January 22, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Are You Asking?

Is your Christian life stagnant? Do you feel as if God rarely answers your prayers? Is there no longer a spark in your walk with the Lord? Have you given up on praying, reading the Bible, or interacting in a local Body of Christ?

Here are some suggestions to ‘jump-start’ your Christian life: Have you asked…

§ For God to give mercy and blessings to those who have personally wronged you, said lies about you, or harmed your reputation?

§ To become less judgmental but rather more willing to show random acts of kindness to those who are less fortunate than you.

§ To be willing to take risks for loving others or having them love you—to say, “I love you” more often with more meaning and feeling.

§ That your personality would be changed from the protectiveness and security that stops you from connecting to people who love you and look after your well being.

§ For God to speak more often to you and that you hear His voice more clearly and substantially.

§ To give up trying to be on the ‘cutting-edge’ of what is the next new thing for the church but rather to just be consistent in doing His will each day—one day at a time.

§ To be excited about the little things God does for you each day and quit looking for Him to do the ‘big-things’ in your life.

§ That you stop planning how God needs to respond to you, what He needs to do for you (and when), and what God’s priorities must be in order for you to have a happy life…instead strive to be happy even though there is nothing to be happy about.

§ To stop being anxious but patient—willing to wait for God to get things done.

§ That you might wake up each morning saying, “Good morning Jesus”; knowing Jesus is enough for you today—realizing everything else are non-essentials.

…for Jesus to go before you and to prepare the day you are about to enter into.

WWJWMTD

America’s Battle of the Books

Alonna D. Wentland, Business Manager/Owner

(661) 248-1009

www.battleofthebooks.org

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January 12, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

John Hus

John Hus was a priest, pastor, professor, and philosopher, but his greatest impact was as a teacher and author devoted to biblical truth. Born in a town in southern Bohemia in the late 1300s, he preceded Martin Luther by one hundred years, and many historians consider him the first true Reformer.

Also considered the spiritual father of the Moravian movement and church.

The Moravians believed that prayers should be offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because of their commitment to prayer and scripture (members were always praying each hour of the day for more than 100 years), the Moravian community sent more missionaries throughout the world for most of the next 2 centuries. A Moravian community was developed as a base for reaching the Americas with the gospel. Bishop Peter Boehler during his expedition to America helped with the beginnings of the Great Enlightenment in America and paved the way for the conversion of John and Charles Wesley.

In 1402, Hus became the rector of the University of Prague, one of the foremost institutions of higher learning in the world at the time. That same year, the newly built Bethlehem Chapel appointed him as their preacher. From this pulpit, Hus began to demand the reformation of the church, preaching a radical, biblical vision of what the church was supposed to be. Though the Roman Catholic Church banned the writings of John Wycliffe, Hus taught from them and translated them into the Czech language. (John Wycliffe is considered the father of the reformation.)

He also preached against the moral debauchery of the priests, bishops, cardinals, and even the Pope. He decried the selling of indulgences (the selling of the grace of God, including deliverance from purgatory, for money) as a perversion of faith and an insult to God. He went so far as to declare that the Pope might not be a true Christian unless he complied with the biblical definition of faith. (Martin Luther promoted this idea that faith alone not church doctrine is the foundation of salvation.)

Hus’ message became extremely popular and spread into the surrounding countries of Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Austria. As the schism between those demanding reformation and the church authorities grew, the church demanded that Hus appear before the Council of Constance. Because his intent was to reform the church, not divide it, he agreed. (An error in thinking some early reforms counted on but only ended in their deaths.) His king guaranteed safe passage and return to and from the Council. However, at the Council in 1415, Hus was declared a heretic and burned at the stake, the price for challenging the Roman Catholic Church at that time.

Before the flames could take his life, Hus prophesied that the message of liberty and spiritual reform would not die. Instead, it would be “a hidden seed,” falling into the ground and dying for a season, but one day sprouting and bearing much fruit. Church officials were convinced that Hus’ message would die with him. To their dismay, his heroic death only fanned the flame his message had ignited.

(This article was written by Rick Joyner & edited/expanded by SJW)

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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January 7, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Steve’s Motivational Sayings

Here is a list of my most popular saying I used while an educator. Most of them were used with university students or other professors. I hope you enjoy them and please share them with whomever. I also produced T-shirts with some of the saying and passed them out as gifts. Anyhow, enjoy and have a good laugh.

My future is so bright I need sunglasses to see it!

I am cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.

There are three things that kill brain cells—#3 is reading your local newspaper.

Hey God-don’t forget about me!

Hey Jesus-got mercy?

The #1 enemy of a quality education in CA is Sacramento.

Living in the Holy Spirit is like riding a bull for 8 seconds—a very long 8 seconds!

Only in unity is diversity realized.

I’m a Christian first—everything else is second.

God scares because He cares.

(Think like Jesus) What is water good for? Walking on!

Take back your spiritual inheritance—keep Satan a looser.

Is getting your way—getting in the way?

God cares what you care about (all the time).

Get out of the boat and into the storm (that is where Jesus is).

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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The Year 2016: What Can We Expect?

The following statements are designed for encouragement and inspiration for 2016. Each year God does miraculous things for us because of His great love working within us. I believe we need direction and support while we live, breathe, and make decisions that impact our families and others around us. Here are my thoughts for 2016. I want purpose and direction for the Body of Christ, and I trust that one or more of these insights might help you in your walk with Christ this year.

2016 will be a ‘transitional year’ for the Body of Christ. We have had and there have always been transitional years designated by God. There are many illustrations and biblical examples of transitional years. God always says during those years to “Be courageous and bold, be faithful and obedient, and be fearless and dependent on the power of God.”

During transitional years God says, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” It will be one of those years—a time to choose God 1st; a time of decisions—choices between good and evil, and/or looking too and depending on God or ignoring the signs urgency and becoming complacent.

v 2016 will be a “transitional year” for the Body of Christ—do not expect things to continue as they once were. Be prepared and not surprised when things, events and traditional ways of thought take unexpected turns for good or bad.

v It is time to drop labeling within God’s Church. Try to avoid terms or identification wording that divides the Body of Christ. Such as ‘I am a Baptist’ or ‘I am a Charismatic’, rather strive for unity—we are meant to be ‘together in Christ’, not divided or unconnected.

v The ‘Media’ will not give us the complete picture or proper reasoning to making wise decisions. Do not depend on media sources to give you all the facts or means to make good decisions—it is God who is our wisdom, so depend on Him.

v The dependence on the Holy Spirit is critical this year. The Holy Spirit has many jobs to do and we often take little time to connect and depend on Him. Allow Him to comfort you, to guide you, to strengthen you, and bring the peace and presence of Christ to you each and every day.

v Sin will become even more attractive this next year. If there is one thing I feel God is telling me is to be an overcomer in all things. This year let’s learn to trust in God at all levels of life in our walk with Christ; to be fearless—circumstances should not dictate how we feel; to avoid and hate that which God hates; never lie or tell half truths; do not manipulate others for personal gain; and do not lift up or honor anything or political influence that which does not honor or glorify God (we have too many idols in America’s culture today).

v Strive to be ‘all in’! There will be even more and more Christians this next year that will not want to be a Christian anymore. They will say ‘I am a Christian’ but their lives, heart, and words are far from doing God’s will. We can no longer be part of this world and part in God’s world. During this transitional year apply yourself to be different—to be more Christ-like.

In conclusion, during this ‘transitional year’ strive to be holy and pure. Do not depend on what has worked in the past but let the Holy Spirit guide you. Avoid anything, which might appear to be evil to God—you will need His blessings in all you do.

The Transitional Year of 2016 is for the preparation of the coming years of the working of the Holy Spirit. We need to get ready. What God wants to do and is preparing us to do in His Presence (the Holy Spirit), which will be nothing short of miraculous.

This year will be either good or bad for each of us—depending on what we choose. So let’s say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Written by Steve the son of John for the Body of Christ.

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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January 6, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

An Inspirational Story: Billy Graham

Billy Graham had his struggles also. Even though he had been a Christian for years, and was a pastor and a Bible-school professor, he had not settled in his spirit what he firmly believed in. Before the L.A crusade that changed his ministry forever, he went through two life-changing experiences that shook everything he believed in and impacted his ministry for many years to come. (Here is one experience.)

In the late 1940’s, Billy Graham attended a conference in California where theologians were expressing their doubts about the authority of the Bible. “Suddenly, I was wondering if the Bible could be trusted completely,” Billy stated.

Billy began to study the subject intensively, turning to the Scriptures themselves for guidance. He recalls the moment that changed him forever.

I walked out in the moonlight, my heart heavy and burdened. I dropped to my knees and opened my Bible on a tree stump. If the issue were not settled soon, I knew I could not go on. “Oh God,” I prayed, “there are many things in this Book I do not understand. But God, I am going to accept this Book as Your Word by faith. I’m going to allow my faith to go beyond my intellect and believe that this is Your Inspired Word.”

“From that moment on I have never doubted God’s Word. When I quote the Bible, I believe I am quoting the very Words of God and there’s an extra power in it.” One month later we began the Los Angeles crusade.

Billy had to decide what to believe and who to believe in. We often come to the same ‘y in the road’ in life’s travels and the many ‘road-blocks’ that challenge us. Do you believe and if you believe, what do you believe in? I tell myself each day, “God I believe in you. I believe in what you have said about yourself and what you are planning to do.”

It is time all of us become a Billy Graham—to believe without reservations.

(This article was taken in part from the book, Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador)

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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January 2016 1st of the Month Series on Character by Steve the son of John

How To Stay Happy?

Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it’s morning.”

What do you do to plan for a happy day?

Here are some suggestions from friends in order to be happy:

· I believe that I can be happy, “Happy is the person whose God is the Lord.” (Quote from Psalms)

· Playing praise and worship music when I am in my car/house.

· I do something nice for myself each day. Often it is only something small like an extra 10 minutes in a hot tube, purchase my favorite kind of gum, or read a portion of a book with no one around.

· Praying Scriptures, traditional prayers, or in the Spirit daily.

· I’ll watch a feel good movie, one filled with laughter/joy/hope.

· Finding intimacy with the Lord and people brings me happiness.

· If I feel depression coming, I start laughing out loud at the devil. If you’re laughing at the devil it is because the "joy of the Lord is your strength"!

· I like to get up early while it is still really dark and quiet, anytime after midnight before dawn, to listen with a clear mind and heart to receive my daily word from the Lord.

· I stay happy by not turning on the news when I get home. I want my family to bring me happiness and I make time for that.

· I like to be outside with different temperatures, wind, sounds of nature to see the stars, reminding me I am not in control, God is. He is at peace and I can have his peace by casting all my cares on him.

· I purposely remind myself that what I do not get done today, I can do it tomorrow.

· I remind myself that I am an overcomer not by might, not by strength but by His spirit in turning all my fears and doubts into faith and confidence in Jesus.

· I give “Thank you Lord!” statements each day and rejoice in the little things not just the big things during each day.

· I make up my mind to be happy—I do not wait for circumstances to make me happy.

· Helping others brings happiness/peace/and joy for me each day.

· I take time to listen to God. I get quiet and stay calm and wait for God to bring me success and joy.

· I take a 20-minute walk each morning as the sun comes up with my dogs. I pray and think about my day. I try and let the Holy Spirit tell me what I need to do or not to do. In short, I try to get my head and heart around the day God is giving to me.

· I call up a friend that I have not spoken too for a while to just talk and ‘catch-up’.

· I remind God to be ‘in charge’ and offer Him my life to do as He pleases that day.

· I believe—I state what I believe in each day—I tell God who He is and what He has done.

· I tell people that I love them.

· I say from memory a favorite saying or Scripture—this helps me not to be unhappy when things are not going well.

· I just stop and catch myself when I am becoming sad or discouraged. I cannot get things done unless I have happiness inside of me helping to do so.

· I avoid unhappy or negative people. I do not want them to ‘drag me down’.

· I have to laugh at myself. This gets me on track to be happy again.

· I live for the day, not for tomorrow or next year looking for happiness.

“God, grant me your happiness; the happiness that causes me to be happy!”

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means "God with us").

And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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One Day with God

(An Inspirational Story by Zoe Erler and Prison Fellowship Ministries, 2015)

One day in early November, Nightline’s Juju Chang showed up at Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon, Michigan, for “One Day with God,” a day-long camp hosted by Forgiven Ministry that gives incarcerated parents the opportunity to spend time with and reconcile with their children.

One of the participants was Johnny, who is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder. Johnny went to prison before his daughter Arkinya was born. While in prison, Johnny began to make some positive changes in his life, including enrolling and participating in one of Prison Fellowship’s intensive programs. During this time, Johnny didn’t have any contact with Arkinya, because he had lost touch with Arkinya’s mother Chekesha. But earlier in the year, Chekesha, who lives in Florida, tracked him down to let him know that his daughter wanted to get know her daddy.

“My father was in prison when I was a kid,” Chekesha explained. “I knew what it was like. I put myself in my daughter’s shoes.” So starting in April, Arkinya began calling Johnny on the phone to chat, but the two never met in person … until they learned about the opportunity with “One Day with God.”

The moment that Arkinya walked through the doors of the prison and into Johnny’s arms was a truly remarkable moment, said Scottie Barnes, director of Forgiven Ministry. Although Arkinya was shy in front of the cameras, Johnny wrapped his arms around his daughter and began apologizing to her. “Everyone was tearing up,” said Chekesha.

At the end of the event, Arkinya clung to her father, not wanting to let go. “She cried the entire night after that day,” Chekesha said. Arkinya later told Chekesha that she would prefer to visit her daddy on her birthday than go to Disney World.

The meeting of Johnny and Arkinya was just one of the remarkable reunions that happened that day, including a situation where two boys were reconnected with their dad whom they hadn’t seen in 10 years.

“Of all the camps we did, there was an anointing and an empowering on that camp that I’ve never seen before,” Barnes said. “Every minute was a revival.”

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Stranger in a Strange Land

(By Steve Rempe & Prison Fellowship/edited with comments by Steve the son of John)

Imagine being transported 50 years into the future—things that were once commonplace have disappeared, or have become quaint relics of an earlier time. In their place are new items and technologies that you don’t understand and can’t use. The food people eat and the clothes they wear are different than you remember, and at a much higher cost than before. Even the way people interact with one another has changed.

Otis Johnson doesn’t have to imagine such a scenario—it’s his reality.

Convicted of the attempted murder of a police officer, Johnson was sent to prison at the age of 25. Now, at the age of 69, he has returned to a world quite different than the one he left 44 years ago.

“My reentry was a little bit hard at first,” Johnson says, “because things had changed. I got off at Time Square, and I was looking at the atmosphere. … I’ve seen that everybody, or the majority of the people were talking to himself or herself. Then I looked closer and they seemed to have things in their ears. I don’t know with those things—with the phone thing? IPhones, they call them, or something like that?”

While Johnson says he is happy to be out of prison (“It’s nice to be free,” he asserts), there is still a lingering sadness of relationships lost during his time behind bars. “[I] think in 1998 or something like that, I lost contact with my family,” Johnson laments. “Coming out of prison, I was mainly alone. … I had no family—no girlfriend, no sisters, no brothers. [I had] no people that I could communicate [with] that I had years ago. Bothers me a lot because … I really miss my family, you know?”

Even a trip to the grocery store is a new experience. “I eat different things now. … The funny dinners, different colored drinks. What do you call it? The ‘gator’ stuff? Pink, blue, all these different colors, so I started drinking that once in a while—just because it looks funny.”

When reflecting on the time he spent in Prison, Johnson says he tries not to dwell on his lost opportunities. “I don’t feel that society owes me anything. Everything happens for a reason, so I let that go, and deal with the future, instead of dealing with the past. I try not to go backward. I try to go forward. That’s how I survive in society.”

It is easy to forget that even things many of us take for granted can become hurdles for those who have been removed from society for even an intermediate period of time. The wealth of options for things like food, the ever-expanding technology, and cultural shifts can prove intimidating to someone who is experiencing them for the first time. In a real sense, these men and women are strangers in a strange land, learning to adapt and seeking help to navigate their way through a strange world.

Jesus said, “Whatever you do this to the least of these, you do it unto me.” If we forget others, Jesus said, He will say, “I never knew you.” In all the Christmas rush and demands on our lives—let us not forget those who Jesus said not too forget!

(Prison Fellowship seeks to help former prisoners succeed once their incarceration ends. Through in-prison training and mentoring programs once these men and women leave prison, Prison Fellowship provides hope that life on the other side of the bars doesn’t result in a different form of captivity that prevents them from becoming productive citizens.)

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Restoration

(An Inspirational Story from Steve Gregory & Pastor Lee of His Way Out Ministries, 2015)

Good morning Pastor Lee,

I pray this finds you well and enjoying abundant life. As we approach World AIDS Day 2015, I have just committed to supporting His Way Out on a bi-monthly basis, starting today. I also lift you up in prayer. I believe you are doing the Lord’s work like no other. May you continue to educate the Church and, as Jesus did, minister to those on whom society has placed stigma, rather than compassion.

Bakersfield is where I first accepted Christ, at a small Pentecostal church my precious grandma attended faithfully. I had lived a "gay" lifestyle through the late 1970’s thru 1988, when my friend Robin (who is now my wife of nearly 25 years) and I answered the altar call. I had also been heavily addicted to meth for several years. Through the resurrection power of the Lord, addictions were destroyed, brokenness was healed and Robin and I married and had two sons. Subsequently, we entered ministry with an organization where we served in several capacities, starting as children’s pastors. After a few years, the Lord put it on my heart to evangelize, which we did for a few years until we accepted and offer to become Associate Pastors in the Coachella Valley.

I wish I could say this had a happy ending, but it did not. Without going into any sordid detail, suffice it to say my wife and I were treated with legalistic harshness rather than grace. After serving for over 12 years in this organization, we resigned and left very broken. During ministry years, I had maintained a secular job and after our separation from the organization, I was so broken, I sobbed during my commute daily for two years. Regretfully, rather than trusting God to see us through the trauma, I fell back into the old lifestyle. Sexual promiscuity and drug use led to me becoming HIV+ in 2008. Thanks be to God, my relapse was short-lived and I returned to the Lord, albeit once again very broken. I’ve just risen up after a 5-year struggle with clinical depression and anxiety disorders. I attribute my healing from these disorders, along with the fact that HIV is now non-detectable in my system, to being in Scripture daily and taking God at His Word. We are entering the 8th year (God’s number of new beginning) since the entire trauma occurred, and we have weathered the storm through God’s mercy and grace.

I share this with you so you might remember me in prayer as well. Now that I’m once again ready to answer the Lord’s call on my life. The Bible says, "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." Through this battle I’ve realized God hasn’t changed His thinking toward me. Before I became ill, I started an outreach in my area (greater Palm Springs) to those struggling with unwanted same sex attraction and drug addiction issues. Unfortunately, I had to let everything drop while I went through a maze of doctors and medications. I’ve been off all prescriptions except one HIV med since January of this year. I’m now ready to pick up where I left off and am asking the Lord to order my steps. Please agree with me that I’ll have wisdom through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. My desire is to reach those who have been traumatized and be an agent of hope to those needing restoration. Thank you, dear brother. Thank you for your prayer cover as I step out once again. I look forward to meeting you, whether we meet in this life or in Heaven.

In the love of Christ, Steve Gregory

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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