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: 184 Published: 02 May 2005
THE PERVASIVE POWER OF 'NO'!
You know, 'no'-one likes 'no', for an answer!Of course, Jesus followers, marching towards maturity, understand that sometimes we need to hear the dreaded 2-letter word, in order to stay on the 'narrow way' that leads to Him.
On the other hand, personal observation and experience has sadly taught me that the negative is far more powerful than the positive, in its impact upon us. Have you experienced this too? Someone can say 9 nice things about us, along with one criticism, real or imagined. And what do we remember? 99 times out of 100, it's the single negative that remains in our mind, moulding our thought processes. We pick up 'no' like a magnet! And it sticks!
Over time too, 'the power of no' influences our behaviour. "I won't do 'such and such', in case I am criticised." "I won't take a risk in case I might fail." Increasingly too, as the years of life experience roll on, we tend to withdraw into an ever-reducing comfort zone of action and reaction.
This week, after a 9-month gestation period, we finally finished our pilot TV programme on the Fruit of the Spirit. It was a great test - and learning experience - of them! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control! I have some way to go to become like Jesus yet!
The production was challenging, but the worst is still to come! For my brain murmurs, "What is they don't like it! It's useless really! Why bother! Can I again bear the rejection that is bound to come! And if it is successful and gets shown, aren't I just opening myself up to more criticism from even more people?" And so our thought processes proceed along the 'Low-way of Failure'.
It is interesting, that Evangelists are set apart from others by their God given ability to use criticism and rejection of their salvation message as a positive motivating force amongst unbelievers. They too however, suffer 'normal' rejection, when their efforts are criticised by those who already believe. How sad. For family criticism is the most hurtful.
Today, I want to encourage us all to step outside our boundaries in God. To break down the limitations we have placed on our lives. For me, in the TV Programme, it was to act out a 'Goon-like' character (If you're British you'll understand), Professor Tommy Triffle, of the Faculty of Triffling Trivia. "Triffle by name, triffling by nature, ha ha ha." A lifelong dream to be deliberately stupid (natural stupidity comes easily!), but always too scared and scarred to give it a go. But I've done it now! Doesn't matter what the family thinks. Yipee! Freedom! A breakthrough! Breaking the bonds stopping me becoming all I can be.
So this week, go out and do one thing you've wanted to do, but have been scared off by the real or potential 'Power of No' of others. Let me know how you get on. Get the victory of God, within yourself! Yes, in Him, you too can do it!
Now, surely I can walk on water? But I'll try in the shallows first!
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FROM THE WORD
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 3:12-16)"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!" (John 8:44-45)
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:13-15)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
115. You must clamber over the rocks of failure in order to ascend the mountain of success.117. The world will meander, as long as men philander.
118. Sleep refreshes body, mind and spirit, but you have to wake up to experience the benefits.
119. Failure is often the first rung on the ladder of success.
120. 100% success is unattainable, but 100% effort is available to all.
121. Easy success breeds arrogance, but success hard-earned, builds character.
122. God accepts us as we are. As we learn to accept this, he develops us into what we can be.
123. Let failure breed experience, not despair.
124. A failure learned from is a step towards success.
125. God specialises in turning worldly failures into heavenly successes.
126. Worldly success is fleeting, heavenly glory, eternal.
129. Don’t be seduced by the fleeting rainbow, but rather, search for the eternal pot of gold.
130. The path of a successful life is built with many paving stones of failure
131. The Jesus in us, makes us invincible in Jesus!
132. Life brings strife. Overcoming strife brings back life.
169. Challenge and opportunities are bedfellows. For the one is inevitably born out of the other.
209. On God's 'Order of Merit' a Z+ far exceeds an A- as effort outranks ability every time.
365. Success in life after death has more appeal than success in life, for tombstones tell me it is longer lasting!
367. Inevitably, human success results in - death!
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A CORRECTION
A slip of the brain!In last week's 'BIBLE BITS' I mentioned the classic 'Greek' that the shepherd Amos used. 'Hebrew' would have been more accurate. Likely, classical Greek didn't exist at the time - certainly not in Israel! Sorry. Happens when you are in too much of a hurry!
Thanks for all those who let me know. At least people are reading it!
PS: By the way, last week's leading article was only a 'fairy story' - or was it?
CRANWELL'S CARTOON
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what goodwill I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge
or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless
things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone
know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in
the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call,
who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you
speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know
what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet
none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the
meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker,
and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are
eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build
up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray
in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So
what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray
with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing
with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how
can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say
“Amen†to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are
saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man
is not edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than
all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five
intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in
a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to
evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
(1 Corinthians 14:6-20)
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FROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU
DavidYour story of being too busy to check your Heavenly Hotline for messages from God struck too close to home. I suspect most of us fall into that trap from time to time. Thanks for sharing your humanity.
BTW, in your bit on Amos--I don't believe that Amos wrote in Greek. Hebrew perhaps?
Blessings,
Dal
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Um, David
... thee must've been otherwise preoccupied this week! (With football? Nah!) Amos, of course, didn't write any Greek, classical or otherwise. He preached in Hebrew, and the Greek we have is the Septuagint translation some 600 years later.
Grace and peace -
Phil Anthony.
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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
A REVELATION OF... THE POWER OF THREE IN GOD AND THE CHURCH - Part 3 of 3All to often we tend to separate scriptural principles from the times in which they took place. While, in one sense this is valid, as they are eternal, it causes us to lose sight of the richness of experience encountered by the real people involved in these history making times of God's new revelation of Himself, through His chosen race, the Jews.
Putting events into their historical perspective also extends our understanding of the rich spiritual inheritance we have.
I wonder how we would have reacted, had we been the Jewish people of the time?
So, let's have a little fun together for the next 2 weeks, shall we?
Check it out in your letterbox tomorrow. If you aren't on the mailing list, you can register now at... tteach-on@wwj.org.nz
Previous teachings on this subject, the First Miracle of Jesus, the Book of Ruth, God's Character and Servanthood and Leadership, the Parable of the Sower, The Two Marathoners, The 3 Rivers of God and The Spring Feasts can be viewed at...
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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
368. THE LORD'S PRAYER
The Lord's Prayer has always been easy for kids to misinterpret.
One little boy said "Harold be Thy name."
Two other lesser known prayers though are a little girl saying: "Give us this day our jelly bread." Or the little New York boy who petitioned God to "Lead us not into Penn Station."
367. SAD
A Navy Commander began teaching Sunday School for young children. One Sunday, the Pastor asked one of the Commander's 4-year old students what she had learned that day.
"Well," she said, "I learned all about the ten commanders. Isn't it sad that they're always broke?"
366. GREENIES
Four-year-old Jimmy attended the vacation Bible school at our church. The theme was "Discipleship and Saving Mother Earth." His mother asked Jimmy what he had learned. He immediately told her all about "Jesus and the 12 recycles."
365. ABSENT?
A Sunday school teacher challenged her children to take some time on Sunday afternoon to write a letter to God. They were to bring back their letter the following Sunday. One little boy wrote: "Dear God, we had a good time at church today. Wish You could have been there."
FREE DOWNLOAD: 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: If you cut an earthworm in half, will it grow into two new worms?ANSWER: Largely a myth. It is true that earthworms can regenerate, but when you cut one in half, both parts don't regenerate into fully developed worms. Only the front end of the worm, containing the "brain" (cerebral ganglion) has the chance of growing new segments.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How big can earthworms get?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS678. FIFTEEN - LOVE
When tennis first became popular in France, a round zero on the tennis scoreboard looked something like an egg and was therefore called an egg! The word for egg in French is "l'oeuf". When transferred to America, "l'oeuf" was pronounced "love". (Many get ‘egg on their face’ in love.)
679. DEFINITELY NOT SQUARE
Manholes are round to ensure that the manhole cover never accidentally falls inside. With any other shape, such as a square or rectangle, the cover could be placed at such an angle that it slips inside. (How long before they are called ‘personholes’?)
680. BIT PARTS
Xenotransplantation is the transplanting of animal organs into humans. Surgeons already use pig heart valves to replace human heart valves that have worn out. They've also attempted to transplant other animal organs, including a baboon heart and baboon liver, into humans. (The animal in you!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
MARRIED
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BE INSPIRED WITH A MESSAGE FROM INSPIRATIONAL TAPES
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A WALK OF FAITH
By: Dr Neal Patterson
An excellent teaching by one of New Zealand's best Bible teachers. He also founded the church that Kathy and I attend. Kathy and Neal share a birthday too!
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DO YOU KNOW? (About Water)
Besides Exodus, what other book of the bible describes water turning into blood?1 Kings
Psalms
Isaiah
Daniel
Answer at the end of A DAVID MUSING.
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THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHURCHES
Even though influence is more important than size today, taking a look at the attendance numbers of the world's largest churches gives an impression of the developments in recent years. Much is changing: churches which had an attendance of 300,000 a decade ago, such as 'Ondas del Luz y Amor' in Buenos Aires, now have 'only' 70,000. Completely new models are popping up, such as the Indian University which became a church, regularly seeing 80,000 people attending.The membership of mega churches fluctuates strongly, so the numbers here are the attendance, not members. Yonggi Cho's church in Seoul claims a membership of 773,000, but an attendance of 'only' 253,000 in the main church and most important satellites.
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BUSINESS FAILURES
Did you hear about the……*Paper company that folded?
*Brake company on the skids?
*Bra manufacturers that went bust?
*Surgeon forced to take a salary cut?
*Cigarette company that went up in smoke?
*Baker who was short of dough?
*Refrigerator manufacturer with frozen assets?
*Corset firm that felt the squeeze?
*Upholsterers that couldn’t cover their costs?
*Adhesive tape company in a sticky situation?
*Tennis ball manufacturer who ended up in court?
*Downfall of the bungee suppliers?
*Train company that went off the rails?
*Ship builders that sunk?
*Dental practice rotten to its roots?
*Concrete manufacturer whose liquidity set solid?
*Nurseryman who got planted?
*Lawyer who contracted?
*Accountant who was unbalanced?
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BIBLE BITS (The 'Minor' Prophets)
OBADIAHThe shortest book in the Old Testament. Like Joel, he emphasized the impending Day of the Lord. He said that all nations have a day of reckoning, so not to gloat over other nation's misfortune. He also penned the words of wisdom, "As you have done it, so it will be done to you."
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‘WALKING WITH JESUS’ COURSE
A 3-part course of understanding based on Revelation 12:11. An easily understood, practical series on living the Christian life today. Compiled in 1993-4, the 3 studies, each accompanied by 6 hours of tapes, have been used by over 10,000 New Zealanders plus many overseas, to gain an increased understanding of what ‘walking with Jesus’ is all about. Is useful for enquirers, new Christians and particularly, those seeking an extra dimension to their faith. Ideal for home groups and church teaching sessions too. A non-denominational course, it is supported by Christians from diverse backgrounds. The 3 parts cover1. THE WAY OF SALVATION: Finding Jesus as your personal Saviour.
2. LIFE THROUGH THE SPIRIT: Christian living through the teaching of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. JESUS IS LORD: Living our lives for Jesus.
So if you desire a deeper relationship with your God, this can help point you in the right direction. You still have to make the effort though! Can’t do that for you!
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A DAVID MUSING
Today is our 35th Wedding Anniversary! Not quite sure how this can be when I am only 27 years old! I wish! Or do I - really?Today too, Kathy is deserting me (for 3 weeks) to go to Scotland to meet and look after our 'meant to have already come' grandchildren, twins. Another few hours to wait, we are told. I guess it's impossible for me to be 27 any more! But time for a celebratory lunch before she goes. Any excuse to eat!
So I had better go and spend some time with my wife while I still can.
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: ADMIRER
TODAY'S 'DO YOU KNOW?' ANSWER: PSALMS: 40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved him in the wasteland! 41 Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember his power— the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, 43 the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan. 44 He turned their rivers to blood; they could not drink from their streams. (Psalm 78:40-44)
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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) 6 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!
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