BEGINNING WITH HIM
March, 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:
[What’s New At E-Mail Ministry] [Support E-Mail Ministry]
[Christian Site Of The Year 2000] [How Messages Are Selected]
[Give Credit Where Credit Is Due] [Usage Of E-Mail Ministry Messages]
[Are You Busy?] [Eagles In A Storm]
[Fast For The President] [American Business Plan]
[Hymns] [Thoughts]
[Cowboy In Church] [Click To Help Others]
[Links Page] [Christian Walk And Outreach Web Ring]
[Poll Questions]
* * *
WHAT’S NEW AT E-MAIL MINISTRY
Well, I’ve been playing again. I’ve re-done the home page as follows:
– New navigation of the site with a pull down menu. I will add this to
all the pages over time.
– New guestbook from Christian Guestbooks. Feel free to leave me a
note! The messages from the old guestbook have been added to the
Comments page.
– A ‘visits’ counter that will tell you how many times you have visited
the page along with a ‘last updated’ date so you know when the page has
changed.
– At the request of several subscribers, I have added a ‘Statement of
Faith’. I used the “Apostle’s Creed” – hard to improve on that one!
* * *
SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY
E-Mail Ministry is solely supported by its subscribers. It’s
subscribers are the primary means of advertisement and the sole mean of
support. EMM accepts no paid advertisement, it solely relies upon the
donations of you, the subscriber. I ask that you prayerfully consider
supporting E-Mail Ministry with a donation. 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
Donations will be used to offset the growing costs of this ministry. It
is my prayer that, like God’s grace, EMM always remains free.
* * *
CHRISTIAN SITE OF THE YEAR 2000
My thanks to all of you who voted for E-Mail Ministry as the Christian
Site of the Year 2000 by the Christian Internet Resources web site. We
Won! (actually, tied – and no re-count was requested!) I posted the
‘trophy’ on the main page with a link to Christian Internet Resources.
* * *
HOW MESSAGES ARE SELECTED FOR DISTRIBUTION
Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I cannot answer everyone who
submits a message for distribution. Please do know I appreciate all the
submittals as you are the source for all of the E-Mail Ministry
messages.
People have asked what are the criteria for the messages I send out.
Well, roughly, here it is:
1) Messages have to support basic Christian beliefs.
2) Messages should be relevant to today’s living – people need to know
how being a Christian can help in their everyday lives.
3) Messages should be invitational in nature, inviting people to think
about their lives and how Jesus can lead them.
4) Messages should be in the ‘common domain’. In other words, I try
not to use copyrighted materials.
5) I try not to repeat messages previously sent. If you don’t see the
message you submitted, it may be because I have already sent it out.
6) Message shouldn’t be too long (yeah, I know, like these ‘Beginning
With Him’ messages are short!!!)
* * *
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
The message “The Third Man” is a song written by June-Ellen Scott of the
Scott Sisters and sung by Loretta Lynn.
* * *
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.
* * *
ARE YOU BUSY?
B-eing
U-nder
S-atans
Y-oke??
* * *
EAGLES IN A STORM
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before
it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds
to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will
pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below,
the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It
simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that
bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience
them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward
God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to
lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that
bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can
soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that
weigh us down, it is how we handle them.
The Bible says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40:31
— Author Unknown
* * *
FAST FOR THE PRESIDENT
Go to this web site for details: http://www.heartlight.org/fast
* * *
AMERICAN BUSINESS PLAN
An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican
village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the
small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented
the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to
catch them.
The Mexican replied, “Only a little while, Senior.” The American then
asked, “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The Mexican
said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your
time?” The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play
with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, and stroll into the
village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I
have a full and busy life, Senior.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should
spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With
the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats.
Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling
your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor,
eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product,
processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal
fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and eventually NYC
where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But Senior, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, Senior?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is
right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the
public and become very rich. You would make millions.” “Millions,
Senior? Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire and move to a small coastal
fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with
your kids, take siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your
amigos.”
— Author Unknown
* * *
HYMNS
Hymns…the way we would sing them if we were honest…
“I Surrender Some”
“Interesting Grace”
“Blessed Hunch”
“What An Acquaintance We Have in Jesus”
“Take My Life and Let Me Be”
“My Hope Is Built On Nothing Much”
“I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives”
“Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style”
“Oh God Our Enabler In Ages Past”
“I’ve Got Peace Like A Trickle”
“A Comfy Mattress Is Our God”
“When The Saints Go Sneaking In”
“Just As I Pretend 2 BE”
— Author Unknown
* * *
THOUGHTS
– Anger is a condition in which the tongue, works faster than the mind.
– You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying
over the future.
– Love… and you shall be loved
– God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
– All people smile in the same language.
– A hug is a great gift, one size fits all. It can be given for any
occasion and it’s easy to exchange.
– Everyone needs to be loved, especially when they do not deserve it.
– The real measure of a man’s wealth is what he has invested in
eternity.
– Laughter is God’s sunshine.
– Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.
– It’s important for parents to live the same things they teach.
– Thank God for what you have, TRUST GOD for what you need.
– If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of
tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for.
– Happy memories never wear out… Relive them as often as you want.
– Home is the place where we grumble the most, but are often treated the
best.
– Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within.
– The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow.
– Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul.
– If anyone speaks badly of you, live so none will believe it.
– Patience is the ability to idle your motor, when you feel like
stripping your gears.
– Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together.
– The best thing parents can do for their children, is to love
each other.
– Harsh words break no bones but they do break hearts.
– To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it.
– We take for granted the things that we should be giving thanks for.
– Love is the only thing that can be divided, without being diminished.
– Happiness is enhanced by others but does not depend upon others.
– You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven.
– For every minute you are angry with someone, you lose 60 seconds of
happiness that you can never get back.
– Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, and where you
are.
— Author Unknown
* * *
COWBOY IN CHURCH
One Sunday morning the congregation of a ritzy church (with vaulted
ceilings, hand carved oak pews, stained glass windows and deep plush
carpet) had a stir.
A man came in just minutes before the service was to begin and he was
dressed horribly. He had on boots, overalls, a flannel shirt, and a
cowboy hat.
The congregation was aghast! Many quickly sent notes to the minister
about this concern. At the end of the service the minister greeted the
humbly dressed man and asked him if he enjoyed the service.
The man exclaimed that he enjoyed it very much. The minister asked the
man to consider possibly dressing differently, and told him to pray to
Jesus about how he would have him dress if he should return again.
The next week the man returned. He was dressed the same and once again
the congregation was disturbed. At the end of the service the minister
greeted the man again and asked him what he had been told by Jesus
concerning how to dress for church.
The man exclaimed, “I spoke with Jesus about this but Jesus said he
didn’t know how I should dress for this church because He has never been
here.”
— Author Unknown
* * *
CLICK TO HELP OTHERS
Each month EMM will highlight 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.therainforestsite.com/
The Rainforest Site was founded May 1, 2000 to help protect our
environment. Visitors to The Rainforest Site can save a free area of
rainforest with the “click of a button.” These donations, distributed by
The Nature Conservancy, are paid for by The Rainforest Site’s sponsors.
The Rainforest Site was founded by GreaterGood.com, which also operates
The Hunger Site.
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 13 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 February poll question can viewed at
https://www.emailministry.org/pollresults.htm. Here is the March 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: How often do you invite someone to attend church with you?
PLEASE NOTE: The banners on the poll question and referral pages do
NOT support E-Mail Ministry and E-Mail Ministry does not support
them.
* * *
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