This is the kind of weather we expected to see at Yankee Stadium today for the home opener.

Hello,

The New York Yankees home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays scheduled for noon today was rescheduled for Tuesday at 6:05 CDT due to rain. Instead we will stay busy with our regular responsibilities and look forward to tomorrow night!

We have been receiving many good and positive reports from people who visit our four websites/blogs. Let me encourage you to keep acquainting yourself with the God of the Bible. He loves you and wants you to receive His blessing in every area of your life.

Have a fun day,

Bill

Coach Nick turned basketball player this weekend at the annual Alumni Basketball Tournament.

Hi,

Nick's 2004 and 2005 alumni basketball team went 2-0 today and finished the Ladysmith Alumni Basketball Tournament with a 3-1 record.

Nick finished the tournament as one of the top scorers with 87 points and enjoyed his time visiting with the former stars of Ladysmith High School basketball. Now it's time to go back to school and graduate from Hamline University in May with an Elementary Education degree. Nick has been selected to coach an AAU 15U basketball team beginning in April.

We had a great Sunday service. Lot's of fun. Old people, new people, just a great time.

Shalom,

Bill

#24 Nick Novak, Wisconsin State High School Basketball Champion in the 2002-03 season.


Hello,

We all spent today at the Ladysmith Alumni Basketball Tournament. The annual event began today, March 29, and will conclude tomorrow, March 30.

Nick graduated in 2004. The 2004 and 2005 graduating classes combined for a team in this years tournament. There were 12 teams entered this year with the 1975-1982 team being the oldest and the 2007 graduating class being the youngest. Nick's team finished the day with a 1-1 record and will play tomorrow at 8:00 am. Nick led his team in scoring with 60 points, 29 in the first game and 31 in the second. It was nice seeing the players that made up the State Championship team and five other teams who made it to the State Tournament.

Have a good Sunday service,

Bill

The Spoken Word Church will be celebrating their 26th anniversary on Sunday, July 6, 2008.

Hello,

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament continues today in the sweet 16 round. Tonight the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big 10, with a record of 31-4, play 28-6 Davidson. GO BADGERS!!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bill

It really must run in the family because Kristine has always won the little ones over, too! Or is Dawson just flirting with her?


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Eliphaz (Job 4:1, 13-15)
2. Jacob (Gen. 32:3-7)
3. Saul (1 Sam. 28:4-5)
4. Manoah (Judg. 13:20-22)
5. Belshazzar (Dan. 5:5-6)
6. Jonah (Jonah 1:3-15)
7. Aaron & Israelites (Exod. 34:29-30)
8. Peter (Matt. 14:29-30)
9. Israelites (Exod. 14:7-10)
10. Peter, James, John (Matt. 17:1, 5-7)


New Quiz: Festive Feasts

1. When handwriting appeared on a wall, who was holding a feast for a thousand guests?
2. Which man had seven sons who always celebrated their birthdays with a feast?
3. Which man after he "held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king" became drunk, then the next morning suffered a stroke?
4. Who gave a feast to celebrate the weaning of his son?
5. Which king held a seven-day feast in the palace garden while his queen feasted with the women inside the palace?
6. Who, while entertaining thirty young men with a feast that lasted seven days, challenged them with a riddle?
7. Which king on his birthday gave a feast for all his servants?
8. Which publican entertained Jesus with a great feast at which many other publicans were present?
9. Which man, after giving a progress report to king David, was entertained, along with his twenty companions, with a feast?
10. At the dedication of the temple, who held a feast that lasted fourteen days?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Nick is good with kids. He probably gets that from his mom, Roxy!

Hello,

My third team that is busy this year is the Minnesota Vikings. Last season the Vikings were in the running for a playoff spot right up to the last game of the season. This off season the Vikings have added important pieces to the team through free agent signings.

The National Football League draft is once again scheduled for April. Last year the Vikings had an excellent draft led by their #1 draft choice, Adrian Peterson. He had an excellent rookie season and an outstanding performance in the Pro Bowl.

I am hoping that the Vikings have an even better draft this April. There is never a quiet month in the year for an NFL team. Go Vikings!!!!

Shalom,

Bill

Bill with Jessi Ewer. She looks very relaxed and comfortable holding on to that big pinkie finger!

Hello,

This week we are catching up on how my favorite teams are doing. Second priority are the New York Yankees.

The Yankees will open up their 2008 season on Monday when they host the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees have a new manager, Joe Girardi. They have two new pitchers in their starting rotation, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. They will be joining Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina.

The bullpen looks strong, led by closer Mariano Riveria and young pitching sensation, Joba Chamberlain. The rest of the bullpen has the potential to be one of the strongest in the major leagues. The every day lineup, led by Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Bobby Abreu should have good results again this year.

The success of the Yankees will once again depend upon a solid balance of good pitching, good defense and timely hitting.

Summed up, if the pitchers and offense have a good day, the Yankees will win on that day. If they both have bad days, the Yankees will lose that day. If the pitching is bad on a particular day, the Yankee bats, as they've done in the past, can out slug it's opponents and win. The big difference this year with the Yankees will occur when they have good pitching and the hitting is off. The new manager should have his offense being able to manufacture some runs through timely hits, base running, bunting and small ball strategy.

All in all, it should be another seven months of exciting Yankee baseball. I am really looking forward to watching this team this summer.

Have a fun day,

Bill

A week from today the Yankees open the 2008 season at Yankee Stadium against the Toronto Blue Jays. This summer we will be making our last visit to old Yankee Stadium. Go Yankees!


Hi,

This week we will be catching up on how my favorite teams are doing. Top priority right now are the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings have the best record in the National Hockey League. The Red Wings have 50 wins, 20 losses and 6 overtime losses for a total of 106 points. San Jose is second, 7 points behind the Red Wings with only 6 games remaining in the regular season.

Detroit is getting healthy at just the right time. Playoffs begin in two weeks. Go Red Wings!!!!

Until tomorrow,

Bill

Nick during his Junior year in High School with Jennaleigh Ewer. His team will go on to win the 2003 Basketball State Championship later in the year, but he's always been a champion with the little ones!


Shalom,

Happy Resurrection Day!

Have a great week,

Bill

Greg, Robin and Bill with Roxy behind the camera. We've celebrated many birthdays together and this was another fun one!


Hello,

It's been a wonderful weekend in Wisconsin. The sun has been shining in Ladysmith and people are in the Easter/Resurrection mode! What an exciting, fun and exhilarating time to be with friends, family and relatives.

Have a fantastic day,

Bill

On another trip to Maui we took in a Luau. We enjoyed the beautiful Maui night.

Shalom,

Today is another special day to thank our Heavenly Father for the great plan of redemption. The plan of Salvation.

Thank you, Jesus, for shedding Your blood and rising from the dead. We love You and thank You for loving us.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Bill

Robin, Bill, Roxy and Nick after a sunset walk in Maui.


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. G (2 Sam. 12:15-16)
2. D (Acts 9:8-9)
3. H (Matt. 4:1-3)
4. J (1 Kings 21:20, 27)
5. I (Esther 4:15-16)
6. C (Exod. 34:2, 28)
7. A (Neh. 1:2-4)
8. B (Acts 10:30)
9. F (Dan. 6:16-18)
10. E (1 Kings 19:5-8)


New Quiz: Fear and Trembling

1. Which man was so frightened by a dream his hair stood on end?
2. Who was "greatly afraid and distressed" when he was about to have a reunion with a brother he had wronged, and learned his brother had 400 men with him?
3. Which king, at the sight of a vast army of enemy Philistines, was "afraid and his heart greatly trembled"?
4. When he saw an angel ascend in an altar's flame, who fell face downward to the ground in fear?
5. At the sight of handwriting on a wall, who became so frightened his knees knocked together?
6. Who, while a passenger on a ship, was tossed overboard when sailors became frightened during a "mighty tempest in the sea"?
7. Who was frightened at the sight of a man who came down from a mountain with a shining face?
8. Who tried to walk on water, but was terrified at the sight of high waves and began to sink?
9. What band of fleeing people "were sore afraid" at the sight of 600 Egyptian chariots coming in pursuit of them?
10. Which three men "were sore afraid," when a voice, coming out of a bright cloud, said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased"?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

February, March and April are the three busiest months for us. A lot is happening in church and in sports. We have gone to many sporting events so far, and we're only in the middle of March. Here we have part of our crew, Bill, George, Sandy, Robin and Greg.


Hi,

It is mid-week and the sun is shining in NW Wisconsin. Thank You , Jesus, for shedding Your blood and rising from the dead. The Word of God tells us that Jesus was made sin and everything hell had to offer so we could have life and receive by faith everything Heaven has to offer, right now in this present world.

The Bible says that the reason Jesus came to this earth was to release us from all the works of darkness. I believe, by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus accomplished His mission. In God's eyes, we have been redeemed. We have been rescued. We have been delivered. We have been set free. We are not trying to GET our freedom, we already have it! The enemy will continue to try to fill our thoughts with fear, doubt and unbelief. The Word of God tells us to reject those thoughts and replace them with God's thoughts. By doing this we will walk in the freedom that is ours.

Have a great day,

Bill

Taking time out of our busy schedules to be with friends, family and relatives. Enjoying one another's company are, left to right, Nick, Maya, Greg, Robin and Bill.

Hi,

I just got done watching the New York Yankees defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies 11-0. The Yankees once again demonstrated why they are the best organization in professional sports. Their financial generosity combined with generosity with their time make Yankees fans appreciate their team.

The New York Yankees made the trip Tuesday to the memorial dedicated to the Virginia Tech shooting victims. In May the Yankees made a $1,000,000 donation to the Virginia Tech "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund." The shooting incident occurred on April 16, 2007. The Yankees promised to come to Blacksburg, Virginia and play an exhibition baseball game against the Virginia Tech team. Today the Yankees fulfilled that promise and many people, including the Yankees, were extremely blessed.

The Word of God teaches us that our God can bless what we give and what we have. Whenever you give time, energy or resources to someone else, first give them to your High Priest, Jesus. He will present them to God the Father and God the Father will bless what you have given. Ask God the Father to also bless what you have. You have time, energy and resources that can be a real blessing in your life as God multiplies those good and godly things back to you.

Have a wonderful day,

Bill

Nick and his girlfriend Maya before a game at Blaine High School.

Hello,

Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. That was the greatest event in the six thousand years of recorded history. Believing in that event takes you out of the kingdom of darkness and translates you into the Kingdom of Light. I believe Jesus rose from the dead and Jesus is the Lord of my life!

Jesus willingly gave his life. Nobody took Him to the cross. He chose to go because of His love for people. The Word of God tells us that if satan and his forces of darkness would have known God's great plan of redemption and what it was all about, they would not have influenced people to nail Jesus to the cross and have Him killed. Thank God His wisdom is unsurpassed. Because was made everything hell had to offer, we as believers are able to receive everything Heaven has to offer. Thank you Jesus!

Shalom,

Bill

It's always fun when old friends get together. George Mohar, Bill Novak and Neil McKenzie.

Shalom,

I hope you had a good service at your local church today. We continued our series on the Godhead. The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, the God of Heaven, the God of Israel, and the great I Am of the Old Testament, wants us to be better acquainted with Him every day.

Today our lesson was titled "God Knows The Future". Be sure to listen to our services on The Spoken Word Church website.

Have a great week,

Bill

Bill, Roxy, Robin and Greg enjoying another beautiful night in Maui.


Hello,

I hope your weekend is going good. Starting tomorrow we enter Easter week. Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus 2000 years ago is the greatest event in the 6000 years of recorded history. Thank you , Jesus , for shedding Your blood and rising from the dead.

Have a great service at your local church tomorrow,

Bill

March in Wisconsin makes you long for a scene like this!


Hi,

The Blaine High School basketball team lost to Cambridge-Isanti by a score of 72-60.

Have a great weekend,

Bill

When we vacation on Maui we sometimes travel to the other islands. This is Bill at the International Market Place in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

Do You Know Your Bible?

Answers to previous quiz.

1. Jehoshabeath (2 Chron. 22:10-11)

2. Abimelech (Judg. 9:5)

3. Lois (2 Tim. 1:5)

4. Jethro (Ex. 18:14-24)

5. Hagar (Gen. 21:14-15)

6. Miriam (Ex. 2:3-4)

7. Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:33-34)

8. Abraham (Gen. 14:12-16)

9. Jesse (1 Sam. 16:10-12)

10. Jezebel (1 Kings 21:7)

New Quiz: Fasting

Match each person who fasted in the first list to the description of his or her fast in the second list.

1. David

2. Paul

3. Jesus

4. Ahab

5. Esther

6. Moses

7. Nehemiah

8. Cornelius

9. Darius

10. Elijah

A. He fasted in sorrow for several days after hearing of the destruction in Jerusalem.

B. When he finished fasting a man appeared before him clothed in a bright robe.

C. He fasted forty days and nights while on a mountain top with God.

D. He fasted for three days after losing his sight.

E. After being fed by an angel he fasted forty days and nights.

F. After having a man cast into a lion's den he spent the night fasting.

G. He fasted and lay all night on the ground when his child became ill.

H. After fasting forty days and nights he was tempted to change stones into bread.

I. Fasted for three days and nights before making a forbidden appearance before a king.

J. After being reproached by a prophet, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted.

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

In 2003 the Ladysmith Lumberjacks won the Wisconsin High School Division 3 Boys Basketball State Championship. Nick was a Junior on that team. There were seven Seniors and three Juniors on Ladysmith's one and only team State Champion.

Shalom,

Today we are going to talk about the Minnesota State High School Boys Basketball Tournament. There are 429 boys high school basketball teams in the state of Minnesota. These teams are divided into four divisions (4A, 3A, 2A and 1A). The 64 largest schools in Minnesota are in 4A. The 64 next largest schools are in 3A. There are 130 schools in 2A and the smallest 171 schools are in 1A.

Nick coaches at Blaine High School. Blaine is one of the 64 largest schools in the state of Minnesota (they are the 7th largest). The 64 schools in 4A are divided into 8 sections. There are 8 teams in each section. Blaine is in Section 7. The Section 7 tournament began last night with Blaine defeating St. Francis 63-53. On Friday Blaine will play Cambridge-Isanti at 8:00 pm in the semi-finals. The championship game in Section 7 will be played on Wednesday, March 19, at 7:00 pm. The winner of the Section 7 tournament will represent Section 7 in the Minnesota State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Tournament. The 4A tournament begins on Wednesday, March 26, at 10:00 am at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The semi-finals will be on Thursday, March 27. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, March 29, at 8:00 pm. GO BLAINE BENGALS!!!!

Bill

Kristine's birthday is coming up real soon. She will be 27. Oh how time flies!


Hi,

Class AAAA-Section 7 Boys High School Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal.

Blaine Bengals 63
St. Francis Fighting Saints 53.

Next game semi-final Friday, March 14 at Elk River. Blaine vs winner of Anoka/Cambridge-Isanti.

Until tomorrow,

Bill

In basketball tournaments teams that fight like tigers win the championships!

Hello,

March is the time for basketball tournaments. In Minnesota and Wisconsin high school tournaments for the boys and girls are providing exciting times for students and parents alike.

In Wisconsin the Boys State Tournament was just completed this weekend. The Girls State Tournament begins on Thursday.

In Minnesota the Girls State Tournament begins this week and the Boys State Tournament begins in two weeks. Coach Nick and the Blaine Bengals begin tournament play tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11, when, as the #3 seed, they host St. Francis, the 6th seed. The Sectional semi-finals are on Friday at Elk River. The Section 7 finals are Wednesday March 19 at Elk River. The Minnesota State High School Basketball Tournament begins the following week in downtown Minneapolis at the Target Center. May your team be playing their best basketball at this time of the year.

Have a great day,

Bill

We rejoiced with Kristine at her job. She just told us she got a promotion. Thank You, Jesus!


Shalom,

Hope you're having a good weekend. Last week I started a series on God at The Spoken Word Church. What does the Word of God have to say about the God of the Bible, the God of Heaven and the God of Israel? The series that we're teaching has a very special anointing on it for the people and families of The Spoken Word Church.

The 2008 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament finished up last night with Hill-Murray defeating Edina for the AA Championship. Earlier in the day St. Thomas Academy defeated Duluth Marshall for the Class A Championship. Girls and boys high school basketball tournaments continue in the next two weeks.

Have a great week,

Bill

The world champion Baltimore Colts, led by quarterback Johnny Unitas, were Bill's favorite NFL team growing up.

Shalom,

If you walk in love, you will not fail because love never fails! As a believer you are a love person. Your hopes are fadeless under all circumstances. You endure everything without weakening. You never fail!

We are interested in spiritual gifts and we should to be. The Word of God tells us that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away. But, thank God, love never fails.

Yes, I believe in prophecy. I believe in speaking in tongues. Thank God for these gifts! But if you exercise these gifts outside of love, they become as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

Let's have prophecy. Let's have tongues. Let's have faith. Let's have knowledge. But let's have love with it. Let's put love first, because we are in the family of love, and we have become acquainted with our heavenly Father, Who is love.

We should want to learn and grow in love until we are made perfect in love. I have not been made perfect in love yet, have you? But I'm going to keep working toward this goal!

See you in church Sunday,

Bill

Bill and Roxy with Minnie Mouse at a Character Dinner at Disney World.


Hi,

It has been a fun, great and exciting week in Minneapolis/St. Paul at the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. There are 4 semi-final games scheduled for today. The early games in Class A find #1 St. Thomas Academy playing St. Cloud Cathedral. The first game of the day is Duluth Marshall against Warroad.

Tonight #1 Rouseau plays Hill-Murray. The first game this evening finds Edina playing Benilde-St. Margarets.

Have a great weekend,

Bill

Kristine, Bill, Roxy and Nick. Roxy isn't really pulling on Nick's ear, it just looks that way!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Moses ((Num. 13:17, 20)
2. Rahab (Josh. 2:1-6)
3. Hanun (2 Sam. 10:2-4)
4. Jesus (Luke 20:20-26)
5. Joseph (Gen. 42:6-9)
6. Caleb ( Josh. 14:7-9)
7. Micah (Judg. 18:14-18)
8. Paul (Gal. 2:4)
9. Absalom (2 Sam. 15:10)
10. David (1 Sam. 26:3-4)


New Quiz: Family Affairs
From the list of names below, answer the questions that follow.

Abimelech
Abraham
Hagar
Jehoshabeath
Jesse
Jethro
Jezebel
Jonathan
Lois
Miriam

1. Which woman hid her little nephew from her vengeful grandmother in a storage room in a temple?
2. Who had seventy of his brothers killed on one stone?
3. Which grandmother was commended by Paul for her great faith?
4. Which man gave good advice to his son-in-law, who was wearing himself out counseling people?
5. Which mother was banished to the wilderness, and when her water supply was gone, placed her little boy under a bush to die?
6. Which girl watched to see what would happen to her baby brother who was in a floating cradle?
7. Which son became so angry with his father, he left the dinner table and refused to eat all day?
8. Who armed his servants and rescued his nephew who had been taken prisoner by enemy kings?
9. Which father had to parade his eight sons before a prophet?
10. Who encouraged her husband, the king, to do every sort of evil?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Bill has always loved being by the ocean and spending time with his daughter, Kristine, who has always enjoyed her special times with her dad.

Shalom,

God's love never fails. As a believer you have God's love inside of you. You are a love person. You do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness. You rejoice when right and truth prevail. You bear up under anything and everything that comes. You are ever ready to believe the best of very person.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes. If you walk in the God-kind of love, you will make it every time. Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person. Natural human love is ever ready to believe the worst of every person. Choose to believe the best of everyone. Children should have the right to be brought up in this love atmosphere in the home. Then they will go out in life's fight and win. When you see the best in young people and love them, that will bring out the best in them. They will grow up and be a success in life.

Have a supernatural day,

Bill

Bill with Nick and Greg at the German restaurant, The Biergarten, in the Disney World Epcot Center. A fun atmoshphere with good food, especially the Black Forest Cake!


Hello,

The subject of walking in the God-kind of love is so important. As a believer I am a love person. I am not touchy. I am not fretful. I am not resentful. I take no account of evil done to me. I pay no attention to a suffered wrong.

Love takes no account of the evil done to it. This has to be the God-kind of love, because we were enemies of God, and God didn't take account of the evil we had done to Him. He sent Jesus to redeem us. He loved us while we were yet sinners.

Love pays no attention to a suffered wrong. We might just as well admit it, there aren't too many people walking in God's love, even though they have it! No, they're walking in natural human love, and they sure pay attention to a suffered wrong!

Can't you see how it would straighten things out in the home, the church and the nation for people to become children of God, get the love of God in them, and then live in the family of God as children of God?

The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament begins tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. What a spectacular event!

Shalom,

Bill

Bill and Kristine on the Carousel. Daddy doesn't mind being around THAT horse!


Hi,

As a believer you are a love person. Therefore, you are not touchy, fretful or resentful. You have no resentment in your heart toward anyone.

Here is the love gauge! It's very easy to find out whether or not you are walking in love. When you begin to take account of the evil done to you, you're not walking in love. As long as you walk in God and stay full of the Holy Spirit, you won't take account of the evil done to you. I suggest you walk in love toward those who treat you in an evil manner. If you walk in love regardless of suffered wrongs, you'll come out on top in the long run! Make a decision. Simply refuse to hold any resentment in your heart against anyone.

We're into March which is a sports lover's paradise. Baseball, football, basketball and hockey all have exciting things happening.

Have a great day,

Bill

Sheriff Bill surrounded by cowboys and cowgirls on Hallelujah Night in the early 1990s.

Hi,

As a believer, the Bible teaches that God's love is in us. Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking. Too many people would rather declare, "well, I know what's mine, though, I've got my say so, and I'm going to have it. I've got my rights, and I'm going to have them." They insist on having their own way, no matter how much their actions may hurt someone else.

The Word of God says that love does not insist on having its own rights. Start believing in God and believing in love. It's the best way. It's your way!

Have a great week,

Bill

Bill at one of the "official" scenic views in Maui, where everything is a scenic view!


Shalom,

Always remember, love never fails. It's always flesh that is boastful, haughty, conceited, arrogant, inflated with pride, rude and unmannerly.

By an act of your own will, you can decide not to give in to these fleshly temptations. You can decide, rather, to walk in love. To walk in the spirit is always the wisest decision to make. The battle is there between your human spirit and your flesh. The Word of God says, "Walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

Decide to let your spirit dominate. You are a born again believer. Your spirit is alive unto God. When the temptation comes, stand still a moment and begin to speak the Word of God. Begin to say, "I am born of love. I will allow the love of God within me to dominate this situation." The love of God will rise up big within you!

Have a fun weekend,

Bill