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: 904 Published: 18 Feb 2019
OBSERVATIONS FROM AFRICA
A CHALLENGE - VISUAL RECOGNITION
For a Westerner coming to Africa, particularly this one, visual recognition is a challenge!
First of all, you simply see a sea of black faces everywhere. Of course, some are short, others are tall, but facial features are similar to me. Virtually everyone has black hair and brown eyes. In our area, men traditionally shave their heads. The women can be equally confusing. Hair is naturally short, or has hair extensions added in a multitude of styles. The problem for identification is that the hair styles change frequently!
You no sooner get used to one style and the look changes completely! Longer, shorter, curly or straight, the options are myriad, and certainly, hair changeth a woman! It is amazing! But after a while you get to see variations - black blacks, blacks, and brown blacks!
As a Westerner, we look for hair and eye colour, and hair style, and a greater variation, in our eyes, of facial features.
Of course, it is not simply an African problem, but one of what we grow up with.
I have had comments that many Africans fail to recognize the difference between say, 2 film stars in a Western programme on the TV.
Of course, then it comes to Chinese. We again have even more difficulty telling individuals apart.
The reality though, is that we all are individuals made by God with differing personalities. We all have the same blood, and blood types are interchangeable for transfusions between us all.
So next time we see a person of different race or colour to ourselves, let us look underneath our exterior to the soul (mind, emotions and will) underneath. This will make our lives richer and reduce the racial tensions we face in the world today.
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Parable of the Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)
Three parables addressed to the Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus for mixing with tax collectors and ‘sinners’.
“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that’s lost until he finds it? When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders. Once he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ I tell you that there’s more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to repent.
Parable of the Coin (Luke 15:1-7)
“Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn’t she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found the silver coin that I lost.’ I tell you there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner that repents.
Parable of the Son (Luke 15:11.32)
“Once there was a man who had two sons,” “The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son packed up what he had and left for a distant country. Here he wasted all his money living a reckless life. “After he’d spent everything, the country was hit by a severe famine and he was starving. So he went and took a job with one of the farmers there who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was so hungry that he would
have eaten even the pig food, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘All of my father’s workers have more than enough to eat—why am I dying from hunger here? I’m going home to my father! I’ll tell him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ So he left and went home to his father.
“Even though he was still far away in the distance, his father saw him coming, and his heart went out to his son. The father ran to his son, hugging and kissing him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick—bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we’ve been fattening and kill it. Let’s have a feast to celebrate because this is my son who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found.’ So they started celebrating.
“Now the older son was working out in the fields. As he walked towards the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
“Your brother is back,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he’s come home safe and sound.”
“The brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father came out to plead with him.
“He told his father, ‘Look, all these years I’ve served you, and never disobeyed you, but you never once gave me even a young goat so I could have a party with my friends. Now this son of yours comes back, having spent your money on prostitutes, and you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘Son,’ the father replied, ‘you are always here with me. Everything I have is yours. But we should be happy and celebrate! This is your brother who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found!’”
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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BUILDING THE KINGDOM EYE REFERRAL HOPITAL- DAY 2 to 2 1/2
Building continues 7 days a week to try and get the roof on before the rainy season, some time in March.
Construction again is just so easy this time. Have fine weather, access and water on site, plus we have done it before.
DAYS 4 & 5
It is amazing to me how fast the construction has progressed compared to our first building. Am so grateful to all involved.
Here you can see the rooms as the foundations are completed.
15 stone masons came and completed the work in a day
After the masons completed their work, the dirt was dug out ready for more rocks to be placed, prior to the slab being laid.
DAYS 6 & 7
In 1 week we have gone from bare earth to being ready to pour the slab. A tremendous effort by all involved.
Maram, forming a solid , smooth based surface is placed on top of the filling stones. This covered with a heavy polythene and the reinforcing rods laid on top and tied together.
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Your support would be appreciated and they could well change your life!
They are all found at this link.....
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***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!
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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.....
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
592. Trials are a real trial!
593. Trials build character, character Godliness.
594. A test done, a test won, while not much fun, it pleases the Son.
595. Tests require change. Little change requires greater tests.
596. If we were already perfect, we would no longer need trials and testings. Life tells me I have not yet got there!
597. A trial a day keeps the devil away.
598. Heat draws out dross. In gold, silver and me!
599. Failing a test means I need to take it again!
600. The unbearable becomes bearable through God's grace.
601. Trials are for life's winners!
602. The ladder of testing is best climbed one step at a time.
603. The best fruit grows on pruned trees.
604. An unpruned tree produces little fruit.
605. Heated and treated gold glistens. It's the same with us!
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF..... DIVIDING THE WATERS (Part 2)
We commence our look at the crossing of the Red Sea and its application to today's church.
*** 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: “You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.”
236. Dressed for Church
One Sunday morning, the congregation of a ritzy church, with vaulted ceilings, hand-carved oak pews, stained class windows, and a deep plush carpet, had a stir.
A man came in just minutes before the service was to begin. He was dressed terribly, had on ratty old boots, a dirty flannel shirt, jeans and a filthy cowboy hat. Besides that he must have not heard of deodorant. The congregation was not happy!
Several sent notes to the minister about their concern. So at the end of the service, the pastor greeted the wretchedly attired man and asked him if he enjoyed the service. The fellow exclaimed wholeheartedly that he had.
The minister invited him back but said, "Next time you come, please dress properly and take a shower. I want you to pray and ask Jesus about how He would want you to dress if you returned to His house." The fellow said he would.
Next week he came back, dressed the same way. Once again the congregation was very upset. At the end of the service, the minister greeted the fellow and asked, "Did you ask Jesus about how to dress for church here?"
"Oh yes," said the man, "I surely did." "And, what did He say to you," persisted the pastor.
"Well," said the fellow, "Jesus told me He didn't know how I should dress for this church, because He's never been here."
237. Top 10 Signs You're at a Bad Baptism Service
10. The Coast Guard is involved.
9. The service is held at Splash Mountain Water Parks.
8. Pastor wears scuba gear.
7. As the baptism begins the organist plays the theme from "Jaws."
6. The preacher uses a "Billy the Bass" singing "Take Me to the River" instead of the traditional "Shall We Gather at the River?"
5. You keep hearing the pastor saying, "Oops! Honestly, sister; I didn't know about that drop-off!"
4. The pastor can't get the rather large person being baptised back up out of the water and calls for help.
3. The deacon board shows up with fishing gear.
2. Just as the choir starts to sing, Paul Hogan jumps out of the water and wrestles the preacher into submission.
AND THE NO. 1 SIGN YOU'RE AT A BAD BAPTISM SERVICE:
1. Two Words: Alka Seltzer
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
Pressure! Pressure! Pressure!
How we face pressure shows where we are in God.
It is relatively easy to be a 'good Christian' in the easy times, but when pressure comes, we face the 'real reality' of our trust in Jesus.
We have been having a tough time here in our hospital in Kenya this week. The pressure has been on! How have I handled it? Ok, but not as good as I would like. Like most of us, I suspect. But much better than I would have handled it some years ago.
As we grow spiritually, rather than in girth or wrinkles, as our tested faith in Jesus develops, so our ability to face life's inevitable challenges matures too.
May we rest in God today - in all situations.
Unltil next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
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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