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: 13 Published: 21 Jan 2002
ON THE NEWS...
This morning I woke up to two separate but connected news items on the radio.The first was a story about thousands of refugees starting to make their way home to their Afghan villages and towns, through inhospitable mountain passes from Refugee Camps in Pakistan. Making their way home to a future of hopeless hunger, running the very real risk of being maimed or killed by the explosion of land mines that literally litter that unfortunate land. But the call of home, even with its accompanying hardships and danger, is viewed as preferable to merely existing in the sad squalor of the refugee camps.
Then, on the other side of the world, in New York, the city that bore the brunt of the terrorists' brutality, there are thousands of homeless economic refugees created by the American recession, and rudely exacerbated by the tragic events of September 11. Many are squatting in front of churches, ironically receiving bags of rice as sustenance, the same as their fellow sufferers in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Two tragedies, separate but cruelly interrelated, through events over which the sufferers had little or no personal control.
Jesus had a special place in his heart for the poor, those who suffer through no fault of their own. Those who have been caught up and smashed down through circumstances beyond their control. Jesus loved the underdog. He died for all of us. And if desire to become more like Him, we must offer compassion and practical help to those in need.
It isn't surprising that these desperate New Yorkers are camping outside churches, for that is where they expect their help to come from. Help that in Afghanistan, New York and throughout the world, reflects the reality of our faith to people everywhere. Long may it continue, and continue to grow.
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FROM THE WORD
"The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.'" (Luke 4:17-19)"Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (James 2:5)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
*** The foolish man seeks pleasure on earth. A wise man builds treasure in heaven. But the godly man seeks to build heaven on earth.*** Earthly possessions are perceived to be:
- Owned - by the foolish.
- Rented - by the wise.
- Administered - by the godly.
*** The true heart of a man is found in his wallet:
- A foolish man spends all he has on himself.
- A wise man tithes 10% to the provider.
- A godly man spends all he has been given on the provider’s behalf.
There are more than 30 new David sayings this week (Nos. 178-209) on the web at...
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!
MY TESTIMONY
By Delores Winder
Dolores Winder, in the final stages of pseudo-arthrosis, having suffered severely for 19 years, the last 14 in a body cast, was miraculously healed by God. Hear her tell her own amazing story of what God can, and does still do.
Order your free tape today at...
LIFES A LAUGH
The most recent page on our web site, full of true and humorous stories at which we can choose to laugh or cry. Such as this one...ALL LOCKED UP
I have a friend who filled his car with gas at a self-service gas station. After he had paid and driven away, he realised that he had left the gas cap on top of his car. He stopped and looked but, sure enough, it was lost.
Well, he thought for a second and realised that other people must have done the same thing, and that it was worth going back to look by the side of the road since even if he couldn't find his own gas cap, he might be able to find one that fit.
Sure enough, he hadn't been searching long when he found a gas cap. He tried it on, and it went into place with a satisfying click.
"Great," he thought, "I lost my gas cap, but I found another one that fits. And this one's even better because it locks."
WHY
Some things in life are inexplicable! For instance...??? Why are they called ‘stands’ when they are made for sitting on?
??? Why is it called ‘after dark’ when it is really ‘after light’?
??? Doesn’t ‘expecting the unexpected’ make the unexpected expected?
??? Why are a ‘wise man’ and a ‘wise guy’ opposites?
??? Why do ‘overlook and ‘oversee’ mean different things?
??? If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?
??? If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
Many more of life's mysterious questions on...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEK'S 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: For a short time in 1967, the American Typeros Association made a new punctuation mark that was a combination of the question mark and an exclamation point called an interrobang. It was rarely used and hasn't been seen since.
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: Which Shakespearean play is the only one that has a dog in its cast?
The Taming of the Shrew, A Mid Summernight's Dream, Othello, Two Gentlemen of Verona or MacBeth? Answer next week.
DID YOU KNOW?
?!? LATERAL THINKING
It is not unknown for Eskimos to use fridges to keep their food from freezing. (Wouldn’t need to use the Icebox however.)
?!? BY 'GEEP!'
The ‘geep’ is the offspring of a sheep and a goat. (Could equally well be a shoat)
?!? BY 'JEEP-ERS!'
The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the "General Purpose" vehicle, G.P. (serviced by doctors or mechanics?)
Another WORD PUZZLE for you.
/ l / i / n / e / s /
Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’
Many more Fun Facts at...
JUST JOKES
TouchéA new Hairdressing Salon opened up right across the road from the old established Barber’s business.
They put out a big, bold sign saying:
“WE GIVE SEVEN DOLLAR HAIRCUTS”
Not to be outdone, the old Barber put up his own sign:
“WE FIX SEVEN DOLLAR HAIRCUTS”
Much more great humour at...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.***FEEDING MY COW
One Sunday a cowboy went to church. When he entered, he saw that he and the preacher were the only ones present. The preacher asked the cowboy if he wanted him to go ahead and preach.
The cowboy said, "I'm not too smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I'd feed him."
So the minister began his sermon.
One hour passed, then two hours, then two-and-a-half hours. The preacher finally finished and came down to ask the cowboy how he had liked the sermon.
The cowboy answered slowly, "Well, I'm not very smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I sure wouldn't feed him ALL the hay."
Much more Holy Humour at...
A DAVID MUSING
Some weeks ago my sister who lives in Melbourne, Australia (a different country to New Zealand!) and I, shifted my mother into a rest home, where incidentally, she has settled in well.As part of the move we acquired a lot of Mum's furniture, ornaments and sundry household gear as she had no longer had room or further use for them. Included were some beautiful paintings, fine china and nice furniture. Yet the item that has given me the most pleasure has been a pair of nail clippers!
These were no ordinary model but the 'Rolls Royce' of nail clippers! Solid. Highly efficient. Cutting my nails with accuracy and a minimum of effort. The only difference to a 'Roller' is that they don't whisper when operating, but make a satisfying, loud click as the dead nail is cleanly seperated forever from its living counterpart.
This set me musing, as I gleefully cut my nails this morning, that pleasure is found in unusual and unexpected places and often in the small things of life. Though we put so much effort into striving for the big things - a bigger house, a better car, a boat, a bigger ministry - the acquisition of these things often don't bring the happiness we would expect. Instead, the small things, the nail clippers of life, the things that cost little or nothing, bring us unexpected satisfaction.
It's the same with people. Very often we find we get on really well with those we would least expect to. For true friendship is not dependent upon external beauty or brains, but rather, an internal meeting of minds and care for one another.
God too sees the internal, the little things that go to make up the real 'us'. I trust that He too, will be as happy with what He sees of me, as I am with my nail clippers!
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: Reading between the lines.
LINKS
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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
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