BDCMINISTRIES
Greetings dear friends,
I’m Bruce Collins. I am an evangelist and teacher of the Bible. I became a child of God by faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on November 24, 1963 and have tried to serve the Lord in various capacities since then. I am presently a self-employed minister of the Gospel. I do not work for an organization but I try to serve the Lord in the best way that I can wherever He leads. That means that my wife and I have our financial needs met by the Lord as we do not have a salary from any church or organization. We believe that the Gospel is free so we have never made a charge for our services.
I am available for Bible studies, conferences, Gospel meetings, children’s meetings and camp work. I have traveled throughout much of the United States and Canada in my service for the Lord. My wife helps me, and we attend the Bethany Bible Chapel in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have encouraged us by commending us for this work.
My wife, Geneva and I live in Waterloo, Iowa. We have four children. One of them is married and has provided us with two grandchildren.
This web site has a weekly meditation that I hope will encourage you. It has links to literature and organizations that I think are helpful. You can also listen to my weekly radio program here.
Yours because of Calvary,
Bruce Collins
4008 University Ave., Ste 1
Waterloo, IA 50701-5651
319.230.9140
collinsbd@hotmail.com
INDEX:
If you would like to read a classic Gospel Tract called GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION go here
For another classic Gospel Tract called God is Satisfied! Are You go here
For Important Personal Scriptures go here
For an open letter to my friends and neighbors go here
For the story of how I was saved go here
For the story of how my wife was saved go here
For the story of Merlyn VandeKrol–You Have About a Year to live! (a friend who died from cancer) go here
For the Rest of the Story–Merlyn’s Wife Karen go here
For answers to questions that I have been asked go here
For a women’s perspective on head coverings go here
For a manual on how to preach the Gospel that has been used with camp counselors go here
For an OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE AND SOME PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION go here
For a PROPHETIC CHART go here
For a published article on FAITh, What is it? go here
For the story of the George Street Evangelist go to George Street
For links to other helpful websites go here
For the On-Line Blue Letter Bible go here
For the On-Line Bible Studies Tool go here
Bruce and Geneva
For What are We Looking?
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13 NKJV)
The Blessed Hope
This week, the United States is going to count ballots and declare a winner in the presidential election. The winner will actually be a loser in my opinion because they will be given the responsibility of guiding a ship that has no rudder. Whoever wins will try to keep promises made during their campaign that they will probably not be able to keep because of the "so-called" checks and balances in our system. They will have to keep the monied people who helped finance their campaigns happy. The position of President is not one I would take if I was drafted to the position. It's a no win position (in my opinion).
Is the election going to give us a blessed hope? Likely anxiety levels for the party that loses are going to increase and not decrease if a winner actually emerges and if there is no violence. Anxiety levels will likely increase for the winning party when they realize that congress cannot and will not work with the new president nor with the opposing party.
The Glorious Appearing or Epiphany
I have a King in whom I have confidence. He has made the promise that He is coming again. I believe that He will. I understand that His coming is understood differently by different schools of theological thought. However, the promise that He will come again is a truth on which we can depend.
I personally believe that the Lord said in Matthew 24 that the temple would be destroyed and it was in 70 A.D. That was a Jewish prophecy and it was fulfilled. The Lord didn't say when it would be fulfilled but it was fulfilled. As far as the day of grace or church age that we live in is concerned, the only prophecies that are given to us are that evil men and (imposters) deceivers will get worse and worse (2nd Timothy 3:13). Another prophecy is given to us and it has to do with this blessed hope.
The Lord promised that He would come again (John 14:3). 1 Thessalonians 4:18 talks about a coming of comfort. Revelation 1:7 indicates that He is going to come as a judge and it is not going to be pretty. People will mourn at that coming. So when the Lord tells us that there is a blessed hope, He must be referring to the coming of comfort where the true believers are removed before Jewish prophecies begin and a great time of trouble centered around the nation of Israel starts. Now many people seem to know how current events (scary events) are supposedly fulfilling prophecies connected with the Lord's coming to judge. If you want to read those who seem to have insight into end times and how current events are fulfilling prophecies, I can direct you to their websites. However, while I think that things "like" things that are prophesied are taking place, I find that there have been many periods in history where things "like" things that have been prophesied have taken place. However, since the Lord never came to the Mount of Olives to set up a righteous kingdom, the events were not the final fulfillment of prophecies connected with the Lord's second coming. I understand that when the Lord begins the tribulation period (and thus when He comes for the church), the people on earth are not going to be expecting Him. It is going to start suddenly and it is going to be a surprise. So be careful about buying all those books that tell you that now is the time when prophecy with regard to Israel is being fulfilled. Now it may be but it also may not be. The problem is that there is a calendar of events associated with Israel, but there is no calendar of events associated with the church. We are told, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:44 NKJV). There are not two second comings, just one that includes the rapture, the tribulation that prepares Israel for repentance and confession with regard to their crucifixion of the Lord, and then the thousand years when the Lord reigns in righteousness. So we should all be always ready for His coming. He could have come at any time in the last two thousand years, but He may come today.
Our Great God and Savior
I believe this verse is referring primarily to the rapture of the church. He gave Himself for US (believers) in the next verse. It wouldn't be a blessed hope if it was looking at the Lord coming to set up His Kingdom (I call this the revelation rather than the rapture). The reason it wouldn't be a blessed hope is because from Revelation 6 to Revelation 19, there is nothing but wars and natural disasters, and autocratic rulers and confusion, and I could go on and on. Even great men and rulers will hide themselves in the rocks and mountains because of the great day of God's wrath that has come.
Now my readers may have their hopes pinned on a certain outcome in the current election. But I can assure you that my hope is pinned on the Lord. He has promised believers a "blessed hope." No man can give us that. I am glad I am saved and I am waiting for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10 NKJV). I don't know when that will happen but I am confident that it will. And it will be BLESSED for the one who truly believes in or trusts the Lord.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of November 2, 2024
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PROGRAMS
- November 3, 2024, That Day
- October 27, 2024, That You May Know
- October 20, 2024, The Just Shall Live by Faith
- October 13, 2024, Evil
- October 6, 2024, The Gospel Supper
- September 29, 2024, Faithful Saying
- September 22, 2024, Repent
- September 15, 2024, Forgiveness
- September 8, 2024, Almost Persuaded
- September 1, 2024, Come for Rest (Labor Day)
- August 25, 2024, Has--Present Possession
- August 18, 2024, The Equal Sign
- August 11, 2024, The Message--Nicodemus
- August 4, 2024, The Message
- July 28, 2024, The Word
- July 21, 2024, The Lion
- July 14, 2024, The Lamb
- July 7, 2024, Cross
- June 30, 2024, Blood
- June 23, 2024, Redemption
- June 16, 2024, Sin, Father's Day
- June 9, 2024, Sorrow
- June 2, 2024, Door
- May 26, 2024, Paradise, Memorial Day
- May 19, 2024, Eternity
- May 12, 2024, Trust, Mother's day
- May 5, 2024, Come
- April 28, 2024, Look
- April 21, 2024, Blood
- April 14, 2024, Joy
- April 7, 2024, Repent
- March 31, 2024, Unbelievable, Easter Sunday
- March 24, 2024, Prophecy, Palm Sunday
- March 17, 2024, New
- March 10, 2024, Mercy
- March 3, 2024, Grace, the Free Gift Continued
- February 25, 2024, Grace, the Free Gift
- February 18, 2024, Saved from What, For What
- February 11, 2024, Lost, Perishing, Useless
- February 4, 2024, Faith in the Truth
- January 28, 2024, Hope vs No Hope
- January 21, 2024, Trusting and not Worrying
- January 14, 2024, Heeding the Warnings
- January 7, 2024, Once Upon a Time
- December 31, 2023, God Gives Each of us a Gift for Service
- December 24, 2023, God Gives Eternal Life
- December 17, 2023, God Gave Living Water
- December 10, 2023, God Gave His Son
- December 3, 2023, Pleasing God
- November 26, 2023, Repeat of 11/27/22
- November 19, 2023, God Speaking
- November 12, 2023, Recap:Law vs Grace
- November 5, 2023, Don't Covet
- October 29, 2023, Don’t Bear False Witness
- October 22, 2023, Don’t Steal
- October 15, 2023, Don’t Commit Adultery
- October 8, 2023, Don’t Murder
- October 1, 2023, Honor Father and Mother
- September 24, 2023, The Day of Rest
- September 17, 2023, No Irreverence
- September 10, 2023, No Idols
- September 3, 2023, No Other Gods
- August 27, 2023, Law
- August 20, 2023, Fruit of the Spirit
- August 13, 2023, Prince of Peace
- August 6, 2023, Everlasting Father
- July 30, 2023, Almighty
- July 23, 2023, Counselor
- July 16, 2023, Morning Star
- July 9, 2023, Beloved
- July 2, 2023, Birthdays
- June 25, 2023, Worm
- June 18, 2023, Branch and Vine
- June 11, 2023, King
- June 4, 2023, Priest
- May 28, 2023, Prophet
- May 21, 2023, Replay 060219
- May 14, 2023, Replay 051219
- May 7, 2023, Replay 052619
- April 30, 2023, Replay 051919
- April 23, 2023, Replay050519
- April 16, 2023, Replay042619
- April 9, 2023, Resurrection Sunday (replay)
- April 2, 2023, Friend
- March 26, 2023, Servant
- March 19, 2023, Redeemer
- March 12, 2023, King
- March 5, 2023, Man
- February 26, 2023, Light
- February 19, 2023, Love
- February 12, 2023, Christ
- February 5, 2023, Savior
- January 29, 2023, Lord Lord
- January 22, 2023, Holy
- January 15, 2023, Meek
- January 8, 2023, Ready and Suddenly
- January 1, 2023, New, New Years
- December 25, 2022, Peace, Christmas
- December 18, 2022, Sin and Sinners
- December 11, 2022, Glory
- December 4, 2022, Truth
- November 27, 2022, My Thanksgiving Story
- November 20, 2022, Be Anxious for Nothing
- November 13, 2022, The Lord as the Altogether Lovely One
- November 6, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord Encamps around Believers
- October 30, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Joshua the High Priest)
- October 23, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (King David)
- October 16, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Elijah)
- October 9, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Gideon)
- October 2, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Balaam)
- September 25, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Moses)
- September 18, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Abraham)
- September 11, 2022, The Lord as the Angel of the Lord (Hagar)
- September 4, 2022, The Lord as the Vine, Labor Day
- August 28, 2022, The Lord as the Resurrection and the Life
- August 21, 2022, The Lord as the Door
- August 14, 2022, The Lord as the Way the Truth the Life
- August 7, 2022, The Lord as the Shepherd
- July 31, 2022, The Lord as the Man of Sorrows
- July 24, 2022, The Lord as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- July 17, 2022, The Lord as the Everexisting One
- July 10, 2022, The Lord as the Rock
- July 3, 2022, The Lord as Captain of our Salvation, Independence Day
- June 26, 2022, The Lord as a Marvelous Counselor
- June 19, 2022, The Lord as a Good Son to a Pleased Fathers, Father's day
- June 12, 2022, The Lord as Immanuel
- June 5, 2022, The Lord as Living Water
- May 29, 2022, The Lord as Bread and Wine
- May 22, 2022, The Lord as Bread from Heaven
- May 15, 2022, The Lord as the LIght
- May 8, 2022, The Lord’s Mother, Mother's Day
- May 1, 2022, The Lord as a Lamb (Our Sacrifice)
- April 24, 2022, The Lord, He Comes to Judge
- April 17, 2022, The Lord, Hearburn, Easter
- April 10, 2022, The Lord, High and Lifted Up
- April 3, 2022, The Lord, Some of His Titles
- March 27, 2022, The Lord, Fulfilled Prophecy
- March 20, 2022, The Lord, The Expression of God
- March 13, 2022, Dorcas and Lydia, Showed their faith by their works
- March 6, 2022, Phoebe and Priscilla, Key Helpers
- February 27, 2022, Martha, a True Servant
- February 20, 2022, Mary of Bethany, Anointed the Lord for His Burial
- February 13, 2022, Mary Magdalene, A Devoted Worshiper
- February 6, 2022, Bathsheba, A Picture of God’s Grace
- January 30, 2022, Hannah, a Woman of Prayer
- January 23, 2022, Deborah, the Judge
- January 16, 2022, Miriam, the Prophetess
- January 9, 2022, Sarah, Noble Woman
- January 2, 2022, Eve, First Mother
For Archived Radio Programs go here
For Archived Meditations go here
THREE MUSTS:
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:7 NKJV)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NKJV)
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
(Acts 4:12 NKJV)