Dustin Benge

Dustin W. Benge is Pastor-teacher of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Kentucky and author of the “Ordinary Pastors” blog.  I posted the following message to him on his blog on August 23, 2011


Hi Dustin,


I am so thankful to find that God continues to raise up young men as you, with a passion for His glory, and the zeal to make Him known! Being much encouraged as to how our Omnipotent God and Savior knits His body together in our generation through our Lord Jesus Christ with those who have gone before as well as those who are now in the world, I trust that He will be pleased to use me to be an encouragement to you.


In recent days, having been introduced to Derek Prime through listening to a series of messages preached via CD from the "Basics Conference 2005" with Alistair Begg, I decided to investigate a little more thoroughly which brought me to the article you posted on Pastoral Advice from Derek Prime.


Having made a copy from your sight and using it as a help to formulate my thoughts in relation to the passage found in 1st John 2:1,2, and at the same time seeking the wisdom of God in discerning His will in certain areas of my life, my eyes became focused on the "Quote of the Week" by Susannah Spurgeon, "It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our blest blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." With that in mind the following was written:

I will rejoice in what You give; much more in Who You are!
You set the boundaries of the seas and hold each shining star,
In such a way that every one that looks to You for guidance
Will find You holding in Your hand the wisdom of compliance
Unto Your will as You make known, though slow we are to learn,
And yet You give more grace each day and through it we discern,
Your mercy is unfathomable and slow You are to chide,
For Jesus Christ; His sake alone, in whom we now abide.


We thank You for Your faithfulness as You communicate
Your love Oh Father to each child of whom You'll not forsake,
And for Your Holy Spirit, who enlightens our mind's eye
To focus on the truth perfected by Your great supply
Of everything that we have need to show the honor due
To Christ alone, who gave Himself, now glorified with You!

Thank you for your faithfulness to our great God and King!
Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael

Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.