Matthew Eighteen 2011

Matthew 18, a summer camp for foster kids, under the vision and leadership of Curtis & Paula Michlitsch just finished it's sixth edition with the 2011 camp. It was an awesome experience with those serving being blessed along side those being served. The Spirit of the Lord was there in worship, teaching, play and sharing lives. No life was unchanged.

The staff this year was mainly volunteers from City Christian Fellowship and Eastside Baptist in Fort Smith, along with a few traveling kingdom servants. Several CCF men led and participated. Thank you all for your service to the King!

You might take a moment to thoughtfully read Matthew 18, the whole thing. I just did. There's enough truth here to chew on today and forever, for your good and those around you. Shalom. -=dwayne bell=-

Click here if you'd like to view some photos of this year's camp!

Remember.Be Thankful

A retired AA Captain, and good friend recently sent me this link. I think you'll like it. It's a good time to celebrate, pause and reflect that "freedom isn't free." Also to remember the love, honor and sacrifice of those we know who serve or have served our country. They did so largely for family, faith and freedom. And for a country of prosperity and personal liberty uncommon in the family of nations and on the pages of human history.

Though we've gotten far afield from our foundations - Faith in the Heavenly Father by our Founding Fathers. There is no better time than the present to repent (change direction), pray, and work - moving back in that original direction. There is hope, because God says so, and because many of us still serve that Powerful and Loving God, "Who is rich in mercy", and "not willing that any should perish."

But that's not the focus of this writing. It's to REMEMBER and HONOR those who have served or fought or died for the freedoms we enjoy. Let's all pause to do that. Tell them if they are living! Pray for their families and friends if they've gone to their permanent reward.

After this season of HONOR and REMEMBRANCE, then let's get back to work in our realm remembering, praying, and working to return America to it's roots. A deep faith in and fear of the Almighty, the Lord of Heaven's Armies.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced... these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom." -=db=-

Leaders are Readers

Or so a well known quote goes. In the last two weeks, I've been intoduced to three books and read them all. They are all quite different. One was given me by my good friend Brian, "Paths to Power" by A.W. Tozer. Two were loaned to me by my beautiful wife, "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo and "The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris. I highly recommend them all! When things come to me thru close relationships, I can almost count on it that the Spirit wants to speak to me from them, and He did. I'll probably be writing short reviews on one or more of them later, but if the Spirit leads you to one or more of them, don't delay. Paths are important. So is God's blessing. And heaven is for real.

His love to you all,

Dwayne

Pray for Japan...Your Kingdom Come

Greetings from Japan... as the days since the 9.0 earthquake and resultant tsunami many have asked me to report what I've seeing and sensing about Japan as my job continues to take me there. My thoughts this morning passed along to a good friend are these...As far as Japan goes, I landed in Narita, Tokyo's Intl airport yesterday, and it was like a ghost town compared to normal. Life in the streets around here seems pretty normal, trying to be normal and get back to normal. They've taken a big hit with the quake and tsunami, but that would have been 100s of times worse had it hit other countries - as bad as it is.

The real threat is the need is to get control of the nuclear reactor situation. Pray for supernatural help and for the people of Japan. Maybe this will open their collective hearts to the Kingdom of God, and away from humanism, idol worship and self-pride? It's still a very serious situation here. I feel we need to do all we can to honor our commitment to them and help get them back to normal, commensurate with the real risk and safety concerns. They seem to so appreciate we're here and doing our part to keep transportation alive and functioning.

Blessings and talk to you soon,

Dwayne

God Is Speaking

God is speaking to us all of the time. The words of God, the speaking words and the written words of God, are always there. They hold the universe together. (Col 1:17, Heb 1:3). Proverbs depicts the words of God as wisdom and that they "Shout in streets and call out from the public places". (Prov 1:20) They are always speaking, always shouting. They beckon us to come and sit with Him. "Come and listen to My words. I'll share My heart with you and make you wise". (Prov 1:23, caps put in by me). Proverbs 2 says "receive My words", "treasure my commandments", "make your ear attentive", "incline your heart", "if you cry for discernment", "if you seek for her as silver and search for her as hidden treasure" THEN "You will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God". God is always speaking through His Spirit and through His written Word. We have to make time to receive, be attentive, incline our hearts, cry for, lift our voice and search. Please don't say God is not speaking to you.

++ Submitted by Bill Stuckey

Brother's Day!

Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare. ~Japanese Proverb

Brothers

Be the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, He's up!" Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Take a few minutes to think before you act when you're mad. Forgive quickly. God never said life would be easy, He just promised it would be worth it. Today is Brother's day, send this to all your brothers, fathers, sons. If you get back 7, you are loved. Happy Brothers Day! I LOVE YA BROTHER!!! To the cool men that have touched my life. Here's to you!! A real Brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks on you. I encourage everyone to send this to the brothers in your life.

*******

I just received this from an American Airline pilot friend, and a good Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. I haven't even checked it out to see if there is such a thing as "Brother's Day?" But whether there is or not, it speaks loudly to men and brothers everywhere. I hope you're strengthened and affirmed by it. Feel free to copy and paste it into a note to your realm of "Brothers."

In 2011 may you be blessed by God Most High, Creator of Heaven and Earth. You and those you love. Shalom. שלום

The Next Years

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

(Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV)