Midwest Tour – We are heading back out to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee in July and August and would love to make a stop at your church on the way. What we are doing is getting a list of churches who are interested and their available dates, then we’ll place them all logistically on the calendar. If you think your church would be interested, have your Pastor or Worship leader look over the following dates and email me at info@billandkarenitzel.com or call me at 410-925-0687 with the dates that would work for them.

Available dates for Oklahoma: July 13 – AM July 20 – AM or PM July 27 – AM or PM August 3 (Our Anniversary!) - AM or PM

Available dates for Texas: July 20 – AM or PM July 27 – AM or PM August 3 - AM or PM

Available dates for Tennessee or Arkansas: August 3 – AM or PM

New Myspace Songs – We have just uploaded 2 new songs on our myspace page: An Inconvenient Truth and Weak. Check them out at www.myspace.com/theitzelfamily

I want to thank you all for your prayers for our family when we were out on tour in Oklahoma.  We made it home safely and our car ran fine after replacing the transmission.  There really is no good time for a transmission to go out, but if there was, this was it!  We didn’t miss a single concert, and we were able to get our transmission fixed by a reputable place at a really good price.  Had we broken down 400 miles earlier, it could have been a real disaster.

Each year, our family watches our stack of Christmas movies throughout December.  This year, being so busy, we’ve barely touched the stack, but we did watch my favorite a couple of days ago…It’s a Wonderful Life.  I guess I’ve always been moved by the story because it’s the story of my life.  Sure, I’ll admit there was a time I hoped to be the next Steven Curtis Chapman, the next big singer/songwriter to explode onto the national scene and take the music business by storm.  I had dreams of having a string of number one songs that would stand forever, being cheered by tens of thousands of fans everywhere I sang.  God had other plans, though.  I had always hoped to do something “Big”, but in a way, we are.  We are touching the lives of people every week.  I’m able to travel and minister with my family, and write songs that God is using to encourage people in their faith. We are seeing souls come to Christ everywhere we go, and we are blessed to be used of God to further His Kingdom. We truly are leading a “Wonderful Life!”  I guess I’ve always felt a kindred spirit in George Bailey, but this year, the movie was particularly relevant.  For those of you who know the story, George Bailey, through no fault of his own wound up in serious financial trouble.  He had a debt that there was no way he could pay, but in the final scene, the whole town pulled together and came up with what he needed, simply because they had all been touched by his life and his giving spirit through the years. God times these things perfectly because at the very same moment this final scene came on, I was right in the middle of organizing thank-you notes to be sent to the list of people who had come together and supported us financially to help pay for our transmission.  It was an incredible moment as our family thanked God for the awesome friends, sufficient God, and wonderful life we truly do have!

War Fatigue – (WARNING:  Political commentary forthcoming!)  There is a phenomenon taking place in American culture, and quite frankly it’s been around for decades, but we’re seeing it more pronounced today because of the sustained war on terror.  Americans, unlike terrorists, don’t like war; we don’t like to see bombings on our TV’s; we don’t like to hear about terrorist plots on our Radio programs; we don’t like to hear about the casualties.  We are a peace-loving people and quite frankly, these days, many tire quickly if enemies of freedom are not stopped in the first hundred days .  If we lose the War on Terror, it won’t be because our Armed Forces are not strong or dedicated enough, it will be because people back here in America are tired of having their lives interrupted by things as mundane and draining as say…the security of our Country.  In other words, they’re suffering from “War Fatigue.”  Now, I really didn’t mean to get all political (ok, actually, I did a little), but this is not a political song.  I simply took the term “War Fatigue” and applied it to spiritual warfare.  There are many believers who have been persecuted by the enemy and exhausted by living in a world that is not their home.  I feel that from time to time too, and this song is just my prayer that God would give me the strength to fight this spiritual battle ‘till the end and that I would not “cut and run”.  (Ok, I just couldn’t resist)

My Burden – This song is about that burden that we carry around with us and refuse to lay at the foot of the cross.  It’s the one we keep worrying about, but continue to try to “work out” on our own.  Jesus want us to “Cast all our cares on Him” because He knows just what to do with our burdens.  We’ll never have true peace until we do!

One Of Those Days – Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes right for you?  Everything gets done in half the time you planned, everything you have been worrying about amazingly works itself out, and you even understand why God is doing what He’s doing?  Well, this song is NOT about one of those days!  However, this song does point out that even in our worst days, God’s grace is sufficient.

Save Me From Myself – This is one of those story songs that tells of two people (one from outside the church and one who attends all the time) who both need Jesus in their life.  The first is seeking God in desperation, the second knows all the right things to say, but Christ has never changed his life.  This song is a testimony song of how God changes lives.

Create In Me A Clean Heart – This is a song about forgiveness that comes from David’s prayer in Psalms.  There are times in all of our lives when we need to pray the words of this song.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

An Inconvenient Truth – Despite the title, this song is not about Global Warming.  It’s about the philosophy of this world that there is no God, no absolutes, no truth, and no standard.  This one picks up where “God is Still God” from the “Soldiers” CD left off.

At World’s End – The most simple song on the CD, but probably my favorite.  This one basically says that I don’t know what this life will bring, but when it’s all over, I know what is awaiting me at the world’s end.

I’ve Got No Problem With That – One the scale of 1-10 on how odd our family must appear to the world, we are pretty high.  We homeschool our kids, our teens don’t date, we believe in absolute truth and strive to follow a God that the world says doesn’t exist.  Some may call us crazy or even fanatics, but we wear it as a badge of honor…we’ve got no problem with that!

Jesus Is Enough – This one is a new praise chorus that God has recently been using in our invitation time in a miraculous way.  It wasn’t originally written to be an invitation song, but God had other plans!

Weak – the theme of this whole CD is “The Inability of Man and the Ability of God” and no song better reflects this concept than this song that says “When I am weak, You are strong”.

Pray – This is the “Song that almost didn’t make it on the CD”.  We had to wait for this track to be done at the last minute, but I’m glad we waited.  This song tells about the times when we are not in control of the circumstances in our lives and we feel there’s nothing we can do.  It reminds us that we can always pray and God will always answer.

If you would like to hear a few of these songs, go to our myspace page at www.myspace.com/theitzelfamily

If you would like to order one of these CD’s, send a check for $12 to Bill Itzel 4215 Salem Bottom Rd.  Westminster, MD 21157.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds
And I don’t know how this life unfolds
And I don’t know if I’ll be rich or poor
No, I don’t know what God has in store

Chorus
But I know where I will be…at the world’s end
I know what’s awaiting me…at the world’s end
And I know who I will see…at the world’s end
Yes, I know where I will be…at the world’s end

I don’t know if I will find success
And I don’t know if I will impress
I don’t know when I’ll be satisfied
With who I am on the inside

Chorus

I don’t know the number of my days
For I don’t know Jehovah’s sovereign ways
I don’t know my final legacy
Or what men will say when they speak of me

Chorus

Create In Me A Clean Heart
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/18/07

Lord, the things I’ve done
And the things I’ve seen
Have all made this heart of mine
Feel like it’s so unclean
The choices that I’ve made
And voices that I’ve listened to
Have led me in directions
But so few have led to You

* I’m so sorry…when I look away
But You have promised…to forgive me when I stray

Chorus
Create in me a clean heart, o God
Take all my thoughts and make them new
Create in me a clean heart, o God
So my life can bring glory to You
So my life can bring glory to You

Lord, there are no secrets
That from You, I can hide
For You know all my hands have done
And thoughts I hold inside
And when temptation comes my way
And I give into its lure
When I confess my sin to You
You make me clean and pure

Jesus Is Enough
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/18/07

Chorus
Jesus is enough…when your world falls down around you
Jesus is enough…When you don’t know how you’ll get through
Jesus is enough
Jesus is enough
Jesus is enough
He is enough

He is all I need
He knows everything
When I’m all alone and there’s no where left to go
He is all I need

Chorus

Bridge: Why go looking for somethin’
That you’ll never find
When only Jesus can offer you peace of mind

An Inconvenient Truth
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/18/07

If there was no God
Then there would be no rules
There would be no difference
Between geniuses and fools
If there was no God
There’d be no wrong or right
And you could do whatever
Was pleasing in your sight

* It sure would be convenient
If truth did not exist
And there was no Creator
And He wasn’t even missed

Chorus
But there’s an inconvenient truth
This is God’s creation
He’s in complete control
And deserves our adoration
There’s an inconvenient truth
God has given us a warning
He will judge the world with fire
Now, there’s your global warming

If there was no God
There’d be no consequence
You’d live your life of your own terms
Sitting on the fence
If there was no God
There’d be no judgment day
You could live the way you wanted
With no one to obey

Save Me From Myself
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/18/07

She looked into the mirror
And said “What have I done”
Back in the beginning
It had only seemed like fun
But now she’s trapped in emptiness
Longing to break free
Knowing that this life could never
Give her what she’d need

Then she saw a light from a little church
So in sheer desperation
She walked toward her last resort
With a hope to find salvation

Then the choir sang Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
And the pastor spoke of the blessed hope
That he had found
And he told of faith that leads to perfect peace
And freedom to all who would believe…and she cried

Chorus
Save me…save me from myself
Save me…from this empty shell
I’m lost in sin without a doubt
And I can’t find my way out
So Jesus save me
Save me from myself

He sings in the choir
As the service begins
This morning he’s decked out in white
But inside he’s black with sin
He’s worked so hard to clean his heart
But all to no avail
He just can’t seem to understand
Why all his work has failed

But God has plans to move today
In a way he’s never seen
Through repentance and forgiveness
His heart finally will be clean…for he cried

Pray
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/19/07

He couldn’t do the things that he used to do
He dodn’t have a lot from the world’s point of view
But in the Army of the Lord he was a soldier through and through
When he’d get down on his knees and pray

Chorus
He could pray…He could pray
He could win a battle for the Lord today
When all those around him would say “All is lost”
He could pray…he could pray

She couldn’t see the answer, it was out of her hands
For nothing had happened the way that she had planned
But there was someone that she knew she could trust to understand
She could get down on her knees and pray

Have you reached the point when you can’t even cope
And you’ve fallen so low that you’ve run out of hope
God has reached down to you and thrown you a rope
You can get down on your knees and pray

One Of Those Days
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/19/07

There are days in my life when everything goes right
And it’s easy to walk by faith and not by sight
There are times on the mountain when we’re walking hand in hand
And the view is just divine and I can see Your plan

Chorus
But this is not…
One of those days…I’m having trouble seeing
One of those days…It’s difficult believing
I can’t even see your hand in front of my face
Lord, carry me for I cannot run this race
It’s just one of those days

There are days in my life when people can see
Just how Your hand is working through me
And there are times in my walk when my feet seem so light
And I can run like the wind and my faith takes flight

Chorus

But on days like this you won’t find me complaining
For it’s times like these, Your grace is sustaining

Chorus 2
So this is…
One of these days…Your grace is sufficient
One of these days…You show that You’re omniscient
Though I don’t have the strength to run the last mile
You lift me up and with joy I can smile
It’s one of those days

War Fatigue
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/19/07

We’re soldiers fighting freedom’s fight
Defending what we know is right
Side by side we march ahead
Crushing evil where we tread
But when you’re always under fire
It can feel like a quagmire
Every day set to defend
We wait so long to see an end

And I get weary in this fight
As I point the world to you
Showing the truth, the whole truth
And nothing but the truth

Chorus
So help me God to fight this war
And remember Who I’m fighting for
To stand up strong and march in league
And not succumb to War Fatigue

This war is raging across the land
And it is by His might we stand
It’s truth and honor we defend
But we must last until the end
We hear how some have said they’re done
The doom and gloomers cut and run
But I’m here to give a new report
For the battle is the Lord’s

My Burden
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/19/07

My burden weighs upon me like a stone around my neck
I try to throw him off but sin nature stacks the deck
Alone I cannot fight him and the race I cannot run
For when I trust myself to be made whole, it is then I am undone

Chorus
He follows me round every turn like a monkey on my back
He’s everything I never need, and all that I should lack
But my pain is self-inflicted, I take him everywhere I go
For you see he is my burden and I won’t leave him alone

I struggle with this burden and everyday it grows
I thought this fight was mine alone, but there’s someone else who knows
For God would take this burden, if I lay it at the cross
But I don’t think I could handle such a beneficial loss

Chorus 2
He follows me round every turn like a monkey on my back
He’s everything I never need, and all that I should lack
I know it’s self-inflicted but this time I must say no
So I’ll throw off this old burden, for it’s time for him to go

Weak
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel

Chorus
When I am weak, You are strong
When I am tired You carry me on
When I can’t face the storm around me
You show me grace and your peace surrounds me

Chorus

Your strength is made perfect in me
For I am weak, yes I am weak
When my failures outweigh my successes
You are my strength, You are my strength

Chorus

There’s a blessing in my frailty
That’s when You speak, that’s when You speak
And when I lose my direction
You rescue me, You rescue me

I’ve Got No Problem With That
w/m Bill and Karen Itzel 6/20/07

I’ve always been a little different
I never quite fit in
But as I get a little older
Much to my chagrin
I see what counts as cool sail off
And leave me on the shore
And though I try my best I just can’t
Fool my self no more

Then I think of all God’s done for me
And it seems so absurd
To put so much importance
On how I’m viewed by the world
So I put things in perspective
And I make this pact today
To focus on eternal things
And that is why I say

Chorus
I’ve got no problem with that…wo-oh, wo-oh
I’ve got no problem with that…wo-oh, wo-oh
You might call me crazy
You might think that I am whack
And say that I’m fanatical, but hey
I’ve got no problem with that

The drummer that we follow
Plays a different beat
And the world just doesn’t understand
Our non-conformity

My friends all think I’m crazy
‘Cuz I choose not to date
But I’m trusting in God’s plan for me
And that is why I’ll wait

You might think my parents force me
To stand up here and sing
But I want to use my talents
In service for the King

I’m gonna trust in Jesus
And live for Him today
Cause that’s what really matters
And that is why we say

I know at first glance it seems really gross, but trust me, I use it every day and it is fantastic.  You can also buy it at most any drug store.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support you have given me this summer for Mission Possible.   I was so amazed at how God was able to use me the way He did on this trip.  I was able to grow closer to God, and every day I just felt His presence. It was really neat how well our team worked together!  I feared we’d have so many differences that we’d have trouble, but God really grew our team, and we give Him all the glory from this trip.

Week one, our team ran Vacation Bible School at Forcey Memorial Church.  The theme was ‘’Secret Agents.’’  It was so much fun!  I had the privilege to be in the drama and play Miss Newton, owner of the Sun-Force Agency.  The kids really liked it because I had to wear a wig.  The most exciting part of VBS however, was when I was able to help lead several kids to the Lord.  One of the most challenging things that week was on Tuesday when we weren’t allowed to eat anything except one meal of rice and beans.  Our team leaders were teaching us what it was like for people in the world who had nothing and were starving.  Just after one day of not eating we saw how spoiled we really are.  Each day after VBS, we practiced our drama and puppets to prepare for the following weeks.  Also, that week, during our group devotions, we started talking about trials we were going through or had gone through.  It was a great time of fellowship.  Some of us cried, others comforted.  It just was a great time for the team to come together and bond.

Week two, our team went to Ocean City. All the guys had to, for the first time, perform their paint board messages in front of a crowd.  We also did our dramas for the first time. I was nervous, but I think we all did pretty well.  I also learned how to start conversations with people and share the Gospel.  I was surprised at how many people were interested in what we were doing and stopped to talk. Sometimes I would talk to certain people and I could tell that God was putting words in my mouth, and it was just the right thing to say.  It would be exactly what someone needed to hear.  It was so amazing!

Week three, we stayed at Forcey.  Every night we went to Langley Park and worked with the Hispanic community.  We did puppet dramas and we each got to do paint board messages.  Even the girls!  I was so nervous, and I messed up really badly, but I laughed it off and the kids laughed too.  That week, we also went to Lexington Market in Baltimore and I met a girl named Danielle and after sharing the gospel with her she accepted Christ as her Savior.  I still give her advice through email and pray for her everyday.  On the 4th of July we went to the Mall in D.C., and performed some of our dramas.  It was really fun, and we also got to stay afterwards and watch the fireworks.   Later in the week, we went back to Baltimore and we performed dramas and the guys did paint board.

Week four, we went to Pittsburgh, and stayed at “His Place”.  “His Place” is a building that is used for unchurched inner-city kids to fellowship with Christians.  When we first got there, the lady who was in charge told us that a police officer had been shot right up the street from where we were staying.  We were very nervous because it wasn’t in the best neighborhood, so the first night, we girls prayed together and by the end of the week we were sorry to leave.  We worked with kids and teens there.  You could really tell these kids had gone through a lot of stuff.  It was really cool to get to know them and play games with them. Everyday I still pray that we were able to influence the kids and that God will continue to work in their lives.

Week five, we were volunteers at Camp Bennett. That week was different because we didn’t get to work as a team.  Instead, we were each partnered with a counselor, and would help with different groups.  I worked with the 7 to 8 year old girls from the inner city.   They were so energetic; I could hardly keep up with them!  Hearing some of their stories was really heartbreaking.  One little girl named Tonisha really stood out to me, and I talked to her as often as possible.  At the end of the week she became a Christian.

Week six, our last week, we went back to Ocean City.  We did the same type of ministry we did the second week, but our day-to-day activities were different. We stayed right down the street from the beach and went there pretty much every morning.  The guys each had to create their own paint board messages and they all did an awesome job.  The whole team was really proud of them.   This week it seemed like more people stopped to listen and there were several opportunities to witness one on one.

The trip was so awesome!  I not only made some really close relationships on the team, but also more importantly, learned that I can rely on God for everything!  This trip was truly life changing!  If it’s God’s plan for me, I hope to go next year on phase two!  Thank you again for your support!  God bless!

Love in Christ,
Jess

The track listing is:

1. Fruit Optional?
2. The Last Days
3. Be A Witness
4. This Is Your Life
5. The Miracle
6. When The Rubber Meets The Road
7. Talk To The Savior
8. Stand Up (With Jessica, Ryan, and Shannon Bailey)
9. Daddy’s Song (With Shannon Bailey)
10. Safety Of The Fold
11. Peace Of God (Bonus Song)

We have included a bonus track (Peace Of God – Live) for the pre-release ONLY.  If you pre-order in the next 2 weeks you’ll get the version with the bonus cut.  After that you’ll receive the official 10-song release.

by Jessica Itzel

Everytime I hurt someone,
I’m whipping and tearing His innocent back,
Everytime I mock and disobey,
I’m forcing the crown of thorns on His innocent head,
Everytime I say hateful words,
I’m shouting crucify this innocent man,
Everytime I try to make things go my way,
I’m thrusting nails into His innocent hands,
Everytime I do wrong,
I’m tourturing an innocent man,
As I do these things I expect,
This innocent man must hate me,
I expect to hear Him curse me,
But what I hear this innocent man say,
is not curses or words of hate,
they are words of love and forgiveness,
this man He forgave me for all of my sins,
so now I chose to live the way He lived,
if this man can forgive me for my terrible deeds,
then I can forgive others for the pain theyv’e caused me,
this innocent man died,
but now He’s alive,
He is now in Heaven where His father abides,
the innocent man is Jesus he died for you and me,
now lets show the love He showed when He died on a tree.

I am very excited to be writing you this letter, because it means that God is planning to use me this summer. I’ll let you know a little bit about what’s going on in my life. I have been home schooled my whole life and I’ve never gone away for a long time from my parents. This summer I plan to go on my first missions trip! I will be going with my youth team from Forcey Memorial Church. This trip is called Mission Possible. I had never thought about leaving my family and doing something for Christ on my own, until three years ago when a friend of mine went on the trip. He told me about it and instantly I felt like God was calling me to do it. I prayed for three years about it, and God has just opened every door to make it possible for me to go.

Now I am sending you this letter to ask for you to please support me through prayer. I know that prayer is the best support you can give. Mission Possible is six weeks long, and we start training this week. We will need prayer for safe travels, that everyone will stay in good health, that God will use us to minister to people who have never heard of Christ, and that we will be able to stay positive and remember why we are doing this.

Each week we will be ministering in different places. Week one, we will be participating in Vacation Bible School at Forcey Memorial Church. Week two, we’ll be doing open air programs in Ocean City. Week three, we’ll travel to Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis, and week four, we will be at a camp in Maryland. Week five, we will probably be in Pittsburgh, then in week six, we will be back in Ocean City again. While we are in those places we will be working with children and adults. Along with open air programs, we will have puppet shows that share the gospel at an easy understanding level for the children and we will perform mimed dramas.

We will need financial help as well. Each of us must raise $2,000 before June. If you feel that God is calling you to support me and my team, then you can send a check to:

Forcey Memorial Church
2130 E. Randolph Rd
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Just make any checks out to Forcey Memorial Church, phase one, for Jessica Itzel.

Thank you so much for your support, and I can’t wait to tell you how the trip goes.