DAA # 11


APeXMinistries.com

Number 11
Feb. 23rd, 2000

Greetings from the headquarters of the international conglomeration known to groundhogs and presidents as APeX Ministries. We hope that you were not frightened back into your hole after seeing your shadow.

APeX Attacks # 7 is now on line. If you did not receive the latest wackiness in the mail you need to check this out. Highlights include Brad's reflections on what we are all called to, an interview with Gene, and how Gene was ministered to with candy (it's true). See link in Web Page Updates.

Gene still needs your help! In Digital APeX Attacks # 10 Gene asked for Mix Tapes and CD's for the road. To date he has received a number of them from a number of people (to be thanked publicly later). Gene is now a little more than a week into his journey and he would like more! 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 overall 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.

APeX Attacks We know that many of you love the paper version of APeX Attacks which you receive in your mail box. To be honest we love them to, but a problem has arisen. From its inception the goal has been to make the newsletter accessible to anyone who would like it. To that end we have always made them free to you. For us the newsletter not only costs us money, but it also cost us time, which is fine, but right now we are at a point in our ministry in which we cannot afford to send APeX Attacks out. Take heart you should be receiving one soon (probably mid-summer). Until then just keep checking your e-mail boxes for Digital APeX Attacks.

Your brothers in Christ
Gene and Brad

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

While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought
When Words Get in the Way
Up coming shows
Web Page Updates

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

This is a story that I feel that I can tell because I have now moved out of my old house…

My Jr. year American Literature teacher used to say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I would like to offer a modification to that. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions and pirated cable." Our story begins much like any good story. It was a dark and stormy night in Washington, DC. Brad and I were working on something when I heard a knock at my door. As I opened the door I saw a man in standing in the rain in a yellow slicker. He said, "I am the cable guy. I just restored a bunch of cable. Check to see if your cable is working." I told him that I did not have cable. He asked me to check any way. I plugged the TV in and SHAZAM the cable worked!! He asked me my I didn't have cable. I told him that I do ministry and that I could not afford cable. He said, "I really don't want to go back up that pole in this rain and since you are in the ministry, I will make you a deal. You give me twenty bucks and I will leave it hooked up." So I reached into my pocket and pulled out a 20. Now I was not embarrassed or ashamed at what I was doing. The embarrassment came from the fact that Brad was seeing me do this, not in the act that I was doing.
For the first month or so when ever I would watch Sportscenter or the Powerpuff Girls, I would feel guilty - that lightning was going to strike me down. As time passed this gnawing feeling slowly passed. Now it would be easy to rationalize (and I am sure that I did).

"I am not really stealing anything. They produce the shows regardless if I watch them or not. The only cost to bring it to my house is the electricity which I pay. The cable company and networks make Millions of dollars. They are not going to miss my few bucks a month. I am doing ministry and I do deserve this."
As compelling as these arguments or rationalizations may seem, none of them are true. I was stealing. The cable company was providing me a service for a price. Now if I think my life needs that service and it's worth the price, I will pay it. If I don't need the service or don't think the service is worth the price then I shouldn't buy it. I have free will in the matter. What happened instead, is I took the service without their consent and without compensating them. Regardless, if they need the money or not, I stole the service from them. What I am most ashamed of in the whole ordeal is how my attitude changed. In the beginning I was really concerned and some nights would even get a little sick to my stomach as I watched TV, but as time passed so did that feeling. I slowly became desensitized to the fact that the programs I watched were stolen. It was simply part of my life. I did not steal once. I stole every time I turned on the TV. Each time it got easier and easier for me to steal, until it was just part of my everyday life. I was stealing and not even giving it a second thought.

When Words get in the Way
By Brad Farmer

Hark, brethren! How art thou? I pray thou hast found thine own self of good cheer...
Translation: Hey, man! What's up? How's it going? Good, I hope.
I often feel that for a prayer to be personal to me, I need to understand what is being said and make the words my own… not just a repetition of sounds or a recital of someone else's thoughts. For whatever reason, it's always made me a little uncomfortable to use a lot of thee, thy, thou, or thine when I pray. That's not how I talk, and prayer is an intimate conversation between my God and me.
So what's up with these words we use in prayer anyway? Is one way more "powerful" or more "proper" than the other? While we're on the subject of the words we use in prayer, why do we even need to talk at all? God already knows everything, right? He knows what we need even before we ask (Matt 6:8), so we can't be teaching Him anything, giving Him any new information, or reminding Him what we need. And didn't Jesus warn us about rambling on with words in our prayers (Matt 6:7-8)? Why bother with words?
Wait a minute… Jesus told us to ask for things (Matt 7:7, Lk 11:9, Jn 14:13-14, 15:7, 16:24). And when the disciples asked Him specifically how they should pray, He taught them to say the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:9-13, Lk 11:1-4). Jesus even prayed out loud Himself (Heb 5:7). So maybe he was all for using words…
But then, which words are best? I would hate to sound like a fool in front of my God. (Then again… He sees and hears everything I do or say… He even knows what I think - so He already knows what a fool I can be.)

The truth is, none of us really know how to pray as we ought to. (We have to rely on the intercession of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26).) But the condition of our hearts is much more important than the words we use. Thomas A. Hand, O.S.A. points out in his excellent book St. Augustine on Prayer that "…the words we use in prayer are not intended for the instruction of God, but for the construction of our own desires. That is what God means to accomplish by means of the formulas of prayer. Not that he has any need of them for himself, but in the sense that he makes use of them to build up our desires for heavenly things." The words we use help express our desires and the formulas for prayers that we use help remind us what it is we need to pray for.

To finish, I'm gonna give you this one passage from St. Augustine and leave you to your own thoughts…

"(Augustine) 'Are you not disturbed by the fact that our great Master, in teaching his disciples to pray, taught them certain words, so that it looks as if he taught them what words to use in prayer?' (Adeodatus) 'No. That does not disturb me. For he did not teach them words merely, he taught them by means of words, so that through these words they could keep themselves in constant remembrance. He taught them realities: what they should pray for, and from whom they should ask, when they prayed in their innermost mind, as we have said.' (Augustine) 'You have correctly understood the point.'" The Teacher, 1, 2.

Up coming shows

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

Feb 24 Storm III Detriot, MI
March 4 Diocese of Lancing Jr. High Rally
March 5 St. Gerard's Lancing, MI
March 9-11 Diocese of Charleston Sr. High Rally, Charleston, SC
March 18 Good Shepherd, Cincinnati, OH
March 23-25Radical Sabbatical Seattle, WA
March 31 Diocese of Tucson Sr. High Youth Rally

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

APeX Attacks # 7 (October 2000) is now on line. If you did not receive the latest wackiness in the mail you need to check this out. Highlights include Brad's reflections on what we are all called to, an interview with Gene, and how Gene was ministered to with candy (it's true).

http://APeXMinistries.com/ApeXAttacks.html

The up coming show list is now up to date for 2001

http://ApeXMinistries.com/FutureShows.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

© 2000 APeX Youth Ministries, Inc.

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

St. Francis of Assisi

http://APeXMinistries.com

APeXMinistries.com	Number 11 Feb. 23rd, 2000
Greetings from the headquarters of the international conglomeration known to groundhogs and presidents as APeX Ministries. We hope that you were not frightened back into your hole after seeing your shadow. APeX Attacks # 7 is now on line. If you did not receive the latest wackiness in the mail you need to check this out. Highlights include Brad's reflections on what we are all called to, an interview with Gene, and how Gene was ministered to with candy (it's true). See link in Web Page Updates. Gene still needs your help! In Digital APeX Attacks # 10 Gene asked for Mix Tapes and CD's for the road. To date he has received a number of them from a number of people (to be thanked publicly later). Gene is now a little more than a week into his journey and he would like more! 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 overall 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. APeX Attacks We know that many of you love the paper version of APeX Attacks which you receive in your mail box. To be honest we love them to, but a problem has arisen. From its inception the goal has been to make the newsletter accessible to anyone who would like it. To that end we have always made them free to you. For us the newsletter not only costs us money, but it also cost us time, which is fine, but right now we are at a point in our ministry in which we cannot afford to send APeX Attacks out. Take heart you should be receiving one soon (probably mid-summer). Until then just keep checking your e-mail boxes for Digital APeX Attacks. Your brothers in Christ Gene and Brad PS: Don't forget to forward this on to your friends who would appreciate it.
While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought When Words Get in the Way Up coming shows Web Page Updates
While brooding at a coffee shop I had just a thought by Gene David Monterastelli III This is a story that I feel that I can tell because I have now moved out of my old house… My Jr. year American Literature teacher used to say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I would like to offer a modification to that. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions and pirated cable." Our story begins much like any good story. It was a dark and stormy night in Washington, DC. Brad and I were working on something when I heard a knock at my door. As I opened the door I saw a man in standing in the rain in a yellow slicker. He said, "I am the cable guy. I just restored a bunch of cable. Check to see if your cable is working." I told him that I did not have cable. He asked me to check any way. I plugged the TV in and SHAZAM the cable worked!! He asked me my I didn't have cable. I told him that I do ministry and that I could not afford cable. He said, "I really don't want to go back up that pole in this rain and since you are in the ministry, I will make you a deal. You give me twenty bucks and I will leave it hooked up." So I reached into my pocket and pulled out a 20. Now I was not embarrassed or ashamed at what I was doing. The embarrassment came from the fact that Brad was seeing me do this, not in the act that I was doing. For the first month or so when ever I would watch Sportscenter or the Powerpuff Girls, I would feel guilty - that lightning was going to strike me down. As time passed this gnawing feeling slowly passed. Now it would be easy to rationalize (and I am sure that I did). "I am not really stealing anything. They produce the shows regardless if I watch them or not. The only cost to bring it to my house is the electricity which I pay. The cable company and networks make Millions of dollars. They are not going to miss my few bucks a month. I am doing ministry and I do deserve this." As compelling as these arguments or rationalizations may seem, none of them are true. I was stealing. The cable company was providing me a service for a price. Now if I think my life needs that service and it's worth the price, I will pay it. If I don't need the service or don't think the service is worth the price then I shouldn't buy it. I have free will in the matter. What happened instead, is I took the service without their consent and without compensating them. Regardless, if they need the money or not, I stole the service from them. What I am most ashamed of in the whole ordeal is how my attitude changed. In the beginning I was really concerned and some nights would even get a little sick to my stomach as I watched TV, but as time passed so did that feeling. I slowly became desensitized to the fact that the programs I watched were stolen. It was simply part of my life. I did not steal once. I stole every time I turned on the TV. Each time it got easier and easier for me to steal, until it was just part of my everyday life. I was stealing and not even giving it a second thought.
When Words get in the Way By Brad Farmer Hark, brethren! How art thou? I pray thou hast found thine own self of good cheer... Translation: Hey, man! What's up? How's it going? Good, I hope. I often feel that for a prayer to be personal to me, I need to understand what is being said and make the words my own… not just a repetition of sounds or a recital of someone else's thoughts. For whatever reason, it's always made me a little uncomfortable to use a lot of thee, thy, thou, or thine when I pray. That's not how I talk, and prayer is an intimate conversation between my God and me. So what's up with these words we use in prayer anyway? Is one way more "powerful" or more "proper" than the other? While we're on the subject of the words we use in prayer, why do we even need to talk at all? God already knows everything, right? He knows what we need even before we ask (Matt 6:8), so we can't be teaching Him anything, giving Him any new information, or reminding Him what we need. And didn't Jesus warn us about rambling on with words in our prayers (Matt 6:7-8)? Why bother with words? Wait a minute… Jesus told us to ask for things (Matt 7:7, Lk 11:9, Jn 14:13-14, 15:7, 16:24). And when the disciples asked Him specifically how they should pray, He taught them to say the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:9-13, Lk 11:1-4). Jesus even prayed out loud Himself (Heb 5:7). So maybe he was all for using words… But then, which words are best? I would hate to sound like a fool in front of my God. (Then again… He sees and hears everything I do or say… He even knows what I think - so He already knows what a fool I can be.) The truth is, none of us really know how to pray as we ought to. (We have to rely on the intercession of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26).) But the condition of our hearts is much more important than the words we use. Thomas A. Hand, O.S.A. points out in his excellent book St. Augustine on Prayer that "…the words we use in prayer are not intended for the instruction of God, but for the construction of our own desires. That is what God means to accomplish by means of the formulas of prayer. Not that he has any need of them for himself, but in the sense that he makes use of them to build up our desires for heavenly things." The words we use help express our desires and the formulas for prayers that we use help remind us what it is we need to pray for. To finish, I'm gonna give you this one passage from St. Augustine and leave you to your own thoughts… "(Augustine) 'Are you not disturbed by the fact that our great Master, in teaching his disciples to pray, taught them certain words, so that it looks as if he taught them what words to use in prayer?' (Adeodatus) 'No. That does not disturb me. For he did not teach them words merely, he taught them by means of words, so that through these words they could keep themselves in constant remembrance. He taught them realities: what they should pray for, and from whom they should ask, when they prayed in their innermost mind, as we have said.' (Augustine) 'You have correctly understood the point.'" The Teacher, 1, 2.
Up coming shows Please pray for us and for those we are blessed to serve on these dates Feb 24 Storm III Detriot, MI March 4 Diocese of Lancing Jr. High Rally March 5 St. Gerard's Lancing, MI March 9-11 Diocese of Charleston Sr. High Rally, Charleston, SC March 18 Good Shepherd, Cincinnati, OH March 23-25Radical Sabbatical Seattle, WA March 31 Diocese of Tucson Sr. High Youth Rally 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 APeX Attacks # 7 (October 2000) is now on line. If you did not receive the latest wackiness in the mail you need to check this out. Highlights include Brad's reflections on what we are all called to, an interview with Gene, and how Gene was ministered to with candy (it's true). http://APeXMinistries.com/ApeXAttacks.html The up coming show list is now up to date for 2001 http://ApeXMinistries.com/FutureShows.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 © 2000 APeX Youth Ministries, Inc. --"Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." St. Francis of Assisi http://APeXMinistries.com