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: 274 Published: 22 Jan 2007
A ROUTINE ROUTINE!
Having now been back in New Zealand for 2 weeks after spending 3 months travelling, I am starting, as could be expected, to get back into a more normal routine.It is a truism that almost all of us like routine. We are comfortable repeating what we did yesterday, today, for we know the likely consequences, whether they be good or bad.
For generally, we don't like surprises. We are afraid of change.
'Religion' uses this human trait to make people feel comfortable in 'tradition', creating a pattern of worshipping God that essentially remains unchanged over time. Unfortunately, the inevitable result of this approach is that the 'formula', the order of service, the liturgy, or whatever name it is given, becomes more important to us than actually worshipping God. It also creates division between denominations and groups, as each have their own precious way of worshipping which they believe is the best, or maybe, the only, true way of reaching out to God.
God however, particularly in the New Testament 'revelation' of Jesus, is a God of change. Jesus' worst enemies were the Pharisees, who had taken the Law given to Moses and made 100's more rules to be followed in order to please God. There whole lives were to be ordered in a comfortable way by following routines set by man, not by God.
This religious mindset was a problem with gentile converts coming into the church. Finally it was dealt with when the apostles decreed that only four general principles needed to be followed.
In studying the history of the church, it has become obvious to me that God has always favoured and used those who are prepared to listen to Him and step outside their own comfort zones in order to move in obedience to His will. Traditionalists have regularly been left to their traditions, while God has moved on with people who are prepared to break their routine and walk in faith in new directions, as God directs.
Of course, the discipline of a routine can help us accomplish the regular requirements of day to day life. But when our routines and traditions become more important than God, as they so easily can, He will find others who are willing to listen to His instructions and follow His ways.
To which group do you belong?
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FROM THE WORD
"“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:8-12)"Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!†Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: â€â€˜These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’â€" (Matthew 15:1-9)
"â€â€˜After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ that have been known for ages.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.â€" (Acts 15:16-21)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
REVELATION AND RELIGION881. Religion is learned, revelation received.
882. Religion stems from the mind of man, revelation from the heart of God.
883. Revelation is revolutionary, religion, counter-revolutionary.
884. Religion is the opiate of the masses, while revelation reveals the heart of God.
885. One man's revelation quickly becomes another's religion.
886. Religion suffocates revelation.
887. Religion is centred upon man's needs, revelation upon the will of God.
888. When religion embraces a revelation, it's time for new revelation!
889. Revelation builds, religion stifles.
890. Many say, 'give me religion', but few, 'give me revelation'.
891. Religion fosters pride, while revelation comes from a broken heart.
892. Religion promotes people, revelation, servanthood.
893. Religion builds. Revelation breaks down, then builds.
894. Religion breeds status, revelation, servants.
895. In religion, roles are nouns, in revelation, adjectives.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now over 1270 David sayings for you to view at ...
CRANWELL'S CARTOON
“Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? 2 Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? 3 Will he keep begging you for mercy? Will he speak to you with gentle words? 4 Will he make an agreement with you
for you to take him as your slave for life? 5 Can you make a pet of him like a bird
or put him on a leash for your girls? (Job 41:1-5)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
A REVELATION OF....... 3 KINGDOM AGES OF GOD - Part 15Now is the time to look at the final fulfilment of the kingdom that all fully committed believers are looking forward to.
Let's seek it out!
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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." ***
570. BIGGER BULLETIN BLOOPERS
For Father's Day each father present was given a pine tree or apple tree seedling to be planted along with his children.
The Lord commanded Peter to Feed my sleep.
"Help blow up and decorate the church with balloons on Easter morning. Meet at 7:30 am to help. Won't take long!"
Please be in prayer for Jim and Judy, their baby daughter was born 9 months premature.
The Women's Missionary Union will meet the first yesterday in January.
The Rev. Dr. Albert Jones, our featured speaker for the breakfast, also blessed and blessed and blessed and blessed the meal.
Women on Missions (WOMS) will meet Thursday at noon. Childhood will be provided in the nursery.
The scholarship committee is accepting applications for church members attending a Baptist affiliated college this fall. Applications and guidelines are available in the vestibule. The Appalachians should be submitted by July 1st.
We will vote on six new deacons next Sunday. The following ordained men have agreed to serve if elated.
Dr. Grimes was the featured speaker for the Seniors Group. He noted that you can often avoid those usual winter colds if you avoid fatigue, loss of sleep and over-creating.
You're invited to join the Sunset Club, our church seniors group. Activities include community singing, dancing, dramatic efforts, and table games. The group is composed solely of participanting members.
Members of the Senior's Breakfast Club stretched and strained Thursday morning as Swan Johnson, local physical therapist, demonstrated several exercises during the club meeting. There will be no meeting next week.
The bride-elect was showered with pieces of her chosen china.
The Halloween Alternative Festival will be from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 Thursday. No costumes will be permitted.
Please take note that the item in last weeks newsletter about the Halloween Alternative Festival should have read, "No scary or frightening costumes will be permitted."
The singles group will be participating in the Relay for Life next Friday to raise money for cancer research. The walk starts at 7:00p.m. with the luminary at 9:30. Walkers please remember to bring a pair of heavy rocks and comfortable walking shoes.
Remember the annual spring cleaning of the Singles Ministry Building this Saturday. We need lots of singles to volunteer for the work crew. We have a long list of items to be cleaned. The widows need extra attention.
"Bulletin Bloopers 2003 Part III is copyright 2003 by The Sermon Fodder List and Joke A Day Ministries.
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 ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: The worlds most popular book is the Bible, but what is the world's most shoplifted book?ANSWER: The Bible! (People get it one way or another!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Is there violence in Grimms Fairy Tales?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS402. LUCKY?
In 1060 a coin was minted in England shaped like a lucky four-leaf clover. The user could break off any of the four leaves and use them as separate pieces of currency. (Spreading your money around?)
403. ‘OZOSTOMANIAâ€
If you are suffering from ‘ozostomia’, you are suffering from halitosis – actually, bad breath. (Polluting the ozone layer? Would have to be very bad!)
404. FIREPROOF
As it is 12,000 feet above sea level, there is barely enough oxygen in La Paz, Bolivia to support combustion, so the city is virtually fireproof. (But not gunfire proof though!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters. (Can you remember from last week?)
ADHERED
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA
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BIBLE QUESTION - BOOK OF JUDGES
2) Who was instrumental in the downfall of Samson?A - Tamar
B - Zerubabel
C - Jezebel
D - Delilah
Source: www.biblequizzes.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"""!!!!!!! If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
!!!!!! If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?
!!!!! If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
!!!! If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
!!! If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
!! If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?
! If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
MORE BIBLE RIDDLES
Thought we had done all possible Bible riddles in our last, very popular series. However, I have now found some more for you to enjoy, courtesy of Frank Schaefer of javacasa.comQ. Where in the bible do we find the Lord doing house cleaning?
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A. Jesu swept
Lots more riddles found at...
LIFE'S A LAUGH
123. LOCKED INWalking through the hallways at the middle school where I work, I saw a new substitute teacher standing outside his classroom with his forehead against a locker.
I heard him mutter, "How did you get yourself into this?"
Knowing that he was assigned to a difficult class, I tried to offer moral support. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Can I help?"
He lifted his head and replied, "I'll be fine as soon as I get this kid out of his locker."
124. DO YOU DISCIPLE?
After teaching a lesson in my kindergarten class on Jesus and his disciples, I was feeling quite proud. It was a model lesson, an A, and included a game, a song and a story.
At the conclusion of the lesson, I opened the discussion to questions. With pride, I looked out at my students' wildly waving arms. My lesson was obviously a success. Teaching seemed so rewarding. I would now let them shower me with this new knowledge that I had so skillfully imparted to them.
I called on Brittney to respond. Since her arm was waving more frantically than the rest, surely her observation would be that much more brilliant. "Brittney, what do you have to say about Jesus and his disciples?" I asked eagerly.
"Well," she began, with true kindergarten confidence, "I just wanted you to know that I know a lot about disciples 'cause at my house we disciple everything. We have a special disciple can for plastic, a special disciple can for glass, and a special disciple can for paper. My mom says it's how we save the earth."
I paused, took a deep breath and said, "Let's get ready for lunch."
125.A BOOB OR TWO
What Kind of Manager?
I am a missionary with Operation Mobilization OM for short. Part of our Ministry includes running two Ocean going Passenger Ships as floating Book Shops, that visit ports around the world. Late last year the OM people around the world all got an email advertising
vacancies on the two ships. One position was for a "Book Exhibition Manager with the necessary experience." Unfortunately in the typing of the email it came out as "BOOB Exhibition Manager with the necessary experience!" In spite of the error we still got plenty of applicants. -- Barry Wannell, Operation Mobilisation, Zimbabwe
Many more jokes just for a laugh at...
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN BIBLICAL LANDS
MULTITUDES OF SICK PEOPLEin Israel from New Testament times. Many were brought to Jesus to be healed. In more recent times, before the British occupation and modern Israel, the land was overrun by people such as blind beggars, cripples and lepers. This was commented on by travellers.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
Lots more 'God Facts' are found at...
THE KORAN TEACHES THAT JESUS KNOWS THE WAY TO HEAVEN
This Sure says three things about Isa (Jesus) which clearly lift him above the status of a prophet:Isa is holy (3:42-48),
has power over death (49-54),
and knows the way to heaven (55-56).
This is a shock for many Muslims, because what does the Koran say about Mohammed?
The surest answer is to say that Mohammed is what he said of himself; in Sure 46:9-10, he says "I am nothing new among prophets; I do not know what will become of me or my followers. I am just a voice of warning."
If Mohammed is nothing different or more than all the prophets before him, and did not claim to be the greatest prophet of all, did not know where he or his followers would go after death, and professes to simply be a voice of warning, the contrast with Jesus' statements about himself (for example John 6:47 and 14:1-7) could hardly be greater.
If you then ask a Muslim "I want to go to heaven when I die.
Which prophet can help me get there?", the result is often a process leading them to read the Injil (New Testament) and find Jesus.
Information from the Koran (very important for Muslims) reveals Jesus to be clearly more than just a prophet, and endows him practically with saviour status.
"The Koran does not contain enough light to show someone the way to salvation, but enough small candles to guide seekers the right way," says Greeson
Source: GO GLOBAL MISSIONS REPORT, MAURICE ANTONELLI 2006: No 54
More facts on evangelism are found at...
VISIT THIS UNIQUE WEBSITE - THE ABALONE KID
An amazing mix of music, Word and poetry from a lawyer turned street preacher and singer. Howard has a unique and fresh way of presenting eternal truths that will touch your heart. Download his music (it's free!) and share in his joy of the Lord.Be refreshed today at...
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... THE 3 RIVERS OF GODThe principle of the 'river' in scripture and how it applies to our lives and the church today.
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WAXING LYRICAL
This was written 6 years ago. Life moves on. Perhaps I should add some more verses to bring it up to date! We'll see!LIFE WITH THE WIFE - 1st of 2
We met at a camp, some thirty-two years ago,
What life was to bring, little then did we know.
Yes, there was a spark, that brought us together,
A mutual attraction - more than just the weather!
Maybe more notice, of the weather should have been taken,
For just a few days later, the City of Wellington was shaken,
By the ‘Wahine Storm’, the like of which is so rarely seen,
A hurricane! Prophetic of our marriage, could it have been?
Still, two years later in the month of May,
Kathy and David married, on a cloudy day.
In Palmerston North Baptist, our vows were said,
The journey of marriage, lay tantalisingly ahead.
Two years on, after tripping right around the world,
Exploring our roots. In Britain, they were unfurled.
We came home, ready to start our family of four,
Two sons soon, followed later, by two sons more.
So twenty years of our marriage, it did pass,
Oh me, oh my, the time! How it does go fast!
Me, taking the male path of ‘girls, gold and glory’,
The wife ‘at home with the kids’, you know the story.
Turning my back on God, over this time,
The vibes between us, they ceased to rhyme.
Resulting in tears, flavouring the baking you see,
Kathy gently sobbing, while making muffins for me.
By now our business, we had lost,
In stormy seas, vigorously tossed,
But then, I did come to the Lord,
For Kathy, that did strike a chord.
To Tauranga City, here we came,
Life never again, to be the same.
The Lord developed new love in me,
For Him, my wife, and all the family.
Over the years since then, our relationship’s improved,
As the conflicts of the past, the Lord He has soothed.
Kathy graciously forgave me of my wrong,
On a new foot, life is now going along.
During the last ten years we have grown close together,
Finding strength in each other, whatever the weather.
So now, as we jointly share, life’s hopes and dream,
Our relationship’s blossomed - you know what I mean.
More of David's poems at...
A DAVID MUSING
Kathy's mother has gained strength and been released from hospital. many thanks, if you have prayed for her.The last 3 days I have spent at a very worldly pursuit, watching motor racing at a new, world-class circuit at Taupo, less than 2 hours drive from our place. Cameron, our youngest son, joined me for the last day, so it was really family bonding time! The New Zealand car came third in the high profile, international A1 World Series Grand Prix, behind Germany and France.
A really enjoyable time for an old motor racer! An interest ended marriage and family (more sensibly) spent the money needed to compete. In motor racing, sadly, there is no substitute for 'cubic money'!
Of course, I now realise that there are many better ways of spending money, helping people, rather than on machines to thrill and kill myself! Boys and their toys!
Now, it's really time to get down to work!
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: REDHEAD
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 2) D - Delilah (Judges 16:18-20) That was too easy, wasn't it?
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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