BEGINNING WITH HIM
April, 2001 Edition
As is the continued tradition, the first E-Mail Ministry (EMM) message
of the month is my chance to talk to all of you about E-Mail Ministry
and other related items.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR TODAY’S MESSAGE:
[An E-Mail From A Subscriber] [Support E-Mail Ministry]
[Where Are You From?] [Give Credit Where Credit Is Due]
[Usage Of E-Mail Ministry Messages] [Ten Commandments Open Letter]
[I Am] [Whoever Desires To Be Great]
[Same Excuses Not To Take A Bath That Some Use Not To Attend Church]
[A Prayer] [Click To Help Others]
[Links Page] [Christian Walk And Outreach Web Ring]
[Poll Questions]
* * *
AN E-MAIL FROM A SUBSCRIBER
I have been receiving the “E-Mail Ministry” messages for several months
now. I enjoy them very much and often pass them along to friends and
family. Many have subscribed to receive them.
I have a friend that does not have a computer so I have printed out some
of the messages and given them to her. She has asked me to write you to
let you know that “THE BLESSING OF THORNS”
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EMailMinistry/message/73) which was sent
out on 11/22/2000 has been particularly inspirational to her.
She lost a son a few years ago and had some difficulty coping with the
loss. She started a group for those grieving the loss of loved ones. I
gave her “THE BLESSING OF THORNS” mentioned above a few weeks ago and
she has taken it to heart. She lovingly put together some small
bouquets of stems (with thorns, no flowers) and attached a card with the
same message mentioned in the story. She gave the bouquets and a copy
of the story to individuals that have attended her group sessions. She
has even gone out of her way to seek out other members of the church and
community that have been in need of comforting and gave them the
bouquets and stories. With this one story she has been able to help
others that are grieving.
Some have been able to open up and talk about their grief. It has
helped a mother who couldn’t talk to her daughter about the loss of her
other daughter. It helped the daughter talk about the loss of her
sister. Though the girl has been dead for a year or more the two had
not been able to discuss their feelings with one another. They finally
sat down and talked to each other. It happened during one of the
meetings.
My friend wants to thank you and hopes you will be able to continue to
send out your messages in the future. I also want to thank you because
I feel that I have been able to contribute in a small way in her effort
to help others. I apologize that I am not able to write more eloquently
as this story deserves a proper telling.
Sincerely, Liz B.
Dear Liz B.
Your note is a great blessing to me. It is always good to hear how God
is using this ministry to reach out to others!
— doug
P.S. A heart felt thanks to all of you who have sent me such nice notes
of appreciation.
* * *
SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY
I would like to thank those of you who have made a contribution to
E-Mail Ministry. If you have not made a contribution and have been
blessed by this ministry, please ask God what He would have you do.
You may make donations by credit card at:
https://www.emailministry.org/ccbill/index.htm Credit card donations can
be made as a one-time donation or as a monthly recurring donation.
You can also make a donation by check. Checks can be sent to:
E-Mail Ministry, Inc.
P.O. Box 944
Garden City, MI 48136-0944
E-Mail Ministry is solely supported by its subscribers. I do not accept
any compensation for my efforts with this ministry. Donations are
solely used to offset the growing costs of this ministry. It is my
prayer that, like God’s grace, EMM always remains free.
* * *
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
If you are from a country other than the United States, please let me
know by sending an e-mail to: emailministry@emailministry.org
E-Mail Ministry has a mission to reach “all nations” and needs your help
to accomplish this calling! Currently, EMM is in 44 countries (added
two new ones this month) but there are many more to reach! To see the
list of countries and the world map, go to:
https://www.emailministry.org/subscribe/index.htm#SubscriberMap
* * *
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
The message “Tangled Hair” is by Beth Moore from her study titled “A
Heart Like His.” Thanks to all the readers who let me know the source
of this message. To learn more about Beth Moore’s ministry, see her web
page at: http://www.bethmoore.org/
The message “The Bridge” is from Max Lucado’s book “God Came Near” and
is entitled “No Accident”
* * *
USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES
As always, feel free to send these messages on to others as the Lord
leads you. I respectfully request that when you forward the messages
on, please leave the ‘header’ and ‘footer’ information in place so that
others may know about this ministry and how to subscribe.
Also, feel free to use these messages in your church bulletins, sermons,
bible studies, etc. If you do use the messages, please put “Message
distributed by E-Mail Ministry (https://www.emailministry.org)” at the
bottom of any material you use. That way more people will become aware
of this ministry.
* * *
TEN COMMANDMENTS OPEN LETTER
The American Center for Law and Justice is gather signatures online for
an open letter in support of the Ten Commandments. The letter urges the
U.S. Congress to oppose removal of the Ten Commandments from public
places! Click the following link NOW to sign the open letter online!
http://tool.donation-net.net/aclj/10Cmnd.cfm?dn=1008&refer=2004
If you have trouble with the above link, visit their website at:
http://www.aclj.org to sign the open letter.
* * *
I AM
I was regretting the past and fearing the future when suddenly my Lord
was speaking.
MY NAME IS I AM , he paused , I waited. He continued, WHEN YOU LIVE IN
THE PAST WITH ITS MISTAKES AND REGRETS, IT IS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY
NAME IS NOT “I WAS”. WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE FUTURE, WITH ITS PROBLEMS AND
FEARS, ITS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY NAME IS NOT “I WILL BE”. WHEN YOU
LIVE IN THIS MOMENT, IT IS NOT HARD. I AM HERE. MY NAME IS “I AM”.
— Author Unknown
* * *
WHOEVER DESIRES TO BE GREAT…
The story is told of a Japanese company and an American company who
decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri river. Both teams practiced
long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day the Japanese won by a mile.
Afterwards, the American team became very discouraged and morally
depressed. The American management decided that the reason for the
crushing defeat had to be found. A “measurement team,” made up of
senior management was formed. They would investigate and recommend
appropriate action.
Their conclusion was that the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the Americans had 1 person rowing and 8 people steering.
So American management hired a consulting company and paid them
incredible amounts of money. They advised that too many people were
steering the boat and not enough people were rowing.
To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the rowing team’s
management structure was totally reorganized to four steering
supervisors, three area steering superintendents and 1 assistant
superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance
system that would give the one person rowing the boat greater incentive
to work harder. It was called the “Rowing Team Quality First Program,”
with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower: “We must give the
rower empowerment and enrichments through this quality program.”
The next year the Japanese won by 2 miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. Then they gave a
High Performance Award to the steering managers and distributed the
money saved as bonuses to the senior executives.
Perhaps you’ve seen the same thing happen at work — or in the church.
We seem to have lots of people who want to be managers (leaders), but
not so many who want to do the work. And far too often, we have seen
Committees appointed to decide what to do when what needed to happen was
for someone just to get out there and do it.
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise
authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever
desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever
desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.’ ” (Matt 20:25-28)
May you follow in the footsteps of Jesus as you search for ways to be a
servant today.
— Author Unknown
* * *
SAME EXCUSES NOT TO TAKE A BATH THAT SOME USE NOT TO ATTEND CHURCH
1. I was forced to bathe as a child.
2. People who bathe are hypocrites. They think they are so much
cleaner than others.
3. There are so many kinds of soaps, bubble baths and oils. I could
never decide which one was right for me.
4. I used to bathe, but it got so boring.
5. I bathe on Christmas and Easter only.
6. None of my friends bathe.
7. I’ll start bathing when I am older.
8. I really just don’t have time.
9. The bathroom is never the right temperature.
10. People who make soap are only after your money.
— Author Unknown
* * *
A PRAYER
Dear Lord:
Every single evening
As I’m lying here in bed
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.
God bless my mom and dad,
And other family.
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they’re so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do.
Hope you don’t mind me asking,
Bless my computer too.
Now I know that it’s not normal
To bless a mother board,
But listen just a second
While I explain to you my Lord.
You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds & ends
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my FRIENDS.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendship grew.
Please, take an extra minute
>From your duties up above
To bless those in my address book
That’s filled with so much love!
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each email inbox
And the person who hits send.
When you update your heavenly list
On your own CD-Rom
Remember each who’ve said this prayer
Sent up to God.com.
Amen.
— Author Unknown
* * *
CLICK TO HELP OTHERS
Each month EMM highlights a “Click to Help Others” site. These sites
allow you to click on them to donate money, food, etc. to their cause.
And the best part is ‘clicking’ is free to you!
This month’s site is The Rainforest Site at: http://www.webreleaf.com/
Click the link above to help Environmental News Network and American
Forests’ Global ReLeaf program plant trees! It’s free to you — every 20
clicks plants a tree to restore the forest ecosystems providing clean
air and water for everyone, as well as habitat for endangered species.
To ‘Click To Help Others’, go to our web site at:
https://www.emailministry.org/clicktodonate.htm
* * *
LINKS PAGE
Thanks to all of you who submitted a link to be added to the EMM Links
Page. To recommend a Christian site, please use the ‘Add a Link’ form
at: https://www.emailministry.org/links/index.htm#AddALink
You can add a link from your web site to E-Mail Ministry. Simply copy
the following html code into your web page using your html editor:
* * *
CHRISTIAN WALK AND OUTREACH WEB RING
The “Christian Walk and Outreach” web ring is intended to hook together
Christian internet sites which promote Christian lifestyles, aid
Christians in their walk with Jesus and reach out to seekers. The web
ring is up to 15 sites. If you have such a site, please join this web
ring by using the link found on the web ring table:
https://www.emailministry.org#Webring
* * *
POLL QUESTIONS
The results of the March poll question can viewed at
https://www.emailministry.org/pollresults.htm. Here is the April poll
question (Go the web site at: https://www.emailministry.org/#Polls
register your vote!! Please do NOT send me an e-mail with your vote!)
Q1: Did you give something up for Lent?
* * *
I pray this finds you growing in the understanding of how much God loves
you.
— doug
Founder, Editor, Webmaster & ‘Chief Bottle Washer’ of E-Mail Ministry