Beacon Article 12/02/09

If Ben Franklin had been given his way our national bird would have been the turkey. Little did he know Americans would still celebrate the turkey. You see, the wild turkey is a smart bird. Yet like many smart men, he has issues. Turkeys are polygamous, they like to have many hens. During season a Tom will "strut" and puff up his breast and spread his wings to display his feathers to look bigger. You see this helps display to the hen he has what it takes to protect the brood. Many men do this too. If you don't believe me, just watch teenage boys or even middle aged single men as they get ready for a date. The problem with many modern men today is they see the world’s view of what a man should be: macho, strong, outdoorsman type, maybe loving partying, hunting, and sports more than being with his family. They ignore what God had meant for a man to be. Daniel demonstrates what God wants from a man in Daniel 6:4 (New King James Version)4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

Another example is like Joseph when Potiphar's wife tried to force him into an adulteress relationship as we read in Genesis 39:8 (New King James Version) 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
I am convinced that if men of this nation were what God had intended them to be our nation would be much better off. We find in Ephesians 5:25-29 a way to eradicate many problems of our society:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church

Men, I hope this past Thanksgiving you showed your love for your wife in a Godly way.

Love in Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 11/18/09

Mary had a little Lamb whose fleece was white as snow. Do you remember that nursery rhyme? I didn’t like it. But this Thanksgiving season it has come to mind again. You see, the author of that rhyme was Sarah Josepha Hale. Ms. Hale was also a very influential magazine editor. She launched a successful campaign in the mid 19th century to make Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. Even though Mary had a little lamb, I am not as thankful for it as I am for the One that God sent to the cross for us.

In John 1:29 John the Baptist said as Jesus approached him, 29 …... “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
God has blessed me beyond measure, starting with my salvation. He took away my sin. November 15, 2009 has been a great day. I did not or do not deserve the role God has for me here at Clarksdale Baptist Church, but nevertheless God has granted me the blessing of sharing in Tyler Ferrington’s joy of his baptism. I praise God for that. Please remember to pray for Tyler as he follows the Lamb of God. You see, that Lamb has given Tyler eternal life. He will you give you eternal life and take away your sin, too, if you just ask. Jesus is the Lamb of Life.





With The Love of Christ,
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 11/11/09

I awoke rather abruptly from a dream that unnerved me. I was only in the seventh grade and yet I was dreaming of a wedding. I didn’t understand. I didn’t want to think of marriage for years. I pushed the dream out of my mind. Years went by; there were several new places I would reside before I thought of that dream again.
It was a busy day in the radiology department at Oxford Lafayette County Hospital. My brother asked me if I saw the new employee that had just started, but I hadn’t. Then it happened. I met her. Immediately a dream came to mind. I had seen this girl before. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on. ( OK guys you know how it feels sweaty palms, your heart skips a beat, and oh yes the butterfly’s in the stomach). I had fallen for this beauty. I made excuses just to go to her office. I told her then I loved her. She said “you’re crazy you don’t even know me” I said” I will”. That was thirty years ago this past August. I still don’t “know” her. But she is my sister in Christ, my friend and the love of my life (take that E-Harmony). You see God had a plan to bless my life.

In Proverbs 18:22 it says:

22:He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

The Song of Solomon 4:9-10

9: You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse;

You have ravished my heart

With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace.

10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse!

How much better than wine is your love,

And the scent of your perfumes

Than all spices!
explains how I feel about my wife Charlotte ( my first & only).

Yes the Lord has favored me many times. One thing I am so thankful for this Thanksgiving season (besides my salvation) is my wife. As for the dream what can I say my name is Daniel.
May you find God’s favor and find a good thing.


Love in Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30