Category: Uncategorized

A Pastor’s Greatest Need

by Dale, posted in Ministry, Monday Ministry Encouragement, Pastoring, Prayer, Uncategorized

Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.

Ironwood Camp, Newberry Springs, CA

What is a pastor’s greatest need?

  • A new, cutting-edge podcast?
  • The latest book by his favorite author?
  • An increase in salary?
  • More in attendance on Sunday morning?
  • A break, as in, “I just can’t seem to catch a break!”

A pastor’s greatest need and most beneficial blessing is . . . prayer!

Pastor, is the quiet place, alone with your Heavenly Father, the dearest place on earth to you?

Is prayer an activity to you or is it your life? In other words, do you have a prayer life or a life prayer?

Since one of the most telling marks of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth was prayer, so must it be for us, His ministers. Jesus prayed alone, all night, with others, on the mountain, in agony, with his disciples, at the tomb of Lazarus, on the cross, etc.

Continue reading “A Pastor’s Greatest Need” →

Wednesday WOW!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, D & D Ministries, God's Creation, Hiking, Ministry, Scenic Route In Marriage, Uncategorized

“God is always at work around you . . . inviting you to join Him in His work” (Henry Blackaby).

Wednesday WOW is written to remind us, especially pastors, that our transcendent, omnipotent, loving, sovereign God is working today in our lives in thousands of ways. The WOW is God, not the size of the work! How have you seen Him at work in your life today?

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Denise and I had the grace privilege of traveling to California for ministry, and then adding a couple of days of sight-seeing! Wow!

Continue reading “Wednesday WOW!” →

Pastors Have Fun???? YES!!!!

by Dale, posted in Ministry, Monday Ministry Encouragement, Pastoring, Uncategorized

Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.

“What do you do for fun?”

This question was posed to me by Sam Brock while riding in his 1946 Jeep Willys on a tour of Ironwood Camp, Newberry Springs, CA.

Pastor friend, may I ask you the same question . . . what do you do for fun?

Whether you are enjoying days of sunshine or stormy weather in ministry, you need to have a release, a time for fun! You need it, your wife needs it, your family needs it, your church family needs it!

Continue reading “Pastors Have Fun???? YES!!!!” →

Husbands, Protect Your Treasure!

by Dale, posted in Marriage, Men, Uncategorized

Proverbs 18:22 (NLT) says, The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

Husbands, If you have a new Ford F-150 (or insert your favorite) sitting in your driveway, how do you protect it?

What if it’s a new Fierce Rogue hunting rifle? Or a St. Croix Triumph Travel fishing rod?

How will you protect that new house of your dreams?

Husbands, the real question is, do you protect your wife? If so, how do you protect her?

Proverbs 18:22 says she is a treasure. Ephesians 5:28 reminds us, Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies.

As I mentioned in the previous posts, The Treasure of Man and Husbands, Love Your Treasure, marriage is a grace-gift from God, and we have sufficient grace to grow in Christ through the gift of marriage and the privilege of responding to our treasure in many ways that honor God and live out the gospel.

So, how can you protect your treasure?

Continue reading “Husbands, Protect Your Treasure!” →

Wednesday WOW!!

by Dale, posted in Faith, Gospel, Grace, Salvation, The Gospel, Uncategorized

“I went to the revival meeting to cause trouble!”

This was the response from a dear brother from the Virgin Islands when I asked him how he came to know the Lord as his personal Savior. He and his wife along with an hundred other couples were attending the The Wilds Couples’ Conference. He said, “I was twenty years old and rebellious. My friends invited me to go with them. The evangelist from Uganda preached the gospel. I was brought under deep conviction by the Holy Spirit and in the middle of the message, I walked down the aisle and declared my need to be saved!”

Now in his later years of life, I believe the joy seen on his face as he shared his story was parallel to that night of the revival meeting!

Every time you hear the story of a lost soul’s salvation, it’s a “WOW”!! Oh the depth of God’s mercy, grace and love to deliver us from our sinful, rebellious, selfish, broken condition (Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:5)!!!!

No matter the account of one’s personal salvation, whether saved as a child or later as an adult, the WOW is God’s free gift only through the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)!! Oh the mighty work of God to spiritually transform a rebellious man into a man made righteous through the justifying of Christ (Romans 3)!!

Have you recently shared your salvation story or asked another to do so? It’s a “WOW” not only on Wednesday but everyday of the week!!!

Let’s Talk About Jesus,
The King Of Kings Is He,
The Lord Of Lord’s Supreme,
Throughout Eternity.
The Great I Am, The Way,
The Truth, The Life The Door,
Let’s Talk About Jesus More And More.

Let’s Talk About Jesus,
The Rock Of Ages He,
The Lamb Of Sinners Slain,
That Man Of Calvary.
The Great Emmanuel,
The Word Of God Sublime,
He Is Our Bridegroom So Divine.

A Healthy Weekend

by Dale, posted in Christian Camping, Monday Ministry Encouragement, Pastoring, Uncategorized

Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.

As we gathered around a firepit sharing how God had worked in our lives during the weekend Couples’ Conference at The Wilds, I was reminded again why these events are so important to the health of a local church.

1. The continual spiritual growth of the flock.

Listening to each one transparently share how the Word had worked in their lives, I thought, “Not only does this affect their personal growth in Christ, but it will have an edifying influence upon the marriages and families in our church!”

2. The bonding of believers’ hearts with one another.

This group was made up of couples who have been a part of this local flock from two to fifteen plus years. They knew each other, but now they know one another on a deeper level that will lead to greater discipleship, to passionate prayer, to mutual accountability, and a maturing, genuine love.

3. The blessing of sharing in the safe church.

Saturday night, the following lyrics griped my heart as it was ministered in song:

Jesus, Shepherd, loving Shepherd, sent

from heaven to earth—

You have sought us, found and brought

us safely into Your Church.

The world talks a lot about safe places. The local church should be the safest place on earth as the body of Christ gathers in Christ to live out the “one another’s.” I watched this happen in our group as they shared their testimonies in a segment of safety in Christ.

Pastor friend, the health of the flock you shepherd will be greatly enhanced as you spend time with them and they with one another, especially in camp settings like The Wilds. As you plan for 2024 events, build into the church calendar these kind of body growth times that will mature the flock!

Wednesday WOW!!

by Dale, posted in Prayer, Uncategorized

Hey pastor friend, what has been a “wow” for you today, yesterday, last week? Where did you see God at work?

Sunday nights at Boones Creek Bible Church includes an intentional time of corporate prayer. This includes up to ten praises and requests on the screens and then asking an individual to take one praise or request to the Throne of Grace using a handheld mic so all can join their hearts in prayer as well.

This past Sunday night the items for praise/prayer were on the screen. The final one was to pray for our upcoming Fall Festival outreach event. When I asked who would pray, my six year-old grandson immediately raised his hand. Wow!

Here’s the content of his prayer without any coaching from his mom seated next to him:

“Jesus, help people to get saved at the Fall Festival and help people to come. If anybody doesn’t know you, Lord, draw them to You. Thanks for the opportunity that we got to come here today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

Wow!

My grandson, born at 24 weeks, has overcome many obstacles and deals with cerebral palsy did not let his handicap affect his heart or tongue! Wow!

Who has modeled talking to God to him? Where did Shiloh learn to pray? From listening and watching adults . . . his parents, grandparents, folks in small group, SS teachers, Sunday morning and Sunday evening cooperate prayer, times of prayer at his home, etc.

There are many things that we desire for Shiloh, but as he grows in the grace and knowledge of Christ, may the best be . . . a man of prayer!

Wow! Just wow!! Thank You, Lord!! May his tribe increase!!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

The Treasure of Man

by Dale, posted in Love, Marriage, Uncategorized

When a man takes a wife, he has stepped into one of the most blessed positions of life!

Proverbs 18:22 says, The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

What an honor it is by the grace of God (2 Corinthians 9:8) and submission to God Ephesians 5:20) to . . .

  • Love this treasure
  • Protect this treasure
  • Hide this treasure
  • Hold this treasure
  • Invest in this treasure
  • Adore this treasure
  • Cherish this treasure

Even as age, sin, disagreements, sorrows, disappointments, hardships, decay, and illness etches its hurt on the heart and the outward appearance of your treasure, that doesn’t change the fact that God calls her a treasure.

Marriage is never the problem. God created marriage, and its good (Genesis 2:18-25). The issue is an old selfish sin nature that resides in both husband and wife, and the answer is to be what you became at salvation, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Husbands, live in and by the truths of Romans 6-8, and you will be able to love your wife as Christ so loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).

She is the favor of God in your life. By God’s grace and the love of Christ in you, love her, protect her, hide her, hold her, invest in her, adore her and cherish her!

Momma’s, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow UP to be Cowboys! (#4)

by Dale, posted in Parenting, Uncategorized

Are the children you parent YOURS? Or do they belong to God?

In the past three Wednesday posts, my heart has been to encourage all of us parents to see the children that God has loaned to us, whether born naturally into our family, adopted and/or fostered, as belonging to God and not to us. What a special grace blessing from the hand of God to be a parent, to point precious lives to Christ, and to know that we have all we need by His grace to do so!! 2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

So far, my encouragement has been . . .

1. Parents, live and train with an eternal viewpoint.

2. Parents, prepare your children to leave home as God so planned.

3. Parents, fulfill your privilege with the grace of God not the fleshly grit of man.

So, how do you parent by the grace of God? Before you read any further, go back to Post #3 and remind yourself of what parenting by grit (the flesh) looks like.

Now, parenting by grace is . . .

1. Christ sets the agenda.

Who sets the parenting agenda in your home? You, your children, your parents, your grandparents, the expectations of others, the government, society, “the experts,” you being inconvenienced by your children, sports, homework, fear, your past, being a victim, or all the above? When it comes to parenting, everyone has their opinion or idea what it should look like and is shaped by many “voices.” Even children who have never parented think they know how you, mom and dad, should operate.

Continue reading “Momma’s, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow UP to be Cowboys! (#4)” →

Refiring, NOT Retiring!

by Dale, posted in Marriage, Ministry, Ministry Counseling, Pastoring, Uncategorized

In a recent post, I joyfully announced the upcoming transition of ministry after serving as lead pastor for 24 years at Boones Creek Bible Church. Perhaps I did not communicate effectively, so for clarity sake, may I say, retirement is not a part of this transition.

Denise and I will continue to serve at BCBC, but my role will change to associate pastor. This means that I’ll continue to serve by teaching an elective, biblical counselling, leading a small group, visitation, leading the senior’s ministry, preach when needed, etc.

This change allows Denise and me to pursue a passion that has stirred in my heart for a long time and that is ministering to pastors and their wives. I don’t need to look at statistics to know that pastors and their wives need great encouragement. All I need to do is look back over my 40 years of full-time ministry as well as growing up in a pastor’s home to be assured of this huge need. Add to that the number of pastors and wives we have already counseled as well as hearing of needs along the way, we are so drawn to this ministry of refreshment.

Denise and I are available to serve the local church in other capacities as well. Check out the speaking page on my blog for helpful information. Will you prayerfully consider letting us have the rich blessing of coming alongside you and the ministry where you serve to be a refuge and refreshment by the grace of God?

We’re refiring, not retiring!