A Man and His Heart by Roger Willmore
Dr. Willmore praying with the men from the Colony of Mercy, America’s Keswick 2014.
A Note from Kim: Dr. Roger Willmore is one of the favorite speakers at America’s Keswick. It is through this ministry that I met Dr. Willmore several years ago, although I can’t recall the event or conference where I first heard one of his messages.
Almost immediately, I identified with his story and experience. Being married to a pastor for over thirty years, I understood the struggles and burdens of ministry that no one but a pastor or pastor’s wife can understand. I appreciate Roger’s transparency in sharing some of his personal experiences and challenges in the church, as a pastor. And I appreciate his heart. Roger has a deep and passionate love for his Lord and the for His Savior’s bride, the church. He also has a strong desire to obey the Lord in reaching the world with the good news of the Gospel. I am honored that Roger accepted my request to write for ProverbWise this month, and you will see why as you read his article. He is a man of integrity and wisdom, exuding humility and grace in his life, his ministry, and his writing.
A Man and His Heart
by Roger Willmore
Proverbs 4:23
The writer of Proverbs dispenses words of wisdom to live by. When I read the Proverbs and the Psalms, as well as the Bible as a whole, I see a great emphasis on the heart. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he…” This is a pretty strong word on the power of our thought life. One of the most profound texts on this topic is found in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” It cannot be much clearer. The word “keep” in Proverbs 4:23 is a word which carries the idea of building a garrison or a fortress around the heart. This indicates that there has to be some intentionality on our part. There has to be a conscious, disciplined effort made to protect the heart from influences which would corrupt it. Such protection will not happen fortuitously. It takes discipline and at times, costly discipline.
I enjoy going to Japan where I preach in the Keswick Christian Life Conventions. The Japanese culture is one of discipline and determination. When I am there I love to see the Japanese Gardens. The gardens are always so beautiful, manicured and healthy. When I stand gazing upon a beautiful Japanese garden my mind always goes to one thing…the gardener. It is apparent that the garden did not just happen. Behind all the beauty a gardener will be found weeding, tilling the soil, pruning, fertilizing and more. The garden I admire is the product of a gardener working each and every day to protect the garden from anything that would rob it of its beauty.
When the writer of Proverbs admonishes his reader to put a fortress around his heart this is exactly what he is saying. Do all that is necessary to guard and protect the purity of your heart.
My mentor for over 35 years, until he went home to Glory in 2004, was the late Dr. Stephen F. Olford. He taught me so much about the Christian life…and life in general. I was first introduced to Dr. Olford in 1969 by way of an old reel to reel tape player. A wonderful Christian in my hometown held a “Bible Study” in her home once a month. However, the Bible study was conducted by way of playing the sermons of some of the great preachers of that time. Most of the sermons were recorded in Keswick Christian Life Conventions or a similar Christian Life Convention. I heard the voice of Stephen Olford many times before I ever met him personally. As a teenager, young in my relationship with the Lord, and also sensing at that time a call to preach, I was riveted by Dr. Olford’s preaching. He was powerful. I had never heard a man open the Scriptures like that before. As the younger generation would say today, “Dr. Olford was awesome.” He was an absolute lion in the pulpit. I was captured by his power. I began to think about being a preacher and I wanted to preach like that…with great power.
In 1970 the host of the Bible study and her husband took me, as their guest, to a Keswick Christian Life Convention in Birmingham, Alabama where I would see and hear Dr. Stephen Olford in person for the first time. I was like a child in a toy store. I was thrilled beyond words to have the opportunity to hear the world class expository preacher. I listened very attentively to the first sermon. I was fully focused on the message. My focus was on the message and the manner in which it was delivered. However, I found myself, rather quickly I might add, shifting my attention from the “message” to the “man.” In order to be brief I will go directly to my point. I observed that the power displayed in the “message” had its origin in the “man.” I learned a valuable lesson that the power I saw displayed outwardly was rooted deep in a holy, pure, devoted and disciplined heart.
Years later I heard Dr. Olford say, “God is more concerned about who you are than what you do, and if who you are does not please Him then what you do is virtually useless.” Think about it! Good deeds from a dirty heart are essentially negated. God looks on the heart. He wants our hearts to be pure. Or, as the writer of Proverbs puts it, “For out of it spring the issues of life.”
I like to put it this way, the Christian life is more about “being” than it is about “doing.” Living the Christian life should not require painful effort and exertion of energy. Living the Christian life should be an overflow of a disciplined and guarded heart. It should be the overflow of our walk with God.
I think this is especially true for those of us in ministry. Ministry is very demanding. It can be very draining. If the well is dry, then the bucket is going to come up empty. We must have a disciplined walk with God that enables us to maintain an overflow. Remember the beautiful Japanese garden. It does not just happen.
Early in my ministry, when I was a newly wed and still in college, I was burning the candle at both ends. I was pastoring a great church and preaching three times a week, going to school and I was running on empty much of the time. One Sunday night, following the evening worship service, a dear lady in the congregation approached me with expressions of concern. I knew her. I knew her heart. Her concerns were genuine. She said, “Brother Roger, I can hear the dipper hitting the bottom of the bucket.” Then she cautioned me to guard my heart and my study time and other spiritual disciplines. I heeded her admonishments and made the necessary adjustments, but I will never forget hearing her say, “I can hear the dipper hitting the bottom of the bucket.”
Could I ask you? Are you guarding your heart? Could it be said of you, “I hear the dipper hitting the bottom (of an empty) bucket? Are you keeping a fortress of protection around the very source of your spiritual life? Remember your heart, “For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Dr. Roger D. Willmore, Director of Missions
Calhoun Baptist Association (SBC)
Anniston, Alabama USA
Articles can be found via web search of Roger Willmore
Roger Willmore at America’s Keswick – Summer Week #5 August 13, 2015
Roger Willmore was born in Gadsden, Alabama on August 14, 1951. He grew up in Arab, Alabama and in 1973 married his high school sweet heart, Sandra Carroll. They have one adult son, Andrew. Roger received Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. He has been awarded two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the University of Mobile and Judson College respectively. He has written numerous articles about preaching and pastoral ministry. He is a regular speaker as the Summer Conferences, America’s Keswick in Whiting, NJ. He has preached in over 15 countries and speaks in Keswick Christian Life Conventions around the world. His passion is to see Christians experience the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. He currently serves as the Director of Missions for the Calhoun Baptist Association in Alabama, a Southern Baptist Association of 89 churches.
5/2016
June 25, 2016 Proverb of the Day
June 24, 2016 Proverb of the Day
June 23, 2016 Proverb of the Day
Integrity – The Goal is Never Ending by Dr. Bill Welte
A Note from Kim: I was honored when Dr. Bill Welte agreed to write an article for ProverbWise for the month of June. Joe and I have know Bill for well over twenty years through the ministry of America’s Keswick and my involvement with CCI-USA, now CCCA (Christian Camp and Conference Association), where I served on the Mid-Atlantic Cabinet when Bill was President. I had been attending the sectional meetings for a few years as the director of Camp Shadyrest, a small Christian day camp in Chesterfield, NJ. Bill approached me and asked if I would be willing to serve on the cabinet to represent Christian Day Camp ministries. I felt like a little minnow swimming in the big ocean with the large successful camps and conference centers all over the mid-Atlantic region, but what a privilege to be a part of this organization and learn from the best in the field of Christian camping.
Over the years, my husband and I have come to know and love Bill and Jan Welte and their family, as well as the ministry of America’s Keswick. One of the highlights of each year for the last ten years or so is when Joe has the privilege of speaking for a Families for Christ weekend. This is a time when the men from the Colony of Mercy Addiction recovery program, (both graduates and those who are still in the program) and their spouses come together on a monthly basis for teaching, counseling, and time away from the daily responsibilities of life. Joe usually speaks about once a year for this event, and I have the opportunity of spending time with the wives and participating in the meetings. We are always blessed by these precious families who have struggled and continue to do the hard work required for reconciliation and restoration of their families and their lives. It is amazing to see what God is doing in their lives and in their homes as they trust in His strength and continue to grow in faith and wisdom. Beginning last year, with the birth of Barbara’s Place, a new program for women in addiction, the ladies and their spouses, join the couples from the Colony of Mercy for the Families for Christ weekends.
A special thank you to Bill for taking time from his very busy schedule to write an article for ProverbWise Men of Integrity in June. We value your friendship and faithfully pray for your family and the ministries of America’s Keswick.
Integrity – The Goal Is Never Ending
By Dr. Bill Welte
President & CEO, America’s Keswick
The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Kim asked me to write a blog on integrity and that sure is a daunting task. If there was ever a time in the history of our world where we need men and women of integrity, well it’s right now.
Over the years I have gained wisdom on this topic by reading a chapter from Proverbs every day. I have been doing it fairly consistently for over 20 years based on a challenge given to us by our Pastor, Matt Reed.
I have read through Proverbs dozens and dozens of times. Have read it in multiple translations and paraphrases. But I never ceased to be amazed at how I can be reading on a particular day, and bam – a fresh, new insight leaps off the page into my heart.
Guys tend to be poor readers. Women are much better readers. Maybe that’s why there are so many more women’s books for women.
But here is an interesting observation about Proverbs. We all know that women tend to also be more spiritual than men, right? Come on – they go to Bible studies, attend those frilly, girly conferences and get all pampered and love to chat and then dig deeper in the Word and really outshine u.
Well where I am heading with this is that there really is only ONE chapter devoted to women in Proverbs – Proverbs 31. One single chapter. And when you read those verses, they are already there – that “Wow – you are a woman who has it all together in every area of life.”
In fact, the word man is used 164 times and men 22. Woman is used 19 times and she is used 1 time. I didn’t even try to dust of my all hard copy of Strong’s concordance to see how many times the word “he” vs. “she” is used.
It takes 30 chapters of Proverbs to teach us wisdom principles that will help us to be men, husband, fathers and sons of integrity.
I share this story when I preach about integrity. I am not proud of the illustration but you will get the point. Our family was traveling to Florida with Jan’s family for a week at the happiest place on earth. On the way we wanted to stop and spend the night at a cheap hotel. The bikers were all in so it was hard to find something, but we finally found a hotel outside of Jackson that said “Kid’s Stay Free.”
I checked us in and the lady asked how many rooms we needed. We needed two rooms. Two adults and two kids in one, and two adults and four kids in the other. Not a problem till I read the definition of a kid on the wall behind the reservationist.
I never spoke up, went to unpack and pulled out my Bible to have my quiet time and the Holy Spirit nudged me and spoke to my heart. So how was I going to handle this situation? Everyone saw the sign. Everyone knew that the kids were above the age except for one. I knew I’d be praying at dinner. Yikes!
It took me a matter of minutes to get up the courage, but I went down to the Front Desk and told the woman that I needed to clear something up. I shared with her that at check-in, I had not told the truth about the number of “kids” in our party and that I wanted to pay the right amount.
She looked at me and smiled and said, “I know. We have cameras at all the entrances and watched your ‘children’ walk to the second floor. But you did the right thing today and told the truth. You can lay your head on the pillow and sleep knowing that you demonstrated integrity. There will be no additional cost.”
Big lesson learned. And unfortunately I couldn’t just cross it off my bucket list and say, “Got that one under my belt.” I have been tested thousands of time since then.
What helps us be men and women of integrity? One of the ways we can do that is by digging into a chapter in Proverbs every day. As you do this, you will gain insight and understanding so that when situations arise that present to you the opportunity to make bad decisions, choose wrong paths, say wrong things, the Holy Spirit will remind what you have read and you will make the RIGHT decision.
And here is the greatest lesson of all – be a man of integrity if for no other reason than to be a godly role model to your spouse and kids and grandkids.
I challenge you – make a commitment to read one chapter a day for the rest of the year. It will be worth the investment. May God bless you.
Bill Welte has been the President & CEO of America’s Keswick, a Christian Conference and Retreat Center with Addiction Recovery programs for men and women, since 1997. He is a conference host, popular speaker, and the creator of “Freedom Fighters” – a daily encouragement email for men. The Colony of Mercy is the oldest residential addiction recovery program in the United States, now in its 117th year of ministry. In 2014, Barbara’s Place – our residential addiction recovery ministry for women – was founded.
Prior to his ministry at America’s Keswick, Bill served as Vice President of Ministries at Sandy Cove. He also served as Director of Music in several churches in the Philadelphia area and managed Fox Chase Christian Bookstores for 15 years. Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for more than 30 years. They have three married children, a teenage son, Zach, and 10 grandchildren: Tanner, Lindsay (with the Lord), Emma, Samuel, Ethan, Case, Will, Weston, Wyatt and Sydney Lin.
To Live Long and Prosper! By Christian Comedian, Gordon Douglas
A Note from Kim: Gordon Douglas is truly a man of integrity. He is funny and could have chosen the world of secular comedy, but instead chose to follow Jesus, refusing to include inappropriate content that would not honor his Lord. He has sacrificed much financially, but he has gained eternal riches, “for what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?” Gordon is a pastor, Christian comedian, faithful husband and father, and a true friend. Joe and I are honored to know Gordon and his wife, Dawn, having had them in our home and knowing they are the real deal! Gordon has been the featured guest speaker for two church-wide events at Lakes Chapel, and our church family loves him! Don’t miss the link to his website and the YouTube video clip at the end of this article.
To Live Long and Prosper
by Gordon Douglas
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your hear, for they will prolong your life many years, and bring you prosperity. Let Love and faithfulness never leave you: bind them around your neck, write them down on your heart. THEN you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3: 1-4
One thing I never asked my dad was WHY ? When he told us to do something instant obedience was expected, even demanded. If we ever got the courage to challenge an instruction, and the boldness to ask that dreaded one word question of WHY? It was met with 4 simple powerful words.. BECAUSE I SAID SO ! There was never any reason for the rule. There was never an explanation of motive or results that would add incentive for obedience. It was blind faith or fear. One of my favorite speakers is Josh McDowell, who said “Rules without Relationship, leads to Rebellion”. We need rules, boundaries, and obedience, but without the right relationship it can lead to ruin, not reward.
One thing that stands out for me in the collection of wisdom stored in Proverbs is that the instruction for “action” is preceded by “affection” and followed by “awards” ( or rewards) but I like alliteration. Notice how many times the father begins with the tender words “My Son” . In a world that disparages men, and fatherhood, more and more we find the deep longing of every child for a fathers love and approval. Just repeating that phrase- “MY SON” strikes and emotional chord in my heart. There is a reason that this phrase is repeated over and over in the book of Proverbs. A fun easy study is to go through and circle each time the phase “MY SON” is used, and see what follows the phrase.
The “action step” is in verse 3 follows. In our text it is not the manly macho stuff you’d expect a father to tell his son to toughen him up. To let “love and faithfulness” never leave you. Wow. Of all the qualities to strive for, of all the duties of man to work on. He focuses on love, and faithfulness. These are two words that poetics, singers, and writers have expounded upon for centuries. Interesting that they are paired together. We live in a society where “love abounds”, until the first sign of trouble, when people bail out and move on to the next person. Love is lifted up, while Faithfulness is left behind.
The “award” or rewards are mentioned. As I often say in my comedy show when teaching or preaching on parenting. There should be a “reason for the rule.” In verse 2 , the father mentions long life and prosperity as the outcome of keeping these commands in our heart. That is pretty good motivation, who doesn’t want that ? The fruit of the challenge on love and faithfulness in verse 3, is found in verse 4. “Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man”. To live long and prosper as Star Trek fans know , are two really good things. What could be better than that ? How about to being in favor, experiencing the best that a relation can offer. Not just with man, but with God too !
Luke 2: 42 tells us that Jesus modeled this passage and the prize. He grew in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and man. In Jesus we find the love that we seek, and the relationship that we need. Faithfulness coupled with love is shown in the life, and death of Jesus. When you know Him, as your Lord and Savior, you can hear the Father’s voice calling out to you. “MY SON- MY DAUGHTER”.
Learning from his comedy heroes Bill Cosby and Red Skelton- Gordon’s comedy mixes real life stories with “off the wall” physical comedy and his own hilarious view of life. You will relate to his side splitting stories from his life- like dropping the sermon notes into the grave at his first funeral, or his demonstration of changing his first diaper, to his now famous “pantyhose dance” that has folks rolling in the aisles. He helps us see the funny things all around us and find joy no matter what we are going through. But he is more than funny ! With genuine humility, honesty, and passion Gordon often weaves life lessons into his programs of the things he’s learned in the ordinary and often painful events in his life that include some tragic deaths, his wife’s victorious battle with cancer, and his dads many years confined to a wheelchair. His unique home includes 5 children of their own, two prisoners under house arrest, a Downs-syndrome brother in law, several missionaries, and a few other boys they took in. This provides Gordon with hours of comedy material and inspiration for living life to the fullest. Visit www.GordonDouglasisFunny.com to learn more, purchase his videos, or schedule Gordon for your event.
June 22, 2016 Proverb of the Day
June 21, 2016 Proverb of the Day
June 20, 2016 Proverb of the Day
