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: 901 Published: 28 Jan 2019
OBSERVATIONS FROM AFRICA
A VAST, DIVERGENT CONTINENT
As can be seen on the map, Africa is the world's second largest continent, next to Asia.
Westerners, in general, regard it as being homogeneous, with all being one.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Tyhe best comparison is with Europe. No-one considers France and Germany to be alike, and they are not. Different inheritance and very different cultures.
Africa is the same.
This was really brought home to me during my first visit to Africa, some 20 years ago. My friend Tony and myself arrived in Ghana, where we found the people to laid back and gentle.
Next, and finally for that trip, we flew almost next door, to Nigeria. What a contrast! The Nigerians were bustling and by nature, argumentative with each other. Two friends would meet and argue vehemently over anything, yet depart still as best friends. Two countries, virtually next door, with two completely different peoples. Similar to France and Germany.
When Europeans look at Africans and Asians, they tend to think that all look the same depending on the continent they come from. We have trouble recognizing the differences between them. But if you are Asian or African, the differences among your people are obvious to you.
Living here in Kenya for a year and a half, it is still very difficult for me. My wife Kathy is far more observant than me, with a better memory for faces. Yet here, even amongst our hospital staff of 20, there are black Africans, black black Africans and brown Africans! The locals see it that way, calling calling darker skinned people black, and lighter skins brown.
Of course too, there are many different tribes, races and cultures who all bring a different vitality to the mix, here as in Europe.
Colonialism too, has affected people's attitudes and culture in differing ways.
I remember, many years ago, going to the Congo, which was previously under Belgian colonisation. The Congo has had, and has, many problems and there is a lot of poverty there. I was taken one day to lunch in a shed beside a house. What food was I going to get was on my mind! And out came this beautiful Belgian/French cooking which was amazing! A positive inheritance, from my perspective!
Sadly Africa has been raped of resources by the colonists. The British are generally regarded as the best in their treatment of the people, for they left behind governmental and education systems as a 'gift' when they left. Kenya is one of the beneficiaries.
So Africa has a multitude of different colorful cultures and peoples.
Next time you meet an African, or an African meeting another African, don't put them in a box, but treat them as an individuals. You may well be surprised at the difference this will make - to both of you. .
Find out more about us here.....
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Parables about a Mustard Seed and Yeast (Luke 13:18-21)
Kingdom illustrations
“So what is the kingdom of God like? What should I compare it to? It’s like a mustard seed that a man planted in his garden. It grew into a tree, and the birds came and nested in its branches.”
He asked again, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It’s like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour which made the whole batch rise.”
The Jews Confront Jesus’ Claim to be The Christ (John 10:24-39)
In the Temple at the Feast of Dedication.
“I already told you and you refuse to believe it. The miracles I do in my Father’s name prove who I am. You don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they shall never be lost, and no one can snatch them from me. My Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone else; no one can snatch them from him. I and the Father are one.”
“You’ve seen many good deeds that I’ve done from the Father. Which one are you stoning me for?”
“Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?” He called those people ‘gods,’ the people to whom the word of God came—and Scripture can’t be altered. So why are you saying the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said ‘I am the Son of God’? If I’m not doing what my Father does, then don’t believe me. But if that is what I’m doing, even though you don’t believe me, you should believe because of the evidence of what I’ve done. That way you can know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.
How Many Will be Saved? (Luke 13:22-30)
A question put to Jesus.
“Try very hard to enter the narrow doorway, because I tell you that many will try to go in, and won’t succeed. Once the house owner gets up and closes the door, you’ll be standing outside knocking on the door, saying, ‘Master, please open the door for us.’ But he’ll reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’
Then you’ll say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets!’ He’ll reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all of you who don’t do what’s right!’ There will be crying and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you are thrown out. People will come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and they will sit down to eat in the kingdom of God. For the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
FOR MORE DETAILED AND REGULAR UPDATES, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
AN EYE 4 Africa - https://www.facebook.com/aneye4africa/
WE ARE UNDERWAY - OUR FIRST DELIVERY!
The 4 truckloads of stones, out of 11, that have arrived so far, are being sorted out into those suitable for the walls, with the remainder being used as filling and strengthening in the foundations. Jonah, our Contractor, surveys the work done.
THE LADY OF THE HOUSE RETURNS
Kathy has arrived back home from being in London with our new granddaughter! Here she is being greeted by the some of the staff. Very pleased to have her back!
THE GLUE ARRIVES!
In the form of 650 bags of cement!
Arrive on a big truck. A land of contrasts.
200 bags stashed in the builders shed with the remainder in storage elsewhere.
***NOW***NINE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!
9 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!
All are available worldwide for electronic download on Amazon (Kindle) for $US0.99c . Unfortunately there has to be a charge in order to list.
Your support would be appreciated and they could well change your life!
They are all found at this link.....
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=david+tait+books/
***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today
Receive one of David's sayings in your mailbox each day to inspire, challenge or maybe, amuse. To register today, go down to the bottom of the page link below, click on the subscribe link dd-on@wwj.org.nz (or paste the address in an email yourself and send) Then it's done! If you have an Irish heritage, you will love the background coloring!
Subscription and back issue link is.....
'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.....
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
562. In God, to obey is the better way.
563. Our Christian walk in a 't' ' from rust to trust!
564. To serve is to'
' love the unlovely
' help the helpless
' befriend the lonely
' rebuild the brokenhearted
' soothe the sick
' bless the poor
' raise up the downtrodden
' seek the lost
' comfort the dying
565. True servants add their own desires to the end of the queue.
566. Pride demolishes, while servanthood builds.
567. Leaders of character understand the twin character difference between serve and slave.
568. To serve is God initiated, to slave, human imposed.
569. A servant serves by choice, a slave through fear.
570. For down to be up, up must first be down.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com
Check it out at...
TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: REVELATION'S REVELATION! (Part 3)
Proceeding through the churches we now come to those of Sardis and Philadelphia. And the promises to the 'overcomers' continue to develop in a greater and greater way.
*** ANOTHER DAILY EZINE FROM WWJ!*** 'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES' Subscribe Today
As Christians, if we can't laugh at ourselves, others will! A fun way to start your day. To register today, go down to the bottom of the page link below, click on the subscribe link lao--on@wwj.org.nz (or paste the address in an email yourself and send) Then it's done!
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. ***
QWIK QWIP: “The man who walks with God always knows in what direction he is going.”
228. Things We Wouldn't Know Without Sunday School
With your eyes closed for prayer, anything can happen in a room full of pre-schoolers.
* Prayer requests reveal a lot about parents.
* A fire extinguisher is a handy device.
* Helium tanks should be chained down tightly.
* Cheap glue adheres to skin.
* Kool Aid and song motions do not mix.
* Grand pianos are not as durable as you might think.
* Church maintenance men do not have a sense of humour.
* Offering money always rolls to the other side of the room when dropped.
* Hand-me-down sound systems can get loud when the adult service is taking communion.
* Ushers do not have a sense of humour.
* There IS a doggie Heaven.
* Parachute games should not be used in a room with a chandelier.
* Animal crackers can be sneezed out the nose.
* Girls are superior to boys.
* There are good reasons why pastor’s kids have a bad reputation.
* Helium intoxication does not render respect in a staff meeting.
229. Three Religious Truths
1. Jews do not recognise Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Protestants do not recognise the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.
3. Baptists do not recognise each other in the liquor store.
QWIK QWIP: “In order to receive the direction from God you must be able to receive the correction from God.”
230. Memorandum
TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph. Woodcrafters Shop, Nazareth.
From: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem.
Subject: Staff Aptitude Test
Date: May 22/30
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you picked for management positions in your new organisation. All of them have now taken our battery of tests, and we have not only run the results through our computer but also have arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational consultant.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contact in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and innovative. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right hand man. All other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
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 ..... https://www.wwj.org.nz/content/wwj18p47.pdf
Or read them all online at.....
A DAVID MUSING
AFRICAN TIMING
Wait some more................................................
Unltil next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Visit us here.....
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 utilize this material. Freely received, freely given. We would ask though, that the source be acknowledged as an encouragement to others to subscribe to this newsletter also.CHANGING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? NEWSLETTER STOPS COMING?
Each week we can lose up to 2% of our readers when they change email addresses without letting us know. Or sometimes, by your server acting strangely and just cutting us off! If you are about to change your address, please advise us of both your old and new addresses here atenquiries@wwj.org.nz and we will happily change our records to ensure ongoing delivery. Thanks.
Please also keep our address in your address book, as sometimes servers will automatically delete your address if there is even a one off problem in delivery. If your newsletter doesn't arrive, please let us know and we will reinstate you.
LINKS
If you would like to link your web site to ours, and ours to yours, please advise us onlinks@wwj.org.nz
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