Author: thesingerschapel

What a tremendous time to be alive.  I think about all the pivotal times in the history of this green and blue globe and I see no better time to exist.  There was a time when prophesies were unfulfilled, the future promises of God were much further away, and the coming of the Lord seemed a distant appointment.  But not in this day.  I am fully Persuaded that the coming of the Lord could be before I finish typing this blo

                                                                    Ha! Just kidding.  Let’s talk about that for a while…

There is nothing more pitiful than someone who is trying to convince you of something they do not believe themselves.  Pity the singer whose song is all about someone else’s life.  How empty are the words of the armchair quarterback, the Monday morning commentators who never felt the crushing blow of a linebacker. If we have not been through anything we can be little comfort or critical care for someone who is going through it.  Try this; a congress that tells a citizenry how valuable a healthcare system is when they will not use it themselves.  You get the idea.  One cannot effectively persuade another if they are not persuaded themselves.

In the midst of his Hall of Fame induction passage in Hebrews chapter 11, Abraham’s vision of promises not yet revealed is expounded in verse 13.  “…having seen them afar off, and was [sic] persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”   Abraham was persuaded by a promised son (Gen 21).  He was persuaded of a promised seed (Heb 11:11-12).  He was persuaded of a promised city (John 14:2-3).  He was persuaded by a promised country Here (Gen 12:1) and in Heaven (Lu 16:22). How else could Abraham be obedient unto the command to take his son, Isaac, up a mountain and lay him on the altar of sacrifice?  Because He who had begun a good work would be faithful to complete it.  He was Persuaded.

Abraham was not only persuaded by the promises of God, he embraced them.  He put his faith in them because the one who promised proved Himself faithful.  Not only that, Abraham confessed them.  He put the promises into practice as truth because the one who promised proved Himself true.

Our challenge of conviction:

• Do we worry because we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we fail to witness because we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we pray like we are persuaded of God’s promises? 
• Do we plan our life as if we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we sing like we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we preach like we are persuaded of God’s promises?

If I am persuaded His coming to rapture the church could be any moment (I Thes 4), I better start acting like it, praying like it, working like it, witnessing like it, looking for it.

We love you

BroAdamB

 

Good Sunday morning friends.  It’s early.  It was a late night.  But we have something to do and somewhere to go today.  We have something to tell today.  Somebody’s Coming.   Let’s talk about that…

We just concluded the 60th anniversary of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  There was much anticipation, advertising and preparation.  It came, it happened and now it is past.  For centuries, millenniums, there was an anticipation, announcements about someone who was on the way. Isaiah said He would come from a virgins womb, and He did (7:14, 11:1, 62:11).  Jeremiah said which family tree He would come from, and He did (23:5).  Micah said which town He would be born in, and He was (5:2).  They all said, Somebody’s Coming!!!  And HE did.

One night on a hillside the Angels told some shepherds, He’s Here, and He was (Lu 2:11).  When he came into the synagogue on his eighth day Simeon said, He’s Here, and he was (Lu2:30).  John the Baptist looked up a dusty road and said, Behold, He’s Here, and He was (Jn 1:36).  At the end of His earthly ministry Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that asses colt and the multitudes waved palm branches and shouted, He’s Here!!  and He was.  Then He was crucified, buried in Joseph’s tomb.  He was gone.

But, He came back!  The resurrected Christ rose again and on a hill outside Jerusalem He ascended to the Heaven’s.  The angels said to His disciples, He’s Coming Back (Acts 1:9-11), and He will.  Paul told the church at Thessalonica, He’s Coming Back, and He Will (4:16-17).  Just as sure as it was prophesied that He was coming, He came.  Just as sure as the Angels announced His birth, He was here.  And, just as sure as Jesus said He was coming back, He Will.  NQC is over but Jesus is still coming.  We’ve got somewhere to go, something to tell, someone to bring with us.  Somebody’s Coming!!

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

 

 

Many of our Gospel music friends will be travelling tonight and tomorrow toward the natural wonder that is the Smoky Mountains.  Specifically, to the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the National Quartet Convention.  The A-Team will join you later in the week.  I made it a goal of my young life to Get There someday and I did. But, I was really supposed to be somewhere else.  Let’s talk about that.

Tim Riley used to have this saying when you were somewhere in the wrong place at the wrong time and mainly in his entire way.  It went something like this; think cruise ship horn, bull elephant and tuba… “Get SomeWHERE!”  When the shockwave hit you there was no thought of what to do. Your body just got somewhere else till your brain could figure out where you ended up but you were definitely somewhere else.

Jonah was a man that God wanted to go somewhere (Jonah 1:1-3).  Jonah, however had no intentions of going there.  He had his own set of reasons, rationale and running that would take him as far away as possible from where he was supposed to be.  It took quite a bit of harrowing life experience for Jonah to come around (read chapter 1).  Then in chapter 2 Jonah came to where he thought God’s idea was a great one.  The Word of God came through the Man of God and an entire regime and region came unto repentance and avoided destruction (read chapter 3).  Jonah had to get somewhere that God could use him in the way God wanted to use him.

It makes me think of an old black angus cow that I was helping my buddy, Ron Gilbert try to get into the right pasture after Irma blew through and got his herd all discombobulated.  She had gotten separated from her calf in a separate pasture and was highly agitated.  That ole mama cow did not know that all we were trying to do was get her somewhere that she would be much happier and doing what she was supposed to do with the cows she was supposed to be with.  She was having nothing of it.  She thought she knew where she was going and she sure didn’t need any of our kind of help.  Finally, Ron said, “Eh, just leave her in here. She’ll either figure it out or she can just stay in here but I’m not chasing her any more today.”  

Isn’t just like the children of God sometimes.  We have it in our mind that we know what is best, where will be best and when it will be best but usually we end up running back and forth against a fence that separates us from where we are really supposed to be.  If we would only allow the shepherd to show us the right gate to walk through we would be much better off.  Get Somewhere that God wants you to be or where you thought you wanted to be might just end up feeling like the belly of a whale, cramped, uncomfortable and separated from the security of His perfect will.

I pray this often: “Lord, let your will be done through me and not in spite of me.”

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

With two of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in recorded history in our rear view mirror, the retelling of harrowing accounts of wind, rain, flooding, trees down and loss of electricity are numerous.  The first question most folks in our area are asking is, “Is your power back on yet?”  One lady posted a statement that struck me.  She realized how much she took for granted the simple task of flipping a light switch when she walked into a room.  It was her minds’ boggle that if she just kept flipping the switch, somehow the power would come back on.  Let’s talk about that…

In the Old Testament book of Judges chapters 13 through 15 we read about the powerful Sampson.  His supernatural strength was awe inspiring and effective.  That power was directly tied to a vow of sanctification his parents made unto the Lord that he would be a Nazarite (ch13:5). But Sampson dabbled in wickedness and swam off into open sin.  He broke so many of the vows that his office as judge and Nazarite required.  But, there was one thing that retained the power to conquer and overcome anyone or anything at any time.  One night he laid his head in the lap of that wicked temptress, Delilah.  He teased her thinking he was unstoppable and all powerful.  Then in chapter 16 verse 17 he told her the secret of his Power.  As he slept his head was shaved and Sampson’s power left him.

Verse 20 has come to my mind many times over the years when someone found themselves in a sin-weakened condition.  It says that Sampson “awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as other times before, and shake myself.”  But not this time.  Average men took him captive and put out Sampson’s eyes.  His Power was gone and he would be in darkness till the day he died.

Will we wake today and head to church this Sunday morning as so many times before, shake ourselves, and expect the Power to be there like flipping a switch, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (II Tim 3:1-5).  Can we know the Power of God in Sunday school, in the choir, in the pew, at the piano, with a mic in our hand, behind the pulpit, without living an obedient life that distances itself from sin and the snares of temptation.  Can we dabble in wickedness through the week and expect the Power on Sunday.  NO. Period.  Can we know the Power without prayer, purity or preparation.  No.  Just like that transformer on the pole out by your house sends Power to the circuits of your home, giving light, we must be tapped into the transforming power source, the Lord Jesus Christ, to have the light and power.  We hope and pray that your power is on.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

Our prayer this morning is turned toward those who in the path of impending destruction.  It is said that in the life of a Christian we are coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm or headed into one.  Hurricane Harvey and now Irma, have gotten the majority of our attention lately.  They show us how powerless we are in the face of such destruction.  We can only do what we can to prepare or get out of the way before the destruction comes.  Let’s talk about that…

In anticipation of arrival of the storm we become affixed to the weather alerts.  There are the initial signs of a storm, the qualifications of its strength, the historical perspective which shows what is possible path, and then the undeniable destruction that will come no matter what.  If the wind doesn’t get you, the debris it carries might.  If not that, then the storm surge will overpower those in its wake.  I have heard governors and law enforcement people say things like, “It is coming.  If you stay past the evacuation you are on your own.  Don’t call 911 because we are not coming to help you.”  YET, some choose to sit tight and ride it out though they may lose their life.  For what??  Stuff? Stubbornness? Stupidity? Silliness?

These storms and the recent eclipse have caused some to look up and possibly look toward heaven for answers, comfort and protection.  Nahum 1:3 says “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”  Almighty God is trying every way possible to get the attention of people, but sadly many will not heed the warnings.

There is a day coming when I plan to be evacuated from earth (I Thes 4:15-18).  Thank the Lord we will not be traveling on an interstate to glory.  When the destruction of the tribulation sweeps over the whole earth, I will be safely in the shelter of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just as sure as hurricanes strike land, the prophecy of the tribulation will one day become a physical reality and no one in it’s path will be spared from the destructive power that will be unleashed.  It will not be isolated to a certain region and there will be no way of escape for those who did not listen to the warnings (II Thes 2:7-12).  There will certainly be no party to ride out that storm.  It will be too late to call on God because for those who heard the warnings, He’s not coming until he comes in power to destroy all the armies of the earth under the direction of Satan himself (Zech 12, Joel 2, Mt 24:27-31, Rev 19).

Oh, that we would be have sleepless nights and tears over the lost all around us who are headed for a much greater destruction.  God, help us to call at all hours and plead for the lost to get out of the way of the storm.  HEED THIS WARNING!!  You might make it through a hurricane but you will not make it through the tribulation.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

We Love You, God Bless you!

BroAdamB

 

Our hope is that the Word of God has been your guide and stay.  We pray the song is your heart has been birthed from the inerrant Word of the Almighty God of heaven.  Let’s talk about that…

Friday night we had the extreme privilege to see the Whisnant’s close to our home.  What a wonderful time of refreshing and fellowship with some of the best people we know of anywhere.  As they sang song after song our hearts were filled to overflowing.  I looked at Addy and, as she always does, she was writing down the set list for the night.  She keeps them at every singing we go to as one her treasures.  The thought came to my mind; This is not just a good time of entertainment, it is an valuable investment in the lives of our daughters.  What do I mean?  They will never forget those gospel singings just I never have.  We take them to church, revivals, music and youth camps that all have one common denominator; The Word of God is the foundation.

I thought about all the songs the Whisnant’s sung that night and I believe that without exception, they all have their inspiration from a true scriptural foundation.  The songs come from the Word.  Then the Holy Ghost whispered to my heart; When you take your girls to church, to camp, and revivals they get the Bible.  But, if  you were to let them get their music from the carnal world, what would that tell them?  It reminded me how important it is to make sure that the investments we place into our family and our individual lives are based in The Word.

John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word”.  Everything in our life has a beginning.  Every life begins with birth.  Every relationship begins with an introduction.  Every career begins with a hiring.  Every tendency of habit began with a first try.  Every word we speak begins with a thought.  Every appetite begins with a taste.  Every fight begins with the flesh.  Every song and book begins with a writer’s inspiration.  What if we could look back on life and say that every aspect of our life began with a true foundation of The Word of God.  I sure wish I could look back and say that.  But, I can say that the most successful and satisfying parts of my life have birthed in the truth of scripture and bathed in prayer.  The Word was my beginning, and it will be my end.

Can we say that?  Is the Word the beginning for our life?  If we are honest, that may not be the case, but today is a new day.  What a perfect time to adjust, align and apply The Word to every part of our life.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

We hope and pray that you are attached to the right things, and the right people in the right place.  What we attach ourselves to can either make us useful or useless.  Let’s talk about that…

I was doing some work this week which required the use of one of the greatest inventions in human history, at least in the viewpoint of rednecks; duct tape.  It has held cars, carpet, cabinets, walls, windows, wounds, boxes, bicycles, buses and just about everything together at one time or another.  The one caution a duct tape technician must heed at all cost is to avoid allowing the duct tape to fold over and get stuck on itself.  It is a total waste of time to try to unstick and use this superhero grade adhesive.  The only thing to do is to tear it loose and toss it in the trash.  Duct tape that is stuck on itself cannot be used.

The thought occurred to me that people can go by the same rule of thumb.  I was reading Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia in the 6th chapter and 3rd verse and found these confirming words, “For if any man think himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceiveth himself.”  FYI, none of us are anything, but we are all nothing without the grace of God.  The context of that passage is when we see a brother or sister in the Lord who is getting attached to the wrong people, things or priorities, we are to try to restore them without getting stuck ourselves.  Romans 12:3 adds, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.“

I want to submit that this condition, among other things, is the seed from which the fruit of the Don’t Judge Me individual who live in a Glass House springs.  Pride is nothing more than a person who is stuck on themselves.  The rules and standards everyone else is held to do not apply to them.  They feel they can say, do, or wear whatever they want, however or whenever they feel like it and no one has any grounds to say a word about it.  Don’t point out my sin, just look at my positive aspects.  Only problem is, there is not one bit of Bible for that line of thinking.  Matthew 7:1 is the favorite misquoted passage of the DJM person.  But, if they read on through verse 5 they would understand that the only way we can point out a sin problem in order to help that brother overcome it is to first make sure there is no fault in that area ourselves.  By the way… we ALL live in glass houses.  People are always watching, so… folks who live in glass houses ought not walk around with little or no clothes on.

The best way to keep from getting stuck in this position is to do what I Corinthians 11:31 says, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”  Let us not allow pride to get us stuck in a prideful sin-situation that we cannot easily get unstuck from or that would render us useless in the work of the Lord.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

I knew my friend John had battled through cancer a year ago  He had come back to work a little thinner but just as dedicated and focused. John is saved, He trusts the Lord Jesus as his Savior. His testimony was one of thankfulness. We stop for a moment occasionally and I ask how he is doing.  It wasn’t very long ago I asked how he was doing that John pulled back the collar of his shirt and revealed a golf ball size lump on his neck. Tests were scheduled at Emory to find out what was going on. A couple of weeks later the lump was very noticeable. John let me know the cancer was back and in his lymph glands with two more tumors in his abdomen and lower back and it was very aggressive. I slipped the cap off my head and my face must have surely revealed my concern. It was like I was back in that oncology office with Angel in July of 2014 hearing the bad news. John looked at me and put his hand on my shoulder and said with a slight smile, “It’s okay.”  John had already come to grips with the possibility of making his move into a glorified body.  I put my hand on his shoulder and we went into the throne room of the Almighty where I begged God to take care of John.

Fast forward to this past week.  John’s neck has a tumor the size of a naval orange. He told me that he is going to a cancer research hospital in Maryland to undergo experimental treatment that will cost millions. He smiled when he said, “But it won’t cost me a dime. They are going to try to study my cancer in order to find a cure.” It was an admission that there was little to no hope.  John is giving the remainder of his life to try to provide a cure for millions. He is still at work every day, still focused and still smiling. He’s winner either way, ‘if he goes or if he stays’  he’s trusting the Lord every day.

Seeing how John has walked through the valley of the shadow of death makes me so ashamed when I get put out for inconsequential inconveniences. I believe I can say “It’s okay” more. I think of Paul in Philippians 2:21 when he said “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If I can live through my problems it is to the witness of Christ’s grace, but if I don’t live through them then I get to go live with Christ in heaven. IT’S OKAY!

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (He 12:2)  Jesus Christ took on the cancer of incurable human sin so that He could give His life in providing a cure for any that would accept His life saving salvation.  Looks like John is staring death in the face knowing his life has a finish line very soon but according to him, “It’s okay.” Pray for my friend, John, but don’t worry, it’s okay.

God bless you!

BroAdamB

 

Our hope and prayer is that you have experienced the peace that passes all understanding, Mercy that endureth forever, and grace that abounds.  Do we ever think about how much God has or how much He is or how powerful He is?  Let’s talk about that…

This past week I read a couple of quotes at a co-workers desk.  One attributed to world famous mathematician, William Demming that read, “If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.”  The other was from acclaimed scientist Lord Kelvin which said, “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.”  As I read those words I laughed and came just nigh of shouting right at that lady’s desk.  She looked at me curiously as I began scribbling down those words.  As I looked at the black and white pictures of those abundantly educated men, I thought to myself how without realizing it they had described God in a scientific way.  He Cannot Be Measured or Improved!

We cannot measure His power, for He holds all things that are together (Col 1:17).  We cannot measure His wisdom for He knows all things (Isaiah 55:8).  We cannot measure the abundance of His blessings.  We cannot measure His ways or His will until many times it has been already passed.  If I may flip the quote, We cannot manage what cannot be measured.  He is too great to be advised or instructed.  He is too knowledgeable to be told what to do.  His love is too expansive to be measured (Eph 3:17-19).  His Spirit is too consuming to be kept in a box.  Your church bulletin has no means of managing what God may want to do. We do not, we cannot manage God.  Let us stop trying to manage Him, His will, His Spirit, His presence.

Lord Kelvin, we cannot improve what cannot be measured.  We cannot Improve Him because we cannot reach the end of His measurement.  When that widow poured oil out of the cruse it did not run out.  When she reached into the bottom of her barrel of meal she was dipping into the top of His barrel (I Kings 14).  We cannot improve His mercy (Ps 136).  We cannot improve His grace (Rom 5:20).  I think of the Perrys song from a few years ago that said You cannot improve upon the Truth (Ps117:2, Jn 1:14, 14:6).  No matter what publishers attempt to do to gain profit, His Word, His original word, cannot be improved (II Tim 2:15).  The Word of God is the only thing we hold on this earth that requires no New and Improved sticker.  It is pure (Ps 119:140) from the beginning to the end.  We cannot improve or exhaust the endless truth that lies within.  We cannot improve so great salvation (Heb 2:3).  God has nothing to improve in Himself, except we that believe in Him (Jn 14:20).

He is Measureless!  He is without of Improvement!  We can depend on Him!  Let us not be guilty of trying to manage His will, or His ways.  Let us not attempt to improve His message or His methods!  The Gospel still works because it is perfect with no need of improvement.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

We hope and pray that you are finding the riches of God’s grace enriching your life.  I am thinking today of the old Easter Brothers song, Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me.  That line that goes, “They think I have nothing, But they are so wrong…” resonates in my soul like a shout in the halls of my heart.  The question is, what have I lost to gain the riches of God’s grace.  Let’s talk about that…

Over in the gospel of Luke chapter 18 we find that Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler who zealously pleaded for an answer of how to ‘inherit eternal life.’  After establishing his self righteousness in obeying the commandments, the young man is disheartened at the prospects of giving away the monetary physical wealth that he has acquired in exchange for heavenly treasure that would await.  We know that Jesus doesn’t save us by any work or physical sacrifice, but, he also never promised that our life would stay the same once we give our lives to Him.  The context is in serving Jesus.  In the following verses Jesus’ disciples also wondered what their reward would be for setting aside there worldly pursuits and family engagements in order to follow everywhere Jesus led.  Jesus assured them that there certainly is a just reward in this world and in eternity for those who are unafraid of what they might lose in this life to serve Him (v30).

In complementary context, Jesus exhorts all who will hear in Matthew 10 not to be afraid of various situations.  Verse 9 suggests that we not be afraid of losing money to follow.  Some one said, What can you be afraid to lose that you do not have?  In verse 14 Jesus tells us not to fear the rejection of any man.  Verse 19 instructs us not to be afraid of what we will say when we are called to give an answer for the hope that lies within (I Pet 3:15) when we are put on the spot for our faith.  One of the greatest fears the Lord addressed in verse 26 is the fear of what our family, friend or foe will think, do or say when we make the decision to follow Jesus Christ to the fullest and farthest.  Old Job (Job 13:15) knew no fear of what Jesus dispelled in verse 28, the fear of losing our mortal lives.  Finally, in verse 31 the Lord advises us to cease from our fear that what we do or who we are is not valued or valuable to God.

The summation of the message of chapter 10 is in verse 39.  “He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”   Oh, the freedom we find when we are liberated from the fear of losing.  When we release our hold on what shackles our service we are opened up to the wide spectrum of a life that is dependent and directed by the perfect will of God from where we will draw all heaven sent calling, courage, character, companions, and, if you will, cash when we need it.

What are you afraid to lose?  What or who is holding you back?  What could the Lord Jesus Christ do with your life if you would let go of what you are afraid to lose?  I am a Loser who gained more than I could have ever imagined.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB