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: 137 Published: 07 Jun 2004
THE CHINK IN OUR ARMOUR
While we were stranded in Kano, Nigeria, (see 'A final African Experience' below) we met a 'big man', approaching 2 metres (6'6") tall with muscles to match. He was a white American who had been invited by the President of Nigeria to come and inspire the country's youth to participate in sporting pursuits rather than drugs and violence. This perhaps was a bit ironic, as our friend - let's call him Anthony Mapbook for the privacy reasons that pervade all our cultures these days - was a former 'WWF' wrestler! Now aged 50, he could still benchpress 400lb, more than any of the aspiring young weightlifters in Nigeria could manage. You get the picture!As an aside, the wrestling is one of the world's favourite entertainments, being watched by both pastors and people, all around the world!
As we sat waiting for our delayed flight beside the swimming pool of the hotel, we got into conversation with our new found friend. At 5'8" and of relatively slim build, particularly after 9 weeks in Africa, I was feeling like David talking to Goliath! However, as we relaxed together, a common 'African Experience' occured. We were visited by one of the many geckho's (small African lizards) that abound throughout the continent. Amazingly, our newfound friend recoiled in horror at the poor, harmless lizard which would intuitively shy away from any human contact. They are an everyday part of life in Africa.
Our frightened friend told us that he feared no man in the wrestling ring, yet in this poor, little lizard he had met his match! He was truly frightened normal reason. In our most sympathetic, Jesus like natures, Kathy and I could but only laugh! Sorry God! Sorry Anthony! But it was so ludicrously funny!
For we all have those unexected weak chinks in our armour, no matter what impression we give the world. But like David, I am learning to overcome my Goliaths, however large or small they may be, with the help of Jesus. As I rely upon Him more deeply, so He builds me up to overcome the 'geckhos' of my life. With Him we have the victory!
But I still haven't developed sufficient faith to get in the WWF ring yet! But maybe if I took a geckho with me......
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FROM THE WORD
GOD'S MIGHT AND POWER"But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Exodus 9:16)
“The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day. If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account." (Joshua 22:22-23)
" There the LORD will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them. For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us." (Isaiah 33:21-22)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)
DAVID’S DOODLINGS
HEAVENLY TRUTHS GOD HAS SHOWN ME (11 of 12)Unexpectedly given one afternoon when I wasn't feeling very well. How often God works like that! Kept my human input to a minimum.
God has shown me that...
... happiness comes and happiness goes, but joy stands firm.
... we have second chances in life but not in death.
... we only get to live life once.
... my time invariably runs ahead of His time for me.
... to wait is still to grow.
... my job is simply to be available to Him.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now more than 800 David sayings for you to view at ...
A MESSAGE FROM ROY
Although this PGIM! e-letter is sent free, some readers have decided to support this Ministry one or more times a year by sponsoring a week's PGIM! @ USD $50.00. Can I ask you to consider sponsoring a specified week/s? You will get an acknowledgement on your particular week/s of sponsorship (unless you do not want it). If you are interested to help this very informative & helpful newsletter, please email me, Roy McGreevy, as it is God who authored this idea through me in the USA. roy@kscbtv.com. I look forward to hearing from you... thanks. RoyFROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU
Shalom David,I am just pondering the situation with regard to the name/s of our Creator. Why is it that we use many Hebrew words Like Halleluyah and Golgotha and Gehenna, and others within
our language, (English) but we cannot or will not use the names YHWH and Yahushua but instead transpose them with "God" and "Lord." When we consider that many have been killed for daring to speak His name out loud is possibly one reason but for us here in little ol' NZ it's hardly likely that we will be martyred for it.
I bet during your travels through Africa that those you met called you David, why then do we not call our Saviour by His given name. I'm not having a go at you as I enjoy your writings and I have studied a number of your works. "Yahushua HaMashiach", there is no other name by which men can be saved under heaven, yet we don't use it and if we do we are accused of being Jewish. I'm not Jewish, I'm a native born NZ'er of Celtic descent.
Maybe you can throw some light onto the Name of Light.
In His name
Pete Bradley
Please feel free to reply on this, or any other subject, to
david@wwj.org.nz
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
273. ELIJAH'S WATER
At Sunday School the topic was Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The teacher explained that Elijah built an altar, placed wood on it, cut the sacrificial bullock in pieces and laid them on the wood. He then commanded that the people fill four jars with water and pour the water over the sacrifice.
"Why do you think they did that?" asked the teacher.
A little girl raised her hand and said, "To make gravy."
272. THREE WISE WOMEN
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
* They would have asked directions,
* arrived on time,
* helped deliver the baby,
* cleaned the stable,
* made a casserole, and,
* brought practical gifts.
Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 670 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why does laundry that is dried outside smell so nice?ANSWER: This one's for those who insist on hanging the clothes outside, even in the dead of winter. Clothes that are dried outside actually do smell better because of a process called photolysis. For sunlight breaks down compounds in the laundry that cause odor, such as perspiration and body oils.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do all bees live in hives?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
789. LIE BACK AND ENJOY IT
Experts at the Centre of Ergonomics at the University of Michigan have found that the tilt created where the seat and back of a rocking chair come together should be greater than 90 degrees — 120 degrees is good, 135 even better — for the health of the lower back. (My sort of research! Am now being healthy, not lazy!)
790. PRETTY POLLY
Macaws are the largest and most colourful species of the parrot family. (The genuine 'Pretty Polly')
791. A LIGHTENING RECOVERY
Most people struck by lightning recover. Only 20 – 30% die. However the fortunate survivors may suffer damage such as hearing loss or muscular weakness. (But do they see the light?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
CORNY
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...
A FINAL AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
Because of unrest in the city of Kano in Nigeria, we changed our tickets to depart from the capital city of Abuja, a much safer option, and the same 3-hour distance away from the city of Jos (Jesus Our Saviour) where we were staying.Catching ths flight at Abuja, we were off to Amsterdam with a short stopover to pick up passengers in Kano on the way. We landed safely and were told to stay on the plane while the passengers boarded.
Then, a few minutes later, we were informed that we had encountered a bird strike on landing and that we would likely have to remain there for 24 hours while the plane's engine was fixed. This was at 10pm in the evening. So they fed us the meal we were meant to have on the way to Amsterdam and we were finally taken to a hotel at 3am the next morning!
Kathy and I actually had a most pleasant time in a luxury room, where, unusually for Africa, most things worked! And the next evening we took off uneventfully for Aberdeen, Scotland, via Amsterdam, to see our family here, now 24 hours late.
An unexpected, yet pleasant, final African experience from the continent that never ceases to surprise!
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 mid-June.Visit the library now at…
A SCOTTISH EXPERIENCE
One of the quaint things you notice when visiting Britain is the tendancy of so many people to cling to traditions that have long passed in the rest of the world.This was brought home to me when Kathy and I visited a shopping mall in downtown Aberdeen.
Compared to Africa, the mall was a picture of cleanliness. For in the West we have both rubbish bins and fines for littering! However, there is still a need for cleaners to keep things 'up to scratch'.
At this particular mall, we saw the cleaner, a more mature gentleman, doing a wonderful job, dressed in a beautiful starched, blue shirt and beautifully pressed trousers waering a matching blue tie. He could have been the general manager!
A wonderful, yet quirky, British experience of days long gone in the rest of the world.
FAMOUS PEOPLES VIEWS ON THE BIBLE
From presidents to sportsmen…….George Washington.
"It's impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
John Jefferson.
"A studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands."
John Quincy Adams.
"The Bible is the first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention."
Andrew Jackson.
"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests."
Woodrow Wilson.
"A man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived of this." (a knowledge of the Bible).
Herbert Hoover.
"There is no other book so various as the Bible, nor one so full of concentrated wisdom."
View many more at…
TILL DEATH DO US PART
WISDOMAt my granddaughter's wedding, the DJ polled the guests to see who had been married longest. It turned out to be my husband and I. The DJ asked us, "What advice would you give to the newly-married couple?" I said, "The three most important words in a marriage are, 'You're probably right.'"
Everyone then looked at my husband. He said, "She's probably right."
MARRIAGE QUALITIES
On their 50th wedding anniversary and during the banquet celebrating it, Tom was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration.
"Tell us Tom, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife?" an anonymous voice yelled from the back of the room.
Tom responded, "Well, I've learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, meekness, forbearance, self-restraint, forgiveness - and a great many other qualities you wouldn't need if you stayed single."
With marriage and families it is often better to laugh than cry! Do it at…
A SCOTTISH /AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Being somewhat of a barbeque 'expert', I have always wanted to experience an American BBQ, for they are world renowned. as are 'bries' in South Africa, which I also had the good fortune to sample earlier.And I have had my wish, without having to travel to the US! For yesterday we attended an American BBQ in Scotland! An American frind of our kids (Sometimes kids come in handy!) living in Aberdeen while designing an oil rig for the North Sea Oilfields, turned on a beautiful meal in the full American BBQ tradition. Delicious and plenty of it - another American tradition!
Still, if anyone still wants to invite us to another in America, we are open to invitations!
A highly unexpected Scottish/American experience.
TABERNACLE TO TABERNACLE
TABERNACLE TO TABERNACLEHow the pattern of the first Church, The Tabernacle of Moses, has applied to the Church through the ages and predicts the Church to come.
A free PDF download at…
FAMOUS WORDS AND PHRASES FROM THE BIBLE
JUDASSpeaks of betrayal, as was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Many more God Facts at...
A DAVID MUSING
Well, Africa is over, and we are now enjoying the company (and Kathy the cooler weather too) of Aberdeen, Scotland. Sometimes here it is like a warm Winter's day at home - only problem being that it is their summer! At best, like a warm spring day!However, our welcome from family and friends has been very warm. And our 3 year old granddaughter, Eva, is very happy to see her 'Grandma Zealand' - and 'Grandpa Zealand' too!
But it was truly hard to leave Africa - even for Kathy after only 10 days - spent in the heat of Nigeria too! For the people are wonderful. And the Holy Spirit so active, compared to the Western world. Sad but true!
But, rest assured Africa, God willing, we will be back!
His servant and yours
David Tait
Word Puzzle Answer: CRONY
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ABOUT US
ABOUT USWALKING 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 website
wwj.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