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
Believing or Trusting in the Lord is the Key to Salvation
For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. (Psalm 116:8 NKJV)
The Psalmist's Request
The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul (Psalm 116:3-4 NKJV)!"
The Psalmist wants deliverance after the pains of death surrounded him. It appears that the prayer had to do with a physical illness but certainly it can be applied to our spiritual illness that results from sin. The prayer was answered in a positive way. The Psalmist was delivered from death. But he got more than he requested. He also got joy (his eyes were delivered from tears) and he got security (his feet were kept from falling)..
I read this Psalm right after I trusted in the truth that Christ had already died for me over 2000 years ago and that I didn't have to wait for Him to do something to save me. He did that on the cross but He was waiting for me to be satisfied with what He had done. I came to faith when I realized that the work that saves was already done and that I had the word of God for the fact that Christ had died for me. I was delivered from eternal death (the Lake of Fire) and I got joy upon believing. The weekend that I was saved, I was questioning whether there was anything to this business of knowing for sure that a person was saved. When I believed God, I no longer questioned the reality of the promises of God and while I have made mistakes, the same God that saved me is the same God that keeps me from "falling." I have found that it isn't the quality of my believing that gives me peace, but the quality of the promise. I have found God's promises to be dependable both in salvation and in preservation.
Was it the Prayer that Saved me?
It is quite clear that the Psalmist prayed for salvation but then he continued to pray. He says, "I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:13 NKJV)." Again he says,"I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD (Psalm 116:17 NKJV)." So calling upon the name of the Lord can be a one-time prayer or it can be the way we worship after we are saved. We don't call upon the idols of that day nor do we put our confidence in men, but we pray to the Lord.
Is it necessary to Pray in Order to be Saved?
As far as I can determine, the examples of conversion in the new testament never mention praying with one exception. The Centurion in Acts 10 was praying as a Jewish proselyte before trusting in the Lord. His prayers were heard. We read, "So he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4 NKJV)." Even though he was a reverent and Jewish proselyte, he wasn't saved until Peter explained the Gospel to Him as he explained to the Jews in Acts 11: "And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ‘who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved (Acts 11:13-14 NKJV).'"
Some say God does not hear the prayers of the unsaved. I don't believe that. However, I don't believe prayers save but they may lead to salvation. God never saved an unwilling person and prayers may very well represent that desire to be saved. It is faith in the word of God that saves. Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." In Romans 10, confession comes after believing and praying comes after believing. While Romans 10:17 is the topic sentence of that chapter, for some reason it is not the verse that most quote when they are "sharing" the Gospel. In Psalm 16:10 the Psalmist says, "I believed, therefore I spoke." Believing or trusting in the Lord is the key to salvation. There is certainly nothing wrong when we pray about and for salvation. But the key to salvation is "belief" or "faith" and that comes from the Holy Spirit using the Word of God to convict and convert the sinner.
Satan the Deceiver
I keep wondering how many people are still convinced that it is what they did that saves. How many "saved" people are depending on what God did for them rather than depending on something that they did for God? You may have prayed, you may have confessed, you may have gone forward, you may take communion and you may even have been baptized. You may have had someone tell you that if anyone is saved, certainly that would include you. But if you want to know that your soul is delivered from death, if you want to know true joy, if you want the Lord to keep you from falling, you need to believe or trust in the Lord. That comes first, the blessings follow.
Please don't let Satan convince you that something you have done makes you fit for heaven.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of August 17, 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
- December 29, 2024, Meet Me There
- December 22, 2024, The Name of Jesus
- December 15, 2024, People Who Are Troubled
- December 8, 2024, One God and One Mediator
- December 1, 2024, Oh That Men Would Give Thanks to the Lord
- November 24, 2024, The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
- November 17 2024, It is Too Simple
- November 10, 2024, How Shall We Escape?
- 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)