Month: April 2014

The Living Word

by Dale, posted in God's Word

Last Sunday, what a powerful time we experienced in the presence of God as the whole congregation of BCBC read out loud Psalms 145:1 – 150:6.  As a result, the Word prompted genuine worship, confession, and praise from God’s people.  It had to be somewhat like what is described in Nehemiah 8.  This morning, I want you to watch this video of Pastor David Platt reciting from memory Romans 1-8.  Please note how the Word has gripped his heart as well as the response of the audience.

May I challenge you to really read the Word today?  Perhaps read a lengthy passage out loud and let its truths ring back into your ears and into your heart!  Worship the Lord in reading as He speaks to you.  Sing songs to Him!  Let the living Word impact you for your good and His glory!!

David Platt Romans 1-8  –  Watch the video from about 29:10 to 51:55

We Need Him

by Dale, posted in Prayer

In one month, a very big event will take place in the Cunningham household as our youngest daughter will be wed to her beloved, Andrew.  Many thoughts come to my mind at this moment as I consider the past twenty-two years.  From before she was born, we prayed that she would be saved at the earliest possible moment, and we prayed for her mate that she would marry someday.  When she had back-to-back surgery as a toddler, we prayed.  When she stayed overnight with a friend for the first time, we prayed.  When she started kindergarten as a home-schooler, we prayed.  When she struggled with school, we prayed.  When she was outside riding bikes with the neighbors, we prayed.  When she was working on her 4H project for the county fair, we prayed.  When she came to gospel salvation, we prayed.  When she had to leave her friends in Indiana and move to Tennessee, we prayed.  When she struggled with music lessons, we prayed.  When she moved into her junior high years, we prayed.  When she was learning to drive . . ., we prayed!  When she was being influenced by the wrong crowd, we prayed.  When she started her first job at Chickfila, we prayed.  When she backed out of the driveway on her first solo auto flight, we prayed!  When she left for college, we prayed.  When worked for two summers at the Wilds, we prayed.  When she moved out of town, we prayed.  When she and her fiancé were hit head-on eight weeks ago by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the interstate, we prayed!  When they were looking for an apartment to rent, we prayed.

As I look back over the past twenty-two years, not only did we pray, but . . . we have rejoiced over and over and over and over again at answers to prayer for so many things!  You see, God has made our lives such that we need Him, we need to pray (Matthew 6:6-9; Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-8).  We need to pray desperately, consistently, persistently, faithfully, firstly, joyfully, gratefully, etc.  If you live your life without that kind of prayer, you have convinced yourself that you can handle life on your own.  I remind myself and you of Jesus Christ’s very pointed words from one of his discourses on prayer, Without me, you can do nothing (John 15:5).  Enough said.

 

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I am alone
Oh and when I am alone
And when I am alone
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I come to die
Oh and when I come to die
And when I come to die
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

—– Fernando Ortega

Sunday School, Pastor’s Pals & Our Big God

by Dale, posted in Church

Today I share with you a video that says so much.  You will laugh, and you may need that today!  You might even be reminded of that “Billy” you have or had in SS class! He may even be living in your home (Ha!).  At the end of the video, you will probably shed a tear or two.  The underlying message is powerful because as our children at BCBC love to sing, “Our God is so big . . . .”

Billy and My God Is So Big

Job 11:7

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Romans 11:33

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Isaiah 40:18-26 

18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Rude or Polite Children? It’s the Parent’s Choice

by Dale, posted in Family

Recently, Denise and I were eating in a local restaurant with an unruly child across the aisle.  The mother was so embarrassed by his antics that she apologized as she was leaving.  I really felt sorry for the mother.

In contrast, I have eaten with folks who have small/grade-school children, and the waitress and/or even folks nearby have stopped to remark about the good behavior displayed by these children.  How refreshing to be seated at the table with them and hear, “May I please have a Coke?” or “May I please have the kids pizza?” Not only is it refreshing to hear such polite communication, but the parents do not talk for their children.  They have spent time training their children how speak up, to be polite, and respectful.  Yes, it takes time, but it glorifies God, builds lives, and leaves a good testimony.

Here is a most helpful blog post entitled Ten Forgotten Ways to Teach Politeness to Your Children that serves up some very practical help.  Read it, put it into practice, and enjoy taking your children out to the restaurant in the future.

Monday’s Musings

by Dale, posted in Church

Psalm 100: 1-5   Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

What an awesome day the Lord gave us yesterday at Boones Creek Bible Church!!  Here are some highlights for His Glory:

Sunday AM

  • Studying Nehemiah 9 in Sunday School and the AM service.
  • Seeing the evidence of God’s grace displayed in folks who have gone through a tough week yet were in attendance to worship our God.
  • The 4-5 year old Sunday School class’s ministry at the beginning of the AM service.
  • The precious children in Pastor’s Pals
  • Congregational singing with a full choir of men:  “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Before the Throne of God,” and “Almighty, Unchangeable God”
  • The music ministry of “Hide Away in the Love of Jesus,” “Before the Throne” and “Blessed Assurance”
  • The congregation standing to read Psalms 145:14 – 150:6 and their response of hands raised, hearty amens, conviction and joy!
  • The congregation’s sharing of praises after reading the Scripture!
  • The impromptu singing of “There’s Just Something About that Name!” and “Amazing Grace”
  • The collective joy of worshiping in response to the public reading of Scripture was awesome!!
  • One individual said in a very deliberate tone upon leaving the service, “The service could have just gone on!  I was truly looking for the rapture! I thought it was going to happen just any minute!”
  • Time was not an issue as the presence of the Lord was so evident!

Truly, we were able to say, “What a Savior!” rather than “What a service!”    To God be the glory!!!!

Remembering What’s Really Important

by Dale, posted in Uncategorized

 

Last Sunday morning, four ladies stood before the congregation and recited Psalm 62 from memory.  A few weeks ago, a young husband and wife who have an active little son stood and recited 1 John 1 from memory.  Recently, I watched a video of a pastor reciting Romans 1-8 from memory. It was so powerful! Here’s the link Romans 1-8, and I beg you to watch this video from about 29:10 to 51:55.  In the past two years, I have seen my wife commit Philippians, Titus and James to memory.  She is now working on Ephesians.  Folks, this is remembering what’s really important.  Check out Memorizing God’s Word.  Do not let it overwhelm you.  Start somewhere.

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 40:8  I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

Psalm 37:31  The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Here’s the Reason

by Dale, posted in Salvation

In the past couple of days I’ve had the opportunity to converse with two individuals who have recently received Christ as Savior.  Their tone of voice is different; their countenance is different; their purpose for life is different. They are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). They have truly been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (Titus 3:4-7).

In that same amount of time, I’ve had the opportunity to hear the salvation testimonies of folks who have been following Christ for a many years.  How wonderful to listen as they recounted their salvation experience.  Some came to Christ early as a child and others later on in life.  Some even mentioned their anticipation of seeing Christ as well as loved ones in Glory some day, maybe even today.

That leads me to ask a question. If someone were to engage you in conversation and asked you to share your testimony of salvation, would you be able to give them an answer straight from the pages of Scripture?  Could you do as 1 Peter 3:15 says, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. How would you answer someone who asked for a reason why you have the assurance of salvation?   Please, seriously consider what I am asking of you.  Since we are born again through the Word of God, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:23), then you should be able to take the Word and show how you know that you are truly born again.  The Word is our authority, our assurance; not our experience, where we are or who we are with or any other reason.

So, sir, ma’am, teen, child, give me a reason why you know you are saved, and take it straight from Scripture.  Write it down right now.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).  Only truth sets us apart unto God.  Only truth sets you free (John 8:32), and Truth is Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  So, what’s your reason?