BEGINNING WITH HIM
November, 2000 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:
[A SAD MESSAGE FROM Ibelieve.com] [A MESSAGE FROM E-MAIL MINISTRY]
[AUTHOR IS KNOWN] [PRESS ON] [THE 7-UPS] [FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT]
[DID YOU KNOW] [PIZZA OFFERING] [VOTE] [POLL QUESTIONS] [LINKS PAGE]
[CHURCH HUMOR] [SUBSCRIBER COUNTRIES] [CHANGE OF E-MAIL ADDRESS]
[USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES] [ORIGINAL WORKS] [FEED THE HUNGRY]
* * *
A SAD MESSAGE FROM Ibelieve.com
The following are excerpts from an e-mail I received from the president
of iBelieve.com
“Dear iBeliever:
This is a message that I thought I would never have to write. Despite a
tremendous launch and site traffic that ranks as the leading Christian
community on the Internet, iBelieve.com has not been able to secure
additional funding to continue to keep the site up, and we are forced to
close our virtual doors. We have suspended our retail e-commerce
operations, and the site will shut down in a couple of days.”
“As you know, iBelieve.com has worked hard to create the leading
Christian site on the Internet – a place where believers of all
denominations could come, experience and grow in their faith. With
550,000 members, more than 2 million unique visitors, and 60 ministry
partners, we have consistently exceeded our business and ministry
objectives… except one: raising additional funding. Like many Internet
companies, we were unable to raise capital given the current market
conditions, and we are left without options.”
Thanks to all of you who sent in suggestions for books, CD’s and videos
to feature in the E-Mail Ministry store, but, due to iBelieve.com no
longer being in business, the E-Mail Ministry store is closed. 🙁
* * *
A MESSAGE FROM E-MAIL MINISTRY
E-Mail Ministry (EMM) was an affiliate of iBelieve.com and as an
affiliate received referral and sales commission fees for people we sent
their way. I want to thank all of you who supported iBelieve.com and
thus E-Mail Ministry.
With this source of funding no longer available, EMM is investigating
other ways to keep EMM afloat and free for all who wish to subscribe.
Currently, EMM is in the process of filing as a non-profit corporation
in Michigan, USA. This will allow EMM to accept advertisement from
supporting companies and subscriber donations (donations NOT tax
deductible at this time).
It is my prayer that EMM continues to grow, serve the Body of Christ,
and remain free to all who wish to receive the messages. I would very
much appreciate it if you would prayerfully consider entering into a
continuous prayer covenant with E-Mail Ministry asking God for
protection over me, my family and this ministry that it will continue to
be strong and do His work.
I would also appreciate it if you would the following to your prayer
list.
1) Please pray that I will make the correct decisions concerning EMM and
its future.
2) Please pray for all the ministries struggling to do God’s work.
I thank all of you for your prayers, words of encouragement and wiliness
to share this ministry with others. EMM has truly been a blessing to me
and, judging from your notes, a blessing to you all as well.
Thanks and God’s blessings
— doug
* * *
AUTHOR IS KNOWN
Just goes to show that EMM subscribers know their stuff. I would like
to thank those who wrote to correct an ‘Author Unknown’ error:
The Room (sent 25-Oct) was authored by Joshua Harris from his book “I
Kissed Dating Goodbye”.
* * *
PRESS ON
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.
Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with
Talent. Genius will not: Unrewarded genius is almost a Proverb.
Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and Determination alone are Omnipotent.
* * *
THE 7-UPS
(Encourage Yourself in the Lord)
1. Wake Up!!
Decide to have a good day.
“Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it”
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up!!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart”
I Sam 16:7
3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to
do twice as much listening as talking.
“He who guards his lips guards his soul”
Proverbs 13:3.
“Gossip betrays confidence. Avoid men who talk too much”
Proverbs 20:19
“Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be
wise”
Proverbs 19:20
4. Stand Up!!…
For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for
anything.
“Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good…”
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up!!…
To the Lord. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me”.
Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up!!…
For something higher.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own
understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct
your path”.
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up!!…
Your Prayers. “Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING”
Philippians 4:6
* * *
FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT
“I was explaining the trinity to a friend and I used this analogy, I
thought it was cute. The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are a
lot like dairy. Milk, butter, and yogurt are all different forms but
they are still dairy. In the same way, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
are all different forms, but they are still God.” — Stephanie, an
E-Mail Ministry subscriber
* * *
DID YOU KNOW
Did you know that….
1) Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible?
2) Psalm 117, just before Psalm 118, is the shortest chapter in the
Bible?
3) Psalm 119, just after Psalm 118, is the longest chapter in the Bible?
4) The Bible has 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after
Psalm 118?
5) If you add up all the chapters except Psalm 118, you get a total of
1188 chapters?
6) 1188 or Psalm 118, verse 8 is the middle verse of the entire Bible?
Should the central verse not have an important message?
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
– Psalm 118:8
* * *
PIZZA OFFERING
As was my custom every Friday afternoon, I bought myself a pizza. As I
got on the bus to go home from the pick-up pizza place, there was a
three year-old little boy and his mother sitting near the driver. The
little boy smelled the pizza, and exclaimed, “Mommy! Mommy! I want some
pizza! I want some pizza!” She said, “No!” in a harsh tone, and I said,
“He can have some of mine!” She politely refused, and as we sat there
waiting to arrive our different destinations, she began to cry. I
realized she felt badly that she couldn’t buy her child pizza, so when
we reached my stop, I quietly handed her the pizza box, and apologized
that there were only 2 pieces left. She accepted the pizza, and said,
“You didn’t have to do that!” I said, “But I did! GOD loves you!” and
got off the bus. I usually like cold pizza left-overs for breakfast, but
its more blessed to give than to receive! Let’s remember those who can’t
afford pizza, or to go out to eat, and give more ‘pizza offerings’ and
‘doggy-bag offerings. Anonymous
* * *
VOTE
The United States elections are this Tuesday, November 7th. If you are
an American citizen you owe it to yourself, your family, your community
and country to vote. It doesn’t cost you anything (it will cost you
more if you don’t vote) and it is painless and it is your DUTY. There
are millions of people who don’t have this right (some may be reading
this right now), you do. Use it.
* * *
POLL QUESTIONS
The October poll question results can viewed from a link on the main web
page. Here are the November 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 live in a country with free elections?
If ‘Yes’, do you vote?
Q2: Do you prefer paper bags, plastic bags or your own
cloth bags?
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. If you would like 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
EMM did not receive any new humor pieces which we haven’t already
published. If you have a funny, clean, church/Christian based humor
piece, please submit it to: emailministry@emailministry.org
* * *
SUBSCRIBER COUNTRIES
The number of subscribers per month is leveling off. For the six month
period between March & August, 2000 there were an average of 1,100 new
subscribers per month. For the past two months the average has dropped
to 700 per month. We also have leveled off on new countries as we
didn’t add any new countries this month.
Please don’t miss understand me, I am thrilled with the growth of EMM
over the past 23 months and thankful for all who pass on the messages to
others. It is my prayer and the vision of EMM that this ministry reach
Christians and seekers of all nations as one of many means to build and
strengthen the Body of Christ. This is still a lot of work to do and,
with your help and God’s blessings, we will continue this important
work.
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
* * *
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.
* * *
ORIGINAL WORKS
I appreciate all of you who have sent in original works. Regrettably, I
am VERY behind in reading them. Therefore, I respectfully request that
NO more original works be sent in. When I catch up I will lift this
‘hold’.
* * *
FEED THE HUNGRY FOR FREE (and do it every day!):
You can help feed hungry people, at no cost to you, by pointing your
internet browser to http://www.thehungersite.com Click the Donate Free
Food button to bring up a page of corporate sponsors, each of whom
contributes 1/2 cent per click, which translates to 1/4 cup of cooked
food. The food is distributed through the United Nations World Food
Program. Founded by an unnamed “private individual,” the site displays a
map that dims one country every 3.6 seconds, signifying a death from
hunger. Three quarters of those deaths are children under 5. A link has
been placed on the E-Mail Ministry main page and link page to this site
to make it easier for your to click it each day!
“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
* * *
I pray this finds you all growing in the understanding of how God loves
you.
— doug
Founder, Editor, Webmaster and sole staff member of E-Mail Ministry