Author: thesingerschapel

Our hope and prayer for you today is that the Lord is continually making and molding you into who He needs you to be.  Let’s talk about that…

A couple of weeks ago we were at Teay’s Valley Baptist in Hurricane, WV for their Camp Meeting.  Brother Randy Hobbs from New Hope Baptist in Burlington, NC preached the paint off the walls for 20 minutes at the Saturday morning prayer breakfast.  In a passing comment, he mentioned a very intriguing fact about the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.  He pointed out that the son told his father in verse 12 “give me” when he was leaving home with all his stuff, but, when that same son returned in verse 19 he approached his father with a different statement.  He said, “make me as one of thy hired servants.“  THAT IS POWERFUL.

I shared this thought in a devotional for some of the young ladies at the North GA School of Gospel Music this past Monday night.  They are the fruit of a generation who have gotten more than their parents, who got more than their parents, and so forth.  Due to societal expectations and the entitlement agenda they have as a whole become the “give me” generation.  This is not entirely their fault.  Parents go into credit card debt up to their eyeballs in order to appease their kids and meet up to the quota’s of all their peer groups.  We cannot embarrass them by not giving them everything.  I posed a question to the young ladies.  How would their parents react if this year when their parents asked what they wanted for Christmas their reply was, “Nothing, I have more than enough.”  Their response was shock, gasps, giggles and outright angered offence.  The point is not the stuff.  This translates to how we approach God with prayer and the life He has given us.

“The Lord will give us the desires of our heart” is one of the most misused partial verses in the whole of scripture (Ps 37:4).  I fear more often than not, we have portrayed the Lord as a heavenly barber.  “Lord, A little off the top, close on the sides, short sideburns, and cover up my bald spot, Thanks.”  Then we sit there and expect it to all turn out perfect just the way we requested it.  Give Me my stuff when I want it, how I want it, where I want it, and as much as I want it.  I have been that give me child of God.  But what we discover is that stuff and all that stuff we think we cannot live without ends up coming up short, losing its value or showing itself just to be unsatisfying.  We think we can Make our life better than The Creator.

In Genesis 1, The Lord spoke the words “Let there be” nine times and everything that is created was created from nothing. It takes us nine swings just to hit one good golf drive, nine attempts to make a good pound cake, nine arrangements to make the furniture in our living room just so.  It takes nine tries to get some ladies in an outfit to go to church Sunday morning.  The question I posed to those young ladies Monday night is the same one I pose to you.  Who is better at making things?  God made the human brain.  He made the optic miracle of an eye.  Who is better at making things? Us or Him?

If God can make anything out of nothing, then can’t we trust Him to Make Us much better than we can make ourselves.  We have heard the phrase, “self-made man or woman.”  The effort is admirable but the truth is we have the creative power of bacteria in comparison to the creator of all.  But, we say, “If I could just have… then I’d be happy.”  Is it a thing, a career, a position, a person?  Let us Give up on Give Me and Make up our minds that we need God to Make Us who he wants us to be.  If we do that then we will find that His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts (Is 55:9).  He has better plans, better methods, better results.  Let us let Him Make Us and we can trust Him to Give Us more than we can imagine or ask for (Eph 3:20).

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

I love that we can be friends.  We all know there are friends on different levels but it special when we get to spend time with one another all the same.  Let’s talk about that…

Last night was one of the most fun times I have had in years.  The Gold City Gadsden Homecoming  put on by Heritage of Gold Concerts was a smashing success in so many ways.  When I got a call from Jonathon Wilburn almost three months ago about this night I started getting excited.  Sure enough, all my expectations were met and more.  I have not played that many songs for that many hours in years.  We got to introduce our girls to people who used to feed me and keep clothes on my back 20+ years ago.  My family was there and all of my Gold City brothers minus just a few and one in particular.  I miss Doug. Always will.  Jordan LeFevre was the perfect stand-in.  Killed it!  At the end of the night we sat around my Folks kitchen table till the wee hours of the morning.  What a night.  What great friends.

What it re-affirmed in me was how important friendship is.  Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  Over the years we have gone through so much together.  You name it, we have faced it.  So, to be able to stand together and help give a crowd of people a reason to smile, rejoice, laugh, worship and reconnect was absolutely wonderful.  The music was just like longtime friendship.  Once we remembered the right key and got the first words out, all the harmony and rhythm came back just like we never stopped.

In a little on stage conversation, Jay and I agreed that those years together were a good season, but, seasons come and go.  I have to admit, I took my Bible on-stage and set it on my amp, just in case.  In every song I anticipated an opportunity to preach.  I was dying to jump in when we sang He Said! and tell them what THIS old time preacher would say.  I tell you it was just like a fire shut up in my bones!   I am forever thankful for that the Lord allowed me those years and blessed me with those friends but playing bass for me is now just something that I enjoy from time to time.  See, my best friend, whom I do talk to every day, He has asked me to do something far more important.  Today I am not a bass player who preaches, I am a Preacher who occasionally plays bass and I love it that way.

I know this is not a fire ball sermon but allow me the opportunity to be a bit sappy, my friends.  That’s what real friends do, right?  We allow each other to be ourselves.  Our hope and prayer for you is that God would give you a great assembly of friendly acquaintances, a room full of really good friends, and handful of close friends you might consider brothers and sisters.  But, most of all our prayer is that we would all appreciate our friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Prov 18:24 KJV), our best friend, Jesus Christ.  Take some time to reach out to your friends (not your fakebook followers) and tell them how much you appreciate your friendship.  Pick up a phone and call them, don’t text or put it on your timeline.  Be personal, be real, be there for each other.  Be a friend, for Christ has been a friend to us.

God Bless You, my friend!

BroAdamB

It’s Father’s Day and many of you, like myself, are away from your Dad.  Those of us who are just a phone call away understand how fortunate we are in that regard.  As we get older we slowly realize how right many of our Father’s were about life and living.  Though no earthly Daddy is perfect in every way they just do What Father’s Do.  Let’s talk about that…

In John 5 Jesus told the crowds, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth; and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”  Jesus gave us the example of following God the Father’s words, deeds and will.  In chapter 6 Jesus went on to say, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”   He knew the value of The Father.  These truths also lay a heavy burden on the next generation to get it right for our children.

Fathers teach things like work.  Jesus was about the work of His Father (John 6:28-29).  Dads also help us understand the importance of obedience (5:30).  Did you ever hear your Daddy say, “Cause I said so!”  Well, without question, Jesus did what the Father said because He said so!  Fathers give things to their children like provision (Mt 7:9-11), food (Jn 5:32) physical & (v35) spiritual, strength (Ps 29:11), The Word (Ps 68:11), treasure (Mt 6:19-21), and things that no one can take away (Jn 6:39).

The greatest thing a Father can ever do is to instill faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the life of their children (Jn 6:30).  The greatest thing that an earthly father can give his children is a heritage of faith.  I am overwhelmingly blessed in this regard.  I do, however, have close friends who are the first Father in their family tree to do so.  I think about my preacher friend, Dr. Brad Bailey in Brandon, FL who had a very disjointed relationship with his dad (Ps 68:5) but God put men in his life to point him toward Christ and today his children are being raised by one of the godliest men I know.  I think about some great dads who are waiting over on the other side.  Men like brother Curtis Hutson, brother Bobby Butler, Jackie Wilburn, and Rex Nelon, my Pawpaw Hugh New, and my Papa Neal Borden.  Toughest most loving men in history.

I’ll share one story that has been passed down to us about papa Borden. When my dad was a boy, Papa worked in a brass foundry in Piedmont, Alabama.  Somehow he broke his back and had to wear a full torso back brace.  In the midst of that he plowed their garden with a mule because it was the only way his family would have food to eat.  That is the kind of stock I am from, and I am thankful for it.  Pawpaw worked 42 years at Goodyear in Gadsden.  He would come in from 3rd shift and work their farm like a man of iron.  You cannot find men like that holding video games 3 hours a day or posting selfies. They were selfless. Both of those men help mold my Daddy into who he is; a dedicated Christian, an incredible husband and selfless father who always did without so we could have the best he could possibly provide.  On this Father’s Day, I wish to say in front of the whole world, I love you and I thank you for showing me what it means to be the right kind of Father.  Happy Father’s Day!

Thank you Lord for good Godly Father’s!

BroAdamB

Our hope and prayer is that today that you have enjoyed the Lord this week and have allowed Him to fill you up with everything that He desires you to have.  Let’s talk about that…

The Psalmist in chapter 81 relates a bit of historical perspective on the children of Israel and their deliverance from the bondage of their Egyptian taskmasters.  Tucked away in verse 10 is an absolutely incredible statement from God Almighty.  They had been empty of hope for hundreds of years.  Dreams were futile because all they had prospects of doing were making bricks and feeling the despair of slavery.  BUT GOD brought them out by His powerful hand and the demonstration of His might.  So, in verse 10 He says, “I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”  How does that statement align with our view of the Father?

Now, let us put that statement in perspective with our Americanized version of Christianity.  He is NOT telling us to pray for selfish stuff.  In the whole context of scripture, a person who is seeking God, serving God, seeing (recognizing and acknowledging) God move and work, and searching the scripture for daily instruction is a person who gets from God what God knows what that person needs and they recognize it as such.  When we want what God wants we appreciate what He gives.

It is like the person who finally makes the decision to become healthy in their physical being.  Wow, I cannot believe how bad I felt when I ate all that junk and laid around sedentary.  Now I love foods I would have never eaten (i.e. humus) and I am filled and satisfied.  I have more energy than ever and I sleep so much better, etc.  God tells us, if you allow me to guide your appetite I will fill you.  If you love what I love and hate what I hate I will fill you.  If you will believe what I have said I will fill you.  If you will trust my guidance when you do not understand I will fill your way.  If you will take the medicine I give to heal you inside out I will fill you with spiritual health.  If you will empty yourself of self I will fill you.  If you ask for what my Spirit urges you to ask for I will fill you.  OPEN WIDE!  Sounds perfect, unless we tighten our lips and turn our head…  OR, if we only open our mouths wide enough for God to give us a baby dropper of provision or blessing.

Let us not have a baby guppy mouth when it comes to what God wants us to have.  Lets have a lunker bass open mouth.  It is about asking in His will, expecting He will, and appreciating when He fills.  Open Wide.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

 

It is driven into our American DNA to push and pursue gain of all sorts.  To lose is unacceptable.  Let’s talk about that…

Cut to the chase…  When Christ calls us unto Himself, that invitation requires that we understand that there are some things that we must cease from in order to serve Him with a clean heart.  Sinful things, fleshly or carnal things we can understand repenting of, but ceasing from successful pursuits are uncommon to our thinking.  In Matthew 10:38-39 Jesus tells us that if we relinquish our ‘rights’ to follow His pathway we will find that the rewards in the end will be far greater and eternal rather than temporary.  Again in chapter 16 verses 24-27 Jesus reiterates this point.

My question today is, what are we afraid to lose?  I do believe that what we fear to lose has an impact on our degree of dedication to the Lord.  What prevents us from living this life fully saturated in the purpose of the Lord.  Chapter 10 points to our pursuit of profit.  What will it cost us?  Family relationships, friendships, finances, or popularity, profit, or pursuit of a dream?

I would encourage you to find the story of William Borden (no relation), who was heir to the Borden milk empire.  He was a millionaire who walked away from taking over the family business to follow the calling of God to be a missionary to the Muslim Kansu people of China.  Over the course of his journey to go to the missionary fields he faced the ridicule of friends which led him to write these words in his Bible, “No Reserves”.  In William’s journal he wrote, “Say ‘no’ to self and ‘yes’ to Jesus every time.”  At graduation time he turned down numerous lucrative job offers, all of which he turned down, writing in his Bible, “No Retreats”.  After graduating from Yale and Princeton, William headed to Egypt to study Arabic, but in the process of that journey he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of 25 before ever reaching his mission field.  When his personal items reached home they found two more words written in his Bible, “No Regrets”.

Some would say, what a waste.  But I say, what eternal gain.  After all, we are all recounting just a part of his powerful testimony today.  If he had just taken over the family business and piled up more money we would have never heard of William Borden but because he lost his life for the cause of Christ, we have gained an inspiring testimony that mirrors the heart of Christ.

What, or who, are you afraid to lose?  What might you miss out on gaining in eternity to hold onto for a little while down here (Mt 6:24-33).

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

There is a common business proverb that seems to be contradictory but in fact is very accurate; “Addition by Subtraction.”  Let’s talk about that…

Minimalism tells us to relieve ourselves of the ‘unnecessary’ in order to make room for what could be more productive, enjoyable, or necessary.  This applies to living space, work, people and food.  When I was diagnosed with diabetes almost 3 months ago I made an immediate and decisive decision that I had to cut out certain foods that were leading me to a massive stroke or heart attack, according to my doctor.  Since that time I have found other foods that satisfy my hunger, keep me healthy and help me feel less weighted down in exhaustion and just blahhh.  It has lightened the load from my body and increased my energy.  I had to cut it out if I wanted to increase my life in all those ways.  Addition by Subtraction.

Matthew chapters 5 through 7 has been my spiritual stomping grounds lately.  I am studying it and God is stomping my toes.  Chapter 5 verses 27 through 30 deal with the common issues of physical immorality and the battle of our mind.  Verses 29 and 30 give us a very jarring command if our eyes and hands are uncontrollably bent on sin.  Jesus says pluck out our right eye or cut off our right hand if they offend us, or bring about sinful offence in our life.  Now, let’s be honest, we would be a lot of stumps rolling around if we physically cut off every part of us that had part of sinful struggle in our life.  But, let’s put this is spiritual scriptural context.

I John 2:15-17 says “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (KJB).  So, when Jesus specified our eyes, our hands (flesh), and our pride (mind), He was pinpointing our primary lustful members.   What are you trying to say, preacher?  I am saying we need to cut some things out so we can have ‘life more abundantly.’  Alcoholics do not quit drinking by only drinking every other day.  Smokers do not quit smoking by only smoking at night.  Addicts of all kinds must cut out the vise that is clogging up their life.

I am not going to give you any specific suggestions on what you should cut out of your life.  I will suggest that you ask and allow the Holy Ghost to point out those things you need to cut out.  Think about what comes into your life through your eyes, ears, mouth, and hands.  What is spiritually unnecessary?  What is physically hindering?  What is sucking the priceless irreplaceable time out of your daily life?  What sin is separating your fellowship with the Father from being all it could be?  Allow Him to help you cut them out and replace them with something that will lighten your load and increase your life.  Addition by Subtraction which allows beneficial Addition.

We Love You,

BroAdamB

I have a secret that I want to tell you about…

As I spent time hiding the Word in my heart this week I read in Matthew chapter 6.  Jesus is exposing the hypocritical Pharisee’s for their priority of outward appearances while harboring corrupt inner motives.  In the first 4 verses Jesus deals with their charitable practices.  They used the ‘good thing’ of giving to others to make a big to-do complete with a trumpeted announcement that they were about to be charitable.  Can you just hear it, Everyone get your cameras out and get ready to post a pic of these giants of God give a sandwich and a quarter to a hungry beggar all while wearing their new ‘I’m Humble’ gold lettered hoodies you can buy at the temple gift shop. Ah yes, that is how it would have been if it were today.  This is very tounge in cheek but apparently it is pretty accurate to what was going on.  They made it no secret what they were up to.

Jesus then turns to prayer.  Evidently, the ‘hypocrites’ were just as flamboyant about their prayer.  The Lord is very clear, there is no reward when the only time we pray is when someone else can hear it.  The Secret is in the secret place.  The Lord gave us several examples of his private prayer time.  He would often slip away and get alone with the Father in prayer.  He instructs us in verse 6 to enter into our closet.  There is usually only enough room for one and that room would be close to the floor.  Then, He tells us to shut the door.  There are things that He intends to be just between Him and the individual.  People used to keep private diaries or journals that they kept under lock and key.  Nowadays every fleeting thought we have ends up on facebook for the world to see.

My secret is this, I’ve got some big things that I am believing God for… and they are none of your business!  The most important things He talks to me about are just between us.  God has promised that if we will come to Him in our secret place, He will reward our trust and confidence in Him with a public reward.  He is not impressed with our personal marketing, social acceptance or network.  The Lord can do more than our social media kingdom of “friends” will ever be able to by liking and sharing.   What is your secret to getting things done?  Jesus told us that the Secret is in our Secret place with Him.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

615-785-5682 / broadamb@gmail.com / Adam N Angel on facebook

Happy Mother’s Day!  If your mama is still with us our prayer is that you will get to connect with her in some way today and let her know how much she has meant to your life.  I know that I owe an unpayable debt to Debra Borden.  Let’s talk about a mother in the Bible for a minute…

In I Samuel chapter 4, the prophet of God Elisha had been given the gift of a prophets chamber by someone the Bible calls “a great woman” from Shunem.  She had been burdened and had convinced her husband to build a room onto their home for Elisha to stay when he came to their area. Great sacrifice. She had no children, but the preacher told her something unbelievable.  In verse 16 she was told that she would soon “embrace a son” of her own.  She did not want to trifled with or given a word that would not be kept but in verse 17 it came to pass.  What a Great blessing.  Through her faithful life and careful consideration of the man of God, the Lord gave her what she longed for most.  Great desire.

Then, when the baby grew up to a strong lad, he fell one day in work with a pain in his head and died suddenly.  That precious gift was taken away.  Her first reaction was to lay the child “on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him,” and went to go find Elisha.  What thoughts, what heartache, what despair must have torn through her heart.  Great tragedy.  The disappointment of having no child was in no way as tragic of having one taken away at a young age.  She had not been a bad mother.  No doubt she raised that boy in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  As she began her journey to find Elisha someone questioned what she was doing and her reply was, “It shall be well.”  Great hope.

As she neared the prophet he sent word to her to see if she was okay.  Her reply was, “It is well.”  Somewhere while riding on the back of that donkey between a dead son and the miracle working man of God she had been reassured that the God who had come through in these days of famine would come through one more time.  Great faith.  In the end, Elisha went into that little prophets chamber where that boy lay dead and shut the door.  When the door opened again that boy was alive.  Great miracle.

What made that woman great?  She had a Great burden for the things of God and the Man of God.  She had a Great need only God could supply.  She had a Great tragedy only God could help her through.  She had a Great faith that all would be well, no matter what.  Then, she had a Great reward in a son that was raised from the dead.  What makes a mother Great is if she dedicates herself, her family and her faith to the Great God of heaven.  I say, God bless all the Great mothers I know today.

Happy Mother’s Day,

BroAdamB

Good Sunday morning.  We hope and pray you are planning to make the most of this brand new day.  Hopefully you will experience something new in your life today, not just the same ole’ thing.  I will experience being 45 years old for the first time today.  45 years ago I was born and every day was a day of new experiences.  Lets talk about being born…

We have lots of friends who have brand new babies in their house.  Little ones that are brand new blank slates full of all potential and promise.  A brand new life.  They are growing, learning, eating & drinking, breathing, and if time carries on, they will have children of their own.  There is evidence in the physical sense.  They will progress from milk to baby food to veggies to steak (Heb 5:12-14).  Progress.  They progress from onesies to toddler sizes to big boy clothes to suits & ties.  From baby shoes to size 12 football cleats. Progress is an evidence of life, that we have been born.  What is the evidence that you have been born again.

In the book of John chapter 3 verse 3 Jesus tells Nicodemus that if he wanted to see the kingdom of God he “must be born again.”  This confused the aged Pharisee.   He only thought of all the progress he had made as a human and it was impossible in his mind.  He was correct in one sense; Human progress has no bearing whatsoever when it comes to being Born again in Christ.  In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 18 that unless we “become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  I got to witness that new birth this week when a middle aged man name Oscar was Born again.  He looked like a little boy who was in trouble but he found grace in the eyes of Christ!

I am asking you to be honest with yourself and with God.  Have your been Born again?  ‘But preacher, I have been going to church all my life.  I sing gospel music.  My husband is a preacher.  I attend conferences.  I know lots of Bible verses.’  Okay, but have you been Born again.  I know too many gospel singers who faced up to the fact that they had sung for years without being saved.  I also personally know of a youthful, cancer survivor, mother of two who was raised a preachers daughter and became a preachers wife but in November 2012 pushed passed me in the pew with these words, “I just don’t know!”  My birthday buddy wife was a lost preachers wife.  But not any more! Praise the Lord! Oh, GLORY!  Scuse’ me for a minute while I have a spell!  SHewee what a Savior!

Are your Born of the Spirit?  If you are you will show evidence of progress.  I you are not you can.  All things can become new (II Cor 5:17).  If you would like to know how to do that call me (615.785.5826) and I will show you in the Bible how you can be Born again.  Go to church this morning and don’t wait till the invitation.  Go straight to the pastor and tell him you want to be saved.  If you are lost we are praying for you.  If you are Born again we pray you will tell someone else.

GOD BLESS,

BroAdamB

P.S.  If you would like to view any of the messages we preached this past week just find us on facebook and watch the video’s.  Adam N Angel Borden on facebook.

 

One of the joys of living is enjoying great conversations. Let’s talk about that…

I had a very interesting short conversation this week at work. One of my co-workers who has been there about 6 months came and stood beside me as I was clocking out on Wednesday. This young man is very nice but he does look as though he fell into a tackle box and some tried to knock the lures off with a bat. He has several piercings and tattoos all over his visible body and he cannot go more than a few words without using foul language.  He and I have had several small conversations in passing mostly about work but occasionally we will see each other in town and recount our visit. But he said something to me that was at first disheartening, but then reaffirming. As he stood beside me awkwardly and stared at me I turned to see what he wanted. He says “Somebody told me you are a Pastor.” I told him that I was not a pastor but I am a preacher. His next words struck me.  “I never would have guessed that.” Balloon deflating, ego deflating, spirit deflating. But then he said, “But it does make sense to me. I never hear you cuss. I’ve never seen you get real mad. And you always treat people very nice.”

As it turns out all he had to go on was the small conversations that we had. In those brief encounters he had seen and heard enough to get the idea that I could be a preacher. That was reassuring and immediately my thoughts went to this verse. Philippians 1:27 says in part, “Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ:” Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.” Let’s think about how many people that we have short encounters with every day; gas station attendants, check out workers at Walmart, folks beside us in traffic, drive-through workers. In those brief conversations what do they come away with in light of our conversation. Would they have any suspicion that we are a child of God. Or would those brief encounters of only a few seconds or minutes show a conversation that in no way would lead them to believe we are a Christian much less a minister of the Gospel. That’s a pretty sobering thought, isn’t it?

We are not always dressed up in our Sunday best indicating that we are going to or coming from a church service so we should as Paul said, “adorn the doctrine of Christ” with our words and with our kindness (Titus 2:10). We never know what a few choice words can do in the life of a lost person.

GOD BLESS!

BroAdamB