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: 57 Published: 02 Dec 2002
ONE GOD FOR ALL
So often in our society we believe that we must have separate programmes for the young, middle aged and old if we are to reach them in terms they can each understand. Of course, many times interests and understandings will be divergent, and tailored presentations are more suitable.Imagine then my consternation when we were asked to minister here in India, in a Home and Bible School of young women run by a group of single, senior citizen Sisters, many of whom originally came out of the Anglican Church. With such a divergence of age and experience, how would it be possible to minister effectively to both groups at the one time?
But, not surprisingly, God had things under control! We were able to share the revelatory word and both groups were equally able to understand and absorb the truths of the Word. The Holy Spirit joined in too, in powerful measure, and the ministry time was a real blessing to all present. For God has the same message for us all, irrespective of age and experience.
Yes, our God is bigger than situation or place. And He can organise things far better than we. Particularly when we deign to allow Him to!
Find out more about us at ...
AN INDIAN EXPERIENCE
Little did I understand before visiting India, that this huge and diverse country has a remarkable piece of Christian Heritage. So imagine my surprise when told that the first Christian missionary, was none other than the Apostle Thomas, who arrived in AD52, having put his doubts well and truly behind him. He remained in India until he was martyred 20 years later.Here, he is famous here for his faith rather than his earlier doubts. For the local priestly class, the Brahmans, would throw water up in the air as part of there religious rituals. Of course it always came down again! So when Thomas met four of them beside a small lake one day, he asked if they would believe in Jesus if he could make the drops stay up in the air. Quite a step of faith for him! But the Lord came through and these four men became his first converts.
To be able to visit a place of such historical Christian experience, in such an unexpected country, was indeed a deeply moving Indian experience.
FROM THE WORD
The second in a 5 week series of affirmations from the book of Psalms.Teth
65 Do good to your servant
according to your word, O LORD.
66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I believe in your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. (Psalm 119:65-72)
DAVID’S DOODLINGS
More on Faith### If there is no room for doubt in faith, there was no need for faith in the first place.
### 'Blind faith' is 'blindingly blind'!
### Doubt is to faith as butter is to bread.
There are now over 430 David sayings for you to view at ...
MP3 DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
In conjunction with Inspirational Tapes inspirational.org.nz we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to download the following message in MP3 format, free of charge. Inspirational Tapes offers a range of over 4,000 Audio Cassette Tapes, CD's and Videos to members worldwide, for hire, download or purchase.This week's download is:
Between Death and Resurrection (Parts 1 & 2)
By: David Pawson
David Pawson has been one of the world's leading Bible expositors for decades. His teachings have well and truly stood the test of time.
Download your free MP3 now at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Which Roman emperor succumbed to smallpox?ANSWER: Emperor Marcus Aurelius succumbed toe the "Plague of Antonine," a smallpox epidemic that killed anywhere from 3.5 to 7 million people in the Roman Empire in 180 AD.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: In terms of chemical composition, what substance does human blood most closely resemble?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
‘WHO ARE YOU?’
Female koel birds of India have a shriek that sounds exactly like, "Who are you?" (David - I think!)
MUSICAL CACTUS
The hedgehog cactus of Mexico is pleated like an accordion so that it can expand with water in preparation for periods of drought. (Fast, fast, sloooow)
SEA ANGEL
The sea angel is a snail with wings. (But can it fly?)
A PUZZLE FOR YOU!
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
200 fun facts and trivial trivia now found at ...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***THIRD 2 FOR 1 WEEK IN A ROW!
NOT 100% CORRECT - BUT STILL TRUE!
A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was.
Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off the neighbor's wife."
PRAYER NEEDED?
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
"Johnny, wait until we say our prayer," his mother reminded him.
"I don't have to," the little boy replied.
"Of course you do," his mother insisted, "we say a prayer before eating at our house."
"That's at our house," Johnny explained, "but this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!"
Now over 150 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
LIFE’S A LAUGH
### Real life situations provide the best humour of all. You can either laugh or cry!###AN APPLE A DAY
While visiting a friend who was in the hospital, I noticed several pretty nurses, each of whom was wearing a pin designed to look like an apple.
I asked one nurse what the pin signified.
"Nothing," she said with a smile. "It's just to keep the doctors away."
CHECKING FOR LEAKS
At a naval barracks the enlisted men were being given their shots prior to going overseas. One lad, having received his series of injections, asked for a glass of water. "What's the matter, Mate?" asked the sick bay attendant. "Do you feel pain?"
"No ... just checking to see if I'm still watertight."
Many more 'smiley' real life situations on ...
CHURCHSPEAK
Some interesting underlying spiritual meanings of elements of nature in the Bible.CLAY---------Man
DARKNESS----Sin, Satan
DEW----------Devotion
DROUGHT-----Judgement
DUST---------Natural man
FIRE----------Judgement, Testing, Purification
Lot's more interesting information on the Bible at ...
AN INTERESTING ALLEGORY FOR YOU TO CONSIDER (A PDF DOWNLOAD)
THE TWO MARATHONERSA thought provoking and entertaining allegory about our journey through life. How will we run our race? Work out the answers as you go! Taken from The Walking with Jesus Course.
Download it now for free at ...
ANOTHER INDIAN EXPERIENCE
To see elephants, is of course, a truly Indian experience. None had been seen during our first few days here, but our hosts, Daniel and Lily, arranged for us to visit an elephant park, On the way there, we passed several walking along the road, nonchalantly carrying their loads, with drivers perched on their backs, mere pimples on a pumpkin.The Elephant Park was run by the Hindu Temple, as most of the 59 magnificent beasts of varying ages who called it home were donated by Hindu believers, as a gift to their Gods. In turn, they are used extensively in their parades and ceremonies.
But what impressed me the most was their cleverness. With their dextrous trunks they would create rudimentary ‘tools’ out of the fronds of leaves supplied as food and use them to scratch their itchy sides and backs, well out of reach otherwise. Extraordinary! Another truly memorable Indian experience!
A DAVID MUSING
In each new country you find cultural differences to ones own. This cultural diversity is part of what makes visiting new areas both interesting and challenging.Of course India has a wide diversity of cultural and religious elements making up its unique political and social environment. One of the most noticeable to a relatively seasoned traveller is the lack of Coke and Pepsi advertising signs! Both products are freely sold, particularly Pepsi, but there are virtually no billboards, small or large, advertising any non Indian consumer products. Quite different to other countries!
But for me, one of the most interesting features is that in this warm climate, no-one wears running shorts when out jogging. Generally a pair of tracksuit longs, although I saw one brave gentleman in a pair of shorts, cut below the knees.
So my friend Asher and I walk from round 6am for an hour or so while it is still cool. Except this morning, when Tony and I got up before 5am to go on a Prayer Walk around the city area with Daniel and the male, Bible College students. Another thing we are not so used to at home!
But it is all part of the experience of visiting this amazing, pulsating sub continent, now the home of 1 billion people.
His servant and yours.
David Tait
Today’s Word Puzzle Answer: Repeat performance.
CHANGING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?
Each week we lose up to 1% of our readers when they change email addresses without letting us know. If you are about to change your address, please advise us of both your old and new addresses here at enquiries@wwj.org.nz and we will happily change our records to ensure ongoing delivery. Thanks.LINKS
If you would like to link your web site to ours, and ours to yours, please advise us on links@wwj.org.nzDID THIS EMAIL HAVE A BLUE BACKGROUND AND RED HEADINGS?
YES - Great!NO - Your web browser needs to be set to 'Rich Text'. If you have an older 'Text Only' browser, this email may also be viewed on our web site at ...
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 websitewwj.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!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz