WHO WILL DARE TO BE A DISCIPLE? (Part 7)

One of the most limiting areas in developing discipleship today is the concept that it can be learned through education. In fact, discipleship is learned through experience, both one's own and through mentoring and sharing with others in real life, with its highs and lows, successes and failures. For discipleship is a matter of behaviour, of actions, not mere head knowledge.

To understand this more fully we are today going to look at a further section from my book THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW, which will explain this further.....

EDUCATION (I) v EXPERIENCE (WE)

Greek (Western) In Greek culture, physical conquest was immediately followed by the setting up of educational institutions to train the conquered people in Greek culture and ways.

What we do, after a revelation is given by God, is to set up a new denomination with its own Bible College, to formalise and disseminate the truths that have been revealed.

Here in New Zealand, the pattern of revelation and formalisation has been experienced within all the Pentecostal streams that arose through the various Holy Spirit revelations of the 20th century. Initial revelation, enthusiasm and changed lifestyle of leaders and people, were overtaken by the formality of organisation, position, theological schools, buildings, programmes and growing lukewarmness amongst both leaders and adherents, focusing more on the little that divides than the much that should unite. This is not unique to the Pentecostal Church but simply follows the pattern of denominational church separation since the Reformation.

The focus is on 'I' as an individual, and the 'bigger I' of denominationalism. The emphasis is on transformation, through education, of the mind.

Eastern (Hebrew) Converts into Judaism are absorbed into Jewish society and culture, so the they can learn experientially the ways of G_d (God).

In early Judaism, converts were absorbed into a tradition and experiential lifestyle, where learning came from absorbing the values and experiences of the forefathers as recorded in the Old Testament, as well as the Rabbi's and leaders of the day. There was a greater tolerance of differing views on many matters. There were 3 or 4 main groups, not the thousands we have today in Protestantism.

When a Jewish boy became a disciple of a Rabbi, he would copy his Rabbi in everything he did. Literally! In every way! Sit. Stand. Gesture. Walk. Eat.....

Jesus took a group of 'students' (disciples), those not good enough to become disciples of the other Rabbis, and trained them in His ways, living with them, teaching them by word and example, sending them out into the mission field to gain practical experience.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. (Matthew 10:1-10)

They participated in His miracles.....

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:16-21)

He answered their questions.....

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:25-9)

They participated in the good times.....

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:1-4)

and the bad.....

Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:36-41)

Discipleship was a group experience, where the group was more important than the individual, it was both word and deed, and it took place in the school of life, not the academic classroom.

SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

1. The group, the cause, is more important than any individual within it.

2. Discipleship involves a change in lifestyle, not just academic knowledge.

3. A godly lifestyle change is the measure of a true conversion.

4. True discipleship training requires interactive experience with others more mature in the faith, in order to grow into the image of Jesus.

Will you dare to be a disciple? I will.

(Continued next week)

FROM THE WORD

THE WORDS OF JESUS

May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.

Jesus’ Messages to the Seven Churches (Revelation 1:1-3:21)
Through the apostle John.

“I am the Beginning and the End,”
“Write down in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
“Don’t be afraid, I am the first and the last, the Living One. I was dead, but look! Now I am alive for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and the grave.
“So write down what you’ve seen—what’s happening in the present and what will happen in the future.
The meaning of the seven stars that you saw me holding in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

To the Church in Ephesus

“Write this to the angel of the Ephesus church: This is what the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks among the seven golden candlesticks: I know what you’ve accomplished, your hard work and perseverance. I know you can’t tolerate evil people, and how you investigated those who claimed to be apostles but are not, and discovered they were frauds. I know about your patience, and what you endured for my sake—and that you didn’t give up!
“But I have something against you: you have neglected your first love. So remember how far you’ve fallen—repent and go back to what you were doing at first. Otherwise I’ll come to you and I will remove your candlestick from where it is—unless you repent. However you do have this to your credit: you hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give to those who are victorious the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“Write this to the angel of the Smyrna church: This is what the first and last says, the One who was dead and came back to life: I know the troubles you are going through, and how poor you are (but you are rich), and the abuse from those who say they are Jews but are not, but belong to Satan’s synagogue. Don’t be afraid about what you are going to suffer. Yes, the devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Just remain faithful, even if it means death, and I will give you the crown of life! If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. The second death will not harm those who are victorious.

To the Church in Pergamum

“Write this to the angel of the Pergamum church: This is what the One holding the sharp two-edged sword says: 13I know you’re living where Satan has his throne, and that you have stayed true to me. You have not denied your trust in me, even when my faithful witness Antipas was killed right among you there where Satan lives!
“But I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to entrap the children of Israel by means of eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual sins. Similarly you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So repent, or soon I will come to you and fight against them using the sword of my mouth. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give the hidden manna to those who are victorious. I will give them a white stone with a new name written on it that nobody knows except those who receive it.

(Continued next week.)

You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj46p57.pdf

***NOW***EIGHT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!

8 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!

Two extra ones have been added about the core of our walk with Jesus - AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS..... LOVE and another, TWENTY-FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS.

All are available worldwide for electronic download on Amazon (Kindle) for $US0.99c . Unfortunately there has to be charge in order to list.

Your support would be appreciated and they could well change your life!

They are all found at this link.....

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'THE WORDS OF JESUS' REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR PDF DOWNLOAD

Join the many who have downloaded the 'The Words of Jesus'. I am sure you will be blessed by it, as I have been.

One key element here is the setting out in chronological order (as far as it is possible to do so) our Lord's words drawn from all the Gospels, and the elimination of repetition between Gospels.

You may be surprised by the different perspective this presentation gives you both in understanding of His life and ministry, and in achieving a closer relationship with Him.

Download the free PDF here.....

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj46p57.pdf

***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

GRACE

843. Grace received, revives the soul. Grace given, passes on the blessing to others.

844. Grace is God's power at work in us.

845. Grace is power, not weakness.

846. When I show grace, Jesus can be seen in me.

847. Hurts + Grace = Victory

848. 'Love and grace, go together like a horse and carriage' - in marriage! (With apologies to 'The Sound of Music')

849. An ounce of grace yields tons of love.

850. Grace is like a bumblebees flight. We can't explain how it works, but it does!

851. To grow in grace is to grow in God.

852. God smiles when we give His grace away to others. For He has an endless supply.

853. Grace binds hurts.

854. 'Grace' is God's gift to us, 'love', ours to Him in return.

855. The cross of Jesus is the ultimate example of God's grace and love to us.

1307. Grace is God's love embedded in us.

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 ...

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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...

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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

THIS WEEK:THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues.....

..... looking at BLESSINGS AND CURSES.

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http://www.wwj.org.nz/teachings/index.php

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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. ***

363. COME OUT
Our children's Sunday School classes were presenting their end of the year program for the congregation - telling about the life of Jesus.

When it came to the part about Jesus' miracles, one little boy said, "Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!" The teacher urged him to tell us more.

He said, "Well, Jesus told them to open the tomb, and then He said, 'Lazarus, come out!' And it's a good thing he didn't just say 'Come out!' because there would have been a stampede of dead guys."

362. NO LONGER HOME
After the fall in Garden of Eden, Adam was walking with his sons Cain and Abel.

They passed by the ruins of the Garden of Eden. One of the boys asked, "What's that?"

Adam replied, "Boys, that's where your mother ate us out of house and home."

361. WHAT CHAPTER
A man has been in business for many, many years and the business is going down the drain. He is seriously contemplating suicide and he doesn't know what to do. He goes to the Pastor to seek his advice. He tells the Pastor about all of his problems in the business and asks the Pastor what he should do.

The Pastor says "Take a beach chair and a Bible and put them in your car and drive down to the edge of the ocean. Go to the water's edge. Take the beach chair out of the car, sit on it and take the Bible out and open it up. The wind will rifle the pages for a while and eventually the Bible will stay open at a particular page. Read the Bible and it will tell you what to do."

The man does as he is told. He places a beach chair and a Bible in his car and drives down to the beach. He sits on the chair at the water's edge and opens the Bible. The wind rifles the pages of the Bible and then stops at a particular page. He looks down at the Bible and sees what he has to do.

Three months later the man and his family come back to see the Pastor. The man is wearing a $1,000 Italian suit, The wife is all decked out with a full-length mink coat and the child is dressed in beautiful silk. The man hands the Pastor a thick envelope full of money and tells him that he wants to donate this money to the church in order to thank the Pastor for his wonderful advice. The Pastor is delighted. He recognizes the man and asks him what advice in the bible brought this good fortune to him.

The man replies: "Chapter 11."

"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 ...

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

FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Who wrote the first detective novel?

ANSWER: Edgar Allan Poe, best known for his tales of horror, is credited with being the ‘father’ of the marvellous mystery genre. Auguste C. Dupin, his super-intelligent and super-logical detective, first appeared in the 1841 story, ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’. (But can a detective be defective?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why do pigs like to wallow in mud?

SOME FUN FACTS


373. THE HORSE
The name of the Lady Godiva's horse was Aethenoth. (Now why don’t we remember the name of the horse? It was unclothed too!)

374. WHY DOES ICE FLOAT?
It’s simple really. Water has a greater molecular density in a liquid form than as a solid. And that’s why ice floats. (It’s the same for an ice cube or an iceberg.)

375. WHIRLY GIRLS
Is the name of the International Association of Women Helicopter Pilots. (So much more imaginative than IAWHP would be.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

NYQUIST

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...

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BIBLE OR NOT

Is this saying in the Bible or not?

9. "You needn't worry about your reward. If money is all that you love, then that's what you'll receive."

a. BIBLE
b. NOT BIBLE

Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk

Answer at the end of A DAVID MUSING

IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""

SAYINGS FOR YOU TO PONDER

!!!!!!! If you aim at nothing, you're sure to hit it.

!!!!!! When you don't know what harbour you're making for, no wind is the right wind.

!!!!! If there were no God, it would not have been necessary to invent Him.

!!!! Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

!!! Church members, like automobiles, usually start missing before they quit.

!! The world at its worst needs the church at its best!

! People will judge you by your actions, not your intentions ~ you may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.

100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...

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

GREAT GROANERS

121. QUICK QUESTION
Why is five o'clock in the morning like a pig's tail?
It's twirly.

122. FLAT-LINED
I work in a busy office where a computer going down causes quite an inconvenience. Recently one of our computers not only crashed, it made a noise that sounded like a heart monitor. "This computer has flat-lined," a co-worker called out with mock horror.

"Does anyone here know how to do mouse-to-mouse?"

123. TWO BROOMS
Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.

One broom was, of course, the bride broom and the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.

After the wedding at the wedding dinner, the bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom "I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!!!"

"IMPOSSIBLE!!" said the groom broom. "We haven't even swept together!"

124. THE ROTTWEILER
A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet. "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?"

"Well," says the vet, "let's have a look at him."

So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to put him down."

"What? Because he's cross-eyed?"

"No, because he's really heavy."

125. WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
A married man had only one complaint: his wife was always nursing sick birds. One February evening, he came home to find a raven with a splint on its wing sitting in his favorite chair. On the dining room table, instead of dinner, there was a feverish eagle pecking at an aspirin. In the kitchen, his wife was comforting a shivering little wren she found out in the snow.

The furious husband strode over to where his wife was toweling down the cold little bird. "I can't take it any more! We've got to get rid of all of these #(@ birds!"

The wife held up her hand and cut him off in mid-sentence. "Please, Dear, no cuss words in front of the chilled wren."

126. I'M SORRY
I was being shown round a cheese factory the other day, when I fell into a giant vat of milk by-product.

"I'm sorry", I said.

"Am I in your whey?"

127. THE KING AND THE ANIMAL LOVER
Once upon a time there was a king named Ed who reigned over a small county in southern Utah. He was a good and wise king, but he had one very bad habit: King Ed just loved animals--all kinds of animals--and he kept bringing them in the castle with him.

He had deer and water buffalo and foxes--all sorts of game in every room of the castle. The people of the kingdom finally got fed up with this stinky situation, and decided that the king must be dethroned and all the game returned to their natural habitat.

It was the first time in history that the reign was called on account of the game.

Enjoy more of my favorite humour here.....

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

Scientific Research Refutes LGBT 'Born That Way' Claim

CBN News

A new report by two Johns Hopkins University researchers reveals that scientific evidence does not support the claim that homosexuals are "born that way." How could this impact Obama's transgender directives?
One of the most shocking details of the report is that a majority of adolescents no longer identify as transgender or deal with same-sex attraction by adulthood. As many as 80 percent of teenage men who report same-sex attraction no longer do so as adults.

The study also shows a very small portion of the total population, less than 1 percent, identify as transgender. It concludes there is no evidence to suggest that children should be encouraged to become transgender if they exhibit opposite gender behavior.

It especially warns against any treatments or surgeries on young people who identify with the opposite gender.

Now, policy researchers in Washington are saying these findings can help debunk many of the Obama administrations recent mandates on gender identity-in particular the controversial school bathroom guidance.

"The report raises questions of what happens if you actually lock that child in by encouraging the child to transition? Could some of these school policies actually prolong the amount of time in which someone would identify as transgender when otherwise they would have just naturally gone out of this stage?" Ryan Anderson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, challenged.

Anderson also said the study dispels the Obama administration's recent mandate requiring all health insurers under Obamacare to cover sex-reassignment treatment and physicians must perform them.

"This report highlights that it does not look like sex reassignment are the best medicine for very many people," he said. "It seems like in many cases this treatment does not provide the outcomes that both the patients and the doctors are hoping for."

Researchers recognized the heated nature of the discussion about whether homosexuality is a choice, but still wanted to report the science. The evidence cited in their report indicates that environmental factors may be involved in the formation of sexual identity.

Written by Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer and Dr. Paul R. McHugh, and published in The New Atlantis, the report evaluates data from over 200 peer-reviewed studies.

Those studies come from a broad array of scientific fields such as epidemiology, genetics, endocrinology, psychiatry, neuroscience, embryology and pediatrics.

"This report is about science and medicine, nothing more and nothing less," Dr. Mayer wrote in the report's preface.

Nevertheless, Mayer acknowledged the explosive nature of the report, and expressed concern about the ramifications of releasing it.

"In the course of writing this report, I consulted a number of individuals who asked that I not thank them by name. Some feared an angry response from the more militant elements of the LGBT community; others feared an angry response from the more strident elements of religiously conservative communities," Dr. Mayer writes.

"Most bothersome, however, is that some feared reprisals from their own universities for engaging such controversial topics, regardless of the report's content - a sad statement about academic freedom," he said.

The report contends there is no biological explanation for sexual orientation.

"Sexual orientation and gender identity resist explanation by simple theories. There is a large gap between the certainty with which beliefs are held about these matters and what a sober assessment of the science reveals," it states.

"I think it's a measured tone as I read the report," Dr. Mark Yarhouse of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity at Regent University told CBN News. "They really tried to just challenge the narrative and say more research should be conducted in this area."

"In other words, we shouldn't just land on the narrative and say that it's a settled issue in science," he continued. "Science has done some good work in this area, but there's limitations to the research, and maybe the narrative is ahead of the science, and good research should still be done, asking a range of questions from environment as well as of course from biology."

The report concedes there are some minor differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals in the brain structures and brain activity. However, it is unclear whether those differences are innate or the result of a person's environment or psychological factors.

It also states that homosexuals are two to three times as likely to have been victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Regarding mental health, the report says non-heterosexuals experience more anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicide than heterosexuals.

Alarmingly, suicide attempts by transgender individuals are estimated at 41 percent compared to less than 5 percent in the overall population.

The report cites a limited amount of evidence that discrimination could contribute to the higher incidence of mental health problems.

Source: CBN News

Via: OpenHeaven.com

DAVID'S DOWNLOADS

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?

When asking the Lord what He wanted me to write about next, He has led me to look at HIS CHURCH, not in the way of standard church history, but from His viewpoint. I will try my best to be obedient to His wishes. But any errors will be mine!

As you will soon see, the history of His church revolves around the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit's activity upon the earth, rather than what we consider the church to be.

We look also at the future church, the kingdom church for whom Jesus is returning.
I trust it will both inform and challenge you about our future, both as individuals and the church as a whole.

Download your free PDF Files here.....

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj56p21.pdf

WAXING LYRICAL

I have been really blessed with a tremendous wife. Just took me twenty plus years to
really recognise it! The poem tells a little of the story of our first 30 years together. Now it is 46 years and still counting!

LIFE WITH THE WIFE

We met at a camp, some thirty-two years ago,
What life was to bring, little then did we know.
Yes, there was a spark, that brought us together,
A mutual attraction - more than just the weather!

Maybe more notice, of the weather should have been taken,
For just a few days later, the City of Wellington was shaken,
By the ‘Wahine Storm’, the like of which is so rarely seen,
A hurricane! Prophetic of our marriage, could it have been?

Still, two years later in the month of May,
Kathy and David married, on a cloudy day.
In Palmerston North Baptist, our vows were said,
The journey of marriage, lay tantalisingly ahead.

Two years on, after tripping right around the world,
Exploring our roots. In Britain, they were unfurled.
We came home, ready to start our family of four,
Two sons soon, followed later, by two sons more.

So twenty years of our marriage, it did pass,
Oh me, oh my, the time! How it does go fast!
Me, taking the male path of ‘girls, gold and glory’,
The wife ‘at home with the kids’, you know the story.

Turning my back on God, over this time,
The vibes between us, they ceased to rhyme.
Resulting in tears, flavouring the baking you see,
Kathy gently sobbing, while making muffins for me.

By now our business, we had lost,
In stormy seas, vigorously tossed,
But then, I did come to the Lord,
For Kathy, that did strike a chord.

To Tauranga City, here we came,
Life never again, to be the same.
The Lord developed new love in me,
For Him, my wife, and all the family.

Over the years since then, our relationship’s improved,
As the conflicts of the past, the Lord He has soothed.
Kathy graciously forgave me of my wrong,
On a new foot, life is now going along.

During the last ten years we have grown close together,
Finding strength in each other, whatever the weather.
So now, as we jointly share, life’s hopes and dream,
Our relationship’s blossomed - you know what I mean.

Not to say that we never, ever disagree!
That ‘perfect’ couple, I have yet to see!
But we are learning to respect each other’s opinions,
So opening our marriage to exciting new dimensions.

Valuing our differences, to paint a finer picture,
Our thought processes, an interesting mixture,
For women think differently, as all men know,
Frustrating sometimes, but helps us to grow!

As we go through turbulent times once more,
My God - no, not again! I am losing the score!
But this time, with God and Kathy on my case,
I’m no longer alone, in running life’s race.

‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’,
We face things together, our love ever growing,
Amazing the miracle that God has done,
For we enter life’s battles, victory won.

So, looking back on those first twenty years,
Could have avoided the flow of Kathy’s tears.
If only then, I had been willing to talk with the wife,
Would have banished earlier, much strife in our life!

Now, as we cuddle together, under the covers at night,
Here, ‘in the best bed in the world’, it is our delight,
To share together, all the adventures of the day,
And so our love blossoms - Lord, long may it stay.

Looking forward to the future, with excitement and hope,
For the Lord’s on our side, with problems we can cope.
Our maturing love, gently tightens the bonds of unity,
In the service of Jesus, we’re fulfilling our destiny.

(Photo is from that era. Gray heads now!)

More of David's poetry here.....

http://wwj.org.nz/waxing.php

A DAVID MUSING

When you suffer from lack of inspiration, real rubbish comes out! This is a repeat of a musing from some time ago. Again inspiration fails me. Please forgive me!

NON-SENSE

My inspiration has gone,
Mind isn't switched on.
Oh dear, what shall I do,
Just haven't got a clue!

So a witty ditty I ought to write
In the hope all will be alright,
For you to entertain if not inform,
The purpose for which I was born?

But to entertain one must have a wit,
If one's not to become a total twit,
For from wit to twit is a very, very, very small jump,
A 't' for Tait or 't' for tea - just a tiny wee bump.

It's easy to write nonsense you see,
Likely send us both up the tree,
The view from the top is an amazing sight to behold,
If to climb back down to earth, we are not too old.

Well, this dribble has gone on long enough,
For I know you are made of sterner stuff.
You would not bother to waste your ink,
On verse that really is, simply stink.

Stuck in the tree,
That, you can see,
Of my own volition,
While on a mission.

Stop now!
Pow wow!
Bid you bye,
From the sky!

Until next week.......

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SQUINTY

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: b. NOT BIBLE (Princess Leia, Star Wars IV – A New Hope)

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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 website
wwj.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!

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david@wwj.org.nz