BEGINNING WITH HIM
January, 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:
[HAPPY NEW MILLENNIUM] [FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN]
[ASHLEY’S CHRISTIAN BUMPER STICKERS] [CLICK TO HELP OTHERS]
[GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE] [KEEP TOUCHING JESUS]
[CHRIST’S TRUE MEETING] [RESIGNATION] [ON A POSITIVE NOTE]
[PEARLY GATES] [SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY]
[CHRISTIAN WALK AND OUTREACH WEB RING] [POLL QUESTIONS] [LINKS PAGE]
[CHURCH HUMOR] [SUBSCRIBER COUNTRIES] [CHANGE OF E-MAIL ADDRESS]
[USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES]
* * *
HAPPY NEW MILLENNIUM
Yes, 01-01-01 is the start of the third millennium – and here is why
01-01-00 was NOT the start of the new millennium (yes, it was Y2K and
yes, it was it was a big media event).
The 3rd Millennium started January 1st, year 2001 NOT year 2000 as many
people believe, when using the Gregorian calendar. The reason why the
3rd Millennium / 21st Century starts in 2001 is because there was no
year 0 (or AD 0, 0 BC). The year before 1 A.D. is defined as year 1
B.C., so year 0 was skipped. Therefore, January 1st, year 1 is defined
to be the start of the 1st century and the 1st Millennium. Because one
Millennium is 1000 years, the first Millennium ends with year 1000. The
next (2nd) Millennium starts 1000 years after the first, that is in year
1+1000 = 1001. And the 3rd one starts 1000 years later than the 2nd:
1001+1000 = 2001. The same procedure could be followed for centuries.
Why was there no year 0? When the present system we use to count years
was invented by a scholar called Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century
(and later established around Europe) they used Roman numerals which did
not have zero. Therefore 1 BC is the year before AD 1, with no
intervening year 0. (Sequence…3 BC, 2 BC, 1 BC, AD 1, AD 2, AD 3…).
There, now the record is set straight! (and you didn’t have to fill the
bathtub this new year’s eve!)
* * *
FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN
I received a lot of positive responses to the message “First Christmas
In Heaven” (https://www.emailministry.org/stories2.asp?id=291). God used
this message to ministry to many of you who lost a loved one, or knew
someone who lost a loved one, this past year. I know of two people who
used it in recent funerals. Personally, my wife and I lost three family
members and a personal friend in 2000 so I know the pain of loss and the
celebration of knowing they are eternally healed in Heaven.
* * *
ASHLEY’S CHRISTIAN BUMPER STICKERS
I would like to thank everyone (and there were a lot of you) who visited
Ashley’s Christian Bumper Stickers web page and sent her an e-mail. She
was overwhelmed and overjoyed by the response! If you haven’t seen her
page yet, you can view it at: https://www.emailministry.org/bumper.asp
* * *
CLICK TO HELP OTHERS
Ooops – It seems that I didn’t have the links activated on the ‘Click to
Help Others’ page. I have corrected that and now you can click away at:
https://www.emailministry.org/helpothers.asp
“When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of
John, do you truly love me more than these?’. ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said,
‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.'” – John 21, 15
NOTE from doug: If you find a broken link on the EMM web site, please
send me an e-mail at: emailministry@emailministry.org
* * *
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
The message “When Jesus Looks”, sent on 29-Dec-00, was originally
“Author Unknown” Thanks to an alert subscriber, credit can now be given
to Chick Velasco who wrote the poem. You can read more about him at:
http://members.nbci.com/DropnHook/index.htm and read more of his
writings at: http://members.nbci.com/DropnHook/Links.htm
Also, a subscriber has credited the message “Daniel”, sent 4-Dec-00, as
being written by Richard Ryan of Corydon, Indiana. I have not been able
to independently verify this credit, but I will take the subscriber’s
word for it.
As I have mentioned in previous monthly newsletters, a vast majority of
the stories I receive no author information. If author information is
available, I include it with the message. Also, I do not have the
resources to investigate the author of the message. If anyone has a
source I could use, I would be happy to take advantage of it.
* * *
KEEP TOUCHING JESUS
“My 8 year old niece often visits me, since my children are teenagers
and my husband works they are often gone and we have each others
undivided attention. As I was decorating for Christmas I asked her if
she would like to put out the Nativity scene. She looked panicked and
said she just couldn’t. Usually she is willing to try anything, very
outgoing and self assured so her response surprised me. I assured her
that I thought she could handle it. It was a small set and not
expensive so I didn’t worry when she worked and worked trying to get it
just right. Finally she came to me and said “Everything’s OK, I have
them all real close to Jesus” as I looked at the Nativity all the
little figurines were touching the manger. My niece said to me “They’ll
be all right if they keep touching Jesus”. If we all could remember to
touch Jesus and let him touch us during this busy season we, too, would
be All Right!”
— Susan P.
* * *
CHRIST’S TRUE MEETING
In a small elementary school one year there was a Christmas performance.
Now, this was a public school so everyone expected non-religious songs
to be sung. So as everyone sat impatiently in their seats, the
kindergarten class was preparing to sing a song. To everyone’s
amazement, they were singing “Christmas Love.” Then as they went
through the song they held up signs with each letter of the title on
them. The children sang, “C-is for Christmas, H-is for happiness,
etc.” Then, when it was time for the “M” to appear in the line-up the
little girl was holding it upside down. The first through fifth graders
broke out in laughter as the teachers tried to calm them down. So that
made her hold her sign even higher, full of pride. Then the parents
couldn’t control their laugher, by now the whole entire audience was
hysterical. But just then, a frightening hush fell over the audience,
the kindergarteners had finished. As the audience read the message it
stated, “Christwas love” (Christ Was Love). All at once a whole
audience was touched by a small child that was simply spreading God’s
word. Have a Merry Christmas, and remember that Christ was love, Christ
is love, and Christ will always be love. — Author Unknown
* * *
RESIGNATION
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have
decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old
again.
I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with
rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my
friends on a hot summer’s day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple; When all you knew were
colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn’t
bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t
care.
All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all
the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to
the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things
again.
I want to live simple again. I don’t want my day to consist of computer
crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more
days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip,
illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth,
justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in
the snow.
So . . . here’s my checkbook, my car-keys, and my credit cards. I am
officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this
further, you’ll have to catch me first, cause……
……..”Tag! You’re it.”
* * *
ON A POSITIVE NOTE
On a positive note I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad
it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled
Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same as making a “life.”
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on
both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you
focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and
doing the best you can, happiness will find you.
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch — holding hands, a warm hug, or just a
friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I’ve learned that you should pass this along to someone you care about.
I just did. Sometimes you just need a little something to make you
smile.
Note: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel………
* * *
PEARLY GATES
A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the
pearly gates. St. Peter says: “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points
to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and
I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how
good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.”
“Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and
never cheated on her, even in my heart.”
“That’s wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth three points!”
“Three points?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and
supported its ministry with my tithe and service.”
“Terrific!” says St. Peter, “that’s certainly worth a point.”
“One point? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city
and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.”
“Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” he says.
“TWO POINTS!!” the man cries, “At this rate the only way I get into
heaven is by the grace of God!”
“Come on in!”
* * *
SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY
I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting E-Mail Ministry. If you
feel so lead, you may send donations to support EMM (checks & money
orders only in US funds, no cash) to:
E-Mail Ministry, Inc.
P.O. Box 944
Garden City, MI 48136-0944
Donations will be used to offset the growing costs of this ministry. It
is my intention and prayer that, like God’s grace, EMM always remains
free. Many thanks to those who have already sent in a donation!
* * *
POLL QUESTIONS
The results of the December poll questions can viewed at
https://www.emailministry.org/pollresults.htm. Here are the January poll
questions (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: Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, do you keep them?
Q2: Was the year 2000 a good or bad year for you?
PLEASE NOTE: The banners on the guest book, poll questions and
referral do NOT support E-Mail Ministry and E-Mail Ministry does not
support them.
* * *
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:
* * *
CHURCH HUMOR
If you have a funny, clean, church/Christian based humor piece, please
submit it to: emailministry@emailministry.org
I received several new humor pieces this past month. They have been
posted at: https://www.emailministry.org/humor/humor6.htm
* * *
SUBSCRIBER COUNTRIES
This month I welcome Finland to the list of subscriber locations. See
the https://www.emailministry.org/countries.htm for a list of countries.
If you are from a country other than those indicated with an “X”, please
let me know by sending an e-mail to emailministry@emailministry.org
2000 was a very good year for EMM. At the beginning of 2000 there were
1,507 subscribers and now there are 12,145 subscribers, a 706% increase
in 12 months! Thanks to all of you who forward the messages onto
others. Your endorsement is the best advertisement of this ministry
(and for God!)
* * *
CHANGE OF E-MAIL ADDRESS
I appreciate all of you who have notified me of your e-mail address
change. However, I CANNOT change your e-mail address for you. Here is
information that will assist you.
UNSUBSCRIBE from the old e-mail address: Send a blank e-mail message
from the old e-mail address to EMailMinistry-unsubscribe@egroups.com
SUBSCRIBE from the new e-mail address: Send a blank e-mail message
from the new e-mail address to EMailMinistry-subscribe@egroups.com .
* * *
USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES
As always, feel free to send these messages on to others as the Lord
leads you. I do have one request (and it is an optional request) if you
use these messages in your church bulletins, sermons, bible studies,
etc., it would be nice if you 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.
* * *
I pray this finds you all growing in the understanding of how God loves
you. And once again, HAPPY NEW MILLENNIUM!!
— doug
Founder, Editor, Webmaster & ‘Chief Bottle Washer’ of E-Mail Ministry