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: 272 Published: 08 Jan 2007
BIG IS BEST?
When flying from Cincinnati to Minneapolis St. Paul this week, for 2 hours I passed over vast areas of farmland of the American Mid West. Simply an amazing sight. Huge! Impressive! Highly productive land as far as the eye could see. Truly the agricultural heartland of America.In contrast, on the final leg of my journey, I saw our New Zealand farms. Not as large, not as fertile in many places. as we have lots of hills and mountains. A stark contrast to the farms of America.
This morning when listening to the radio, I learned that the farmers in the Mid West of America lost $1 on every bushel of wheat they produce. The US Government subsidizes part of the loss but all these farmers are losing money.
In New Zealand, on the other hand, farming is now profitable. Our economy is based upon farming yet the government no longer subsidizes our farmers. Farming has had to become profitable in its own right.
As I have pondered on this today, I have been reminded of our churches. For we tend to look to success as being found in size, in production, in 'bums on seats', rather than in the 'profit' of discipleship.
Jesus did not seek numbers, in fact the majority of people turned against Him. Jesus, then and now, sought and seeks disciples, those prepared to be His light to the world.
May we not judge our success in worldly numerical terms, but rather, seek to make disciples of the men, women and children of the world.
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FROM THE WORD
THE MIGHTY LORD REIGNSPsalms of intimacy, encouragement, healing and comfort.
Psalms updated from the King James Version by David Tait.
PSALM 148
Composed for the Temple Liturgy.
A call for all of creation to praise God.
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his heavenly hosts! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the skies! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded, and they were created. He has established them forever and ever. He has made a decree that will not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all the ocean depths. Fire and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds, do his will. Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds. Kings of the earth and all nations, princes and all the rulers of the earth. Both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD! For his name alone is exalted! His glory is above the earth and the heavens. He lifts up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, a people near his heart. Praise the LORD!
PSALM 149
Composed for the Temple Liturgy.
Israel expresses her praise and thanks to God for his salvation, and for enabling her to participate in his judgement upon the world.
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the gathering of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their maker. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance. Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in his people, he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this glory. Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praise of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword be in their hand, to execute vengeance upon the nations, and punishments upon the people. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with iron shackles. To carry out the written judgment - this honour has all his saints. Praise the LORD!
PSALM 150
Composed for the Temple Liturgy.
A final, powerful call for everything in existence to 'Praise the Lord'. This psalm reflects the tenor of them all, and continues to be the call upon our life today. Praise the Lord!
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in the mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his unsurpassed greatness! Praise him with the sound of the trumpet! Praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and organs! Praise him with the clanging of cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Copyright: Walking With Jesus Ministries Charitable Trust: As this material is freely received, use is freely given, indeed encouraged, for non-commercial purposes.
A weekly Psalm in audio is available at 'PSALM OF THE WEEK' below.
You may read and study the 'New International Version (NIV)' online at...
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke (15:11-20)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
A REVELATION OF....... 3 KINGDOM AGES OF GOD - Part 13NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION
Each of the New Testament triad of hope, faith and love actually represents the particular focus of a kingdom age.
It's amazing how God works!
Check out all the available teachings at...
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As Christians, if we can't laugh at ourselves, others will! A fun way to start your day.To register today, simply click here lao-on@wwj.org.nz and press send. Then it's done!
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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." ***
567. FISH AND CHIPS
Lost on a rainy night, a nun stumbles across a monastery and requests shelter there. Fortunately, she's just in time for dinner and was treated to the best fish and chips she had ever tasted.
After dinner, she went into the kitchen to thank the chefs. She was met by two of the Brothers.
The first one says, "Hello, I am Brother Michael, and this is Brother Charles."
"I'm very pleased to meet you," replies the nun. "I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful dinner. The fish and chips were the best I've ever had. Out of curiosity, who cooked what?"
Brother Charles replied, "Well, I'm the fish friar."
She turned to the other Brother and said, "Then you must be....?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so -- I am the chip monk."
566. FIREWORKS
It was the Fourth of July and the fireworks had lit up the sky.
As the last one burned out, a four-year-old piped up, "Daddy, do God's feet ever get burned?"
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
One of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 768 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
* Just down the road from where I have been staying is the Ohio River. It is huge! In theory, you could take an ocean liner from there, down through the Mississippi, to which it is connected, then down the West Coast of the US to the Panama Canal and straight over the sea to New Zealand! But the plane was quicker - it still took 36 hours to get home though. Over 20 in the air.* Compared to New Zealand, farms have few fences. In New Zealand we take the animals to the food, in the US the food to the animals. And the farming area is vast!
* The Holy Spirit is present in the US - at least in our meetings! PTL!
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Which 'King' in a pack of cards doesn’t have a moustache?ANSWER: The King of Hearts. (Wins hearts without it?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the hardest substance in the human body?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS408. SQUEAKY CLEAN
Floor cleaning products in Venezuela have ten times the pine fragrance of U.S. floor cleaners, as Venezuelan women won't buy a weaker fragrance. These fastidious homemakers may well wet-mop their tile floors twice a day, leaving windows and doors open so the scent can waft out to the street, so ‘scenting ‘ out the message that their houses are clean. (One ‘mopmanship’!)
409. A FRIENDLY TWIST
Fagin, the infamous sinister villain in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, was also the name of Dickens' best friend, Bob Fagin. (Is it better to be remembered as a villain, than not remembered at all?)
410. UNRHYMED VERSE
A tanka is a Japanese verse form of 31 syllables in five unrhymed lines, with the first and third having five syllables each, the others seven. (More difficult than rhyming?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
MANTLES
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA
Or view all 1232 online at...
BIBLE QUESTION - THE PARABLES
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight, in Luke 11:5-13, tells of a man who's friend woke him up at midnight to borrow three loaves of bread. The man at first refused, but finally got up and gave his friend the bread.What is the lesson of the parable?
a. Do not be a borrower nor a lender.
b. Be persistent in prayer.
c. Do not ask other for the things you should provide for yourself.
d. Be prepared and do not wait until it is too late to seek forgiveness.
Answer at the end of A DAVID MUSING.
Source: "TwoPaths Bible Study, www.twopaths.com"
Heaps more fun and serious 'God Facts' are found at...
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! The greater the man's talent, the more becoming his modesty.
!!!!!! The truth often hurts, but it is the lie that leaves the scar.
!!!!! Take the time to be right. It's faster than being wrong.
!!!! Life is an open door. It can be closed at any time, so don't complain about the draft.
!!! When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
!! What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
! I used to have an open mind, but my brains kept falling out.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
EXTENSIVE EXPLANATIONS
PROCRASTINATIONThe procrastinator’s creed.
1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.
4. I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.
5. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
6. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
7. I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though small, is not exactly zero.
8. If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.
9. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
10. I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.
11. I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.
12. I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan.
13. I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
14. I will become a member of the ancient Order of Two-Headed Turtles (the Procrastinator's Society) if they ever get it organised.
See more extensive extensive explanations at...
A HOMECOMING EXPERIENCE!
On the final, short flight of my journey within New Zealand, from Auckland to Napier, I was able to look down on familiar farmland scenery. Just different to what I had experienced over the past few months. But, of course, very beautiful! After all the flights I have had, on this final one, I got a nose bleed! Not quite 'the blood of the Lamb' but the 'blood of David!' (with apologies to Revelation 12:11)But the sacrifice was worth it to see home once again.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN BIBLICAL LANDS
PRAYER OF THANKSGiven at the end of a meal. (Deuteronomy 8:10) It was customarily given by one of the guests in a loud voice with the rest saying, 'Amen'.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
Lots more 'God Facts' are found at...
'PSALM OF THE WEEK' FREE AUDIO DOWNLOAD
PSALM 97Author Unknown
A song of praise to the Sovereign Lord who reigns over the whole earth!
Each week, be encouraged, comforted and inspired by listening to a track from our Psalms CD, 'The Mighty Lord Reigns'.
My thanks to Keith Duncan, in Scotland, for making this possible.
You may download your audio recording here...
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~kmduncan/wwj/mp3/track_22.mp3
THE REAL ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME: THE BREAKDOWN OF MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY (OVERVIEW) 3rd of 3
by Patrick F. Fagan - The Heritage FoundationHOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
... the real work of reducing violent crime is the work of rebuilding the family . Instead, thanks to policies that do little to preserve the traditional family and much to undermine it, government continues to misdiagnose the root cause of social collapse as an absence of goods and services. This misdiagnosis is government's own contribution to the growth of crime. Having misdiagnosed, it misleads .
CONCLUSION - AND A WARNING
Despite the good news that overall crime rates have dropped in recent years, the frightening news is that both the level and viciousness of teenage violent crime have been rising steadily. More ominous still, this was set in motion sixteen to eighteen years ago, when these violent teenagers were born into chaotic family and social conditions. Since then these conditions have become more prevalent, and we will see a continued rise in violent teenage crime. Furthermore, America is headed toward a 50 percent out-of-wedlock birthrate sometime in the next twelve to twenty years, inching more and more of the country closer to today's inner-city illegitimacy rate. If this trend is not reversed, Americans must prepare for extensive and serious erosion of public safety and practical freedoms.
Full Article - http://www.heritage.org/Research/Crime/BG1026.cfm
More facts on Marriage and Family here...
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... SERVANTHOOD & LEADERSHIPA timely reminder of what our calling as 'Jesus Followers' and particularly as leaders is really all about. Essential reading, especially for anyone involved, or wanting to become involved, in Christian leadership. You might well change your mind!
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WAXING LYRICAL
Knew runners were mad? This proves it! Another Bowentown adventure. It is amazing how the Lord communicates with you when you are genuinely seeking Him. I am one of those strange people who enjoys running – well, most of the time anyway. This poem shows how the Lord is not 2000 years behind the times, but communicates with us in ways that are relevant to our circumstances and life.ON THE RUN (3rd of 4)
First there was the sand, a myriad of it you know,
Pushed about by the tide, not seeing where to go.
For there are many Christians just like that sand,
Drifting with the flow, not knowing how to stand.
In the water too, were many plants a bobbing,
So painful, one could almost hear them sobbing!
For they had grown initially, but their roots were short,
Overcome by the troubles of life, their God they did abort.
But the saddest of all to me, in the now seething cauldron,
Were the dead leaves floating, no protection to call on,
Even as I watched one, broken, smashed into a rock,
Yes a Christian, but the Spirit’s power, he did mock.
My heart lifted, looking at the rocks out there,
For them, the turmoil all around did not scare.
But as I looked closer, I could see rough edges worn away,
For The Spirit was moulding them, they were there to stay!
I realised then, the value of ‘The Rock’ in my life,
For he protects me, from the effects of the strife
That surrounds me. Christians, so hard to believe!
Refusing the mighty power of The Spirit to receive!
I jumped off my rock, now surrounded by water,
It’s time to return home, for I must not loiter,
My lessons for the day so moving, never to be spurned,
But more was to come, still more wisdom to be learned.
By this time, my body would hardly canter,
Kept going only, by pretending joyful banter,
For I knew the end of the pain would be,
When I reached the base of that fallen tree.
I thought I had reached the limb of my choosing,
Only to find, it was now my mind I was loosing!
So I plodded on, until my tree was found,
My energy levels, now at zilch were around!
Oh Lord, please help me up this path,
For I want to go home to a hot bath. (Shower actually!)
I’ve not the energy to do this myself,
Please lend to me, a little of thyself."
(Continued next week)
More of David's poems at...
A DAVID MUSING
I am writing this on my son Brendan's computer, in Palmerston North, a 2 hour drive away from where we live. We have had to travel here today (Sunday) due to a sickness in the family. Some might think I just cannot stay home!The positive is that it is really nice to drive a car again after 3 months of being driven by others. For I love driving. And, of course, we drive on the 'right' side of the road, as opposed to most of you who drive on the 'left'. We know that right is right!
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: LAMENTS
TODAY'S 'DO YOU KNOW?' ANSWER: b. Be persistent in prayer. As in verse 9, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." The man in the parable finally opened the door because of his friend's persistence. If we are persistent in prayer, God will answer our prayers in His own time, in His own way. The answer may not be what we expect, but will be what is truly best for us.
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, 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
290 Flaxmere Avenue
Flaxmere
Hastings
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 8799 911 International (+64) 6 8799 911
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