*LINKING* Newsletter

Volume 4, Issue #002, February 2010

I'm happy to bring you your second LINKING Newsletter for 2010 - howbeit a bit late ! There's been some up-dates to the web site which has delayed production.

As you are already aware, I have had to move my subscriber list to a new email delivery service. If you have not yet received a "confirmation" request from my new delivery service, you will in the next day or two.

Please watch for it and "re-confirm" your newsletter subscription to make sure you will receive the next issue without interruption. It will come by email from AWeber. Thank you for your patience and I apologize for the inconvenience.

Again, I take this opportunity to remind you that you are very much valued as a subscriber and friend of this Ministry -- you are greatly appreciated. Let us enjoy our communication in the Lord from across the miles. May God Bless You !

I wish you all a great month and a good read...

Dr.Diane

P.S.: Please Vote for Link School's Web Site! Next time you visit www.linkschool21.com please don't forget to scroll down to the "Cross Daily VOTE NOW button" and click on it for the School! Thanks.

On the home front:

Link School of Ministries is planning to offer a series of local "Bible Studies" on the topic of "End Times". Announcements will be made in the lcoal papers as soon as a time and location have been set.

For some of the latest in Christian news:

Canadian Christianity

Christian Headlines

Christian Today

For the latest on current Middle East issues:

Click here

Where are the Men in the Church?

I was attending a church service, recently, where the pastor invited "all the volunteers who were involved in Sunday School teaching", in order to recognize them before the congregation and thank them for their service and dedication.

As the folks responded to the call and made their way to the front, it became in view that "all" were women. It always hits me hard in the core of my being when I see how few men get involved in Church. Yet, when I looked around, there were many men sitting in the pews.

You might say, yes but this is Sunday School. That's not for men. Well, I beg you to differ. Men have more impact on children then women. Women bring a fundamental nurture and love but men bring the other side of life's equation. Children need the example and teaching of both male and female -- always, whether in Church or at home or school.

When studies show that the majority of church employees and volunteer workers are women (except for ordained clergy, who are overwhelmingly male), no wonder that over 70 percent of the boys who are being raised in church will abandon it during their teens and twenties. Many of the boys will never return.

Read more...

Helping Sick Folks in the Church

Some weeks ago, while in Church, the congregation was standing for a long period of time during the singing. My husband's heartbeat was uneven and he began to get weak and finally had to sit down.

He then motioned to me that he was going out which I took to be going to the washroom.

Harold suffered a stroke some years ago. He came out of it with a slight paralysis of the left side which partially impaired the use of his right hand and speech.

The other more serious consequences of the stroke have been the continued heart atrial fibrillation and the maintaining of his blood consistency.

We have lived with the various subsequent side effects of this illness eversince, and have come to know what to do --or not to do, sometimes having to simply wait out such associated problems.

However, when he did not return to his seat for a longer time than expected, I looked back into the lobby and saw him standing there, looking idle and pale. So I left my seat and went to join him and found out what had happened. Since there was no place to lay down in the lobby area, I helped him lay down on the floor to wait this out.

At that moment other folks noticed the commotion and stepped out to see what was happening and offer their help.

However, here's the reason I'm writing this article today.

Read more...

How Not to Grow Fat, Slow and Stupid !

Researchers have found that if we, as a society, don't change our lifestyle and mindset, most of our population will soon fall into one or more of the above growing trends.

Fat : to weight more than we should...
Slow : to be sluggish, lacking in mental alertness...
Stupid : to act unintelligently or carelessly...

If you have found yourself fitting in one of these three conditions or drifting into it, here' how to get out:

1) Recognize and admit it.

2) Decide to take responsibility for your action.

3) Make wise choices to eat and exercise properly.

4) Get off the couch and make time to exercise.

5) Cut out junk foods, sugars and refined foods from your diet.

6) Drink lots of water (8 glasses a day).

7) Read the Word of God every day and Pray (talk to God).

8) Read and educate yourself in various areas of life, career and particular interests.

Live "on purpose" and have a vibrant body, soul and spirit.

For the FREE Bible Study eCourse "Know Jesus and His Mission" Click on this link

This story could be under "inspirational" as much as "historical"...

General Harrison and His Little Daughter

General Harrison, was an accomplished military and political strongman in the 1800's. He was known to be reserved in his disposition and dignified in his bearing. He was engaged in the contemplation of great themes, justly proud of his ancestry and his promotion. But within his heart, he was as simple as a child.

His devotion to his four-year-old daughter is said to have been "pathetic" (meaning emotionally moving). He was often seen playing tag and ball in the hotel halls, while travelling, enjoying the fun as much as the little girl. They often walked on the streets together and the people would stop and look at them and say "What a beautiful picture!" Each seemed to be so happy in the company of the other.

During the General's last illness, the little child went down into the kitchen and the cook showed her how to make a little pie. When it was baked, she took it in her hand and ran up to her father's room, and with joy flashing from her eyes said: "Oh, papa, I've got something nice for you. I made it myself; it is going to make you well." The General smiled sweetly at her, but was too sick to talk.

A short time before the General's death, a mr. Fishback who was his old law partner, died. The lawyers of the area assembled in the Federal Court room to take suitable action.

General Harrison's remarks were brief and eloquent and sentimental. At the close, he said: "In the dead of the night lately, gentlemen of the bar, my little daughter came to me with deep earnestness and said, 'Papa, in the big dark of the night I wake up and want to touch you. If I don't, I feel lonely.'" He then paused, choked and with tears falling from his eyes, continued: "I put out my hand to touch my old friend; he is gone, and I am lonely."/

In the big dark of a night, a nation puts out its hand to touch a favorite son, lawyer, orator, statesman, soldier, Christian... he or she is gone, and there is sorrow in the land.

In the dark night of affliction, when we put out our hand to touch our loved ones and find that they are gone, if we can only touch the hand with the nail-print, we will have Divine company in our loneliness.

(Taken from "The Speaking Oak, 1902)

I am presently reading a book called "Pray Big - the Power of Pinpoint Prayers" by Will Davis Jr, Revell Publishing.

It is about praying specifically and audacously! It is not about praying "Please God be with Joan", "Please God bless Bill", or "Please God bless us" or our Church, our home...

Do we want God to minister to Joan or protect her from a specific situation? Do we want God to make Bill more holy or disciplined? Do we want God to make us more prosperous or healthy? Do we want God to make our Church more friendly or bold in outreach?

The book asks "... why do we ask for blessing when Ephesians 1:3 says that we are already blessed with every spiritual blesing that God can give?

It goes on to elaborate on prayer and to show how strategic we must be in our requests. "We need to pray for things -- very specific things, gritty things, personal things, important things, kingdom things -- with the pinpoint precision that Jesus modeled in the Lord's Prayer.

A very good read to put into daily practice, not only for ourselves but for others.

If you'd like to get a copy, please buy it here and help support this ministry:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" - Jesus Christ the Lord

Till next time,

Blessings

P.S. Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just use the Contact form on the navigational bar at the web site http://linkschool21.com and tell me what you think!