Hello There, 
The best I seem to be able to do today musically is a chorus. I give up on 
trying to satisfy the varying tastes in music. The single most addressed 
subject in e-mails to me is the "sound" of the church at worship. My family 
views me as "stuck in the Forties somewhere" because I like rhymes and meter 
to my music. I also like to be able to link the title to the content at some 
point. Oh, well.

I GET SO THRILLED WITH JESUS- EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY.
I GET SO THRILLED WITH JESUS- HE'S THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, THE WAY.
I GET SO THRILLED WITH JESUS- HE SATISFIES MY LONGING SOUL.
I GET SO THRILLED WITH JESUS- HE'S THE ONE WHO MADE ME WHOLE.

I have asked you for your favorite songs for this segment. Your silence 
lends me tacit permission. I guess some era would have said, "Like it or 
lump it".

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh 
unto the Father, but by me." I was asked by a watcher if Billy Graham had 
made up that slogan
for the banner at the rear of his platform. What an opening for me to share 
the simple plan of salvation. John 14:6 says it so well.

THE NINE ARE FINE-Even Geraldo Rivera could not spoil this story. I gave in 
and went to bed before they were actually up safely last week. I watched the 
joy as they were declared alive. Always preaching, I had a text in Luke 
15:10 where Jesus declares that there is joy in the presence of the angels 
over one that is rescued. I am not sure that the angels join, but I believe 
that there is abundant joy. Do you wish to make heaven happy today? As to 
angels, 1 Peter 1:12 tells me of a celestial curiosity and angelic admiration 
concerning the plan of redemption. According to my understanding of the 
present state of angels, jealousy does not occur. Stop Ron, this is not 
Doctrine 101.

BELATED CONGRATULATIONS-To Pastor and Mrs. Jeff Stonerock as they continue 
duties at Victory World Outreach Center in Goodrich, MI. Jeanene visited 
them while in Michigan. Things are going well for them. This church has a 
fully equipped gymnasium as part of the plant. We recall Jeff as a teen in a 
pastorate over twenty years ago. Prov. 10:32 

YOU ARE JOURNEYING-With Pastors James and Joyce Hart of Pittsburg, PA. 
Pastors of 
First Congregational Church of McKeesport and director of camping for Western 
PA Ass'n of Congregational Christian Churches since 1983. Joyce operates 
Hartline Marketing for Christian Books and represents aspiring authors 
through her agency,
www.hartlineliterary.com Age? Joyce and Jim shared my youth group,-about 39 
or so.

MAIL, MAIL, MAIL-If I may judge by volume, I may have written the best 
THOUGHTS ever last week. Being alone and "blue" seemed to really open your 
minds. My first response was on Sunday from the Ukraine. Tammy Swailes is 
there monitoring 130 students in the INSTE program. As hot as Houston and 
the only a/c she could find was in the special internet cafe to write me. In 
the extreme southeast part of Ukraine, 1000 km. (you do the math) from 
Ukraine office and 1800 km. from her base in Hungary. Without an interpreter 
(except when she spoke in church). I could hear alone and "blue".

I have never actually been Tam's pastor. Her late mother (Linda), and her 
sister (Lisa-who is a special teacher in Houston) were at one time. I guess 
that I am a pastor-in-law.

Her letters to me are none of your business. but--she thought that if we were 
with Caleb in Joshua 14, we would have suggested passing "GO" and getting 
the Promised Land. What she learned was, "Hang on to the promise of God in 
the wilderness, and you will get your land----in God's time". She asked me 
some questions that I can not answer, but here is one I'll stab at, with your 
help. "What IS (capital letters are hers) it about the wilderness 
experiences in the Bible?"

Tammy, these seem to be specific eras in the lives of individuals that God 
has especially chosen. My list, from memory, includes Moses, Joseph, Daniel, 
Saul of Tarsus and most famously Jesus of Nazareth. Clearly, this is not 
retribution, but a time of preparation for the task and victory before them. 
It may well be an onerous and arduous period. The present tasks (herding 
sheep i. e.) may seem to have nothing to do with the glory that time reveals. 
The mettle of those so tested seems to come as a surprise to even them.

I was watching an update as we celebrate the long and successful service of 
the B-52 bomber. An important part of the success is the regular rotation 
time out of service to bring them into a present conformity. I think God 
invented "retrofitting"

It seems that earthly organizations who attempt to duplicate by rules of 
their own making ("Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from 
meats"-1 Timothy 4:3), create many problems for themselves.

Your observation on Joshua 14 is great. Wish that I had said that!

TANTALIZING TIDBITS-From Tammy about the church group there:
1. They are building-only partial walls, a floor and platform. No a/c in 
plans.
2. They are enthusiastic--Leader, "Give God the glory". Response is a 
whistle, whoop and general roar like a "goal" was just scored in soccer. "A 
little louder than Iowa".
3. The service on Saturday was 5 1/2 hours long.
4. The service on Sunday was short-only 4 hours long. Tammy and another 
guest from Russia spoke. The pastor had to leave during the service????
5. Remember, it is incredibly hot.

I will let you readers answer her question concerning the fate of Caleb's 
family. 

READ WITH ME-"Father, please bring healing to those who are experiencing 
weakness today, and grant deliverance to those who are struggling 
emotionally. We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen." "Again I say unto you, that if 
two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it 
shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven"
Matthew 18:19

BRINGING GOOD THINGS-As I was typing the previous paragraph, I was alerted to 
incoming mail. It is a picture of special friends at prayer. Total 
message-"Praying for you today."

WHAT GAP?-Because of my needs, Phil has taken me to my latest class reunions, 
(45 & 50 years). I heard him express that as you get to know your father's 
friends that it is pretty good. I have had reason over the years to contact 
many persons who were friends of my late father. They are among the finest 
persons that I know! My parents made it a point to know our friends, and to 
see that we learned to appreciate their friends. You cannot overestimate the 
value of a friend. "Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake 
not......"Proverbs 27:10.

RURAL BIBLE CRUSADE-I seemed to have "stoked" at least one memory to life 
with the mention of this program. Yes, it still exists after over half a 
century. Many necessary changes have allowed the work to go forward. You 
can see the imprint on AWANA. The concept of  DVBS as a local church ministry 
began in RBC. As rural life and schools changed so dramatically, the 
emphasis has shifted to the popular summer camp idea.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

His,
Ron Krantz