A New Name #200

John 1:42
And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). (NIV)

Genesis 32:28 
He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." (NAS)

Acts 13:9 
"Then Saul, who was also called Paul..." (NIV)

Acts 4:36
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)" (NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:2 "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours; (NAS)

Of all the name changes the one that encourages believers the most is this verse in
1 Corinthians 1:2. Before the ultimate change that God brought into your life you could be described by the name 'sinner'. Now in Christ you are a new person. As others in Christ you have a new nature and a new name. You are sanctified, set apart and made holy. You are a saint, a holy one, by calling. What an awesome thought. Someone who was condemned by sin now has a new name. You are a new creation; created by God with a new life and a new name.

Throughout history people have changed their names. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu became known as Mother Teresa. Martha Burk became known as Calamity Jane. John Chapman become known as Johnny Appleseed. Their new names reflected their character and persona.

Your new name, Saint, describes what Jesus has done for you. You are no longer sinner but saint. Your character and persona come from your relationship with Him. You are in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (NIV)

________________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ


This is a milestone for The Encourager. This is number 200. Taking out the three months that I was hospitalized and in serious health and it has been over four years since the first Encourager hit the email. It has been such a joy for me to write each week with the hope of encouraging each and every one of you. I desire that somehow The Encourager will aid you in your walk with God, family, friends and church. I pray that you will grow spiritually as God gives you insight ion His Word. Thanks for your responses and the encouragement you send right back to me. God bless you for your patience, love, concern, prayers and hope. I pray you will be blessed beyond "all you ask or think".


Thank you for your prayers for my preparation for preaching June 7 and 24. I will be at First Baptist in Tempe for all three morning services. The Lord has not only allowed me to have a great time of preparation, but has blessed me as I have studied and prayed. I am also currently reading another Steve McVey's book on grace. This one is called Grace Rules. What a refreshing book. Continue to pray for preparation for the rest of this summer. My schedule will follow later.


Sandy and I are so excited about our four grandsons. this past week Bennett had a choir concert. It was well done and of course bennett did great. Burke was elected to the student council for next year. I am proud of him. I teased him about entering politics. Collin and a friend of his are going camping this week with Sandy and me. It will be nice to enjoy Arizona's mountains. Johnny is growing and doing very well. He can run as fast as I can walk. It is fun for Grammie to keep up with him.


Keep praying for my upcoming CT Scans and X-rays and Labs. I am feeling really good and expect them to show no change. I also need prayer for the change of oncologists. Pray for just the right doctor. I am believing God will supply my need.


May God bless you and provide "all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19. You are special. 

My Joy and My Crown #199

Philippians 2:15-16
15 ...so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (NAS)

Ever hear the term: "throwing money down a hole"? It is usually used when you are wasting resources on something. You know the experience. The car starts breaking down on a regular basis. It begins to not just be oil changes and tires; but transmissions, motors, air conditioner compressors and suddenly you have spent more in repairs in one year than it would have cost to buy a new car. That is "throwing money down a hole". If you own a swimming pool, that within itself is throwing money down a big hole. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church at Thesalonica and makes a strange statement.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

1 Finally, brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;

2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. (NAS)

Paul says: "Please make sure I don't spend my life and waste it on people who are not growing in their faith and commitment to Jesus." His prayer request to the Thessalonian church he was: Don't let me waste my ministry. Don't let me "throw money down a hole".

To the Philippian church he says: Philippians 4:1: "you are my joy and crown." (NAS) Another place Paul said to the Corinthian church: 2 Corinthians 6:1 "Do not receive the grace of god in vain." (NAS)

He indicates what we receive from God needs attention. Paul had planted the church in Philippi and had heard of their struggles. He desires them to mature in their faith. He wants to see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

God desires the same from you. Don't throw your spiritual life down a hole by neglecting the grace of God that He has given to you in Christ.

____________________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ


Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers. Sunday with God's grace, mercy and much help, I was able to preach three times in a row. All three services went well. Thank you for praying for me. The message from Genesis 31:1-16 entitled "Beware and Be Aware" centered on the struggles we all have with greed and envy. God blessed the message.


Sandy has been having some health issues with reflux. She had an endoscopy last week. The results were good; no problems. She also had a test to determine if her bladder cancer had returned. It had not and the urologist gave her a clean bill of health. We praise God and thank you again for your prayers.


Bennett had a band concert at school this week. He is ending his freshmen year of high school. We are so proud of him and his musical abilities. He plays in the percussion area. His school has an outstanding band program. As grandparents we are thrilled for his opportunities. He has a choir concert this week. Between school, homework and music he stays very busy.

Burke's band will play its last concert of the year next week. He plays the trombone and enjoys his music. Although Bennet is in high school and Burke in fifth grade they still have the same band teacher. He is great with the kids.


Collin finishes school this week on Friday. He is ready for summer. He finished his soccer league play on Saturday with a tie against the best team in the league. We enjoyed the games. He also took the NWEA test last week. He had the highest score on the math section in his entire elementary school. He loves math.


Sandy and I hope to spend a little time in the mountains of Arizona after Memorial Day. I know some of you think that Arizona is a big desert, but much of our state is beautiful mountains. A short two hour drive puts us in the mountains that are over 7,000 feet. Nice cool place to get away when it hits over 100 here in the Valley of the Sun.


I will be preaching again at First Baptist Church on June 17th and 24th. Again all three morning services. I would really appreciate your prayers for my study and prayer for the preaching itself. God has been good to keep me strong enough to preach His Word.


It is time for my quarterly CT Scans and Lab work. In the next three weeks the tests will be run. I meet the oncologist on June 25th. Pray for test results to be good. I also discovered this week that my oncologist of six years will no longer be taking my insurance. That means I will need to find a new oncologist. It will be hard to find someone who is aware of my type of cancer and my history. Pray for God's will to be done.


May God bless you today with renewed strength and hope. I pray for you that your faith might increase and that what God has given you will not be in vain.


I so appreciate you.  ~  DGW

Principles for Life #198

Psalms 103:7
"Moses knew the ways of God. Israel only knew the works of God." (NLT)
Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (NAS)

God obviously has far loftier thoughts than you do, but often His thoughts as recorded in the scripture seem senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory. Yet Bible believing people understand that God's thoughts are not our thoughts. A few examples could possible help you understand. these would be considered Biblical principles.

James 4:10
"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt (NAS)
Matthew 7:1, 2
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the measure you use, it will be measured to you.." (ESV)
Matthew 16:25 
"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." (NLT)
1 Timothy 5:18
"For the Scripture says, 'You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.' And in another place, 'Those who work deserve their pay!'" (NLT)

One of the most profound of all the principles is found in:

2 Corinthians 12:9
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me for when I am weak, then I am strong." (NAS)

See how many principles you can find in God's Word.

_________________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ (Also a very hot Tempe, AZ.)


Thanks for your notes of encouragement during this past week. I so enjoy hearing from you. Paul reminded the Church at Phillippi that he was grateful for the fond memories he had of them. I am also so grateful for the many memories that I share with so many of you.


I just added 26 new email recipients from Lebanon, MO to my mailing list this last week. So good to have so many of you in Lebanon receiving The Encourager. God bless you all.


It is summer and you will likely have a time of travel, visiting family and friends, seeing sights and enjoying some time off school and work. Make the most of the time and enjoy it. Remember even Jesus took some time away for renewal!


Sunday I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Tempe. Service times are 8, 9:30, and 11:00. the last time I preached three services in a row was last summer in South Dakota. About 10 minutes into the third message of the day I began to pass out. Several people got to me quickly. The service was dismissed and everyone got an early release. Pray that a similar experience will not happen this Sunday.


God has given me the privilege of continued ministry in spite of the fight with cancer. It was six years ago this week that I first found cancer in my liver. It was three years ago this week that I went into the hospital with what became a fight for my life. the Lord in His graciousness has allowed me to live these three years. Everyday I attempt to tell someone my story of God's work in my life. I quote the verse from Psalms 118:17 "I shall not die but live that I may tell what the Lord has done." It is a constant reminder that God has me here on this earth for a purpose. I thank Him, and praise Him.


I do hope God is your strength and hope. Tell someone you story today. Remind yourself and anyone who will listen how great God is to you, and how He has worked in your life. Have you read your Bible lately? His Word is truth.  ~ DGW

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."                      Psalm 119:l05 (NLT)

Are You Shaken? #197

Psalms 55:22

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.


Something have you all shook up? What is it? Are you carrying a burden of some kind? Is it something out of your immediate control, but still is affecting you greatly. You might describe it as a burden you bare.


You likely have tried to pick up something to heavy for you to carry. You may have even attempted to pick up something you could not even budge? The Psalmist portrays a righteous person carrying a burden too burdensome to bare.


He reminds you that God is able to lift your load, receive it, and carry your burden for you. It is essential that you do something first. You have to cast the burden off of yourself. That is not always easy. You may choose to worry about it, try to solve it on your own, or sink into despair and grief.


You may think you can handle things. But remember this particular burden is too great for you to carry. God's desire is for the righteous, His children, to never be shaken. You will be shaken unless you learn to cast all your burdens on the Lord. The promise of never being shaken is yours. What are you carrying right now that has you “shook”? Give it up! Let Jesus have your load.


Remember the words of the Bible, I Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God because He cares about you.” (NLT)


You have a choice. You can spend your emotional and physical energy worrying about your burden or you can give it to God. You may say, “How can I do that?”


First, it is a prayer to God. “God take my burden, I no longer can handle the burden.” Then throughout the day and maybe the night continue to pray when the burden comes through your mind. There is a battle going on for your thought life. Fill it with prayer and not with worry. Try praising God for all the blessings you have had throughout your life. He has been good to you. 


This burden is real but does not need to control you or your thoughts. Talk to yourself. “Bless the Lord oh my soul. (Psalm 103:1) The Psalmist, David, found that he needed to remind himself that praise makes a difference.


____________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

The week in Missouri with family, friends, and a great revival at Second Baptist Church of Lebanon ended with joy and excitement. I was so blessed by the people at SBC with their hospitality and friendliness. They also are great listeners. As a pastor I have always enjoyed preaching to people who pay attention. Roger and his wife, Dee Ann, were doing well. We had some good times talking about old times and mutual friends. We also talked of our own families and how blessed we are. 

I came home to my wonderful wife and family. I had missed a band concert that Collin had on Wednesday night. It was in video form for me to hear. Modern 

electronics are wonderful. Saturday I took Collin to his soccer game. His team won 8 to 2. He was a bit excited. 

Sandy leaves for Missouri on Thursday May 10th to attend her nephew's

graduation. Casey will graduate from the University of Arkansas on Saturday. Sandy will have time to spend with her family in MO. She is looking forward to the special time. 

I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Tempe on May 20th at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00. Pray for me and the message from God's word I will be preaching. Pastor Roger Ball will be leaving for a three month sabbatical in June. He has asked that I preach on several occasions this summer. I am grateful for his leadership and for allowing me this privilege. 

God is good and has so blessed all of us. The devotional this week reminds us all that God is able to take our burdens. Take time to read it, please. 

Many of you dropped me an email last week. Thanks so much. I enjoy hearing what God is doing in your life. Let me hear from you.

Recently, I have been spending more time just praising God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is doing. Take a few minutes and just praise the Lord for His blessings. His Holy Spirit provides us with joy as a fruit of the Spirit. Nehemiah discovered that "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10.

God bless you and all you are and do. May today be a special day of praise and the casting away of burdens.  ~ DGW

Body Building! #196

Ephesians 4:36
From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

How did God make you? What is your personality? Do you have a passion for something? What kind of things do you do well? Do you know your spiritual gift? How do you fit into the Body of Christ? Your fit is determined by how God made you.

The Bible uses the word body as an analogy of the church. The gathered church functions as each  part functions as God made each of them. As you have arms, legs, eyes, ears and even toes, each part has to function properly in order for your body to operate at its greatest potential. The church, the Body of Christ, has many parts. You are one of them.

You are unique and thus you have a different function in the church than anyone else. God's plan for the church is to glorify Him as it grows numerically, in spiritual depth, in unity and  in love. In order for the church to grow and to be built up on love each part needs to function properly. that means you are important to the body.

It is not the part that causes the building up of the body but "the proper working" of each part that causes it to grow. It is also the proper working of your part that brings glory to God. Literally as each part does its part the body grows. If the church has the need to grow in maturing of needs more people or more love then your part needs to be functioning as God created you to function.

What are you doing to build up your church? Your personality, passion, gifts, experiences, and passion will give you the answer as to how you are to function. The scripture makes it clear that it is the functioning of the parts and not just being one of the parts that causes the body to be built up in love.

Your participation in the Body of Christ is essential for the sake of the body itself. Find your place of service and do your part.

_______________________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbucks in Lebanon, MO


What a great time to be alive and serving the Lord. I am so grateful for god's amazing grace that not only brings us salvation through Jesus Christ, but also gives us a reason to live.


I have had the opportunity to see family and friends while here in the Ozarks. I spent a few hours with my Dad, brother and niece in Eldon. They are doing well. My dad is constantly mentioning that he will be 87 years old on June 3rd. That is quite a milestone for anyone. My Uncle david gave me a bed to sleep in for which I am grateful also.


I spent a day fishing with a friend, Mark Dempsey, on Table Rock Lake. Nancy and Mark were members of our church in Wisconsin. They have moved to the Ozarks. I had a great visit with them and their family.


Sandy has been busy not only doing her normal jobs but added to it my trips to soccer practice and soccer games and of course she took care of Johnny. She enjoys her grand children and children. She told me one day unknown to them or to her that Roger, Mandy and Susan all showed up at our house at the same time. I told her I needed to be out of town more often.


I will be back home on Thursday. This week I have been preaching at Second baptist Church of Lebanon, MO. It has been good to see these wonderful folks again. I have preached here before and have enjoyed renewing acquaintances. I am staying with ROger and Dee Ann Marshall. Roger and I were roommates in college. We also were neighbors in Seminary. Our friendship goes back many years. The revival is going well. The attendance is good and the response to God's word has been great.


I will be preaching at First baptist Church of Tempe on May 20th. I look forward to sharing in all three morning services. Pray for my physical strength, spiritual preparedness  and my Biblical study and preparation. I know God will be glorified. 


Thanks for your prayers. I enjoy hearing from you.  ~ DGW