May 08, 2008

Prayer....and What?

Drevans_2After last week's National Day of Prayer meeting at Goffe Street Park,  we were encouraged by the potential of the faith community coming together, but after the last amen......then what?  It's a question that was punctuated with gunfire at Goffe Street park four days (almost to the hour) of our prayer meeting.

After today's Leadership Prayer, the topic of "where do we go from here?" came up.  Dr. Antipas Harris, coordinator of the local National Day of prayer as well as others had some thoughts to share.

At the video link below, you'll find what one city did at the initiation of Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. It speaks of an incredible (now) national Faith-based Project called "Turnaround."

If after listening to the testimony, you feel it resonating in your heart for the Greater New Haven area, drop me a line.  Dr. Evans has been to my church a couple of times and perhaps it's time to bring him back to this region; if not for a complete "turnaround, " then at least to show us how to adopt some schools.

If we can get a couple of "Amens" on this one and a serious counting of the cost to go along with them, perhaps it will be time for us to go see Dr. Mayo at the school board. Can I get an "amen"...... from you?

May 05, 2008

Responding to Oprah's New Religion from the Christian Pulpit

Sorry, I couldn't help but to employ the media Oprahtrick of finding a "crazy" picture of Oprah to go along with this.  Oprah, you've come so far in life and and have done so much good. But this......this New Age self-exalting religious stuff you're into is downright scary. May the Lord truly open your eyes! 

From Preaching Today:

Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth has rested atop the New York Times bestseller list for weeks. Recent counts have it selling over three million copies—one million of which are due to Oprah's picking it for her book club. Over two million people are participating in a ten-week interactive webinar that Oprah hosts with Tolle (pronounced "toll-ee"). This is what many people are reading as they sip their lattes in Starbucks or close their evenings balled up on the couch. Many may very well be churchgoers.

Click here to read Preaching Today's commentary and sugggestions on how Christian preachers ought to respond.

April 25, 2008

New Life Corporation Heads Effective Coalition

From Press Release issued by New Haven 828 Board member and ED of New Life Corporation, Ariel Martinez:



NEW HAVEN – Through the collaboration of over 32 organizations and businesses The Coalition for Working Families (CWF) assisted low-moderate income residents through the services offered by Volunteer Individual Tax Assistance (VITA) sites.  “The sites benefit taxpayers by offering information about the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program and free tax preparation services from volunteers who are trained by us and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)” said Ariel Martinez, executive director of New Life Corporation, the lead agency of the Coalition. “We accomplished these result managing five VITA sites with a volunteer workforce of 70 volunteers”.  “It’s been an invaluable service for  West Haven families” said Patty Steven, executive director of the West Haven Community House.


The contributing VITA sites were, Centro San Jose, ‘r kids  Family Center, West Haven Community House, United Shoreline Federal Credit Union and New Life Corporation. Working individuals/families claimed over $2,371,040 in earned income tax credits, over $4,251,520 in federal income tax refunds and over $35,000 in stimulus payments.  “As trained volunteers, we can maximize the amount of money that families are able to have returned to them which affords them the opportunity of accumulating savings, buy needed transportation, clothing, or medical insurance/medicine for their families,”  Martinez said.

For further info: Contact Ariel Martinez at 777-0313

Gifts in Kind International

Gifts in Kind International is the eighth-largest charity in the United States and a global leader in new product philanthropy. They work with thousands of companies, including nearly half of the Fortune 100 consumer, retail, and technology corporations to distribute each year nearly $900 million in new product donations to 150,000 deserving community charities throughout the United States and across the world. In turn, these charities annually help more than 13 million people in need. Gifts in Kind International accomplishes all of this by operating on only 0.3 percent contributions, meaning that 99.7% of all donations go directly to communities and people in need. Click here for further info.

April 24, 2008

Facebook for Pastors?

FacebookYeah, I'm a pastor on Facebook, but I can't say that I've really gotten into the swing of it. I'm an old guy who likes techie stuff in this mostly young environment. In my heart I implicitly understood that there could be something "good" in Facebook. And yet, I never took the time to consider why it could be good or how to make it better. On extensive the list of "things to do," this matter never quite rose to the top. At the moment, I'm just out there, one face among the multitudes of faces..., although it has been a great place to show off my new grandson (LOL!)...there must be more....

Along comes a guy by the name Chris Forbes who published a free e-book entitled, "Facebook for Pastors." You can get your copy  here.

Forbes makes the bold statement, "I beieve all pastors should be on Facebook." He had his doubts about it in the past, but found an article by Pastor Bobby Gruenewald, the "Innovation Pastor" at LifeChurch.tv to be quite persuasive. Pastor Bobby did a 3 part post on his blog entitled "What's all the Hype about Facebook?" You can find Part 1 here.

Take a look, and you decide. If you decide to become a Facebook Pastor, I'd be more than happy to be your "friend."  Here's my page.  When I get a minute, I'll be beefing it up and making it more useful and ministry oriented....but who's got a minute these days? I just spent 15 of them on this blog!!!! This better be good!

April 16, 2008

Pastors and the Perfect Sin: Pornography

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Here's a link to a teleconference that dealt with the issue: http://www.sermoncentral.com/scdownloads/arterburn.mp3

Here's a link to a site that offers free filtering/accountability software called X3watch. X3watch is accountability software designed to help with online integrity. When you browse the internet and access a site which may contain questionable material, the program will record the site name. A person of your choice (an accountability partner) will receive an email containing all questionable sites you may have visited. This information is meant to encourage open and honest conversation between friends and help you be more accountable to your online adventures. Additionaly, Safe Eyes provides similar accountability features and the capability to block objectionable websites and other harmful content."

Free Pastors Training via Teleconference and Downloads

Sermoncentral.com offers free teleconferences for pastors including one coming up next week entitled,

Walking with God: An Inspirational
Teleconference for Pastors

John Eldredge has touched the hearts of thousands through his writing and speaking ministry. His messages resonate with people thirsty for a fresh faith and a God who is there. Join us for this special hour of interaction with one of the great voices in the church as he shares specifically with pastors about how to keep your walk with God a vibrant adventure. Join us.

Previous teleconferences for downloading can be found at this page.

April 12, 2008

Oh, Oprah!

WOW! All I can say is, Wow! What do you say? There's a new religion sweeping the nation......Let Everybody sing "O" Holy Night! Let the church say "O" men!......yes, omen indeed.

April 07, 2008

Yale Hosts Scholars to Discuss Black Religion in the Diaspora

Scholars_2 "Provocative. Stimulating. Controversial. Agitating. perplexing. Challenging. Irritating. Confusing. Frustrating. A scholars conference on “black religion in the diaspora” was all those things — and therefore a success."

Tom Ficklin's words vividly sum up the recent Yale conference. He's got some great highlights and commentary from the event over at the Independent.

Click here for Ficklin's video clips at YouTube (parts 1 and 2 of "Middle Passages").  They don't seem to be working at the Independent Site.

You're a culturally mixed audience of clergy. What do you have to say about "black religion?" .....you might want to view the video clips before you respond. We can't "all get along" until we can talk openly and honestly about ALL kinds of things.

Photo by Tom Ficklin

On Buying Gas

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS


From one of those ubiquitous emails; interesting tips on buying gas that you might want to pass along to your constutuents:

 
1. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the
ground temperature is still cold
. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon  or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.
 
A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
   
2. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at  the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the un derground storage tank so you're getting less  worth for your money. 
 
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF
FULL or HALF EMPTY
. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service
stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature
compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount. 
 
4. Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage
tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up
--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.  Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
 
DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!
 
WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON
 
Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.
 
An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.
 
Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia.  Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.
 
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.
 
I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.
 
These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
 
Shell.......................... 205,742,000 barrels
 
Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels
 
Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels
 
Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels
 
Amoco...........................62,231,000 barrels
 
Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (Oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel)
 
Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:
 
Sunoco..................0 barrels
 
Conoco..................0 barrels
 
Sinclair................0 barrels
 
B P/Phillips............0 barrels
 
Hess.......................0 barrels
 
ARC0....................0 barrels
 
If you go to Sunoco.com <http://sunoco.com/> , you will get a list of the station locations near you.
 
All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.
 

Ministries and Services

  • Help for today’s problems…

    Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31, 32
    This freedom Jesus promised 2000 years ago is still available today. God's Word is the blueprint through which we can better understand ourselves, deal with our problems and have the most fulfilling life possible. If you desire to get to the core issues of your struggle and then carefully understand how the principles of the Bible can be applied to those issues, you should consider this counseling process.

    Main Office – Madison; Satellite Offices-- New Haven

    Therapists:
    Charles C. Dike, M.D.
    R. Timothy Kearney, PhD
    Louis DeStefano, PhD
    Nancy Jung, MS, LCSW
    Barbara Burgess, MS, LCSW
    Thomas A. Ruotolo, M.Div

    For more information or for an appointment, call 203-318-0700.
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    Justice for Children International works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through advocacy, prevention and aftercare. JFCI trains aftercare workers, multiplies safehomes, aids socioeconomic development programs in high-risk communities and provides a voice for these victims of modern-day slavery.
  • Village of Power
    This New Haven based service agency is for women who are struggling with substance abuse who need help in taking care of themselves and their families.

    Among the services offered are: freee child care between the hours of 9am and 1pm, relapse prevention classes, referrals for inpatient services, mental health services, help with finding housing, help finding employment, emergency food, clothing, assistance with transportation, therepeutic massage, spirituality groups, social support, breakfast and lunch, medical referrals, HIV Testing, Legal referrals, help in meeting the challengesof DCF, probation and DSS.

    Call Susan Feldman at 203-503-3484 or Jackie at 203-503-3495.

    Walk-ins OK, no appointment necessary.
  • Christian Community Action provides emergency food, housing and support to those who are poor in New Haven, encouraging them in their efforts to attain self-sufficiency and working to change systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice. Click here and read Rev. Grubb's full comment for further information.

  • This New Haven non-profit offers free tax preparation to any members of your constituency or congregation earning less than $39,000 Call (203) 777-1319. The VITA Tax Program runs from January 7, 2008 to April 15, 2008.