Why do I do the things I do
Why do I say the things I say
Sing the songs I sing
Pray the prayers I pray
Why do I push myself so hard
To go the second mile
Knowing my reward
May only be a smile
Well there’s a picture in my mind
That time can’t erase
And there’s a memory from days gone by
That helps me keep my place

It’s in the front of my mind
In the back of my mind
To the left and to the right
There’s an image of a man on a cross

Image of a Man | Dallas Holm

A number of years ago I was making my way to the back of an auditorium where I had just completed ministering in concert and in word.

About halfway back a young man stepped in front of me and asked, “After all these years, what keeps you going?” Without a moment’s hesitation I responded, “The image of a man on a cross!”

In that moment, my answer seemed to satisfy the young man’s question. It also caused me to consider that it might be a good idea for a song, which as it turned out, it was.

The apostle Paul, in writing his first letter to the church at Corinth, prioritizes the essence of his ministry and the central issue of true Christianity when he writes:

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (I Cor. 2:1-2)

It has been suggested that by the time Paul (previously Saul) was 21 years of age, he had the equivalent of two Ph.D.s in theology. It is not likely that Paul is saying, nothing else is important to discuss or that the only topic henceforth will be the crucifixion of Christ.      

He is not promoting the idea that any further discussions regarding such significant events as the resurrection, the return of Christ or any vast array of other important topics like grace, obedience and conforming to the image of Christ need not be articulated and considered. What he is doing, for the purpose of highlighting and emphasizing the central issue of the atonement through the shedding of blood, is using hyperbole.

R.C. Sproul puts it this way:  “When the apostle made that statement (I Cor. 1:1-2) he obviously was engaged in the literary art of hyperbole. The Greek prefix hyper is the source of our word super, and it indicates a degree of emphasis. Hyper takes a root word and makes it emphatic. In this case, the root word comes from the Greek verb “to throw”. So, hyperbole is literally a “super throwing”; it is a form of emphasis that uses intentional exaggeration.

Sproul goes on to illustrate how we might say to a child, “I’ve told you a thousand times not to do that!” Everyone, including the child, knows that statement hasn’t been offered a thousand times, but the exaggeration is born, not out of deceitfulness, but out of an intent to bring emphasis.

We know Paul wanted to teach the Corinthians about the character and nature of God the Father. He would instruct them about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. He would teach them Christian ethics, and about many other things that go beyond the immediate scope of Christ’s work on the cross.

Sproul puts it this way, “Paul was saying that in all of his teaching, in all of his preaching, in all of his missionary activity, the central point of importance was the cross. In effect, this teacher was saying to his students, “You might forget other things that I teach you, but don’t ever forget the cross because it was on the cross, through the cross and by the cross that our Savior performed His work of redemption and gathered His people for eternity.’”

Does the reality of the cross and what transpired through the substitutionary atoning work on Calvary’s mount, truly arrest our thinking and motivate our living?

Has the cross become just an emblem over the baptistry, an ornament around our neck, or do we remember, as Oswald Chambers states, “The most significant words ever uttered in a startled universe are the words, It Is Finished!”

Do we only consider the cross and Christ’s suffering in an historical context or do we actually consider ourselves “crucified with Christ”? Is it personal? Does it cost us?

Why should I care what others think
What do I care what others say
When He has won my heart
And I have found my way
What do I care what it may cost
Though it may cost my all
To walk the narrow path
And hear His silent call

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

I’m constrained by the love of Christ
I’m compelled to express His life

Cause in the front of my mind
In the back of my mind
To the left and to the right
There’s an image of a man on a cross

I remember one day years ago my dear friend, Leonard Ravenhill, said to me, “Dallas, there are lots of Christians who like to hang around the cross. Not many of them want to get on it!”

I think perhaps, better than any other way I can imagine, that statement demonstrates exactly Paul’s understanding and perspective of the cross, both for himself and for these who he would teach, which includes us.

May we not be as those who just hang around the cross, but may we reckon ourselves crucified with Christ.

In all our learning, our experience and in the great adventure of life’s journey, may we each stay forever focused on the central bedrock and eternal fact of “Christ and Him Crucified.”

“In whirlwind and storm is His way. And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.”

Nahum 1:3

On Saturday, April 13th I left Lindale, Texas, my hometown, to travel to San Antonio, Texas, for a couple of ministry opportunities on the 15th.

I had been watching the weather report for a few days and they were all predicting bad weather and the potential for severe storms across central Texas into East Texas.

I had a choice to make. I could take I-20 west to I-35 and head south all the way to San Antonio. However, with storms in the forecast, I feared that one accident on I-35 might back it up all the way to Minnesota!

I chose to take Hwy 79 which heads southwest from near where I live to Austin, TX, and from there San Antonio is just a short jaunt.

Highway 79 is mostly two lanes meandering through the beautiful piney woods and small towns of East and Central Texas. I was in no big hurry and this route would have far less traffic and provide a much less stressful and more peaceful journey than the interstate…or so I thought.

As I continued to drive toward Austin, I encountered some rain off and on but nothing to be concerned about.

After about three hours of driving, the rain began to pick up some and the sky began to darken. I kept driving slower and slower as I turned the windshield wipers up faster and faster.

I had slowed to about 20 mph when suddenly I couldn’t see a thing, not the road, not the sky…Nothing!

I carefully angled over toward the shoulder (or where I thought it must be), turned my flashers on and came to a stop. I noticed just barely, through the wind swept rain and darkness, that there appeared to be a couple of vehicles very close in front of me with their flashers on as well.

Then the excitement began!

Extremely strong winds began blasting the driver’s side of my truck. Large tree limbs and various debris were sailing overhead from left to right. Then…sudden calm. I remember thinking in that moment, “I don’t think this is good.”

No sooner had that thought been completed in my brain than I was suddenly and violently slammed from the passenger’s side by even stronger winds. I felt something slam the rear of my truck, then the front and then multiple projectiles of various sizes pelted the right side of my truck.

At one point I gained enough visibility to look out to my right and see a large piece of corrugated metal roofing from a barn come sailing across the pasture in my general direction.

Then suddenly it became less general and more specific as it slammed the side of my truck, eventually scraping up and over and finding a resting place in a tree top across the road.

I felt on a couple occasions that my truck might take flight. I was extremely concerned that something might come flying through the side window or windshield and mess up my hair, not to mention the rest of my anatomy, which quite frankly, at 70 has begun to get a little messed up anyway! (Yes, humor intended)

Well, enough of all the catastrophic details. What did I learn from this buffeting from the elements?

I learned (later that evening) that I had come to a stop on Hwy 79 directly, and I mean directly, in the path of an EF-3 tornado. That’s 140mph winds!

I learned that I had stopped right next to the little town of Franklin, TX, which I did not know was even there until the storm passed. Fortunately no one was killed, though about half the town was destroyed. (I’m working on doing a benefit concert there sometime in the near future. Sort of feel a connection with those folks.)

I learned a car just in front of me had flipped upside down in the ditch. The couple in it were a little bloodied and bruised but otherwise okay. As “luck” would have it, I found the lady’s purse a couple hundred feet away from their overturned car. She was delighted; I was blessed! No luck involved, God’s kindness!

I learned my Toyota Tacoma is just heavy enough to not fly, though I believed it was sitting at a slightly different angle when the tornado had passed then where it was at the start.

Lastly and most importantly, I learned I can pray in great earnest with a really short vocabulary. It went something like this, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” and so on. You get the picture.

Franklin, TX, was devastated but no one was killed. My truck sustained over $9,000 worth of damage, but I am fine.

I was able to fulfill my two ministry dates and souls were saved, lives were touched by the gospel and God was glorified.

But how is God glorified in the whirlwind or perhaps we should ask, is He?

Is He the God of sunny days but not the stormy ones?

Isaiah writes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in chapter 45:6-7: “I am the Lord and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity: I am the Lord who does all these.”

I’ve thought several times, “What were the chances of me driving about three hours, traveling at roughly 65 mph and intersecting with an EF-3 tornado at precisely the moment it’s crossing where I’m sitting on Hwy 79?”

I don’t think there’s any chance to it! If I’m walking humbly before the Lord, living in obedience to His word and moving by the leading of His Holy Spirit, then wherever I am is where He has me.

What are the chances of us traveling down the road of life enjoying the “Sonshine” of His love and then suddenly intersecting a dark storm and turbulent circumstances?

Again, nothing to do with chance! We must be ever maturing in our understanding of who He is and growing in our knowledge of the Word so that we are at peace both in the calm days and the stormy ones.

We must be assured of His presence in the midst of brilliant light as well as shrouding darkness. Finally, we must grow in our overall understanding and grasping of the sovereignty of this eternal, holy, awesome God we serve.

We are not as a ping pong ball getting smacked back and forth by some cosmic game of “Pong” between God and Satan.

We know from that oft quoted scripture that Paul writes to the believers in Rome, “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are the called ones according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28)

The very implication of this verse, and that which would have been understood by those first to hear it is that “all things” would refer to the ups and downs, the easy and the difficult, the joyful and the sorrowful. All things!

It’s why I love that rather obscure little verse from that obscure little book of Nahum.

It assures me that whether I’m being buffeted from the left or the right; whether or not debris is whirling all around me and even if I take flight as I nearly did in my truck; I will fly to Him! He is my refuge. He is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds…what about those clouds?

Scripture says, “They are but the dust of His feet.”

In other words, the clouds that often suddenly darken our day and loom ominously overhead, are actually the evidence of His presence. They are the dust of His feet!

Scripture tells us He goes before us, He is our rear guard, He walks beside us, He undergirds us and He sings over us.

Much like that tornado that enveloped me all around, on every side, above and below…”His way is in the whirlwind.”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6

I wrote 2019 on something the other day and once again I was caught off guard as to how swiftly the previous year had flown by.

A new year suddenly stretches before us with all its unknowns; hopes for “smooth sailing” but always aware that the “storm clouds” could gather on the horizon at any moment.

What should our spiritual temperament be as we once again sail out through the breakwaters of a new year’s beginning into the vast sea of life’s possibilities?

The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the church at Philippi: “Be anxious for nothing!”

Is this some extreme concept of denial he is promoting? No, not at all. Another translation might say as follows: “In any and all of life’s circumstances, be not anxious.”

Then he (by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) instructs us how to accomplish this. “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known.”

What’s the difference between prayer and supplication? One might say prayer is the method of our petitions and supplication is the attitude of our prayers. Supplication denotes humility in prayer. A humility that goes so far as to say, “Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done.”

I believe there is a direct correlation between the lack of our anxious thoughts and the maturity of our Christlike character as evidenced by the development of our faith and trust in Him.

Last Sunday as my wife and I were sitting in our Sunday School class, I looked around at my brothers and sisters whom we have come to know and love.

Our class is not large, maybe forty or fifty people. A couple rows away sat a young couple who just recently lost their teenage daughter in a tragic car wreck. Across the aisle from me sat a man who is in a stage four cancer situation. A couple rows behind us sat a lovely couple, about our age, who are now walking through the difficult journey of a Parkinson’s diagnosis in his body. Another couple with very heart-breaking challenges with a child. And there Linda and I sit, still waiting for some news regarding treatment for her cancer.

On and on it goes throughout our church family, in our community and undoubtedly in yours as well.

So, how can I/we minister to those all around us in similar circumstances? Always and forever by the truth of God’s Word!

I believe it was the next day after this assessment of the needs all around us that I read this wonderful writing from Charles Spurgeon that I would like to share with you in hopes that it will encourage you as it did us.

O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of His family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and the handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul, have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God.

(From: Morning and Evening
By: Charles Spurgeon)

I know I’ve said this before, but allow me to repeat it once again: “Fret not thyself, fear not and be anxious for nothing” must apply to any and every situation or they have no application whatsoever!

His sufficient grace must assure us and give us confidence that even in the midst of our “shipwrecks” He is doing “all things well,” contrary to our temporal observations and assessments.

And what is the fruit or benefit of this discipline of guarding against anxious thoughts?

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

As is often the case, many of us have embarked on the journey of a new year making various resolutions.

I’ve resolved (now that I’m 70) to take better care of myself: eat better, exercise more, lose weight and build muscle. You have probably made similar or varying resolutions yourself. Good for you! But wouldn’t it be far more beneficial to us all if we resolved, according to God’s Word to guard against anxious thoughts?

If we are His, He will always be faithful to grant us grace, minister His mercy and lavish His love upon us through every circumstance.

“Be Anxious for Nothing!”

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save
(Fanny Crosby; William Doane)

I am writing this edition of the Praiseletter on the 17th anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks, September 11, 2001.

Watching the news this morning and viewing the solemnity of individuals at “ground zero”, reading the names of those who perished that tragic day, I am once again brought back to the shock and horror of that terrible event.

Like most of you, I remember exactly where I was when the news of the attacks began to unfold. We had just left on a tour to Washington state. Somewhere around the Colorado, Wyoming border, heading north on I-25, we began to hear reports on the radio of a plane crashing into one of the trade towers in New York.

We pulled the tour bus over to the side of the road, turned on a TV inside the bus and began to process the horror of a terrorist attack against our people on our soil.

I think for many, myself included, some of the most shocking and heartbreaking images of that day were of the people who chose to leap to their deaths from that burning building rather than endure the anguish of the consuming flames.

Those of us who witnessed the events of that day will never forget. Those who were too young to observe or understand must be taught and reminded of the historic cost of freedom that this nation has paid and continues to pay.

The death toll of the 911 attacks stands at 2,996. That’s a staggering loss! Here’s a breathtaking statistic as well; In the U.S. approximately 6,775 people die every day! Disease, accidents, crime and a number of varied reasons account for this staggering number of daily deaths.

While I wrote that last sentence, the phone rang and the wife of a long time friend called to let me know that her husband, my friend, had just passed. This is the reality of life and of death. Scripture tells us clearly: “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Everyone we know, everyone we see around us daily has an appointment that will be kept.

This may seem to be a dark and disturbing topic to cover in this letter, but I believe it’s imperative that we as Christians maintain a proper perspective on the reality of death so that we might live with a proper perspective of our lives as Christians and our responsibilities to those around us who are perishing.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more

Continuing on the theme of “Gospel Missionaries” from last Praiseletter, I implore you to ever consider the call He has placed on each of our lives to rescue the perishing and care for the dying.

You are the most qualified person in the universe to reach someone God has placed in your sphere of influence, with the message of the gospel!

They won’t come to my concert, they won’t come to your church or perhaps any church, but because of the relationship they have with you (in God’s divine order), they may find life in Christ.

Then the question becomes, “are you prepared to share the gospel of Jesus Christ when the opportunity arises?”

In Christ, I was blessed just a couple days ago to have a conversation with the man who led me to faith in Christ. I thanked him for his obedience and concern to, all those years ago, talk to a young man who had a lot of “rough edges,” about the love of Jesus and His power to save and forgive. I also reminded him of a piece of advice he gave me early on in my Christian walk, which I now regard as perhaps the single most important piece of advice I’ve ever received.

One Sunday morning as I was making my way to sit down, my pastor (the one who led me to Christ) asked if he might have a word with me. I responded, “Yes, of course.”

During this early season of my Christian life I began to receive many invitations to come to various churches and sing and share my testimony. I was occupied many a weekend with this new and exciting ministry opportunity.

This particular Sunday morning to which I refer, my pastor gave me the following advice: “Dallas, you’re going to have all of your life to minister but only this one chance to prepare. Stay home (in church), let me teach you, disciple you and build a foundation for your life and ministry on the Word of God. Go out occasionally to develop your ministry and necessary skills, but most importantly take this time to prepare, study and grow in the knowledge of His Word.”

Too many Christians have experienced the life changing reality of the truth of the gospel because someone shared that truth with them. Yet they have not taken the time or effort to prepare and build a foundation on the Word of God so that they might present that same gospel to others.

We must be, as the saying goes, “ready, willing and able” to at any moment as the Spirit guides, share the truth of the gospel message with those who are perishing.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide
Beck to the narrow way, patiently win them
Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died.

My challenge in this letter to each and every one of us is to be sure we are prepared to share the wonderful saving, healing and comforting message of the gospel with those all around us who are perishing and dying.

Remember, we have each been commissioned to go, preach and disciple!

Direction for the “going” will be guided by His Word and His Spirit. The words of our mouths and examples of our lives must “preach” the reality of the gospel. “Disciples” will only be made as we build a foundation of the Word of God under their feet.

We can’t expect to replicate if we can’t articulate!

Let us each consider this an assignment to dig deeper, study more and prepare so we might effectively present the gospel to the needy who surround us every day. In so doing we will Rescue the Perishing.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NAS)

No, Tula is not some sort of acronym for the previous scripture. It’s actually the nickname my mom was most known by to family and friends, though her real name was Viola.

Proverbs 3:5-6 was a favorite scripture of mom’s and often appeared on birthday cards, Christmas cards and letters that mom sent to my brother and me over the years.

Mom passed on to Heaven on the twelfth of April this year at the age of 96. I thought it would be most appropriate and honoring to her to dedicate this edition of the Praiseletter to her memory.

Viola Sophia Holm was born in Minnesota on Sept 25, 1921. She was the youngest of five children born to Raymond and Sophia Harbrecht. She married Howard Curtis Holm on June 6, 1942. Though WWII kept “Curt” and “Tula” (the names by which they were known to most family and friends) apart for a time as Curt served in the Army, they enjoyed a long and wonderful marriage of 58 years.

They raised two sons; Douglas, born Oct. 2, 1945, and Dallas, born Nov. 5, 1948. After Curt’s retirement in the mid 70’s from Sanitary Farm Dairies/Land O Lakes, they moved to Lindale, Texas.

Tula worked most of her life as an executive level secretary. She served the Lord at Praise Ministries for twenty-two years as secretary to her son, Dallas. She was always “the life of the party.” She loved to travel, camp and volunteer for everything. She loved the Lord, she loved her husband, family and friends.

In recent years she would often say, “I wish I could just go to bed and wake up in Heaven.” She did! Somewhere in the early morning hours of April 12, she passed peacefully in her sleep. Her struggle here is over. Her life in Heaven has just begun. She is survived by her two sons, their wives, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, born the day of her passing. She was a blessing and was blessed! (Obituary)

She was a blessing to me in more ways than time or space permit me to share.

Sufficeth to say, she was a great mom, a great example of what a Christian should be and a great model of a faithful wife and loving mother.

She was also a tremendous blessing to me and so many as she served faithfully and tirelessly at Praise Ministries.

We’ve always tried to answer all of the mail that comes into our ministry. From around 1980 to 2002, which would represent the years mom worked at Praise Ministries, I guarantee we responded to thousands of letters! Every one of those letters would have been typed by mom and signed by me. She always made sure I read them, responded, (usually by pen) then she would type them and mail them.

One of her other responsibilities at the ministry was to type and proofread the Praiseletter. Though she retired around 2002, I still think of her in a special way every time I write this letter because it was always a cooperative effort between us.

Just days ago we celebrated Mother’s Day. It was the first for Doug and me without mom. However, the sadness of loss was far overshadowed by the wealth of precious and fun memories that will forever accompany our every remembrance of her.

I want to say a sincere thank you to every one of you who took the time to send an email, a letter or card to offer your love and prayers in our time of loss. Some sent in a gift to Praise Ministries in her memory. That was such a blessing!

Mom and Dad never had much money so there was nothing for them to leave behind. But gifts were given by others at the time of my dad’s passing in 2000 and now my mom’s. These gifts, in their memories, were so honoring to the Lord, honoring to them and exemplative of how the Body of Christ comes together. Thank you!

Proverbs 3:5-6 wasn’t just a scripture mom put at the bottom of a card or letter to add some spiritual punch or perhaps a challenge to “straighten up” in seasons of our lives where that was exactly what my brother and I needed. It was a gift given, not only written but lived out by two wonderful parents who had to trust in the Lord because their resources were limited.

Though neither mom or dad were able to pursue what we now call “a formal education,” both were abundantly knowledgeable and wise because they didn’t lean on their own understanding. Rather, they gained the most valuable understanding, knowledge and wisdom from God’s Word.

God was always the top priority in our family and in our home and consequently our paths have been and continue to be directed by Him.

Mom and dad left behind sons, daughters in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren who all love the Lord and endeavor to walk the path they walked. And now, even a great great grandchild, (on my brother’s side) born the day of mom’s passing, will I’m sure, join in this family journey.

Thank you for allowing me to share a little bit of my mom’s journey and influence with you.

We had a small graveside memorial service with family and a few friends after mom’s passing. She outlived almost all of her family and close friends, so a service of some kind in a building didn’t seem necessary or even appropriate.

In this letter, however, several thousand of you who in some way have been directly or indirectly touched by mom’s life, have participated in a final “memorial service” that she could have never imagined.

Thank you again for joining our family and so many friends in a tribute to “Tula”.