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: 151 Published: 13 Sep 2004
TODAYS SPONSOR
Heaps of thanks to Dal and Denise Ferneyhough for their encouragement, prayer and sponsoring today's PGIM. We appreciate you so much.Oh! And Happy Birthday for the 15th, Dal. May you become one year younger - in spirit!
THE DELUSIONAL ILLUSION
The past two weeks have seen terrorist strikes in Russia, Israel and Indonesia. Plus the anniversary of the biggest attack of them all - the 9/11 tragedy. All round the world there has been huge coverage, verging on hysteria, in the news media. Our leading TV channel here in New Zealand, cut into normal programming to show the final hours of the Russian School siege. I watched, and was horrified, along with everyone else.The extremists, mainly from a Moslem background, are intimidating the world. As one privileged to travel frequently, the effects of this relatively new form of 'warfare' are to be seen everywhere, but particularly at airports. The cost in time, resources and money is many, many, billions of dollars.
Armageddon is here! The Moslem extremists are taking over the world!
But is this really so?
There is a need to take the emotionalism and media hype out of the situation and get things into perspective. Let's take a look at the comparison of deaths through terrorism and in motor accidents.
USA
1. Terrorism 9/11............ <3,000
2. Motor Accidents 2001...... 42,443
RUSSIA
1. Annual Terrorism .......... <1,000
2. Motor Accidents 2002...... 32,200
INDONESIA
1. Annual Terrorism.......... <1,000
2. Motor Accidents 1999...... 9,954
ISRAEL
1. Terrorism 2003............ 213
2. Motor Accidents 2001...... 461
It is obvious from the statistics that the motor car is many times more life threatening than Osama Bin Laden and his associates. Even in Israel, road accidents generally claim more lives than do the suicide bombers.
As Christians, we need to keep things into perspective. Our favorite transportation, the car, is a far more potent agent of death, year in and year out, than the extremists could ever dream of being. Even in their wildest, maddest moments of ferocious fervor! Yet we drive without considering the danger, but fear the terrorists. Road accidents barely make the news any more.
Reality is, the greatest weapon in the terrorist's arsenal is 'fear.' A man with a cellphone and a low powered radio, continually on the run in some of the most inhospitable mountain country in the world, is not going to destroy our civilization - unless we allow it!
Rather, the seeds of our destruction are deeper seated than this. They are found in the insidious breakdown of the family, in immorality. Through our hearts growing cold. In turning away from Jesus. These are today's signs of the end times. While even one death from terrorism is too many, and wars are promised, let us not simply blame the terrorists for today's problems, but search in our own hearts for the answers. Like road accidents, most sin is small, but the cumulative result is huge. And it's always easier to blame someone else - isn't it!
Now, shall we walk or drive to the supermarket today?
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FROM THE WORD
"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:4-14)"“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.â€" (Revelation 3:14-22)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
9. The foolish man is satisfied with reading the Word, a wise man follows the Word, but the godly man is as one with the Word.62. Jesus turns our human ‘LESS - ness’ into His ‘FULL - ness’.
BIBLE HEALTH WARNING!
59. God’s Word is bound to burn out long held prejudices and inspire new life goals. Please continue with the treatment until the full prescription, including repeats, is completed, for the programme needs to be fully assimilated. This will likely take a lifetime, requiring ongoing dedication and personal commitment to be truly effective. Success is assured if the Maker’s instructions are followed.
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 ...
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
Dear David,Greetings from France (well, from and American in France). We are on the staff of the Association Traduire la Bible (Wycliffe Bible Translators) and I enjoy reading the PGIM every Monday morning when I get to the office.
Before coming to France, we lived in Burkina Faso for 13 years, as Bible translators. For the deadliest animal of Africa, I was sure you were going to name the one that has killed more than all the big game put together - the mosquito! I wonder if you will hear this from anyone else.
God bless you in your ministry, at the computer and in your travels.
Phyllis Vallette
David
You definitely look better without the beard. But you might keep it like that and then turn your head according to who is looking, some who likes it, or someone who doesn't. :o)
Bob
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!
TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: RUTH CHAPTER 4Now we come to the finale! The culmination! The future of the 'Bride' is revealed. Do not miss it! It could change your life!
In subscribers mailbox tomorrow. If you are not on the mailing list you can register at tteach-on@wwj.org.nz
the first 3 issues can be viewed at...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
300. SLEEPING IN
Pastor to Parishioner: "Will I see you in church tomorrow?"
Parishioner: "I expect to be there Reverend, but I've been sleeping in on Sunday mornings."
Pastor: "Oh, really? How late have you been sleeping in?"
Parishioner: "That all depends on the length of your sermon."
299. HEAVEN AND HELL - THE REAL DIFFERENCE
A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man, "Come, I will show you hell." They entered a room where a group of people sat around a huge pot of stew. Everyone was famished, desperate and starving. Each held a spoon that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their own arm that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths. The suffering was terrible.
"Come, now I will show you heaven," the Lord said after a while. They entered another room, identical to the first - the pot of stew, the group of people, the same long-handled spoons. But there everyone was happy and well-nourished.
"I don’t understand," said the man. "Why are they happy here when they were miserable in the other room and everything was the same?"
The Lord smiled, "Ah, it is simple," he said. "here they have learned to feed each other."
By Ann Landers
NEW! You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What is a black dwarf?ANSWER: Not an easy one, this! It's talking about astronomy and not fairy tales! For a black dwarf is a very small star that emits no detectable light.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How long can a horse go without lying down?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
747. EVERY SECOND COUNTS?
In 32 years. there are about 1 billion seconds! (2.5 billion in a lifetime. Now, what was I doing 184,973 seconds ago?)
748. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Humans blink over 10,000,000 times a year! (Or 250,000 ‘40 winks’?)
749. IT TAKES JUST A LITTLE...
One gallon of used motor oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water! (One bad egg in a barrel principle extrapolated from people to nature.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
MODELS
Answer at the end of A David Musing
NEW! You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA
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BE INSPIRED WITH A MESSAGE FROM INSPIRATIONAL TAPES
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Have been so busy constructing new ezines that our technical 'fix' has had to wait another week. Sorry.
In the meantime, please visit the site directly to listen to a great message at...
BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS JUST AS LIKELY TO DIVORCE AS ARE NON-CHRISTIANS IN THE USA
Although many Christian churches attempt to dissuade congregants from getting a divorce, the research confirmed a finding identified by Barna a decade ago (and further confirmed through tracking studies conducted each year since): born again Christians have the same likelihood of divorce as do non-Christians.Among married born again Christians, 35% have experienced a divorce. That figure is identical to the outcome among married adults who are not born again: 35%.
George Barna noted that one reason why the divorce statistic among non-Born again adults is not higher is that a larger proportion of that group cohabits, effectively side-stepping marriage – and divorce – altogether. “Among born again adults, 80% have been married, compared to just 69% among the non-born again segment. If the non-born again population were to marry at the same rate as the born again group, it is likely that their divorce statistic would be roughly 38% - marginally higher than that among the born again group, but still surprisingly similar in magnitude.â€
Multiple divorces are also unexpectedly common among born again Christians. Barna’s figures show that nearly one-quarter of the married born agains (23%) get divorced two or more times.
The survey showed that divorce varied somewhat by a person’s denominational affiliation. Catholics were substantially less likely than Protestants to get divorced (25% versus 39%, respectively). Among the largest Protestant groups, those most likely to get divorced were Pentecostals (44%) while Presbyterians had the fewest divorces (28%).
The Barna Group, Ltd., and its research division (The Barna Research Group), is an independent cultural analysis and strategic consulting firm located in Ventura, California. Since 1984, it has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. If you would like to receive free e-mail notification of the release of each new, bi-weekly update on the latest research findings from The Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna web site (www.barna.org).
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JUST JOKES
DREAMS ARE FREE!The school of agriculture's dean of admissions was inter- viewing a prospective student, "Why have you chosen this career?" he asked.
"I dream of making a million dollars in farming, like my father," the student replied.
"Your father made a million dollars in farming?" echoed the dean much impressed.
"No," replied the applicant. "But he always dreamed of it."
RECOGNISE IT
A vacationer e-mailed a seaside hotel to ask its location. "It's only a stone's throw away from the beach," he was told.
"But how will I recognize it?" asked the man.
The reply was, "It's the one with all the broken windows."
334 more jokes for no reason at all - other than to smile, at...
INTERESTING WORDS AND PHRASES FROM THE BIBLE
DO NOT THROW PEARLS BEFORE SWINEA warning from Jesus in Matthew 7:6 not to waste the message of salvation on those openly hostile to the Gospel.
Lot's more interesting God Facts at...
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
The story of my battle with the beard, as seen in the Tuesday Teaching photos, is told in verse 'To Beard or Not To Beard'. Have a laugh - or a sympathetic(!) cry at...A DAVID MUSING
"Rest in me, rest in me," says the Lord, "for I have you in the palm of my hand."It is my greatest wish that we might all 'rest in the Lord' today. Cease our human striving and be obedient to Him.
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: SELDOM
REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT
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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