Hi from O HI O, Wednesday afternoon

Midweek update

Health: I am experiencing what everyone said I would. I have been here 9 days and am still very tired, frequent headaches, very sore back and knees. In other words, I know somewhat the feeling of being hit by a Mack truck, and surviving.

Victory at the Bible Church: This past Sunday we had a full tent and 5 people experienced demon possession during church. The staff handled it gently and well I am sure. These kinds of things go in spurts it seems. We have now had several in the past few weeks. What better place for it to happen, than in God's house? Sort of like having a heart attack in the hospital.

New fund raising idea: I was thinking, if someone had the contacts, I would do some product endorsing to raise money for our ministry. For example, is there any better pizza in the world than....Papa John's? What about the smooth, refreshing taste of a cold Pepsi? And Wal-Mart, wow, they have everything. And Family Christian Book Store...what a thrill to browse and find such inspiring music, books, etc......

I have to admit, I am an addict. I am addicted to Bibles. Yesterday I bought my 9th bible over the past 10 years. I have Max Lucado's study bible, the Quest, the good old King James Version, John Maxwell's leadership bible, the Learning Bible and others. Number 9 was the New Joyce Meyer Study Bible, wow it has great insights.

Some of you will say, "what in tarnation is the purpose of 9 Bibles?" Like I say, it's an addiction, I need help. In my defense, I use them all. I love to read different versions, learn from the author's commentaries and each Bible brings out something different to a passage.

My boyz: I always get a kick out my older boys, all 17 of them. When I am gone they email me telling me how much they miss me and love me. When I am there I yell at them, I discipline them, I am the bad guy most of the time. I would think they would enjoy the warden being gone but they sure cry the blues. Last night I was talking to Matthew online and he said "I miss you so much, I am sad until you get back." My reply was; "why, don't you enjoy the break from me getting on your case?" He said "no, I love you and want you back here today." They are a special bunch.

Grandkids: Little ones don't understand words like: mentally tired, physically drained, decompression.................they just know that grandpa is here and it is time to have fun. I have tried to balance getting rest with enjoying them. Every night they get a story and we play with our glow sticks. They have already asked me to never leave. Little six week old Noah is getting used to me, and not crying when I hold him, as much.

So sorry: I know several of you in Indiana/Ohio and other states have asked if I could come for one reason or another and I would love to. I am humbled that you would want me. However, I have been directed by the board (and I agree) that I need rest. I read a devotional from a dear friend's daily devotional that I want to share with you. It was powerful and just what I needed:

The fewer virgins there are the more valuable a virgin becomes. The less honest men and women there are the more valuable an honest person becomes. The less people there are who say no to what's dirty, what's destructive, what's negative, the more your worth increases. Maybe you've been tempted to cave in. You've got combat fatigue; there's heavy pressure. Don't do it. Not only is Jesus counting on you, but the very people, who are pressuring you, desperately need for you to stand firm, or their only light goes out. Because you're Jesus' personal representative in a dark place, in many ways you aren't like everybody else. But you love them unconditionally. You make them feel important, and doing the right thing without condemning them. You keep doing all of that, and you're going to be, whether they admit it or not, one of the most important people in their life. Because people like you are rare and very, very valuable.

Isn't that good? What hit me was, if my light goes out, so does the light of others who are counting on my light to shine. That applies to us all. May God bless you, tom