BDCMINISTRIES

BDCMinistries--The Website of Bruce and Geneva Collins

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

My Two Cents Worth

 

 

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

Twelve Apostles and Three Friends

 

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. (Luke 10:38 NKJV)

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (John 11:1 NKJV)

Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love (your friend) is sick.” (John 11:3 NKJV)

Now Jesus loved (wanted to bless) Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (John 11:5 NKJV)

 

True Friends are a True Blessing

Jonathan, the son of Saul, was probably David's best friend before becoming King.  But after he was anointed King, we only read of one true friend of David and that was Hushai. We read, "So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:37 NKJV)." King David had mighty men, he had counselors, but we only read of this one friend. This man Hushai proved his loyalty and friendship when King David was fleeing from his own son Absalom who was trying to usurp the throne.  That one friend was of immense worth and was a great help to King David.  I suspect that being King made it hard to trust the people who claimed to be friends, but King David could trust Hushai.  

 

Friends that cannot be Trusted

While Hushai was a true friend, David also had a friend in Ahithophel at one time.  Psalm 41:9, and John 13:18 make it clear that Ahithophel was a friend.  But since he was also the grandfather of Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11:3 and 2 Samuel 23:24), apparently he became David's enemy after David defiled Bathsheba.  But he waited until he thought the time was right, and then betrayed David by giving counsel to Absalom during Absalom's rebellion.  That must have hurt even though most of us would understand Ahithophel's treachery after Bathsheba became pregnant by David,  and after he used a war to murder Bathsheba's husband.  

 

Special Friends of the Lord

While all of the apostles were called friends of the Lord (See John 15:13-15, and Matthew 26:50), Bethany and those who lived there seemed to be special friends of the Lord.  This was where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived.  Their home seemed to be a home away from home for the Lord.  We read, "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha (John 11:1 NKJV)."

 

It was here that Mary anointed the Lord.  It was here where Lazarus was raised from the dead.  The Lord often went to the Mount of Olives; and, since Bethany was on the Eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, it is most likely that he often went to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  In John 11, Lazarus is referred to as the Lord's friend and Mary, Martha and Lazarus are ones that Jesus loved in the devotional sacrificial sense.  I don't suppose one could have a true friend unless they were also loved in that devotional way. 

 

The Disciple that Jesus Loved

The apostle John in particular seemed to be a disciple that Jesus loved both as a friend and in a devotional sacrificial way.  The nice part is that John, who writes the Gospel of John and the three epistles that bear his name, knew that He was the disciple that Jesus loved.  He was loved as a friend (John 20:22) and in a devotional sacrificial way (John 13:23 and other references).  But I am particularly interested in the fact that John seemed to be an intimate friend as did Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  

 

Personal Application

I am glad that God loved the whole world, red, and yellow, black and white, as the children's hymn says because that means that He loved me.  But while we all come under the umbrella of that devotional sacrificial love of John 3:16, only those who have appropriated the benefit of that love by faith, can enjoy the intimacy of the love of a friend in their relationship with the Lord.  The Lord is the friend of the believer, but are we who believe His friend?   Abraham was a friend of God.  I would like to be known as His friend as well.  

 

The Lord says, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you (John 15:14 NKJV)."  Then He goes on to say, “These things I command you, that you love [in a devotional sacrificial way] one another (John 15:17 NKJV)."  Satan wants us to unite with unbelievers and divide from believers.  But of course, we need to discern which is which and make it our goal to unite with believers.  

 

Are we truly the Lord's friends?

 

Bruce Collins

 

Meditation for the week of May 18, 2025

 

If you would like further conversation about the issues in these meditations, contact me at collinsbd@yahoo.com and I will try to accommodate you with a virtual Bible Study.

 

My Two Cents Worth Videos, you can subscribe to this channel.

 

PROGRAMS

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)