The Deacons Corner Unpublished in Beacon 12/29/09

2009 is fading away quickly. Once again people will celebrate the beginning of a new year. Some people worry about what the new year may hold. So many things change from year to year. Our nation is facing new challenges. New laws are being developed and going through the process to be put into effect.

These laws may revoke some rights we have in regards to free speech.
This will affect us when we witness.
Christians need not worry about these changes, but they do need to voice their opinion and pray. Some would say that God has taken His hand off of America.

Perhaps we have lived in prosperity too long, become too complacent and distant from God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells the solution to our problems whether it be for our nation or ourselves individually.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (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.

You see change is inevitable children grow, people move, people die, and laws change. It can be overwhelming how fast changes take place.

God moves in peoples lives and you see Godly people follow even through all the change.

We are assured in Hebrews 13:8 that our Lord:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

If you are feeling the stress of change remember our “Rock of Ages” and turn to Him.
I pray that you follow the Lord and He blesses you and your family this new year.





With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan

John 3:30

Christmas Day non-published in the Beacon

The Deacons Corner

Have you ever noticed how much fuss and attention is made over babies? Just watch the next time your in a store or restaurant, notice how people react to someone who has a baby.
You see when a child is born people see hope for the future. They realize the blessing the parents have just experienced. There is something about the innocence of a baby that just tugs at your heart.
Now close your eyes and try to imagine life two thousand years ago in the Middle East. A couple possibly confused, wondering about all the strange things that have happened to them. The man wondering is he doing the right thing. The woman (OH! did I mention she is probably around fourteen years old and pregnant) wondering why God would do such a thing to her. She’s pregnant, not really married and had not even experienced a man yet. Is God angry with her? The angel said He wasn’t yet sometimes she may have felt that way when people stared and talked behind her back.
You see real hope was born then in one child. Borne of lowly stature to common parents, yet they were God’s choice to carry the Hope of all mankind into the world.
What would you have thought? Would you have been as obedient as Joseph and Mary?

This Christmas morning I pray the Love of the Father is yours. All you have to do is accept the gift, the Christ Child. Listen and believe what the angel said in Luke 2 9-14

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

You see all the fuss over this Baby is worthy. He Is Holy, Holy, Holy.
May you gain eternal life this Christmas. Glory to God in the highest.

Merry Christmas
With the Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 12/16/09

Have you noticed all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Stores this year put out Christmas displays before Thanksgiving Day. Wait, did I say Holiday Season? EXCUSE! me I meant Christmas Season. You see the secular world wants us to say holiday season to take the emphasis off of Christ, Emanuel, the Messiah, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Please don’t fall into that deception of the enemy. Approximately two thousand years ago God our heavenly Father gave us the best present ever. He gave us the presence of his Son. John 3;16 says
16:For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
If you have accepted Christ then His presence is with you always. Christ’s coming was necessary to reconcile us to God. You see we all are borne into a sin nature that was a curse upon Adam. Christ provided the blameless, sinless perfect sacrifice for my sin and all of our sins. The birth, announcement and the manger scene will celebrate this time of years is only the beginning. You see the true meaning of Christmas is God loves us still no matter what we’ve done. The Father is waiting on all of his prodigal children to come to him. Jesus said in John 14:6 (NKJV)
6:Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Tony Macaulay wrote a song titled “If I get home on Christmas day” made famous by Elvis Presley. Won’t you come home for Christmas this year? All you have to do is ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. It’s that easy. What better way to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas? May the Love of the Father and the Christ Child bless you this CHRISTmas season.


With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

The Beacon Article 12_9_09

It was a warm spring day. The sun was warm on my shoulders and it was almost noon as we walked home. I was holding the hand of a beautiful woman. The first woman I ever loved. My mother’s hand always had a cool, soothing touch. We only lived a few blocks from the school where I was enrolled in kindergarten. As we passed the big church on the corner it happened: the playing of the noon bells. I don’t remember the tune. This past Sunday night’s service reminded me of that time in my life. Hearing the bells at our church, I always go back to that time. What a great memory. I pray this Christmas season’s sights and sounds bring back special memories for you. My mother has been in glory for about fifteen years now. But one day we will celebrate Christmas together again. It will be better than ever because Jesus will be there.
You see, that great night the shepherds saw and heard
10 …the angel say to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people
(Luke 2:10 NKJV).
You see, I have great Joy in Christ. I hold firm to His gift of eternal life. It gives me a peace in this life. I pray that you experience the Great Joy and Peace this Christmas that the Angels sang about that blessed night in Luke 2:14 (NKJV)
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Let’s keep Christ in Christmas this year
Merry Christmas

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

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