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: 12 Published: 14 Jan 2002
SEASONS and SEASONS
Seasons form an integral part of our lives. From birth through to death, failure to success, sadness to happiness, we all go through seasons in life.Currently in New Zealand it is the season of summer - well it is meant to be! For we are having a real mix of weather, from glorious days of sunshine, surf and swimming to other days when you can take a cool shower simply by walking outside. While we humans may not enjoy the rain, the grass and plants certainly do. So our 40 million plus sheep and 5 million cattle, upon which our economy is still largely based, are munching away to their hearts content on copious quantities of green, green grass that is normally becoming straggly brown sticks at this time of year. Numerous millions of Radiata pine trees, which are displacing the sheep in many areas, are also shooting up towards the sky at an amazing rate.
Yet, just a short 2,000 kilometres (1200 miles) away across the Tasman Sea in Sydney, Australia bush fires are raging over thousands of hectares of land. Fed by soaring temperatures, fanned by strong, seeringly hot winds, a seemingly almost irresistible wall of fire is encroaching upon the outskirts of the beautiful Olympic City.
Again, only another relatively short distance away in the South Pacific Ocean, the small, normally peaceful Kingdom of Tonga has been viscously battered by a raging cyclone, where winds of 200km per hour and torrential rain have vented their fury upon this tropical paradise.
The good (and bad!) citizens of these three closely related, near neighbours, have welcomed the New Year of 2002 in three very different ways.
These extreme, but not unheard of, weather conditions, well sum up the situation of the world as we enter the second (or third!) year of the new millennium. There is hope, there is growth, there is change and there is tragedy. And in the midst of it all there is our God, our hope in the growth times, in the times of change, and in the despair and tragedy that is an inevitable part of the human condition. He is our rock. He is our fortress. Only in Him we can truly trust for our deliverance. We thank, praise and bless you Lord, this New Year, all year and every year.
Find out more about us on ...
FROM THE WORD
"I love you O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:1-3)"In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth." (Psalm 31:1-5)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
*** The one thing you can rely upon is the unreliability of weather forecasts.*** The world's finest cosmetics are produced by a beautiful heart.
*** Time ravages the body but perfects a beautiful heart.
For more David sayings check out…
TAPE OF THE WEEK
In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministriesinspirational.org.nz
we are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape - absolutely free of charge!
ISRAEL - THE PEOPLE
By David Pawson
The Jewish people are an amazing people with an amazing history. David Pawson, an Englishman and outstanding Bible teacher whose ministry takes him around the world has had several million audio-cassettes distributed in 120 countries. A tape well worth listening to for those who are interested in our spiritual heritage.
Order your free tape today at...
FACTS FOR FUN
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: What is an "interrobang"? A tool used to knock down walls, slang for killing a terrorist, an obscure key on some typewriters or a new computer game? Answer next week.DID YOU KNOW?
?!? A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Rene Descartes came up with the theory of co-ordinate geometry by looking at a fly walk across a tiled ceiling. (No wonder I couldn’t understand it – for the fly has now flown away!)
?!? SWEET KISSES
Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt. (Who would have thought that even ‘kissing’ could be mechanised!)
?!? EARTHQUAKE PREVENTION
Elephants can't jump. Every other mammal can. (A ‘trunk-ated’ disability)
Another WORD PUZZLE for you.
C R : ) W D
Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’
Many more Fun Facts at...
JUST JOKES
Some quick quips for the New Year.DISCRETION - THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR!
John: “Do you think we should take some fast track flying lessons?”
Jim: “No thanks John, I don’t believe in crash courses!”
HARD OF MEMORY
Jill: “Joan, please help me! I’m losing my memory!”
Joan: “When did you first notice the problem?”
Jill: “What problem?”
Many more great jokes on ...
DOCTORED ADVICE
David: “Doctor, Doctor, I’m shrinking!”
Doctor: “ Now, now David, be a little patient.”
CAVEMEN TALK
Jim: “John, I’m going to invent the wheel.”
John: “That will cause a revolution, Jim.”
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT
Some facts of life?!"Laziness is resting before you get tired."
"Consciousness: That annoying time between naps."
"If ignorance is bliss, I guess that would explain why I am so miserable."
"A man spends the first half of his life learning the habits that shorten the second half."
"Pain and suffering is inevitable but misery is optional."
"A real leader faces the music even when he doesn’t like the tune."
Many more fun and thoughtful facts on ...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.***GETTING PRIORITIES RIGHT
Coming out of church Mrs Peterson asked her husband, "Do you think that Johnson girl is dying her hair?"
"I didn’t even notice her," admitted Mr Peterson.
"And that dress that Mrs Hansen was wearing," continued Mrs Peterson, Really, don’t tell me that you think that’s a proper outfit for a mother of two."
"I’m afraid I didn’t notice that either," replied a resigned Mr Peterson.
"Oh, For heavens sake," his wife snapped. "A lot of good it does you to go to church!"
Much more Holy Humour at...
A DAVID MUSING
The celebration of the New Year really brought home to me the interdependence we have one with another. Here at 'The Mount' we were blessed with a beautiful fine evening. A crowd of some 20,000 people, mainly young but including many families, gathered on the foreshore to listen to music, to dance, and welcome in the New Year. Unlike the previous year when there had been alcohol induced riots, the local council and police had instituted a total liquor ban in the area - and it worked! Some of the large contingent of Police present were able to be released early in the evening to go to another potential trouble spot, a couple of hours drive away. Fortunately that area too, as throughout New Zealand, was trouble free, due to the alcohol free zones now legally allowed to be put in place for such occasions.Along with people from a number of churches I helped at a 'Safe Zone' tent, where people who found themselves in trouble could come to be looked after. Amazingly, we had less than 10 'customers' all night, which was marvellous, and a testimony to the positive affect the reduction in alcohol had on people's behaviour.
My wife Kathy, on the other hand, was at work, on the job as a Theatre Nurse at our local hospital. She was very busy, not with New Year related operations, but with the normal emergencies of life. So busy in fact that she worked a 17-hour shift - two days in one!
With both Kathy and I, Kathy far more than I, being part of the 'team behind the scene' for these celebrations, it gave me a greater appreciation of the 'servants' who make events both big and small, function smoothly. Of the ones who sacrifice their own good time so that others may enjoy themselves. Of the 'deacons' and those with a servant heart who are the oft-unsung backbone of our churches and communities. I salute you all.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: A face in the crowd.
LINKS
If you would like to link your web site to ours, and ours to yours, please advise us onlinks@wwj.org.nz
DID THIS EMAIL HAVE A BLUE BACKGROUND & RED HEADINGS?
YES - Great!NO - Your web browser needs to be set to 'Rich Text'. If you have an older 'Text Only' browser, this email may also be viewed on our web site at...
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
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
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 http://