May 18, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Got Time for Today?

‘My Heart Cries’ Series

“Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care?” I loved those phrases when they became part of the lyrics to a Chicago tune in the sixties. They were indeed prophetic words for a troubled generation looking for significance, meaning, and purpose. My heart cries when people consider ‘time’ more important than ‘the day’.

Time is everywhere, at least the record of time. Every once in a while, I leave time behind. No watch, no cell phone, or calendar allowed while working on the ranch. Time seems to be getting in the way of times—at least the good times of the day. We are more concerned with time than the events in time that are defining and dictating who we are. In fact, we seem to more concerned about time than God’s concept of today.

I decided to add up all the clocks (including digital time pieces) in my home—there are 25 and counting (no pun intended). I know, the Bible says there is a time for this and a time for that—Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, and we ought to understand time’s importance. But that is my point.

Yes, I would be one of the first to say, pay attention to the moments in time. But I am looking forward to not having a watch or cell phone (whatever your timepiece is) to regulate my every move. We should not fail to see the forest for the trees or fail to understand the importance of the day because of the dictates time.

I am concerned for my neighbor, my grandchildren, and my community. The relationships I cultivate will be the only true record of the time I spent on earth. There will be no remembrance of the last-minute deal I clenched, no copy of my pocket calendar for others to follow, no watch or cell phone of mine that others will want to wear, let alone use. What’s important? Relationships that is all—what they are; what were their impact. As we all know from experience, relationships are cultivated in the concept of today. God’s times are for ‘today’; “Today if you will hear His voice,” Hebrews says.

Next time you get in a hurry—trying to make that next time appointment—I suggest you schedule an event (not time) for a phone call to a friend, a son or daughter, your spouse—just to say “I love you and I hope your day is going well.” Either be a slave to master time or create a relationship for a lifetime. For me the later seems the better use of time.

Always remember Ecclesiastes 8: 5b when considering today over time, “…and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.” Consider this an untimed note—an event filled message—from a friend!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 17, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

My Heart Cries Within Me

“The Need for the Forgotten God”

I cannot go a day without the Spirit of God is saying to me, "Darkness is coming." Everything He is impressing on me is related to His return and the darkness that will shortly be upon us all. In so many ways, the Book of Revelation has or is presently being fulfilled. We cannot ignore what is presently taking place. So many in the Body of Christ have warned us, of these days, while many have long to see God’s words unfold. It frightens me and at the same time, I am excited to be ‘standing on the wall’ watching & proclaiming Christ’s return.

“My heart within me cries”—it cries for Jesus and issues a warning to all, "Christ is coming and darkness (in the form of God’s judgment) is preceding His return." We have much too often turned away from the Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). We have done this by rejecting part of God—the Holy Spirit (the ‘Forgotten God’). Do not tell me you believe in God without the Holy Spirit working personally and dynamically in your life. It is the Holy Spirit that Jesus told His disciples you must have and to wait for Him. It is the operation of the Holy Spirit that allows us to have all that God offers of Himself and gives us comfort—He is the Comforter, Jesus said.

Why has God the Father sent and is presently sending the “early and latter rain” (Book of Acts), so each of us will have ‘The Comforter’. To God (the Father and Jesus), the Holy Spirit is that important! All the ‘Fruits and Gifts’ are found in ‘The Comforter’, which we call the Holy Spirit, are for mankind to survive what is to come (Book of Galatians). It is in the statements of Jesus in the New Testament and examples of the Holy Spirit working in the Book of Acts that educate us to become overcomes of evil and protected from the darkness of God’s judgment.

So, let’s fill up our lives with the oil and anointing of the Holy Spirit. When times become so dark and we can no longer manifest acts of God through the working of His power; it is the Holy Spirit and His anointing in our lives that will allow our lives to have light so we can find our way in the times of darkness. (Remember the story of the 10 virgins and only half of them could ‘go out’ and meet Christ when He returns—it was the oil in their lamps that made the difference). It is through patience and the fear of the Lord that will allow us to be untouched by darkness and ready for His return. The Comforter brings us oil; He is the oil in our lives!

So, “my heart cries”—it cries for you and for me. It cries to get ready! To be prepared for yourself, your family, your friends and your community. Do not let these times of darkness come upon you without warning and when you least expect. Always be looking and always be broken for others. It is our mourning for others that will save not only ourselves but also find mercy for those in need.

I mourn because I care, and I care because the love of God has been poured out into my heart by Jesus Christ. Let’s cry together for any aspect and any attribute of the ‘Unforgotten God’ that does not exist in our lives. I want all that is promised and talked about in the Bible concerning the Holy Spirit. I cry because I am broken, naked, blind and poor without the Holy Spirit in my life, without my Comforter.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 16, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

By Guest Writer: Phillip Lee

The Elephant in Our Homes and Sanctuaries

When it comes to the subjects of homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, I withdrew from endeavoring to be both politically-correct and church-correct many, many years ago.

For far too many youth today, morality has become purely a matter of personal taste. Regarding sexual expression, opinions vary on how best to attain fulfillment, and in the thinking of many people, these differences are nothing more than opinions. From this perspective, regardless of one’s personal view or opinion on sexual expression, sex outside of marriage between one man and one woman or remaining celibate as a single man or woman, have been reduced to a matter of personal preference or expression.

Today, one youth’s promiscuity is another youth’s monogamy when it comes to homosexual practice. That said, in all fairness, the same could be said for heterosexuals as well. But in either case, the facts are undeniably true there is a demonstrable relationship between promiscuity and high-risk sexual behavior. They are synonymous.

As a resident of San Francisco and member of the gay community in 1980, I personally witnessed the tragedy of HIV/AIDS unfold with some of my dearest and closest friends being the first to pass away from the disease. As a Christian, I believe in the sanctity of life. All life is sacred and deserves to be celebrated. I am confident my stating I am a Christian has probably struck a nerve given the odds at which the gay community and the Christian community frequently find themselves.

“I’m so troubled and confused. There are so many mixed messages being generated about homosexuality,” is a frequent statement offered by youth. To compound the crisis, youth today are hearing virtually nothing about the ongoing AIDS crisis. Many of the youth are Christians, each having been raised in Church and reared in a Christian home. Therefore, once again, we find “the elephant in the home and in the sanctuary” that very, very few will discuss leaving them vulnerable and unaware of the very real and present danger.

It is the muted nature of discussions on HIV/AIDS that has led to a false belief that HIV is the problem of other people. Please hear me clearly. HIV/AIDS does not care if you are rich or poor, American or African, young or old and HIV/AIDS does not care if you are a Christian or not. One wrong move and your life will be changed forever. There is great, great reward in living our lives within God’s holy boundary lines.

Tragically, the relatively new drug/medication, PrEP ( Pre-exposure prophylaxis), a pill for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day, has created a false sense of reality and in some cases has caused some to be even more sexually active.

Experts agree that the answer to stopping the AIDS epidemic globally is not treatment, but prevention. They also agree that the best hope for prevention lies in changing human behavior. Never has the need and the opportunity been greater for the Christian community to take the lead in responding to this continuing crisis with conviction and compassion.

Youth need to be clearly discipled in the truth and reality that God has given each and every one of us free-will choice. Without free-will choice, there is no such thing as true, pure, undefiled love. However, present realities dictate with regard to HIV/AIDS that when we exercise our free-will choice, we do not get to choose the consequence that may come our way as a result of our bad choice.

These are perilous times for youth when it comes to the topic of homosexuality and sexual expression. Therefore, in the name of decency, true compassion and humanity, every church without exception should have a very frank discussion about sexual promiscuity and HIV/AIDS.

Why would anyone encourage or promote a behavior (any behavior) which has all probability of dramatically shortening or taking one’s life? Would someone please explain this to me?

And, for the sake of clarification, the silent-mode treatment with regard to sexual promiscuity and HIV/AIDS results in many youths not knowing about the health risks, which is why they aren’t concerned with contracting HIV/AIDS.

Ultimately, practically-speaking, I remain grieved and concerned that American culture, in particular, remains in the very tight grip of political-correctness and church-correctness when any expression of concern or disagreement with any aspect of the homosexual movement, or with homosexuality itself is expressed.

I have said before, but it seems appropriate to offer once again the statement “there was a time when the Church set societal standards.” It is time and long overdue we took the role and the God-given mandate by God Himself back.

Reaching youth is something we all can do and must do to help searching youth understand God’s abundant plans for their lives and to counteract any agenda that desires to ruin all hope for the youth.

To speak the truth in love to a youth is not to condemn the one to whom it is spoken. Not once did Jesus ever shrink back from speaking hard, sometimes stinging words of warning to those whom He undoubtedly loved.

May we, individually and collectively, have the courage and compassion of our perfect role model, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Phillip Lee, Executive Director, His Way Out Ministries

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 14, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Part 2: You Know You’re in Trouble When…

You know you are in trouble when any one or more of these things are happening in your life.

One, you worry more and more and pray less and less.

Two, constantly look for approval from others while ignoring what God thinks about your behavior.

Three, you accept what your favorite media outlets say but you question what God says in the Bible.

Four, whatever is your political persuasion, you accept their moral guidelines, but you reject your church’s position on moral issues when they are in conflict with your political party.

Five, you just have to be right—your self-esteem is so weak that you cannot allow anyone to disagree with you.

Six, you believe that Christ just cannot come back because you are not done with your agenda.

Seven, your daily inspiration comes from the morning news, not from the Bible.

Eight, you find that you have little patience if things go wrong or cost you money—you strive to make all things perfect so you can stay calm.

Nine, you believe that “faith” was given by God so you can have control over what is happening around you, instead of knowing that “faith” is more about ‘your choice’ in connecting to God, allowing God to do what He wants to control, change & make right.

Ten, your humility does not make you better than others, it makes others more important than you.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 13, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

You Know You’re in Trouble

You know you are in trouble when any one or more of these things are part of your life.

One, you wonder why God does not have a Facebook account and/or you have 200+ friends on Facebook and you sincerely believe they are your friends.

Two, you spend more time thinking about the pleasures of sin than thinking on how to please God.

Three, you consider success by how much money you have, where you live, or what you drive rather than acknowledging your success is from God and expressing thankfulness & gratefulness in honoring Him alone.

Four, you think you have forgiven someone who has hurt you, now that you no longer think of that person.

Five, you give greater honor to what people have made or created rather than taking the time to see God in all that He created—you worship planes over butterflies.

Six, you think true love is expressed in ‘the giving gifts’ rather than giving yourself with purity and sincerity in your relationships.

Seven, you spend more time thinking of and taking care of yourself, your job, or your status rather than taking the time to making yourself a nobody so God can make you a somebody.

Eight, when someone is talking about God, you get nervous and are looking for ways to change the conversation.

Nine, you went 24 hours without telling someone that you loved them—without saying it to their face, while looking into their eyes, and while allowing the world to pass you by so your whole attention was on them.

Ten, you forgot; you did not take the time, to say, “Jesus, thank you! I love you today because you have always loved me. Oh, and please, let me love you like you love me, your friend, ________.”

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 12, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

The Normal God, part 2

God wants to be the ‘norm’ in America. He wants to be the beginning, middle, and end of everything. But often, we limit God to be the norm or “normal”, that is, everything that God is should be—’our all in all’.

In the last article, I gave you a short and limited list of the names of God that described who God is. God is much more than that. In fact, I could never describe God—God is much more than any words can describe Him. Nevertheless, I like these words that describe God—the God who desires to be normal in all that we do.

God said about Himself, “I am that I am.” God is also the Creator of everything. God is Never-ending, He is my Path, my Way, and my Eye-sight. He is the Light that shines in darkness. He Keeps me from being nervous and afraid. He is even in my Sleep. He is the Armor that allow me to fight against the darkness and all that is evil. I am Not Alone because of Him—He has become my Friend.

Indeed, He has become my very Life, my Breath, my Purpose and Mission in life. Without God in all that I am, I am empty, alone, without direction and a complete failure. When Jesus found me, I was scared but I knew what He was saying to me was true…I needed Him for I was lost.

This is what I want from God, to always be the “all and all” in all of me. To be the “I am” in who I am. To never leave me alone but to keep His promises and allow me to see, to know, to understand, as much as I can take, of who God is.

This is the normal God—this is the God I am reaching to. Come reach with me. Hole out your hands to the normal God—the God above all gods; the God of the Ages.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

May 11, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

God wants to be normal!

God just ain’t normal in America. Oh, He has come close to being normal, but we keep coming up short. There have been times when Jesus was becoming part of ‘mainstream America’ but then fell short of the New Testament Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and God’s truths in the book, The Revelation. Yes, we have responded by faith to some of the truths within the Bible but having all that is of God in the unity of the body of Jesus Christ has not been our strong point. God said to me last week, “I want to be normal.” I knew exactly what God meant when He said these words, “I want to be normal.”

Let’s see who God is—here are some names of God. Which ones do you not have actively working in all areas of your life or in the body of worshippers you fellowship with? Master, Lord, Over all, House of God, My Mercy, Most High, Faithful, Praise, God of Glory, Living God, My life, Holy God, Jealous God, My Strength, Our Refuge, My Healer, My Provider, My King, My Avenger, Everlasting, Helper, Maker, My Rock, Almighty God, Judge of the Earth, Exceeding Joy, My Salvation, My Righteous, God of Heights, Jesus, God of gods, All-sufficient God, My Sword, Lord of Hosts, Mighty in Battle, Our Defense, My Redeemer, Strong-one, God of Truth, My Recompense, Son of God, God is near, God of kindness & faithfulness, God in Heaven, Lord the Judge, Mighty to Save, With Me, Prince of Peace, My Shield & Fortress, King of Kings, Counselor, Deliverer, He who Sanctifies, High Tower, My Banner, My Light, My Shepherd, Holy Spirit, Our Peace, My Comforter, God who is there, God with us, Holy One, Spirit of God, Branch, Consuming Fire, Father, and Light of the nations. This is the normal God—the God whom we worship.

It is indeed time for God to become normal, that is to say, to have all that God is and who God is in all that we do and who God wants us to become. Give me the “normal God”! Not a limited or depleted God. Do not give me a God who is only half-way interested in me. If I believe, if I worship, then give me the God who is worthy of my worship and praise. I want all that is of God. I want the normal God of the ages. I want the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Give me all that is God or give me nothing.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 7, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Got Enough Faith?

Jesus disciples came to Him asking Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus did not instruct them on believing more but talked about their character. (Luke 17: 5-10)

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

6 And the Lord said, if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamore tree, “Be pulled out of the ground up by your roots, and be planted in the sea,” and it should obey you.

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, “Go and sit down for dinner?”

8 And will not rather say unto him, “Make ready wherewith I may eat, and clean up yourself, and serve me, wait. until I have eaten and drunken; and afterward you shall eat and drink?”

9 Does He thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

10 So likewise ye, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, “We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

Faith is about how you respond to what God is doing or asking of you. Simply stated: faith is your response to the activity of God. It is not about believing more but the capability to believe more.

Here is what Jesus said to His disciples.

One, a mustard seed of faith can move a tree—so it takes only a little faith but more correctly interpreted, either you have faith, or you do not have faith. One does not have a lot of faith or little faith—you either got faith or you do not.

Two, you do not get what you ask of God if you think you deserve it or are indeed good—that you are now important. We must consider ourselves to be servants and never good enough or special enough to get preferential treatment. I am and always will be an unprofitable servant—only God is good; I am never good. (As Jesus said, “Only God is good.”)

Three, we are to do what God asks of us. We do not make the rules or decide the outcomes. If God healed, as He did through Jesus, so must we also heal through the working of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our lives. If God forgives, we must forgive. Whatever Jesus did so must we, even as Jesus carried His cross. Jesus told us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. This is why Jesus said that whatever we ask from the Father, to ask in ‘Jesus Name’. It is His name, Jesus, that we have authority and position to receive what we ask for. This is not us, we are servants, but we have been given a calling and authority because of Jesus, to carry on what Jesus did on earth—to ask for healings, miracles, forgiveness, and power to destroy the darkness—to act in faith!

Four, we must remember the stories of Jesus and whatever stories that have been written down in books in order for our faith to increase. It is in knowing what the will of God is and the performance of His will in the world around us that demonstrates our faith in Him. So read the stories of faith and purchase books that tell of miraculous stories of God doing great things for His creation. This will motivate you to believe and exercise faith in any situation you face.

Be humble, be knowledgeable, be motivated to do God’s will, and say, “In Jesus Name.”

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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May 6, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Steps to Healing & a Request

Everyone needs God’s healing and God indeed heals today. It is normal for God to heal—it is what Jesus did and what God still does today. But why do healings take so long and why does healing not come when I pray? These and other questions about healing I cannot answer with clarity, but I can help you with believing for healing and helping with growing your faith, so healing becomes common place in your life.

There are 3 things we must understand before healing comes our way. One, do not accept what you find out about your sickness. I had a friend who happens to be a medical doctor tell me this once I told him I was diagnosed with a medical condition. He told me three times within 2 minutes while I was talking to him, “Do not accept it.” I ignored him until he told me the third time, “Do not accept it.” There is something spiritual when even though we have a sickness to start from the position, not too accept it. We must be positive, knowing God wants and can heal us. Two, often we will have to overcome feelings of guilt and shame. Satan will always try to make us believe it is our fault just like the woman with the issue of blood. Old Testament law made it unlawful for her to be in public and have anyone touch her while she was bleeding, but she came to Jesus anyway. When she was discovered by Jesus, (Jesus said who touched Him because He felt healing virtue come out of Him) she became afraid and guilty. Whenever you get close to Jesus in coming to Him for healing, you can be made to feel guilty and ashamed—do not go there! Three, no two healings are the same. As sin is complicated so is healing. This is why there are “gifts of healing” and Jesus sent His disciples out in twos. Some individuals can pray for anyone with a specific condition and they are healed, but if they pray for people with a different medical condition no one gets healed. Healings are complicated (consider what Jesus said about healings to His disciples in the Gospels) so do not get discouraged. God will give you a way for every and any kind of sickness or physical problem. It is God’s promise and God keeps His promises.

Here are the four steps to healing: one, you have to choose to be healed. One may seek healing through many different options offered by the medical association, but before God gets involved with your healing, He first asks that you to choose Him. Healing is an active choice to come to God seeking healing just like going to a doctor to find help with a sickness. Two, one needs to expect God to do something. To continually and actively keeping your mind and heart toward expecting God to heal. My prayers and thought processes are in a state of expectation—I expect God to react and respond to what I am asking of Him. Three, one must believe. I pray scriptures and remind myself of stories of others being healed by God. I pray believing, I sing songs of worship believing, and I act in a positive manner believing that God can, will and respond to my requests, (not tomorrow but today), that “God is a rewarder to those to seek Him daily with passion.” Four, I speak (verbally out loud) what I am requesting. I confess with my mouth and not only believe in my heart what and why I am asking God to heal in a specific situation. Saying words out loud is important and Scripture says this is how God responds to us.

I have a personal request: I have a good friend whose son (Justin) has cancer. He is in high school and is a remarkable young man who is doing good with his medical treatment for cancer. His family asked me to pray—I have been praying for Justin for the past few weeks. We need a unified voice in our requests to God. So please pass the request along. Ask others to pray for Justin and anyone who have seen God heal those individuals with cancer—ask them to pray. God spoke to me to write this article and my heart moved me to ask you to pray. When we care enough and move God to act—Jesus always shows up. This is what Jesus would want me to do!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

May 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

May 2019

Character of the Month Series

I am always working on my character. It’s a God thing and a something my parents, John and Erna, gave to me while I was growing up. Character development is a life-long process. We never stop growing and changing—the other option is not appealing to me.

As I look around to God’s creation, I see how God has created all things to continue in cycles and to grow to fulfillment. Somethings last hundreds of years while others for only a short time. But, no matter who you are in creation, there is a purpose for your existence and your existence is dependent on others, and you exist to help others within creation to multiply and make everything work together for one purpose alone—to acknowledge who God is and enjoy what He has made.

But all things have rules of growth and for the purpose they were created. It is the rules for self-fulfillment that must be expressed while we walk this world and find purpose at all levels and times in our growth on this earth. Here are the rules that my folks taught me, which I found to have the most good in my life. Rules for living with purpose:

One, learn to share and keep sharing. It is always nice to share and wrong to be selfish.

Two, stand up for others, especially the ones that cannot stand up for themselves.

Three, forgive freely and often—forgiving yourself and others you love is critical.

Four, you cannot correct every wrong but always correct the wrong that is in front of you.

Five, you will make mistakes at every stage in your life on earth—do not keep records of your failures nor should you keep records of other’s mistakes.

Six, you are never better than anyone God has sent you to help—do not let pride get in your way. So, help without receiving help in return.

Seven, if you do not acknowledge God in everything you do, then God will not acknowledge you in the life-here after. Your life will be joyful when God is with you.

Thanks mom and dad for all you did for me and the rules of life you taught me. I will never forget you both!

Ps. The month’s character article is dedicated to my mom (Erna Wentland) who passed away on April 26th. She was 96 years young—the first step in her journey for living with Jesus forever. You and dad are missed and forever grateful I am for your life’s lessons.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.