THE CHURCH IS ONE? YOUR ONE OR GOD's ONE!

It is well known that 'like attracts like'. Whether living in big cities or tiny villages, there is a good part of town, and another area for the poor. At work, management segregates themselves from the workers. Socially, we mix with those with whom we are comfortable, ones with similar interests. Of course, there is community segregation too, along both racial and cultural lines. All these factors cause division within, and wars between, societies.

When it comes to the church, the pattern is similar. Yes, there are white, black, and brown churches, rich and poor churches, conservative and liberal churches, traditional, evangelical, pentecostal and charismatic churches, denominational and non-denominational churches.

In 2002 David B. Barrett & Todd M. Johnson in the 'International Bulletin of Missionary Research' estimated there were 35,500 separate denominations and, if current trends continue, by 2025 this will reach 63,000! Incidentally, in 1900 there was a mere 1900! (I enjoy that sort of 'matching' statistic! Today's issue is No. 222, too! Small things amuse small minds!) This aside, it is obvious there is increasing fragmentation within the church, excluding too, the increasing numbers of Christians who now belong to no church at all!

It's really interesting, when travelling form country to country, to hear how each and every one believes that their country has a special place in God's heart. Invariably too, the 'final revival' is going to start with them! Of course, this same belief applies to many denominational groupings too.

Yet there is only one kingdom of God! It is not based in any one country, nor any 'special' country or denomination. No! And no again! It is a spiritual kingdom, found within those who seek it out, through 100% submission to the Lord's will. Of course, the final, physical, kingdom will be established when Jesus returns.

To truly become part of the kingdom we need to set aside our 'like liaisons', whether they be of class, race, culture or our 'sacred(!)' theological beliefs, move out of our comfort zones, and adopt a 'one kingdom' mentality.

Can I encourage you this week, to move beyond your 'walls', whether they be the literal walls of your church, or the even thicker walls we erect in our mind. Share some fellowship with believers whom you perceive as 'different' to yourself. You will be surprised to discover that, in Jesus, we all have far more in common, than we believe possible! I assure you, this experience will enrich your life, and strengthen your faith. Take it from one who has tried it.

I pray for you today, to overcome all fear and pride, to step out to relate to others, those seemingly different, but yes, whom the Lord loves too! I know you will be blessed as you do.

Actually, like me, you might learn something more about God too! For none of us (except Jesus) have a mortgage on all truth!

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FROM THE WORD

ONE IN CHRIST

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:11-22)

FAVORTISM FORBIDDEN

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:1-13)

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

UNITY

213. United we stand, divided... God will wait upon another generation.

401. Unity in Christ is so close to God's heart but so far away from ours!

402. Why do we keep asking God for more strength, when He has already given us the answer - unity!

403. We keep looking for the unity of one world government to arise in the nations, but constantly fail to seek it in the church.

404. The Godhead is the ultimate example of how a many faceted Church is to become united as one.

996. Unity cannot be imposed from without, but needs to grow from within.

997. True unity is birthed in the Spirit, not imposed through a structure.

998. Unity develops in times of oppression. Bring on oppression Lord!

999. Satan divides, the Spirit unites. Who is winning the battle of your life?

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FROM YOU - TO ME -TO YOU

Hi David

I was listening to a CD of Paris Reidheads the other day and one thing struck me.

In the CD somewhere it stated that we as Christians do not work for "10 sheikels and a shirt" and that God is not the means to anyones ends.

And if we were to lay down our lives for Jesus Christ and we still ended up in hell - it would still be all worth it.

Really made me repent and seek a change in my thought processes.

Blessings for 2006

Jeff Leigh - Pastor
Salt & Light Community Church
Papamoa
New Zealand
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David

I'm attaching a poem for your appreciation - I don't think I sent it to you before - but it came to mind from one of your thoughts
today (doodling 27) about how our cherished beliefs get in the way of God talking to us - and using us.
Some one asked me a question about understanding one of the more difficult verses and I was shocked and ashamed to hear myself begin
"I worked that out years ago - what is says is ..." So the poem 'Systematic Theology' was written on my knees - appended

Systematic Theology

“How do you understand this verse? It seems quite hard to me.”
“I’ve got it sussed” was my reply, “It’s easy as can be.”
“I worked that out some years ago, it took me quite a while”
And ever since that fateful day I’ve explained it with a smile.

I am no longer listening for that voice that calmed the sea.
All that I hear is what I say, for I hear only me.
What has really happened here is that I have gone astray.
I have got it all worked out; but can only go my way.

Your word is like your mercies, with new insights every day.
A written word not fixed and dead but showing us the way.
And as the path leads forward all through this unsafe world
You have not left us all alone but you guide us by your word.

Dear Lord and Master; help us to never think that we
Can ever understand one thing complete and finally
Save that your love is greater even than our foolish ways.
We ever need to hear your voice through never-ending days.

And when you bring us home at last and past the judgement throne
Then, even then, all we may claim is that you love your own
Relying only on your cross to overcome our wrong.
Still listening and praising you for endless ages long.

John Barrs, March 2004
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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!

CRANWELL'S CARTOON

6 After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove could find no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. 10 He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. 12 He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him. (Genesis 8:6-12)

(The land of my mother! Went there once, but didn't manage to find a 4 leafed clover! Maybe Noah's dove would have had better 'Oirish luck' than me! David)





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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." ***

454. BEING PRUDENT
A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand.

He walked up to her and asked, "Are you a Christian?" She said, "Yes."

"Do you read your Bible every day?" She nodded her head, "Yes."

Do you pray often?" the boy asked next, and again she answered, "Yes."

With that he asked his final question, "Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?"

453. GOD'S WAY
 And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach and green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so man and woman would live long and healthy lives. And Satan developed the fast foods industry. And fast foods brought forth the 99 cent double cheeseburger. And Satan said to man, "You want fries with that?" And man said, "Supersize them." And man gained pounds.

 And God created the healthful yoghurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair. And Satan froze the yoghurt, and he brought forth chocolate, nuts and brightly colored sprinkle candy to put on the yoghurt. And woman gained pounds.

 And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad." And Satan brought forth creamy dressings, bacon bits, and shredded cheese. And there was ice cream for dessert. And woman gained pounds.

 And God said, "I have sent your heart healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them." And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And man gained pounds, and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.

 And God brought forth running shoes, and man resolved to lose those extra pounds. And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And man gained pounds.

 And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep-fried them. And he created sour cream dip also. And man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And Satan saw and said, "It is good." And man went into cardiac arrest.

 And God sighed, and created quadruple bypass surgery, angioplastys, and stents. And Satan established HMOs...

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How does a frog cope with freezing temperatures?

ANSWER: Frogs have several strategies for surviving winter, depending on the species. Some hibernate, slowing down their body's metabolism and ‘sleeping’ away the winter. Some aquatic hibernating frogs can even hibernate underwater! Terrestrial frogs usually hibernate on land. To avoid freezing to death, frogs have another trick: antifreeze. The frog may become frozen, but it doesn't die. It appears dead, but the high levels of glucose in its vital organs prevent complete freezing. It will stop breathing and its heart will even stop beating, but when temperatures rise, its organs will start up again. (Now why can’t I do that?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How long can honey be stored and still safely eaten?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

555. NO BULL!
Bulls are colour blind, therefore will usually charge at a matador's waving cape no matter what colour it is - be it red or even black! (Hold that cape still next time you are being charged by a bull!)

556. PERFECTLY MADE
The giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch (52cm) tongue! (Does it become ‘tongue tied’ though?)

557. TONGUE PRINT
Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different! (Ideal for identifying the resting place of stolen food? Only if regurgitated like the housefly.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

MANGIER

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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BIBLE QUESTION - THE GOSPELS

Which of the four gospels shows a much different picture of Jesus than the other three?

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John

Answer at the end of A DAVID MUSING.

Source: "TwoPaths Bible Study, www.twopaths.com"

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""

!!!!!!! Misers aren't much fun to live with, but they make great ancestors.

!!!!!! The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

!!!!! When you see the handwriting on the wall, you can bet you're in a public restroom.

!!!! Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were.

!!! The world is full of willing people: some willing to work and some willing to let them.

!! A true friend is one that lets his grass grow as tall as his neighbor's.

! A baby-sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.

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BIBLE RIDDLE

Q. Where is the first baseball game in the Bible?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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A. In the big inning, Eve stole first, Adam stole second. Cain struck out Abel, and the Prodigal Son came home. The Giants and the Angels were rained out.

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LIFES MOST PUZZLING QUESTIONS

DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THESE?

85. Why is the man who invests all our money called a broker?

86. If its called chilli, why is it served hot?

87. Why is it can you "slow up," but you can't "speed down."?

88. Why do banks charge you a "insufficient funds fee" on money they already know you don't have?

89. Why do you ask someone without a watch what time it is?

90. Why is it that the guy who comes up behind you while you're waiting for an elevator presses the already lit "up" button - as though he somehow has magical powers that you didn't when you pressed it the first time?

91. Day light savings time - why are they saving it and where do they keep it?

92. How do you throw away a garbage can?

93. Why are buttons on guys' shirts on a different side than girls' shirts?

94. Why does caregiver and caretaker mean the same thing?

95. If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?

96. What does OK actually mean?

97. Why do we feel "blue"?

98. Why don't you hear thunder with heat lightning?

99. If one man says, "It was an uphill battle," and another says, "It went downhill from there," how could they both be having troubles?

100. Why is it you walk down a road, even if it goes uphill?

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MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN BIBLICAL LANDS

A TRICLINIUM

This was a common Roman dining set-up. Consisted of a short square table with 3 couches on 3 sides. The 4th side was left open for servant access.

Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys

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COMMITMENT TO GOD IN THE USA - A BARNA SURVEY (Part 2)

Surveys Show Pastors Claim Congregants Are Deeply Committed to God But Congregants Deny It!

January 9, 2006

(Ventura, CA) – How committed to God are Americans? It depends who you ask. Two new national surveys conducted by The Barna Group provide a glimpse into the contradictory views of church pastors and the people who attend churches, suggesting that the optimistic views of pastors are not justified. There is a huge gap between the perception of pastors and the reality of people’s devotion to God.

Misunderstanding Based on Poor Assessment

In trying to understand how pastors could have such a positive notion of the faith commitment of their people at the same time that the people themselves deny making God their top priority, the survey of Protestant pastors sheds light on the issue. A question asking pastors to identify the specific standards they use to evaluate the spiritual commitment of congregants showed that few pastors rely upon criteria that reflect genuine devotion to God.

Overall, only one measure – how many people are involved in some form of church-related volunteer activity or ministry effort – was listed by at least half of all pastors (54%) as a measure of the spiritual health of their congregation. Only two other criteria – church attendance and some type of life change experience (usually meaning that a person has made a first-time commitment to Jesus Christ as their savior) were named as important criteria by more than one out of every seven pastors. (Each of these criteria was listed by 45% of all pastors.) Other top-rated standards were whether congregants were involved in evangelism (13%), how much new information or knowledge about Christianity the people received (10%), how much money was donated to the church (10%), and the comments made by congregants to the pastor (10%).

The unifying thread running through pastors’ responses to an open-ended survey question regarding how congregational health is assessed was that the most common measures do not assess much beyond the superficial participation of people in church or faith-related activity. On average, a pastor might seek information as to attendance relative to previous years; how many people, if any, had accepted Christ as their savior; and whether there were enough people involved in the church’s ministry to keep existing programs going. In other words, the typical pastor measures the spiritual health of congregants by considering one or two numbers (e.g. church and Sunday school attendance) and a handful of vague impressions (what did exit comments suggest about people’s reaction to the sermon, how widespread was people’s participation in the singing, were there enough people who were sufficiently trained to enable the services and programs to operate smoothly).

Perhaps the most telling information relates to the measures that are not widely used by pastors to assess people’s spiritual health. Less than one out of every ten pastors mentioned indicators such as the maturity of a person’s faith in God, the intensity of the commitment to loving and serving God and people, the nature of each congregant’s personal ministry, the breadth of congregational involvement in community service, the extent to which believers have some forms of accountability for their spiritual development and lifestyle, the manner in which believers use their resources to advance the kingdom of God, how often people worship God during the week or feel as if they have experienced the presence of God, or how faith is integrated into the family experience of those who are connected with the church.

(To be continued next week.)

The Barna Group, Ltd. (which includes its research division, The Barna Research Group) is a privately held, for-profit corporation that conducts primary research, produces audio, visual and print media, and facilitates the healthy spiritual development of leaders, children, families and Christian ministries. Located in Ventura, California, Barna has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. 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. © The Barna Group, Ltd, 2006

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MR BUMBLE (Instalment 2)

This poem was 2 years in the writing! The inspiration came, half was written, then I got busy on other things! In the last day or two I have had some spare time, so thought to finish it. (Actually I have had more spare time during the two years but never quite got 'a round tuit'!) I hope the result is worth waiting for!

MR BUMBLE

“Of course, you know you can’t really fly!” I rashly said,
As diplomatic as taking a sledgehammer to his head!
“For the ‘Laws of Aerodynamics’ you know,
State that ‘up in the air,’ you cannot go.”

‘Your shapes all wrong
To push you along!
Your body’s far too big!
Ever seen a flying pig?’

In full swing now, big in my bumble bee knowledge,
Intensively learned during five full years of college.
“Your little wings wear out beating ten thousand times a minute,
Therefore your life span is only sixty days – at the very limit!”

Was somewhat surprised at my clever words’ effect,
For these, I thought, he would automatically reject.
But to take on board my knowledge, he did elect,
My erudite words, to him they did only deject!

“You humans are simply so superior
Us bumbling bees, greatly inferior!
You know more about me than I do!
So what you say, must surely be true.”

“It's true then! I can’t really fly?
Yes, about to fall from the sky!
Life now seems just not worth the living!
Even with all the effort, I’ve been giving!

So at that very moment he gave up trying,
Knew he should, no longer now be flying,
>From a rapid ten thousand beats a minute,
To wings folded, his heart no longer in it.

So our 'brmm-brmm bee' plummeted to the ground,
Fortunately for him, landing on a very soft mound
Of leaves gently fallen from a nearby tree,
Disaster averted, I was so thankful to see.

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A DAVID MUSING

During last week, a group of us fasted against apathy in, and for the unity of, the church in our area. We were an interesting mix of those who had fasted before, and ones for whom it was a new experience.

There were mixed results in the achievement in our target of going for 3 days without food and drinking only water. However, irrespective of what each individual managed, there was universal agreement on the benefit of fasting as a means of getting closer to our God.

Maybe you could try it too? It really works!

So until next week...

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: REAMING

TODAY'S 'DO YOU KNOW?' ANSWER: John: Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because they are so similar. Bible scholars believe Matthew and Luke incorporated much of the material from Mark into their works.

In the synoptics Jesus teaches mainly in parables, but in John He speaks in long discourses instead. In the synoptics Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God, but in John He teaches about Himself and eternal life. The presentation of Jesus in the synoptics is more biographical, while John's presentation is more theological and meditative.

Because John is so different from the other three gospels, the Church was slow to accept it. But it was fully accepted as part of the New Testament and shows us another aspect of Jesus to help our understanding.