National Evangelist Mike Willingham to Address COGOP International Assembly

August 12-18, 2008, Nashville, TN, Somet Center

Four Steps to Building a Bridge Between Then and Now

[By Rick Warren]

Your job as a preacher is to build a bridge between the ancient text of the Bible and your contemporary audience. It’s easy to be biblical if you don’t care about being relevant. It’s easy to be relevant if you don’t care about being biblical. But as pastors, we’re called to be both. In this issue we’ll look at four steps to building a bridge between then and now.

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Synergy

Synergy exists to help Christian organizations, church denominations, and local churches to advance the Kingdom of God by working to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.

We are particularly committed to strengthening the local church and pastors by providing relevant advice and concrete action plans for the congregation.

With this commitment, Synergy endeavors to provide personal and practical support to church leaders in the form of conferences, research, church health surveys, local church consulting, and other relevant resources.

We believe that denominations and similar entities exist to serve the local churches/pastors. And we are committed to empowering them to accomplish their mission.

Synergy
Post Office Box 134
Mentone, AL 35984

SynergyMin@aol.com

256-418-0620

Today's Prayer

Dear God,

Thank YOU that for every hurt, every fear, every worry, every need, there is a remedy -- through the power of the Resurrection, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the care of the Almighty, everything is going to be all right. As long as you are in control of my life, everything is going to be all right.

I cling the Savior's invitation to "come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

I praise you Father, for loving me so much that you sent your only begotten son, full of grace and truth, to take my sins upon him that I might be made righteous in your sight. Thank you for the tremendous sacrifice, for your love and mercy, for life eternal, for being all that really matters -- for being my Remedy. I love you.

In the name of Jesus, amen.

Book Announcement - Fifty Way to Leave Left Behind

Fifty Ways to Leave Left Behind
212 pages $13.99 Released: 2007-12-04
Tate Publishing & Enterprises
Available through Ingram or at http://www.amazon.com/

FIFTY WAYS TO LEAVE LEFT BEHIND is an opposing presentation to the views represented by the LEFT BEHIND series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Fifty Ways traces fifty parallels between Exodus and Revelation to demonstrate that Revelation follows the pattern of Exodus from beginning to end. Some of the parallels are as follows:
Both books begin with tribulation
Both books begin with a prophet in exile
Both prophets have a burning bush experience
Both prophets tell of a promised-land
Both lead to great plagues on the wicked
Both feature two prominent witnesses
Both show a woman escaping from a dragon on the wings of an eagle after which she is married to the LORD
The first book begins with twelve tribes and ends with seven lamps in the new tabernacle, the second begins with seven lamps and ends with twelve tribes in the new temple.

Seeing these parallels enables one to see that Revelation follows a consistent story line and makes it untenable to break the book up into different segments for different eras of history or for different nationalities as is necessary for the logic of the LEFT BEHIND series.

There are a couple of reviews posted at Amazon.com and there is a review by Dr. Walter G. Nunn printed in The Alabama Baptist January 17 issue.

Endorsers include Dr. Frank Page (recent president of the SBC),
The late Dr. Robert G. Witty (Founder and first president of Luther Rice Seminary),
And Dr. David Garland (Baylor University)

This book will contain some difficult issues but the writing is simple enough for any layman to read. Hope you find this sufficient to bring the book into your library system.

Sincerely,
Roger Snow

Systematic Spiritual Discipline

Our spiritual formation is assisted by systematic self discipline.

Health is found in balance.

I have thought about many disciplines, but a long list can be overwhelming. So, please allow me to suggest just a few to live by:

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES;
- Daily time with God
- Practicing a weekly Sabbath

FAMILY DISCIPLINES;
- Regular date night with your spouse
- Monthly son/daughter lunch or dinner

PERSONAL GROWTH DISCIPLINES;
- Reading one book a month
- A monthly mentoring or coaching relations

What would you add? Click "comments" below.