HEART OR LAND?

Many in the world, and particularly those of us living in Australasia, are now reflecting upon the horror of the 'Beautiful Bali' nightclub bombing, and the havoc it wreaked. Not only in the lives of the victims, both locals and visitors, but their families and friends as well. Our Travel Agent friend was in fact in Bali at the time. Programmed to visit the nightclub that night, the group didn't go because of tiredness. Her roommate however, had to identify one of the victims. "Oh God" - what can you do or say!

As Christians, we cannot really understand how such atrocities can be carried out in the name of religion. There is no doubt that the majority of Moslems desire to live in peace, as do most Christians. But it is necessary for us to understand that there is a fundamental difference between the two religions. While believers of both are charged with the responsibility of bringing others to their faith, the methods to be employed are vastly different. Unfortunately those of us who live in the West find this difficult to comprehend. It's not until we experience the situation at the 'flashpoints' where the two faiths meet, that the differences become obvious.

For Christianity, in its true form, operates independently of the human governmental system. We are of course, required to live by the laws of the land, where these are not in direct opposition to our Christian beliefs. To win the "hearts" of people is a Christian's calling.

Of course, over the past 2000 years there have been many examples of the name of Jesus has been used as a justification for blatant political territorial acquisition. The Crusades of the eleventh and twelfth centuries were classic examples, to which can be added much of Western expansionism in the times since then.

But when you visit the meeting grounds where Moslems live on one side of the street and Christians on the other, you soon realise the differences between the two faiths. For the faith of Islam is territorial, based upon the acquisition of "land". When the land is taken, it is never to be lost (This is why Moslems will never accept the return of the Jews to 'their' land of Israel) and is to be subjected to Islamic law. For the state and the church are viewed as being one.

In these frontier areas the Moslem communities are pushing, pushing all the time, to extend their boundaries. This is not merely a theory, but an ever-present reality, and one that frequently results in outbreaks of physical violence. We must be fully aware of this situation, to properly understand what is happening and to better formulate our response to it.

Unfortunately, we will likely have to endure many more terrorist attacks. But we must not be intimidated. For we are on the winning side. That is what Jesus told us. And I, for one, believe him!

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FROM THE WORD

"Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”" (Matthew 22:17-21)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (Revelation 12:10-11)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

*** To believe in God is good, to hear from God is great, but to obey God reaps the ultimate reward.

*** A man’s wisdom is based upon experience, but God’s wisdom comes through revelation.

*** Human growth is measured in height, girth and wrinkles, spiritual growth by the 'fruit of the Spirit.' Often we confuse the two.

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TAPE (MP3) OF THE WEEK

In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministries
inspirational.org.nz we are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape - absolutely free of charge!

FROM HINDUISM TO CHRISTIANITY

By Indra Belsham

The amazing story of one woman's walk to find the one true God.

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What bird migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year?

ANSWER: The Arctic tern. This travelling bird flies nearly 22,000 miles each year in its migration (roughly the circumference of the Earth), making it the animal with the greatest migratory range. Takes six months to fly each way. It lives to migrate!

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why do scientists describe cancer cells as "immortal"?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS
!!! INSECT TRAP The plant Pinguicala vulgaris, catches insects by imprisoning them with its leaves. Can't 'leaf' them alone.

!!! GOD CARES The church of Renaison in France, while crowded with 200 worshippers, was set afire by a bolt of lightning and destroyed; yet, although every person in the church was injured, not a single parishioner was killed, and all were discharged from the hospital 2 months later on the same day in June, 1760. A bolt from the blue!

!!! A HEALTHY DIET According to a December BOSTON GLOBE report from Xi'an, China, the Three Brothers Scorpion Restaurant claims to be the first in the country to reintroduce the 18th-century fascination with the scorpion into domestic cuisine, based on the health benefits. Scorpion venom, reduced in potency by a six-month process of preparation, is believed to aid against fever, chills, skin problems, immune disorders, bad kidneys, and possibly tumours. Other favourite dishes of Three Brothers are silkworm larvae, cicadas on sticks, and poisonous tree ants. The cure worse than the problem?

A PUZZLE FOR YOU!

S T
I U
T H
& S

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***
THE WORD
Our five-year-old son went to a church conference with my wife and me. He got restless, so my wife handed him a pad and pencil and suggested he mark down every time the speaker said the word "and." After a while, he grew bored, and I asked,

"Would you like to listen for a different word?"

"Yes," he whispered. "I'd like to listen for 'Amen'."

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GOD FACTS

### Someone has spent 17 years looking for the exact middle point of the Bible. Haven’t heard whether they found it!

### After the Bible, the most translated book in the world is Cervantes, ‘Don Quixote.’

### There are more than 1700 references to gems and precious stones in the KJV.

### Psalm 37 is one of the few that are acrostic – but not in English!

### The word ‘Reverend’ is only used once in the Bible.

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FREE BIBLE STUDIES PLUS LOTS MORE AT...

LUTHERAN BIBLE MINISTRIES
Offers Bible studies on the lessons each week designated by the Revised Common Lectionary. These are inductive studies, working solely with the biblical text. Also lessons from the American Bible Society's Contemporary English Version translation for the Revised Common Lectionary. These can be downloaded and inserted in bulletins or done up in any format desired. Thirdly a four-session text-based study in Isaiah 35, introducing participants to key Isaianic themes to an understanding of Herbrew poetry. And much other interesting material too including humour!

http://www.bibleministries.org

JUST JOKES

JUST GIVE UP!
George set out on a very windy night to see his friend Sam, who was sick in bed. Hours later, George dragged his weary body into Sam's house, and collapsed on the couch, exhausted. "I'll tell you," George said, when he had caught his breath, "it was just brutal. For every step I took forward, I fell back two."

"So how did you ever make it over here?" Sam asked.

"Well," George replied, "after a while I decided to give up, so I turned around and headed for home."

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A DAVID MUSING

It has been a long time since I have mentioned any running stories. Probably because it has been a long time since I have done much running! A sacrifice for ministry is my excuse! But it is genuinely very difficult to run in the heat in Africa. Yet they produce the world's best middle and long distance runners!

However, this week I have got back into running - with difficulty. For the muscles aren't as 'in tune' as they were, when I was running regularly. It's hard work getting back into it.

Much like our 'Quiet Time' really. It is so much easier and more enjoyable when we stay in training, by doing it regularly. Our spiritual muscles, when flexed daily, operate far more easily and effectively than simply being exercised once a week on Sundays.

Running once a week is of minimal benefit physically. It is an abuse of the body rather than being a muscle builder. It leads to pain rather than gain. For me, I find the same applies to my time with the Lord. And I don't have the genuine 'excuse' I have with the running, of it being too hot! Rather, without my time with Him, my life freezes over!

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's Word Puzzle Answer: Sit down and shut up.

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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 website
wwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.

Walking With Jesus Ministries
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand

Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
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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david@wwj.org.nz