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: 280 Published: 05 Mar 2007
CORRESPONDENCE
Please read this email and my reply. It is from my friend Moses, whom I met for the first time recently in Uganda, although we had previously corresponded for some time. He is a highly educated man theologically, who has come out of a very 'religious' situation and now pastors a small village church.Dear Brother Tait
Thank you so much loving us; I know you have us at heart. We have finished the phase of roofing and now we want to embark on a second phase of enclosing it with timbers. I don’t know yet where we are going to get a donation for this phase, but I believe and trust God will provide as he did in the first phase.
Here the ministry is very challenging, and very few Pastors who can give a hand of help in such a project, one of the biggest problem is that many don’t like our teaching and they call us a cult, but that has not driven us away from the true teaching. My people like your messages and they have embraced you message gladly. I have tried to share your messages with some of the Pastors, and I have found out very few are willing to accept a revival in there ministries. But still God will find away of reaching his people in such fellowships.
In such environment it becomes very difficult to get Pastors who can join you and work together for the glory of the Lord, hence building is not an easy thing for me, but I know our Almighty God will find away for us, “Where He leads, he providesâ€
Yours in a living hope
Moses
And my response.
Hi Moses
I understand. Sadly, too many pastors view the church as a worldly institution with a bit of God added in, rather than the church being God's representative on earth with everything centered around Him.
I know I asked you about it, but please don't be centered on the building. It is only a means to an end. We all (me included) focus so much more easily on the seen than the unseen, on the temporal, rather than the eternal. We build buildings and run programmes and projects that we see as glorifying God, but these generally satisfy our earthly need to be seen to be doing something for Him. The message of the Word is to build the 'kingdom', which of course, is inside each one of us. It is truly all about relationship, both with God and others. Once we grasp an understanding of this concept our whole life changes and we develop a new freedom and confidence as we come closer and closer to our God, to Jesus, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
This is probably the greatest challenge of understanding that the church faces today. Once we, as leaders and people grasp this 'kingdom concept', our whole attitude to life and understanding of what 'success' in God truly is, changes.
We say, "It's all about Him!" Now is the time we must start living it!
His servant and yours
David
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FROM THE WORD
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD"Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.â€" (Luke 17:20)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.†(John 13:34-5)
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?†Jesus replied: â€â€˜Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.â€" (Matthew 32:34-40)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
REVELATION AND RELIGION882. 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.
886. Religion suffocates revelation.
887. Religion is centered 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.
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FROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU
DavidThank-you again for your ministry.
(your comment about air pilots and that even the French have to identify themselves in English reminded me of a comment from our preacher about 2 years ago "English is the lingua-franca of today" -that almost qualifies as a blooper )
This quotation from GK Chesterton is worth a thought "They have invented a phrase, a phrase that is a black and white contradiction in two words--`free-love'--as if a lover ever had been, or ever could be, free. It is the nature of love to bind itself, and the institution of marriage merely paid the average man the compliment of taking him at his word. "(GKC - Rash Vows)
As is this from my new daughter-in-law "One of those modern 'not really the bible' translations"
Finally, not much changes over the centuries - this is from From Luther on Christian Liberties "The ears of our generation have been made so delicate by the senseless multitude of flatterers that, as soon as we perceive that anything of ours is not approved of, we cry out that we are being bitterly assailed; and when we can repel the truth by no other pretense, we escape by attributing bitterness, impatience, intemperance, to our adversaries."
May God Bless you
JohnB
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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
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,†he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.â€
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.†51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,†Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.†53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!†55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. (Luke 8:49-56)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
REVELATIONS REVELATION!Around 2-3 years ago the Lord drew my attention to the endings of the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. Each letter ends in a similar way, "to him who overcomes," with a promise following.
Upon first discovering these, I shared them with the "Home Group" we have attended for many years. It was an interesting study, but no more. It Wasn’t until late this afternoon (8 October 1999), just in time to get into trouble with the wife for not setting the table in time for tea, that the Lord showed me what they really meant!
But it shows His empathy too, in that He had Started preparing me, several years ago, for this day. And what did He show me? That the promises He made to these 7 churches were to be fulfilled by the overcoming people of His Tabernacle Church.
These promises make just so much more sense, now that the blinkers have been removed from my eyes.
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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." ***
584. WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God.
Here are some of the results:
God is like BAYER ASPIRIN ... He works miracles.
God is like a FORD ... He's got a better idea.
God is like COKE ... He's the real thing.
God is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send His very best.
God is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.
God is like SEARS ... He has everything.
God is like ALKA-SELTZER ... Try Him, you'll like Him.
God is like SCOTCH TAPE ... You can't see him, but you know He's there.
God is like DELTA ... He's ready when you are.
God is like ALLSTATE ... You're in good hands with Him.
God is like VO-5 HAIR SPRAY ... He holds through all kinds of weather.
God is like DIAL SOAP ... Aren't you glad you have Him. Don't you wish everybody did.
583. CHILDREN SING--AND SLAUGHTER--WELL-KNOWN HYMNS
Sometimes kids get things a little......well, maybe these came from kids:
Give us this day our deli bread!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Whole East Coast.
We shall come to Joyce's, bringing in the cheese.
Gladly, the consecrated, cross-eyed bear.
He carrots for you.
Bringing in the Sheets.
Yield Not to Penn Station.
Dust Around the Throne.
Praise God From whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures, here we go.
While shepherds washed their socks by night He socked me and boxed me with His redeeming glove.
- Selected from Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List.
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What is a 'red dog'?ANSWER: It has meanings. Firstly, the old name for an American football play now called the 'blitz'. Then a 19th century banknote stamped with red ink. Thirdly, a card game and finally, 'red dog flour is the lowest grade of flour milled and fed to animals. Phew! (Black, brown and white dogs will feel quite left out!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Is Mayday a workers or a pagan holiday?
Answer Next Week.
384. UNBELIEVABLE?
According to studies conducted at Northwestern University in the US, men change their minds two to three times more than women do. Women tend to take longer to make a decision, but once they do, they are more likely to stick to it. (Can I believe it? Yes… No…)
385. TALKATHON TIME
According to the New York Telephone Company, there are 398 million telephones in the world, of which more than one-third are in the United States. (Do Americans have more ears than others?)
386. SCIENTIFIC EXPLOSION
It is believed that 90 percent of all scientists who have ever lived are alive now, and that more scientific paper’s have been published in the years since 1950 than were published in all the centuries before 1950. (Have the knowledge, but what about the wisdom to go with it?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters. (Can you remember from last week?)
STREAMS
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - BOOK OF JUDGES
8) Why did the Lord deliver Israel up to persecution?A - They blasphemed
B - They did evil
C - They wanted their freedom
D - They had no leader
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! We set the sail; God makes the wind.
!!!!!! Begin to weave and God will Give you the thread.
!!!!! When God says "no", it's because He has something better in store for you.
!!!! The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
!!! Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.
!! It's my business to do God's Business and it's His business to take care of my business.
! Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
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. Why couldn't anyone on the ark play cards?
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A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.
Lots more riddles found at...
GROANS GALORE!
87. ON STRIKEThe workers at the Federal Mint went on strike today. They are demanding to make less money!
88. THE NOBEL PRIZE
A man is driving down a country road, when he spots a farmer standing in the middle of a huge field of grass. He pulls the car over to the side of the road and notices that the farmer is just standing there, doing nothing, looking at nothing.
The man gets out of the car, walks all the way out to the farmer and asks him, "Ah excuse me mister, but what are you doing?"
The farmer replies, "I'm trying to win a Nobel Prize."
"How?" asks the man, puzzled.
"Well I heard they give the Nobel Prize . . . to people who are out standing in their field."
89. THE PIGEONS
I was driving to work this morning when my car stalled in the damp weather. I was sitting in the car at the side of the highway, contemplating my next move, when a pigeon flew down and landed right in the middle of the hood of the car.
It seemed fairly tame, and I soon became fascinated in watching it up close as it strutted around and made cooing noises.
A few minutes passed, and two more pigeons flew in and joined the first bird. Pigeons seem to be attracted by crowds, and soon I was sitting there with a whole hood full of pigeons, all cooing loudly and beginning to change the color of my hood.
Gradually I noticed that the birds seemed to be trying to get my attention, which was unnerving, since I had always regarded pigeons as rather stupid birds. But, sure enough, several of them were dragging a piece of rope around on the hood, and several others
were flying out in front of the car and returning to the hood.
All of a sudden, I realized what they were doing, so I yanked open the door and wildly chased them all off. No way was I going to be pigeon towed!
Groan now at...
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN BIBLICAL LANDS
BURIAL FOLLOWS DEATH QUICKLYUsually on the same day! The people also believed that the spirit of the dead one hovers near the body for 3 days to hear the wailing calls of grief.
Martha thought it hopeless that here brothers body could be revived as he had been dead for 4 days. (John 11:39)
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
Lots more 'God Facts' are found at...
'DADLESSNESS' A LEADING CAUSE OF SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION
The Social Justice Research Group's landmark report, Breakdown Britain: Interim Report on the State of the Nation, continues to stir debate, as British politicians increasingly begin to recognise the importance of marriage as a social glue, and the marriage rate in Britain reaches historic lows.The report's emphasis on dissolution, dysfunction and "Dadlessness" continues to be controversial with some deriding it for daring to argue that these are leading causes of poverty, educational failure, intergenerational relationship instability, delinquency and teenage pregnancy.
The survey data collected showed that poverty and indebtedness were the most concerning factors for families in distress, and family breakdown clearly contributed to this. After a divorce, women were, on average, 18 percent worse off financially; men by 2 percent. The report shows that family dissolution not only contributes to higher poverty rates, it also leads to further family breakdown. Children whose parents divorced generally had a lower socioeconomic base and less stable relationships in adulthood, which increased the possibility that they too would divorce. Further, children whose parents separated, or whose parents had had children in their teens, were more likely to be teenage parents themselves, thus continuing the poverty cycle.
This report adds weight to a growing body of international research indicating that a father's absence is often associated with risks for children's development. Research shows that active father involvement matters a great deal to children, even after taking income, a mother's involvement and various other demographic variables into account.
The authors of this report are bravely tackling a thorny political issue. In society's attempt to protect parents and children who have suffered family breakdown from feeling any kind of offence, we are skating dangerously close to saying that dads don't really matter. It is time we had the courage to face up to the consequences of relationship dysfunction. If we do not, children will continue to miss out. (Maxim Institute Newsletter - Real Issues - 242)
You may read the full report at...
http://povertydebate.typepad.com/home/files/volume_2_family_breakdown.pdf
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REVIVAL LITERATURE FELLOWSHIP
is dedicated to preach and teach Bible Prophecy preparing people to meet the soon Coming Lord in the Clouds through literature and conferences. RLF is also dedicated to reach the unreached people of the largest democratic nation of the world by sending the native missionaries into the remote parts of India.Join John at...
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... THE FIRST MIRACLE OF JESUSI have never been happy with the explanations I have heard of the meaning of the changing of the water into wine. So I asked Jesus! And He told me! Find out what He said through the Holy Spirit.
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WAXING LYRICAL
This poem was written after becoming saddened, almost disillusioned, by the disagreements and arguments I have been witnessing on an internet forum I belong to, between supposedly 'mature' Christians, mainly ministers, who are meant to working together towards unity! How God must cry! I do!Incidentally, we have had severe floods in New Zealand over the past few days. (A few years ago now!) God's tears? Maybe increased floods aren't a result of global warming after all! But of the divisions in His church!
NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN ANY MORE! (Part 1 of 2)
So how about building His Kingdom on earth?
There's a radical thought, has some worth!
Surely church wouldn't be the same?
When God's kingdom, to earth came!
My friend, we simply have the choice,
To disagree, or speak with one voice.
To defend to the end where we come from,
Or get on with it, and build His Kingdom.
His Kingdom now, has is to be within you see,
Comes as we let Him deal with you and me.
When we go on to seek His heavenly will,
Division and strife, His will, will kill!
The kingdom that disagreement sows,
Is built by treading on other's toes.
But the heavenly kingdom that God does see,
Is founded upon co-operation and unity.
Will you help ease God's frustrations,
By taking the gospel to the nations?
Putting aside, that which does now divide,
The salvation message, others to provide.
Not one has entered through division and strife,
For words spoken in anger do not bring life.
Theological argument hasn't saved a single soul,
Nor a dearly held doctrine made a seeker whole.
But what works every time is a witness of love,
Putting aside the jackal to become the dove.
Yes, as we build His Kingdom on earth you see,
Together, we can all look forward to eternity.
More of David's poems at...
A DAVID MUSING
Still working flat out. Hope to be able to introduce you to our new venture next week.Our youngest, Cameron, turned 21 on Saturday - our age of adulthood. So we don't have children any more! But they do still come back from time to time!
Must run/././././
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: MASTERS
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: B - They did evil (Judges 6:1)
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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