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: 631 Published: 18 Nov 2013
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?
THE POST APOSTOLIC CHURCHWe continue looking at prominent spirit filled men who lived during the 4th to 6th centuries AD.
THE MONASTICS 325-600AD
PATRICK OF IRELAND (c.AD387-461)
The inclusion of 'Saint Patrick' here could be controversial, as there is as much - probably more - myth and legend about his life as there is reality! I can safely say this, for I am of mixed Irish/Scottish stock, my mother having been born in Ireland!
I quote a summary of his life story.....
Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.
As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.
During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote
"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."
Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.
He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."
He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.
Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).
Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.
He died at Saul, where he had built the first church. (Source Catholic Online http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89)
Patrick brought the Holy Spirit inspired monastic tradition to Ireland, from where it spread to Scotland, and even back into parts of Europe. At a time when the monastic tradition was becoming formalized in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church having rejected the gifts of the Spirit as being for then, the missionary work of Patrick and his successors, particularly in Scotland, retained Holy Spirit activity through the centuries to come.
So we can continue to say that throughout the early Middle Ages, .....
THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE ONES WHO ARE OBEDIENT TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEIR LIVES.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS continuedThe Lord has asked me to compile a publication of the words Jesus spoke, as recorded in the New Testament in chronological order. I have got about halfway, and have found it very enlightening and encouraging in my relationship with Him. The final version will have changes of layout and version used, but this is a foretaste of things to come. Of course, it is not a Bible substitute! I Hope you find it helpful too, in your walk with Jesus.
PARABLES EXPLAINED AND TOLD IN PRIVATE* (Matthew 13:36-52)
Parable of the Weeds Explained* (Matthew 13:36-43)
“The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl* (Matthew 13:44-6)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Parable of the Net* (Matthew 13:47-52)
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?†Jesus asked.
“Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.†(Biblical times fishing boat pictured.)
(Continued next week)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
TALKING AND WALKING1317. In Jesus, many talk the walk, but few walk the talk.
1318. Religionists talk, disciples walk.
1319. Religionists talk of past glories, disciples walk into present glory.
1320. By definition, 'following' Jesus requires walking, not talking.
1321. If we talk, but not walk with Jesus, we will soon be 'left behind'!
1322. We must walk into God's rest.
1323. In God, talk is cheap, walking expensive, for it costs our life.
1324. Talking changes minds, but walking, hearts.
1325. To talk about Jesus is good, to walk in His ways, godly.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now over 1300 David sayings for you to view at ...
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com TO READ THIS CARTOON AND SEE THE OTHER PICTURES IN THIS EMAIL YOU NEED TO BE ONLINE. Check it out at...
TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF....... 3 KINGDOM AGES continuesCOVENENTAL PROMISES: FORETELLING THE FUTURE
God plans everything in advance. The Covenants reveal God's plans to mankind.
This week we are going to see God's revealed plan, through the ages, for His people.
Check out all the available teachings at...
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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. ***
812. PRAYING FOR PEAS
Years ago when my two girls were small, they were taught how to ask the blessing before eating their meal.
One night as I was busy scurrying around the kitchen, I told them both to ask the blessings without me. I took a moment to watch them as they both squeezed their eyes tightly shut over folded hands. As my 4-year-old finished, her 3-year-old sister kept on praying.
Another minute or two passed before she lifted her head, looked at her plate, and in an indignant voice said, “Hey! My peas are still here!â€
.....Docs Daily Chuckle (pkaine@woh.rr.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
811. PAVAROTTI AT THE PEARLY GATES:
Pavarotti knocks on the pearly gates. St. Peter opens them and says "Oh it's you, Luciano, come on in. Squeeze through."
Pavarotti says, "Hold on, I 've got an envelope for you, from the Pope."
St. Peter opens it up and reads it.
"HERE'S THAT TENOR I OWE YOU."
810. GOD'S GRADE
A sophomore taking a test in Bible School was not well prepared for the exam. At one point over a particularly esoteric phrasing of a question, he wrote, "ONLY GOD KNOWS!" for his answer.
Later when he got his paper back, there written in RED was this comment, "God gets an "A"; you get an "F".
" 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 800 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Is it possible for twins to have different fathers?ANSWER: Yes. There have been several documented cases of women giving birth to twins who had different fathers, including cases where the children were of different races. To do so, the mother had to have conceived both children in close proximity. There has also been one recent case where a mother gave birth to unrelated ‘twins’. In that instance, the mother underwent in vitro fertilisation and had her own child and the embryo of another couple accidentally implanted in her. (Possible, but not the way God planned it.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How do black and white stripes camouflage zebras?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 788. A WHITE DWARF
In astronomy, a white dwarf is the dense, burned-out remains of a star - a stellar corpse you could say. (What about a old film star?)
789. LIE BACK AND ENJOY IT
Experts at the Centre of Ergonomics at the University of Michigan have found that the tilt created where the seat and back of a rocking chair come together should be greater than 90 degrees — 120 degrees is good, 135 even better — for the health of the lower back. (My sort of research! Am now being healthy, not lazy!)
790. PRETTY POLLY
Macaws are the largest and most colourful species of the parrot family. (The genuine 'Pretty Polly')
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
SOWED
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...
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
12. Who was compared unfavorably to the lilies of the field?a. King Herod
b. King Solomon
c. King David
d. The Queen of Sheba
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
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"""!!!!!!! Christianity is Christ!
!!!!!! Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
!!!!! We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. (Dwight Moody)
!!!! Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ. (Ironside)
!!! No one who really wants to count for God can afford to play at Christianity.
!! If lips and life do not agree, the testimony will not amount to much.
! No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART!
53. PARKINGIf your wife parks the car, don't sit there and insist she do it properly. Walking the rest of the way to the curb is good exercise.
54. MEN AND WOMEN
A man is a person who, if a woman says, "Never mind, I'll do it myself;" lets her.
A woman is a person who, if she says to a man, "Never mind, I'll do it myself," and he lets her; gets mad.
A man is a person who, if a woman says to him, "Never mind, I'll do it myself," and he lets her and she gets mad; says, "Now what are you mad about?"
A woman is a person who, if she says to a man, "Never mind, I'll do it myself," and he lets her and she gets mad, and he says, "Now what are mad about?" says, "If you don't know I'm not going to tell you!"
55. SECOND ANNIVERSARY
It was our second anniversary, and my husband sent me flowers at the office.
He told the florist to write "Happy Anniversary, Year Number 2" on the card.
I was thrilled with the flowers, but not so pleased about the card.
It read "Happy Anniversary. You're Number 2."
56. WHO'S DRIVING
A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the back seat. And the women just won't leave the poor guy alone.
His mother-in-law says, "You're driving too fast!"
His wife says, "Stay to the left!"
After several more orders from both of them the man breaks down and barks at his wife, "Who's driving this car - you or your mother!
Smile here.....
BIBLE TRIVIA (About The Bible)
NUTS AND BOLTSWE GET OUR WORD 'PAPER'.....
.....from the papyrus plant, a tall weed that could be cut into strips, flattened, then woven together and dried to form sheets of paper. It is extremely resilient, and scraps of paper with Scripture written on them have been found dating back to the early 2nd century. Writing done on sheepskin was known as 'parchment'.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
The Incredible Holocaust Archives of Detail Records
This report was aired on CBS on "60 MINUTES" **
This over 60 year old secret German archive opened that houses a treasure trove of information on 17.5 million victims of the Holocaust. The archive, located in the German town of Bad Arolsen, is massive (there are 16 miles of shelving containing 50 million pages of documents) and until recently, was off-limits to the public. But after the German government agreed earlier this year to open the archives, CBS News' Scott Pelley traveled there with three Jewish survivors who were able to see their own Holocaust records. It's an incredibly moving piece, all the more poignant in the wake of the meeting of Holocaust deniers in Iran and the denial speeches in the UN.
The world needs to know about the unbelievable detail records of 17.5 million victims of the Holocaust.
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This is being reported in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russia peoples looking the other way! Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. Please send this CBS “60 Minutes†News story link to people you know.
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2972691n&tag=mnco l%3blst%3b9
Source: OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF……. THE 3 PRIESTHOODSAs we go through this study, my desire is that we will all grasp a little of the majesty and wonder of the plan of God to reconcile you and me back to Himself, after the fall of Adam and Eve to the wiles of satan through the serpent, in the garden of Eden.
As God is pure and we are not, He can only be approached through a mediator, a priest.
This study is about the establishment and development of the priesthood from the earliest of times until today.
I trust that we will all grasp the essence and magnificence of God’s perfect plan for each one who believes back into relationship with Him.
Find out more and download your free PDF Files here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
Is your life's mission, mission?!THE MISSION
What ought,
Be taught,
In thought?
I aught!
Good News?
Your views?
What cues?
Pay dues.
Jesus saves!
Heaven paves!
Satan raves!
Makes waves!
My mission
Give vision.
Your decision.
With precision.
Which way?
Jesus sway?
Your day.
Him obey.
Elevate!
Celebrate!
Invigorate!
Passionate!
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
Today, we will arrive back from our cruise.Will catch up with you next week, rested, suntanned and overweight!
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: DOWSE
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' a. King Herod
REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT
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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
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567
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