t need a moustache? Its really weird to talk about, but, if a person can control his Brain, he can very well change the body characteristics, the genes itself, and thereby all his character traits.. In other words, he won’t be any different from, what we call, a Superman....

The greatest genius of modern times is Einstein, and is known to use only 5% of his Brain.. It were the ancient Indians who could use it to the fullest..

God had always feared his own downfall.. Look at His Plan, he gradually commented out the method in Human Brain to control itself in successive versions .. Still, some pirated copies of the original version are left :P ..

For me, when it comes to innovation, I keep quiet, persuade my Brain (His technology), requesting it to deliver something..

Human Brain is obviously, a complex piece of code..

CONNECTIONS Newsletter for week of June 15, 2008

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:33:06 +0000

Connecting man to man to God
Issue 212

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

CONSIDER
“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand, instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your account on your thumb-nail.” Henry David Thoreau

DR. KWAME BEDIAKO: IN MEMORY
Dr. Kwame Bediako recently passed away. Kwame was a most remarkable senior African leader. He had a surpassing level of scholarship (two doctorates -- one in English and one in French), he had a range of knowledge of the history of the church in Africa (and Europe), and he had a most profound understanding of the relationship between the gospel and African culture. He also had a huge passion to bring African Christians together to affirm their Christian identity in authentic ways that would overcome some of the worst legacies of the colonial era. And yet he wore all this learning with such a light touch. His twinkling eyes and sparkling humor and laughter were a constant tonic.... Read this in full and see a brief video at
http://zondervan.typepad.com/zondervan/2008/06/kwame-bediako.html

RAZOR WIRE, IRON BARS & FREEDOM IN CHRIST
The gates shut as the volunteers walk past the rows of razor wire and an unsettling feeling of the macabre life envelops the group. Before they enter a tier of jail cells, the group pauses to pray for the grim-faced mugshots posted on the wall.

"I'm not an animal just because I'm locked up," an inmate later tells a volunteer. He'll spend the rest of his life behind bars until his execution day at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

"Seeing these young men on death row locked up ... it's heartbreaking," said John Elliott, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Natchitoches, La. Even so, he said, "I'm glad I got be a part of this ... and share [the gospel]."

More than 155 Louisiana Baptist volunteers prepared food, led revival services and participated in one-on-one evangelism in cells and dorms of prisoners during the annual Angola Revival.

The May 15-16 outreach began with a service in the prison's rodeo arena. The Real Encounter team, an extreme sports ministry based in Missouri, showcased their skills before giving a Gospel message and extending an invitation to turn to Christ.... Read this in full at
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28157

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH 'WORLD'S FIRST CHURCH'
Archaeologists unearthed in Jordan what they believe to be the world’s first church. "We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from AD33 to 70," said Abdul Qader al-Hussan, the head of Jordan's Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, to The Jordan Times. He added that the discovery was “amazing.”

The nearly 2,000-year-old church was discovered underneath Saint George Church in Rihab, Mafraq, in northern Jordan near the Syrian border. St. George dates back to AD230, and is considered the oldest “proper” church in the world.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080610/32762_Archaeologists_Unearth_%27World%27s_First_Church%27.htm

BELIEF IN GOD
“The very strength and facility of the pessimists' case at once poses us a problem. If the universe is so bad, or even half so bad, how on earth did human beings ever come to attribute it to the activity of a wise and good Creator? Men are fools, perhaps; but hardly so foolish as that. The direct inference from black to white, from evil flower to virtuous root, from senseless work to a workman infinitely wise, staggers belief. The spectacle of the universe as revealed by experience can never have been the ground of religion: it must have always been something in spite of which religion, acquired from a different source, was held.” C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), The Problem of Pain [1944]

THE TRUTH BEHIND FAKE GODS
by Jason Lawrenz
"Do not make idols" is a really hard commandment to follow. I'm a movie guy, and one of my all-time favorites is Raiders of the Lost Ark. The boulder scene, the fistfight around the Nazi bomber, the car chase where Indy climbs underneath a moving truck. ... I could go on and on. But there is an early scene in Raiders that seems weird every time I watch it.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2008/002/25.15.html

LEADERSHIP TIPS (BUSINESS, FAMILY, LIFE)
“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” Naguib Mahfouz

VERSE TO PONDER
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

CONSIDER
“Life is short, and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh, be swift to love, make haste to be kind!” Henri Amiel

PEACE, SECURITY
A submarine being tested had to be submerged for several hours. Upon returning to harbor, the captain was asked, "How did that terrible storm last night affect you?" Surprised, the captain exclaimed, "Storm? We didn't even know there was one!" Their submarine had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached what sailors refer to as "the cushion of the sea" -- a depth in the ocean where the waters below are never stirred despite any commotion on the surface.

David Jeremiah says, "In our fast-paced world, it is a challenge to slow down and remember God is in control. We are a society of 'do-everything,' 'go-everywhere,' 'get-it-done' people who mistakenly believe we can handle everything if we just keep going. In reality, we need to become so submerged in God's peace that no matter what's happening in our lives, we are able to remain as calm as 'the cushion of the sea.'

"If you feel overwhelmed, bogged down, or burnt out, add one more activity to your daily schedule: Spend time with Almighty God. It is the only way to reach the depth needed to find true calm in the midst of any storm."
Turning Point Daily Devotional, 4-1-08

CHURCHES UNHAPPY OVER FATHER FIGURES
It is normally the emotive issue of abortion or the complexities of hybrid embryos that have raised the greatest passions in the debate over the Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill. But the Church of England has reserved its greatest ire for the decision of MPs to allow single women and lesbian couples to seek IVF treatment without having to consider the need for a father for their children.

Its verdict is stark. "This vote sends a signal that fathers don't matter," it said. "The Church holds that a child's right not to be deliberately deprived of having a father is greater than any 'right' to a child through IVF. "We are extremely disappointed that the important role of fathers was not recognized in the bill, and that we now have a situation where the perceived 'right' to have a child trumps the right for a child to be given the best possible start in life." Read this in full at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7413874.stm

ARE YOU WILLING TO LISTEN?
“A child frequently needs for a parent to set aside the temptation to instruct or give advice in favor of simply sharing in the moment at hand: a moment that offers a reason to cheer, to laugh, to cry -- and always to listen. Your child will see these reactions as tangible expressions that she can count on you to understand the circumstances she is dealing with. Sometimes the words kids really need to hear are those they say to a parent willing to listen.” David Staal, Words Kids Need to Hear To Help Them Be Who God Made Them to Be

HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
Some people are neither committed to proper people skills nor share the same relationship ideals that normal people do. You'll have to deal with these people, and you probably won't be able to "change" them. So don't be shocked when you meet a difficult person, and don't fall victim to their negativism.... Read this in full at
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D150696%252526M%25253D200809%2C00.html

DECLINING INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH
In Faith & Family Values magazine, Ed Stetzer writes, "We live in a world that is losing respect for Christianity. People don't like Christians all that much, but they do like Jesus -- at least the Jesus they have created in their own image.

"LifeWay Research discovered some sobering facts during two surveys conducted in 2007 of 1,402 people who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue, or mosque in the past six months. The following statements were agreed to 'somewhat or strongly':

*62% -- 'The God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual beings depicted by world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.'
*86% -- 'I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church.'
*79% -- 'I think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.'

"Perhaps the most sobering statistic is that 44% of people agreed (somewhat or strongly) with the statement, 'Christians get on my nerves.' I spoke with a CNN reporter who indicated that even he was 'startled' by the number. Few would be willing to say, 'Jews/Muslims/Buddhists’ get on my nerves.'"
http://faithandfamily.com/magazine/

TOO MUCH FAITH IN FAITH
by Alan Jacobs
"If there is one agreed-upon point in the current war of words about religion, it is that religion is a very powerful force...I have my doubts, and they begin with personal experience. I am by most measures a pretty deeply committed Christian. Yet when I ask myself how much of what I do and think is driven by my religious beliefs, the honest answer is 'not so much.' The books I read, the food I eat, the music I listen to, my hobbies and interests, the thoughts that occupy my mind throughout the greater part of every day -- these are, if truth be told, far less indebted to my Christianity than to my status as a middle-aged, middle-class American man...Though it may seem ironic for a Christian to be saying this, it's time to talk less about the power of religion and remember instead the dark forces in all human lives that religious language is too often used to hide.... Read this in full at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121271181887250603.html

HUNGRY FOR GOD
Spiritual formation is not new but it has been rediscovered, and it is attracting evangelicals.... Read this in full at
http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=5772&srcid=1520

FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT REINTRODUCED
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., has introduced a constitutional amendment to protect marriage from redefinition by state and federal judges. The Marriage Protection Amendment is being offered in response to the recent 4-3 decision by the California Supreme Court to redefine marriage to include unions between homosexuals. The amendment, which has failed twice in the House and twice in the Senate, states: “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.”

“Americans have traditionally recognized this definition as being the most beneficial arrangement for the creation of stable family structures and for the upbringing of children,” Broun said. “Americans have repeatedly shown their preference for the traditional definition of one-man, one-woman marriage by passing state and federal laws or by amending state constitutions to preserve the traditional definition. “There simply is no basis for the suggestion that homosexual ‘marriage’ is a right protected by the United States Constitution.”

The amendment has received widespread support from Republicans. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the likely GOP presidential nominee, was one of five Republican senators to oppose the amendment in 2004.

NEW AIRLINE RULES
Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?

Passenger: Sure.

Attendant: You're in seat 12B. That will be $5, please!

Passenger: What for?

Attendant: For telling you where to sit.

Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.

Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of $5. It's the airline's new policy.

Passenger: That's the craziest thing I ever heard. I won't pay it.

Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?

Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I'll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.

Attendant: Thank you. My goodness, your carry-on bag looks heavy. Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?

Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.

Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.

Passenger: What?

Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.

Passenger: This is extortion. I won't stand for it.

Attendant: Actually, you're right, you can't stand. You need to sit, and fasten your seat belt. We're about to push back from the gate. But, first I need that $10.

Passenger: No way!

Attendant: Sir, if you don't comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal. And you really don't want me to do that.

Passenger: Why not? Is he going to shoot me?

Attendant: No, but there's a $50 air-marshal hailing fee.

Passenger: Oh, all right, here, take the $10. I can't believe this.

Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Passenger: Yes. It's stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn't seem to work. Can you fix it?

Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes.

Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air?

Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It's the circulating air that costs 50 cents.

Passenger: I don't have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar?

Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go!

Passenger: But you've given me only three quarters for my dollar.

Attendant: Yes, there's a change making fee of 25 cents.

Passenger: For cryin' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter? What the heck can I do with this?

Attendant: Hang onto it. You'll need it later for the lavatory.
http://www.mikeysFunnies.com

THE SCIENCE OF GOOD EATING
You know that eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health. But did you know that certain foods offer specific, proven health benefits? Read this in full at
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/the_science_of_good.html?NLC-WBLTR-CTRL&DET=F3-53008

CONSIDER
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.” Unknown

VERSE TO PONDER
"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:2-4

THIS WEEK'S HYMN: RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD
Words: William P. Merrill, 1911
Music: William H. Walter, 1872

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

>from CyberHymnal at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/i/riseupom.htm

ON PRAYER
How You Can Live the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is much more than just a model of how best to pray. It's a statement of how to get to know God's heart. And when you live out those words, God will transform you completely. Here's how you can live the Lord's Prayer:

Our: Realize that the journey to a deeper walk with God can only be fully lived in the company of God's people. Faith is not an individual pursuit; it's meant to be pursued within the context of community. Whenever you abandon the body of Christ, you're abandoning yourself. You can't grow in grace by withdrawing from others. Commit to long-term relationships with people. When you face a difficulty in any of your relationships, don't simply run or battle it out with the other person. Instead, resolve the issue and reconcile. Focus on people over productivity and on relationships over results. Instead of looking at people in terms of what they can do for you, seek to simply get to know them and love them. Don't place people in categories and distinguish between them. Ask God to help you view all people as He sees them -- equally valuable because they're all made in His image -- and to treat everyone with respect and kindness. Remember that you can truly love God if you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Don't let anything divide the unity God wants you to have. Remain committed to each other, living in grace and forgiveness, just as God remains committed to you.

Father: Experience true love and security from your ultimate Father: God. Remember the Gospel's promise of freedom. Don't slip into a lifestyle of worrying about duties, obligations, rules, regulations, expectations, and demands when God wants you live freely. Instead of trying to live faithfully just because you'd feel guilty if you didn't, let your love for God and your gratitude for His grace motivate you to live faithfully. Rather than letting fear guide your decisions, make decisions with the confidence that God will love you no matter what and will always be there to help you.... Read this in full at
http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11575955/

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!

"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!
ChristianConnectionTravel.com

Books, Music & More!
ChristianConnectionBooks.com

Get your domain name here!
GoGlobalDomains.com

Let me show you how to earn money as you travel!
FrankColeman.com
It's as easy as 1-2-3

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WEBSITES
Tell us what sites you find enjoyable and why.

Weird Converter
http://www.weirdconverter.com/

Free College Classes
http://oedb.org/library/features/236-open-courseware-collections

All links to websites are provided as a service, and do not imply endorsement by our church.

Each of us is a mixture of dust and deity.
Min. Frank Coleman, Editor
rev.frank@gmail.com

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Get Archives of all past issues here:
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DAVID, GOLIATH & THE PRINCESS

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:49:39 +0000

1 Samuel 17

Forget everything you ever saw on television or ever saw in the movies or they ever taught you as a kid about David & Goliath because they don't teach children truth for some reason, they don't think children can handle it. And if you think this is blasphemous or you get mad at me, go back and look it up in the Scripture yourself and you'll see that what I'm telling you is the truth.

There were approximately 900,000 people on that battle field. 500,000 in the Philistine army and across the ravine were 400,000 Israeli troops. So when Goliath gave his speech, everybody didn't hear it. This was a big ordeal. The armies were camped there for months testing out each other's perimeters and fronts, but no real battle.

So there's Goliath, giving his speech and everyday, a different row of troops would hear it because the fronts shift & change and some even ran when they heard Goliath's word. This went on for 40 days.

David went home to tend the sheep and was sent back to the front to check on his three brothers & report back to their father, Jesse. As David approached his brothers, Goliath came forth and gave his speech again. It mush have been a great speech because ALL ISRAEL FLED (RAN.)

Now, some Sunday School teachers give the impression that David stood there alone while everybody else took off and he went up against Goliath. Read it again, “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (That included David)

Back at camp, David heard an interesting conversation. The men around the fire were talking and they said: To the man that kills Goliath, the King would make him rich, give him his daughter as wife and his entire family wouldn't have to pay taxes as long as there was a king in Israel.

Having heard that, David asked them to repeat it, and they did; and THAT'S when David stood up and said, “WHAT? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God.”

David wasn't turned on by Goliath, David was turned on by the Princess!

You aren't turned on by your obstacles (Goliath), You're turned on by your goals (Princess.)

David's brother was jealous and tried to discredit David in front of the men, “Who are you, you're nothing but a stable boy that tends the sheep. By the way, who's taking care of the sheep while you're playing hooky here? You're just here as a spectator!” [my paraphrase]

You should have good counsel, you should even have good criticism, you shouldn't be blind, you should know all the facts; but when you make up you mind and you determine what you want, even if it seems impossible, and you've set your course, you better surround yourself with people who are supportive, who will dream with you; or you should quit, give up your dream; you'll never have it without that kind of support.

Now at this point, David did what we must do when we are ridiculed or fed negatives from our “well meaning” friends and relatives; he turned from the negative toward another, “what's the reward for the man that kills Goliath?” And they told him again. You have to take another look at your goal.

It still wasn't over then, David went to the king to claim his spot to go up against Goliath and get his prize. Again, David came up against opposition; “You're just a boy, Goliath will eat you up and spit you out, just like that.” [again my paraphrase]

David would not be moved, he pressed his case and won the OK of the king. Sometimes you just have to press your case for success so hard that even the king has to step aside and let you do it. Remember, David gave God the glory for his past successes and knew that God would see him through this battle. We have to keep God as our commander and chief as we war for our dreams and goals.

If your eyes are on Goliath, he'll beat you. You've got to have a dream. You can't fight just to have a fight, you've got to have a REASON to fight.

That's why David ran out there to face Goliath, he had a REASON; he'll marry the princess, he'll own horses, he'll never have to fill out a tax form on April 15^th; a REASON!

Now, we all know the outcome of the story. David went up against Goliath, defeated him and received his reward. (Dream)

How bad do you want your dream? What Goliath's are you willing to run through to get to your dream?

WERE YOU BLESSED BY THESE WORDS? Please let me know by writing me and sharing your testimony/praise reports.

Sincerely,

Rev. Franklin D. Coleman

THIS IS YOUR DAY OF DECISION

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:18:45 +0000

THIS IS YOUR DAY OF DECISION

How often have we sat around waiting for things to be "perfect" before we take any course of action?

We wait... think... wait... think... poll our friends... wait... think... wait... wait.. wait... until we finally succumb to either the negatives we get from our "millionaire" friends, who know us better than us and/or we succumb to our own inability to make a decision for ourselves (FEAR.)

In a recent Bible Study series, we discussed what it takes to receive the Gifts from God. Although we were talking about the Gift of Prophesy, these principles apply to every area of our lives.

Read Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

We broke down this verse to give us the base for which we can stand on receiving whatever we DECIDE to do.

You have to “want to” (desire)
You have to pray
You have to believe
Then You receive

Too simple?

Yes.

Our human nature wants to complicate everything we do.
We are instructed to Tithe; we have to debate on gross vs. net.
We are instructed to trust and obey; we have to create multitudes of denominations to define what we are trusting and obeying.

God's Word IS simple. Here it is:
Love the Lord with all your heart; Treat others as you would like to be treated. (Frank's paraphrase, get the Word by reading the following)
Mat. 22:37-40
Mark 12:30-31
Luke 10:27

Too simple?

No.

Joel prophesied the reaping of souls on that great and dreadful day in the "valley of decision." (Joel 3:9-17) We need to DECIDE where our allegiances lie; with God, or with satan.

We need to decide if what we want is really what we want and get on with it.

You have to “want to” (desire)
You have to pray
You have to believe
Then You receive

Too simple?

You decide

PROVERBS 4

Min. Franklin D. Coleman — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:27:23 +0000

Prov. 4 ends with the admonition to stay the course.

Obtaining wisdom and understanding is the principle theme of this chapter, stressing it's importance and how those you associate with can effect your life.

Once you start on a path that God has set you on; let wisdom guide your walk then put the "blinders" on and get to work.

Here is what I got out of this reading today.

Guard your heart
The enemy wants to corrupt you. Guard your heart against contamination by lust and loneliness, bigotry and arrogance, and everything in between. Your enemies may even hide in good deeds done for evil motives. Only you can build this guard because no other person can discern your motives and intentions.

Hold Your tongue (Read: James 3:1-12)
James did not mince words in warning about the power of the tongue. He said it's easier to control a horse, guide a mighty ship, and tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures than to control the tongue (3:3-8). He called it a "fire" ignited by hell itself (v.6), and "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (v.8).

We all would be wise to pray daily, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps. 141:3).

Fix your eyes on your goals
One of the main precepts of goal setting is to look where you want to go. Once you focus on an obstacle, though, you're likely to end up hitting it.

Looking where you want to go doesn't mean ignoring the obstacles. It means being aware of them, but finding your focus on the path around (or over!) them.

Stand Firm (Read 2 Th 2:13-15)
The Apostle Paul is saying that no matter how bad things become in the world, Christians are expected to be different! Christians are expected to finish the race!

Do not listen to anyone that does not support your dreams and goals.
In the often told story of David & Goliath we read that David won the day by trusting in God and defeating that "uncircumcised Philistine." What we have not looked at was the "advise" given to him by his relatives & friends. His brother tried to discourage David by calling him conceited and wicked. King Saul looked at David's stature and tried to discourage him by calling him only a boy. David decided that these words would fall to the ground, unfruitful, by getting a second opinion from some supporters then pressing his case to the King. David didn't let the words of “nay-sayers” defeat him. (We'll talk a little more about this battle later)

Here is my little advise to those of you that have a God breathed dream:
"Those that do not support your dreams & goals should lose all influence in your life."

Go with the wisdom and understanding of God.

urunan dosa yuk,...

roisz — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:57:45 +0000

Mungkin itu adalah kampanye yang disampaikan sebagian dari dalam diriku. Setiap hari, setiap waktu, setiap jam, menit, dan detiknya.

Apakah sudah terlambat untuk menyesali semuanya, ketika nasi sudah menjadi bubur (ah, mungkin hanya tinggal diberi kecap, ditaburi bawang goreng, ayam, ati ampela, dan kerupuk), maka jadilah ia makanan yang sedap. Tapi jika dosa?

Bagiku, pertambahan dosa adalah pangkat kuadratik dari usia, sementara pertambahan pahala tidak berjalan linear. Dosa semakin bertambah saja, dosa semakin menggunung saja.

Taubat, ah itu hanya jadi sebuah istilah saja, lip service mungkin. Toh pada kenyataannya dosa yang kulakukan senantiasa berulang, walau tidak dalam sebuah interval yang pasti.

Shalat, rasanya semakin lama berkurang kualitasnya, semakin jauh dari kata khusyuk, padahal aku sendiri tidak tahu apa artinya khusyuk, dan seperti apa shalat yang khusyuk. Sejauh ini, shalat barulah merupakan sebuah kewajiban, bukan kebutuhan bagiku.

Tersungkur dalam sebuah sujud panjang dikeheningan hanyalah menjadi bunga mimpi belaka. Mengalun indah bersama dengkuran, atau berselimut dalam kedinginan. Padahal, di sana letak kebahagiaan hakiki bagi seorang muslim yang beriman.

Masjid, begitu jauh. Hanya seminggu sekali secara rutin didatangi, padahal di sana adalah gudangnya barokah.

Al Quran, masih kalah jauh sama tumpukan novel-novel fiksi, koran, dan majalah, serta buku-buku penggugah jiwa katanya, tapi yang ada bagiku, hanya penghabis waktu belaka jika tidak diiringi dengan peningkatan pengetahuan akan iman dan akhirat. Karena harus berjalan seimbang dan selaras.

Hidup terus berjalan, terlewati bait demi baitnya, melangkah pasti pada setiap lariknya, tak ada yang pasti apa yang akan terjadi esok hari, aku? terus mengikutinya, nafsu menjadi pengiringnya.

Bagaikan panggang jauh dari api, hidupku sepi dan dingin, bukannya tidak ada yang menemani, tapi jauh di relung sepi rasanya jauh dari kehangatan itu. Aku semakin jauh dari pemilikku sendiri, aku terlalu angkuh, tinggi hati, dan tak sadarkan diri, tak terasa dunia semakin tua saja. Akhirat sudah dekat cing, mpok, nyak, babeh. Noh, banyak fenomena akhir zaman yang muncul kepermukaan.

Aku mulai merasakan nikmatnya korupsi, jatah hidup yang semestinya dipakai untuk beribadah, sedikit demi sedikit aku korupsi untuk kenikmatan duniawi, tidur panjang (bukan istirahat), dan semakin lama-semakin asyik dan terbuai. Jika saja KPK akhirat mendapati bukti-bukti ini, tak perlu lama proses pengadilan, masuklah aku ke penjaranya, yang dikenal dengan istilah Jahannam.

Hingga suatu hari (tadi pagi tepatnya), kubayangkan tengah bercengkerama dengan malaikat Izrail, di sebuah waktu. Berbicara sambil minum teh di sebuah tempat, kemudian Izrail berkata, "apakah kamu sudah siap menghadap Illahi Rabbi?" padahal kita tahu, makhluk yang satu ini tidak bisa diajak kompromi, apalagi suap. Tak bisa. Ia hanya patuh pada satu titah, tak bisa ia mundurkan, juga ia majukan. Matilah aku saat itu.

Hingga kemudian, hatiku menjerit saat ini. Bulu kudukku berdiri. Dalam benakku sekonyong-konyong muncul pertanyaan.

Akankah esok jadi lebih baik dari hari ini?

Akankah esok masih ada matahari yang menemani dluhaku?

Akankah esok ada bulan yang bersujud bersama dalam tahajudku?

Akankah esok ada kesempatan bagiku, untuk mengubur semua dosa, mencari sebuah ketenangan diri, bersembunyi dibalik rindangnya iman, bahkan seluruh jasadku turut bertasbih?

Aku takut, aku galau, jika sedianya pagi, sore ini atau bahkan malam nanti Izrail datang mengetuk pintu, dan bertamu.

Aku cemas, sangat cemas, jika tiada bisa bersyukur dengan tulus.

Aku takut, jika kualitas hidupku terus menurun, terus menurun, terus menurun, hingga di akhir hayatku, takut tidak memiliki kualitas hidup sama sekali, hanya sampah, bangkai yang menanti dikuburkan saja.

Laa haula, wa laa Quwwata Illa billah,...

4 juni 2008, 26 tahun beranjak dari hari natalku.