There are a lot of topics I could discuss today. I have files filled with articles, research, and information that I could expound upon. With a 24/7 news feed, I’m constantly immersed in information from around the world. I draw from many sources, double-check the information to verify it, filter it all through the lens of Scripture, ask the Lord to guide me as I sit down to write, and then share my thoughts with you, my readers, and radio listeners.
Today as I write, there are at least twenty important topics I could tackle, but today I’m going to put those things on hold and go in a different direction. It takes a lot of time — and a lot of work — to prepare these messages. Few understand just how much intense study I must do before I begin writing anything. Once written, I then do my editing and rewriting so my messages are clear and concise, with no wasted words.
The topics I cover are serious and solemn…and oftentimes heartbreaking — and I have a great sense of urgency to get this information out. I decided long ago to never write an article just for the sake of having one ready to meet my deadline — and everything I do is always on a tight and strict deadline. My work includes our printed and online newspaper, weekly commentaries for about 50 websites as well as national radio, and our weekly TV program, which covers a wide array of topics.
Recently, someone told me they assumed (in the case of my radio commentaries) that I just sat down and started talking. My radio commentaries are a maximum of 13 minutes long. Few understand that in order to produce those 13-minute messages, it takes me, on average, 6-8 hours to prepare them. And people expect a new one every week…and not just any commentary. They expect them all to be exceptional, with great insights, creativity and Biblical wisdom — and something “hard-hitting” enough that they’ll want to share with others.
Regarding our printed newspaper, this same person told me they just assumed I had a staff of people to help produce it — and suggested I make it a weekly newspaper rather than monthly. Those who pick up free copies of Wisconsin Christian News from news racks in busy public places take it for granted that they’re just always there. They have no idea how they end up there.
First of all, I have no staff. Although I could easily employ at least four full-time people and keep them quite busy, there’s no money in the budget to hire anyone, so I do all the work here myself — with the exception of a handful of wonderful, faithful volunteers who help me keep our news racks stocked after each edition of the newspaper is printed. Those free copies in the news racks all around Wisconsin — and in other states — wouldn’t be there without the help of our volunteer distributors, who serve the Lord along with me in this ministry, getting real Christian news, commentary and Bible studies out in the public square. It’s a ministry of their own that they can do right where they live.
My work is a ministry that reaches those outside the four walls of a church, outside the world of “churchianity” — where even very few dedicated church-goers are willing to speak the necessary truth to counter the lies and deceptions of our culture, or share the truths of God’s Word…or even their own testimonies.
Assembling each edition of Wisconsin Christian News is, itself, a monumental task. It requires four days of intense concentration and attention to detail to lay out each issue, one page at a time, one paragraph at a time, one sentence at a time. Those four days usually begin by 6 am, and in order to meet my deadline at the press, I often work well into the night every day. On the final day of assembling an issue of the paper, I may not finish until after midnight, because I must meet my press deadline in order to get the paper printed and distributed on schedule.
I once had a friend accompany me to the printing plant as I went to pick up a load of newspapers. He had no idea what was involved, and I’ll never forget the look of shock on his face when he saw the many enormous pallets of newspapers waiting for me. We only picked up one pallet load that day, and my friend was genuinely surprised to find that I needed to load each bundle of newspapers into our delivery van by hand, being careful to not overload the van, walking back and forth from the pallet to the van, carrying four bundles of papers at a time. He never considered the fact that hard manual labor was also involved in what I do.
We’re now in our 27th year of publishing Wisconsin Christian News. It’s very gratifying work for me because I don’t know of any other ministry that’s reaching unsaved souls out in the general public the way we do. We literally have thousands of people picking up copies of the newspaper every month because they found it on a news rack “by accident” at some busy public place and saw something on the front cover that caught their eye, causing them to want to read and know more.
What could be a more effective outreach to the lost than to have the lost pick up a publication filled with Godly wisdom and Scripture — because they want it?! There are no “coincidences,” and we’ve had countless testimonies from people who’ve come to know Christ as their Savior because God led them to Wisconsin Christian News — when previously, they had zero interest in the things of God and never even thought about the Lord.
As they open up the paper, many assume it will be filled with a lot of religious talk, “holier than thou” dogma, along with soft, fluffy poetry and recipes. What they find is quite different. It’s irrefutable truth, solid Christian teaching, solutions to problems they’ve struggled with, explanations of things they never really understood before, and common sense commentaries that really make you think… and then think some more… and in more cases than I can count, pray.
Of course, we get plenty of criticism as well, from demoniacs who are triggered by our content. This is to be expected, and honestly, if we didn’t, I’d be concerned that we weren’t fulfilling our calling. Sometimes I’m able to have rational discussions with those who contact me with a filthy and oftentimes threatening mouth. I do my best to answer their concerns gently, humbly and patiently, as instructed in Ephesians 4:2. Sometimes they receive my counsel kindly, and sometimes they’re still furious that their twisted worldview has been challenged. But in every case, a seed is planted.
In 2019, we began a weekly internet TV program, WCN TV, which airs every Tuesday at 5 pm Central Time. It can be viewed on WCNTV.net or by searching for “WCN TV” on Rumble.com. For those watching live, it’s an interactive program in which people can ask questions, make comments and participate in the discussions we have with some of the wisest men and women of God in the world. We cover all current world events as well as Biblical teaching, and always have guests who are experts in their fields. Honestly, I’m very impressed with the caliber of world-renowned guests that we’ve been able to host on the program.
But because these weekly programs cover such a wide array of vital topics, they require me to do a lot of research prior to each show. Our guests are the experts, not me, but in order to hold a coherent and informative conversation and in order to do a proper interview, I must learn as much as I can about each topic we discuss, ahead of time. The show is live at 5 pm because I spend the entire day leading up to the program doing research, making notes, and writing out questions to prepare for the program. Again, most think I just sit down and start talking. No, it doesn’t work that way.
As I said, today, there are at least twenty topics I could do a “deep dive” into. These are important things that need to be researched, investigated, and disseminated. But, you know, none of these things are pleasant… in fact, they’re all quite disturbing, and the more I study them and prepare to reveal what I’ve learned about them, the more it takes a toll on me, personally. Let me be clear here. I’m not complaining. I know God Himself has given me this work because He’s chosen me to do it. But it’s not easy, and quite honestly, I find myself quite worn out today.
I’ve found myself worn out more and more often lately. This work has an intensity that few can relate to. It wears on you emotionally, spiritually, creatively, and physically. The work is very demanding and unforgiving, with everything I do being on a deadline — and I never miss a deadline, because I know so many rely on this ministry.
This has been a tough year. I spent the better part of both April and May working while I was sick with a strange upper respiratory infection that wouldn’t relent, regardless of medication, vitamin supplements or home remedies. The illness had me so beaten down. If the truth be told, I realize that most likely, I had simply overworked myself into illness. And because I wouldn’t stop, God made me stop. He allowed me to get so sick that I had no choice but to rest.
A pastor friend of mine once told me that overworking is a sin. God doesn’t call us to work ourselves to death, even in ministry. He gave us the Sabbath, but Jesus also took time to go away from the crowds, take breaks from the teaching and healing, and remove Himself from the never-ending ministry needs, going to a quiet place to renew and refresh and commune with His Father. That’s the example He’s set for us to follow, too. And if we don’t take the time to get the rest we need, He’ll see to it that we do, as I’ve experienced — and then we have no choice but to rest and heal.
Most of you don’t realize that we are now nearly 100% reader-supported, and like everything else, all of the expenses related to printing, distributing, shipping, and broadcasting have increased tremendously, though our financial support has not kept pace. This, too, has been an ongoing one-day-at-a-time challenge, and one that’s very often stressful, though God is always faithful.
Since we combine June and July into one Special Summer Edition, there won’t be a separate issue of our newspaper in July. But be assured I’ll still be working hard in July. There are a lot of projects I need to get done — for the ministry and around our home. After a terrible hailstorm in May, our vehicles and our house are in need of serious repair. That hailstorm was so intense that whenever it rains now, we get rain inside the house — despite the temporary fixes I’ve attempted. So, I’m hoping to get our roof replaced in July in addition to getting our vehicles repaired.
July won’t be a “month off” for me — I have plenty of work to do, for our ministry and personally — but I also hope to take a week or so with my wife, and get away for a change of scenery and atmosphere, at the end of which, we’ll be attending a ministry event in Ohio with many dear Christian friends from around the country that we only get to see once a year. So, this will be my last “new” message for you until August. On the radio, I’ll be airing some repeat episodes that you may not have heard before. Our TV program will be on hold in July as well. Lord willing, I’ll be back in August, rested and refreshed and ready to press on ahead. In the meantime, please keep my wife and me in your prayers, that the Lord will grant us a short break from the daily demands of work pressure and deadlines. May you also find time to rest and catch your breath and reconnect with those you love. The important news, information, and commentary will still be here when I return. In the meantime, I believe the Lord has told me that it can wait, and I need to remove myself for a break in a quieter place and give my mind and heart time to breathe…without feeling guilty for not constantly working (that’s the biggest challenge for me). The Lord knows we all need to step away and rest a while. There’s still much work to be done, and I do have a sense of urgency about it — and it will continue after this short break. May the Lord give us all the mercy and grace of peaceful rest from our daily challenges. God bless you.
