ONE, TWO, ZERO, THREE

(You may like to read 'A David Musing' first!)

God's system of counting is so different to ours! We like to think logically, to progress in whatever we do, one step at a time, always going forward towards the goal set.

So when God gives us a vision, we very reasonably expect that He will lead us progressively through the steps required to fulfil it. How wrong can we be! For that is not God's way at all!

MAN - GOD
1. - 1. Vision
2. - 2. Expectation
0. - 3. Death of Vision
3. - 4. Fulfillment of Vision

For we are unable to grasp in our limited human understanding - well mine anyway - that part of the fulfillment of a vision is found in it's death! It simply doesn't make sense! It frustrates us, as we go from 'visionary hero' to 'reality zero'. "I can't have heard right! I must have imagined it! God, I am a failure! God, how come I misheard you! I'll forget about it and put it down to experience!"

All because we don't grasp the principle that in order for there to be life, there must first be death. That is what happened with Jesus on the cross. That is what happens for us today. Jesus knew He was to be the Saviour of the world - He had the vision. In expectation, He taught His disciples all about it. But then He died - and it was all over. Yes? No! For He rose again in victory on the third day to fulfil the ultimate vision planned from the beginning of time! Hallelujah!

In my small way too, I have had a dream. Well, one dream in particular amongst many. But the difference with this dream is that it has been in death so long that that it has shriveled up, dehydrating through lack of fulfillment over the past 8 years. Yet over the past few weeks the dream, or rather vision (for I am still young at heart) has started to come closer to reality.

For during a particularly 'down' period in my life, for reasons not of my own making except for my reaction to them (how often life is like that!) the Lord promised me a Radio Programme. This was amazingly and independently confirmed. So over the next few years, I set about producing several trial series of programmes, only to have them rejected, one, two, three. My vision died. "Lord, you will have to do this, because I can't. I've tried my best and failed."

But over the last few weeks he has! Someone wants to play a programme based upon the style of PGIM! A member of our new church 'just happens' to have a portable recording studio, perfect for my needs! And even more miraculously, he is keen to help! Thank you Lord for resurrections! Yours at Calvary first and foremost, but also of the vision given me! I now know Lord it is your work, not mine. And I guess that is what He was trying to get me to understand all along! Thank you Lord. All the credit is yours!

NOW FOR THE PROMO! If you have, or know of a radio station that might be looking for a daily 15-minute dose of faith, facts and fun, you know where to come! As the Lord leads!

It is so easy to slip back into self-promotion! Lord, please protect me from myself!

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FROM THE WORD

FROM THE OLD...
" ‘And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)

AND THE NEW...
"No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ”‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." (Acts 2:16-17)

"I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows — was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses." (2 Corinthians 12:1-5)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

GROWING IN GOD
26. The stairway to great faith is climbed one step at a time. A single leap courts disaster.

27. Our most dearly held beliefs often inhibit God’s further revelation to us.

28. The foundation of our spiritual house is to be built upon the solid rock of Jesus, the walls constructed using the insights of the fathers of the faith, while the ‘roof of truth’ is God’s revelation to us today.

29. As we grow in God, what we are to do assumes greater importance, than what we are not to do.

32. To believe in God is good, to hear from God is great, but to obey God reaps the ultimate reward.

33. A man’s wisdom is based upon experience, but God’s wisdom comes through revelation.

34. It’s easy to be wise in theory, but a lot more difficult in practise!

315. In nature, human growth occurs naturally. We expect the same in the Spiritual and get offended when others grow more quickly than us.

316. Human growth is measured in height, girth and wrinkles, spiritual growth by the 'fruit of the Spirit.' Often we confuse the two.

Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now more than 700 David sayings for you to view at ...

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FROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU

THE CALL TO BECOME 'THE BRIDE'
Hello David,
Once again I am encouraged by your editorial writings .....this week in particular. There are some days.... when I feel that maybe those that believe I am a radical Christian may be correct , and not in a good way.......... I seem to often come up against those comfortable Western Christians [I was one] who are very content at 'where they are at' and are not interested in hearing or even knowing that there is more, MUCH more , to a Christian walk if only one wants and looks.

The world wide 'movement' you talk of...... those wanting to be true disciples and be 'sold -out' to the Lord is most encouraging and I totally agree as I would like to believe that the Lord is directing me that way. I have noticed recently from meeting people locally from various denominations that there does seem to be an independent [non denominational] desire from many to have a 'new calling' from the Lord, just as you write...... and it kind of shows that the Lord is behind this movement across all denominations, cultures, geography etc.

I have some personal involvement with Indonesia and I often am amazed at the dedication some Christians there have when materially they have nothing.......it is an inspiration to me.
Anyway......thanks again.
Roy L McGreevy

Dear David,

A few thoughts that occurred to me while reading this week's edition:

• We may not be able to agree on the spelling of "Savio(u)r" ... why not simply return to "Soter"? We've already adopted "Paraclete". (I can't embed the Greek letters in a message, though). Or possibly we might just agree that the arguing over the difference of a letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

• I've often wondered how Christians have taken the phrase "Bride of Christ" and used it to describe individual human beings. The meaning in Revelation is quite clear: It describes the church universal, not any single member thereof - nor any sect thereof, for that matter. Recently I've spent some time thinking, meditating, and praying on what it means to live in God, God in us, and us in one another, as John has it. Salvation, it seems to me, is to individuals, but it happens in the context of the faith community and its foretaste of the Kingdom of God:

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Qo 4:9-12).

• Thanks for publishing Dr. Bernie Wade's response to Linda's thoughts. I sometimes think more time is spent on Paul's lists - helpful as they may be to myself when I try to find the Christ-like path - than on Jesus' very clear, succinct, explicit directions. No
spiritual director I've ever met or read sets one-size-fits-all goals for her/his directees ... lest the directee become discouraged and quit altogether, for one thing!

I've found much more help in my own life from my personal relationship with Jesus (who warned us to call no man teacher, but only our Father in Heaven) than from any well-meaning human "authority". With God's help, fellow humans may be able to point out my own logs. That may strengthen my will to work on them, but only grace can remove them in God's good time; and the Spirit of Christ alone knows what preparation I have to go
through before I can respond joyfully to the promptings - human and divine - I receive.

As for admonishing others, I've found it more helpful to myself as well as them (and more effective over the long haul) to pray with them. My personal model tends to be more the Quaker committee of clearness, where queries rather than admonitions are used in a worshipful community setting as an effective tool to help its subject find her or his own
way, or the ecumenical Protestant discernment group.

• Don't ever apologize for your interest in sport. As part of my meditation on the Body of Christ - the blessed community - I've been re-reading the Rule of Benedict and some of the commentaries on it. The rule makes it quite clear that the community and its members need a balance of solitary devotion, communal worship, study, work, rest, and recreation to do God's work. In some 1,600 years, Benedict's insight has been tested pretty thoroughly.

I think a case could be made that while individual and group emphasis may differ depending on personal gifts and corporate charisma, no faith community has survived without finding a balance of these activities. Nor does it help God's work in the world for an individual to be focussed on one or two of these without regard for the others. Enjoy your sport, my friend, and return to the vineyards refreshed for the labor. (As always, though, I'd personally suggest awareness of the seeds of pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, sloth, and gluttony in all six of the Benedictine areas of activity!)

David, thanks as always for your ministry. You give me much to consider and pray over. Your gifts of gentleness and humor are a model.

Grace and peace - Phil.
Phil Anthony, Coordinator, Salem Quarterly Meeting

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...

TAKING YOUR NEXT MOUNTAIN

By: Dr Neal Patterson

One of New Zealand's foremost Bible teachers - and a personal friend. Neal is also well known throughout Asia for his insightful views on scripture and life.

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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." ***

188. YOU DIRTY RAT -- ER, RODENT...
A pastor was spending the Saturday afternoon at a house in the little country town where he preached. After lunch he was sitting out on the front porch with his host and his wife when their two children rushed up, one of them swinging a dead rat over his head by the tail. "Look, ma! Don't be afraid, it's dead," exulted the boy, oblivious to his mother's embarrassment. "Yeah, ma," shouted the girl. "We bashed him in the head with a stick, then we stoned him, then we took a rake to him, and we whacked him and hacked him until" - and then catching sight of the amused clergyman, she finished in a lowered, respectful voice - "until the good Lord called him home."

187. BET YOU CAN'T TELL JUST ONE...
The pastor had come home tired after a full day of visitation and counselling, when there was a knock at the door. A peek through the curtain revealed the pinched features of the church's resident busybody. "Oh, no," whispered the worn-out minister to his wife. "It's Miss Brisby! Tell her I went to bed early!" And he hurried upstairs to nominally justify the story by lying down on the bed.

After nearly an hour of reading and relaxing, he ventured out of the bedroom and listened at the top of the stairs. Not hearing anything, he started down, calling out to his wife, "Well, honey, did that dreadfully nosy old bore finally leave?"

As he finished the sentence he rounded the stair corner and saw his wife standing next to the woman in question. Both wore a shocked expression as they stared at him.

But his fast-thinking wife saved the day and said, "Yes, dear, she did; but now Mrs. Brisby is here and would love to see you! "

Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 550 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why do cats like to rub against people's legs?

ANSWER: If you have a cat, you may well have suspected this: it's an ownership thing. Cats rub against furniture, legs, and other items in order to place their scent on it and let other cats know what's what and who's what! They can do this because they have glands in their faces.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What do you call the covering on the end of a shoelace?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS
918. PUT 'ZIP' INTO YOUR LIFE
The "zip" in "zip code" stands for the Zoning Improvement Plan. (My ‘zip’ is constantly misplaced in the deep realms of memory.)

919. LOVERS LEGEND?
No. St. Valentine actually was a bishop in Rome in the third century, who married couples in defiance of a ban by Emperor Claudius II, who felt married men made poor soldiers. Valentine was beheaded for his impertinence on February 14, 269. Chivalrously, he was later declared a saint by (a celibate?) Pope Gelasius, and the day named in his honour. (The Church got it right, while the Emperor was fighting a losing battle with nature.)

920. A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
The first heart transplant occurred in 1967 in Capetown, South Africa. The patient lived for only 18 days. A second transplant, performed several days later in New York, was even less successful - the patient lived only a few hours. Techniques have improved greatly since then and now many heart recipients can expect to live for six years or more. (Haven’t come up with a cure for a broken heart yet though.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

CON TRACT

Answer at the end of A David Musing

You can download a 250 item sample Trivia Book at Truly Trifling Trivia

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SOME MODERN INVENTIONS IN BIBLE PROPHECY?

Take a look at these and let me know what you think!
1. AUTOMOBILE
-- Nahum 2:4

2. ATOMIC ENERGY
-- Genesis 19:24-28
-- Isaiah 24:20
-- Micah 1;4
-- 2 Peter 3:10-12

3. AIRPLANE
-- Isaiah 31;5
-- Isaiah 60:8
-- Jeremiah 48:40
-- Ezekiel 1:9

4. RADIO
-- Job 38:34-35
-- Psalms 19:3-4
-- Romans 10:18

Much, much more fascinating information on the Bible, Church and Evangelism on 'God Facts' at ...

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WORLD'S GREATEST GROANS

You won.
Much fun.
Not a bun.
It's a pun! (or three!)

WILLIAM TOLD
William Tell was not only a great patriot and a great archer, he was also a great cook.

One day, after he had prepared a new dish for his friends, he said, "I think there is one or more spices missing. What do you think?"

Their answer was, "Only thyme, Will Tell!"

ELEPHANT STEW
1 Elephant, Medium Size
2 Rabbits (Optional)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Brown Gravy

Cut elephant into small bite-sized pieces. This should take about two months. Add enough brown gravy to cover. Cook over a hot fire for about four weeks. This will serve 3800 people. If more are expected, two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary as some people do not like to find a hare in their stew.

BUNNY ON ICE
A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves. "What are you doing in there?" she asked.

The rabbit replied: "This is a Westinghouse, isn't it?"

The lady replied, "Yes."

"Well," the rabbit said, "I'm westing."

For much more 'intelligent(!?)' humour, feel free to visit...

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BASIL

The past 10 days have been very difficult ones for our friends Graeme and Susan, for Susan has had a major operation and been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The doctors can do no more - only God can. Your prayers for God's supernatural intervention would be really appreciated.

At this time my memory goes back to my friend Basil, who didn't win his earthly battle, but was an inspiration to those of us privileged to be with him over this terrible yet terribly precious time. Take a look at my tribute in verse to my friend, Basil at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php?poemId=00020

A DAVID MUSING

It is amazing how quickly we develop patterns of behaviour. It simply makes life more predictable and easier to live. I well remember the shift into a new building at our previous church. The first week, no-one knew where to sit. By the second week we were starting to get sorted out, having had a previous experience. By the third week, we all went straight to our seats as if we had been there for years!

But this 'stability' so often hinders our walk with our Lord, for like it or not - and generally not! - He is a God of change! As I began to prepare this newsletter - at the last minute - the greatest motivator of all - I went to start writing the first article. Not having had any inspiration for it, I asked God what to write - a good idea - but got a 'bad' or unexpected answer, "Write the rest of the newsletter first." This threw me, as I always like to write the first article first! It takes the longest, to me it is the most important, and it sets the theme for the rest of the newsletter.

So I have been obedient! I am coming to the end of this musing, yet still have no idea what to write for the beginning - if that makes sense! But it will come - or else you are all meant to spend the extra time with God, asking Him what He wants to tell you! Come to think of it, that would be a good idea anyway - even if there is a first article!

The only problem is, by the time you read this musing, you will already know more than I now know! You can have a delayed 'word of knowledge' for me. How we all would like to know the future before it happens! Or would we really? Some glimpses would be nice though! Particularly about one first article for tonight! Still, that's what faith's all about!

His servant and yours

David Tait

WORD PUZZLE ANSWER: Broken Contract.

PS: Writtenafter writing Aricle One. This is the quickest I have ever put together a newsletter. Benefit of being obedient!

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.

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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