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!!

What an Adventure!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Men
Last night while eating supper in a local Lawrenceburg, Indiana, restaurant, I had no problem hearing the conversation of five men at a nearby table. They, too, were out-of-towners and in the area on business. Their ego level was at a fevered pitch! They were doing what men love to do—talk about their exploits, their trips, their adventures, their accomplishments—and all accompanied with laughter and big words (fortunately no swearing)!! Now, before I go any further, I am a man, and the point of this blog is not a negative swipe at my own kind! Easy now.
As I overheard bits and pieces of their triumphs, my mind was drawn to the greatest adventure of life; the most daring of all exploits; the trip of all trips; the primo race of life—–living as a sold-out follower of Jesus Christ who walks by faith and not by sight! As you read Hebrews 12:1, your mind is set on the great cloud of witnesses. Then the writer takes you to the summit, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We are exhorted to continually keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, turning from all other distractors. He is the Author, Originator, Leader, Guide, Pioneer, and Finisher, Perfecter, End, Completer, Goal of our faith. As the NLT translates it, Jesus, on Whom our faith depends from start to finish. Where all others failed, Jesus succeeded! Jesus conquered sin, death and hell! He is now seated at the Father’s right hand, the place of ultimate authority, the place of full joy, the place of eternal pleasures!

We are running a race that has already been won! We are following in the footsteps of the Ultimate Champion! He is our Supreme Reward! Even in the worst of times, we can walk by faith and not by sight because the Captain of our salvation is the Leader and Completer of the Faith and our faith. You will be misunderstood, mocked, maligned, and misjudged, but preach the Gospel, stand for Christ, go where He calls you, stand tall for Him, go against the humanistic current, lead your family for Christ, pray boldly, sing loudly, study the Word fervently, give freely, and live by faith!!!!! Now, that’s adventure living!!!

By Faith

 

The Ministry of Music

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Music, Praise & Worship

Yesterday, not too long after arriving in the patient’s cardiac ICU room, he was telling me about his love of ministering in a local nursing home and using music to bring a smile to otherwise lonely people.  As he told me his story, his own countenance brightened.  I can only imagine him singing and leading those dear folks in song, especially the ones about heaven!

Many times over the years, Denise and I have had the joy of ministering by the bedside of a dear loved one or precious church member in the hospital or their home.  In recent years, we have often ended our visit by singing a hymn or gospel song.  I remember once, a dear lady who was in the ER struggling to get her breath, and we began to sing very softly, “When peace like a river attendeth my way.  When sorrows like sea billows roll . . . .”  Later on we sang, “We have a heavenly Father above.  With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love.  He really cares when your head is bowed low. . . . “ As we moved through those songs and on to others, there was a certain calmness that came over the room.

In the midst of their battles with cancer, my parents loved to hear the songs of the redeemed.  We often played a CD of invitation hymns that ministered to my dad’s soul in a very special way.  For my mom, a dear family in our church provided an iPod for her to listen to the piano music of Rudy Atwood as well as some of her other favorites.  In the wee morning hours, sometimes, there would be Mom fixing her ear buds so she hear the songs of grace and promise.  That was new fangled gadget for her! J

Today, this week, be a blessing to a downcast, hurting soul.  Give them a CD or an iTunes card.  When you stand to sing in church, do so joyfully so the folks around who may need encouragement will be uplifted as you sing from your heart to the Lord!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

2 Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

3 Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]

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 to Him, and bless His name.

5 For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

When God Is Near

Praise God For Music!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Music, Praise & Worship, Trials

How grateful I am that God created music!  Since I can remember, music has been a big part of my family.  My mom was an excellent pianist having played since she was six years old and learned the style of Rudy Atwood.  My dad sang, which was a chore to him.  I will say that he learned to play the radio quite well. 🙂   I played the trumpet and treble clef baritone in the band, and my wife played the clarinet. My oldest daughter plays the piano and my youngest daughter is multi-gifted as she can play several  instruments.

Music has been a strong guiding force and source of encouragement as well as “setting the atmosphere” in our lives many times.  Music has shown up in so many venues of our life such as in the car, at church, around the table, at a concert, while washing the car, driving through the countryside, on a date, on the back deck, running early in the morning, etc.  Music has touched us in so many ways from excitement, tears, raising a hand or two accompanied with a shout of praise, exhortation, foot tappin’, and on and on.

Due to a year of many trials in all “shapes and sizes” (James 1:2), music has found a common resting place in our hearts to encourage, edify and strengthen us.  Here’s one song that I often hear as I run.  It is one that folks in our church have found to be a “song in the night.”  Let the words minister to you today, and thank God for music!

I’ll Never Forsake You

Job 35:10  But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night.

Psalm 32:7  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 119:54  Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.

304 Songs In June

by Dale, posted in Music, Praise & Worship

While checking my email, I saw a subject line from Pandora entitled, “304 songs in June.” I clicked on the post and was informed by Pandora how many songs I listened to during the month, which was my go-to-station, and that I like 61 songs enough to give them a thumbs up!  Sometimes it’s a bit scary to know that the internet sometimes knows more about me than I know of myself. 🙂

Let’s make a spiritual application here for a Monday.  When the month of July comes to an end, how many songs will you have sung to the Lord?  What will have been your go-to-station—music that fed your soul or your flesh?  How many songs will you have given a thumbs up of rejoicing; hands raised in the air?  God wants to hear you sing!  He’s listening!

Psalm 95:1-2  Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:1-2  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 147:1  Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Acts 16:25  At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

God Wants To Hear You Sing

Pals Brigade

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Discipleship, Evangelism

Without question, a Jr. Burger from Pal’s is always a winner!  How dare them build an eating establishment so close to our church!! 🙂  Now, this blog post is not about a brigade of church members heading to Pals for a burger after the evening service on Sundays or Wednesdays.

The June 20, 2014, edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel, carried an article entitled “Pvt. Smith’s rescue strikingly close to ‘Saving Private Ryan’” (News Article). Within that story was mention of the Pals Brigade of World War I fame in which there were “some 9 million soldiers” killed.   These pals battalions of the British Army were made up of men who enlisted with the promise of serving together with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  As a result, “it was common for families to lose more than one son.  Communities sometimes found that a single skirmish could wipe out a generation of their men.”

After reading the article, I was deeply moved at the desire of these men to serve together with their family and friends, even with the looming threat of death, and to be known as the Pals Brigade.  As “Pals” they fought and died together for the cause of freedom. They gave up their liberties for each other to be pals in the fight.  They gave up their homes to join their pals in the war.   After all, they were a part of the Pals Brigade.

In his speech to encourage men from Liverpool, England, to join the Pals Brigade, the Earl of Derby said, “This should be a battalion of pals, a battalion in which friends from the same office will fight shoulder to shoulder for the honour of Britain and the credit of Liverpool.”  Two days afterwards, 1,500 men had joined the brigade and in the next few days, three more battalions were formed.  Near the end of 1914, fifty towns had formed battalions and larger towns formed several.

Every local church needs to be known as a Pals Brigade made up of born again individuals who would join with their blood brothers (Romans 5:1-11), family members (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:5; 4:25) and co-workers (2 Corinthians 5:20) to serve and fight together for the lost souls of men and women!  There’s the Adult Sunday School battalion, the Teen battalion, the Senior Saints battalion, the Deacons battalion, and the Pastoral Staff battalion.  They are trained in the boot camp of prayer and are striving together for the Gospel!  As Paul exhorted the church at Philippi, Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).

You know, if a “Pals Brigade” does go down the street after church for a hamburger, they are not going to Pals just to eat. They are going side-by-side, striving together, looking for someone to hear the gospel.

The man instrumental in starting our church, Dr. Gillis Partin, wrote:

Souls for Jesus,is our battle cry

Souls for Jesus, we’ll fight until we die!

We never will give in,

While souls are lost in sin!

Souls for Jesus,is our battle cry!

He Is

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Praise & Worship

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

27 years ago today, my wife and I held the lifeless, still born body of our precious baby girl, Ashley Marie.  Last night I sat at the kitchen table of a grieving family as they recounted precious memories of their beloved dad who entered the glories of Heaven on Sunday after a 100 year sojourn here on earth. As I typed this blog, I received a text requesting prayer for a relative who has liver cancer.  Yesterday morning and afternoon, I spent lengthy amounts of time with two broken-hearted husbands whose marriages have dissolved in recent weeks. What kept us going through those days of trial, tears, and questions?  What will enable these other folks to press on in spite of their circumstances?  Here’s the answer: HE IS

A Cancerous Church

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Heaven, Trials

pastorcraig

My heart was greatly saddened to hear of the recent cancer diagnosis of Pastor Tom Craig, Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, TN.  Today, I am sharing a blog post written by one of the faithful church members of ORBC.  This is powerful.  I beg every one of you to click on the link and read it.  May I ask that you read it slowly, prayerfully, and eternally with your gaze fixed on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1)?

Cancer Has Spread Through the Whole Church

Brian, the Brain-Food Man

by Dale, posted in Christian Living

Country Cookers Kettle Korn

Last Thursday while enjoying a day at Dollywood Amusement Park, Sevierville, TN, with Pastor’s Pals and their parents, we ate our supper next to the Country Cookers Kettle Korn Shop.  We were all drawn to the bibbed-overalled man stirring the large pot of corn in the kettle.  He was a tall, lean gentleman with a voice that drew you in. Although it was evening and the temperature was still hot, this man in his long-sleeved shirt and sanitized protection gear stirred his kettle with vigorous strokes and a joyful work ethic.  He sang and/or spoke to almost everyone who came by as well as laughed and encouraged the other employees at his stand.  When he wasn’t making a new batch of corn, he was inviting people over to try a free sample of what he called with a chuckle, “brain food.”  He’d say, “Come on over and get you a sample of some brain food!  Oh, yes ma’am; here, try some braaaaiiinnnn food!”  Then with a chuckle and a huge grin, he’d say, “Get you a handful of happiness!  Oh, yes, more happiness!  Join the brain food party!!” While pouring out a new batch of kettle corn from his pot, he would repeatedly say, “Another bowl of blessings!  Yes, another bowl of blessings!”  We waited for his last batch of the evening, fresh caramel corn.  Wow!  So very good! As we sat nearby enjoying his “happy food,” he clocked out, walked over to our table, gave us a hug and a goodnight blessed greeting, and joyfully headed for home!

Indeed, there were many wonderful moments throughout the day at Dollywood, but Brian made a real impact on those of us gathered around his kettle korn shop.  Have you been in the Word this morning soaking up the “brain food” so you can distribute “handfuls of happiness” today to those who come your way?  Will you be singing and praising the Lord along the way as you choose joy even in your “hot work” environment?  Will you be thankful for every “bowl of blessing” that God sends your way?

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Ps. 4:7)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11)

May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! (Ps. 20:5)

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. (Ps. 27:6)

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Ps. 32:11)

God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:20)

Now that’s real “brain food,” “handfuls of happiness,” and “a bowl of blessing”!!

Immediately

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism

As a parent, you find yourself using the adverb “immediately” on many occasions while speaking to your children.  “Please take out the trash, and do it immediately.”  “You need to come inside immediately.  Supper’s ready.”  “I expect you to clean up your room immediately.”  Immediately means “at once; instantly; without any intervening time or space.”  Some synonyms are instantly, now, promptly, this very minute, on the spot, here and now, and without delay.   Those words clearly describe the desire of a parent’s heart and the timely action that is follow in the lives of their children.

This word is used often in the book of Mark in connection with the Lord’s actions and commands.  One instance in particular is found in Mark 1:16-20, And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  When Jesus called, they responded immediately, instantly, promptly, on the spot.

Is my response immediate to Christ’s commands and calls?  Or, do I sanctimoniously say, “I need to pray about that.”  I do not see anywhere in Scripture that I need to pray about obedience to the Lord. Since His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30), and He is God in all His attributes, character, and glory, I must obey immediately; I must act immediately.  As a father, I expected immediate response from my girls.  Perhaps our children would learn to respond in a more immediate fashion to us their parents if they saw us responding immediately to our Heavenly Father.  Can you hear your Father say, “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)?