TO RUN, OR NOT TO RUN - FURTHER!

During the week, a member of our new church, who had seen me out pounding the pavements, asked how often and far I run. The simple answer was 5km a day, 5 days a week - when the weather is fine - which it is here, most of the time.

Now that was impressive to him, for he is medically unable to run. And so to most people, it would seem like a good effort and they would be happy with it. And I am content too, for it enables me to eat a little more without putting on too much (more!) weight and gives a general feeling of accomplishment and physical wellbeing. For sitting all day in front of a computer, slowly tapping keys isn't the most calorie consuming of jobs and certainly not one that God designed our bodies for!

But as soon as I said I was content with what I was doing, the Holy Spirit gave me a 'rev' - not a ministerial qualification, but a ‘revelation’ and a 'rev up'! For He showed me that so many of us, as runners for God in the race of life, are content with a limited level of spiritual exercise. We may look pretty good when compared to others - or we may not - but wherever we are at, we are content to operate well below our full potential.

Of course, there will be those of us who, like me with my running, have reduced our spiritual training from the previous 100km per week necessary to run marathons 'comfortably' (Not a wise choice of words here - but at least to get to the end without dying - or feeling you are going to!) to a level that is really just 'cruisin' along'. Yes, we have done our bit for God - gone for glory - and are now leaving the hard yards to others.

Or maybe, we have been too afraid or lazy to try to push ourselves to our spiritual exercise limits of faith and action, because we might fail - or the programme on TV is simply too riveting.

But there is great news! Unlike running which gets slower with age, if indeed it is still possible, it is never too late to start or reinvigorate our spiritual exercise programme! I will never forget the example set by my Great Auntie Ina, who despite being in constant pain from crippling arthritis, continually glowed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Truly a light to the world in spite of her physical infirmities. A presence she carried with her until the day she left this world to forever be with her beloved Lord.

You know, I find it so easy to stop training. Too wet... too cold... too tired... I also know that when I stop, it gets harder and harder to get started again and recover the level of fitness lost. Yet with God, He forgives and forgets our lapses, and even encourages us to start or restart, to run the race of life to our full potential. For today, He is seeking a people who are fully committed to Him, irrespective of cost, consequence, or pain. Will you be on the team? The rewards are eternal!

Just wish He would do the same for my body too! Adam, you have a lot to answer for! But I forgive you!

Find out more about us on ...

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

FROM THE WORD

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24)

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”" (Galatians 5:7-9)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

God's gift of salvation is free, but to reap the full benefits, costs us our life.

The only stride in the race of life that we can instantly change, is the one we are now taking.

Sparrows can only twitter in the foothills while eagles soar to the mountaintops. Why then, are there so many more sparrows than eagles?

Unfortunately, there are many more people in life who would rather see you fly low than high. They want company!

The higher the mountain, the fewer who are prepared to climb, but the greater the rewards.

It's only the unsuccessful who have the secret of 'easy success'!

If you don't start, you will never finish!

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 WEEK'S NEWSLETTER

Hmm....
Why did I pick up on the Shakespeare bit and not the misquoted Bible bit...
Honestly, because I *read* the musing and not the other bit!
(Which could have a deeply theological significance, or just be that I didn't have time to read everything that came in on my plate that day, Biblical and business alike, so I read some Biblical, some business and when your paper came in I just skipped straight to my favorite part of the page!) But now, I am inspired to be more diligent...
:) MS

Hey David, don't worry at all about making an occasional slip-up in the PGIM Newsletter, 'cos you do a BRILLIANT job for the Lord. Keep up the great work. Thanks for all you do to help keep us all going. God bless you.
In Jesus,
Dr. M.A.Tierney.
Christ is Risen!

Dear David,
I think the easiest explanation is that there is only one version of Shakespeare, the original. I rather suspect that had you been writing this 50 years ago when most Protestant English speaking Christians used the AV or King James, then there would be just as many corrections of your "Biblical Blue." I know I do not even have all my Bibles here in the USA yet and I still have three or four versions in English and two in Spanish. I must have had eleven versions in English in all, four in Spanish, and two in German. If Shakespeare had been retranslated in English as much as the Bible has, we might have trouble getting him right as well. By the way, did you know that Shakespeare was one of the translators or editors of the book of Isaiah in the AV. CS Lewis took the same job for the REV (I might have the version wrong) and J.R.R. Tolkien helped edit the book of Job in English in the Jerusalem Bible.
Shalom in Yeshua Ha Moshiach
Michael Joe Thannisch

Thanks to all those who replied. The winner of the paper copy of my book 'Eagles Fly High!' is Michael Joe Thannisch. Hope you enjoy it. All please feel free to download a free copy in PDF format at 'Eagles Fly High!'

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 free download is...

HEALING OUR RELATIONSHIP TO AUTHORITY

BY: John & Paula Sandford

Elijah House was started as a dream given to John and Paula Sandford. It has grown to encompass individuals and groups from various denominations throughout the world. The mission is simple: to share the love of Jesus to restore broken relationships and bring healing to hurt and wounded hearts, lives and relationships. Elijah House serves to inspire and educate individuals and churches to confess their sins, forgive, and equip one another for maturity in ministry to effect positive social and community changes. All that Elijah House does has one goal: to unite people with Jesus so all may experience the transforming power of His death and resurrection.

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." ***

KIDS TODAY
Finding one of her students making faces at others in class, Mrs. Smith went over to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the Sunday School teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, one day it would freeze and I would stay like that."

Bobby looked up into her face and replied, "Well, Mrs. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned!"

GOD'S PROVISION
There's a little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. Every morning the lady comes out onto her front porch and shouts "Praise the Lord!" The atheist yells back, "There is no God". She does this every morning with the same result.

As time goes on the lady runs into financial difficulties and has trouble buying food. She goes out onto the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then says "Praise the Lord". The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there's the groceries she's asked for, and of course she says "Praise the Lord". The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, "Ha! I bought those groceries - there is no God".

The lady looks at him and smiles, remarking as she takes the bag inside, "Praise the Lord, not only did You provide for me Lord, You made Satan pay for the groceries!"

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: Where did the term 'stool pigeon' originate?

ANSWER: These days a stool pigeon is an informer, but when the phrase first appeared—in the US in the 1830s or thereabouts, it meant a person used as a decoy to entice criminals into a trap. Much like the French agent provocateur. Most modern dictionaries say the phrase came from the practice in hunting of tying or nailing a dead pigeon to a stool to act as a decoy. But the phrase starts to make sense when you delve into the history of words for decoys. The archaic term stale, which probably comes from the French estale, applied to a pigeon used to entice a hawk into a net. Stale appears in English from the early fifteenth century; by the end of the following century it was being used for a person who acted to entrap another.

The other half of the expression, pigeon, has been used in slang since at least the sixteenth century for a person who allows himself to be swindled, a simpleton or fool, a sucker. It seems that this idea formed part of the genesis of stool pigeon. By the 1840s, stool pigeon had shifted from being a decoy to being an informer.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What was trepanning?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

948. TASTY TOMATOES
Tomatoes were originally thought to be poisonous. Until 1733 when Dr Siccary couldn’t resist any longer and took the taste test on behalf of all mankind. Thank you Dr Siccary! (Reminds one of Eve and the forbidden fruit – but with the opposite result - a taste of heaven!)

949. "DOGGIE-CHUTE"
Jeanne Pierre Francois Blanchard sewed the first parachute together and tested it using a dog. Attached it to a basket containing a dog, then dropped it from a hot air balloon. (Reminds one of the first ‘dogged’ space flight. And he’s still man’s best friend?)

950. WHY "GOOD" FRIDAY?
In old English, 'good' was a synonym for God or God's, so that Good Friday is 'God's Friday.' (The day that God shook the world.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
This is a David original!

(ONE ONE ONE ONE)
(ENO ENO ENO ENO)

Answer at the end of A David Musing.

You can download a sample Trivia Book at Truly Trifling Trivia

Or view all 1200 online at...

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

THE PLIABLE PRISONER

Several years ago, Andy was sentenced to prison. During his stay, he got along well with the guards and all his fellow inmates. The warden saw that deep down, Andy was a good person and made arrangements for Andy to learn a trade while doing his time. After three years, Andy was recognized as one of the best carpenters in the local area. Often he would be given a weekend pass to do odd jobs for the citizens of the community, and he always reported back to prison before Sunday night was over.

The warden was thinking of remodeling his kitchen and in fact had done much of the work himself. But he lacked the skills to build a set of kitchen cupboards and a
large countertop which he had promised his wife. So he called Andy into his office and asked him to complete the job for him.

But, alas, Andy refused. He told the warden, "Gosh, I'd really like to help you but counter fitting is what got me into prison in the first place."

STOP PRESS!!!!!!!

I can't resist including this one which has just arrived in my mailbox!

A DOG NAMED MACE

A mechanic who worked out of his home had a dog named Mace. Mace had a bad habit of eating all the grass on the mechanic's lawn, so the mechanic had to keep Mace inside.

The grass eventually became overgrown.

One day the mechanic was working on a car in the backyard and dropped his
wrench, losing it in the tall grass. He couldn't find it for the life of him, so he decided to call it a day.

That night, Mace escaped from the house and ate all the grass in the backyard.

The next morning the mechanic went outside and saw his wrench glinting in the sunlight. Realizing what had happened he looked toward the heavens and proclaimed, "A grazing Mace, how sweet the hound, that saved a wrench for me!"

Many more painful puns on The Worlds Greatest Groans page which, if it hasn't been ripped out by a 'passionate pun preventer', you will find at...

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

MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES (New Zealand)

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2001

*** There were 20,000 marriages registered in New Zealand during the December 2001 year.
*** The marriage rate per 1,000 not-married population aged 16 years and over dropped from 15.6 in 2000 to 14.8 marriages per 1,000 in 2001.
*** The median ages for men and women marrying for the first time were 29.3 and 27.5 years respectively, in 2001.
*** There were 9,700 marriage dissolutions in the December 2001 year.
*** The median age at divorce was 41.9 years for men and 39.3 years for women in 2001.
*** The divorce rate remains stable at 12.3 divorces per 1,000 existing marriages.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

14 May 2002
Cat 04.509 Set 01/02 - 193 Search

Many more interesting facts about marriage and families from around the world can be found at...

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

INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE OF FAITH (ICOF)

A very rapidly growing group of over 30,000 ministers and some 4 million members working together toward a mutual goal of spreading the great Gospel of Jesus Christ! With a goal to have 100,000 ministers (then look toward 1,000,000 ministers). And a network 100,000 prayer Intercessors to bring the body of Christ to greater unity that it has experienced since the book of Acts.

What also makes ICOF very unique, is that they don’t require men and woman of God to leave their current fellowship in order to join. It is an exciting vehicle that the Lord is using for unity and not division.

(See also 'A David Musing'.)

Find out more about this phenomenon at...

http://www.vfweb.org/icof.htm

A DAVID MUSING

When you think about it, there is something ironic in being an ‘independent’ ministry promoting unity in the body of Christ!

So after 12 months or so of being approached from time to time to join the ICOF (see article above), I looked into it as thoroughly as one is able to through the Internet. With God’s prompting, I decided to join this organization that has similar aims and objectives to those of Walking With Jesus Ministries.

Why had I not joined before? Because as a typical egalitarian New Zealander, I had not been able to see behind the administrative structure of people with the title of ‘Bishop’, who run the organization. Other than in the Traditional Churches, we Kiwis frown upon the use of such titles as one man placing himself above another. It is sad how our inbred cultural heritage causes us to look at things that are done a little differently to what we grow up with and accept as normal, with suspicion. However, once I climbed over that barrier and looked at God’s heart working, the organization took on a whole new perspective.

The situation became even more of a challenge when, after joining, the organization offered me the grand sounding position of ‘Continental Bishop of Oceania’! (Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands plus the addition in this case of the Philippines) This certainly tested my conviction to the extreme, not primarily because of the job, but mostly of the title! Hence the request for prayers a fortnight ago.

After much prayer (until God finally stopped repeating the same answer He had kept giving me from the beginning!) and seeking counsel, I have accepted the position offered – to ribbing from my friends!

I am very aware that unity does not come through any organization, however well intentioned, but through our own attitudes towards each other, as ‘brothers and sisters’ in Christ. But we can help and assist each other through human networking organizations. I just pray that in this case, unlike so many others that have preceded it, the organization’s interests will always remain subservient to the goal of bringing Christ’s end time church into unity, so that we may pave the way for the ultimate goal, the return of our Lord.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's Word Puzzle Answer: All for one, one for all.

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...

https://www.macnet.co.nz/wwjesus/pay.html

CHANGING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?

Each week we can 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.nz

DID 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 ...

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

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