Lycos Mail *jespada@lycos.com* LOG OUT (Not you? click here) Lycos Home Site Map My Lycos *Lycos Mail* February 22, 2005 *Search the web:* Help *Mail Home* *MailBox Folders* [add/edit/delete] - - - - - - - - - - Inbox Bulk Sent Drafts Trash [Empty ] - - - - - - - - - - [Show Others ] Compose Address Book Options System Status <#> *MailBox: Read Mail* *Printable Version <#>* *Flag this message.* *From:* "DJ Online News" *[Save Address]* *[Block Sender]* *[This Is Spam]* *To: * jespada@mailcity.com *CC: * *Subject: * DJ Online News for February 2005 *Date: * Mon, 21 Feb 2005 14:00:00 -0600 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Show Full Headers* *Previous* | *Next* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ February 2005 IN THIS ISSUE: ? /DJ/ Classic Article: "Monday Morning Worship" <#1> ? An "After-Valentine's Day" Gift That's Better Than Flowers <#3> ? Small-Group Tips and Helps: Praise Practice <#7> ? Best-Sellers from /Pray!/ Books, /Pray/Kids!, and /Discipleship Journal/ <#10> ? New Releases from NavPress and Piñon Press <#11> ? BEGINNING THE WALK Bible Studies <#14> ? Sign Up to Receive Our FREE /Pray! Online News/ <#15> ? Eagle Lake Camps 2005 <#17> ? Parting Thoughts: Worthy of Praise <#20> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /DJ/ Classic Article: "Monday Morning Worship " "The worship service was always a mystery to me as I was growing up. I was raised in a church where worship was a central feature of the life of the Body, and I often heard a quote that was supposed to help everyone understand the importance and the place of worship: Prayer is the occupation of the soul with its needs. Praise is the occupation of the soul with its blessings. Worship is the occupation of the soul with God Himself. ?Alfred P. Gibbs Rather than help me understand worship, this definition confused and intimidated me. How could I understand and focus my attention on something so lofty and mysterious? I could hardly keep my mind on one thing for more than five minutes, not to mention an entire hour. As I sat in straight pews trying to think big thoughts, worship seemed too proper and remote for me to comprehend." So exactly what is worship, and how do we do it? Add meaning and depth to this key part of your Christian walk with this month's Classic/ DJ/ article, by Kent Wilson, "Monday Morning Worship ," from Issue 70 (J/A 1992). *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An "After-Valentine's Day" Gift That's Better Than Flowers Looking for a great (but unexpected) follow-up gift for your Valentine this year? A gift that will keep nourishing long after the flowers have wilted, the candy has been devoured, and the cards have been filed? Give your special someone a gift subscription to /Discipleship Journal,/ and with each issue they'll receive insightful articles that will help them understand the Scriptures and grow in intimacy with God. They'll be inspired by fresh, Scripture-based thinking and practical help for everyday life and ministry. Plus, they'll find resources and hands-on ideas that will energize and encourage them as they reach out to others. Valentine's Day may be over, but you can still show how much you care. Click here to let your special someones know how much they're appreciated! *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Small-Group Tips and Helps: Praise Practice In a small group where several members were encouraged to vocalize a prayer each week, the leader decided to try an experiment. "Tonight, let's limit our prayer to _expressions of praise," he suggested. It didn't work. Our tendency to focus on personal matters during prayer requires an intentional effort to emphasize praise. You can help your group develop a habit of praise by using the following "prompts." As you pray, suggest a category and lead with a sentence prayer, then pause so group members can add their own praises in sentences or phrases. *Praise God for His creation.* What has God created that impresses you? (A mountain? Your favorite fruit? Your children?) *Praise God for His love.* How has God shown His love to you? (By giving His Son to die for your sins? Comforting you during a tough time? Extending forgiveness when you mess up? Sending people to share your burdens?) *Praise God for His Word.* What verse is your source of strength for today's circumstances? What verse has helped you in the past? *Praise God for His intervention.* What mistake might you have made if God had not revealed His wisdom to you? (A disastrous marriage or business partnership?) What ideas and insight has He given you? (An approach that resolved a parenting problem? A plan for a new project?) *Praise God for His character.* What praises flow from your heart as you meditate on God's majesty, His power, His love, His justice, or His presence? If your group members are open to homework, you might ask them to compose a prayer of praise to pray at the next meeting. Excerpted from "Praise Practice," by Esther M. Bailey (Issue 142, J/A 2004). ©2004 /Discipleship Journal/ . All rights reserved. *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Best-Sellers from /Pray!/ Books, /Pray/Kids!, and /Discipleship Journal/ You already know about our quality magazines: /Discipleship Journal/ , /Pray!/ , and /Pray/Kids! But did you know about the many other great prayer and discipleship resources available from NavPress Periodicals? Here's a list of our 30 best-selling resources from the past 60 days. Check them out. You might find just the tools you've been looking for! 1. /The Pray! Prayer Journal/ (/Pray!/ Books) 2. /Paths of Gold/ (/Pray!/ Books/Booklet) 3. /31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids/ (Prayer Cards) 4. /20 Scripture-based Prayers to Pray for Your Pastor/ (Prayer Cards) 5. /Lord, Teach Us to Pray/ (/Pray!/ Books/Bible Study) 6. /Beating Busyness/ (/DJ/ Bible Study) 7. /Prayer Card Sampler Pack/ 8. /My House Shall Be a House of Prayer/ (/Pray!/ Books) 9. /31 Ways to Praise/ (Prayer Cards) 10. /Ready for Revival/ (/Pray!/ Books) 11. /Becoming More Like Jesus/ (/DJ/ Bible Study) 12. /Personal Prayers from Colossians/ (Prayer Cards) 13. /Prayers That Birth Revival?2 Chronicles 7:14/ (Prayer Cards) 14. /The Prayer-Saturated Church/ (/Pray!/ Books + CD) 15. /Power-Packed Prayers for Public Schools/ (Prayer Cards) 16. /T.H.U.M.B. Prayer Cards/ (/Pray/Kids! Prayer Cards) 17. /30 Ways to Pray for People in Authority/ (Prayer Cards) 18. /Praying for My School/ (/Pray/Kids! Prayer Cards) 19. /Nurturing a Passion for Prayer/ (/DJ/ Bible Study) 20. /Growing Deeper with God/ (/DJ/ Bible Study) 21. /Building Better Relationships/ (/DJ/ Bible Study) 22. /Approaching God/ (/Pray!/ Books/Bible Study) 23. /Discipleship Journal's 101 Best Small-Group Ideas/ 24. /Praying for My Pastor/ (/Pray/Kids! Prayer Cards) 25. /Prayer Quest/ (/Pray!/ Books/Bible Study) 26. /Fresh Encounters/ (/Pray!/ Books) 27. /Growing Up Prayerful/ (/Pray/Kids! Curriculum Kit) 28. /Revival 101/ (/Pray!/ Books) 29. /Discipleship Journal's Best Bible Study Methods/ 30. /The Jabez Prayer Guide/ (/Pray!/ Books) *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Releases from NavPress and Piñon Press / Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi / by David Crowder Praise isn't a couple of songs we sing on Sunday morning; it's a daily, moment-by-moment appreciation of a God beyond our imagination. In the first book from musician David Crowder, you'll first learn how to develop a habit of praise?to try to attract attention to God, not to yourself. Then you'll put what you've learned into practice through twenty-one reflections on psalms from /The Message Remix/ . Soon praise will become as fluid and natural as breathing and as life-defining as any career, activity, or membership in a group. /Praise Habit/ will center your life on what matters most: God and His jaw-dropping glory. Get it and fuel an addiction to praise. / Experiential Worship: Encountering God with Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength / by Bob Rognlien How can pastors and church leaders create worship gatherings where people's lives are regularly changed? Will the church today foster a biblical and holistic understanding of worship?one that incorporates heart, soul, mind, and strength? Bob Rognlien looks at the bigger picture of worship across traditions and throughout history in the context of Jesus' Great Commandment. In the process, he uncovers what worship is supposed to be: loving God with everything you are. Provocative and practical, /Experiential Worship/ will equip pastors to build a more effective and heartfelt worship service that churches of all sizes will be able to implement for years to come. / A Sacred Sorrow: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament / by Michael Card It's easy to praise God when things in your life are going well, but what about the other times? What happens when mountaintop experiences cascade into seasons of struggling in the valley? God desires for us to pour out our hearts to Him, whether in joy or pain. But many of us don't feel right expressing our anger, frustration, and sadness in prayer. Our personal worship experience is not complete unless we understand the lost language of lament. In /A Sacred Sorrow/ , author, musician, and Bible teacher Michael Card takes you through the Scriptures to show you what your worship and prayer life has been missing. Learn new ways to honor God and deepen your relationship with Him by: -Becoming more honest in worship -Trusting in His unchanging presence -Believing in His constant loving-kindness -Realizing that the sharing of your sorrow is an act of worship From Job to David to Christ, men and women of the Bible understood the importance of pouring one's heart out to the Father. Go even deeper into the eye-opening message of /A Sacred Sorrow/ and discover what's been missing in your prayers and worship with the /A Sacred Sorrow Experience Guide/ . This Bible study will help you and your small group fully grasp the importance of voicing your heart's joys and pains to the Father. Job, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus Himself understood the necessity of lament. Learn why it's still a vital part of the worship experience. / When Too Much Isn't Enough: Ending the Destructive Cycle of ADHD and Addictive Behavior / by Wendy Richardson, MA ADHD and addiction are a common yet disastrous combination, each insatiably feeding the other. It's imperative to treat both issues to ensure a successful recovery. In this new Piñon Press release, author Wendy Richardson, a licensed counselor who battles ADHD herself, compassionately speaks to those with ADHD who overindulge in food, drugs, alcohol, gambling, spending, and sex. She explains the scientific data and provides clear answers for those desperately trying to figure out why they (or their loved ones) cannot overcome substance or behavioral addictions. Don't let ADHD and addiction destroy your life. Open a window to recovery by understanding how addictions are used to self-medicate ADHD. Discover a new vitality as you learn to manage both sides of the ADHD/addiction challenge. *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BEGINNING THE WALK Bible Studies New from the Church Discipleship Ministry team at The Navigators, the BEGINNING THE WALK Bible study series will help believers focus on the life and supremacy of Jesus Christ. Excellent resources for study groups of new and growing believers, this Bible study series focuses on readers' fundamental relationship with Jesus rather than on technical details of how to study or interpret the Bible. Participants don't need an extensive church or religious background to get started, and mature believers and small-group leaders will find these short easy-to-use studies the perfect launching pad for intentional discipleship. Thoroughly field-tested, this foundational Bible study series will quickly help new believers grow in their faith and their relationships with Jesus Christ. *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sign Up to Receive Our FREE /Pray! Online News/ If /DJ Online News/ has been an encouragement to you each month, why not sign up to receive our sister magazine's FREE monthly email newsletter as well? The /Pray! Online News/ is designed to encourage increasingly fruitful prayer lives and ministries. Included are links to motivating articles from /Pray!/ magazine, prayer ideas you can put to use immediately, exclusive subscriber-only specials, and updates about new and practical prayer resources. Click here to sign up to receive the /Pray! Online News (/or any of the other FREE online newsletters available from NavPress). *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eagle Lake Camps 2005 Something for every kid, so every kid succeeds! This summer, step away from your computer and your electronic games. Come spend a week or two in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and tap into the ultimate reality of God and all He has made, all He has done, and all He desires for you. Your life (and your world) may never be the same! *REZ Camp*: bike jumping, blobbing, canoeing, fishing, human fooseball, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, mountain boarding, rappelling, ziplining, and MORE! *//* *//* *HORSE Camp*: stunning trail rides and skilled instruction; special horse show with professional judges, prizes, and awards. *EXCURSION Camp*: Satisfy almost any appetite for adventure! Options include: Mountain Discovery (easy), Dad/Teen Trek (easy), High Country Trek (challenging), Compass and Currents (challenging), and Rocky Mountain Challenge (extreme). *Our Crew Program** will help you grow as you learn to serve others better. Help handle foundational aspects of camp maintenance, food service, public relations, and construction while learning more about yourself in the midst of challenging Bible studies, weekend hikes, campouts, beach days, whitewater rafting, and indoor and outdoor games (most of them at night). ** *Because of the half-summer commitment, acceptance into the Crew program is by application only. To apply, go to www.EagleLake.org . Selection begins March 1, 2005. Eagle Lake Camps are for kids and young adults, ages 8?20. Camps run from June?August. For details, visit us at www.EagleLake.org or call 1-800-US-EAGLE (1-800-873-2453). *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Parting Thoughts: Worthy of Praise Last week, while preparing for our small-group study on Isaiah, I was reminded of how often I still choose to focus on the things of this world. Though these things are decaying, dying, and ultimately going to be destroyed, that's still where too much of my time, energy, and attention get directed. Instead, my activities should be evaluated in light of the eternal, with a kingdom focus. I need to choose to live thankfully, worshipfully, with a growing sense of God's joy and peace in my heart?trusting in and praising the worthiness and faithfulness of my loving Savior. Here are a few reasons (from Isaiah 24?26 ) why our God is worthy of praise: He is the Righteous One. He is personal (/my/ God). He is perfectly faithful. He does marvelous things. His plans are solid and sure. He is all-powerful. He is a refuge. He is our Saviour. He is our salvation. He is our peace-giver. He is eternal. He is our Rock. He is upright and just. He is renowned. He is gracious. He is behind everything that we accomplish. He has gained glory by all He has done and will do. In light of these truths, these chapters also give us some natural responses. We're to: Raise our voices and shout for joy. Give Him praise from every corner of the earth. Celebrate Him. Honor and worship Him. Bear testimony to the awesomeness and worthiness of our God. Sing the joys of His salvation. Set our hearts and minds on Him. Persevere. Depend on God. Wait on God. Be content. Passionately pursue our relationship with God. Live in the light and expanding glory of God. Need some help getting started? Try praying this passage from 1 Chronicles 29:10?13 (NIV): "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. "Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. "Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." With adoration! Dave Wilson, Editor /DJ Online News/ *Top* <#top> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ */Discipleship Journal Online News/* is distributed freely each month by www.discipleshipjournal.com . You are encouraged to forward it (in its entirety) to others who might also find its contents helpful. * SUBSCRIBE to this or other free newsletters from NavPress. * SUBSCRIBE to magazines from NavPress Periodicals. * READ our privacy policy. * UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter. You are currently subscribed to /DJ/ Online News as: *jespada@mailcity.com* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Questions or comments about an order, our products, or your experience as a NavPress customer can be emailed to customerservice@navpress.com . For personal assistance, call 1-800-366-7788 or 1-719-548-9222 (7am-5pm M-F, MST). Comments or suggestions for the editor of this newsletter can be emailed to: customercomments@navpress.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © 2005, /Discipleship Journal/ ®, 3820 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, a publication of The Navigators . All Rights Reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HTML graphics in this message have been displayed. [Edit Preferences ] *Previous* | *Next* *»* *Lycos* © Copyright 2005, Lycos, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lycos® is a registered trademark of Carnegie Mellon University. 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