The Beacon Article 10/21/09

Willie Carter, don’t recognize the name do you? Randy Travis sings a song that sums up Mr. Carter to me, the title of the song is “I Thought He Walked on Water”. In the song Randy alludes to Jesus walking on water when Peter stepped out of the boat and came to him. Randy compares a grandfather figure to Jesus.

I think of my grandfather every time I hear that song. How I wish you could meet him and some of you will someday (oh! by the way Mr. Willie Carter is my grandfather and my grandson is named after him). I saw Jesus in my grandfather. Why, you may ask? He loved me unconditionally. He served the Father and you could see the love of Christ in him. He loved people. Papaw also had integrity. Webster’s says integrity is 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral values. You could ask anyone about Mr. Carter. He was a good and Godly man, a moral man.
My grandfather was like a modern day Job, as we read in Job 4:6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope? My grandfather left a legacy. I hope to leave a legacy like that for my grandchildren. My prayer is found in Psalms 7:8 The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.
Where does your hope lay?





With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 10_14_09

The Deacons Corner

The green-eyed monster, the evil eye and jaundiced eye; no matter what you call it, jealousy is just an ugly attitude.
I am a hugger. I can’t help it, that’s just how I am. I have always been that way. I told Charlotte before we married that I hugged people. I don’t mean to be offensive, I just hug. We both agreed not to be jealous of each other. I can say God has blessed our marriage in that way.

We have a trust that supersedes jealousy.
We are asked in Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,

But who is able to stand before jealousy?
Jealousy (or in other words covetousness) is not limited to just personal relationships. It shows up sometimes as a negative attitude when a co-worker gets a promotion you wanted. It may come when you have to work and everyone else gets the holiday off. It may even come when you don’t get a certain part or song in a program.

We are told in Jeremiah 6:13 Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness;……….

Let’s hide in our hearts this prayer from Psalm 119:35-37

35: Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.

36: Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.

37: Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your ways.


With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 10_7_09

The Deacons Corner

Working in the medical field, I see people in pain and suffering from many illnesses. Many people recover and some don’t. Almost all take pain medicine. This world is full of pain. Pain comes in many forms - physical, mental, spiritual pain, and painful relationships. We have medicines for the physical and mental pain. Unfortunately, people go to all lengths trying to ease their pain. Some people build a barrier around them to keep others out and to minimize the pain. Jesus even felt the anguish and pain of the cross (of our sin). In Mark 15:34 and at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? There isn’t anything that we experience that Jesus hasn’t.
Many constantly seek something, yet don’t know what they seek. Look at what they call extreme sports. Adrenaline junkies take on dangerous hobbies to make their bodies secrete massive amounts of the hormone. They continually seek more dangerous adrenaline-pushing hobbies. They never get enough.
Some people seek love only to go from one broken relationship to the next, living in loneliness, crying themselves to sleep at night, doing anything to obtain the love they seek.
Often these attempts are much like trying to put a square block into a round hole. It just doesn’t work. Even Nicodemus was seeking something when he went to Jesus under the cover of darkness. In John 3:3 (NKJV)3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
When I think of the pain of this world, I am reminded of Revelation 21:4 (NKJV) 4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Are you suffering from the pain of this world? Are you never satisfied, seeking approval, love, or gratification in worldly things?



With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 9_30_09

Every day during the week if you visit The Ranch you will see many people enjoying a plate lunch. In comparison, Phelps restaurant would serve you a plate “lunch” anytime. Where is this restaurant? Oh, it’s been torn down for years. It was the restaurant my grandmother, mother, and aunt helped run when I was about four to five years of age.
My grandfather Carter (a carpenter who did everything, building, plumbing, electric, and concrete) was hired by the owner, Mrs. Phelps, to fix the sidewalk behind her establishment. This is the only time my grandfather ever sub-contracted out any work. He hired a man that supposedly did good concrete work. Well, I happened to be with him when he checked on the job. The man did do “good” concrete work; it just wasn’t up to my Grandfather’s standards.
Papaw broke up the concrete and re-did the work. When I asked him why, he told me he didn’t want to have his name attached to the work. It wasn’t perfect. He didn’t want his good name tarnished. That teachable moment for a young boy stayed with me. A good name, I didn’t understand the concept then. I do now.
It’s been said everyone has their price. I have seen this in business. When I worked selling hospital equipment, it seemed everyone expected you to lie, or work a deal “under the table”. I actually had a manager offer me money “under the table” to stay and work at a hospital over the weekend. He told me I would never go into sales because I was not a team player. Ecclesiastes 7:1 says
1 A good name is better than precious ointment;…………………...
Proverbs 22:1 says
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
What’s in a name? How are your great riches doing?




See you in church Sunday

With The Love of Christ,
Deacon Dan

Deuteronomy 31:6

The Beacon Article 9_23_09

The Deacons Corner

I thought it odd that they did not routinely order an ultrasound when my wife was expecting our middle child, Jennifer. I had no need to worry, our first daughter was born without problems. On a whim, the ultrasound technologist suggested he could tell the gender of our baby. I scoffed. Ultrasound was too new, or his skills may not be up to that challenge. So Charlotte came and had an Ultrasound. The first thing the technologist said was that our dates were off about eight weeks. I told him he was crazy and we showed the images to the radiologist. The next day we showed the pictures to the obstetrician. He immediately wanted a full fetal workup. You see, Charlotte had lost two pounds. Upon seeing the face of the doctor filled with concern and panic after a fetal stress test, less than eight hours later Jennifer was born via an emergency C-section. That was twenty-four years ago on the nineteenth of September. We had a great church family. But it happened so fast I could not reach anyone from the church (no cell phones). Our parents were on their way, but it would take six hours for them to arrive. We lived in Fort Payne, AL at the time and we felt all alone. But God was beginning to show me His faithfulness. I have often thought of that day when I read the bible. Dr. Douglas’ message reminded me of this promise again. You see, Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)
20 …………………………………and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
God is still with me. It is a promise that has and will continue to give me great comfort.
See you Sunday



With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan1 Thess 1:2

The Beacon Article 9_16_09

I had been in class for an hour trying to teach adults new CT software for the C.A.T scanner their hospital had purchased. It didn’t take much to lose the attention of the students. The TV set in the rotunda of the office building I worked in was blaring. Someone was watching current events. The date was September 11, 2001, what would commonly be called 911. A fateful day for our nation, there was probably more prayer and patriotism that day than since the great revival or the signing of the constitution. Eight years later though the patriotism and prayer has all but waned.
As a Christian sometimes I become discouraged by current events. A look at our current administration or even our past one, it seems we as a nation settle for whatever will increase our coffers.
Our problems as a nation could be remedied if we would follow Gods instruction in 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

But if our nation decides to turn a blind eye to the instruction of our God, then we as Christians must stand firm in our faith as it says in Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Keep praying God is listening. Will you stand and be strong?


With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
Psalm 32:1-2

The Beacon Article 9_9_09

The Deacons Corner

It was an early morning flight. My hectic job once again was taking me away from home. I did not want to talk to anyone. My plans were to sleep most of the flight. When I reached my seat it was next to a young lady and her five year old son. I said hello and laid my head back. Shortly after takeoff something impressed upon me to talk to her. I sat up and noticed she had tears streaming down her cheeks. In our discussion, I learned her father had just had a hemorrhage in the brain. The doctors did not expect him to live. The family had been called. Two years earlier I had the same type experience with my mother. The lady began telling me her story. I listened and then we prayed. I have often wondered why I was there. You see the company I worked for had plans. God used them for me to minister to that lady.
Are you in the midst of a trial? Is there a situation you had rather not be experiencing? Maybe God has a plan to use it. Ester’s uncle Mordecai explains in Esther 4:14 (NKJV)
14 ………………Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Are you in a leadership role, job or situation you’re frustrated with and you don’t understand why you’re there? Maybe God plans to use your life experiences in a ministering way.
See you Sunday.







With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
Deuteronomy 31:6