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
Deceiving and being Deceived
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13 NKJV)
Distinguishing Between Truth and Error
I have already stated in an earlier meditation that it is hard to distinguish between truth and error today. But what is bothering me is that Satan (the father of lies) attributed deception to the Lord. We read that the scribes and Pharisees came to Pilate after the crucifixion and said, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ “Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first (Matthew 27:63-64 NKJV).”
The first deception that the Lord was charged with apparently had to do with His claim to be the Son of God. The last deception had to do with the claim that He would rise from the dead. Satan the great deceiver made sure that people thought the Lord was the deceiver. Of course, many people think that to this day.
The Lawless One
In a coming day there is going to be a "lawless" one who will deceive the people with lying wonders. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 NKJV)."
Notice, those who perish did not receive the love of the truth. That word love is significant because apparently the people who follow the lawless one, do not love the truth. That is, they believe lies that they know are lies. But the "lawless one" will deceive with power (might), signs designed to convince the Jews, and lying wonders that will convince all of those who have rejected the Lord. Yet the Lord is the only One who always tells the truth. We read it is impossible for Him to lie (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18).
The Power of Words
There is great power in words. That is why the Lord is presented to us in John 1 as the Word. In His incarnate person, He has expressed to us who God really is. People who listened to Him marveled at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth. He always told the truth and His truth is clear but loving. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18 NKJV).“
We believe what we want to believe. No amount of logic or reason seems to make a difference as to what many people believe when it comes to whom and what we believe. This applies to medicine, politics, and particularly to spiritual issues. But I can assure people of this. Whom we believe does make a difference. When it comes to practical things, we may lose our wealth, our health and our relationships by not being discerning with regard to those we believe. But when it comes to spiritual things, we can lose our souls (the eternal part of us) by believing the lies of Satan rather than the truth of Scripture.
It Matters
Recently I heard an ad for a bank. The punch line was, "It matters whom you trust!" It certainly does. I trust the Bible. I don't trust everything that people tell me the Bible says since I seem to read a different Bible than many who call themselves Christians. But when the plain sense makes sense, I believe God. And when I preach the truth of the Bible to others, I am not deceiving them if I stick with the context of the passage, and if I let the plain sense make sense.
Let us not be a party to this matter of deceiving and being deceived!
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of October 6, 2024
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PROGRAMS
- 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)