Author: Dale

Raised in the south, I have a passionate love for the Lord, my wife, my daughters, my son-in-laws, my grandsons, preaching the Word of God, pastoring people, discipleship, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, Clemson Tigers football, running the Tweetsie Trail, and hiking through the awesome TN/NC/VA mountains!!

A Sabbatical Journey #2 – Sweatin’ or Swimmin’

by Dale, posted in Uncategorized

There I sat in the boat with my feet in the water while my wife, sisters-in-law, and their husbands were swimming in the lake on a blistering hot summer day!  Why wasn’t I in the water, you ask?  Well, due to what I considered almost drowning in a lake when I was a first-grader and being pushed into the 12 foot end by the swim instructor on the very first day of lessons when I was a third-grader, I have always had a fear of water.  I since have learned to swim, and that only in a pool, usually staying in water that is not over six feet, and once-in-awhile venturing off the diving board . . . but stretching way out in my dive so I land near the more shallow water.  Furthermore, I have never swam in a lake over-my-head and the thought of being in water anywhere from 34 to 164 feet deep . . . well, let’s just sit on the edge of the boat and be humiliated.  It’s okay; that’s what fear will do to you.

After a while, everyone climbed back on board and shared a delicious lunch.  Since the day was still young, another ride in the speedboat took us to a different location for the second exhilarating dip.  And . . . there I sat watching them enjoy being cooled off while gallons of sweat poured off my brow. I was missing out on so much.  I needed to get into the water!

My fear had eclipsed all sound reasoning, facts, and fun.  You see, I was wearing something each time I sat on the edge of boat that would keep me from drowning—a life jacket!  As I watched my family floating in the water, they were secure in that which surrounded them. Finally, I eased off the side of the boat and into the water, and with that, drowning my fears. Wow, how refreshing!

As I pondered this episode, I was reminded of how foolish to be fearful about anything when the Word of God commands and assures us, “Fear not.” The Word of God is our life preserver.  We are secure in and surrounded with the promises of God.  How interesting that we look at Peter with a bit of disdain for taking his eyes off the Lord, but remember, he is the ONLY one who got out of the boat (Matthew 14:22-33). God has much for us to enjoy, to learn, and to experience if we will only trust in His Word, His life-preserver, and not live by our human rationalization (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Also, my family who loves and cares for me were saying, “Jump in.  You won’t drown.  You are wearing a life-jacket.”  How often other believers who care for us try to assure us with the Word of God (Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11), but we won’t listen to their caring admonition and encouragement due to our fears.  We are drowning in those fears.

So, you can either sit on the edge of boat watching other believers live in joy and peace no matter how deep the water is or dive in and join them!  Remember, underneath you are the everlasting arms of God.  You can trust Him with your life all the time.  By the way, if you don’t believe it, ask Peter. . . and a multiplied host of other believers.  Also, I am more than ready to dive in to the lake the next time!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling (Psalm 46:1-3).

Fear not, for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10a).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

A Sabbatical Journey

by Dale, posted in Uncategorized


August 1st, my wife and I began the journey of a 31-day sabbatical, the unexpected grace gift from a loving, caring congregation. This is the second time that our gracious church has blessed us in such a marvelous way. Hence, in the days to come, I will be writing from the lessons learned and the experiences shared on this journey.

First of all, I want to share from my heart what it says about Boones Creek Bible Church in gifting us with 31 days away.

  1. They value the eternal over the temporal.

The purpose of a pastor going away on a sabbatical is for him to spend uninterrupted time in prayer, study, reading, seeking God’s face, being still, and hearing from the Lord about his life, his marriage, and the ministry to which he is called. It is a time to rest, refresh, repent, refine, recharge, recount, refocus, replenish, renew and rejoice.   Why?  Because a church understands the intense spiritual war in which they are engaged and are set on having their leader be ready to lead them to make a difference in the world for the cause of Christ through the power of God’s Word.  Boones Creek Bible Church is living for the Bema where an eternal perspective and motivation matters the most (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Philippians 2:16).

  1. They value the call of God upon their pastor.

                1 Cor. 1:18-31; Colossians 1:27-28; 2 Timothy 2:19-26; 4:2-5; 2 Cor. 11:23-28

The great need of the hour is found in Paul’s admonition to Timothy, Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:2-5).

Men who are genuinely called of God to preach the Word and who stand for the cause of Christ, need times of refreshment so they can fulfill the ministry today and finish well tomorrow.  We retreat only to advance.

  1. They value the testimony of their pastor, his wife, their marriage and their home.

                1 Timothy 3:1-5

Boones Creek Bible Church understands the rigors of ministry not only upon the pastor but his wife.  Denise works very closely with me in ministry by her choice.  She, too, needed this time away to have the same work of grace accomplished in her heart.

We also live by the principle that a great marriage only occurs when you work at it every day. Satan would love to destroy this precious gift.  Our time away has given us the opportunity to deal with some issues, pray together, and further fine tune this precious grace gift.

  1. They value the training/discipleship opportunity for their assistant pastor.

What a great opportunity for a young man, called into the ministry, and ordained by Boones Creek Bible Church to be at the helm for one whole month.  What better place to learn, to be in “the lab,” than among a congregation that loves, supports, prays, and encourages him. After having been here for two years, Pastor Andrew has been involved in ministry is so many ways, but not as the shepherd of the flock.  For instance, one Sunday during the month, he taught Sunday School, led the singing, and preached in the morning and evening services.  Also during the month, he led teen outings, hosted missionaries and a college music group, made visits, took phone calls, served communion, organized the services, and worked side-by-side with the deacons and our administrative assistant, as well as a host of other ministry opportunities.

Thank you, BCBC, for your heart to see Pastor Andrew fulfill the ministry (1 Timothy 4:5) for God’s glory!

  1. They value the use of spiritual gifts.

Can a church survive if the undershepherd is away for a month?  Yes it can because Christ is the Chief Shepherd of the church (1 Peter 5:4), and the body functions well when it uses its spiritual gifts (Romans 12:1-8).  BCBC did not “miss a beat” while we were away because Spirit-empowered people ministered by the grace of God.  They “filled in the gaps” as Christ worked through them in continuing to build His Church (Matthew 16:18).

Boones Creek Bible Church . . . THANK YOU!!  We love you, appreciate you, serve with you, and look forward to our eternal life in Glory with Christ Jesus our Lord!

#mondaymarriagematterspart4

by Dale, posted in Love, Marriage, Salvation, Uncategorized
Bike Ride
Continuing the journey of intimacy

Today I will end the week of posts with the last of six reasons why marriage matters (#mondaymarriagematters).

Marriage matters because of its unique intimacy.

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).

The greatest relationship in all the world is found in the redemptive, justifying work of Jesus Christ on the cross that makes us, who were at one time enemies of God, now reconciled to God, and no longer at enmity with God but set apart to Him for eternity (Romans 3:9-31; 5:1-11; Colossians 1:20-22).  That relationship is offered to all men by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Peter 1:2-4).  The cross and resurrection proves that God the Father sent His Son to reconcile the world back to Himself to be restored to eternal fellowship (John 3:16).

There is another special relationship that cannot be duplicated on this planet in any other union except between what God has ordained between only a man and a woman.  That uniqueness is the intimacy found in a husband-wife relationship.  For intimacy to flourish in a marriage relationship to its highest level there must be integrity, trust, and openness.  Adam and Eve were completely at ease with each other at this highest level because at this point in the narrative there was no evil.  There was genuine, pure openness.  Even though evil abounds in our world and in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), genuine believers in Christ have the power through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to experience blessed intimacy with God the Father and in marriage (John 14:16-23; 15:1-27; Romans 8:1-39; Ephesians 5:18-33).

Marriage matters every day of the week, month, year and your life.  As you grow in your intimacy with your spouse, you will be glad you took intimacy seriously.

Here’s my testimony to intimacy that I hope will encourage you: The Gift of 35 Years

#marriagematterspart3

by Dale, posted in God's Creation, Love, Marriage, Uncategorized

Companionship

So, what did God’s Word say to you as you considered from yesterday’s post that marriage is the creation of God, the Originator?

Today we will we consider the second reason why marriage matters #mondaymarriagematters.

Marriage matters because this is God’s ultimate earthly plan for companionship. (Genesis 2:18, 21-22)

God said that it was not good for man to be alone, so he gave Adam a woman, his wife.  Consider the following thoughts with me:

  1. The only thing in God’s creation that He said was “not good” was man being alone.

Genesis 2:18 “begins with the striking announcement by God that the man is not yet as God had planned to be.  Adam is alone, and that state is not good—the only thing in creation that is not good in God’s opinion.  Since the idea of ‘good’ describes that which is appropriate and fitting within the purpose of creation, the man’s being alone was not good, because he could not do all that God had planned for humankind.” (Allan Ross)

  1. Nothing else in the world completes a man, answers the “is it not good” situation except a woman (2:18-20).

This is God’s perfect plan from the beginning.  His ways and thoughts are transcendent and perfect (Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 55:8-9).  Adam did not find this completion in the animal world.  According to the divine, righteous plan of God, He “made a woman” for Adam (2:22).

  1. Both man and woman are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

This means that both man and woman are personal, relational, rational, moral beings.

  1. Each in their God-given role, man and woman, complete each other (Genesis 2:18).

The word “helpmeet” in the KJV means:

Help – one who provides what is lacking; not a demeaning term; God created man to need a partner, a wife.

Meet – one who corresponds to physically, socially and spiritually

So, how does this apply to today?

  • A husband and wife should be best friends. There is nothing wrong with a man having time with “his buds” or the wife having some “girl time,” but each should always long to be with their spouse over everyone else.
  • A husband should seek to understand his wife (1 Peter 3:7) and the wife her husband so they can learn each other strengths and weaknesses. This will enable them to “play to each other’s strengths” and support each other’s weaknesses.  Your wife is not your enemy.  You should each be looking out for one another, to help, to assist, to learn, to work together.  There you find completion.
  • The greatest way to understand companionship is to learn of Christ and His relationship with you through His Word in power of the Spirit. God made you for a personal relationship with Him, and you are to love Him with all your heart (Matthew 22:37). Therefore, as husband and wife draw closer to God, they are automatically drawing closer to each other.

More tomorrow . . . because marriage matters.

#mondaymarriagematterspart2

by Dale, posted in Marriage

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Yesterday’s post was the foundation for my writings this week.  Today, I want us to consider the first reason why marriage matters.

Marriage matters because it is the creation of God.  He is the Originator. (2:18, 21-22)

What does this mean for marriage? Since God created marriage, then His “Owner’s Manual” (The Word of God, the Bible) is the only place to find out exactly how marriage is to work.  Indeed, the Word is filled with many commands and examples for marriage that if followed would enable men and women to live to the fullest as God intended in the bonds of marriage, even in a sin-cursed world.  Here are a few examples:

  • Genesis 2:18-25
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
  • Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:21-33
  • Proverbs 18:22
  • Hebrews 13:4
  • 1 Peter 3:1-7
  • Romans 8:1-39
  • Romans 12:1-2
  • Galatians 5:16 – 6:10

Take one passage a day or work through a longer passage for a week.  Read it together, taking turns reading through the verses out loud.  Don’t be in a hurry.  Share what God teaches you, brings to your mind as you read through the Scripture.  Remember, the Holy Spirit is guiding you into truth (John 16:13) helping you to understand God’s plan for your marriage.  Jot down your findings in a journal.  Pray with your spouse as you read through the passage as well as afterwards as you confess, repent, and move forward with your biblical action plan.  Men, you take the lead in this endeavor.  Every issue you face in marriage is addressed in the Word of God!

And, my I remind you, your marriage is more important than your children.  So take the time to build up your marriage and create a good home for your children.

More tomorrow . . . because marriage matters.

#mondaymarriagematters

by Dale, posted in Marriage, Uncategorized

 

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Not too long ago, a #mondaymarriagematters Instagram thread began.  Every Monday, ladies post pictures that recognize something about their husband that is special to them and demonstrate their appreciation through this social media.  Why?  Because marriage matters.

Genesis 2:18-25    And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

  1. Marriage matters because it is the creation of God. He is the Originator. (2:18, 21-22)
  2. Marriage matters because this is God’s ultimate earthly plan for companionship. (2:18, 21-22)
  3. Marriage matters because of its unique distinction set down by God. (2:19-20)
  4. Marriage matters because of its unique role. (2:23)
  5. Marriage matters because it is God’s plan for the family unit, one man and one woman. (2:24)
  6. Marriage matters because of its unique intimacy. (2:25)

So, marriage matters on Monday, and it also matters the rest of the week, month, year . . . until death parts you.

How are you demonstrating today to your spouse and to God that His awesome, unique creation of marriage matters to you?

The Most Important Word in Running

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Running, Thanksgiving

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That was the title to an article found within the pages of Runner’s World written by Mark Remy.  The subtitle was, “Here’s a hint: It has nothing to do with nutrition, form, or VO2 max.”

So now, you are asking, what did the article say was the most important word in running?  Are you ready?—-“Thank you.”

Often my wife, who power walks, and I remark about how grateful we are to be out exercising.  We both realize that all we are enjoying comes from the good hand of our God.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

So what are we grateful for?

  • The beauty of running in the country!
  • Ol’ Bossie watching us from the cow pasture.
  • Seeing a newborn calf.
  • Quiet.
  • Time to pray, memorize Scripture, and/or listen to sermon podcasts.
  • Fellowship with other runners and the encouragement they bring to keep going.
  • The ability to exercise. I promise you this is not taken for granted!
  • Meeting some our neighbors who are out as well.
  • The benefits of exercise.
  • Safety.  (This can be a challenge when faced with a driver who does not want to lose five seconds of his drive-time.)
  • Goal setting.
  • Being with my wife.
  • Camaraderie with other runners through the MapMyRun app.
  • Finishing the race.
  • Good shoes.
  • Water & Gatorade!
  • Strength & endurance
  • Memories of good and bad races.
  • The opportunity to run again in races that were special.
  • The fall colors.
  • Our Enduracool towels.
  • The Tweetsie Trail.
  • Eyes to see, ears to hears, and lips to rejoice in all that God has created around us.
  • Life in Christ that makes this life worth living.

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Gratitude-poster
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