Giving Back -- What Part of the Pie Is God Getting?

Giving Back -What part of the pie is God getting?

Psalm 50:9-12: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from you pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that is in it.

A Pastor told a story about a father that bought his child a large order of French fries from McDonalds. The child and father sat down at a table and the child started digging into the fries like there was no tomorrow. As most fathers do (I'm no exception), he reached over to take a couple of fries for himself. The child quickly reached over the pile of fries and exclaimed, "no daddy these are my fries you can't have any!" The father was amazed that his child was acting this way. He thought to himself that his child was being quite selfish. How dare he act this way? The father thought I bought the fries for him and he doesn't want to give me at least one! Then the father had a thought, how many times does he have the same attitude with God? How many times does he put his arms around "his things" and say, "no God you can't have this, it belongs to me?" I think we forget too many times who really is the owner of the stuff we posses. In this our last devotion on stewardship, I want to ask you, as I need to continually ask myself, "What piece of the pie is God getting?"

I've been asked by people, how much money should they give to the Lord. It is understandable to want to start with the tithe. Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary states in "Revolution in Generosity," A Biblical Theology of Possessions, "It is a shame that conversations about tithing often distract Christians from their real responsibilities. On the one hand, it appears that an unprecedented number of people today think that the word tithe is simply a synonym for gift or offering and have no idea that the word means to give one-tenth. On the other hand, there are still far too many people who have read neither Testament carefully enough to recognize that, in the New Testament age, no specific percentage is commanded of believers. Instead, generous, even sacrificial, giving is what is enjoined (2 Cor. 8:1-12)". What is sacrificial giving? I think of the widow's offering in Luke 21:1-4. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" Can you imagine, giving everything you have to the Lord? The widow knew that God provided for all of her needs. She didn't give Him 10% but she gave 100%. This woman was giving not a piece of what she owned but the whole, she was giving sacrificially.

Suppose you were given a pie and the giver of the pie told you to serve the pie to whoever you wanted. Without considering the giver as you began to serve the pie, you cut a large piece for your career, then you cut another piece for your family and yet another for your hobby and, oh yes, you can't forget to cut one for your sleep and down time and one tiny piece for that new car you wanted. After cutting the pie and giving each piece away, you glance up at who gave you the pie. The giver seemed familiar somehow, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it. You looked down at the pie plate and realized there wasn't any more to give to him. You gave it all away to the other important things in your life. As the giver picked up the plate and began to walk away, you look at his hands and noticed the scars on his hands caused by nails that had put him on a wooden cross. At that point, you realized who He was and all that was left for him were a few crumbs.

Friends, God doesn't need our stuff! He doesn't need our money, He needs our obedience, our devotion, our love and He deserves not the last piece of the pie, but the first piece, and dare I say the largest piece! He deserves our praise and glory! He gave us His son to die on the cross so we can enjoy Him forever. He gave it all for you and me. I want to encourage you to look at the abundant life he has so richly blessed you with. The gift He has so graciously given you. Then look around for people, churches and ministries that need to be blessed by resources that can come from you. When you begin to cut your pie and you think of all areas of your life, consider what Christ taught us when he said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40. Then give that piece of your pie as if you were giving it to Christ. -- Bernie Bostwick is Vice-President of Ambassador Advisors.

Here is the link for Bob Kauffman's article on the current economic crisis: http://www.americaskeswick.org/documents/watchmanvol1no1.pdf

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Isaiah 9-10; Ephesians 3

Great Quote: Don't change just enough to GET AWAY from your problems - change enough to SOLVE them.
Don't change your CIRCUMSTANCES to improve your life - change YOURSELF to improve your circumstances.
Don't do the SAME OLD THINGS expecting to get difference results by doing SOMETHING NEW.
Don't wait to SEE THE LIGHT to change - start changing as soon as you FEEL THE HEAT.
Don't see change as something HURTFUL that MUST be done - see it as something HELPFUL that CAN be done.
Don't avoid paying the IMMEDIATE price of change - if you will pay the ULTIMATE price of never. -- Dr. John C. Maxwell

The Bucket

The Bucket List

If you were to make a list of things you wanted to do before you died, what would it contain? I've given this some personal thought since seeing the movie "The Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freemen. It is about two men, a billionaire and working class mechanic that have nothing in common, except that each has a terminal illness. Knowing they are going to die, they each make a list of things they want to do before they kick the "bucket" and set out to do them all. On their list, they set out to travel the world, skydive, race cars, etc. The movie was very entertaining and made me think of what I would do with the rest of my life if I knew I had a terminal illness. Interestingly enough, we all know that we are going to die a physical death. Because we don't know when that is, however, living our lives as if we need a bucket list might not be a bad idea.

In Luke 12:16-21, Christ told his disciples a parable, "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, this is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat drink and be merry. But God said to Him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." This rich man's bucket list was to hold as much wealth as he could, then relax and take life easy. Sounds something like what we might hear on commercials that encourage us to put as much away in our 401(k) as possible, save anything else we have left over and then spend our time either on the beach or golf course sipping lemonade all day. Romans 12:2 commands us, "Do not be conformed to this world." Not being conformed to the world means that our list should be different then what the world would have us do.

The bucket list idea denotes the idea that life is a journey and the list is part of the journey that is uncompleted or unfulfilled. If our mind is focused on the world, then the bucket list is focused on. I want to skydive or I want to race cars or I want to store up wealth to take it easy before I die. If our mind is focused on a heavenly bucket list then we might think more about a journey that is filled with things we want to do for others and Walter B. Russell, in Revolution in Generosity, explains, "our journey on the road to generous giving 1. starts with faith in Christ, 2. is motivated by gratitude toward Christ, 3. is directed by biblical examples, 4. picks up speed as faith matures, and 5. encounters distractions or roadblocks that must be overcome." To fill my bucket list I must spend every day of my journey with Christ in His word and in prayer. As Russell states so well, "the road to generosity is a journey that few Christians successfully complete. Some never get started on the journey. Probably most Christians start on the road, then quickly pull off at a rest stop and just stay there, idling. A few take seriously their Christian faith and choose to travel faithfully, like Bunyan's 'Pilgrim,' and complete the journey. They arrive as mature believers and generous stewards."

Where are you on your journey? Have you made a bucket list? If you were to close your eyes in death today and awake before the Throne of Grace, would you feel satisfied that you lived this life to its fullest and done so for others and Christ?

Quote: "Even now I cannot understand the measure of a life, but I can tell you this. I know that when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open." Carter Chambers, The Bucket List -- Bernie Bostwick is Vice President of Ambassador Advisors

God's Word for YOU: Proverbs 29; Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2

Great Quote: If I am afraid to speak the truth lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand", or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love. -- Amy Carmichael

Special Announcements: Some of you tried to find Bob Kauffman's statement on the current financial crisis. Here is the link that you can use to check out the article: http://www.americaskeswick.org/documents/watchmanvol1no1.pdf

Have a loved one who is struggling with addiction? Need answers? Need help? Need hope? Then why not consider our FAMILY & FRIENDS DAY -- Saturday, October 11, 2008. THIS IS A MUST ATTEND seminar for those of you who have a loved one or friend who enslaved to addiction. Check out the link for details: http://www.americaskeswick.org/documents/FriendsandFamily.pdf

Sober Vigilance

Sober Vigilance (1 Peter 5:8)

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Yesterday we considered the part of this instruction that addresses the seriousness-the gravitas-with which we live our lives. The instruction doesn't mean that we don't laugh or have fun; it does mean that we understand the need to live carefully and wisely because we have a dangerous enemy. The gravity of the threat warrants careful thinking about all of life and how we live it. We live soberly because we walk in the enemy's camp.

Peter gives us more instruction in the verse. He tells us to be vigilant. We might use the word "watchful" today. The word has the idea of one who is on guard duty and knows that the enemy lurks somewhere in the darkness. The guard can't rest for a moment. Vigilance is the watchword for the day.

The word shows up in our verse in that kind of context-the enemy who lurks nearby waiting for the opportunity to strike. We don't know when he will strike. We don't know how he'll attack. Peter warns us, however, to understand that he's "out there." He is watching. He is waiting. One moment of anything less than vigilance is all the opening he needs.

As I thought about the verse through the day yesterday (knowing I would write this later in the evening), I thought about the areas of a Freedom Fighter's life that might warrant this careful watchfulness. Allow me to share the things that come to mind.

I suggest to you that we need to exercise vigilance in the area of attitude. Pride, anger, covetousness, greed and other attitude issues creep into our lives easily if we're not watchful. The Psalmist understood his vulnerability when he asked God to search his heart. He knew that the enemy of our souls can do serious damage when our attitudes are less than godly.

You may also want to think about vigilance in that which attracts you. I know too many men who experienced the devouring damage of the devil because they became attracted to the wrong things. Those attractions can lead us away from God's call to holiness and undivided loyalty.
Scripture teaches us to examine our lives. When was the last time you gave watchful attention to the things to which you find yourself drawn.

Finally, it occurred to me yesterday that I need to exercise vigilance in the things to which I'm not attracted. Do I sense no attraction to God's Word? Can I go days without a hunger for prayer? Is fellowship with other believers something I can leave or take? I become an easy target for the enemy if I choose not to pray attention to those things God has told me deserve my interest.

Careful, persistent vigilance is the firewall that prevents the devil from invading our lives. Heed Peter's instruction. The cost of sober thinking and diligent vigilance is far less than we'll pay if we live without them! - John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 28; Isaiah 5-6; Ephesians 1

Great Quote: In return for the love which brought the Son of Man down from heaven, in return for the love which led Him to die for us on the cross, we cannot give Him holy lives, for we are not holy; we cannot give Him pure souls, for our souls are not pure; but this one thing we can give, and this is what He asks, hearts that shall never cease from this day forward, till we reach the grave, to strive to be more like Him; to come nearer to Him; to root out from within us the sin that keeps us from Him. To such a battle I call you in His name. And even if at the last day you shall not be able to show any other service, yet be sure that when thousands of His saints go forth to meet Him, and to show His triumph, He will turn to embrace with arms of tenderness the poor penitent who has nothing to offer but a life spent in one never-ceasing struggle with oneself, an unwearied battle with the faults that had taken possession of his soul. -- Frederick Temple

Watchful Sobriety

Due to the potential threat of the storms to hit the Carolina's this weekend, we left today and drove straight through. I decided to do Freedom Fighter tonight in the event I can sleep in. I will share two more devotionals from Bernie Bostwick on Monday and Tuesday. If they have been helpful, please let me know so I can share your feedback with Bernie.

Watchful Sobriety (1 Peter 5:8)

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

How carefully do you think about and live your life? With what kind of awareness do you walk through your day? How much do you see that part of the fruit of the Spirit called "self-control" in your life? These questions warrant our frequent attention.

The Apostle Peter was onto something when he wrote these words. He knew his own failures. He had been around the block often enough to know of other's failures. His adversary, the devil, used the same tricks in Peter's day that he uses in ours. Peter warned his readers to be careful. He knew Satan can lull us to sleep and fool us into living without that much-needed thoughtful self-control.

Be sober, says Peter. He warned his readers, and us, to exercise self-control in all things. One translation takes the "sober" thought one step further. It says "Be sober-minded." The instruction has the idea of disciplined, under-control thinking. It's important to guard how we think because we have a true and crafty enemy, Satan. He knows all the tricks, and they work better on those who don't think carefully.

Let's think about "thinking" for a minute. What might Peter have had in mind when he wrote this warning? Perhaps he wanted his readers to think about the habits they allowed into their lives. Maybe he wanted them to think about the thoughts going through their minds during their free time. He might have seen a need for them to exercise self-control in thinking about their lives as Christians. He well could have had all these issues and more on his mind as he wrote. Whatever specifics may have been on the table, Peter is definitely telling all of us that we need to live life with a level of "gravitas," a "high seriousness about life. To do otherwise gives our adversary all the room he needs to devour us.

How you use your mind will determine the quality of your walk with Jesus. It will also protect you from or make you vulnerable to the attacks of your adversary. How sober is your thinking these days? -- John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Isaiah 3-4; Galatians 6

Great Quote: Bring Christ's Word - Christ's promise, and Christ's sacrifice - His blood, with thee, and not one of Heaven's blessings can be denied thee.

Adam Clarke

Your Legacy

Your Legacy

Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Many times throughout the year, my partner, who is an attorney, and I do Estate Planning Seminars teaching people about what they should consider before they pass away. We tell them that they can leave their assets to three groups of people, their heirs, ministries or the government. They are told while they are alive they can pick two out of the three groups. If they plan purposely, they can choose any two of those three groups. Most often, without reluctance, people pick the first two. They are told that their legacy is the fingerprint left behind on their community.

I've thought about this in light of today's topic and see how our fingerprint relates to stewardship. Godly stewardship has more implications then the secular philosophy of planned giving. As believers, we are concerned with leaving a legacy that promotes stewardship (the use of God's assets) to further His kingdom. This comes in the form of benefiting our families, our churches and Para church ministries at the time of death and is more than just getting the best tax benefits for doing so. It is about glorifying Jesus Christ and building treasures in heaven, "where moth and rust do not destroy". Matthew 6:19-21

When we build for the earthly kingdom, as Scott Rodin suggests in Stewards in the Kingdom- "In a very real way the kingdom of the world is never built, but it acts like a black hole constantly demanding more with no hope of ever having enough. The irony of the kingdom of the world is that it does not let us stop long enough to enjoy what we have amassed." Giving to non-profit organizations is good, but when we think about the eternal consequences of giving to ministries, it is powerful! When I drive onto the grounds of America's Keswick, the sign that I'm confronted with every time is "America's Keswick, where God speaks to hearts and transforms lives". Unless God changes the hearts of men dealing with addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling or sexual sins, then they may fall back into their addiction. The testimonies I've heard from these men have been incredible and can only come from God. I

've also witnessed for myself people being blessed when they give back to ministries with what God has entrusted to them over their lives. We have sat down with two generations of families that have been entrusted as stewards by grandparents that love the Lord. The grandparents want to see what they have been given by God continue to be used for His purpose and glory even after they depart this world. It is a tremendous testimony to see the excitement that fills the air in situations when grandparents, children and grandchildren get together and plan the future with these assets. Everybody is involved and the lesions of stewardship gets passed down through each generation.The important questions that need to be asked are, what is your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? What do you want to give to leave your mark on the Christian community?

One man who I'm sure has left a lasting legacy is Pastor Bill Raws, grandson of the founder of America's Keswick. I went to his memorial service in July and was taken aback by the people lives he has influenced will continue to influence for many years to come. Pastor Bill lived his life by faith. He gave of himself for the work of Jesus Christ his whole life. One of his favorite hymns sung at his memorial service was Great is Thy Faithfulness The well known chorus gives us comfort in the provisions of God by saying "Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

Let us remember that all we've ever needed in life has been provided by God. Are we prepared to continue to do His work with what He has so richly provided for us for His sake? What will be our legacy be whenever we leave our earthly home to go to our heavenly home? --Bernie Bostwick is Vice-President of Ambassador Advisors

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Isaiah 1-2; Galatians 5

Great Quote: The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down. -- George Whitefield

Passing the Buck Part 2

Passing the Buck Part 2

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Gal 2:20

It is easy to get caught up in living the way of the world. Back in the 1980's, Ivan Boesky, a man later sentenced to prison for securities fraud, embodied that philosophy. Time Magazine featured him on their front cover, when he was at his height, with the title Making Millions with Your Money. His life motto was "he who dies with the most toys wins." I remember, as a young man, seeing a painting that depicted this motto. It showed a beautiful home on a beach front with a four stall garage filled with expensive cars. Just like so many Americans, I envied these people, aspired to embody their mottos and was focused on myself and material happiness. I did not care about my neighbor as Jesus commanded. (Matthew 19:19)

To see life as Christ and start living for him, giving for him as loving our neighbor as ourselves, our hearts need to be transformed to the image of Jesus Christ. We can't do this alone, but as believers we don't need to; we have the Holy Spirit. Scott Rodin says in The Transformation of the Godly Steward: Promise, Problems and Process, "Transformation is holistic, requiring our whole being: heart, soul, strength, and mind. If the Holy Spirit is the transforming agent, then every miniscule particle of our being will be affected by His work in us."

He goes on to say, "It calls us to die to the old nature, to the lies we have been told and believed about our vocation." The key point is what he says next, "Transformation involves nothing less than the complete abandonment of our thrones and the dismantling of our earthly kingdoms. It is a transformation from the struggle of two-kingdom living to the joy of one-kingdom service." We cannot live for two kingdoms.

Scott Rodin quotes in his article "Just as Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us, He desires that we learn to be givers in our everyday lives in response to His generosity." Scott says, "When you are freely giving a treasure beyond all value, how can you receive it but with joy, thanksgiving, and praise?" How can we have this unbelievable gift of salvation given to us by God and not have a desire to give back to Him for all He has done for us? Moving away from the self-centered view and becoming more God centered. It is realizing as Scott states "in the end, godly stewardship is all about lordship." This transformation he says "gives us no greater freedom that is available to humankind than that of a godly steward." We are free! We are free to live for him, we are free to give to Him, we are free! We don't wait for someone else to give, because we see this as one of the purposes in our lives. To give generously as God has given to us.

I have the privilege of meeting many different people and I'm blessed by their examples of living for Him and not themselves. I met one such couple recently. The first and last thing they said to me was, "We only want to live to give all we have to God." They have been faithful stewards their whole life, giving all along. As they acquired more they gave more. As they gave, God gave. They recently came into a sizeable inheritance and, as always, they gave. They retired from work and gave of their lives by serving as short term missionaries in a foreign country and are planning to go again in a couple of weeks. They give not because they can or because of tax benefits but for their love of Jesus! Tears come to their eyes when they talk about what Christ has done for them and how unworthy they feel for what He continues to do for them. They will never pass the buck to anyone else. They joyfully take the responsibility God has given them and continue to live, continue to serve and continue to give.

Quote - "Our possessions are meaningless to the One who created and owns everything. But our hearts are His treasure." Howard Dayton This devotional was written by Bernie Bostwick, Vice-President of Ambassador Advisors. Please check out Bob Kauffman's statement on the current financial crisis that is impacting our nation. You can read it on our America's KESWICK website: www.americaskeswick.org

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Song of Solomon 6-8; Galatians 4

Great Quote: "If you don't live it, you don't believe it." Paul Harvey

Passing the Buck -- Part 1

Good morning, men. I trust you are enjoying Bernie's devotionals this week. I have asked Bernie to write a statement about the current situation we are facing as a nation and our economic crisis. I will be posting the article later today on our America's KESWICK website: www.americaskeswick.org

Passing the Buck Part 1

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Gal 2:20

What does our life stand for? Are we passing the buck to someone else?

Often I have to check of my life to see if I'm living it for Christ and having Him live in me, or am I living this life for myself and the pleasures of the flesh. When I live for myself, I become more interested in protecting "my stuff," "my future" and "my family" rather then what belongs to God. In essence, I become protective of all of these things because I am afraid of losing them. My life does not stand for Christ at that point and I leave what God has put into my trust to someone else. I'm "passing the buck." To help us, we must constantly be transformed by God's word, so we can continually grow and be sanctified by His grace. When we are sanctified, then we don't only live as children, but grow as adults in faith. This will, in effect, change the way we live and give for Gods glory.

In the book Revolution in Generosity, Former President of the Christian Stewardship Association, Scott Rodin, wrote a chapter entitled, "The Transformation of the Godly Steward: Promise, Problem, and Process." He states, "over the past twenty-six years, I have had the privilege of meeting many generous Christians. Looking back, I recognize one consistent characteristic: they were engaged in the process of personal, spiritual transformation." It is important in the whole of our lives that we are always growing.

In today's Freedom Fighter, I would like to focus on this chapter. What is stewardship? Scott Rodin tells us that, "stewardship is the daily practice of the steward who places into God's service the entirety of his or her life and resources with great joy." He states "for Christians, godly stewardship is our destiny." This means that we are willing to give up everything to God and to do so, we must be transformed by the grace of God in order to understand the rich promise of change that we have in Christ.

It's important to note, as the writer suggests that, "transformation requires relationship. The God who created us is the God who calls us to be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom. 12.2). This renewal is possible only in a relationship with our creator God. This transformation is not easy. It runs directly in the face of the world. Scott Rodin says, "the transformation of sinful individuals into godly, Christ- like stewards runs absolutely counter to the prevailing values and forces within North American culture." He quotes Tom Sine who says" at every turn we are being tempted, cajoled, urged, manipulated, and bullied into making decisions that directly conflict with the spirit's transforming work within us."

Our lives are bombarded everyday with the thoughts that we live for ourselves. "The secular humanist's goal is a self-actualized world society in which human growth and the liberation of human intellect create a paradise on earth." He states that "transformation is holistic, requiring our whole being: heart, soul, strength and mind. If the Holy Spirit is the transforming agent, then every miniscule particle of our being will be affected by His work in us."This runs in opposition to the statement made years ago, "The one who dies with the most wins". We live for Christ and building our treasure in heaven and not here on earth.

How blessed we are that God has left us with His Holy Spirit, that we don't live this world alone. We don't have to be left alone to fight the battle alone. Tomorrow we will look deeper into what our responsibility is in the process of transformation. -- Bernie Bostwick is Vice President of Ambassador Advisors

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 24; Song of Solomon 4-5; Galatians 3

Great Quote: Proceed with much prayer, and your way will be made plain. John Wesley

Chains

Chains -What holds you down, what binds you?What in your life holds the most value? What are the chains that bind you? In Matthew 19:16-30, a rich young man questioned Christ regarding, what good thing he must do to get eternal life. Christ answered that he should obey the commandments. Christ told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor and then he would have treasure in heaven. "When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:22.

The reason the young man walked away sad was that his treasure, that which he valued in life, was earthly in nature. These were the chains that kept him from following Christ. Our earthly treasures don't have to be just wealth. They could be our careers, our hobbies, our homes and even our families. In the story of the rich young man, Peter asked Jesus, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus tells him "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."

If the Bible states that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it (Psalm 24:1-22), then why do we serve the created and not the Creator? In the book "Revolution in Generosity," Dr. Craig L. Blomberg states in the section "God and Money: A Biblical Theology of Possessions, "that for every New Testament text that explicitly points to the goodness of wealth, four or five highlight the ways that 'mammon' (material possessions as an object of our allegiance or even worship) seduces believers to sin or accounts for why unbelievers remain outside the fold." He gives as examples:

1. The seed that falls among the thorns, represents those who "hear the word...but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful" (Mark 4:18 -19).

2. The parable of the rich fool describes one who is not rich towards God (Luke 12:16-21).

3. The rich man and Lazarus, depicts a man who feasts every day while refusing to give even the crumbs from his table to the dying, crippled beggar on his doorstep (Luke 16:19-31).

Christ clearly gives us examples of how we can fall into sin, by putting our treasure in our possessions. What then do we boast in today? Have we looked at what we have in eternal riches that has been freely given to us through Christ and His sacrifice? The hymn written by Isaac Watts, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" wonderfully sums this up. The last verse states, "His love is so amazing, so divine, that it demands our soul, our life, our all". Nothing less should be expected from those that have come to realize love so deep!

"When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.""Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God: all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.""See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down: did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?""Were the whole realm of nature mine that were a present far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

Quote: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot - Bernie Bostwick is Vice President of Ambassador Advisors

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Song of Solomon 1-3; Galatians 2

Great Quote: The Gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst. -- Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Stewardship Introduction

Good morning from Myrtle Beach. Today begins a seven-part series on stewardship. My good friend, Bernie Bostwick will be sharing this thoughts on this timely topic. Thanks, Bernie

Introduction

This past summer, I had the privilege of vacationing in Jackson Hole WY. The second day there, my future father-in -law blessed me with a gift; a book by Wesley K. Willmer entitled "Revolution in Generosity." Twenty-two authors contributed to this book. Each author comes from a different walk of life and career, but maintaining the same desire to glorify God with the resources He has blessed them with. From the moment I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down.

As a financial planner with Ambassador Advisors, I work with many ministries like America's Keswick, educating and helping their donors and supporters to "Do More" with their assets and showing them the importance of stewardship. I've had the privilege to witness for myself people who have experienced and recognized the generosity of Christ in their own lives and who want to give back all they have for His glory.

My hope and desire over the next several days is to impart some of the ideas I gleaned from this book along with many of the biblical applications it supports. I hope that it also imparts things you may not have known or reinforce for you things you are aware of and are already doing.

The church I attend in Lancaster, PA is having a capital campaign and is using five topics that I think would be good to base this week on.
1. Your legacy - What are you going to do for the kingdom?
2. Your "Bucket List" - What do you want to do before you die?
3. Passing the buck - What does your life stand for? Are you passing the buck to someone else?
4. Chains - What holds you down, what binds you?
5. Giving Back -What part of the pie is God getting?I have found that one of the most difficult subjects to talk about for people within the body of Christ is money and possessions. It is true that many pastors find it difficult to talk to the church body about money issues. I think we need to take a step back and ask ourselves how important money really is in the eyes of God. In his book, "Your Money Counts," by Howard Dayton, points out that God has provided over 2,350 verses dealing with money and possessions and does this for our benefit. He is concerned greatly with how we use His resources and how they impact His kingdom.

The first step in stewardship is to realize that everything in our care is owned by God. The Bible states that "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters".( Psalm 24:1-2). "For every animal of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills"' declares the Lord in Psalm 50:10

Willmer points out that "giving in the Western world averages barely 2 percent per household" Although Syracuse University researcher Arthur C. Brooks recently confirmed that " religious people give more to everything", giving among evangelicals (the most generous group) still averages barely 3 to 4 percent per household ." I found this shocking! We have been so blessed not only with material possessions, but also in the generosity and grace of God and His sacrifice of His only son Jesus Christ for us!

My desire for you is that over the next several days you will be encouraged and stimulated to be rich towards God as He has been towards us. As we experience His grace and love and are compelled to give more of ourselves and His resources, may we all one day hear "Well done good and faithful servant," ( Matthew 25:23) - Bernie Bostwick is Vice President of Ambassador Advisors

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 22; Ecclesiastes 10-12; Galatians 1

Great Quote: As Christians, we ought to be using records to reach people with Jesus; instead, we use Jesus to sell records to Christians. -- Pete Stewart

Enduring Through Establishing

Good morning from beautiful Fayetteville, NC. I trust that you will have a wonderful Lord's Day.

Enduring through Establishing (James 5:8)

"You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

All of us know living the Christian life isn't for sissies. We don't see words like "persevere" and "endure" in Scripture just for the fun of it. Jesus spoke of hardship and suffering as though both go with walking with Him. Both Old and New Testament writers knew of and wrote about the hardship of living righteously in an unrighteous world.

So, how do we do it? How do men and women who love Jesus consistently live above the downward pull of the world? All of us know about prayer, Bible reading, accountability and many of the spiritual disciplines.

They help us along the way, and we should include many of them in our daily living. Living successfully for Jesus requires more than the outward works, however. We need the right attitude.

James caught my attention earlier this week with these words from chapter 5, verse 8. In this verse and the one before it, James urges us to patience-endurance. You've probably heard it before, but it's worth repeating. The Christian life is a marathon, not the 100 meter dash.
It requires endurance, patience and a grasp of the big picture. It's easy to say, "You need patience. You need endurance." James tells us how to develop the attitude that allows us to run the marathon. It comes to us in the second sentence of verse 8.

"Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." We develop an attitude of patient endurance by establishing our hearts. This "establishment clause" brings us to the things we can do, things like reading and studying scripture, praying regularly, pursuing spiritual disciplines like fasting, journaling, solitude and service.

Just like a runner builds the endurance for the marathon by disciplined training, men and women who pursue freedom in Christ must discover the importance of discipline. Spiritual disciplines are the stuff that establish our hearts while we wait for Jesus' return.

I have two questions for you to ponder this week. First, what is your endurance level in all things Christian? Second, what are you doing to establish your heart? Your answer to the second question will provide the answer to the first one.

Establish your heart in the things of Christ. It's the way we develop patient endurance while we wait for Jesus! - John Strain is our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor and Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 21; Ecclesiastes 7-9; 2 Corinthians 13

Great Quote: God is there to meet you in the centre of all your trials, and to whisper His secrets, which will make you come forth with a shining face and an indomitable faith that all the demons of hell shall never afterwards cause to waver. -- E. A. Kilbourne

PLEASE NOTE: Bernie Bostwick, Ambassador Advisors, will be sharing the next seven Freedom Fighters on the subject of stewardship. It is interesting that he wrote these prior to the economic issues we are currently facing as a nation.

Who Is Wise?

Who Is Wise? (Hosea 14:9)

"Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:3 that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. I was reminded of that instruction when I read Hosea in my regular Bible reading this week. It occurred to me that many of us, especially men, consider ourselves wiser than we are. Hosea's words are good for us.

"Who is wise?" Hosea asks of us? "Who is prudent?" he asks. Then he answers the questions for us. That man (or woman) is wise and prudent who knows that "the ways of the Lord" and accepts them as "right." The wise and prudent understand the need to walk in those ways. Those who don't understand this wisdom "stumble" in the Lord's ways.

So, let's test ourselves. Would Hosea label us as wise and prudent? Are we convinced that the ways of the Lord are right? Do we walk in them? Or, do we stumble in them? Our answers to these questions will go a long way in determining the effectiveness of our fight for freedom.
We won't know victory unless we meet the biblical standard for "wise and prudent."

In recent days I've been asking the Lord to show me who I really am. It's not enough for me to think I know who I am. Scripture tells me that I am easily deceived. Most of us know how to deceive ourselves. Hosea spoke to people who had convinced themselves that they were wise and prudent when they were anything but! As we read his words, we need to think carefully and cautiously about our lives.

What evidence exists to confirm that we know "the ways of the Lord are right?" Do we walk in them with strong consistency? Or, do we discover frequent stumbles in His ways? Some who read this Freedom Fighter sense confidence as they examine themselves after reading Hosea's words.

Others feel discouraged. Don't be! If you've taken the time to think about His words and didn't like the conclusions, you can move forward with new, fresh goals in the pursuit of the Lord's ways.

True wise and prudent living flows from knowing and walking in the ways of the Lord. Embrace that pursuit; it's the only way all of us can avoid the stumbles that come from transgressing His ways. - Pastor Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 20; Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 12

Great Quote: Safety does not depend on our conception of the absence of danger. Safety is found in God's presence, in the centre of His perfect will.--T. J Bach

Watch next week for Bernie Bostwick's devotionals on stewardship.

How Can I Find Courage in the Face of Stiff Challenges?

HOW CAN I FIND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF STIFF CHALLENGES?

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Someone recently put this devotional in my box at work. I can't give credit for the source as it was not listed, so I trust the Lord will forgive me. It was a powerful reading that we can all benefit by it.

"Any time God requires me to face trials and tribulations, He always provides the courage to meet the demand. Moses and Joshua were men of great courage -- not merely human courage, but courage rooted in the sovereignty of God.

What can we learn from Moses and Joshua?

DEFEAT IS NEVER A VIABLE OPTION FOR THE PERSON OF COURAGE. Even though Moses faced Pharaoh's mighty armies and Joshua faced many foes that impeded Israel's claim to Canaan, they never considered defeat an option. People of courage refuse to look for ways of escape. They set their gaze on advancement and victory. Never go into battle entertaining thoughts of defeat; you will lose every time. Men and women of courage know their success lies with an unshakable God.

COURAGEOUS PEOPLE RECALL PAST VICTORIES AND GOD'S FAITHFULNESS. Whenever Moses or Joshua would face a new battle or obstacle, they could recall how God had strengthened them in the past.

COURAGE IS A RESULT OF HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. Both Moses and Joshua realized that they could not win in their own strength. They knew God had to be with Israel or they would suffer defeat.

COURAGEOUS PEOPLE LOOK TO GOD AND TRUST HIS JUDGMENT. Both Moses and Joshua faced opposition -- and not only from the outside nations. The Israelites often grumbled and sinned. However, their faithlessness did not sway Moses or Joshua. Every time God calls you to follow Him, expect opposition, even from surprising sources. Yet, mere men cannot penetrate nor defeat God-centered faith!

GENUINE COURAGE IS NOT CHILLED BY INNER FEARS OR OUTWARD DIFFICULTIES. The attributes and characteristics of courage turn a deaf ear to those who refuse to believe God. Take time to study God's WORD and apply HIS principles to your life. You can always face your enemies head on when you stand on the promise of God's WORD.

A COURAGEOUS PERSON APPLIES RESOURCES AT HAND IN CREATIVE WAYS. At God's command, Moses struck a stone and water flowed forth (Exodus 17:6) God always provides for His children, and often does so in a matter that grows our faith.

A PERSON WITH THE ATTRIBUTE OF COURAGE CONFRONTS AN OPPONENT WITH CONFIDENCE THAT HE WILL ULTIMATELY SUCCEED. When we face life's trials as Moses and Joshua did, by faith, we become men and women of courage -- and the victory is always ours."

Are you a man of courage today, my dear brother? Allow God to speak to your heart and make you a man of courage. -- Bill Welte, President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Next week financial consultant, Bernie Bostwick, from Ambassador Advisors will be sharing a five part series on stewardship. Very timely in light of all that is happening in our world right now. Don't miss it.

God's WORD for YOU -- Proverbs 19; Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:16-23

Great Quote: He that carries bitterness to bed with him will find the devil creeping between the sheets. -- William Secher

The Believer's Obituary Notice

Today's devotional was written by Dr. William A. Raws, known to many of us as, Pastor Bill. It is a classic devotional on victorious Christian living.

THE BELIEVER'S OBITUARY NOTICE

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and give Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

A comedian said that the first thing he turned to in the morning newspaper was the obituary column. If he didn't find his name there, he was good for another day. In the spiritual realm there are numerous New Testament verses which declare the fact that, in identification with Jesus Christ, the believer has died to sin and self. His death has been legally applied to us. In a very real sense, when He hung on the cross and died for my sin, I died with Him. I no longer have responsibility to live the life of sin and bondage. Now there is a new life principle within me - "Christ lives in me."

Our theme verse provides a spiritual obituary notice which declares that I am dead to the law which condemns me for my sin (v. 19). Death always changes relationships. That which controlled my life under sin can no longer control me - I died to it (see Romans 6:3-7). In order for this to become real in my life, I must reckon myself dead to sin (Romans 6:11). There are those who feel that they must die to self, and they work at it. The problem is that they are too late. The Bible says that they have already died in Jesus Christ. One Bible teacher thought that it might help if he could rent a coffin and then invite the congregation to file past it. He planned to place a mirror in it so that as they filed by, they would see themselves in the coffin.

But the scripture does not leave us as spiritual corpses. We are declared to be alive in a new relationship - "Christ lives in me." His life is imparted when a person is born again, and it is His desire that His life should be lived out through that new believer. When an appeal is made for a Christian to act independently of Christ, the issue can be resolved by asking, "Whose life is it, after all?" "How would Jesus live and act in this situation?" On the basis of the biblical answers to these questions the response should be to allow His life control - we must yield to Him.

Our identification in the work of the cross and in the risen life of Christ is not a feeling but realized by faith in the Son of God. As a result of faith resting on these facts, the child of God can enjoy freedom from the domination of sin. In yielding to the risen Christ and allowing Him to have full control of the life there is victory. Pastor William A. Raws

God's WORD for You: Proverbs 18; Proverbs 30-31; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Great Quote: The truths that I know best I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well, till it is burned into my heart by prayer.-- John Bunyan

Is There Good in Temptation?

IS THERE GOOD IN TEMPTATION?

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man ..." 1 Corinthains 10:13

I shared this devotional with you back in 2006, but I think it is one that needs to be repeated since every one of us face temptations on a daily basis:

"The word temptation has come to mean something bad to us today, but we tend to use the word in the wrong way. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human. Not to be tempted would mean that we are already so shameful that we would be beneath contempt. Yet many of us suffer from temptations we should never have to suffer, simply because we have refused to allow God to lift us up to a higher level where we would face temptations of another kind.

A person's INNER nature, what he possesses in the INNER, spiritual part of his being, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the true nature of the person being tempted and reveals the possibilities of his nature. Every person actually determines or sets the level of his own temptation, because temptation will come to him in accordance with the level of his controlling, inner nature.

Temptation comes to me, suggesting a possible shortcut to the realization of my highest goal - it does not direct me toward what I understand to be evil, but toward what I understand to be good. Temptation is something that confuses me for a while, and I don't know whether something is right or wrong. When I YIELD to it, I have made lust a god, and the temptation itself becomes the proof that it was only my fear that prevented me from falling into sin earlier.

Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else - what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations - HE SUSTAINS US IN THE MIDST OF THEM! (See Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16) - Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

I know that I needed to hear this today. I trust it will be helpful to you, my brothers. - Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Proverbs 27-29; 2 Corinthians 10

Great Quote: We cannot be right with God when we are wrong with others. - Dr. Lehman Strauss

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

Special Announcement: You can watch our 111th Anniversary of the Colony of Mercy Banquet tonight and tomorrow on the web. Hear 2007 Colony grad, Bill Pruitt, share his testimony and a message from God's Word. Visit our website at www.americaskeswick.org. The program will air tonight at approximately 7:30 PM and tomorrow at 1:00 PM.

Horseshoes and hand grenades

"You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Tom Wheeler is such an outgoing "Pro-fesser" of the love of Jesus Christ. I was privileged to meet up with this former Maryland state trooper last year and found out we have a common friend amongst us, the pastor of my church, Pastor Paul Ort. I found out that Pastor Paul had been mentored by Tom. And although to me these two men are as far apart as can be there is one thing I noticed about them. Meekness.

I tell you this Brothers, meekness is something I struggle with and lately I have had to put it into practice. To have strength under control without causing harm or insult. I've often told my Pastor I wish I had it like he has it. But after meeting Tom, I know where Paul gets it from. And for those who will get to shake Tom's hand, you will find that you are held with a mighty grip but greeted with the compassion of Christ.

This year for family week at Keswick, Tom brought his buddy John. That man was just as gregarious as Tom. And during a game of horseshoes, I noticed this same meekness in John. Now Tom and John went "whippin' on" my partner and me during the game, but it was done in the love of Christ. I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. But I was also privileged to spend time in prayer with these Brothers in Christ. There were true tears of joy shed with these men.

This past weekend it was my turn to put meekness into practice. I had been to a sportsmen jamboree with my assistant production manager. He introduced me as his "boss" to all his gunning club buddies but for me I was a friend of Bob's. These meek men treated my son, daughter and myself with a Christ-likeness that you would not expect from a bunch of South Jersey rednecks. But it was there. I believe He was there as well using me to show His face.

Monday morning was different for Bob and me. I praise God for that. The two experience's over the past month has convicted me that no matter how much "I "think "I "have over a situation I do not. I need to walk worthy and in meekness at all times. You see my struggle? Do you share in this with me? Brothers we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Don't you agree? -- Chris Hughes is a frequent writer for Freedom Fighters and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; Proverbs 25-26; 2 Corinthians 9

Great Quote: Lord, reform Thy world, beginning with me. -- Anonymous

Room Brighteners

ROOM BRIGHTENERS"

"A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13 (The Amplified Bible)

I cut my teeth on conference ministry while serving at Sandy Cove Bible Conference, first as a teenager for three summers as summer staff member, and then for seven years serving as Vice-President of Program Ministries.

During those years, I was fascinated in watching how various members of the leadership team interacted with the people. It was an excellent training ground for what would be my privilege as I have served at America's KESWICK for the past twelve years.

One of the men whose life impacted mine, was Uncle Bob Palmer. Uncle Bob is the son of the founder of the ministry of Sandy Cove, and he was what I call a "room brightener." I noted that every time Uncle Bob walked into a room of people, it was like someone turned on the lights. He has a smile and laugh that downright infectious. He's one of those guys who you can laugh with before he even opens his mouth.

I couldn't help but think of Uncle Bob this morning as I read from Proverbs 15. Consider these three "room brightener" verses:

* "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13

* "All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]." - Proverbs 15:15 - The Amplified Bible

* The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourished the bones." Proverbs 15:30 - The Amplified Bible

You've met them -- as soon as you see them coming, you want to run the other way. They can dampen the brightest of moods, pour water on any excitement or good news with their "glass-half-full-mood-dampening" outlook on life. If you are optimistic, they will be pessimistic. They sigh. They moan. And if not careful, their "woe-is-me" attitude can become as infectious as chiggers! Instead of being "room brighteners" they are the "room darkeners!"

I want to be a "room brightener" not a "room-darkener!" Yes, times are tough, but God is good. Even in the midst of the insanity of life, you can be a "room brightener." Purpose today with God's help to light up someone else's life. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for TODAY: Proverbs 15; Proverbs 22-24; 2 Corinthians 8

Great Quote: When you discover you've been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it. - Phillips Brooks

A Fixed and Loyal Heart

A Fixed and Loyal Heart (1 Chronicles 29:18&19)

Reading God's Word regularly brings good reminders to our lives, often just when we need them. God caught my attention one day this week while I was doing my regular reading. His Word reminded me that I need to respond to His work in me if I want to remain loyal to Him.

The end of 1 Chronicles has David praying for his son, Solomon and for His people. David's reign is ending; Solomon will succeed him and build the temple. The father has done all he can to prepare his son and the people of Israel for the task they face. All the building materials are
ready. The workers are in place. The plans are drawn. The issues on David's heart address Solomon's walk with God, and the heart condition of his people.

So, he prays. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You. And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statues, to do all these things and build Your temple for which I have made provision.

I invite you to consider two parts of David's prayer. First, he prays for his people to have hearts that are fixed toward God. It's a prayer for focus. It's a prayer that reminds me of a good Bible word-steadfastness. David asks God to do a work in the hearts of His people that will stabilize them and keep them attached to Him. It's a work God does through His power at work in His people. In the New Testament setting, it is God's Spirit at work in us empowering us to stay focused on the God who saves us and loves us.

David shifts the focus of his prayer from the people to his son. He prays that God will give Solomon a "loyal heart." Nothing should capture Solomon's heart. God deserves his undivided heart. It's interesting that he doesn't tell Solomon to "have" a loyal heart. Rather, he asks God to "give" Solomon a loyal heart. David's prayer reminds me that we can't do the things that he asked God to do.

The prayer also offers me fresh ways to pray for myself and those I care about. Since reading these words earlier this week, I've prayed that God will give me a fixed heart and a loyal heart. As I write this Freedom Fighter, I pray that He will give those who read it fixed and loyal hearts.

If you're reading this, you may want to pray the same way. - Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14; Proverbs 19-21; 2 Corinthians 7

Great Quote: I've often thought, I'm nobody. Why would God answer my prayer? But God's not impressed by eloquence; he's impressed by our longing for Him. -- Stormie Omartian

Are You And Adrenaline Addict?

ARE YOU AN ADRENALINE ADDICT?

"Cease striving and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Dr. Ed Welch, in his book, ADDICTION - A BANQUET IN THE GRAVE, writes that "addiction is bondage to a rule of a substance, activity, or state of mind, which then becomes the center of life, defending itself from the truth so that even bad consequences don't bring repentance and lead to further estrangement from God."

We think we are off the hook regarding addiction if we aren't drinking alcohol, using drugs, smoking, gambling or dabbling in porn. But there are hundreds of us that are addicted to adrenaline. We are known as the TYPE A personalities. Life for us is constant motion. Rest is not a part of our vocabulary. That is why a weekly Sabbath rest is even heard for us.

In her book, HOW DID I GET SO BUSY, Valerie Burton says that an adrenaline's mantra is "hurry up." We walk fast. Talk fast. Eat fast. Drive fast. Work fast. Write fast. In fact, here are just a few of the symptoms of adrenaline addiction:

* The more pressure you are under, the better you perform.
* Checking items off your to-do list excites you and makes you feel like you are really accomplishing something,
* You feel guilty about taking breaks in the middle of the day, let alone a vacation.
* You feel anxious when you do not have your cell phone, internet connection, or text message device. You need to be in constant contact with people.
* You procrastinate until the last possible start time that will allow you to meet your deadline. You are driven by deadlines.
* If you weren't so busy, you'd have time to exercise.
* If you weren't so busy, you'd have more time to get together with people.
* You are spent and exhausted at the end of the day.
* You're not content unless there is excitement in your life.
* Your friends and family just have to understand, your work is demanding and doesn't leave a lot of time for socializing.
* You need to be doing something all the time.
* You are restless on uneventful vacations. It is uncomfortable to sit around doing nothing.
* You eat on the run - often in the car, at your desk, or standing up at the kitchen counter.

And sadly, we don't have time for God - we're too busy moving through life at a frantic pace. My friend - are you addicted to adrenaline? The psalmist, David, comes along as says - "Cease striving - be still - and know that I am God." Do you need to check in to the spiritual rehab and look at this addiction in your life? Was this list just way to convicting? Carve out some time today to think it through and then make a commitment to get help. Talk to God about it and allow Him to take control of this area of your life. - Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; Proverbs 16-18; 2 Corinthians 6

Great Quote: It is folly to conclude that a thing ought not to be done because it hurts. There are powers to be born, creations to be perfected, sinners to be redeemed all through the ministry of pain, that could be born, perfected and redeemed in no other way. -- George Macdonald

Tapped on the Shoulder

TAPPED ON THE SHOULDER

"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'"
(Jeremiah 1:4-5)

Not often enough can I say, "The word of the Lord came to me." Yet, that is what Jeremiah remembers. The truth is, that word comes to all who are in a relationship with God. He still speaks to His own people: through the scriptures, through circumstances, through other believers.

When the word came to Jeremiah, it was a very specific word. God told Jeremiah that he was not an afterthought. Before Jeremiah was even born, God knew him and had a plan for him. God set him apart. One could say that Jeremiah never had an opportunity to be a rebel. He was set up by God from his pre-natal days. What a way to think about life. Instead of thinking we are accidents or unplanned surprises, let's think of ourselves as products of God long-range planning.

The God who has formed Jeremiah also calls Jeremiah to speak in God's name. Jeremiah's response is that he is not qualified to speak for God. Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps we should leave the speaking to other people. "God could not possible use us," we say. In fact, Jeremiah says he cannot speak for God because he is only a child (verse 6). However, if God has decided to use you, you dare not tell Him he cannot.

The God who calls us delivers us from our fears. Both for Jeremiah and us, the call is not to go into the world with our own words. God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth and he'll do the same for us. Our effectiveness comes not from our cleverness or education but, rather, from our having been given God's words.

The most disturbing part of the account of Jeremiah's call is in verse 10. It appears that Jeremiah is to go to people and situations and tear them down. Be deliberately offensive? Actually, we are not only to be firm and address wrong (tear down) but to encourage, motivate, and to stimulate, building people up.

You and I are like Jeremiah: planned in the mind of God, called to speak for Him and useful to Him. -- Dr. Richard Allen Farmer is a friend of America's KESWICK and will be one of our conference speakers in 2009

God's WORD for YOU : Proverbs 13-15; 2 Corinthians 5

Great Quote: "If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't ...

Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late, the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can!"

Credo that hangs on the wall of Arnold Palmer's office

Remember

REMEMBER

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Galatians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:58

They were an incredible pair. I've never met two more compassionate and loving people whose mission in life revolved around serving and loving on others. From the world's perspective, they were very wealthy. Yet their wealth did not make them "better than everyone else." In fact, most people would have never known how wealthy they really were.

Nobody will ever know the extent to which they helped people. It was anything from buying groceries, to helping you get a car. For some, it was paying their electric bill or their mortgage payment. For at least one person I know, it was almost paying off their house. For many of us, they offered themselves as a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on - a place for a safe hug that brought encouragement and a feeling that you were safe with them.

On the morning of September 10, 2008, Don Peterson stood in my office and shared the burdens on his heart. It had nothing to do about his stocks and bonds - it was all about people - his kids, and his dear friends, John and Josie Caruthers. He shared his concern that John and Josie, volunteers at the Colony of Mercy, needed to be cared for and a place would be needed to provide care for John. We prayed. We cried. We hugged. He stepped out of my office and I never saw Don again.

On September 11, 2008, patriots Don and Jean Peterson, heroically gave their lives for our country as they and their compatriots died on the field in Shanksville, PA, as flight 93 crashed at the hands of the terrorists. They left for us an incredible legacy - God first and people second. Love on people. Care for their needs. Give them Jesus.

This November, a bus load of friends who are traveling with me and my family to Branson, MO, will drive to the crash site and have our Sunday morning worship there. It will be an emotional experience for sure. It will be another moment in time to thank God for the life and legacy of Don and Jean Peterson - Well done, good and faithful servants.

On this seventh anniversary of September 11th, Don and Jean, we love you and miss you, but we thank God for leaving behind your incredible legacy. May God bless and protect America. - Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10-12; 2 Corinthians 4

Great Quote: "There is to be communication of the Holy Spirit with the individual Christian in the present life, and in a sense the Holy Spirit's communication carries with it the entire Trinity. In a sense the Spirit is the Trinity's agent in communicating with us humans. If I am going to walk in this present life according to my high calling as a Christian, I need a strength higher than my own strength. I need the power of Christ. How is this power of Christ to be mine? It's not enough just to imagine that I have this power. It's not even enough to take the second step and reckon myself dead to sin and alive to Christ. There must also be a communication of the power of Christ to me through the agency of the Holy Spirit who indwells me." Francis Schaeffer, The Finished Work of Christ

Worshiping in Everyday Occasions

WORSHIPING IN EVERYDAY OCCASIONS

"When you were under the fig tree, I saw you." John 1:48

I read this reading this morning in my quiet time and it was too good not to share with you. It is from Oswald Chamber's, My Utmost for His Highest:

"We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us -- it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, 'If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion'? Yet you won't rise to the occasion unless you have done so on GOD'S training ground.

If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person's true character.

A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private "fig-tree" life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home.

If your worship is right in your PRIVATE relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.

Are you saying, 'But I can't be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides , my opportunity for battle hasn't come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready?' No, you will not. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN WORSHIPING IN EVERYDAY OCCASIONS, WHEN YOU GET INVOLVED IN GOD'S WORK, YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE USELESS YOURSELF BUT ALSO A HINDRANCE TO THOSE AROUND YOU.

God's training ground is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint." Are you worshiping Him in the everyday occasions of life, my brother? Make worship a part of the everyday fabric of your life. Don't wait to worship until Sunday. Make it an every day occasion. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for TODAY -- Proverbs 8, 9, 10; 2 Corinthians 3

Great Quote: What reason have they for saying that we cannot rise from the dead? What is more difficult, to be born or to rise again; that what has never been should be, or that what has been should be again? Is it more difficult to come into existence than to return to it? Habit makes the one appear easy to us; want of habit makes the other impossible. A popular way of thinking! -- Blaise Pascal

Pigeon or Statute

PIGEON OR STATUTE

"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

Someone once said that for leaders some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statute. Some days are like that - yesterday was one of those days for me.

This summer we had the privilege of meeting one of the writers for World Magazine, Andree Seu. She is an incredible writer who has a full page essay in every issue of the magazine. Prior to meeting her, I'd always open the magazine and go right to her article. She is a gifted wordsmith.

Andree wrote several blogs about America's KESWICK on the World Magazine Blog. The interesting thing about blogging is that people have the ability to comment and react to your blogs online and everyone gets to read their comments. I was stunned at the criticism and cutthroat responses to what she wrote. People were not just criticizing her - they were getting downright nasty and sarcastic with their comments.

I am not sure what has happened in our world - but it seems to me that we have become so free with how we toss around criticism and insults these days. On several occasions I have found myself stunned at the freedom at which people say things to their supervisors and leaders. In recent days I have been amazed at how people so freely and unlovingly criticize their church, their spiritual leaders, ripping them to shreds with their tongues.

Even worse than the tongue is the use of the pen which is mightier than the sword. Men and women have used email as their vehicle to pour out their poisonous and vicious tirade of words to cut the reader down to his or her knees. I have often said that most of us would never have the guts to say face-to-face what we might write in an email or letter.

Criticism is tough stuff. Depending on your personality style, how you handle criticism and the hurtful things people say can be even more difficult. Some can just brush off the comments and let it go. Others are hurt and wallow in self-pity. Some get cynical and say, "What's the use - it's time for me to move on where I'll be appreciated."

During the night the Holy Spirit reminded me of the above verses from the Sermon on the Mount. Is it really possible to do what Jesus said - "bless them that persecute you?" Absolutely not. We can only do that as we allow Christ to BE our life and live HIS life through us. That's the only way that we can live this thing called the Victorious Christian Life. When we allow Him to live His life through us - then we can be "more than a conqueror" and face criticism the way He would want us to handle it. Give Him the freedom to live through you today. - Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 6-7; Proverbs 9; 2 Corinthians 2

Great Quote: By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered, and confidently waiting come what may, we know that God is with us night and morning, and never fails to greet us each new day. Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented, still evil days bring burdens hard to bear; Oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation for which, O Lord, You taught us to prepare. And when this cup You give is filled to brimming with bitter suffering, hard to understand, we take it thankfully and without trembling, out of so good and so beloved a hand. Yet when again in this same world You give us the joy we had, the brightness of Your Sun, we shall remember all the days we lived through, and our whole life shall then be Yours alone. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Don't Stop Being Teachable

DON'T STOP BEING TEACHABLE

"I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me." Proverbs 8:17

Some of my greatest heroes are much older than me. In fact, most of my heroes are in their late 70's, 80's and 90's. In fact, that hasn't changed much in my lifetime.

As a kid, my Mom and Dad always had "seasoned citizens" at our dinner table. I learned at an early age to respect and value men and women who are older. One of the key characteristics that I have observed in the lives of my heroes is that they continue to be teachable even when they are at the age that many are saying, "I know it all."

I think of men that are well into their 80's that talk to me about books they are reading, classes they are taking to expand their horizons, and trips that they are taking that are educational. I think of Dr. Howard Hendricks who is in his mid-80's and still teaching at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was influenced at a young age by men and women from Fellowship Church in Philadelphia. Many of his mentors were folks who made a life-long commitment to being teachable.

In his book, TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH, Dr. John C. Maxwell gives a list 10 questions that will help determine if we have a teachable spirit. Look at the list this morning and ask yourself the question ... Am I teachable?

1. Am I open to other people's ideas?
2. Do I listen more than I talk?
3. Am I open to changing my opinion based on new information?
4. Do I readily admit when I am wrong?
5. Do I observe before acting on a situation?
6. Do I ask questions?
7. Am I willing to ask a question which will expose my ignorance?
8. Am I open to doing things in a way which I haven't done before?
9. Am I willing to ask for directions?
10. Do I act defensive when criticized, or do I listen openly for the truth?

At 54, I want to have a teachable spirit, not just professionally, but in my walk with the Lord. That's why it is important to read God's Word and to spend time with Him. Reading through the book of Proverbs has given me so much insight into the issues of life. This next 30 days, you will note at the bottom that we will be reading two chapters in Proverbs each day. Use this time to ask the Lord to teach you. You are teachable, right? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 3-5; Proverbs 8; 2 Corinthians 1

Great Quote: What is it to serve God and to do His will? Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbour. For it is our own neighbour who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not.-- Martin Luther

The Promise of Presence

The Promise of Presence (Psalm 125:1&2)

My wife, Bobbie, and I are on vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The place where we're staying is on top of a mountain and has a balcony that looks across a cove to another row of mountains. I just watched the sun set behind the mountains; it was spectacular!

The whole scene reminds me of a few lines of the Psalms that I often use when I make hospital calls. I can still remember the evening (almost 40 years ago) when these lines became real in my life. I hope they become real to you, if they're not already. Listen to the psalmist: "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever."

What is life like for you these days? Is it good? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem! Has life thrown you some curves? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem! Do you struggle in your walk with Jesus? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem!

Each one of us who knows the reality of life in Christ shares this assurance. As surely as Mount Zion cannot be moved, not one of us can escape the ongoing presence of the Lord in our lives. He surrounds us right now and forever! I know it's not always easy to keep that reality front and center in our lives. It has never been easy. An old monk who lived hundreds of years ago wanted to live in constant awareness of Jesus' presence. He determined to "Practice the Presence of the Lord" in everything he did. A little book grew out of that exercise, and people who want to know that the Lord "surrounds His people from this time forth and forever" have read it and learned from it.

Others who want live in "this time forth and forever" mode have used what Christians for centuries have called "The Prayer of the Heart." I ran across it several months ago in a book I was reading, and I think I've shared it in previous Freedom Fighter contributions. It goes like this: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It is a short prayer that men like you and me can pray anywhere at any time. A simple little prayer can help us remember that the "Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever."

Join me this week, wherever you are, in living in the surrounding presence of the Lord. -- Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs1-2; Proverbs 7; 1 Corinthians 16

Great Quote: Faith is realizing that I am useful to God not in spite of my scars but because of them. Pamela Reeve

Can You Worship This Way?

Can You Worship This Way?

"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Romans 12:1

A Dedication to God

Oh, Lord, I present myself to Thee;
My Will,
My Time,
My Talents,
My Tongue,
My Property,
My Reputation,
My entire being.
To be - and to do -
Anything You require of me.
Now,
As I have given myself to You -
I am no longer my own - but all the Lord's.
I believe
That You will accept the offering I bring; I trust You To work in me all the good pleasure of Your Will.
I am willing
To receive what You give,
To lack what You withhold,
To relinquish what You take,
To surrender what You ordain,
To do what You command,
To wait - " to You say, "Go.'" - Author Unknown

As you prepare your heart for the Lord's Day tomorrow, think through this prayer and purpose in your heart to start this week by praying it from your heart. Who knows how HE might transform you as your worship HIM this way. - Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's Word for YOU: Psalm 148-150; Proverbs 6; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Great Quote: The great thing with unhappy times is to take them bit by bit, hour by hour, like an illness. It is seldom the present, the exact present, that is unbearable. Anonymous

Little Tim

Little Tim

"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in." And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them." Mark 10: 13-16

With his Dad sitting right there with us, a young man named Tim began to tell me about his grandmother. We were having a turkey dinner with all the works to include some healthy veggies. "My grand mom likes chicken and veggies" he said to me. "But she's not a Christian." My response was "I know how that feels Tim sometimes I wondered about my grandparents believing in Jesus like I do." Tim then went to tell me that he had to tell her if she was not a Christian she was going to hell. "Well at least it will be warm" was her response to this young man of God.

Tim's father, Jason, had been listening as well and was telling his son to keep on praying and watch what God will do. "Hey Tim, can I pray for your grandma?" I said. And with an enthusiastic nod of his head the three of us stopped our meal and prayed. This happened only a few weeks ago in the "Gathering Place" at Keswick and I haven't forgotten it. And once in awhile when I am questioning my position with my Lord and Savior, I think of a young man named Tim.

One time last school year my daughter raised her voice in defense of what she has been taught about creation. She came home upset that she was not received well. "They are going to hell because they think we came from monkeys or aliens, they need to know the truth" my daughter had told us. She defended the faith in school and was slightly chastened. That does not sit well with my little girl to this day.

And when I go to wake my 13 year old son up in the morning during the school year, I know I'll be waking up the next generation of Freedom Fighters. And I'll be making sure that, as his earthly father, I guide him through the understanding of putting on the armor. That no matter what they say it is God who works in you for His good purpose. That it is better to trust the Lord than to put your confidence in anything else. Maybe that's just the best educational thing a father can do. What are doing for the little children brother? Are you doing what Jesus did?

Here's a good quote;
"You cannot, with integrity, tell your child that if he tries enough, if he is good enough, if he really wants it, he can be what God has called him to be. He can't. It is not native to him apart from God's grace and enablement. Nor can you make the more common mistake. You cannot try to build good qualities of character within him without reference to God. Many people conclude that if their child is not a believer, they cannot urge him to his duty in light of who God is. If you don't call him to be what God has called him to be, you end up giving him a standard of performance that is within the realm of his native abilities apart from God's grace." -- Shepherding A Child's Heart --Ted Tripp -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God's WORD for YOU -- Psalm 146-147; Proverbs 5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Great Quote: Prayer must carry on our work as much as preaching; he preacheth not heartily to his people that will not pray for them. Richard Baxter

Lord, Keep Me From Evil

LORD, KEEP ME FROM EVIL

" ... keep me from evil, that I will not cause pain!" 1 Chronicles 4:4

I think you already know this, guys -- "sin is always crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7) And we can testify that even though we are to be dead to sin and alive to God, "sin so easily entangles us" (Hebrews 12:2) if we allow it to reign in our hearts.

I have shared these principles before, but they are worth repeating again and again:

1. Sin will always take you further than you want to go.
2. Sin will always cost you more than you are willing to pay.
3. Sin will always keep you longer than you are willing to stay.

As I have been reading through the Psalms each day coupled with Proverbs, I have notice how many times David has asked the Lord to keep, guard, protect and deliver him from evil. This comes from the pen on the one whom God referred to as "a man after His own heart," yet the King who fell into sin with Bathsheba which then resulted in the murder of her husband, Urriah.

I realize every day how easily it would be for me to fail and be another statistic. During the past several months, I have been daily praying and asking the Lord to guard, keep, preserve, rescue and deliver me from temptation and evil. I want to be "more than a conqueror."

Yesterday I read a powerful prayer in Psalm 141:3-4. I am working on memorizing this prayer:

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to ANY evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies."

I want to take this prayer apart during the next couple of times I share Freedom Fighters with you. It is one of those prayers that I believe is important to pray often, if not daily. Will you join me in memorizing and praying it? I trust I can count on you! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Psalm 143-145; Proverbs 4; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

Great Quote: The story is told of a farmer who was known for his generous giving and whose friends could not understand how he could give so much and yet remain so prosperous. One day a spokesman for his friends said. "We can't understand you. You give far more than any of the rest of us and yet you always seem to have more to give." "Oh that is easy to explain," the farmer said. "I keep shoveling into God's bin and God keeps shoveling back into mine and God has the bigger shovel." -- Herbert Lockyer

Ten Keys to Perseverance

Ten Keys to Perseverance

"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins." -- 2 Peter 1:5-9

Webster defines the perseverance this way: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. As Freedom Fighters, we need to develop the quality of perseverance in our lives. Many years ago, Dr.
Ron Blue (Dallas Seminary not the money Ron Blue) shared that he took the qualities listed in the verses above and assigned them to a day of the week. Thursday was his day to pray that the Holy Spirit would help him to develop perseverance in his life.

Dr. Jim Leary shared a powerful series of messages this weekend for our Labor Day Weekend conference. On Sunday morning he shared Ten Keys to Perseverance. Think on the ten points and put them into practice. Better yet, why not do as Ron Blue suggested and pray each day for the Holy Spirit to build one of these seven qualities into your life.

Ten Keys to Perseverance
1. Begin every day with prayer and reading God's Word.
2. Talk about positive things all day.
3. Look at your problems as opportunities.
4. Focus every ounce of strength on working through your
challenges.
5. Look for good things in all your relationships.
6. Practice patience when you feel stressed.
7. View health problems as opportunities to trust the Lord.
8. You need praise and encouragement: Learn to share these things
with others.
9. Find those who know the joy of the Lord and learn from them.
10. The ultimate key to perseverance is spending time with God

Will you be known as a man of perseverance? I trust you will. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Psalm 140-142; Proverbs 3; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Great Quote: How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.... For Him time does not pass, it remains.... God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. -- A. W. Tozer

Ten Reasons for Hope

TEN REASONS FOR HOPE

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

Dr. Robertson McQuilken, one of my spiritual heroes, was a speaker this summer at America's KESWICK. He shared a message on Thursday evening entitled TEN REASONS FOR HOPE that really touched my heart.

Think about these as you begin this new week on your journey with Christ:

1. It could be so much worse.
2. Blessings are abundant-focus on them.
3. God is faithful-rely on him.
4. God is good.
5. Suffering is not forever.
6. God weeps with you.
7. Trouble is part of our human existence.
8. You deserve more trouble than you get.
9. Always remember--God is with you.
10. You are redeemed, you have hope...for eternity.

Now re-read the verse for today from Romans 15:13! The God of Hope is the one who fills you and me JOY and PEACE and ABOUNDING HOPE! Revel in that today. YOU HAVE HOPE, brothers! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for TODAY: Psalm 137-139; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 13

Great Quote: No faith is required to do the possible; actually only a morsel of this atom-powered stuff is needed to do the impossible, for a piece as large as a mustard seed will do more than we have ever dreamed of. -- Leonard Ravenhill

I'd like to send you Dr. McQuilken's message on TEN REASONS FOR HOPE on CD. If you'd like a copy, please respond to this email with your mailing address. God bless you.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

Today our nation is facing the potential of another devastating storm in the Louisiana. I want to encourage our Freedom Fighter family to be praying for the people whose lives are in danger and in harm's way today. Please pray for the men and women who will be involved in the search and rescue efforts and for the many Christians who will be "salt and light" at this critical time.

I couldn't help think of the words of this powerful hymn:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain
O'er which our traffic runs amain
By mountain pass or valley low;
Wherever, Lord, Thy children go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand
From every peril on the land.

O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle's flight,
And keep them by Thy watchful care
From every peril in the air.

O Trinity of love and power,
Thy children shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

May our God use this time to shake our nation and even through this event, bring revival and healing to our land. God bless America! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Psalm 135-136; Proverbs 1; 1 Corinthians 12

Great Quote: I went to hear Mr. Moody with no other idea than to have something to laugh at. I knew he was no scholar, and I felt sure I could find many flaws in his argument. But I found I could not get at the man. He stood there hiding behind the Bible and just fired one Bible text after another at me till they went home to my heart straight as bullets from a rifle. I tell you, Moody's power is in the way he has his Bible at the tip of his tongue. Anonymous Convert