~Untitled~

Over the last few days I've given so much thought into why I'm struggling with all the burdons that are pushing me to my hands and knees. I've prayed about it and I've given God my whole heart, not just pieces that I pick and choose from and say here God you can have this part but not this because I think I can handle it on my own without Your help. Well I've learned that doing this doesn't work. I've had more than I thought I could handle on my plate lately and it's recently brought me to my hands and knees and I've broken into tears with it all. But every time one of my problems have hit me I've instantly prayed for wisdom to understand why I'm being tested with it, patience to allow me to endure the pain I feel, and deliverance to make it through the problems I have. Through doing this the last few days I've found joy in the trials and temptations I have because I know that my God won't give me anything I can't endure or have a way out of. Not to sound arrogant, that's not my intention at all, but I've found joy in knowing that with my God, I am strong and He knows this, this is why I've been given all the burdons and problems that I'm having right now...because my God said I can handle it with His power, love, and forgiveness. So my message to all of you reading is, take life as it's given to you positively...good or bad situations. Both are a blessing from the Lord, even the bad situations because He has given them to you to grow and prosper you and He knows that you can endure them and has given you a way out. Find joy in your trials and tribulations as I have. No, sometimes I'm not happy with them...but I'm always joyful because my God has given them to me for a reason! AMEN! *Gladly serviing the Lord with all of my heart* -Tyler

Clothe Yourselves

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."   It sure has been a busy, hectic day!  At the end of this sometimes stressful day, I sure do wish I had spent quiet time with God before I started my day.  I knew I should have spent time reading my bible this morning, but somehow I convinced myself that just a little more sleep this morning was exactly what I needed. Reflecting on the events of the day, I realize now that I should have been more compassionate, more kind, more humble, more gentle, and certainly more patient.  It was very easy to do just the opposite, as I strived to gain control of each situation.  Little imperfections of others bothered me today, and I let certain events control me. As I studied this passage at the end of the day, I confess that it would have been beneficial for me to have spent time in God's word at the beginning of the day, not just before I drifted off to sleep at the end of the day. Dear Friend, have you clothed yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience today?  Have you forgiven others as the Lord has forgiven you?  And have you topped it all off with a generous scoop of love?  As the verses above have clearly said, love binds it all together in perfect unity.  Beginning today, let us all spend time each and every day in God's Word before we dive into the activities of the day.   Dave Henry

Popcorn Festival this Saturday!

Look forward to seeing everyone this Saturday @ 12:00pm

Come RideTheWind with us!

So, this last week I was asked a question that really made me think.
I was asked what we(RTW)considered our fans or followers to be? At first
the question had me. I guess I really didn't understand what they were
asking. My first thought was Christians or Believers! Then after some
needed knowledge was passed my way. I now understand the question. Would
we like our fans/followers to have a "Nickname". Ahh Ha! Several "Nicknames"
were passing through my head at this point. None of them were sticking. You
know how something just sticks in your head when it's right. Then we attended
the K-day parade in our home town and we were talking about being in a parade.
And it was mentioned that one of the ladies would be in the parade if they could
ride on a float with a magic carpet as if it were suspended in air. Then it hit me!
The "WIND RIDERS"! RideTheWind WIND RIDERS!

Today, I want to take a moment and thank RideTheWind fans. Thank you for your prayers
and support. Thank you for your love and dedication. And thank you most of all
for sharing your faith and following the lead of our Heavenly Father!

Will you RideTheWind with us? Will you STAND for what you believe in!

Will you be a "WIND RIDER"?

Have a great Monday!
Love you all,
Jonny

Suffering

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have
gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also
rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And
hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into
our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

We all go through times of suffering... Sometimes it's just a few
minutes or hours, other times it can be days, weeks, months or even
years... Suffering can be somewhat meaningless like having to sit
through a college class you don't like... Most of the time, it is
thought of as something very meaningful like family problems or
financial difficulties. Whatever it is, you can always trust God to
pull you through those times and get you back on your feet. He is
always there for you, waiting on you to come to Him. He will never
allow you to go through something you can't handle (with His help).
God also wants you to rejoice and praise Him through our sufferings
because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces
character; and character produces hope.

Hope you all have a great day and remember to always praise Him
No matter what!!!

Dave L

Deliverance

What an amazing show we had last weekend with our fans in Indianapolis! To hear them singing along with us and waving their hands in the air was just a constant reminder of why we do this!! It was so amazing to see youths praising God to the music we of RTW play! Phillippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This is so very true. I had a required field trip the day of the concert and I was very nervous of missing either the field or the concert because both were very important. I prayed to God to deliver me from this situation because the times we crossing each other. The next day after finding out the times were crossing each other, it turned out that too many people had signed up to go and the field trip had to be cut in half on time and split into two trips. I was given the option of going in the morning and being done just in time to leave for our concert! This truely was a sign to me that God is providing a path for me! Indeed, through Christ, all things are possible!!! Amen!! *What an amazing God we serve* -Tyler

Love Is

1 Corinthians 13:4-8  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."   I have been watching a tribute to Coach John Wooden this evening, and heard him say that "love is the greatest of all words in our dicitonary."  It is possible that love is the most overused, and at the same time is the most misunderstood word in the dictionary as well.  I do believe, however, that Coach had a very good understanding of the word love as he lived his life to the fullest. Although Coach Wooden had accomplished many winning seasons, he demonstrated true love as God had intended it to be.  He gave many hours to the game of basketball developing his teams and his players, but also made it very clear that basketball was a distant 3rd place behind his wife and children, in that order. Just listening to his tone of voice and watching his conduct over the decades of coaching and leading others, I was inspired by his amazing leadership.  All of his success would not have been possible without love and respect for others. Remembering and reflecting on a particular event in his youth, he admitted that he used some strong language toward his brother.  Very quickly his father punished both of them for what had just happened.  Coach Wooden said that he has never used any profanity since that day.  I truly believe that the love of God filled his heart that day as he repented and kept him from saying things that would be hurtful to others. Dear Friend, is your life filled with love toward others?  If you inserted your name in the passage above, and each time replaced the word 'love' with your name, would the verses still be accurate and true?  Life is difficult, and it is not always easy to love others, but God has demonstrated what true love should be.  May we all succeed in truly loving others from this day forward.  To live our lives in this manner would truly honor God.   Dave Henry

It's Monday!

Good Morning! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. RTW spent Saturday afternoon and evening
with The Students Unified for Christ at Horizon Church and Camp in Indy! Can I just say WOW! This
place is amazing! An awesome place for youth. Beautiful Calamity from Crawfordsville, Indiana
opened for us. You all should check them out they are great. We will be looking for great things
coming from them in the future. God is really working in there lives. Big THANKS to Brandon
Greyson. We watched Brandon work very hard at organizing the events of the day and still took the
time to be personal with the kids. It was just awesome to watch each event of the day unfold.
Thank you Brandon for your service.

Seeing the looks on the faces of the youth during the show, give us the true reason why we
do what we do. The Youth today are crying out for direction. They are hungry for a connection
with something positive. I am so thankful that the songs we write give hope and direction. God
has truly blessed us. He is taking us places that we would have never imagined. And He is
doing things that we would have never thought possible. WE are the body! The body working for
one common goal. Reaching the lost!

My prayer today is and will always remain that God would bless and provide for us in ways we
can not imagine so that we may help move others beyond what they believe!

Remember - You may be someones only hope! Give it your all!

Have a great Monday!
Love you all,
Jonny

By the way Tyler! - You may never get me to eat TACO BELL!!! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

Ever Have One Of Those Days?

You ever have one of those days? Yeah, me too.

There are days I sit and wonder why I should keep writing these devotionals, why I should keep doing anything. I wonder sometimes if anything I do ever matters. When those days happen for me, there is only one thing I know I can count on. So I talk to God. No flaming bushes, no tablets of stone, no angels heralding proclamations…just quiet, subtle answers that seem to flow like a brook down a mountain path. My God does things like that to make sure I am listening. In the world we live in it is sometimes hard to hear the voice of God as He whispers your name and waits for you to reply. Sometimes the din of bosses demanding this gets done now or spouses and children pulling this way and that way, can drown out the whisper on the breeze.

I sometimes wonder why...then I listen and I know.

Talk to God lately?

Take some time out of your busy life and sit in a park, go to your churches prayer room, or just sit down in your home and say, "I know it has been awhile Father, but I want to thank you for everything I have." Or maybe, "What a day this has been, how's it going for you?" He will listen, through all the worlds' distraction and noise. He will listen directly to you. You may not get a flaming bush, but I guarantee, if you listen closely, you will hear an answer.

In Christ,
Rick

STAC FEST SATURDAY @ 7PM

I am filled with so much JOY today! This is a bright and beautiful new
day! God has made this day for you and I!! Be glad and Rejoice! (Psalm
118:24)

I want to take a moment and thank the guys that stand before many and
play music with me. They have come so far in our journey together.
Listening to them play RTW songs has brought a lot of JOY to me. Thank
you for journey guys! May God bless you and your families.

STAC FEST - this Saturday! We play at 7pm

STAND for what you believe in, because GOOD PEOPLE go through HARD
TIMES. Sometimes we even have NO WIND FOR OUR SAIL, but never forget
YOU'RE NOT ALONE. OH WHAT A DAY it will be when we kneel before our
Creator. SHOW ME YOUR LOVE! Wrap your arms around me and SHOW ME YOUR
LOVE! For when temptation comes and knock us down we will GET UP
AGAIN! As I called your name and cried out
to RESCUE ME you did. And that is THE STORY!!!!

Every day renew your purpose because without purpose your life will be
empty. Lord, grant that I am able to truly see the worth and value of
my existence and know that my presence does make a difference.

Have a great Tuesday!

Love you all,
Jonny
RTW

Happiness Is The Lord!

Psalm 68:3 "But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." Ira F. Stanphill, born in 1914, has written over 500 songs. The most popular of which are "Mansion over the Hilltop," "Room at the Cross," and "Happiness Is the Lord." On a beautiful afternoon in 1974, at age 60, Ira Stanphill left the church office where he was pastor in Fort Worth, Texas. Listening to his car radio as he drove home, he listened to several programs. Many advertisements of local establishments drew attention to their happy hour and their serving of alcoholic beverages. Pastor Stanphill also heard commercials about cigarettes being advertised and how they bring happiness to your life. The word "happiness" was used several times in the ads. He knew very well that happiness does not come from these things, but only through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. At this moment, God truly laid a beautiful song on his heart. The song, "Happiness is The Lord" had been created that afternoon. He sang the song in his car as he continued to drive along, and later wrote the words on paper and had them published. Here are the words to "Happiness Is The Lord" Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor, Having a change in my behavior, Happiness is the Lord. Happiness is a new creation, Jesus and me in close relation, Having a part in His salvation, Happiness is the Lord. Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start; I've found the secret, it's Jesus in my heart! Happiness is to be forgiven, Living a life that's worth the living, Taking a trip that leads to Heaven, Happiness is the Lord, Happiness is the Lord, Happiness is the Lord! Dear Friend, can you truly say that Happiness is the Lord? Only He provides true, lasting happiness in our lives. Take a few moments to reflect on these beautiful words. If you know the song, sing it aloud as a praise offering to the Saviour who loves you so much! Blessings to you this beautiful day! Dave Henry

Do It All In The Name Of Jesus

Colossians 3:17  "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."   Brothers and Sisters, as Children of God, we have been given many choices in life.  Choices to say things or refrain from saying things, and choices to do things or refrain from doing things.  For everything we say and do, we have been instructed to do it all for the glory of God.    To conduct ourselves in the 'name of Lord Jesus' clearly means that everything we do must be in complete obedience and reverence to Him.  To say and do things in this manner implies that all selfishness, all arrogance, and all pride disappear as we humbly live our lives as Christ has instructed.  We have been called to be humble, faithful servants in all of our daily activities and interactions.   Dear Friend, Jesus has already shown us the way, and has already set the standard of humility for us.  Are you doing everything in the name of Jesus?  If so, you have blessed many people, and it will certainly lead to eternal reward.   Dave Henry

God's Wonderful, Stubborn Love For Us

Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."   George Matheson was engaged to be married and later learned he would soon become totally blind.  His fiancée uttered, "I cannot marry a blind man." She left him shortly thereafter and his dreams were shattered. He thought of taking his life, but instead rooted himself in the scriptures and later wrote the wonderful hymn, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go."  Mr. Matheson, who was a blind preacher and also a poet wrote the following words:        "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorns."        "I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory."        "Teach me the glory of my cross: teach me the value of my thorn."        "Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain."        "Show me that my tears have made my rainbow."   Dear Friend, do you have pain and troubles in your life today?  God has promised us that nothing can separate us from His love.  The bible is very clear that situations and events in your past, in your present, and in the future can never outmatch God's wonderful love for us. Dave Henry

Patience

Patience is a virtue. I've found that one of the hardest things in life for myself is patience. I know God has a plan for my life and will deliver me from evil, but all of this is in time and not instantly. Some things I've learned to do are to pray FOR patience and not to be TAUGHT patience. God teaches patience to you...but it's a hard thing to learn. Recently we've been given an awesome opportunity from God to sign with Tate Music Group. Patience has never been harder. Personally, I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go on a world tour!! But I'm still in the process of learning patience. It's very hard to keep a good mind set of staying on track with school and daily life, but God is keeping me on track. :) For anyone else struggling with patience, please share your story!! I'd love to hear about it and know that I'm not the only one still learning this thing called "patience" that seems to be one of the most difficult things to master! -What An Amazing God We Serve- -Tyler

Power!

The pole of power is greasy…

The Roman emperor Charlemagne knew that. An interesting story surrounds the burial of this famous king. Legend has is that he asked to be entombed sitting upright in his throne. He asked that his crown be placed on his head and his scepter in his hand. He requested that the royal cape be draped around his shoulders and an open book be placed in his lap.

That was A.D. 814. Nearly two hundred years later, emperor Othello determined to see if the burial request had been carried out. He allegedly sent a team of men to open the tomb and make a report. They found the body just as Charlemagne had requested. Only now, nearly two centuries later, the scene was gruesome. The crown was tilted, the mantle moth-eaten, the body disfigured. But open on the skeletal thighs was the book Charlemagne had requested…the Bible. One bony finger pointed to Matthew 16:26,
"What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"
(the Devotional Bible)

Who do you work for?

In Christ,
Rick

Be Holy In All You Do!

1 Corinthians 10:23-24  "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.   Have you ever heard people say that it must be ok to do something because they couldn't find anything opposing it in the bible?  The real concern should be that if something is not honorable to God, and also uplifting and beneficial to others, then we shouldn't say it or do it, right?   As I was driving on the highway and was out-of-town over the weekend, and was desperately trying to find a channel with music or other programming, I briefly tuned in to a Christian radio station, and heard a few comments about this subject.  It is interesting to me that many people who call themselves Christians, find many 'loopholes' in the bible and continue to live their lives that are far from God-honoring.   While listening to a sermon a few weeks ago, the pastor described a popular celebrity who had recently decided to stop publicly calling herself a Christian, because so many people who are "Christians" have given Christianity a bad name, due to their compromising values.  In her press release, she had proclaimed that she loved God and still had her salvation, but was no longer willing and able to call herself a Christian.  How said!    (1 Peter 1:13-16) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."    Dear Friend, do you call yourself a Child of God?  Are you truly a Christian?  Are you living a Godly life?  Have you ever searched for those 'loopholes' in the bible?  God has called us to a higher purpose, and to live consistently with His truth.  He has called us to be holy.  Let us always be Christians that are holy and honorable to God in all that we say and do.   Dave Henry

Speaking with my father

I was speaking to my Father this morning. He is a pastor from Indiana and we we discussing some of his messages. Here are a few of the items that were shared from my father and I wanted to share them with you today. Once was a little boy traveling and the scernery was not very exciting and a lady asked if the little boy was tired and he told the lady no my father is going to meet me when I get there. Sometime we get tired of the burdens of life, but we know that Jesus Christ will meet us at the end of lifes journey! And That makes all the difference! Paul wrote for which cause we faint not, but thou our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Our storm cloud is rising -a message my Father has entitled The water flows-The flow of the spring is always an even flow. even when in drought the water contiunes to flow. The living water of Christ! Who soever shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst (john 4:14) Its flow is steady and reliable. It's the peace that we all desire. The peace of Jesus! -Longfellow a well know famous poet once wrote "be still sad heart and recieve repinning, behind the clouds is the sun still shinning." Have a great Monday Love you all, Jonny

What Would Jesus Do?

What Would Jesus Do?

"He went up the mountainside by Himself to pray"

Jesus faced an impossible task. More than five thousand people had come to fight a battle he had not come to fight. How could he show them that he didn't come to be a king, but to be a sacrifice? How could he take their eyes off an earthly kingdom so they would see the spiritual one? How could they see the eternal when they only had eyes for the temporal?

What Jesus dreamed of doing and what he seemed about to do were separated by an impossible gulf. So Jesus prayed.

He prayed for the impossible to happen.

Maybe he didn't ask for anything. Maybe he just stood quietly in the presences of the Presence and basked in the majesty.

Maybe he lifted his head out of the confusion of earth long enough to hear the solution of Heaven. Perhaps he was reminded that hard hearts don't faze the Father. That the problem people don't perturb the Creator.

We don't know what he did or said, but we do know the result. The hill became a steppingstone; the storm became a path, the disciples saw Jesus as they had never seen him before.

During the storm, Jesus prayed. The sky darkened. The winds howled. Yet he prayed. The people grumbled. The disciples doubted. Yet he prayed. When forced to choose between the muscles of men or the mountain of prayer, he prayed.

These are the crevasses in your life that you cannot cross alone. These are the hearts in your world that you cannot change without help. These are the mountains that you cannot climb until you climb his mountain.

Pack up and climb it!! You will be amazed!
(the Devotional Bible)

In Christ,
Rick