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An offense is a spiritual force or tool the enemy uses to keep us from moving forward in a positive and productive way. No one is exempt from offenses; however, we don’t have to receive the offense offered.
An offense occurs in two ways; through afflictions or persecutions. (Mark 4:17) Afflictions are circumstances or difficult situations and persecutions are people problems. How we handle these afflictions or persecutions determines the success or failure of our lives.
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to keep or to guard our hearts will all diligence. Our heart (or soul) is where an offense enters looking for soil to grow and reproduce after its kind. The offense begins as a seed. When the seed is received into the soil of our heart, it develops into a root of bitterness; which in turn produces the fruit of un-forgiveness.
When we receive an offense we are allowing the enemy to control our destiny. When this happens, YESTERDAY is now controlling our thoughts and actions. The offensive events of YESTERDAY begin to steal our success of TODAY and TOMORROW.
We only have two days to affect our own lives and the lives of others: TODAY AND TOMORROW! When our TODAY is spent on the offense of YESTERDAY, our TOMORROW is hindered. There are too many people that need to be touched for us to become offended.
Each of us has to choose everyday what we will do with the offenses that come our way. My advice is when you are offered an offense, DON’T TAKE IT!!!!!!
Itinerary
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September 24, 2009
Mississippi DOC Staff Meeting
Jackson, MS
September 28, 2009
Heartland Reentry After Care
Grand Island, NE
October 3 – 4, 2009
Believers Chapel
Gage, OK
October 7, 2009
Prison Outreach Accra, Ghana, West Africa (77 inmates saved)
Dr. Texford Aryee-Tagoe
October 8, 2009
Pastor Philip Hamilton took 15 of ISW Spanish Curriculum to Costa Rica, Central America
October 11, 2009
Emmanuel Praise Church
Monroe, GA
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November 7, 2009
High Point Church
Marion, IL
November 13, 2009
Barry Telford Unit
New Boston, TX
ISW Graduation
November 11, 2009
Walker State Prison
Rock Springs, GA
ISW Graduation Service on DVD
December 6, 2009
Blue Buck Mountain Ministries
Willow Springs, MO
December 8, 2009
South Central Correctional Center
Clifton, TN
Chaplain Randall Runions
December 9, 2009
Living Hope Church
Cookeville, TN
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ISW Update
As you can see from our schedule we’ve been busy ministering the message of grace and faith across the country in the two months since we've given an update on all that is happening with ISW.
Since finishing The Institute of Self-Worth® Volume II in July we have placed it 285 in facilities. We’ve had very good response to the addition of Charles Capps' teachings to the curriculum.
Dr. Texford Aryee-Tagoe from Accra, Ghana held an ISW outreach at the prison there in October. He took gifts to the men and had 77 born again that day. He is planning another outreach with media blitz at the first Ghana Prison ISW graduation on December 19th. This media coverage will give ISW exposure and access to placement and potential partners in the nation of Ghana. The cost of this outreach is $1300.00. Would you would like to be part of reaching this nation with the Gospel?
We are pleased to have finished the first three lessons of The Institute of Self-Worth® Volume I in Spanish. This is a large and time consuming project. Slowly, but surely, we are making head way in getting it completed. Once it’s finished, we will place the entire curriculum on one printable CD. We will be able to reach thousands in the Spanish speaking communities of the world with the message of grace. Since October 8th we have placed the first series of the ISW Spanish curriculum in Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, and Bolivia. Three of the curriculum in Bolivia are in Bible Schools.
Do you remember worship DVD project we have been working on for the last two years? We have continued to work toward finishing this project and are very pleased to tell you that it is almost done. This will be made available to every prison location that may not have music available for their Bible studies/classes. This project was made possible because of the financial gift of Pastors Marty and Becky Warren and the congregation of Mt. Zion Community Church in Cherryvale, KS. It will touch lives and change the atmosphere in many places.
Enclosed are pictures of two recent ISW graduations; one at South Central Correctional Center in Clifton, TN with Chaplain Randall Runions and the other at Walker State Prison in Rock Springs, GA with Chaplain Eldridge and Pastor Rich Huff.
This time last year we worked on the "Project 83" outreach. We helped a widow in Mountain Top, PA by raising over $7500.00 to pay her back property taxes so she could keep her home. At that time, I told her we would help cover the taxes due this year. I’ve contacted the tax office and her property tax for 2008 is $628.86. If you would like to give toward helping her meet this obligation, please mark your check as “Project 83.”
We have placed a total of 2683 of The Institute of Self-Worth® A Curriculum for Life, Volume I and Volume II since May 12, 2005. We are in all 50 states and over 1200 prisons. We are in prisons, churches, and Bible schools in 90 countries. In 2009 we know of over 12,000 inmates who were born again through ISW outreaches. This is only those we have record of. Truly an awakening and a revival is taking place in the prisons worldwide. I frequently have inmates come up to me and tell me that they are praying for the church on the outside.
Thank you for your continued financial support and for your prayers for this ministry. Together we are changing the lives of thousands of people. If you would like to become a partner with us in reaching people with the message of grace, please contact us at www.iswlive.com.
The Institute of Self-Worth® Newsletter
P.O. Box 2068 Nixa, MO 65714-2068
Phone 417-824-0965 Toll Free 866-794-0462 Fax 417-725-5748
Email vporter@iswlive.com www.iswlive.com
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