Easter/Surgery Update/CD News

​THE STREAK CONTINUES - For 1986 years or so, atheists and other false religions have tried to silence the celebration of Resurrection Sunday.  The problem is, you can burn Bibles, behead Christians, silence religious speech, but you can’t kill Eternal.  Jesus lived, did many miracles, and died.  There is no doubt about that.  Even unbelieving historians have documented this.  The Romans knew how to kill people and more importantly, knew how to tell if someone was really dead.  They thrust a spear into Jesus’ heart and water and blood came out.  He was most certainly dead.  He was buried in a tomb, sealed with a roman seal, and kept watch by Roman guards.  Then, according to prophecy and the plan of God from before the foundation of the world, on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead.  The stone was rolled away.  The guards fled in panic, and over 500 people saw, not a broken and beat up Jesus, but a risen, victorious Jesus who did still have the nail prints in his hands and feet and a spear wound on his side.  Most of these people were still alive when the gospels were written, so the stories of his life, miracles, death, burial and resurrection were easily confirmed.  We have thousands of manuscripts that tell this information and they all say the same thing…We serve a risen Christ!  Here are the lyrics to a new song I wrote during my recovery…

Death could not hold Him down
And the tomb could not keep Him bound
So the lost could now be found
He’s alive

The blood is now applied
For the cross on which He died
Was the place God was satisfied
He’s alive

The stone was rolled away

Chorus
He is risen alleluia
He is risen from the grave
He is risen alleluia
He is risen now to save

Our God crushed His only Son
His work on earth was done
Through His loss, our lives were won
He’s alive

Grace on display for all
Is applied to the ones who call
and repent, on our knees we fall
He’s alive

copyright 2016  Bill & Karen Itzel

SURGERY UPDATE - It has been about a month and a half since my surgery.  Everything went very well and, with the exception of some decreasing pain for the first 4 days in my shoulder and arm, I feel great.  I will go back to the doctor on April 4th to get a final check on my X-rays (taken  a couple of days before) to see if the fusing has taken place of the new disc.  Vocally, the doctor is amazed at my progress.  I came out of surgery talking normally and within a couple of days my whole range was back.  With all of my time off, I have been writing a lot and have several new songs that are ready to record.  It has taken a month and a half to get my stamina back to be able to tour, but I am planning to return to the stage on April 3rd in Everett, PA.  

Karen, Jessica, Shannon Bailey, and my Dad have done a wonderful Job in the interim, and I am so thankful for their help during this time.  You can see some clips of their worship set here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/billitzel

Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words during this time.  Continue to pray for our ministry as we head into a very busy schedule for the late Spring and early Summer.


3 NEW CD’S FOR 2016 - We are working on writing new songs for 2 new projects and an extended edition project.  Karen will be releasing her first solo CD this year, The Itzels will be working on a new project as a family, and we are working on an extended version of our 2015 Worship CD, Sovereign.  We have several songs to finish writing, then we will likely do tracks in the late spring/summer and release the CD’s later in the fall.  I’ll give more details in the next newsletter.