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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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April 4, 2005 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
It is the Easter season and we should be full of joy.
The statement above may reflect your feelings – or
not. When there is sorrow, anguish, pain, depression and
other hardships in our lives then joy fees like the furthest
thing. However, real joy, the joy of knowing that we are
not doomed and ultimately will experience a resurrected
life is something we should carry with us always. I believe
it was C.S. Lewis who remarked that true joy is only known
in its association with sorrow. It seems like a paradox.
Ah yes, much of God’s truth is that way. I find on
the journey that life is more “both/and” than “either/or”.
The passing of Pope John Paul II and Terri Schiavo has
brought their lives and deaths to the forefront of the
news. As we reflect on their lives it might be prudent
to consider lessons learned from them. Ultimately we are
all dependent on God. People can argue either side of right-to-life
and right-to-die issues. In the end God is still the Creator.
We can choose to joyfully accept our lives and be an instrument
of the Creator or take the lonely, and ultimately futile,
path of self reliance.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Using the Internet For Good
In The Spotlight: Internet
Evangelism Day
Daily Thoughts: Pouring Out His Spirit
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Complain as Little as Possible |
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Using
the Internet for Good
THE CHALLENGE
OF ONLINE EVANGELISM
Article by Tom Gilbert
There has been nothing like
it in the history of mankind. Millions of computers
are connecting and sharing information around the
globe. The click of a mouse gives new meaning to
the “world is your oyster”.
Citizens of this new online realm (Netizens) experience a dizzying
array of information, commerce and interaction. The
world wide community of the Web has changed the way
many of us live.
It’s
All Good
Is it really? Only the most naïve would say so.
There is vast potential for abuse, whether it is easy
access to pornography, gambling and cyber sex to the
danger of isolation by “unplugging” from
the real world and escaping to an online virtual reality.
Yet, there is great potential for good. Part of the wonder and attraction of
the Internet is the ability to access so much so easily. The Net is also very
interactive.
It “pulls” at our senses and requires us
to log on, click and enter. It also combines a number
of senses, including sight, sound and touch.
Seekers abound on the Internet. Many people who are reluctant to engage in philosophical,
spiritual or religious discussions – much less
enter a church – are comfortable exploring
these areas through a connected computer.
There are also many believers and people already on a spiritual path that are
hungry for engaging content and dialogue.
How to successfully spread the Gospel through the web is the
subject of the Online
Evangelism guide presented through Gospelcom.net. You can learn
more about various strategies being used on the Internet to reach cyber-surfers.
From the type of language to bridge sites; design to generating traffic; addressing
the need and witnessing with technology, you will discover a wealth of helpful
information.
Read the entire article here.
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Internet
Evangelism Day
 April
24 is the first annual Internet Evangelism
Day, an opportunity to learn more about the
impact and potential of online ministry. Find free resources
and ideas to raise awareness of online evangelism in
your community.
Discover what God is doing on the Web, outreach strategies that work online and
how you, your church or Christian group can use the Web for outreach. Consider
planning an Internet Evangelism focus day for your church, Bible college or Christian
group.
See more at our Spotlight Specials page
Our Living the Solution online store
has resources to help you grow spiritually. It’s
secure, extensive with many great gift ideas!
Visit our
online store
There is something for everyone. When you shop with us,
you support our ministry – thank you!
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Pouring Out His Spirit
That's when Peter stood up and, backed by
the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all
of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story
straight. These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't
had time to get drunk--it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is
what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
"
In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every
kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young
men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes,
I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and
they'll prophesy. I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth
below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the
moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous
and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved." (Acts
2:14-21 — The Message)
Pete stood up and spoke with bold urgency; Pete did
this. The same Pete that just a number of days earlier denied Jesus and
ran to save His own skin. Actually, this was not the same Peter; this
was the Peter filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the
Father of which Jesus spoke. The old Pete would never have had the guts
to do what he just did and say what He was about to say to the people.
That is why it is so important that we too embrace the Holy Spirit of
God in our lives. It is the main way, God's main tool He uses to change
our hearts and restore us back to the people He created us to be, people
of power, glory, and greatness with a full understanding of who we are
and why we are here.
Have you ever wondered when the "last" days would begin? Pete quotes
the Profit Joel. "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out
my Spirit on every kind of people." In the last days. Clear back almost
2000 years ago, as Pete stated, God fulfilled this prophecy. On this day of Pentecost
He poured out His Spirit. The "last" days started over 2000 years ago,
and Pete spoke with a sense of urgency. If that was the start of the last days
2000 years ago what are we living in today — the last minutes, the last
seconds?
How much more urgency should we be living our lives?
God made a promise to Joel; God started to fulfill His promise on the day of
Pentecost over 2000 years and continues to fulfill that promise today if we will
let Him. God will never force you, it is always your choice to follow Him, and
it is always your choice to accepted or reject the gifts He has for you and the
life He has for you. But He longs for you as a wife who has lost her husband
longs for Him to fully trust, to accept all He has for you, and to embrace Him
totally and fully. Let down your guard; take down your barriers and walls. Fully
embrace the God and creator of the Universe and let Him make you into the man
or women He intended you to be from the very beginning.
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
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guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: Complain as Little as Possible
"Complain as little as possible
of your wrongs, for, as a general rule, you may be
sure that complaining is sin: ... because self-love
always magnifies our injuries."
— François de Sales (1567-1622)
Copyright 2005 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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God's
Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left
Doesn't Get It
by Jim Wallis
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here
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