A Weekly World Wide Word of Encouragement to those in the Ministry
PRAISE GOD IT’S MONDAY!
A WEEKLY ‘WWW (world-wide word) OF ENCOURAGEMENT’
TO THOSE IN MINISTRY
A FREE service, currently connecting with Christian leaders from 3,000 denominations and ministries, in 70 countries.
Issue No: 106 Published: 10 Nov 2003
GOD'S UPGRADES
All those who use computers will relate to the following message I received last week, explaining changes to the operation of an email mailing list."... It was resolved for me when I went on-line to find out if my Coke bottle cap was a winner (It wasn't!). But, when I went to the suggested website, it did some sort of test on my version of Netscape and told me I was hopelessly out of date and needed to upgrade before I continued. After more than three hours of downloading I was up-to-date with Netscape 7.x (from 4.11). Yeah, yeah, I know. But I really liked that old version. It did everything I needed and I was comfortable with it, so why change. You know how uncomfortable it is to change and do something new.
And the promise was that the new version would save all my old e-mail addresses (that's you), and all my old settings (that's me). Well, you're fine, but I'm not. I had to go to the office to get the incoming and outgoing server data to configure this. Which is what I hate about change - it's always more work than you expect, and always more work than you are told to expect..."
Oh, how brilliantly (unintentionally, of course!) this true story sums up our attitudes towards the changes, the upgrades, that God continually desires to see in our lives.
It's so easy to become content, lazily languishing in one's godly comfort zone, isn't it? "I'm living a good life, doing a good God job. I'm happy in Him. So why change my lifestyle, why be uncomfortable, go out on a limb and try something new - that may or may not work?"
And of course, experience tells that it's always so much more difficult to implement change than expected. It hurts! "Surely God, my version doesn't really need upgrading anyway, for the current one is working well and there are always 'bugs' in new software."
And God replies, "No my friend, my software is perfect. The bugs are in your life! May I remove them for you?"
"But God........."
"The choice is yours, my friend. But, my latest upgrades will enhance your spiritual journey to the specifications I desire of you today."
"OK, my God....... my light could be brighter....... have your way in me......."
Unlike Microsoft and Netscape, the new version is free! And is simply downloaded through prayer to the hard drive of our submission, to be displayed in the full colour, 'salt and light' printout of our lives. Worth downloading today?
Find out more about us on...
FROM THE WORD
SALT AND LIGHT"“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)
"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.†Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
119. Failure is often the first rung on the ladder of success.120. 100% success is unattainable, but 100% effort is available to all.
121. Easy success breeds arrogance, but success hard-earned, builds character.
123. Let failure breed experience, not despair.
124. A failure learned from is a step towards success.
125. God specialises in turning worldly failures into heavenly successes.
126. Worldly success is fleeting, heavenly glory, eternal.
127. Worldly success is like the rainbow – beautiful for all to see for a short time. Heavenly glory is that elusive pot of gold, which once found never decays.
130. The path of a successful life is built with many paving stones of failure
131. The Jesus in us, makes us invincible in Jesus!
132. Life brings strife. Overcoming strife brings back life.
169. Challenge and opportunities are bedfellows. For the one is inevitably born out of the other.
209. On God's 'Order of Merit' a Z+ far exceeds an A- as effort outranks ability every time.
361. Earthly success is an aphrodisiac, while heavenly success requires fertilisation, labour pains and new birth.
700 David sayings for you to view at ...
A BIG THANKS...
... to those who responded to Roy McGreevy's fundraising request last week. Your generous assistance is hugely appreciated.If you intended to respond but didn't get 'a round tuit' please contact Roy at roy@kscbtv.com to advise sponsorship details.
You can check out the full proposal, once again,at...
FROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU
Dear David,Thank you for another grand edition of PGIM. I was teaching a class of 6 year old not so long ago and asked what was the meaning of AM and PM. The best suggestion was that AM meant ‘All morning’! For these children in England PM meant ‘After dinner’ but could not work our how this related to PM perhaps somebody got it wrong!
David Parry
Kedesh Fellowship
England
The Manager PGIM
A Weekly Encouragement.
Dear Friend,
Recently I was visiting through Mongolia and as I go in my reading I collect sayings and snippets of wisdom. One missionary there mentioned your Encouragement Weekly message, and sent on to me an example. If I add some quotes to my collection I will gladly acknowledge the author.
I would like to be placed on your emailing list for this. Thank you once again for your help. My name is:- Pastor H.G. Harker (retired missionary and church administrator) at:- hharker@optusnet.com.au
NOTE: To me, this has to be the outer ends of the earth! David
A belated Indian testimony.....
JMHA-India Missionary Movement delight to report about the very belssingful ministry of Bishop David from NZ with his India Rep Bro. Peri Asher from 9 to 16 sept 2003. Though it was a very short time but so sweet time in all aspects.
It is obvious that David is man with dynamic spirit and energetic power. His untired health is another plus point for having constant ministry even far away places. We as leaders have been very much blessed by his ministry with us.
In all these programmes, David and Asher attended and ministered with great burden and prayer. The results and outcomes are witnesses for the same. He shared God word like a experienced Bible teacher of a seminary. He delivered all kind of sermons.
Almost God has given him skill to handle any kind of sermons. In all meetings,we seen people, leaders and believers committing their lives for Christ once again and being confirmed in their visions. His communication is very fit to educated and uneducated. So all people were able to understand His words.
We want to thank God for Bishop David and Asher for their Spirit ministry with us.
Even though they left our place, but our churches gained lot of spirtual blessings.
We look forward for constant ministry with him in the days to come which will be a blessing not only to us, all of our churches in our Tamil region. God is going to do many more things through him in ensuing days. Missions and churches will receive many spiritual blessings from this man of God.
May God use him with more power and more grace.
Yours in Him
Glory dhas
Your comments to me or fellow readers are always welcomed at... david@wwj.org.nz
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused****** "Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others." ***
211. MODERN TRANSLATION
A six year old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service: "And forgive us our trash passes as we forgive those who passed trash against us."
210. TERRORIST CELL GROUPS
Subject: TERRORIST CELL GROUPS DISCOVERED IN THE CHURCH
By Rev. Dennis Smart, alias Bin Readin
Edited by Carlton Earp, alias Bin Thinkin
Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in Baptist churches. (Maybe other churches also?)
Church security identifies these as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Osama Bin Lucifer, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy the pastors and the churches.
Earlier reports of a sixth group proved false. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Workin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. This group appears to be very weak. It is easy to detect because it is the only group that is active in services to Christ. Unlike the true terrorist cells, the Bin Workin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.
Bin Workin visibly does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Workin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Prayin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.
Which cell group do you belong to?
These same groups have been detected in other denominations since Smart first filed his report. The Office of Home Church Security is co-ordinating its efforts with the Bin Workin group to interdict the activities of the five terrorist cells now known to be active throughout many churches worldwide.
Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 550 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
BE INSPIRED WITH A MESSAGE FROM INSPIRATIONAL TAPES
This amazing New Zealand resource has over 4,000 messages ranging from old classics to the latest revelation and teaching. A number of free MP3 downloads are available or you can order tapes and CD’s from the site for worldwide delivery at a most reasonable cost. Our free weekly MP3 download selections will be available again from next week.Visit the library now at…
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What exactly do "A.M." and "P.M." mean?ANSWER: The initials for morning and evening are based on latin words - ante meridiem and post meridiem. 'Ante,' as you will know, means 'before' and 'post' means 'after.' 'Meridiem' means 'noon.'
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What plant exists in more than nine thousand species?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
882. THE EMERGENCY LANDING
A cargo of flatulent pigs generated so much heat from their ‘natural gas’ that an international passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing in London, while on the way to South Africa, after having caused the plane’s fire alarm to go off. (Pig power)
883. FAILED SUICIDE
At the age of 12, Martin Luther King was so depressed that he twice tried to commit suicide by jumping out his bedroom window. (Fortunately for America, he didn’t live in a high rise.)
884. SPIDER MAGIC
Spiders’ webs contain a natural clotting agent, so when applied to a cut, they actually stem the flow of blood. (Keep the world bugs under control too. Who could hate them?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
CREARATESE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
You can download a 250 item sample Trivia Book at Truly Trifling Trivia
Or view all 1200 online at...
MISSIONARIES
MISSIONARIES410,000 Missionaries from all branches of Christendom
(Only between 2 and 3% of those missionaries work among unreached peoples.)
140,000 Protestant Missionaries
64,000 Protestant Missionaries come from the USA
DISTRIBUTION OF PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES AMONG CULTURAL BLOCKS
74% Among Nominal Christians
8% Among Tribal Peoples
6% Among Muslims
4% Among Non-Religious/Atheists
3% Among Buddhists
2% Among Hindus
2% Among Chinese Folk Religions
1% Among Jewish Peoples
GLOBAL CHURCH MEMBER FINANCE IN US DOLLARS...
12,300 Billion (12.3 Trillion) - Total Annual Income
213 Billion - Given to Christian Causes (1.73% of total income)
11.4 Billion - Given to Foreign Missions (5.4% of Giving to Christian causes)
OF FOREIGN MISSIONARY GIVING...
87% goes for work among those already Christian,
12% goes for work among already evangelised non-Christians, and
1% or $114 million goes for work among people groups in the Unevangelised or Unreached category.
Most above stats are adapted from data by David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson of Global Evangelization Movement web site:
Lots more facts on God and the church at...
TWO MORE PUNS TO LOVE OR HATE
BUNNY ON ICEA lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves. "What are you doing in there?" she asked.
The rabbit replied: "This is a Westinghouse, isn't it?"
The lady replied, "Yes."
"Well," the rabbit said, "I'm westing."
PIGEON POWER
I was driving to work this morning when my car stalled in the damp weather. I was sitting in the car at the side of the highway, contemplating my next move, when a pigeon flew down and landed right in the middle of the hood of the car. It seemed fairly tame, and I soon became fascinated in watching it up close as it strutted around and made cooing noises.
A few minutes passed, and two more pigeons flew in and joined the first bird. Pigeons seem to be attracted by crowds, and soon I was sitting there with a whole hood full of pigeons, all cooing loudly and beginning to change the color of my hood.
Gradually I noticed that the birds seemed to be trying to get my attention, which was unnerving, since I had always regarded pigeons as rather stupid birds. But, sure enough, several of them were dragging a piece of rope around on the hood, and several others were flying out in front of the car and returning to the hood.
All of a sudden, I realized what they were doing, so I yanked open the door and wildly chased them all off.
No way was I going to be pigeon towed!
Plenty more to be found too, at...
A MATTER OF TIME
Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was no need for time, for they had eternity. The tyrany of time is one of the costs of man's fall. Read about it in verse at...A DAVID MUSING
Over the past couple of weeks, I've had 2 experiences that have shown the widespread reach of the Internet.One evening, I went to a meeting with my friend Graeme, who lives just round the corner. A couple of hundred metres down the road, we stopped to pick up another friend of his. When I was introduced to Ken, he immediately said, "3 Hetley Crescent" which is where I live! The surprise showed on my face, so he explained, "I get PGIM!"
And then, the letter quoted in today's 'From You - To me - To you' article, where we have at least one reader in Mongolia!
A classic illustration to me of how the internet brings together the world - for good and for evil. Much as governments try to stop it through censorship, 'the Net' is breaking down man imposed barriers of ignorance in the many countries that have used information limitation to control the minds of their people.
In Jesus' time, the Roman roads enabled the gospel message to travel through the known world. So today, the Internet fulfils a similar role, but this time throughout all the earth - from Mongolia to Taradale, New Zealand.
It is now up to us, to use it for 'good' and for 'God', as our means of taking the 'Good News' of the Gospel as Jesus commanded, "to the uttermost ends of the earth."
Isn't technology amazing! Well - it is when it works! But we won't go there..... will we!
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today’s Word Puzzle Answer: Rate Increase.
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God’s people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ’s return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord’s direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
3 Hetley Crescent
Taradale
Napier 4001
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 8449-377 International (+64) 8449-377
Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz
Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "… so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole – and have a smile while doing it!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz