God Hears Even Private Thoughts
James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States (1845-1849), is considered the least known, significant President.
Polk was viewed as a "dark horse" candidate for the Presidency, and he was not even at the Democratic convention in 1844. Seeing him as a compromise choice, the Democratic Party elected him as their candidate, and he later won the national election.
Stating that he would only serve one term as President, Polk became the last of the strong Presidents before the Civil War. During those four short years, Polk was able to complete the Oregon Treaty with Britain and lead the nation to victory during the Mexican War. He opened the lands of the West and Southwest to Americans (600,000 sq. miles), making the United States a country "from sea to shining sea." Polk also oversaw the founding of the Naval Academy, he issued the first U.S. Postage Stamp, and he saw the cornerstone of the Washington Monument laid.
Yet, as he neared the completion of his term in office, the President of the United States penned these words in his diary on what would turn out to be his last birthday. President Polk wrote: "Upon each recurrence of my birthday, I am solemnly impressed with the vanity & emptiness of worldly honors and worldly enjoyments...I have filled the highest station on earth, but I will soon go the way of all the earth. I pray God to prepare me to meet the great event."
The Lord heard his private request. Leaving the White House, Polk returned to his home state of Tennessee. Although President Polk and his wife Sarah had been church goers, it was an old fashioned Methodist preacher that reached him with the Gospel, and he "completely embraced Christianity for the first time in his life." The 53 year old, retired President, died peacefully in his bed on June 15, 1849, after contracting cholera. (Merry, Robert. A Country of Vast Designs. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2009. p. 462-470)
Thirty Brief Years
Over 200 people gathered on June 14, 1986 in Atwater, Ohio to witness the vows of marriage between Russell Dennis, Jr. and his bride Rhonda Lynn Gentile.
The Saturday afternoon wedding was the biggest thing happening that day in the sleepy, little, country town.
Sunday found the couple ministering in two churches in Pittsburgh, PA. Their month long honeymoon covered over 3000 miles and they ministered in 13 churches from Canada to Florida.
What began in their marriage as a giving heart for the training of Christian young people has continued with the realization of Heritage Baptist College at Hopewell.
Celebrating 5 Years!
Five years ago, the attending physicians at Indiana's premier Children's Hospital gave up on a little 9 day old baby, and sent her home to die.
On May 17th that girl, Lilliana Joy Dennis, turned five years old. Daily prayers and aggressive health measures have seen this little girl survive open heart surgery and begin to thrive.
We are so thankful for all the prayers of our college family and friends. On May 17, 2011, Lilliana Joy Dennis was born into the family of President & Mrs. Russell Dennis, Jr. By medical averages, Trisomy 18 babies are not expected to be born, let alone live out their first week. We are so thankful to the Lord!
The theme of this year's celebration was "It is No Secret What God Can Do." A three minute video was released on her birthday with that theme. You can view that video HERE.
Charts Help Visualize
Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr. loved to teach prophecy using a chart. He would hold week long conferences in churches as he traveled teaching on this fascinating Bible subject.
That prophecy chart can now be viewed through a special scrolling device designed by a friend of the college. The chart is located on the second floor as part of the Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr. display.
Ending Notes
Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr. loved to write in his Bible the thoughts, sermon outlines, and sayings that stirred him to serve God.
Dr. Dennis' wide margin, Cambridge Bible can be viewed in an enclosed display in the upstairs hallway of Heritage Baptist College, along with the wall display of the Prophecy Chart with which he used to teach. After Dad's passing, I read through both of his preaching Bibles and transferred many of his notes into my Bible.
I shared in past June Updates a few of the many nuggets in my Dad's Bible. Here are some gleanings from the book of II Corinthians that come from Dad's Bible:
| Our trouble helps others (1:4) |
Ministry is the best of professions (6:10) |
| Christ delivers: past, present, & future (1:10) |
You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can change your attitude (7:4) |
| Progress toward Glory (3:18) |
God will give through you what He won't give to you. (8:3,4) |
| Don't dwell on temporal things (4:18) |
Giving was proceeded by "Living"(8:5) |
| The day all the church attends (5:10) |
The nation collapses when the spiritual leaders are corrupt (8:21) |
| Make God your friend (5:20) |
A ministry not deepened by pressure isn't worth much. (11:26) |