Hello There,
You are journeying today with Al (Butch) Schatz jr. of Des Moines, Iowa. Al 
is a member of the teaching staff at East High School. I will limit my 
comments on those who respond, except to kind of let you fit into age 
demographics. Al graduated college in 1970. Though school systems are clear 
about no religion, Al touches 125 students daily. His comment about EMPTY 
WORLDS and a BOOK FULL of answers is a request.

Camp meetings brought a particular type of lively songs into the church 
world. The emphasis on the Spirit-Filled life shows in "Fill My Way With 
Love".

LET ME WALK BLESSED LORD, IN THE WAY THOU HAST GONE,
LEADING STRAIGHT TO TO THE LAND ABOVE;
GIVING CHEER EV'RY-WHERE, TO THE SAD AND THE LONE,
FILL MY WAY EV'RY DAY WITH LOVE.

Chorus: FILL MY WAY EV'RY DAY WITH LOVE, AS I WALK WITH THE HEAV'NLY DOVE,
LET ME GO ALL THE WHILE, WITH A SONG AND A SMILE,
FILL MY WAY EV'RY DAY WITH LOVE.

KEEP ME CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF MY SAVIOUR AND GUIDE,
LET ME NEVER IN DARKNESS ROVE;
KEEP MY PATH FREE FROM WRATH, AND MY SOUL SATISFIED,
FILL MY WAY EV'RY DAY WITH LOVE.

SOON THE RACE WILL BE O'ER AND I'LL TRAVEL NO MORE,
BUT ABIDE IN MY HOME ABOVE;
LET ME SING, BLESSED KING, ALL THE WAY TO THE SHORE,
FILL MY WAY EV'RY DAY WITH LOVE.

WHY CHOOSE?-If there is no need. Take both, and be doubly challenged and 
blessed.
Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in 
honour preferring one another". Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his 
neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law".

WELCOME ABOARD-To those who are new listings to THOUGHTS on a weekly basis, 
We value you as a person because we know that you will add your spiritual 
strength. Please use the web address as shown above to find past copies. 
This site is maintained by pastors Mike and Linda Knibbs in Massillon,Ohio. Thanks go out to those who 
keep us up with address changes.

SPECIAL NOTE-To new and veteran subscribers. (Note that I did not use "old", 
for the sake of the sensitive). I need much more response from you to allow 
me to share each week as I did above. Don't be shy, or just say, "someday". 

MY DIDN'T IT RAIN-More than words to an old song in Texas. A few loud claps 
of thunder on Monday night and it appears to be "outta here" for the present. 
We live "high and dry", but thanks to each of you who expressed concern.

OLD NEWS-Might not be a "scoop" that Jim Beaird has been named to be 
Divisional leader to replace the late Ken Piper in Southeast area for Open 
Bible Standard Churches. Again, I could reminisce too much. Jim and 
Kris-----Godspeed!

YOU DO READ-This note and other fine reading. A reader recalled a classic 
Ann Landers with me. A seventeen year old wrote asking Ann "After the prom 
my friend and I parked on 'lover's lane' until four A.M.. Did I do anything 
wrong?" Typical witty, succinct answer. "Probably"

MELODY REVISITED-A reader wrote, "Did you know that, "Rescue The Perishing" 
was written by Fanny Crosby? The answer is "Yes". Among maybe as many as 
9,000 poems that she wrote. Various musicians did the scoring. William H. 
Doane did this one.
His daughter used much of the family wealth to found mission works that still 
thrive.
Phoebe P. Knapp wrote the melody to Fanny's most famous song, "Blessed 
Assurance". The words set to the melody of the refrain of that song are worth 
recalling. "Wonderful Savior-Wonderful Friend- Wonderful Life That Never 
Shall End-Wonderful Home He's Gone To Prepare -Wonder of Wonders, I Shall Be 
There." 

PREACHER'S ITCH-Is a malady that does , indeed, afflict me. A couple of 
weeks ago, Blaine Bowman told the group in Gonzales that I used Thoughts to 
pass on outlines. I am flattered that a good preacher like Blaine sensed the 
value. In September 1974, I outlined a simple story from 1 Kings 20, verses 
21-23 and 26-28. I put a title, "God is Good--Downhill Only" on it and 
preached it at least five times over the years.

The shocking fact is that the Bible contains a lie. These heathen told the 
lie so often that they believed it. That is okay, as long as we who should 
know better don't start believing lies. My three points------- Feelings, 
Facts, Future.

FEELINGS-We all have them. When our oldest child was about three, she could 
tell correction was coming. To forestall it, with hands on hips, "I don't 
want to talk about that now". We did then, we will now. Satan would love it 
if we always lived by feelings, but I rise or fall by them.

FACTS
1. Our God has no limitations.
2. The Syrians were truly "dead wrong".
3. The Fact is that we need highs and lows. Mountains for vision, valleys for
provision.

FUTURE-"At the first of the year". Mercifully, God shrouds the future.
Three simple Facts about the Future.
1. You will continue to have ups and downs.
2. They will be higher and lower. The "age" in which we are living and the 
expected maturity in Christ in your 
life demands this.
3. Expect God to be victoriously with you each step.

CONCLUSION-Two tragic conclusions are noted by D.L. Moody. 1 That Jesus was 
not where he was thought to be in Luke 2:43-46. 2. That Jesus was where he 
was not thought to be in John 20:15,16. Whether you feel like it or not, get 
your facts in order about your future.

His,
Ron Krantz