Tag: Weddings

10 for 10

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Clippin' Grace Coupons, Discipleship, Marriage, Men, Ministry, Missions, Pastoring, Prayer, Preaching, Rest, Serving, Uncategorized, Weddings

Over the past ten days, my wife and I have enjoyed many blessings of ministry of which here are ten. They are shared here for God’s glory and appreciation for His kindness to us in these days of such sin and sorrow!

1. Officiating and directing a wedding! Wow! How special to see two lives brought together in the will of God! The wedding was Christ-exalting and so very romantic! I love weddings!! (Side note: In respect of the newlyweds, I will not post any pics until they do.)

2. Providing a place to rest in our home for two days for a fellow servant in ministry! Quiet walks, prayer, porch time, mountain drive, sharing scripture, etc.!!

3. In 2014, my wife and I had the joy of leading the Missionary Teen Retreat in the Basque region of Spain. We have kept up with several who are now young adults. Daniel and Jessica celebrated their first anniversary with a return trip to Gatlinburg, TN. Their anniversary celebration included worshipping with us in both Sunday gatherings plus a meal and afternoon spent at our home. What a special treat! I call that “clipping grace coupons”!!

4. Preaching the Hebrews 12:12-19 passage in the morning gathering at BCBC!! What a solemn and joy-filled honor it is to prepare and preach the Word of God verse-by-verse!! The Word works!! (2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2)

5. Leading and teaching the Biblical Counseling Elective on Sunday mornings!! “The heart of every issue is an issue of the heart.”

6. Follow-up visitation of church visitors. Made to feel so at home with these folks!!

7. Having coffee with a young man from our church who just finished his first year of college. My heart was greatly encouraged to see how he has grown both spiritually and as a young man!!

8. Discipleship with another man in our congregation. Met for lunch and read together through a chapter of Disciplines of a Godly Man, R. Kent Hughes. Iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17).

9. Small Group gathering on Thursday night! What can I say?!?! A highlight of every week! Singing, prayer, transparent testimonies, Bible study, fellowship around the bar counter and in the living room, laughter, tears, bearing burdens, and rejoicing in answered prayer!!

10. Attending a high school graduation of a young man that has attended BCBC through his teen years. Another opportunity to encourage a young man to follow Christ, not his heart!!

That’s only 10! There were so many more!! Oh! How marvelous is the goodness and grace of God!! And, I got to share in all of these with my wife, except for #8.

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. (Proverbs 10:22)

$42,000????

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Marriage, Uncategorized, Weddings

A poll of 2,000 Americans who plan on getting married (aged 18–55) has determined that the perfect wedding would cost $42,310.48 total. For their ideal wedding, Americans desire an open bar, seeing as 61 percent would have free drinks at their dream wedding. In addition, 44 percent would want formal attire for their wedding, and 48 percent revealed they want a band instead of a DJ on their big day. (https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/average-american-dream-wedding-costs-around-42g-survey-open-bar

Wow! What a contrast to a triple wedding my wife and I attended last Saturday. Yes, I said . . . a triple wedding. Three sisters married on the same day in three separate ceremonies in the same church auditorium. Two of the grooms were brothers.

Two things stood out to me in this event:

  1. The ceremonies were simple yet elegant. There were no flowers on the platform. A small table held the unity candle accompanied by candles on either side. The music was performed by family and friends. At one point, the brides and grooms of the first two weddings (still in their wedding attire) formed an instrumental ensemble to accompany special music in the third wedding. For the reception, each couple had a small cake for the traditional cutting and serving of each other. The guests were treated to a small cupcake with a dollop of frosting along with deli meats for sandwiches and chips.
  2. The ceremonies exalted Christ. Marriage, created and ordained by God, should be an example of the gospel (Ephesians 5:18-32). Yes, this day is for the bride and groom, but unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1), and whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Each groom began his ceremony with a brief message from God’s Word concerning the gospel and marriage. When Christ is your life (Romans 6:1-13; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27), then He will be magnified in your ceremony.

I assure you that each of these couples are as much married today on a low budget as those married in a $42,000 wedding.

Now I realize that a beautiful wedding is virtually every young ladies’ dream, and I am not trying to “burst someone’s bubble.” There is something that is so necessary to understand. You can have a great beginning to your marriage, i.e. an extravagant wedding, but how you finish is more important that how you began.

Marriage can be and should be an awesome joy and blessing, but it takes two people serving one another working at their marriage every day. There will be days of sorrow and hardship. There will be seasons of joy, fun, and happiness.There will be misunderstandings. There will be times of potential despair. There will be many accomplishments to celebrate. Yet, by the grace of God, obedience to and trust in God’s Word, and much prayer, marriage can become sweeter and richer and more intimate through the years.

If you can afford a $42,000 wedding, have at it! If you can spend any amount on your wedding and end up with a “$42,000 marriage,” then by all means, have at it!!