The Pastors' Corner

Don’t Panic
Psalm 11 – A Psalm for a Time of Desperation

“When sorrows come, they come not as single spies, but in battalions.” This famous line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet reminds us of those seasons of life when the multiplication of problems can push us toward desperation. God in His infinite wisdom ordains afflictions and they are often dressed as people. The psalmist found himself in one of those unusually difficult periods of time. It may have been one of Saul’s attempts to kill David. To makes matters worse he had to contend with fear’s counsel. When threats, dangers, and evil schemes multiply, the desire for security knocks loudly at the door of one’s heart. The situation looked hopeless. A host of troubles were lined up against the psalmist. Run. Get away. Hide. Quit. That is the temptation for us when we are under great pressure. But, is this God’s way? What was David to do? What action are we to take when surrounded by people who have no regard for God’s thoughts and ways, and who are devoted to making our lives miserable?

Follow the flow of David’s prayer in Palm 11. It gives us guidance in how to think and pray our way through the toughest of times. The first thing we note is the danger of advice that encourages us to run from our problems (vv. 1-3). There are a variety of escape routes that can present themselves. We can simply do nothing and go on living our lives in a very surface and artificial way. Just play like everything is all right even when it obviously is not. Get lost in entertainment. Movies and television with their well-crafted fantasy world invite us to live there, at least long enough to numb the pain. Drugs and alcohol can pose as friends offering a chemical fix to everything. Instead they leave self-destruction in their wake. Serial relationships with the opposite sex promise the pleasures of intimacy, but how quickly they fade away. Get angry and take it out on anyone who gets in the way. Move. Change churches. Find a new spouse. Commit suicide. Schemes for avoidance and escape are never what they appear to be. They are dead-end streets.

David refuses to take the path of least resistance. The counsel of fear with its pretended solution is countered by the only refuge there is. “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1). It is necessary to talk truth to oneself in the dark holes of overwhelming problems. The second thing we must do is engage in some serious faith-thinking in order to put problems into perspective (11:4-7). The grimness of the outlook must give way to a resolute “up-look” to the Lord. The psalmist steadies himself by setting his mind on divine realities. The Lord has not run away. He is “in his holy temple.” He is on His throne in heaven. He knows everything that is happening. He is omniscient. Flee to the Lord. This is not a make-believe flight into an imaginary castle in the sky. No. Problems are God’s school for lessons in grace. He sees all things. He is wise. He cares. He is worthy of our trust.

Biblically informed self-counsel sets our thought processes on the perfections of God and draws strength from what He has told us about Himself and His purposes. David does this. He reminds himself of God’s holiness. God is not flawed in any sense of the term. His moral standards do not change. He hates evil. He can be trusted. The righteous (those who obey God) and the wicked (those who despise God’s moral law) are both accountable to God. God assesses the hearts of mankind. Nothing escapes His notice. Those who take their stand against the Lord and seek to do harm to His people will face His judgment.

What does it mean then to take refuge in God? I take refuge in God when I refuse to run away from problems and determine to handle them God’s way. I take refuge in God when I leave vengeance to God (Rom. 12:19). He will judge those who violate His moral law and work hardships on the righteous. I take refuge in God when I am obedient to His Word. I take refuge in God when the fear of man is replaced by the fear of God.

The safest place in the world is the gaze of God upon those who are living life God’s way. Are some problems facing you right now? What kind of advice have you been given? Are you being tempted to find the nearest exit rather than deal with them according to God’s wisdom? The best thing you can do is to immediately talk to God about everything. That is exactly what David did. Psalm 11 is a prayer. That is where to begin. Go to the Lord with a truth-drenched prayer of trust in the only one who can really help you. There is no need to panic. Take the faith-way, and draw near to God.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

A Re-commissioning Revisited

Sunday, December 4, 2011 will be forever carried in our memory. It was a busy season for everyone, but so many helped us look back upon forty-one years of ministry at Berachah. The program was filled with grace-rich reflections. Pastor Jim Nixon and his wife Bonnie drove all the way from Toledo, Ohio. He reminded us of what it means to have a lasting friendship for over fifty-five years. My fellow servant Dr. Howard Eyrich, Pastor of Counseling at Briarwood Presbyterian in Birmingham, reminisced about the ways our lives have been bound together. Steve Martin, Pastor of Heritage Church in Fayetteville, reminded us of the high value God places on faithfulness and what it means to finish well. Jim and Toni Dykes blended their wonderful voices to lead us in some of our favorite hymns of the faith. John and Rachel Sherwood took us back to our days in East Point when, as two single young people, they began their life together at our dining room table. We treasure their God-seeking partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nelson and Jody Wallace, having raised their family at Berachah, walked us back to our early years at the school house in Red Oak. They have given us so much of themselves for such a long time. How we thank God for those who have encouraged us with fruitful lives of service. Jay and Patti Clay touched our hearts with their story of God’s grace to them and their children. Rick and Debbie Lute represented those who have joined with us in recent years. Their words of appreciation were sweet to hear. What a delight it has been to have the younger generation worship and serve with us. Our daughter-in-law, Cheryl, honored us with the gift of her beautiful voice carrying the words, “O Lord, Most Holy,” into our hearts.

To mention the names of those who participated in the “Re-commissioning service” is not meant to overlook all those who have labored faithfully alongside us. Your cards, verbal thanks, and presence on December 4 will always be cherished.

Thank all of you for the planning and participation that went into that Sunday of memories of God’s faithfulness. Thanks to all who helped to make the nice reception a welcome to all. Our special events are a Berachah legend.

The special surprise of a trip to Hawaii caught us completely off guard. Every sunset keeps Beth and me reminded of a flight westward to that island paradise that is waiting for us. Thank you!

Berachah family, you have brought us much joy, and we will carry you in our hearts forever.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Fruit of Faithfulness – Part II

Fundamental to the questions regarding eternal security, assurance, and the perseverance of the saints is, “Must a Christian keep on believing in order to gain their salvation?” The way some understand the doctrine of perseverance is that our arrival in heaven is dependent on our faithfulness. But is not the believer secure in Christ from the moment he is born again? The Scriptures are very clear that nothing can separate the Christian from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39). What about one’s assurance of salvation? Jesus said that assurance (the realization that one possesses eternal life) is inherent in the very offer of salvation itself (“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but passes out of death into life.” Jn. 5:24). Assurance of salvation is based on the promises of God’s Word. Jesus did not say that works were the basis of assurance. Nor does one have to wait until death to find out if they are saved. According to Jesus there is no judgment for the believer.

Are our works important? Absolutely. There will be fruit in every believer in some measure, somewhere, sometime. Fruit in the Christian life, however, is not the primary ground for assurance. It is the promises of God upon which believer’s assurance rests. This is extremely important. If the believer has to ground his assurance on the subjective test of fruit-bearing, then he is left to wrestle with doubt and confusion. Of course, there will be self-appointed fruit inspectors who will presume to know whether one is saved or not. For example, W. Chantry writes, “Only when God is loved supremely and the spirit of the law kept has a man any reason to believe that he has been truly born of God.” One is left stunned at the presumption of such a claim. Assurance of salvation, according to such logic, becomes elusive and subject to the flawed perceptions of the individual.

If perseverance to the end is the condition for entering heaven, then what would it be like? It is difficult to pin down those who make such an assertion. One says, one has to keep on believing using the present tense in John 3:16 (“whoever continues believing in him”). This is a misuse of the Greek present tense and leaves the Christian wondering, “Am I believing today?” Another one offers the standard that says, “They (believers) can never finally remain in sin.” What does this mean? If a professing Christian suffers and grows angry with Christ, does not repent, and dies in that condition, is he or she finally lost? Can a genuine Christian commit suicide? I am not suggesting that believers are free to sin with impunity and rejoice in their one way ticket to heaven. But Christians do fall into sin. They can live like unbelievers (1 Cor. 3:3). Some can even become guilty of sin unto death (1 Cor. 11:30). The Christian life is not a tidy thing. No two Christians grow at the same rate. The degree of fruitfulness varies greatly among believers (Matt. 13:23). These and other factors defy neat formulas designed to give the professing Christian assurance (or a denial of it).

Perseverance in the faith is not the condition for justification before God. It is rather the condition for sanctification. This is exactly what Paul said to Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1 Tim. 4:16) The salvation of Timothy was deliverance from the power of evil in his own life and in its contaminating effects through false teachers. Paul was not in any doubt about Timothy’s faith in Christ (1 Tim. 1:2).

Endurance in the faith is an essential ingredient in the spiritual growth of a Christian. This is a pronounced theme throughout the epistles. Peter, writing to Christians, tells them that perseverance protects the believer from the waste of time in living inconsistently (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Perseverance in holiness is a mandate for all God’s children (1 Pet. 1:15). The goal of perseverance is not the attainment of heaven, but is arriving there holy, blameless, and beyond reproach (Col. 1:22, 23). Many passages in the New Testament speak of the conditions that determine how we arrive in heaven (1 Cor. 9:27; 15:1, 2; Gal. 5:14; Heb. 6:4-6).

Running the race of the Christian life with endurance is the stamina-producing work of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 12:1; Gal. 5:16). Sin must be fought and killed (Rom. 8:13). Those things that hinder our progress in the faith must be put aside. Hardship is to be endured for the glory of Christ (2 Tim. 4:5). And at the end the fruit of faithfulness will be abundant and everlastingly sweet.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Fruit of Faithfulness – Part I

I will never forget that day. My father came to my elementary school and checked me out. It was a cold rainy February day in Georgia. The family car was packed and we drove south to Orlando, Florida, to our “new” home. The air became warmer. Sand replaced the red clay. Palm trees and skinny pines took the place of oak trees. Suddenly, appearing before my eyes were trees adorned with oranges. I had never seen this before. What a sight. Sweet oranges ready to be picked. Fruit trees—they are wonderful!

One fruit all Christians ought to bear is faithfulness (Gal. 5:22). It grows on the tree of a Holy Spirit-empowered life. This sweet, delicious fruit is a sign of a growing Christian. Faithfulness is the God-enabled use of God-given opportunities stretched out over time. It is a fruit of the Spirit which grows in the soil of daily dependence on the Spirit and obedience to the Word of God.

The amount of one’s responsibilities does not determine whether one is faithful or not. Nor is faithfulness measured by the standard of merely showing up at church week after week. To be faithful means to do things God’s way consistently. It is the way we go about serving others. The smallest task done for the glory of God will receive a great reward. In the parable of the ten minas the disciples of Jesus who are faithful will be rewarded with even greater opportunities to serve Him in His earthly kingdom (Lk. 19:11-22; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Rev. 2:26-28). Unfaithfulness results in the loss of rewards.

Some faithful servants of Christ are mentioned by name in the New Testament; Epaphras, Tychicus, Antipas, and Sylvanus all received commendation for their reliability. Every believer should aspire for that incomparable accolade from Jesus Christ, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23).

Another way to view the high value of faithfulness in the church of Jesus Christ is through the lens of perseverance or endurance. This is one of the marks of a good servant (1 Cor. 6:12; 2 Cor. 6:14). The Christian life is compared to a race which is to be run with endurance (Heb. 12:1). Difficulties, suffering, and pain are opportunities to develop more spiritual stamina in our race to the finish line of heavenly glory. Not all Christians run with the same degree of effectiveness. Encumbrances can slow us down (e.g. getting too bound up in the things of this world). Sin can entangle us. We can get knocked out of our grace-lane into the lane of legalism (Gal. 5:7). But the fact remains that the believer’s eternal security depends on God the Father (Eph. 1:4-6), God the Son (Rom. 8:28-30), and God the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

Must a Christian persevere in continual obedience in order to obtain final salvation? Some think so. Erwin Lutzer opposes the view, but expresses it clearly: “. . . true believers never fall away, and if they do, it is not for long. If a person fails to continue in the faith, he is giving proof that he was never saved.” Such passages as Mark 13:13 (“the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved”) and Colossians 1:23 (“if indeed you continue in the faith”) are interpreted to mean that eternal life is conditioned upon a life of obedience. Theologian Charles Hodge, a proponent of the view, goes so far as to say, “There is a perpetual danger of falling. . . .Neither members of the church nor the elect can be saved unless they persevere in holiness without continual watchfulness and effort.”

This summons a host of questions. Can a true believer continue in sin? Is the genuine Christian not secure in Christ? How can assurance of one’s salvation be possible? And, most importantly, does this not suggest that our salvation depends upon good works? The problems bound up in these questions have led some to say, “Perseverance to the end is inevitable because God will make the believer persevere.” Further thought and a biblical analysis of the perseverance of the saints and its relation to faithfulness is obviously necessary.

I am personally convinced that the Scriptures teach that (1) the believer is eternally secure from the very moment of regeneration, that (2) faithfulness to Christ can be interrupted by seasons of disobedience, that (3) Christians can have assurance of their salvation based on God’s Word from the outset of their walk with Christ, that (4) good works, while confirming the presence of spiritual life in Christ, in no way contribute to the free gift of God in salvation, and (5) that unfaithfulness will result in loss of rewards and faithfulness will be rewarded.

Is faithfulness to Christ becoming an increasing characteristic of your life? Is it what comes to mind when fellow Christians think of you? If you are unfaithful to Christ in the days before you die, does that mean you have not been a Christian? If you are in a state of unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, what should you do?

To be continued…

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

A Pastor Looks Back

I entered pastoral work in 1965. As a full time student in seminary and working part time in a grocery store, the Lord presented me with the opportunity to pastor a church in a farming community in northern Indiana. It changed my life. I wanted to preach and serve God with the training He had given. It didn’t take long, however, to become overwhelmed by what it takes to study, understand, apply, and live God’s Word. Caring for a church congregation, encouraging the weary, mediating conflicts, preparing couples for marriage, comforting the grieving, helping parents with rebellious children, working with the teens, and taking the gospel into the world could not be done by energy and Bible knowledge alone. I can remember crying out to God for the help I needed.

Upon returning to the Atlanta area in 1968 the providence of God opened the door for starting a Bible study which would eventually become Berachah Bible Church.

With the thoughts of the early years vivid in my memory, I will offer a pastoral perspective on forty-five years of serving in Christ’s church. This is not as easy as it looks. There is the temptation to read the present into the past. The Christian life is a walk of thousands of steps. Some of these steps are wise. Others are not. Unbelief is not easily dislodged. Preachers have to mature in the faith just like everyone else. Personality, the Christian culture, and family experience can create spiritual blind spots. As this pastor looks back, it is through the eyes of God’s grace. The Apostle Paul offers a theological reflection on his past; “and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:14).

The gospel of Jesus Christ made me a thirsty person. I was not seeking God before my conversion to Christ in 1956. When the Spirit of the living God made me a new creature in Christ everything changed. God has made us for Himself that we might experience everlasting joy in fellowship with Him. I cannot take credit for the thirst God initiated in me. How did this happen? God is holy, just, loving and forgiving. I was made aware of this from my earliest years. I am a sinner unable to pull myself up from the hole of sin into which I was born. Only God can pull me up and out of the prison of mental darkness in which I lived. Then by grace-granted faith “I awoke – the dungeon flamed with light! My chains fell off, immense and free. I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.” Thank you, Charles Wesley for saying it so wonderfully. The cross of Jesus Christ was my way out. God rescued me through the infinite value of the Savior’s death for my sins. God saved me and gave me a thirst for Him. To my dying breath I will be amazed at His condescending love to this sinner who had resisted Him. I did so because I was afraid He would ask me to be someone I did not want to be. How sin does blind us to its own fatal folly. I love the gospel. What a pleasure it has been to unfold the flag of its truth and let it fly before the eyes of all to see. What a joy it has been to witness its life-changing power in those who bow their knee in allegiance to Jesus Christ.

The final authority of the Bible has been a truth for which I am willing to die. I have believed and taught that the Bible is God’s authoritative, inerrant, and trustworthy revelation. The Scriptures have proven themselves to be sufficient for the wisdom and guidance I have needed. They have given me God’s thoughts to replace my flawed thinking. They contain the precious promises of the coming again of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on this earth (2 Pet. 1:11). They reveal God’s way in contrast to man’s way of thinking and living. The Bible is the only book God has written. It has no equal. His Word endures forever and He hasn’t changed His mind. In my life-time of pastoral ministry there have been critics of the Bible. These voices have told me that the Bible is just another human book. They have said that its various authors are not who they said they were. Some have claimed that there is a Bible within the Bible. How convenient. We must sit at the feet of pretended “scholars” to find out what parts of the Scripture are trustworthy. It is has been claimed that the Bible is authoritative and inerrant in only what it teaches, not in its exact words. Others have wanted me to believe that both the Bible and nature are God’s message. Theologians interpret the Bible. Scientists interpret God’s voice in nature, so the argument goes. But this is a trick to make the Bible submit to the mind of man, not to the mind of God. I have staked my life on the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. . .” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Faithful Christians have been a letter from Christ to me. Where would I be if it were not for fellow believers in Jesus Christ, many of whom are now worshiping before the throne of God? They have prayed for me, taught me, proclaimed the gospel to me, loved me, corrected me, and encouraged me. Their numbers are too great to list by name. God knows who they are. My grandparents had a firm grip on God and His Word. Flawed, yes, but they pointed me in the right direction. I thank God for a pastor who opened up the Bible and set the table of truth every Sunday. There have been friends, kindred spirits, who have refreshed my soul. You know who you are. I thank all of you.

My dear wife, Beth, has been a jewel of God’s grace to me. Early in my Christian experience I prayed for the wife that God wanted to give me. I did not know who she was or where she lived but God did. He brought Beth into my life. We were in our early twenties, both in Bible College. Now, for almost forty-eight years, my “crown” has served God with me. She has loved many, shown compassion to the hurting, taught God’s Word, been an example of Christ’s presence, supported me, encouraged me, cooked for me, and listened to thousands of my sermons. What loving loyalty. It has not been easy for her. When two people walk hand in hand through life, they share their imperfections, excesses, and struggles. This pastor would not have been able to study, preach, counsel, and bear the burdens of others if Beth had not been loyal, patient, kind, and wise. I have depended on her in decision-making. Her discernment has been incalculable in dealing with the ditches sin had dug in my thoughts and behavior. God knew how much help I would need to be a Christlike servant. Thank you, Beth, for your steady, strong, and gentle ways. You did much more than “keep me in the pulpit.” You lived a life that kept Christ’s presence before me and our children.

My children have been refreshing shade trees. What a difference a tree makes on a hot, summer’s day. Miriam and Eric have taught me much. They have loved me, made me laugh, challenged my thinking, been kind to me, and have forgiven me. An elder must have children who help to keep him above reproach. Thank you, my dear children, for enabling me to see things about myself that needed changing, for feeling free to come and sit down in my study and talk, for not becoming resentful when I disagreed with some your decisions, for loving me and being patient when I annoyed you, and for showing me what it is like to be a doer and not a hearer only of God’s Word. You have given me refreshing shade in the labors of pastoral work.

The Spirit’s transforming work in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ is a treasure I will always cherish. Personal stories of Christ-exalting change walk across my mind. Forty-one years at Berachah have given me many truth-rich reflections. I cannot use your names. Your untold stories, disappointments, joys, tears, and growth in Christ are known to God. The flock at Berachah has shown me how God comforts the afflicted, what loving God and His Word is like, the sweetness of reconciled relationships, and the ways in which the gifts of the Spirit show up in congregational life.

Thank you my Berachah family for helping one another through hard times, for giving sacrificially so that the gospel can go far and wide, for not giving up when someone has disappointed you, for getting up early on Sunday mornings and driving in all kinds of weather to worship on Sunday, for loving and teaching the children of our church, for opening up your homes to fellow members, guests, and missionaries, for planning, preparing, studying, and making Sunday School, Awana, VBS, and a host of other Bible events possible, for bearing witness to Christ on the job, for leading and participating in song, prayer, and the ministry of the Word week after week, for working in the kitchen, for working with the teens in classes and camps, for taking meals to hurting and grief-stricken people, for administering hour upon hour in the church office, for setting aside the comforts of home and participating in missions trips, for leaving family and friends to live in the far-corners of the earth for the sake of Christ, for encouraging and sharing the life-giving gospel with a friend whose life has been overwhelmed by sin. You are my teachers.

“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descent like dew, like showers on new grass –like abundant rain on tender plants.”
Deut. 32:2

Looking back is not enough. The Christian life is a race to be run. I do not know how long my last stretch of the race will last, but my plan is to keep running it at Berachah Bible Church. I am looking forward to helping in preaching, teaching, and in any other way I can. The Lord has provided an able servant to assume many of my previous duties. How thankful I am for Justin Culbertson. We work well together. I know his desire is to care for the flock and He has a heart for God. Berachah is in good hands.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Wilderness – Part 7 of Israel Series

The Bible is filled with references to the wilderness. What comes to our minds; dense forests infested with wild animals, a desolate region uninhabited by human beings, a desert with sparse vegetation? Different areas in the land of Israel are called “the wilderness.” Israel’s exodus from Egypt took her into the desert (wilderness) of Sinai (Ex. 14:12). In the wilderness of Judah (southeast of Bethlehem down to the Dead Sea) David hid from Saul (1 Sam. 23:14). John the Baptist preached in the wilderness (the lower Jordan Valley north of the Dead Sea and the country immediately West of the Dead Sea). Jesus was led into this wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 3:1; 4:1). These areas of wilderness can be easily located on the maps in the back of one’s Bible or in a Bible atlas.

Israel’s wanderings in the desert of Sinai took place over a period of forty years (above, left). It is a harsh environment with temperature extremes, barren expanses, rocks, canyons, and a scarcity of water. It was here that God performed miracles for His covenant people (supplies of manna and quail). Israel’s disobedience brought God’s judgment in this inhospitable place. Grumbling and discontent eventually disqualified an entire generation from entrance into the Promise Land. The wilderness wanderings served as the spiritual womb of the nation. God revealed Himself in extraordinary ways in provision and chastening. A new generation bound for Canaan was taught to depend on God by learning that they did not “live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4). We learn from this. God uses hard times and difficult places to prepare us for battles that lie ahead. His promises and our obedience to His Word serve to shape us for greater effectiveness. Are our wilderness times proving to be times of trust in Him?

David’s life as a fugitive from Saul took him deep into the wilderness of Ziph (1 Sam. 23:14). The sun beats down relentlessly on the dry stream beds (Wadis) and steep canyon walls. Caves and ravines provide good hiding places.

One of David’s favorite strongholds in the Judean wilderness was En Gedi (above, right). Cool refreshing springs and waterfalls (left) offer wonderful refreshment on the east edge of the desert of Judah six hundred feet above the Dead Sea. We experienced this first hand having walked in 114 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. Suddenly there was the sound of rushing water. Then we came upon a pool of clear, cool water (left). Beth and I took a dip and stood under the pelting showers of a stream in the desert (right). It was lovely. We could picture David in the same place, taking a respite from the hot pursuit of vengeful Saul. The psalmist understood the longing of the deer “for the water brooks” (Psa. 42:1). So was his thirst for the living God. Is this what drives us in life? Or are we attempting to slake our thirst with the lesser gods of personal happiness and self-fulfillment.

Forty days without food in a place like Wadi Kelt (left) east of Jerusalem must have been a supreme test for Jesus in the wilderness. We walked down a narrow trail toward Jericho following Wadi Kelt, passing a monastic community, goats, and a shepherd (below). Daunting was the drop-off of hundreds of feet below. Hunger, weariness, wild animals, and the temptation of the devil were the experience of Jesus in the wilderness. Yet it was there that He met the evil one head-on and defeated him. Bread, power, and authority could not dissuade Jesus from His mission on earth. It was not God’s time for the ultimate triumph of the Servant Messiah at the cross. That would come.

Rejoice! One day “the wilderness and desert will be glad and the Arabah (area south of the Dead Sea) will rejoice and blossom like the crocus” (Isa. 35:1). The barren, arid, and harsh wilderness will come alive with grass, plants, trees, and flowers. The birds will sing, water will flow, and vegetation will flourish. “Sorrow and sighing will flee away” (35:10). Would you not love to be in the middle of all that? You can. Christ is the way there. Find out the truth about Him and enjoy the life He gives and will give.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church 

Carrying the Cross to Bosnia

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” As we bid farewell to Patrick, Avery, Reagan, and Owen W., Shakespeare’s words in the mouth of Juliet gather up our emotions. It is sorrow for Jay and Patti Clay, Katherine Clay, and Mike and Shirley Work. They are telling their children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren) goodbye. That’s never easy and especially so since, in this instance, it is thousands of miles, an ocean, and another country that will separate them. However, the sorrow is sweetened by the fact that the cause of their journey is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Patrick and Avery will be living among people who know more of hopelessness than they do of the hope that is in Jesus Christ.

Patrick and Avery, I would like to offer some last minute counsel to carry with you. It is not presumed that you are unfamiliar with these truths. They are offered as reminders of how a mind set on the things of the Spirit will flourish with life and peace.

Your grief and sadness in having to leave family and friends is not a weakness. Grief is a God ordained way of coping with loss. We live in world filled with loss because it has been broken by sin. There will be no grief in heaven but there is now. It can be profitable. Grief (a.k.a. homesickness) will be a heavy emotional load for awhile but it will yield to the joy of going about your daily routine, leaving gospel finger prints on everything. Grief is a strange thing. The least little thing can bring unexpected tears; the warmth of your home on a cold winter’s night, the smell of a cup of coffee, a snow flake, a Christmas carol, a sunset, a fleeting memory of a Thanksgiving meal. God understands. Let your sadness be buoyed by the joy of the Lord.

Keep your marriage strong. Enjoy one another. The adjustments to a new culture, climate, and community will put some strains on your relationship with one another. Don’t be surprised by this. Love endures all things. Love is patient. Being grumpy and short with one another are self-centered infections that will do you no good. Love is kind. Help one another in the daily round of life. Take walks together. Pray together. By all means ask one another’s forgiveness when necessary. Your Gorazde team and neighbors need to see a husband and wife in love with one another, living out the gospel by self-sacrifice.

Make team unity a priority. Let the words of Scripture, “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” serve as your relational navigational reference. Good relationships won’t just happen. They will need to be cultivated by grace and truth. Listen to others. Be careful about when and where you draw lines in the sand. If you disagree with one of your team members, don’t try to resolve it in front of others. Go in humility to the one with whom you have a difference and determine what needs to be done. Satan loves nothing better than to get his foot in the door of the church through anger not handled in God’s way.

Read your Bible and pray every day. No matter how busy your daily schedule, guard your meeting time with God. I know you understand the importance of this. You will need to maintain your personal study of the Bible. Take a book of the Bible and work your way through it. Keep a record of your work. Build yourselves up in the knowledge of God’s Word. Missionaries, like the rest of us, must marinate their minds in the whole counsel of God. This will enable you to stay razor sharp in knowing what God expects of you. Also, memorize Scripture. There is no substitute for this discipline. In so doing you are handing the Holy Spirit His sword for immediate use.

Reagan and Owen are precious gifts from God. You don’t need to be told to cherish them. You do. Teach them to observe God’s testimonies and let your lives give proof of what this looks like. Your children will provide many opportunities for conversation and witness for Christ. The language will come easy for them. As they become bilingual you will gain one of your greatest assets in cross-cultural evangelism. We, your church family, have noticed that you are willing to let “goods and kindred go” for the sake of the kingdom. Your love for Reagan and Owen has not been more important than your desire to take the gospel of Jesus Christ where it is not known. Thank you.

We love you. You are our joy and crown. Taking the cross of Jesus Christ to Bosnia is a triumph of the grace of God.

With love,
Howard

A Bright Light is Gone – A Tribute to Carol Pass

On Saturday, October 29, Carol Pass finished her journey toward the heavenly presence of Jesus Christ. In April of this year Carol was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. She continued her joyful self through the following months, worshiping with us, until she became home bound by pain and weakness. Now she is rejoicing with that host of saints who have gone to their heavenly rest.

No one can calculate the meaning of Carol’s death to Frank, her husband, and her children, Jaclyn, Rachel, Luke, and Frances. The Lord in His infinite love and wisdom called upon Carol to endure the hardship of death by cancer. Why? The answer is found in the purposes of God declared in the promise “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). What does that “good” look like? Time, trust in God, wisdom gained through trials, and eternity collaborate to one day give us that fuller knowledge when we come face to face with Christ (1 Cor. 13:12).

The full light of the personal presence of Christ is preceded by His presence through the light of the gospel in the lives of believers. We are made to “appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). Carol Pass was one of those lights. She burned brightly; her cheerfulness lit up her greeting, her presence in the church kitchen, and behind the serving line making sure everything was in place. We found her to be interested in our comings and goings. There was that light in her eyes when she asked about that recent trip we had taken, a grandparent experience, or personal trial we were working through.

Carol was flexible, fun loving, and gave attention to details. She made sure the plates and napkins were at the beginning of the line, the serving pieces were on the tables, the bowls were beside the soups, and small plates by the desserts. All the while, she smiled, greeted people, and helped the children. It is that kind of servant spirit that makes Bible study, prayer, good conversation, and the enjoyment of one another flow with greater ease. Teachers and those up front must never forget that. Ample time for prayer at our carry-in dinners was assured, in part, because of Carol’s early arrival in the kitchen and quiet, sure preparation.

My visit with the Pass family in Novosibirsk, Siberia in May, 2003 gave me the opportunity to experience a home lighted by Carol. The lights of kindness, encouragement, and a pleasant atmosphere were created by a thoughtful hostess. Bananas and oatmeal were provided for her guest. The small apartment was enlarged by Carol’s delicious meals and the surprises of remembering what I liked to eat for breakfast. In the midst of all those Soviet era gray concrete apartment buildings was a warm, bright, and happy home. I experienced what Paul meant, when he spoke of Philemon, that “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (Phile. 7).

Carol’s diet and appetite were not as she would have desired in her last months. However, this did not keep her from thinking of others. The staff ladies decided to join her and not bring birthday cake to their July celebration. Carol surprised them by baking a delicious blueberry pound cake for her own party. Though she could not eat it, she delighted in those who enjoyed every sweet bite of it.

God weaves each of us in our mother’s womb. We can each thank God that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The woman, wife, mother, and servant of us all that Carol came to be were gifts of God’s grace. Her laugh is stilled. Her smile is gone. Her Christlike concern for others is absent. Thank God for the years that He gave us to share with her. But now we will miss her. However, our grief is not as those who have no hope. One day God will bring with Him, Carol, along with all who have fallen asleep in Jesus and join all who are alive at the coming of the Lord.

We shouldn’t be surprised if in that moment of glad reunion, we hear Carol laughing and holding up her finger saying with that lilt in her voice, “I told you.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Broken Brains and Loving God

“Psychiatric Disorders – A compassionate look at complex problems”

This was the theme at the CCEF (Christian Counseling and Education Foundation) national conference in Louisville, Kentucky, October 20-23. How is the Christian to think and respond to those diagnosed with scores of psychiatric disorders? These diagnostic labels abound even in Christian circles. General session speakers were David Powlison, Ed Welch, and Michael Emlet. Various others led the breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics (e.g. “Ministering to Those with a Traumatic Brain Injury,” “Walking Alongside a Person Diagnosed as Bipolar,” “Assessing and Counseling a Person with Suicidal Thoughts”).

We were reminded that “hard problems need wise healers.” David Powlison set the tone for the conference by explaining what it means to “have a feel for long, slow processes, being willing to live within uncertainties, and yet keep our bearings. We must combine indestructible hope with realistic expectations.” David worked in a psychiatric hospital for four years and came to faith in Christ during that time.

Ed Welch, author of “Blame it on the Brain,” “Running Scared,” and other best-selling titles, drew our attention to learning “how to move towards those different from us with the love of Jesus that not only unites us but gives us a true understanding of our ‘sameness’ in Him.”

Michael Emlet (M.D.), CCEF counselor and faculty member, directed our thoughts within the boundaries of biblical truth “to explore the origins of our modern psychiatric diagnostic system,” and provided “a balanced critique that neither exalts nor ignores these categories (OCD, PTSD, ADHD, etc.) in the context of ministry.”

One vignette offered by Ed Welch vividly illustrates what it means to move toward the mentally troubled. He told of a man who believed there are people living in the air conditioning ducts, watching everything he did, working three shifts, eight hours a day. This man’s response was to play the violin all day for these people. Ed said, “Wait, you’re playing the violin all day while your wife works.” The house is in a mess, no meals were cooked. “Is that right? You can serve her.” This troubled man, no matter how his brain may have been “broken,” could access God’s grace in order to love and serve his wife. Is there more? Yes, there is but a mind that is not working right doesn’t mean that there is not room for the gospel.

Among those of us from Berachah who attended (Dials and Sherwoods) the CCEF conference the following thoughts help to summarize some of its contributions.

• Those with “psychological disorders” are no different than we in the fundamental sense of who we are as fallen creatures in need of God.
• Worship is practicing being sane. Faith looks trouble in the eye and pulls us out of ourselves toward God.
• When we see someone who is hurting, even if because of his or her own sin or because of a psychological disorder, we should move toward them in compassion.
• Just because someone has been given a label for a psychological disorder does not mean that we understand the problem. Psychological labels are descriptions not explanations or solutions.
• Our bodies can make us miserable, but they can’t make us sin.
• A biological approach to man common in a secular health system demeans man to the level of a machine by leaving out the heart. We must peek behind diagnostic descriptions to seek to understand the world of the sufferer.

Our time at the conference, though cut short by a speaking engagement in Indiana, was an enriching experience in learning how to more effectively comfort and strengthen all kinds of sufferers. CCEF offers a variety of ministries to fulfill their stated goals of “restoring Christ to counseling” and “restoring counseling to the church.” You are encouraged to visit their web site for faith-building assistance (CCEF.org).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Randy Alcorn on the “Courageous” Movie

“One thing I should add that I didn’t say in the Time interview: no movie and no novel is sufficient to change a life in the way that is necessary for the long haul. That requires a work of God’s Holy Spirit that continues over time. It also requires a change of life priorities and habits. Men and women need to turn off the television, look away from the computer and read God’s Word, read great books, talk with their children, join Bible studies, and become accountable to others to grow in their walk with God, their marriage and their parenting.

“Though a movie isn’t enough to change people, it can be one more instrument used by God to get their attention and challenge them to take the next step. The key to long-term growth and turning around hearts and families will obviously not be theatres showing movies, but churches and families and individuals meeting with God and each other day after day, calling upon Him to transform us, by the grace and truth of Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit.”

http://www.epm.org/blog/2011/Sep/9/part-2-my-interview-time-magazine-about-courageous