DAA # 10


APeXMinistries.com

Number 10
Jan. 19th, 2001

Greeetings from the headquarters of the international conglomeration identified by emancipated lab animals as APeX Ministries. We hope that your Christmas Season was steeped with joy and dripping with the grace of our faith, causing your soul to percolate into a full-bodied cup that overfloweth.

Gene needs your help! Over the next few months Gene is going to be spending hundreds (literally) of hours in his car. There is only so much radio that anyone could listen to without severe consequences to their mental well being. We here at Apex are ever concerned about Gene's mental well being, and so we ask that you please send him a mix tape or mix CD. The only criterion is music that you would like to listen to on a car trip. Please include a song list so that he can find any artist he really likes later (or ones to avoid in the future). Please send all tapes and CDs to Gene at: P.O. Box 50395 Washington, DC 20091 If you send Gene a CD or tape he will send you one of his favorite mix tapes in return.

In looking at the numbers of web page visits, not many of you made it to listen to the interview with Jesse Manibusan. We have received very positive feedback from those who have taken the time to listen to it. This what we ask: Take five minutes and listen to the beginning of part 3 of the interview. After that you will know if it is worth your time. (We really believe it will be.) See this link http://apexministries.com/AudioAPeXAttacks.html

Your brothers in Christ,
Gene and Brad

PS: Don't forget to forward this on to your friends who would appreciate it.

Letters From You
While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought
Let's Eat!
Web Page Updates
Up coming shows

Letters from You

One of our readers sent a note of thanks to Gene for his article in DAA # 9. To say the least Gene was very touched by the words. So Gene sent a quick note back explaining that he was having a rough day and that the simple act of a quick thank you e-mail made his day. This is how our reader responded:

I wonder how many times the little thoughts that pop into ones head could really make another person's day happier if only they were shared. I know only too well how the unkind thoughts expressed before thinking better so often have the opposite effect. At least for the rest of the day, I will keep it in my mind to express more of the former and fewer of the latter!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

We couldn't agree more!

While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought
by Gene David Monterastelli III

The week before Christmas I had a friend visit me (and my family in Wyoming). It was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. My friend and I talked for 14 hours a day for 5 days. It was some of the most challenging and honest conversation I have had in my life. At the end of it all I turned to my friend and said, "I am out of words." She kind of smiled in disbelief, knowing too well that I could never run out of words (particularly when if comes to talking about myself). But it is really true. At that moment I was out of words. For that reason there is no reflection from me other than this:

Mother Teresa was once asked in a television interview, "What do you say to God when you pray?" She replied, "Nothing, I just listen." The interviewer's interest was peeked. He asked, "So what does God say?" She simply replied, "Nothing. He just listens."

Let's Eat!
By Brad Farmer

There's this well known traditional meal prayer that many people I know can say super fast… without even having to think of the words! See how fast you can say this…

"BlessusOLordandthesethygiftswhichweareabouttorecievefromthybountythroughChristourLordAmen!"

Try it again… but even FASTER this time.

Imagine you're really hungry and need to get this obligation of saying grace out of the way. For some folks, praying before meals seems like a race. Or maybe they're just practicing to break the Guinness World's Record. (Which just so happened, according to some of our uncertifiable sources, to have been set in 1941 by Joey Giovanni of Brooklyn, NY, who soon thereafter reportedly choked on a bone from his Kentucky Fried Chicken… he tried to eat it too fast.) Other people seem to go to the other extreme. Most of us have experienced the special Thanksgiving Day meal prayer that seems to go on and on, with extra frills and extra anchovies. (As if we were making up on those big meals for all the times we forgot to pray at regular meals every day.) Neither of these scenarios are exactly the way to go.

So, are we really supposed to pray every single time we eat something? And why do we even bother at all with praying before we eat? Well, if it's only done out of blind habit or social obligation, don't even bother. Empty prayers like that have no spirit. (Jesus tells us that "God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." Jn 4:24) (Also see Mt 15:8, Mark 7:6) And you don't need to throw in a lot of extra words to make it last longer or sound more important. (See Mt 6:7)

We get some of this tradition from modeling our prayer lives after Jesus. He was a devout Jew, and it was their custom to bless whatever they put into their bodies, and they gave thanks, recognizing that all good things come from God. In the few instances in the Gospels where we get a glimpse of Christ eating, he says a blessing. (See Mt 14:19, 26:26, Mark 6:41, 8:7, 14:22, Luke 9:16, 22:19, 24:30) In fact, he often gives thanks, too. (See Mt 15:36, 26:27, Mark 8:6, 14:23, Luke 22:17, John 6:11) Some translations of the Bible (such as the NIV) even have each of these instances as Jesus giving "thanks". Interestingly enough the prayer I mentioned at the beginning of this article has no thanks and offers no praise to God. Have you ever noticed that? Asking blessing on us and on our food is very important, but it seems to be only half the job. I challenge you, the next time you put something into your body, to really make a conscious effort to recognize where it came from, be thankful for the fact that you have something when so many others go without, bless the food, and give God some praise for being so cool in your life.

Up coming shows

Please pray for us and for those we are blessed to serve on these dates

Saturday, Jan 20 Annunciation, Altamonte Springs, FL
Sunday, Jan 21 Blessed Trinity, Orlando, FL

For a complete list of APeX's Schedule please visit:
http://apexministries.com/FutureShows.html
For booking information you can contact APeX at 888/522-2739

Web Page updates

The first installment of Audio APeX Attacks is up. It is an interview with Jesse Manibusan. You NEED to check this out! It can be found at:

http://apexministries.com/AudioAPeXAttacks.html

Important note: If you received this e-mail as a forward from someone else and would like to receive Digital APeX Attacks every time it is published, or if for some reason you have received this e-mail in error from APeX please follow this link to add or remove (though we couldn't imagine why you'd want to remove) yourself from the mailing list:

http://apexministries.com/MailingList.html

© 2001 APeX Youth Ministries, Inc.

--"Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words."

St. Francis of Assisi

http://APeXMinistries.com

APeXMinistries.com	Number 10 Jan. 19th, 2001
Greeetings from the headquarters of the international conglomeration identified by emancipated lab animals as APeX Ministries. We hope that your Christmas Season was steeped with joy and dripping with the grace of our faith, causing your soul to percolate into a full-bodied cup that overfloweth. Gene needs your help! Over the next few months Gene is going to be spending hundreds (literally) of hours in his car. There is only so much radio that anyone could listen to without severe consequences to their mental well being. We here at Apex are ever concerned about Gene's mental well being, and so we ask that you please send him a mix tape or mix CD. The only criterion is music that you would like to listen to on a car trip. Please include a song list so that he can find any artist he really likes later (or ones to avoid in the future). Please send all tapes and CDs to Gene at: P.O. Box 50395 Washington, DC 20091 If you send Gene a CD or tape he will send you one of his favorite mix tapes in return. In looking at the numbers of web page visits, not many of you made it to listen to the interview with Jesse Manibusan. We have received very positive feedback from those who have taken the time to listen to it. This what we ask: Take five minutes and listen to the beginning of part 3 of the interview. After that you will know if it is worth your time. (We really believe it will be.) See this link http://apexministries.com/AudioAPeXAttacks.html Your brothers in Christ, Gene and Brad PS: Don't forget to forward this on to your friends who would appreciate it.
Letters From You While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought Let's Eat! Web Page Updates Up coming shows
Letters from You One of our readers sent a note of thanks to Gene for his article in DAA # 9. To say the least Gene was very touched by the words. So Gene sent a quick note back explaining that he was having a rough day and that the simple act of a quick thank you e-mail made his day. This is how our reader responded: I wonder how many times the little thoughts that pop into ones head could really make another person's day happier if only they were shared. I know only too well how the unkind thoughts expressed before thinking better so often have the opposite effect. At least for the rest of the day, I will keep it in my mind to express more of the former and fewer of the latter! Enjoy the rest of your day! We couldn't agree more!
While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought by Gene David Monterastelli III The week before Christmas I had a friend visit me (and my family in Wyoming). It was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. My friend and I talked for 14 hours a day for 5 days. It was some of the most challenging and honest conversation I have had in my life. At the end of it all I turned to my friend and said, "I am out of words." She kind of smiled in disbelief, knowing too well that I could never run out of words (particularly when if comes to talking about myself). But it is really true. At that moment I was out of words. For that reason there is no reflection from me other than this: Mother Teresa was once asked in a television interview, "What do you say to God when you pray?" She replied, "Nothing, I just listen." The interviewer's interest was peeked. He asked, "So what does God say?" She simply replied, "Nothing. He just listens."
Let's Eat! By Brad Farmer There's this well known traditional meal prayer that many people I know can say super fast… without even having to think of the words! See how fast you can say this… "BlessusOLordandthesethygiftswhichweareabouttorecievefromthybountythroughChristourLordAmen!" Try it again… but even FASTER this time. Imagine you're really hungry and need to get this obligation of saying grace out of the way. For some folks, praying before meals seems like a race. Or maybe they're just practicing to break the Guinness World's Record. (Which just so happened, according to some of our uncertifiable sources, to have been set in 1941 by Joey Giovanni of Brooklyn, NY, who soon thereafter reportedly choked on a bone from his Kentucky Fried Chicken… he tried to eat it too fast.) Other people seem to go to the other extreme. Most of us have experienced the special Thanksgiving Day meal prayer that seems to go on and on, with extra frills and extra anchovies. (As if we were making up on those big meals for all the times we forgot to pray at regular meals every day.) Neither of these scenarios are exactly the way to go. So, are we really supposed to pray every single time we eat something? And why do we even bother at all with praying before we eat? Well, if it's only done out of blind habit or social obligation, don't even bother. Empty prayers like that have no spirit. (Jesus tells us that "God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." Jn 4:24) (Also see Mt 15:8, Mark 7:6) And you don't need to throw in a lot of extra words to make it last longer or sound more important. (See Mt 6:7) We get some of this tradition from modeling our prayer lives after Jesus. He was a devout Jew, and it was their custom to bless whatever they put into their bodies, and they gave thanks, recognizing that all good things come from God. In the few instances in the Gospels where we get a glimpse of Christ eating, he says a blessing. (See Mt 14:19, 26:26, Mark 6:41, 8:7, 14:22, Luke 9:16, 22:19, 24:30) In fact, he often gives thanks, too. (See Mt 15:36, 26:27, Mark 8:6, 14:23, Luke 22:17, John 6:11) Some translations of the Bible (such as the NIV) even have each of these instances as Jesus giving "thanks". Interestingly enough the prayer I mentioned at the beginning of this article has no thanks and offers no praise to God. Have you ever noticed that? Asking blessing on us and on our food is very important, but it seems to be only half the job. I challenge you, the next time you put something into your body, to really make a conscious effort to recognize where it came from, be thankful for the fact that you have something when so many others go without, bless the food, and give God some praise for being so cool in your life.
Up coming shows Please pray for us and for those we are blessed to serve on these dates Saturday, Jan 20 Annunciation, Altamonte Springs, FL Sunday, Jan 21 Blessed Trinity, Orlando, FL For a complete list of APeX's Schedule please visit: http://apexministries.com/FutureShows.html For booking information you can contact APeX at 888/522-2739
Web Page updates The first installment of Audio APeX Attacks is up. It is an interview with Jesse Manibusan. You NEED to check this out! It can be found at: http://apexministries.com/AudioAPeXAttacks.html
Important note: If you received this e-mail as a forward from someone else and would like to receive Digital APeX Attacks every time it is published, or if for some reason you have received this e-mail in error from APeX please follow this link to add or remove (though we couldn't imagine why you'd want to remove) yourself from the mailing list: http://apexministries.com/MailingList.html © 2001 APeX Youth Ministries, Inc. --"Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." St. Francis of Assisi http://APeXMinistries.com