DOES HE CARE?

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Does He Care?

“Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10

One of my favorite authors, Dr. Jerry Bridges, is a champion of the gospel. Most of us only think about the gospel for salvation, but Jerry reminds us that the same gospel that saved us (justification) is the gospel that is keeping us (sanctification).

Here are his words from his new devotional, HOLINESS — DAY BY DAY. The reading I read for today is taken from his book THE DISCIPLINES OF GRACE:

The good news of the gospel is that God’s grace is available on our worst days. That’s true because Christ fully satisfied the claims of God’s justice and fully paid the penalty of a broken law when He died on the cross in our place. Because of that, Paul could write, “He forgave ALL our sins.” (Colossians 2:13 NIV)

Does this mean that God no longer cares whether we obey or disobey? Not at all. The Scripture speaks of our grieving the Holy Spirit through our sins (Ephesians 4:30). And Paul prayed that we “may please [God] in every way” (Colossians 1:10 NIV) Clearly, he cares about our conduct and will discipline us when we refuse to repent of conscious sin. But God is no longer our Judge. Through Christ He is now our heavenly Father who disciplines us only out of love and only for our good.

If God’s blessing were dependent on our performance, they would be meager indeed. Even our best works are shot through with sin — with varying degrees of impure motives and lots of imperfect performance.

We’re always, to some degree, looking at ourselves, guarding our flanks, protecting our egos. It’s because we don’t realize the utter depravity of the principle of sin remaining in us and staining everything we do that we entertain any notion of earning God’s blessings through our obedience. And because we don’t fulling grasp that Jesus paid the penalty for ALL our sins, we despair of God’s blessing when we failed to live up even to our own desires to please God.

Your worst days are never so bad that you’re beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you’re beyond the need of God’s grace.

Isn’t that a powerful word for this Lord’s day! Wow! Thank You, Lord, for this precious truth. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18; Genesis 43-45; Matthew 12:24-50

Great quote: “If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord’s table, any person better than Christ, any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – take alarm!”
– Thomas Guthrie

A Provision for Victorious Living

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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

The heart of the Victorious Christian life is a moment-by-moment walk with the Lord. God is glorified when I fulfill His will and purpose for my life (Heb. 13:21) as I “…walk in the Spirit…” (Gal.5:16a).

The Bible teaches that when I accept Christ as my Savior, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells me (I Cor.6:19). It is also true that I’m indwelt by the “old man” (Rom.6-7). He works to neutralize my “walk in the Spirit” by prodding me to disobey God.

While God’s high standard is “go and sin no more” (John 8:11b), He knows that I will (I John 1:8) and has made a wonderful provision for me to deal with personal sin which breaks fellowship. That provision is I John 1:9. I wish I had been taught this early in my Christian life. It would have resulted in more time logged in fellowship rather than a lot of carnal living.

God in His grace uses this simple truth of instantly confessing sin as soon as I am conscious that I have willfully disobeyed God. The basic idea for confess is to “agree” with God about your sin. The issue isn’t feeling sorry for sin – although you might, and that is all well and good. The point, however, is acknowledging or agreeing with God about your sin. The “if” gives me the freedom to confess or not confess. I choose, moment by moment, to agree with God or to be out of fellowship.

The verse closes with a promise that “if” I obey and “agree” with God, “He is faithful and just to forgive [me].” It always happens because Christ’s death made full payment for all my sins. There is the added blessing of “…and cleanses [me] from all sin and unrighteousness.” All the things I didn’t recognize as sin or forgot about, God forgives. The simple act of believing what God has promised in His word spells defeat for the “Old Man.” I learn from my disobedience and move on in Christian life. This is real victory! 
Dave Shoppy was the Director of Development for America’s KESWICK for a number of years until the Lord called him home.
God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 16; Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23

Great Quote: “The Gospel is a fact, therefore tell it simply; it is a joyful fact, therefore tell it cheerfully; it is an entrusted fact, therefore tell it faithfully; it is a fact of infinite moment, therefore tell it earnestly; it is a fact about a Person, therefore preach Christ.”- Archibald G. Brown

Power of Influence 4

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Power of Influence (Part 4)

I apologize that we had a glitch yesterday with you receiving the email version of Freedom Fighter. It was posted on the blog. I want to encourage your to check out yesterday’s entry:

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.” Titus 2:9
We’ve been discussing the power of influence and how take situations in life and turn them into “moments of influence.”
One of my heroes is Pastor Bob Alderman, Minister-at-large from Shenandoah Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA. He is one the godly men that God has brought into my life as a mentor and friend. I have learned so much from watching the example of his life since meeting him twelve years ago.
Pastor Bob is very unique. He is one of the most humble men I have ever met, yet with the humility, he is a strong and powerful leader. I have been in the prayer room before a service and seen him as a “wreck” from the emotions of having to get up and preach. Yet when he steps onto the platform, the Lord gives him a power that is just amazing to witness.
I tell him that you never have to guess on what he stands for. He is humble, yet he is bold. He is firm, yet he is gentle. I have seen him in confrontational situations where he states his case, yet never loses his cool.
His influence on my life is so powerful that I have repeatedly told him that I never want to let him down. He has so influenced my life that I have even had several dreams about him. Last week I dreamt that I was upset with two staff members (and in my dream I have no clue who they were –) for something that they had done, that I stood in front of them a really gave it to them. The one lady looked at me and said, “You’re not going to speak to me like that! I am a friend of Pastor Bob’s and he is going to hear about this! He’d never talk to me like that!”
Well I am sure glad it was a dream and not a real scenario. But even in the “watches of the night” the Lord used the influence of Pastor Bob’s life to teach me that it does matter how I speak to people, even when I am upset with him. Watching him interact with people has been one of the “moments of influence” that has greatly impacted my life. Thanks, Pastor Bob! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 16; Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11
Great Quote: True patience is to suffer the wrongs done to us by others in an unruffled spirit and without feeling resentment. Patience bears with others because it loves them; to bear with them and yet to hate them is not the virtue of patience but a smokescreen for anger. Gregory the Great

The Power of Influence (Part 3)

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The Power of Influence (Part 3)

“In your teaching, show integrity …” Titus 2:7 b (NIV)

I am stuck on the principles that I shared the other day from Pat Williams’ book “What Are You Living For?”

The fourth principle on the “power of influence” is “Take advantage of every “moment of influence.” Let me give you a great personal illustration.

It was Sunday morning and the Deacon came out from the kitchen carrying the bread trays for the Communion service. Since he was running late for the Sunday School class he was teaching, he asked me to take the juice trays upstairs for him. I quickly grabbed the trays and set the table.

I was leading worship at the church and was seated on the front row facing the deacons and Pastor as they were serving the Lord’s Supper. The bread was served and at the moment the Pastor put his hand on the juice tray cover, there was that moment that will forever be etched in my mind. It was at that moment that the deacon looked and me and I looked at him — and we knew we were in trouble.

What he meant to tell me was that he hadn’t even filled the juice cups with Welch’s grape juice (the only sanctified juice for communion. They didn’t tell me that and one Sunday I used store brand. I didn’t know there were two unpardonable sins!!!) You should have seen the look on the Pastor’s face when he lifted the lid and bingo — no juice! He handled the situation so well, stating that someone was feeling really embarrassed.

That evening before I stood to lead the congregation in praise and worship, he asked me to sit down so he could speak to the congregation. He asked people to be honest in answering a question. “How many of you tried to figure out today whose fault it was that the juice tray was empty?” Hands went up all over the room. “Well, he said, “I am going to tell you so you can lay it to rest. It was my fault. As Senior Pastor of this church I failed to check the cups prior to the service. I am sorry that it happened, but it won’t happen again.” He then sat down.

I will never forget the humility of that moment. He took the blame for me and the deacon! He could have ratted us out — but he took the blame. What a huge leadership lesson — a moment of influence that I will never forget. By the way — from then on, every deacon checked and double checked the communion trays before the service!

Think about the moments of influence that you can have on a daily basis with your kids, your staff, your friends. Then use them for His glory and their good. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 15; Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42

Great Quote: If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents – the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts -i.e. of materialism and astronomy – are merely accidental by-products,why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all theother accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.
(Clive Staples) C. S. Lewis

The Power of Influence (Part 2)

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“… encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them by example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned …” Titus 2:6-8

Yesterday I shared with you seven principles from Pat Williams, Vice-President of the Orlando Magic, on the power of influence. I want to go back and share an illustration of the 4th point: “Take advantage of every ‘moment of influence.’

” …. after [the lad] was born he was given over to the care of his nanny, a Mrs. Elizabeth Anne Everest, and it is hard to overestimate her influence on him. She was the traditional image of the British Nanny suggests: plump, jolly, full of stories, and unceasingly overprotective. While his parents neglected him in pursuit of their social and political dreams, Mrs. Everest was the center of [the lad’s life].

Someone wrote that in the lad’s solitary childhood and unhappy school days, Mrs. Everest was his comforter, his strength and stay, his one source of unfailing human understanding. She was the fireside at which he dried his tears and warmed his heart. She was the night light by his bed. She was security. She was also his first contact with Christianity …”

” … she was also a passionate woman of prayer and taught [the lad] well. She helped him memorize Scriptures, knelt with him daily as he recited his prayers, and explained the world to him in simple but distinctly Christian terms. He, in turn, adored her and regarded every word as on par with the law of God.

” … the more important lessons she taught him were also deeply embedded in his life. Years later, when he was under fire on some remote battlefield or entangled in the most troubling difficulties, he found himself praying the prayers he had learned at Mrs. Everett’s knee.”

Years later when Mrs. Everett was on her death bed, [the lad]returned to stay by her bedside until she went home to be with the Lord. He never forgot the influence of her life on his. It is said that Sir Winston Churchill’s “lasting devotion to her is evidenced by the picture of her that sat on his desk throughout his life and lay at his bedside when his own death came seventy years later.” (Quoted from Never Give In — The Extraordinary Life Character of Winston Churchill by Stephen Mansfield — Cumberland House)

Brothers, that is a powerful testimony of the power of our influence on the life of someone else. What kind of influencer do YOU want to be? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14; Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20

Great Quote: “We must remember that God will never drag us along the path of true-hearted discipleship. This would greatly lack the moral Excellency which characterizes all the ways of God. He does not drag, but draw, us along the path which leads to ineffable blessedness in Himself; and if we do see that it is for our real advantage to break through all the barriers of nature, in order to respond to Gods’ call, we forsake our own mercies. But alas! our hearts little enter into this. We begin to calculate about the sacrifices, the hindrances, and the difficulties, instead of bounding along the path, in eagerness of soul, as knowing and loving the One whose call as sounded in our ears”. C H Macintosh

Don’t forget Men’s Fellowship Night this Thursday. We’d love to have you join us! Call 732-350-1187.

Pursue Influence

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Pursue Influence

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh, and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7

Why is it that so many guys get to my age and seem to throw it all away? It’s one of those plaguing questions that I have been asking myself now that I have reached “half-time.”

There are certainly biblical illustrations of guys that made it to the finish line without dropping the ball — But Scrripture sure has the sad reminders of men who did not finish well.

Almost always we blow it because we take our eyes of the Lord and allow our hearts to wrap around wrong pursuits.

Pat Williams recent book “WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?” has inspired me to think through some pretty weighty issues. In one of the chapters, he suggests that we need to pursue being an influencer.

Listen to the seven ways that he suggests we do that:

1. Be careful what you say. “We easily forget that words have the power to cut to the core of the human soul. We need to wield that power for the purpose of healing others, using our words as a surgeon’s scalpel, not a butcher’s knife.” I was recently brought up short because I didn’t realize how my sarcasm can be so cutting. I’ve had to ask the Holy Spirit to help me in this area as it has been a huge blind spot.

2. Be aware that others are watching your example. “Make sure you so live your life as if you are under a microscope, even in your private moments. Make sure there is no conflict between your words and the way you live in your life. Practice total integrity and you will have an enduring influence.

3. Use your accomplishments and your influence to inspire the next generation. I am the product of a generation before me that spent significant time influence my generation. I need to focus my energies and remaining years doing that for the generation that will follow me.

4. Take advantage of every “moment of influence.” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out when those moments come. You can be creative in using those moments that will count for eternity.

5. When you make a mistake, admit it. Isn’t it a shame that some of the hardest words in our vocabulary are the words, “I made a mistake,” or “I was wrong.”

6. Be generous with your time and resources.

7. Make all your decisions on the basics of ethics and integrity, not on personal advantage. Pat suggests that you ask these questions:

Is it legal? Will I be violating either civil law or company policy?
Is it balanced? Is it fair to all concerned?
How will it make me feel about myself? Would I feel good if my decision was published in the newspaper? Would I feel good if my family knew about it?

So what do you think? Are you willing to pursue influence and BE a person of influence in the lives of others? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38

Great Quote: How thrilling to go through life sharing God’s mercy and not having tojudge people to see if they are “worthy” of what we have to offer. Westop looking at the externals and begin to see people through themerciful eyes of Christ. Every Christian we meet is a person in whomJesus lives; every lost soul we meet is a person for whom Jesus died. Inboth cases, we have candidates for God’s mercy. Warren W. Wiersbe

Check out this week’s STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT by George: http://americaskeswick.org/363836.ihtml#h_6124

Join us this Thursday for our Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor Willy Winborn is our guest speaker. Willy is the Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Woodbury, NJ and a member of the America’s KESWICK Board of Trustees. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM followed by the evening program. Call 732-350-1187 for reservations.

An Encouraging Sunday

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An Encouraging Sunday

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders … They broke bread in their homes and ate together with GLAD and SINCERE hearts.” Acts 2:42; 43a; 46b

Yesterday I wrote about praying for your Pastor. I trust that many of you will take up the challenge to pray for your shepherd in 2009. I believe with all of my heart that it can make a difference in his life, the life of his family, in the life of your church … and most likely, in yours.

This weekend we spent some time with our kids in New Hampshire and attended their church. Every time I have visited Dover Baptist Church, I have come away blessed and encouraged at what I see God doing in this congregation.

Because of the snow storm, the attendance was down, the praise team wasn’t all there, they had some tech challenges. Rather than get all flustered, they rolled with the flow and adjusted with some praise singing. Pastor Ken decided to put the message on hold until next week, and instead, encouraged the body to share some of the things God has been teaching them.

We came away so blessed to hear how God has been at work in this body. They have been praying that there would be five people leave DBC to serve the Lord in full-time missions. From what we heard today, at least three families are now on deputation to raise support. The Pastor’s son just accepted the call to serve on the staff with his Dad for a ridiculously low amount of money, no housing and no medical insurance. He and his wife believe that God has called them to serve at DBC and are going to trust God to provide for their needs.

Several of the people who shared today have come from addiction or domestic violence backgrounds. The testified to the power of God in transforming their lives and how God is now using them to reach others with the same message of hope.

This body lovingly cared for Laura, Jon and Tanner during Lindsay’s illness and home-going, and have continued to love on them.

One man spoke with me after church and said, “Our church is small, but growing. We are a ‘poor’ church financially, but we are so rich in how God has poured out His blessing on our lives.”

I think DBC is a small glimpse into the church in the book of Acts. Wouldn’t it be great to see this happen in our churches today? It can happen. Revival can break out. And it might need to start with YOU! My prayer is “DO IT AGAIN LORD — FOR YOUR GLORY! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17

Great Quote: Every logical position will eventually lead you into trouble, and heresy, and chaos. Every logical position is consistent, but it is logic which is in the human mind, not God’s logic. The human mind is finite and cannot grasp eternity, and therefore the finite mind sees the infinite as not graspable coherently. If we could grasp it all coherently, without contradiction, we would be God. The person who insists on being logical to the end winds up in a mess. I am not saying that we should not be rational. I am not anti-intellectual. I am saying that the intellect by itself is helpless to arrive at total truth. Kenneth L. Pike

Praying for Your Pastor

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Praying for Your Pastor

” … and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I am really ticked off! I am really ticked off at how I hear people talking about their pastors and complaining about their ministries. What really ticks me off is that I now know of at least a dozen pastors who would shed their blood for their people, but have been put through the mill in recent days. One pastor was told that he spends too much time studying the Word for his Sunday morning message. I can tell you this … if I had even suggested that about my pastor growing up, my Dad would have taken me to the wood shed (and we didn’t even have a wood shed).

When was the last time you prayed for your pastor? When I came to America’s KESWICK 12 years ago, we were a very fragmented staff. We start praying together each morning, corporately, and many of our department heads pray with their teams. It has really changed the dynamic of our unity. Do we have issues … we sure do! But it is hard to get ticked at someone you are praying with and for on a daily basis.

I want to ask you — when was the last time you prayed for your pastor? If you are not happy with him — can I boldly suggest you pray for him? Pastor Ligon Duncan shared this list of how to pray for your pastor on his recent blog. Try it and then be prepared to see God at work in his heart. WARNING!!! — Most likely he will work in YOUR heart as well! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Pray -1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.

2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

3. That [your pastor] would be a useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell’s gates.

4. That [your pastor] would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

5. That [your pastor] would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.

6. That [your pastor] would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

7. That [your pastor] would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God’s.

8. That [your pastor] would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

9. That God would give [your pastor] guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.

10. That He would protect [your pastor] from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.

11. That no decision which [your pastor] ever makes or desire that [your pastor] ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul into the Gospel ministry.

12.That many would be converted and many built up under [your pastor]’s ministry, to God’s glory alone.

13. That the Lord would bless [your pastor]’s wife, [. . . ], with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

14. That God would make [your pastor] a decent husband and father.

15. That [your pastor] would be a good friend to his wife, and love her self-sacrificially,

16. That [your pastor] would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.

17. That [your pastor] would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that [your pastor] will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11

Great Quote: Let us beware of rebellion against the Lord. Circumstances are of his choosing, because He wants to bless us, to lead us (even through the wilderness) out of Egypt, that is, out of ourselves. Settle the complaint with God, and it will settle other things. Be offended with God, and you will be offended with everyone who crosses your path. Elisabeth Elliot

A GREAT CALM

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A GREAT CALM

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

If we don’t drive into a storm, certainly a storm will eventually find us where we are. We never expect the storm even when the signs are there. Sometimes it’s our fault. Sometimes it’s not. Storms happen. At the time, it really doesn’t matter. We are scared and frightened. Perhaps we are even fearful—is this final? If we know the Answer, we certainly know where to turn. We shout in incomplete sentences, “Lord!” “Save!”

Jesus doesn’t speak to us. It’s not because He doesn’t care. He cares on levels we cannot comprehend. It’s just that He is disappointed, even sad. He’s been with us all the time. He’s shown us His power—time and time again. Why are we worried? Don’t we believe He will rescue us? Don’t we believe He can rescue us? Well, maybe. There is some doubt.

Perhaps there are no more comforting words ever written in response to an act of our Savior. Jesus calms the storm “and there was a great calm”. He’ll do it even if we don’t believe. He will do it in His time and in His way. Make no mistake He will do it. At the core of our being we know He will do it.

But Jesus does have expectations. He wants us to trust Him—even before He shows His power. He wants us to come beside Him and lay our head on His shoulder and whisper, “I trust you, Jesus, even though I don’t see a way.” We know He will save. He will eventually make everything work out—no more anguish, no more tears. We’re vaguely aware of the winds and the waves as we fall asleep beside Him. And there was a great calm. — David Hodges
serves on the ministry team of Winning With Encouragement

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17

Great Quote: The true order is: God makes a man holy by blood and fire and sharp discipline. Then he calls the man to some special work, and the man being holy makes that work holy in turn … Every person should see to it that he is fully cleansed from all sin, entirely surrendered to the whole will of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then he will not be known as what he DOES, but as what he IS. He will be a man of God first and anything else second. — A. W. Tozer

GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME

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GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Yesterday I shared nine tips on parenting from Pat Williams’ new book WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR? The first tip is GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME. (Regal Books)

Under this point Pat Shares an expanded list of ideas by Bryan Davis, director of All-Pro Dad. Here is the list:

1. Commit to a family mealtime each day.

2. Write your children’s activities into your schedule book — in ink!

3. Identify one thing on your weekly schedule that you can do without and replace it with “kid time.”

4. Take one of your children along when you run errands.

5. Volunteer to participate in a regularly scheduled child activity, such as coaching a softball team or helping out with a school activity.

6. Identify one children’s show on TV that you secretly like to watch and make it a point of watching it with your child.

7. Develop an interest in a hobby you and your child can enjoy together.

8. If you work requires that you travel, take one of your children with you when your business trip can be expended into a long weekend.

9. If your schedule is flexible, start your workday earlier so that you can get home earlier in the afternoon to be with your family.

10. Leave your work, cellular phone and pager at home when you go on family vacations and outings.

I think that is a very practical list for us Dads and Grandads! What do you think? Maybe you have some other items to share with us. Let me hear from you. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9, Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7

Great Quote: Kids need to know that we mean what we say and say what we mean, whether its a promise to take them to Disney World or a promise to ground them if they break a curfew. — Pat Williams