THAT WONDERFUL CHURCH DOWN THE ROAD!

Shifting churches is an interesting experience, for it highlights the obvious truth that each church has its own individual characteristics and flavour. While I have been fortunate to observe this at arms length while ministering in diverse churches in several countries, it is quite different when it involves you personally on an ongoing basis.

It is nearly 3 months ago now since we shifted 'spiritual homes', at the Lord's request. In fact, we shifted 300km just to go to church! Now while the ministers amongst you may be used to this, it is a little unusual for ordinary members of a congregation to do so.

Reminds me of our friends, where the husband calls his wife, "she who has to be obeyed." Of course, he doesn't put his words into practice too often! But it is a different matter when God speaks to the both of you. Then it truly is, "He who has to be obeyed", if you are wanting to be serious about being His disciples.

So we moved from one good church to another good church. From a church where the ministry emphasis is primarily upon personal holiness, to another focused upon evangelism and serving the community. Both are churches that are making positive contributions to their local Christian and secular communities.

It has been a great lesson for me on the value of diversity in the body. We aren't all the same, nor are we meant to be. Nor can any church be everything to all people. Just as there are differences within families and communities, so there is between churches. And this is to be celebrated! One is the hands, another the head, yet another the feet. This is how God made us, unique both as individuals and as churches. To celebrate together in a unity of diversity, rather than trying to impose on all, the dullness of conformity.

Let's rejoice that we are different to the church down the road. Let's not be suspicious but rejoice with them, and proactively help them further God's Kingdom too. Friends, we are not to be in competition with each other, but all working towards the same goal of building God's Kingdom upon the earth.

I can see, both here in New Zealand and as I travel, that there is a new realisation and understanding of this desperate desire of God's heart. Denominational barriers are breaking down. Churches of different hues are starting to acknowledge the value of working with others, even though we don't agree with every last detail of each others theologies. Pastors are starting to work together too, rather than viewing each other as competitors for believers and, often more importantly, the financial resources they may bring with them!

Our God is just so pleased with us when we co-operate. Personally, as we have found, we all need to change our ways of thinking. And it's not easy! We do get comfortable in our own little worlds, don't we? But let's make Him even happier shall we, by working together. For my aim is simply, to please my God. Yours too?

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FROM THE WORD

PSALM 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Corinthians 12:14-26)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

*** United we stand, divided... God will wait upon another generation.

*** Unity in Christ is so close to God's heart but so far away from ours!

*** Why do we keep asking God for more strength, when He has already given us the answer - unity!

*** We keep looking for the unity of one world government to arise in the nations, but constantly fail to seek it in the church.

*** The Trinity is the ultimate example of how a many faceted Church is to become united as one.

Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now 530 David sayings for you to view at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php

COMMENTS ON LAST WEEKS NEWSLETTER

MY EASTER PRESENT TO YOU
Dear David,
Just writing to thank you. I was one of the hundreds who read your poem "Seven Times He Shed His Blood." I especially appreciated how nearly every line was backed by Scripture. I hoped you would not mind, but I included and adapted your poem interspersed with the appropriate Scripture in our Good Friday Tenebrae Service (citing, of course, you as the author). It was very meaningful. I serve three small churches in Iowa, USA and I am always looking for a fresh way to present the drama and truth of the Passion/Resurrection Story. I enjoy your on-line newsletter PGIM very much and just wanted you to know that your work extends to even rural congregations in Iowa. I still hope to someday visit your beautiful country New Zealand. Many thanks. God's blessing, DeeAnn Klapp
(see
Seven Times Shed For Me
if you haven't read it yet)

"FORTY WINKS" IS RIGHT AND I WAS WRONG! (Not for the first or last time.)
One letter of many......

Thanks for your weekly encouragement. I don't know how I got on your list, but I enjoy it.
PROBLEM: I can usually get your word puzzles after I look at them a while. However.... Am I the only one who didn't "get" the twink puzzle this week? Even after reading the solution, I still don't get it. Is this a New Zealand riddle? Is it because I'm over 60? Does 4 somehow equal an "eye?" How do four "twinks" in a row equal "In the twinkle of an eye"? Is there some visual that my computer didn't pick up? Please help out the dummy here!
Love the fun in your presentations, as well as the serious stuff.
Resurrection Blessings!
LYNN Podoll
(Central Illinois, USA)

Some people have ongoing brain blockages! This was the only one amongst 10 puzzles we were given at an introductory course to our new church, that I got wrong. Given for fun, not as a qualifying intelligence test! But sadly, I didn't learn and repeated my wrong answer last week! I hope both God and you will forgive me this once, for not learning from my mistake! Please!

Your comments to me or fellow readers are always welcomed at... david@wwj.org.nz

FREE 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...

SPIRITUAL VISION

By: Rick Joyner

As he is generally recognised as one of the world's (God's actually!) leading prophets, Rick needs little introduction. Sometimes controversial, he is always challenging. This presentation should help encourage and inspire you as you seek to define your vision in God.

Download your free MP3 now at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/tape.php

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." ***

Still 2 for 1 with so much to laugh about!

OUCH!
A man had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would ask the blessing.

One day after his usual combination complaint-prayer, his little girl asked, "Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?"

"Why, of course," he replied. "He hears us every time we pray."

She thought on this a moment, and asked, "Does he hear everything we say the rest of the time?"

"Yes, dear, every word," he replied, encouraged that he had inspired his daughter to be curious about spiritual matters.

Then his daughter asked, "Then which does God believe?"

THE PENTECOSTAL PET
A Christian couple felt it important to own an equally spiritual pet. So, they went shopping. At a kennel owned by a believer that only watched Christian TV, they found a dog they liked quite a lot. When they asked the dog to fetch the Bible, he did it in a flash. When they instructed him to look up Psalm 23, he complied equally fast, using his paws with great dexterity to turn the pages to the correct passage. Amazed and impressed, they purchased the uncanny canine, and went home... not ever thinking to ask about the dog's denominational upbringing.

That night they had some friends over from their Baptist church. They were so proud of their new dog and his spiritual skills, that they called the dog to show him off. The friends were impressed, and asked whether the dog was able to do any of the usual dog tricks, as well. This stopped the couple cold, as they hadn't thought about "normal" tricks.

"Well," they said, "let's try this out." Once more they called the dog, and the man clearly pronounced the command, "Heel!" Quick as a wink, the dog jumped up, slapped him soundly on the forehead with a paw, then began to run around the room knocking over chairs and barking at the top of his lungs!

Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 500 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php

FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Are there really such things as elephant graveyards?

ANSWER: Elephants do not really have 'graveyards,' but field workers and other people occasionally encounter several unexplained elephant skeletons in one location. Once, people believed these places were elephant graveyards. These people speculated that elephants could sense when they were going to die and took themselves to graveyards just before their deaths.

Another, more probable explanation sees the "graveyards" as a result of the elephant's teeth. Elephants wear out their molars from eating coarse vegetation. And, after an elephant has worn out six sets of molars, no more molars grow in to replace the old ones. As the last set of molars wears down to nubs, old elephants frequently retreat to swamps to fend off starvation by eating soft water plants. Eventually, these animals do die, though, often while they are in the water. Their bodies sink below the water and remain there for years. Later, if the swamp dries out, the bones of several old elephants may be found in the newly exposed land.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Are fish more abundant in cold ocean water or warm water?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS
RARIFIED ATMOSPHERE
La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, is the world's highest city at 3600 metres above sea level. (Wouldn’t want to walk to it!)

A HEALTH FOOD?
Tomato Ketchup was once used as medicine in the United States. Was sold as "Dr.Miles Compound Extract of Tomato". (My sort of medicine!)

BURGER HEAVEN
Americans eat 45000 burgers per minute. (Cows don’t appreciate this statistic!)

A CHALLENGE FOR YOU

How many birth days does the average man have?

Answer at the end of A David Musing.

Last week it is a fact that, with much blood, sweat and laughs, these facts doubled from 250 to 500! This week a further 250 have been added. Getting 'facted out'!

You can download a sample Trivia Book at
Truly Triffling Trivia or view all 750 online at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/facts.php

THE WORLD'S GREATEST GROANS

BIRD BAGGAGE
As migration approached, two elderly vultures doubted they could make the trip south, so they decided to go by aeroplane. When they checked their baggage, the attendant noticed that they were carrying two dead racoons.

"Do you wish to check the racoons through as luggage?" he asked.

"No, thanks," replied one of the vultures. "They're carrion."

More pun fun for you at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php

MISSION INFORMATION

MISSIONARIES
410,000 Missionaries from all branches of Christendom
(Only between 2 and 3% of those missionaries work among unreached peoples.)
140,000 Protestant Missionaries
64,000 Protestant Missionaries come from the USA

DISTRIBUTION OF PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES AMONG CULTURAL BLOCKS
74% Among Nominal Christians
8% Among Tribal Peoples
6% Among Muslims
4% Among Non-Religious/Atheists
3% Among Buddhists
2% Among Hindus
2% Among Chinese Folk Religions
1% Among Jewish Peoples

GLOBAL CHURCH MEMBER FINANCE IN US DOLLARS...
$12,300 Billion (12.3 Trillion) - Total Annual Income
$213 Billion - Given to Christian Causes (1.73% of total income)
$11.4 Billion - Given to Foreign Missions (5.4% of Giving to Christian causes)

Heaps of other interesting information on God, the church and evangelism on...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php

TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO...

My friend ANDREW EDWARDS, of the SALVATION AND EVANGELICAL MISSION
His churches are called Healing Springs Churches and work in Uganda, East Africa and surrounding areas. He and his team are very much involved in church planting, building schools and orphanages and do an amazing work on very limited resources. As well as planning crusades and hosting Ministers and Missionaries (including me!) from other Nations. Please visit the most understated site on the internet and leave a note of encouragement in his Guest Book at...

http://LandmarkPentecostal.homestead.com/SEMission.html

A DAVID MUSING

A 'musing' about being 'amusing'!

It is hard work! Which I have really found out over the past 2 weeks as I have worked very hard 'finding facts' and giving them a personal twist, to make them a little different to others found in cyberspace or in print.

How I admire those who are naturally funny and don't have to work at it like I do. My family would of course say I am funny - but of the weird rather than the humorous kind!

And to make matters worse, after all my work, my sieve like memory forgets the 'pearls' shortly after they are written! However, on the benefit side, the failures, the unfunny funnies that only my weird mind can see the mirth in, get forgotten too!

Therefore I believe I know a little about how God feels when He forgets our forgiven sin. He simply doesn't remember any more! Only difference is, it is deliberate on His part, but natural on mine.

Now what was I saying?

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's Challenge Answer: One. We are only born once!

REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT

Most weeks we get enquiries about reproducing, in electronic or print form, articles contained in 'PGIM!' We welcome and encourage you to utilise this material. Freely received, freely given. We would ask though, that the scource be acknowledged as an encouragement to others to subscribe to this newsletter also.

Subscription opportunities are available at the bottom of each newsletter or at...

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CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS?

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enquiries@wwj.org.nz and we will happily change our records to ensure ongoing delivery. Thanks.

LINKS

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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: (06) 878-9330 International (0064) 6878-9330
Fax: (06) 878-9330 International (0064) 6878-9330
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