“At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.” ~Genesis 19:15-17 (NLT)

I remember when I first saw a Christian band called The Newsboys. I was at my second Promise Keepers event (Philadelphia 2005) and they pretty much rocked the house. I was new at this Christianity stuff and really preferred my music with punch…well The Newsboys had that punch. (For the record I still prefer my music to have that punch) When Peter Furler (lead singer at that time) shared his testimony on how rough it was for him to be a Christian man with the high expectations of others placed upon him (as he is a Pastor’s son) I thought to myself, “This dude has my respect.” So when I stumbled upon a book titled “Our Daily Blog” with reflections by The Newsboys it was a must have. It’s a thick devotional book written by Pastor Jim Laffoon.

Now with that there came another Newsboys punch as I began to read through this book during my lunch break. On February 2nd I read a devo titled “Lot’s Cave” and thought to myself “Self…this needs to get shared!” after all when it comes Lot there is much to be said about man who decided to go it alone.

You guys know the story don’t you? Lot is tagging with Abram from the land of Ur. God told Abram to leave all that mattered to him and go and become a father of many nations but he had Lot in tow. Not too long after they arrive it became about taking care of the flocks and who was using up the resources so Abram and Lot parted ways. First Lot pinches his tent on the outskirts of one of the most wicked cities read about in The Bible and apparently as time passes Lot now lives in that city. Guess it was for its wonderful view of the tar pits that surrounded the area. (Aw c’mon that’s funny)

But then came these two guys to the city. They first delivered good news to Abram before they journeyed to it but as for Lot’s city the news ain’t so good. YHVH wants this place destroyed and it’s time to go Lot. The two guys, well okay two angels, tell Lot to get the family and go but he hesitated. Guess he was so knee deep into Sodom that it was difficult to leave…kinda like when we are in over our heads with sin. Once the sin is exposed, its needs to stop, but it’s so ingrained into our everyday that it becomes hard to get outta the groove, doesn’t it?

But then the angels grab Lot and his family and takes them outta Sodom. Finally it dawn’s on Lot…this wasn’t an angelic visit, it was a rescue. Lot hesitated and now he’s in a cave, staring out into a fire and brimstone landscape, his wife is a pillar of salt and he just may be asking himself, “Where did I go wrong?” Well in this devotion we see three reasons that you should also be aware of.

1. Lot had no pastor. When Lot left Abram he left his spiritual mentor.

2. Lot had no people. Without any godly friends it has hard for Lot to be a light in a really darkened place.

3. Lot had no power. Lot left God’s will for his life years before Sodom was destroyed.

I can’t stress enough on how important it is for iron to sharpen iron. You can read that Bible of yours all you want, you can put on the mask of Christian and fool the world around you that you’re different but without some good ole’ fashioned tooling and exercising of faith you are a Christian on paper at best. Am I saying that I got it together? By no means!! The more I study of God’s Word the dumber I look but if I don’t clash that iron with another guy whose doing the same thing I’ll never learn how to walk this walk that God has called me to take and neither will he. Today take out your sword and get some sparring in. I guarantee that when the angels show up you won’t hesitate and be left behind to wonder why. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Graduate of The Colony of Mercy 11-2003 and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 47; Proverbs 16

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “Have you paid the cost to develop real spiritual strength? Or are you like Lot, tormented by what you see around you but powerless to do anything about it? Could it be that you need some spiritual mentoring? Maybe it’s time for you to make a more serious commitment to the spiritual family God has called you to. Whatever the case is, it’s not too late for you to return to God and the center of His will, where you will find true power in Him.”~Pastor Jim Laffoon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ~Hebrews 13:18 (NKJV) 

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

Someone once said that life is the sum total of the choices we make. We are the product of our decisions. In this concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is pointing out that we have the option to make wise choices or foolish choices. He also made it very clear that our choices have consequences.

Are you building on a solid foundation? Will your life withstand the storms and trials that will come your way?

In the story before us, Jesus compared wise choices and foolish choices. The wise man built his house on rock. The foolish man built his house on sand. Each man had the opportunity to make a decision that would have a lasting effect upon his life. One man made a wise decision. One man made a foolish decision.

What is a solid foundation? Jesus tells the answer to this question in verse 24, “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” In Luke 6:48a Jesus added, He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. The foundation that will withstand the storms of life is a life that is lived in disciplined obedience to the revealed Word of God.

The foundation of a building is not the most glamorous or attractive part of a building. It is usually hidden from view and rarely receives compliments, but it is the most important part of the building. The foundation determines the strength and durability of the building. And so it is with life, we tend to focus on appearance and style and convenience rather than the less popular fundamentals.

If you desire a life that will withstand the trials and tests of time, then you must live a life of disciplined obedience to God’s

Word. Jesus said any other choice will be classified as foolish, dull and sluggish. Or, as we would say today, the man who built his house on sand made a stupid decision.

Be a wise Christian; build your life on the Rock.

Written by Dr. Roger D. Willmore: Dr. Willmore is a well-known speaker at America’s Keswick and has been preaching here for years. Currently, he resides in Trussville, Alabama as the Senior Pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church, a school teacher, and a professor at Kiev Christian University. He is an active Christian Life speaker in many areas of the world including Port of Spain, Haiti, India, and the West Indies. Previously, he served at the Alabama Baptist Pastor’s Conference as President and the United States House of Representatives as Guest Chaplain. Dr. Willmore will be speaking this summer during our Summer Week #3, click here for more info

Today’s devotional was taken from our Real Victory for Real Life Volume II. Real Victory offers 365 Daily Meditations for Victorious Christian Living with daily Bible readings to take you through the Bible in a year! You can purchase Real Victory for Real Life Volume II on Amazon by clicking here

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 43; Proverbs 12

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “If you find your life of prayer to be always so short, and so easy, and so spiritual, as to be without cost and strain and sweat to you, you may depend upon it, you have not yet begun to pray.” ~ Alexander Whyte

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)

Men’s Fellowship Night at America’s Keswick!
Thursday, February 11, 2016 @ 6:15PM
Pastor Lloyd Pulley | Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Old Bridge
Tickets only $12 and includes dinner
Call today 800.453.7942 or visit us on the web for more info http://bit.ly/1E2a7V8

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” ~Romans 7:18-20

In many counseling circles they would have had diagnosed Paul with multiple personalities. Anyway, I belief that Paul was using himself to make a point and I respect him for his honesty.

Should Believers should be very optimistic in their position over sin? Absolutely! The more I study through Romans, the more I began to appropriate our position in Christ. And because we are freed under new management we can now be slaves to righteousness. I believe that if we can remind ourselves who we are in Christ, that we would live accordingly.

We are still in engaged in warfare that will rely on our Savior Jesus Christ. I believe this spiritual application is indicative to how believers live generally. The Lord never intended us to live on our own strength, but to trust in Him through all things. Paul is sharing his personal testimony, very transparently, to illustrate even he had to completely depend on Jesus. No one is exempt from the struggles of life, but to use them as a learning curve, is beneficial.

I personally understand that the flesh doesn’t get saved, however we have all the essential tools to live under grace in Jesus Christ. This life is victorious because we know the ending. We win! Listening to Paul share reminds me to be honest where we struggle and to press on towards the life that is pleasing to God. Press on my friend!

Written by Juan Mendez:  Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 42; Proverbs 11

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth. ~Andrew Murray

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” ~Isaiah 33:14 (NKJV)

The last time I was with you I had been sharing about some things that go great on pizza. One of them was Himalayan Pink Salt. As of this writing I still haven’t done the 5:1 ratio of salt to honey but that wasn’t the only thing being shared. I began a look into Psalm 15 and gave a background of the benefits of being a man who can say yes to finding salvation in Jesus and begin to walk uprightly with a Mighty God. I have been referring to a book that Charles Swindoll wrote titled “Living Beyond The Daily Grind” and he has a framework in a chapter called “The Grind of Weakened Integrity” that we can take a look at as we read Psalm 15 and see the possibilities of application in our daily walk.

This Psalm starts with a question and it’s a prayerful one directed to YHVH. I almost wanna say the prayer is directed to God the Father (proper) but as you read the rest of this Psalm you’ll see the need of all three in the Godhead to help guide and strengthen as you walk. So I dare to say that this Psalm isn’t just addressing the Father but also acknowledging the teaching of The Son and the guidance of The Holy Spirit. (That’s not Swindoll’s take that’s mine) So the question is asked, “YHVH, who is invited to stay in Your dwelling? Who is granted passage to Your holy mountain?” Well David gives the answer and for any of you who know the term “This one goes to eleven” get ready, because this list goes to eleven.

1. The one who lives with integrity: this has to do with who we are and where we go

2. The one who does what is right: self-explanatory isn’t it?

3. The one who speaks truth in his heart: find a warning in Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

4. The one who doesn’t speak ill about others: the tongue can be an ugly rudder

5. The one who doesn’t wrong his neighbor: at least not consciously, right?

6. The one who doesn’t slander his friend: in the thick or the thin of it.

7. The one who doesn’t hang with the loathsome: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor 15:33)

8. The one who hangs with those who fear The LORD: You’ll know them and they’ll know you!!

9. The one who keeps his word, none the matter of cost: or inconvenience

10. The one who gives with agape (that includes money): but you can use discernment with this one

11. The one who chose’s NOT to be a mercenary: this one pertains to “influence peddling”. Secularland is full of those who will think it’s okay to rest upon “Everyone having a price” but for those of us who name The Name we should be content with our “Christian Clout” standing on Biblical principle rather earthly gain.

As we walk throughout Secularland we should keep asking ourselves this question, “Who is the man who will abide with and dwell in the presence of God?” Hopefully our heart will give this response: it’s the guy who has woven integrity, righteousness, and truth into the fabric of his life. This quality of these things will be expressed in the walk, works, and speech of the man. If we stretch this fabric metaphor a little, we see the biblical qualities of godliness are nothing less than an essential organic part of the man, just as each thread of fabric combines with the rest to form the whole. (Sounds very Ecclesiastic doesn’t it?) But we also shouldn’t think of these things as additions to our lives or character, but indispensable and necessary components of our person to reinforce our faith. The life of a godly man is not what he does, but what he is.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:18) Why does this verse come to mind when I think of walking with integrity I couldn’t tell you but I’ll tell ya that it does pop up in my mind. James is one tough book but its integrity is undeniable. If I fall back and think that trying to live out this list of eleven things or the doctrine found in James is a piece of cake I fool only myself. After a while what can’t be lived out will bubble out of me in some way, shape or form. But if I can just rest on this promise found at the end of Psalm 15:5, “He who does these things shall never be shaken.”

Written by Chris Hughes: Graduate of The Colony of Mercy 11-2003 and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 41; Proverbs 10

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “Those who bring these areas under control of the Holy Spirit will live wholesome lives as solid citizens of heaven. Or, using Ben Franklin’s suggestion, whoever lives like this will be considered a “Christian gentleman.” Such people are rare, indeed. No wonder they are not easily shaken!”~Charles Swindoll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)

To please God… to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son- it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. ~C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress… Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. ~Paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Romans 7

Oh beloved, it is true. We were not only stuck in our old life. We were in the worst of marriages. We were bound to a taskmaster whose only purpose was to show us our failures. And even beyond the purpose of the taskmaster, there was this terrible “me” within the whole equation that seemed to even egg me on to my failure.

The husband was merciless.

Everything we tried to do to please this spouse was fruitless. The very things we wanted to do, we failed at miserably. And our highest aspirations fell so pitifully short as to invite the groans of an embarrassed audience in the heavenlies.

There was no way out. And things were worse than bad. We were doomed. We were at the very beck and call of the wild animal of “self” within us. We were so stuck. Oh, we tried to act like we were not entrapped. But this never worked.

Further, we sometimes even tried to find another husband. We looked at other codes and ways to pray and chant and fast and give our way to freedom. This didn’t work either. And we knew, that while the feelings we had in regard to our spouse, we knew that we knew that we knew every letter of the Law he was – was totally right and true and noble and just and pure and lovely.

Then everything changed. One day we looked at the reality of our bondage to the law and realized that both it and the Prophets spoke of something else. Actually, The Law and The Prophets spoke of someone else. They pointed to this One who would be both the very anointed of The L_RD and G_d Himself.

And we found that this Same One did die that we might live. It was a torrential death, that pulled us through it as well. We died with Him, Jesus, when He died. But it did not stop there. This same Jesus conquered death completely and did bring us through to eternal life as well!

Can we see it? Just as a dying spouse is freed from a taskmaster spouse, our life was freed from the horrible condemnation of the Holy Law of G_d in our death with Christ. We can see this perhaps, but we can also be missing the purpose of the death-to-life transition which has come through our faith in Christ.

He wants more than our freedom

He wants more than our forgiveness

He wants more than our salvation.

He wants us. Literally. And not that we might become slave again to some harsh master of rules that beats us up about our failures. No. This Suitor wants to ravish us with His Great Love. And in lavishing us with that which is Love and Life Himself, our lives too begin to actually and truly bear the fruit of heaven.

So, are you feeling beat up by your faith beloved? Perhaps it is time to see Who you are really married to now that you have trusted Christ. You are no longer married to the Law, you are the freely Loved spouse of the King of The Universe.

Tonight is your night. Time to believe in the lavish Love and freedom you have in Him. And this new Love will have no end.

Written by Makala Doulos | Makala Doulos is a child of God, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and a teacher to his students. But mostly, he is a prisoner set free by Jesus. Love has invaded his life, crushed it, and made it new. Now, God’s Love is what constrains him to live in full surrender to the freedom The Father and Son and Holy Spirit have bought for us all. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 40; Proverbs 9

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: We are the process of thickening so that we can share in the substance. Becoming heavenly fire so that we can rejoice in the heavenly fire. ~Peter Kreeft

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)

“The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” ~1 Corinthians 6:20 (The Message)

I have avoided talking about this issue because it is very personal. But I am at the point on my journey that I feel it is time to at least talk about it, and hopefully create some dialog with some of you who have been where I am – and maybe you are on the other side.

I have struggled with my weight for too many years. I must confess that food has been one of the idols of my heart. I love food and to some of you, you would say, it has been obvious.

I had to get to the place like every man who struggles with addiction, where I came to the end of myself and surrendered this area of my life to God. Bottom line – gluttony, while the “acceptable” Christian sin – is just that – SIN!

All my life I was known by the label “fat boy.” One of my mentors used to refer to me as “Rotund Welte.” Labels at a young age stick, don’t they? They become your mark of identification and we tend to live out the names that have been given us.

This summer I read a book on the subject of soul care. I have read some really good books. This one was excellent. The writer whacked me on the head with a two by four with this profound truth. Many of us spend time addressing the subject of soul care from a spiritual perspective, but fail to take the time to care for the body where the soul resides!!! Talk about a cheap shot – but a necessary one!!!

There are many good programs available to help you to bring your physical body under the control of the Holy Spirit. I did extensive research to find the program that would work best for me.

But let’s back up for a moment. I needed to be sure that I was losing weight for the RIGHT reason. At 61, I am not in it to be Joe Atlas. I am far beyond that stage in my life. Am I wanting to lose weight to make me look good? What is my motivation to lose weight?

As I prayed through my reasons here are the top four:

1. I want the Lord to be glorified. I can’t do this on my own – but with His help and strength I can do it.

2. I wanted to care for the temple that He entrusted to me, the container that houses my soul. For too many years I did not care for my body and that didn’t bring Him glory.

3. I want to maximize my days so that I can serve Him effectively. Years ago Dr. Douglas MacCorkle, then President of Philadelphia College of Bible said that too many of God’s servants die prematurely because they don’t take care of themselves physically.

4. How can I serve effectively at America’s Keswick preaching that Christ can set men free from addiction, when I am demonstrating with my own body that I am addicted to food?

So do you want to know what has worked for me? Well … I will share it with you next week!

Written by Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick. He has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 39; Proverbs 8

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: I’m not losing weight. I’m getting rid of it. I have no intention of finding it again!!!

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ~Galatians 6:1-3

God has known from the beginning of humanity that no single human needs to live his or her life alone, in isolation. It is unhealthy, unwise and not what God intended for us.

Too often in Christianity as we know it today, people choose to live apart from the very people they most need. When we believe we can go it alone and do not need anyone else, we have believed the devil’s lie, and we set ourselves up for failure. Motorcycle riders tell me there is a maxim among the riding fraternity: It is not a matter of if you will fall, but when. So it is with the isolationist crowd of Christians. Eventually, that isolation will do us harm.

Consider the words of Paul to the Galatian Christians. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Look at the benefits of “sticking close.” First, if you veer off course and find yourself caught in some kind of sin, you have brothers and sisters who love you and will gently draw you to restoration. They have your back!

You can look at this a different way, too. If you are “sticking close” to your brothers and sisters in Christ, you may have the opportunity to help someone who has veered off course. God may use you to help someone in desperate need. That cannot happen if you practice an isolated faith.

This “sticking close” has a beneficial mutuality to it. Paul tells us to bear one another’s burdens. By doing that, we fulfill the law of Christ. Only when you choose to live in community with other believers can you fulfill the law of Christ. Isolation prevents you from living out God’s calling upon your life.

Finally, living in community with other believers protects us from believing that which is not true about our own lives. We can think we are something really special when we live apart from those who love us. Engaging in community forces us to see clearly our struggles and the struggles of others.

All of us who follow Jesus need to stick close to our faith family. We need them, and they need us!

Written by Rev. John Strain: Rev. Strain is the Chaplain at the Pine at Whiting in Whiting, New Jersey.

Today’s devotional was taken from our Real Victory for Real Life Volume II. Real Victory offers 365 Daily Meditations for Victorious Christian Living with daily Bible readings to take you through the Bible in a year! You can purchase Real Victory for Real Life Volume II on Amazon by clicking here

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 36; Proverbs 5

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: The only known antidote to fear is faith. ~Woodrow Kroll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith ~Philippians 1:25 (NKJV)