Month: October 2014

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Marriage, Music

Modeled Words of Wisdom – What words of wisdom do your children see in your marriage?

20 Ways to Be Refreshing in the Local Church – “Try some of these on for size” this Sunday!  You’ll see they fit because they are biblically practical.  What awesome services we will have this Sunday!

Bible Study Struggles – Here’s some sound, practical advice from Paul Tripp if your daily Bible study has gotten into a rut.  This is an excellent post!

He Loves Me – Four of my favorites singing a simple truth to encourage your heart today.

Oh, The Majestic Greatness of God!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, God's Creation, Joy, Praise & Worship

David, declares under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Psalm 19:1-6,

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Jaw Dropping Photos From Space – This showed up on the internet two days ago.  You do not want to miss this!

Look out your window and praise Him today and throughout the day!

Trick or Truth

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism, Family, Halloween, Parenting

The first time I can remember observing Halloween, I was five years old. How excited I was to wear my Yogi Bear costume, knock on our neighbor’s doors, receive candy, and then go eat candy! To me it was a simple evening of clean enjoyment. My parents made it that way. Instead of making an issue out of it, they just made sure it was an evening given to what was right.

Much has changed in 50 years. That’s why I am sharing two very well-written articles on the subject of Halloween. The balanced approach of John MacArthur’s writing is informative, practical, and spot on. David Mathis’ article adds to the first, but turns our thoughts in a direction that will make us think and hopefully understand, “The gospel changes everything!” Please be sure to read each article in its entirety.

Christians and Halloween – John MacArthur

Sent Into the Harvest – Halloween On Mission – David Mathis

I’m sure you will handle Halloween as you believe is right before the Lord. These two articles say what is in my heart, give the basic reasons for what we do at Boones Creek Bible Church, and why, if I am able (due to recent surgery) will be going door-to-door to GIVE out GOSPEL tracts and a GIFT to my neighbors. Oh, by the way, if you are wondering, I’ve grown out of my Yogi Bear costume. 🙂

 

Bluegrass & the Gospel: Makes People Grin

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism, Music
 

Every once-in-awhile, I am blessed to have a guest blogger from right here in the mountains of East Tennessee. Wayne is a simple man born and bred in the Boones Creek area. His love for Christ and others is infectious. He grew up hard, but the grace of God continues to mold and shape him into Christlikeness. His viewpoint on life is biblical and full of plain ol’ common sense. So, with joy I share with you today a recent writing of his. Besides, I have a genuine love for bluegrass, too!

Did you happen to see the video of Earl Scruggs and Friends. Not only was there some great pickin”, there’s a lesson to learn. As the video took us through the door into the midst of some very talented musicians, we immediately picked up on the toe-tappin“, hand-clappin” tune of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”. If you could see the sheet music, you would note that each musician was seeing five lines and four spaces with matching notes to the old familiar tune. Granted, there was a considerable amount of talented liberty taken by each individual, but each was following the fundamental notes, the original standard, the very foundation of this song penned by Earl Scruggs. Now, as the music progressed, did you find yourself, pattin” your foot, maybe tappin” the table with your fingers. I know you grinned, no-one can listen to that and not grin…So, what made it so special. It was the individual musician. Their zest for the moment, their excitement, their pure enjoyment of playing the fundamental song their own special way.

Let us take a lesson from that. We have the fundamental, original standard, the foundation, the absolute truth of the Word of God. What we must learn is to present it with zest, excitement, enjoyment in our own unique way to all who will allow us to do so. Ponder on that a while and look for ways to make people grin.

Earl Scruggs and Friends

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Family, Parenting, Pastoring, Trials

Why I Stand With the Five Houston Pastors – Paul Chappell’s spot-on post about the sermons subpoena in Houston.

Christian Guide for Reading the News – Zach Franklin gives us a redemptive way to read to all the bad news in the world in print and through social media.

Millennials Want Something Real, Not Just Hashtags and Twitter

Why You May Be Tempted To Neglect Your Church – Encouragement and insight on the need of getting back on the team!

Five Bad Substitutes For Discipline – Excellent counsel for parents!

Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance – A classic.  I remember watching him when I was young.

Word of God Speak

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, God's Word, Music

While typing yesterday’s post, a song that has touched my life in so many ways kept running through my mind.  I remember the first time I heard it.  Let me recount that memory for you as I share some thoughts penned in my 2013 Journal. My mother had just come to our house to stay after four weeks in the hospital due to cancer.  Her temporal life ended in our back bedroom on January 23, 2014.

It was January 1, and the first passage I read a minute or two after midnight to begin the new year was Lamentations 3. The Lord spoke to my heart as fresh as the first time I had ever read this familiar passage, This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (3:21-23).  I sat on the edge of the bed with Denise having just left Mom in her weak condition and having just written about my conversation with Mom in my 2012 Journal which was my final entry for the year.  I read this passage, and then Denise and I prayed together before catching a few hours of sleep.

January 1, 2013

Thank You, Lord, for rest through the night.  The opportunity to sleep in a bit and serve Mom around 3 a.m. was also a blessing. One of the first songs I heard this morning as I listened to Pandora was Word of God Speak.  As I listened to these lyrics, my heart yearned for this to be true this year.  How often we want to talk, to say something. The first stanza of this song is so simple, yet so profound. How really okay it is to be at a loss for words in the presence of my God.  What would it be like to just concentrate, meditate on Him; to hear Him pour His Word down on my heart like rain?  How often I must have those moments this year.  To be still and know that my Heavenly Father is in this place, wherever that place is.  Even as I type this, I am listening to these words.  I don’t need to be heard.  I need to hear what God says.  Lord, speak to me; I need to hear from You.  Interesting that it has been raining through the night into this morning.

I ended my January 1 entry with the lyrics of this song and the following, “It is the Word of God and music that stirs my heart, that I need this year as I face each day, each joy, each trial, each decision, and each tomorrow as we move closer to being Home.”

Psalm 46:10-11  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You’re in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

Shhhh, Someone Is Speaking

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Discipleship, God's Word, Prayer, Renewal

Yesterday morning I experienced once again one of the many blessings of living in the country—quiet.  After living for thirteen years in an increasingly noisy area of town, I have not in the least bit grown tired of tranquil country living.  Often times I find myself just stopping in the backyard or on the porch to listen to the stillness.  How refreshing to my heart, my soul, my mind and my ears.

What made yesterday morning’s time extra special was the realization of quiet while spending time in communion with the Lord in prayer and Scripture reading.  Our lives are too busy.  Quiet fellowship with our Heavenly Father is so often bypassed for a quick read, noise in the background, and a few heartless prayer requests.   Many have just a mere acquaintance with the still small voice of our Father.  Truth is, God does not shout to get our attention.  He wants to commune with us as we shut down all the racket around us and in our heart and give concentrated attention to His loving, forgiving, grace-filled voice.  There is quiet rhythm in spending time in blessed fellowship with our God Who loves us as much as He loves His Son (John 15:9).  As you read His Word, you stop after a verse or two and listen.  Perhaps record in your journal what He speaks to you.  Then you pray that truth back to Him in adoration, confession, and/or supplication.  As you read the next verse or two, you repeat this process.  May I be quick to add that this is not a cold, lifeless process, but one of sitting at the feet of our awesome, holy, omniscient, omnipresent, loving God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 16:13-16  But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.  

Notice the work of the Holy Spirit, first to the disciples for a specific purpose, and now to us as Christ’s disciples.

  1. The Holy Spirit leads us into full understanding of the Truth. He guides us along the way as He teaches us about Christ and His Word.  He will teach you more and more as you grow in spiritual capacity and knowledge.
  2. The Holy Spirit’s main function is to magnify Christ. As Expositor’s Bible Commentary puts it, “The Spirit interprets and applies the character and teaching of Jesus to the disciples and by doing so makes him central to their thinking.  He makes God a reality to people” (The Gospel of John, p. 158)

What did the Holy Spirit disclose to you this morning?  Did you hear Him?  Now, you don’t have to move to the country, but do try to find a quiet place.  Moms, train your children to be quiet when you have your quiet time and . . . as they learn to have their own.  Shhh, Someone is speaking to you.

A Godly Heritage

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Family

Yesterday I was reminded of two men that have impacted my life in great ways.  The first was my own father.  Having received a Facebook notification, I saw a picture of my dad standing beside newlyweds of which he had performed their wedding.  There he stood in his suit looking sharp and stately as always.  What memories that picture brought to my mind.  He has been celebrating in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for nearly twelve years. How grateful for a dad who loved “his Jesus,” preached the Word, cared deeply for lost souls, was faithful to my mom and a great provider for her, was a hard worker, prayed passionately, was a giver, loved his siblings and their families, and was a mentor and dear friend to me.   He was shorter in height than me, but he stood tall in my eyes.  How grateful I am today for the godly heritage of my dad.

The second man is my father-in-law.  Yesterday while chatting with him and my mother-in-law via Skype, I was reminded again of what has made him so dear to me.  His personality is one of a quiet demeanor. Even his voice is soft.  As a man “in the background,” he has loomed large as a servant and a giver.  He is always looking out for Mom, his girls, and his grandkids.  You never leave their house without some Ale-8’s, cookies, bottle of water, coffee, etc.  He is always looking for ways to serve you while you are in their home.  He loves sports, UK Wildcats, and southern gospel music.  Every time we visit, those subjects are dear to us.  He and I have enjoyed many concerts over the years preparing our hearts for the day of eternal praise and worship.  He is also a man of a tender heart.  He is having a surgical procedure done today, so before we ended our conversation, we had prayed together.  When we were finished, he had tears in his eyes.  I have seen those tears several times in joy and sorrow; in church, at home, at southern gospel concerts, at our daughter’s funeral, or before we leave to go home, and we gather in the kitchen for prayer.  How grateful I am for the godly heritage of my father-in-law.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:1-6)

Sunday Twitter Tweets

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Uncategorized

Personally, I enjoy Twitter much more than Facebook. Nobody’s inviting me to play Farmville for the 2,878,734th time. J Yesterday, there were several tweets that caught my attention, and I want to share them with you. Each one reflects a piece of why Sundays are so important, so awesome!

Nick Reed: Amazing morning with @bryansamms! Packed out church house! 6 baptized & 8 adults walked an aisle aornnd accepted Christ! 2 kids saved also!

Tony Evans: God wants full custody of His children, not just weekend visits.

Paul David Tripp: Corporate worship is meant to fill your eyes with the beauty of your Redeemer and fill your heart with the wonder of His grace.

John Goetsch: You can’t hide from God by missing church.

Paul Chappell: “Go ye into all the world & preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). “All the world” surely includes our neighborhoods & communities! #soulwinning

John Guy: Sweet time of #worship in song this morning. “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.”