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
Balaam, the Conundrum
“And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.” (Numbers 24:2, NKJV)
Who is Balaam?
Balaam is the son of Beor and he comes from Pethor which may be our Syria. He lived near a river which is likely the Euphrates. He was a diviner or spiritist who seemed to know who Jehovah was and who got messages from Him. When we first meet him we would think he would be a worshiper of Jehovah much like Melchizedek or like Moses' father-in-law. However, while he spoke the messages of God and had the Spirit of God come on him, he attempted to destroy the Israelites by encouraging Moab and Midian to intermarry with the Israelites. He knew this would cause Israel to worship the gods of those nations.
Was He or Wasn't He?
Was Balaam a saint in the New Testament sense or was he an unbeliever in the New Testament sense? I don't know that I can give a definite answer to this question. We would normally assume that if a man speaks by the Spirit of God, that he or she is a believer. However, Balaam's donkey spoke truth to him and the LORD opened the donkey's mouth. The donkey is an unclean animal and certainly was not a believer. So the fact that Balaam spoke by the Spirit of God and the fact that he knew the truth about God and His plan for His people does not make him a believer in my book. But he did seem to understand the end of righteous people and said, “Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my end be like his!" (Numbers 23:10, NKJV) That statement would make one think he was a worshiper of Jehovah. However, whether he was or not, he knew the truth of God's plan for Israel and he spoke blessings instead of cursings on the people of Israel. Balak (the Moabite king) seemed to think that Balaam had the power to bless and curse, however, Balaam only had the power to relay God's message about the blessings and the curses.
What Kind of Man was He?
Balak offered him honor which obviously included wealth if he would just curse the Israelites. Peter says that he loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:15). Jude says in 1:11 that he was greedy. John says in the book of Revelation that he "taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”(Revelation 2:14)
Lesson
I personally doubt that Balaam will be in heaven, but that is not really the issue. Do we have people today who are destroying the people of God by their knowledge of scripture and their messages that reflect the truth of God but who deep in their hearts are intentionally destroying the people of God? Paul warned the Ephesians about this in Acts 20. There would be wolves from outside and false teachers that arise from within the church itself that were out to destroy churches then (and today).
How do we recognize the Balaams among us?
We need to ask: Are they preaching for honor (large world wide congregations and audiences with political leaders)? Are they merchandising the Gospel and using it to get rich? Are they giving people what they want or are they giving people what they need?
Just because we are going to a church where the Bible is opened and explained, that does not mean that we are in a place where we can live holy (separated) lives where the Lord can use us and protect us. When our preachers become motivational preachers who tell people how to act like Christians before telling them how to become Christians, beware. When our preachers become more concerned with making members than with making disciples, beware. When they become multimillionaires, beware.
However, when they actually warn people about coming judgment upon unbelieving nations and unbelieving people thank God for them. There are faithful preachers who love the Lord and the Lord's people.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the weeks of February 25 and March 3, 2024
PROGRAMS
- 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)