Dan Bolin's Blog, page 14

True Love

Nº 246

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - April 18, 2023

To love to preach is one thing, to love those to whom we preach quite another. - Richard Cecil

A few weeks ago, I was in the audience for a remarkable debate. Two world-class New Testament scholars locked horns on their differing interpretations of Romans 7. Following the two arguments was challenging, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to their scholarly dialogue and the well-reasoned dispute.

I tried to stay up with the discussion, but the content of both scholars was way above my pay grade. I was challenged to study more, but I was in no position to determine a winner or loser.

The scholarship aside, I came away with an amazing appreciation for how to hold a position with grace. Both men stated their positions not only with great passion, but also with great grace. Their desire was not to destroy the other person, but to share with the other what they deeply believed.

In Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples he said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) He did not say we will prove our discipleship by winning arguments or being the smartest person in the room.

We should hold opinions with deep thought and biblical support. But we must hold them with love if we are to demonstrate true discipleship.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Shine the Light

Nº 245

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - April 11, 2023

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day. - Phillips Brooks

During my childhood, our family toured the Oregon Caves. A friendly park ranger led our group deep into the cavern. We followed a string of lights that wound through tight, twisting passageways under low-hanging rocks, and into massive, cool, wet grottos.

After we were well inside the earth, the guide stopped and told us to hold onto someone or something. Then she turned off the lights, plunging the room into utter darkness. The disorienting absence of all light blinded everyone. Fear overwhelmed me. A sense of abandonment crept closer and closer with every moment of darkness.

Then the guide lit a match. Wow! What a powerful and glorious difference one match made. We could see. Fear was gone. Hope restored.

Easter is the match. The darkness had its moment. A temporary, disorienting fear had its three days of mayhem. But then God struck the resurrection match.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 18:12)

The light of life! What a profound picture. The darkest hour of Good Friday was overwhelmed by Easter’s resurrection light. Our challenge following Easter is “to walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Forever Young

Nº 244

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - April 4, 2023

We are adopted into God's family through the resurrection of Christ from the dead in which he paid all our obligations to sin, the law, and the devil, in whose family we once lived. Our old status lies in his tomb. A new status is ours through his resurrection. - Sinclair B. Ferguson

I recently read about a super wealthy middle-aged man who spends two million dollars a year trying to reverse the aging process. His goal is to always live in an 18-year-old body, but with a middle-aged mind and heart.

His obsessive health practices, team of highly qualified doctors, and army of renowned nutritionists are doing a great job of slowing the inevitable. The two million dollars a year seems to be helping!

We would all like to avoid the aches and pains of aging. But only one Person has defeated death. Only one Person can provide eternal life. Only one Person can turn back the clock and give us a new, glorified body.

In the opening scene of Revelation, Jesus tells John, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever.” (Revelation 1:17b-18a)

The new life God offers doesn’t cost two million dollars – it’s free. Free at least to us. It cost Jesus a painful death on the cross. But death could not hold him! As He said, I was dead, and behold I am alive!

That’s the story of Easter! And that is why we celebrate!

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Walking Towards Easter

Nº 243

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - March 28, 2023

The great gift of Easter is hope – Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake. - Basil Hume

While on His way to Jerusalem – a few days before the Triumphal Entry, His death, and resurrection – Jesus shared His heart with His disciples. He said, “The Son of Man will be betrayed . . . they will condemn Him to death. . . (They will) mock Him, and spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him. Three days later He will rise.” (Mark 10:33-34)

This prophetic message is central to Jesus’ life and crucial for our salvation. But it was also very personal and painful. The events of the next few days would be excruciating physically, emotionally, and spiritually – for Jesus and the disciples.

James and John miss the moment. They were preoccupied with their own self-interests. The next verses share their selfish request: “Let one of us sit at your right and one at your left in your glory.” (Mark 10:37)

The other disciples were not much better. “When the ten heard about this they became indignant with James and John.” (Mark 10:41)

As we walk toward this Easter season, let’s do better than the disciples. Let’s keep Jesus at the center of our attention. Thank Him for suffering on the cross and praise Him for His victory over the grave.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Cranmer's Challenge

Nº 242

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - March 21, 2023

In the Scriptures be the fat pastures of the soul; therein is no venomous meat, no unwholesome thing; they be the very dainty and pure feeding. He that is ignorant, shall find there what he should learn. - Thomas Cranmer

Four hundred and sixty-seven years ago today, Thomas Cranmer was burned to death in Oxford, England. In Oxford’s city center the Martyr’s Column still reminds passersby of the sacrifice of Cranmer and his two co-workers, Hugh Latimer and Nicolas Ridley, who met similar fates a few months earlier.

Cranmer was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and a pivotal leader in the English Reformation. He helped establish the Church of England, wrote the 39 Articles, (originally 42), and the Book of Common Prayer.

He also placed English Bibles in churches throughout England. One of his many quotes is, “Bible-reading is as necessary for the life of man’s soul, as for the body to breathe.”

Cranmer and many more died helping provide the Church today with access to God’s Word and the spiritual nourishment it provides. Peter understood the nutritional value of Bible reading. He said, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” (I Peter 2:2)

Too many have sacrificed too much for us to remain spiritually malnourished. Because of Cranmer and others, a healthy helping of the Word of God is readily available. Feed yourself on scripture, enjoy seconds, and gain the spiritual sustenance it provides.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Register Today!

Second Chances

Nº 241

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - March 14, 2023

Our sins have been put away. To use the language of the Scriptures…they are completely removed, put behind God’s back, blotted out, remembered no more, and hurled into the depths of the sea. - Jerry Bridges

The first time I went bowling, I was clueless. I rolled the heavy ball, and it ended in the gutter – all ten pins remained upright. Mercifully, the leader explained I got another turn. This time my ball made it to the end of the alley and knocked over a few pins. Progress.

Bowling, I learned, is a game of second chances. We always strive to knock down all ten pins for a strike but rarely succeed. But we are provided the opportunity to try again, pick up a spare, and improve our score.

We all need second chances. We fail and long for grace and forgiveness. Peter thought he was being generous when he asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive my brother? …Seven times? Jesus answered, I tell you not seven but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Bowlers receive two tries, Peter thought seven would do. Jesus provides forgiveness without limits. God is a God of second chances and third, and fourth, and on and on.

His gracious forgiveness extends until our game is over – but not beyond. Strive for perfection, accept His forgiveness when we fail, and remember the offer of forgiveness is good only this side of eternity.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Sacrificial Sequence

Nº 240

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - March 7, 2023

Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it. - Matthew Henry

I always get bogged down in the lengthy and tedious sections explaining the sacrificial processes when I read Leviticus. I get lost ploughing through who does what and have difficulty remembering what is killed, burned, waved, eaten, or poured.

Hidden within the complexities and excruciating details is an obvious truth that applies to us today.

Aaron, the high priest, and his sons who were also key spiritual leaders were required to make their personal sacrifices first. After God removed their sin, they were qualified to present sacrifices on behalf of the nation. “Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself.” (Leviticus 9:8) A few verses later we read, “Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people.” (Leviticus 9:15)

The leaders needed to be right with God before they could effectively serve the general population. They needed to have their sin and guilt removed before they were ready to serve others.

Whether a parent, friend, teacher, or pastor, our first responsibility is to be right with God. Only after we have personally experienced God’s forgiveness will we be ready to reach out to help others establish, grow, and deepen their relationship with God.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Absent Again

Nº 239

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - February 28, 2023

They who would grow in grace must love the habitation of God’s house. It is those that are planted in the courts of the Lord who shall flourish, and not those that are occasionally there. - John Angell James

Absenteeism is a big problem in schools and the workplace. Students who don’t show up for school fall behind their peers, and if the problem persists, they may never catch up. Workers’ absenteeism leads to lower productivity and increased costs. Studies indicate that absenteeism costs businesses between several hundred and a few thousand dollars each year – for every employee!

Everyone gets sick or has an occasional personal issue they need to address. That is normal; teachers and employers expect a few misses. It is the chronic offenders that generate the problems.

Like schools and businesses, the church has a chronic absenteeism problem. The writer of Hebrews addressed the threat this way, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25a)

This exhortation is more than a nice reminder to attend church on Sunday – although that is a significant part of God’s plan. Spending time in Christian community is crucial for our spiritual growth and development. Don’t let absenteeism become routine. Commit to attend church and participate in a community that will provide the encouragement we all need.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

More Than Grief

Nº 238

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - February 21, 2023

The best moment of a Christian’s life is his last one, because it is the one that is nearest heaven. And then it is that he begins to strike the keynote of the song which he shall sing to all eternity. - C.H. Spurgeon

When I recently learned that a good friend had died, I immediately encountered two powerful emotions. First, I grimaced with deep sadness. I would miss his encouraging emails and phone calls. I would miss his humorous and poignant insights into life and the current state of the Church. And I would miss his spiritual support and prayer on my behalf.

Second, I smiled with great joy. His long battle with cancer was over. He was reunited with his wife of more than 50 years who preceded him in death. And he was hearing the words of Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The words of the Apostle Paul came to mind, “We do not want you to . . . grieve as those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again.” (I Thessalonians 3:13-14a)

Our hope for eternity without pain, reunions with loved ones, and meeting Jesus does not diminish the pain of our loss. We grieve. But we have more than grief – we have hope. Our hope is firmly anchored not to good deeds, status, power, or wealth, but to our relationship with God through His Son. We believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

---

Exciting Update!

Isola Centro Evangelico (a ministry in Italy) translated my book Blueprints into Italian - under the name Campeggi 3.0. I was honored to speak to about 80 Christian camping leaders who attended their One Vision conference last week.

St. Valentine Got it Right

Nº 237

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - February 14, 2023

In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” - R.C. Sproul

Today we celebrate one of the great heroes of the faith, St. Valentine! Legend tells us that he surreptitiously provided dowery money to young ladies so they could marry the loves of their lives.

One account from the murky past says that he was a priest who was arrested for assisting persecuted Christians. His trial led him to Rome and put him before Claudius II. Instead of defending his actions, he shared the gospel with the pagan emperor. This enraged the monarch who summarily had Valentine beheaded.

The story is certainly encrusted with errors and embellishments, but the core of his life is worth honoring. If any of this is true, he did two things well: he loved people sacrificially, and he shared the good news courageously.

Paul’s final letter is filled with last-minute instructions for his young mentee, Timothy. He issued two very simple and significant commands: “be kind to everyone” (2 Timothy 2:24) and “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Making sacrifices for others and sharing the good news of God’s love (demonstrated by the sacrifice of His Son for us) seems to be what Saint Valentine did well. He got those two things right – and so can we!

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.