PLAYING BALL?

During the week, I read of a church expelling members for 'playing ball.' This appealed to my weird sense of humour! For 'playing ball', in New Zealand at least, means 'doing as someone else wants.' But these people were expelled for literally playing ball, which was NOT doing what their leaders wanted! You get it!

However, weird humour aside, was the church was right in what it did? Is playing ball prohibited by God as evil, or is it a man made religious law?

In our country, some of the most effective people in modeling Jesus to unbelievers are successful sports men and women, and dare I say it, 'pop stars' too. Both the current New Zealand and Australian 'Idols' (bad name!) from the TV shows of the same name are Christians, and have become influential role models.

The real question then is, 'what is it that makes one righteous?' Is holiness achieved by following a list of 'don'ts' or living a positive set of 'do's'? Jesus came to change the world from the religious system of the Law, personified by the Pharisees, to a 'character' based system defined as the Fruit of the Spirit and illustrated in the Beatitudes. He modeled a positive lifestyle. In striking contrast to the restrictive rules of the Pharisees.

Why then, do we keep on returning to the Law? It's simply human religious nature! For it seems easier to keep a set of laws. They are black and white! Don't do this and that - and this and that - and this and that - and all will be well!

Of course there are many things we will not do when living a godly life. The motivation though, is not keeping the law to earn our salvation - seemingly necessary again and again. But rather, to model our behavior on Jesus, doing what He did, avoiding the pitfalls of life through our love of Him and His love of us. We obey Him through desire, not compulsion. And repent as soon as we go wrong.

A ball is just a ball. A game is just a game. Neither is good, nor evil. Jesus did not prohibit football, but He was clear that we must not substitute other gods for Him.

I just want to 'play ball' with God!

Of course, God only plays rugby union football and cricket - doesn't He?!……..

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FROM THE WORD

" “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:23-28)

LIFE BY THE SPIRIT
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:16-26)

"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:1-10)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

*** To the believer Jesus is Saviour, but to the disciple he is also Lord.

*** As we grow in God, what we are to do assumes greater importance, than what we are not to do.

*** A new believer focuses upon the ‘thou shalt not’s’, while a mature disciple develops the ‘thou shalt’s.’ in their life.

*** To believe in God is good, to hear from God is great, but to obey God reaps the ultimate reward.

*** A man’s wisdom is based upon experience, but God’s wisdom comes through revelation.

*** The major difference between childhood and adulthood is taking responsibility. Many Christians dislike responsibility!

*** In nature, human growth occurs naturally. We expect the same in the Spiritual and get offended when others grow more quickly than us.

*** Human growth is measured in height, girth and wrinkles, spiritual growth by the 'fruit of the Spirit.' Often we confuse the two.

NEW! You can now download the book of all David's Doodlings in PDF format at DAVID'S DOODLINGS

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 ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php

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. Roy

FROM YOU - TO ME -TO YOU

Thank You Bro..Tait,
For reminding us to have new faith in our old dreams.
Agape,Bro.Scott Hutchinson

David
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VIDEO PILOT
A BIG first step.....as you say in PGIM it's a start, and I add that everything new born in God starts at the beginning with the first step.......... even if it takes 10 years to start the first step.......... the encouragement you give for those "to dust off their old dreams & visions" is so right......... I believe that many of us have had (or still have) dreams & visions from the Lord that WE have done nothing about........ (not God). If God gives us a dream or vision we often just wait around for God to take the next step, when HE is often "waiting around" (so to speak), for us to take the next step.......
So glad for you & Kathy.
Regards
Roy & Ikke McGreevy

David:
Glad your vision/dream is beginning to come to actuality. God's time is always best.

My thought is to be careful what you ask for. You could get it and with that getting comes responsibility.

I have some dreams on the back burners. So far, I haven't pursued it, so doors haven't opened. I look at the time obligation -- both preparing and fulfilling -- and don't see a possible way to fit it into my schedule. However, I continue to gather materials so I am ready if that is how God leads me.

With our weekly newsletter, I definitely see how God leads and equips. He'll do the same for you in this new endeavor. How exciting!

Thanks for PGIM each week.

Blessings,
Shelia Heil
USA

David
It is wonderful to be encouraged by a friend when one is so far from home in New Zealand.

I feel just like the many who have written in in the past to speak of the delight to read your newsletters on a Sunday evening here in USA. I felt at home again just as if I was sitting at my computer at home at Mount Maunganui. Blessings on you David and your wonderful wife Kathy, my dear friends.

Murray C.
PS: Saddened to hear of All Blacks loss to Australia. Look out South Africa.


Dear David,
What a dream and vision for Radio and Television you have had! Praise the Lord.

I had over thirty years experience in producing and telecasting a short "Thought for The Day" in public broadcasting free-to-air Television in Tasmania. I was also involved in producing Christian spot commercials for The Christian Television Association in Tasmania. It is time consuming work. A 60 second "spot" may take two or three days to produce to the standard required in commercial broadcasting. It is my view that Christians involved in this wonderful evangelistic and pastorally important harvest field need all the prayer support they can get. They also need every offer of professional assistance from the commercial world they can obtain. In the media we need to be able to "compete" for the attention of viewers and listeners in the midst of a most competitive market! I don't apologize for using commercial terms to describe the "market field" or in our terms the "Harvest field". This is where we have to share the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His lifetime on earth He used every means open to Him to preach and teach and minister. So should we!

Go to it, David, it's worth every bit of time and effort a person may put into it. If you can utilise the same skills of communication and interest that you share with us in your "Praise God It's Monday" email letters I am sure your T.V. and Radio programmes will have the same result. A great success.

With Love and the Assurance of Prayer,
Robert Legg.

David
Congratulations on your new venture and the prospect of having a H-U-G-E dream come true! I'll be praying for success and inspiration and blessing both for you and for all the people who will be touched by your extended ministry.

God bless you and walk close beside you each and every day.

Shirley

Your comments to me or fellow readers are always welcomed at... david@wwj.org.nz

This is an opportunity for you to express your views, which may not be my views. But none of us have a mortgage on all the truth - except for Jesus!

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." ***

293. YOU MAY BE A PREACHER IF . . .
* You've ever lied to the choir director about how good the cantata sounded. (!?)
* Your wife has amassed a huge collection of unsolicited casserole recipes.
* You think Exegesis should be an Olympic Event.
* You love to eat lunch alone so you don't have to say grace out loud.
* You sort of enjoy inviting the Mormons in to "talk."
* People apologize to you after they use profanity.
* While shaving, you've pointed at yourself in the mirror and shouted, "REPENT!" just to see what you look like doing it.
* You ever talked to a person who was sitting on a bedpan.
* You find yourself counting people at a sports event.
* You've spoken for free, and are worth every penny of it!
* You received an anonymous U-Haul gift certificate.

292. CHURCH PEW POSITIONS
A couple who usually sat in the back whenever they attended the church service.
One particular Sunday they decided to move up to the front in order to be sure to hear the sermon.

Even though they had been attending the church for several years, the long time church member they sat next to did not recognize them, but cheerfully said, "Good to have ya with us! Where y'all from?"

Taken by surprise, the husband mumbled, "The back."

NEW! You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 670 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php

FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Do fingernails contain DNA?

ANSWER: Fingernails do not contain cells, and thus do not yield DNA. A hair WITHOUT a hair follicle attached is also acellular (without cells).

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do all animals have belly buttons or only humans?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS
759. SCRABBLE BAN
A local ordinance in Atwoodville, Connecticut, prohibits people from playing Scrabble while waiting for a politician to speak. (Would their minds be thinking too clearly for the politicians liking?)

760. SILKY SECRETS
For hundreds of years, the Chinese zealously guarded the secret of sericulture, with imperial law decreeing death by torture to those who dared to disclose how to make silk. (Did no-one ask the silkworms?)

761. CAR BAN
Private automobiles were forbidden on the island of Bermuda until 1948. This is one reason that there are still so many bicycles there. (Life moves on slowly in the Tropics.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.

STABLING

Answer at the end of A David Musing

NEW! You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA

Or view all 1232 online at...

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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 soon.

Visit the library now at…

http://www.inspirational.org.nz

PET PUNS

Q: What do cat actors say on stage ?
A: Tabby or not tabby !

Q: How do you know if your cat has eaten a duckling ?
A: She's got that down in the mouth look !

Q: What do you get if cross a cat with a canary ?
A: Shredded tweet !

Q: What do you get if you cross a cat with a tree ?
A: cat-a-log !

Q: Why did the cat join the Red Cross ?
A: Because she wanted to be a first-aid kit !

Q: How do you know that cats are sensitive creatures?
A: They never cry over spilt milk!

Q: Why was the cat so small?
A: Because it only ate condensed milk!

Q: What does the lion say to his friends before they go out hunting for food?
A: 'Let us prey.'

Q: Why happened when the cat swallowed a coin?
A: There was some money in the kitty!

More about how 'Pets Rule' at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php

IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

^^^ Life is like a game of golf: you drive hard to get to the green and then you end up in a hole.

^^^ Things aren't like they used to be and they never were.

^^^ Horse sense is what a horse has that keeps it from betting on people.

^^^ If you think your problems are behind you, chances you are driving a school bus.

^^^ I'm getting so absent-minded that sometimes in the middle of a sentence I...

^^^ When you have a lot of things to do, get your nap out of the way first.

^^^ If there are two events of equal importance they will happen at the same time.

^^^ A pessimist mourns the future.

Hundreds more fun and pithy statements at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php

INTERESTING WORDS AND PHRASES FROM THE BIBLE

MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL

A mistranslation actually! For the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" However, the phrase makes the point that lusting after money gets us into trouble!

Lots more interesting God facts at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php

EAGLES FLY HIGH! PASTORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS VERSION

A revelatory, scripturally based study describing God's church - Past, Present and Future. Contains many insights into God's desires for His people in these end times. This overview will help you both better understand the direction of the church as a whole and the place of your ministry within the overall picture.

Our most popular PDF download.

Check it out now at...

A NEW SERVICE COMING SOON - 'TUESDAY TEACHINGS' ***STARTING NEXT WEEK!***

After requests for more teaching, we will shortly be starting a new ezine of revelatory teachings from God's word on a Tuesday. These studies will increase your insights into scripture and help in your walk with Jesus.

This will be brief enough for you to easily read online and so allow you to economically print them off, if you so desire.

IF YOU DON'T WISH TO RECEIVE THESE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE ADDRESS BELOW AND SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO

tt@wwj.org.nz

You will still receive PGIM as per normal, even if you decide to come off the 'Tuesday Teachings' list.

PS: The email link is now working correctly. Sorry if you have had problems.

A DAVID MUSING

When playing sport, pain is gain. Yet the same level of pain in day to day life is somehow, a lot more painful. Probably, because it is not under our control. As I sit here writing this with toothache, I know the feeling! Have just taken some tablets, which for me, means it must really hurt!

Spiritual life can be similar. Going on for God, we expect trials and tribulations, but we cope with them as an element of the overall good. They can actually bring us closer to our Lord.

But at other times, those when we are just 'drifting' spiritually, tragedy can strike unawares, and sometimes, even destroy our faith. For I have come to understand that there is no standing still in God. Like the pendulum, we are either moving forwards or backwards. For me, life is best when I am moving on. How about you?

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's Word Puzzle Answer: BLASTING

REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT

Most weeks we get enquiries about reproducing, in electronic or print form, articles contained in 'PGIM!' We welcome and encourage you to utilize this material. Freely received, freely given. We would ask though, that the source be acknowledged as an encouragement to others to subscribe to this newsletter also.

Subscription opportunities are available here Subscribe Here

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DONATIONS

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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 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