IllumiNations!

THE BLESSING OF GODLY FRIENDSHIPS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Tonight, my wife Peggy and I hosted 17 wonderful youth for a barbeque, and had such a great time eating and laughing with them.  Our time with them reminded me of how powerful friendship can be in forming a person.  Many times, parents spend an amazing amount of time complaining about their children's friends, but very little celebrating good and godly friendships!

Well, here is my contribution to celebration!  The young men and women we had at our home tonight (and that is truly what they are - young men and women), are among the greatest blessings Peggy and I have ever partaken of!  Peer influence can literally make or break the moral, ethical, and spiritual life of a child.  Most of us can remember the good, the bad, and the ugly connections we made while growing up, confirming my point.

However, when our children develop friendships with other young people raised in similar value structures that reinforce ours, we can experience an amazing relational synergy that accelerates our children's moral, ethical, and spiritual growth!  These kind of friendships are worth their weight in gold and worthy of much praise!  THANKS BE UNTO GOD ALONE FOR THE BLESSING OF GODLY FRIENDSHIPS FOR OUR CHILDREN! 

Daddy's Little Girl is a Princess

I am one proud papa!  My daughter, whose name is Sarah, is truly a princess in both name and title.  The name Sarah, means "Princess", and, my daughter Sarah completed the Moses Lake Jr. Miss Program as 1st Runner up this past Saturday night with princess-like dignity and class.  As I watched her perform, and heard her answer questions before a live audience, I was struck by her poise, confidence, and the sense of security she exhibited before hundreds of watchful eyes.

As a protective father, a Christian, and a pastor of a local church, I was not about to let my daughter be a part of something that emphasized outward appearance, and sensuality!  Initially, I was a little suspicious of the Junior Miss Program, and what it might expose Sarah to. After investigating a little and praying, Peggy and I gave her the green light to participate.  The last 6 weeks have been rather stressful at times while Peggy and Sarah bought dresses, and wrangled over "girlie" type stuff.  Oh, it's good to be a man!

Saturday night was the Grand Finale, and while most of the other girls danced for the talent portion of their presentation, Sarah sang "Think of Me" from the film adaptation of "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA."  She hit a home run, er, uh, sang beautifully, and brought tears to the eyes of a number of people all over the auditorium! 

When the results were announced, another girl won as Moses Lake Junior Miss, but my eyes were only on Sarah.  Sarah never really cared whether or not she placed as part of royalty, but she did want to compete, and do her best.  Well, as she was announced as 1st runner up, I felt as if she had just won an Olympic Gold Medal, and set a new world record as well!  The attitude she exhibited after the announcement was one of humility and graciousness.  Can you tell I'm proud and partial?

The American Junior Miss Program has high ideals and encourages inner beauty and character along with service, goal setting, education, and good health.  I have included the 'Be Your Best Self' Promise that AJM contestants make when competing.  Thank you for letting me indulge in a little fatherly boasting.  Only parents will be able to understand my indulgence!

The 'Be Your Best Self' Promise

I want to help improve the world, and that begins with me.  I promise to do the following things:

• Eat the right foods
• Stay fit
• Get a good education
• Live by moral principals
• Serve my community
• Set goals
• Work to reach my goals

My Core Values - #1

Recently I found out that a ladies discipleship group in our church was using my Core Values as an example for the purpose of developing their own Core Values.  I was both surprised and challenged.  I was provoked to take them out once again, look them over, and make sure they are not only what I truly value, but what I am also endeavoring to practice in my daily living.

It is not my intention to be overly self-focused in my writing, but as I looked at my Core Values, I thought of how they provide a good starting point for regular posts and food for thought for those who read.   All of us have a set of Core Values that we possess and live from whether they are written or not.  Our lives are constantly telling on us and shouting to the world what our loves, hates, passions and gods actually are.  These are our Core Values.  With that said, here are the first of my Core Vaues with commentary following:

"I Value relationship with God and others as the source from which life and all true ministry will flow."

We are relational beings, this much cannot be denied.  Though I have met a number of so-called "Lone Rangers" in my time, my experience tells me that the primary reason most people become islands unto themselves is because of betrayal, disappointment, and dysfunction within their relationships.  The people that we love and value become the source of our pain.  This very reaction is nothing more than proof that we are indeed relational beings.

Every human being is conceived when two people relating in the most intimate terms, mingled their body fluids and cells to form a whole new entity.  This conception brought forth a new life that related to its host mother by a life-line known as an umbilical cord.  This life-line brought nourishment and connection until the day when this unique personality would be thrust upon its mothers breasts to suckle.  Thus begins the journey of life.  The journey of dependence, of relationship, of family and community.

This new person is just beginning to experience the human condition, the risky proposition know as relationship, with all of its love, acceptance, rejection, abuse, disappointment, competition etc...  It is precisely this experience which primes a person for the knowledge of God and a relationship with Him. 

After only a few short years on this planet, we begin to realize that things are not right down here.  We see the failure of our biggest heroes, face tragedy and personal difficulty, and learn the law of the jungle.  It is often when the props of human relationships have fallen all around us that God reveals Himself to us as Father and Friend.  We then begin a new relationship with One who relates to us on His terms alone.  These terms begin with the idea of the Fall, and the human need for salvation.  We see ourselves as we really are, and God as He really is, in the Person of Jesus Christ. This new relationship becomes the source of all true relationship, and the restorative power through which all other relationships will be made right again.

This new life, this new relationship, issues forth as the fountainhead of all ministry into the lives of others.  It is only within the context of this new relationship, that we can find what God truly intended for all human relationships.  This is why the Great Commandments begin with loving God with our whole being.  To love my neighbor as I love myself, I must experience the settled reality of God's first loving me. Only then am I able to return that love to Him.  I can try to love my neighbor, but until I have encountered being loved by God and then loving Him, my love for my neighbor will always fail and fall short.

So, this is my first Core Value.  This is an impossible proposition apart from God's love.  This love is most clearly demonstrated and embodied in the Person and life of Jesus Christ.  I have received love and relationship, so now I can give them.  This is the law of the kingdom of God.  This is what I value!

BACK AFTER A VERY LONG ABSENCE!

I don't know what to say about my absence, other than the fact that I kind of lost the vision for blogging for awhile.  So much has happened since my last post on September 11th, 2006, it would be almost impossible to tell all, but here are some highlights and lowlights;

1. Our oldest son, Stephen, left to Kirkland, Washington, and The City Church GENERATION INTERN PROGRAM.  Peggy and I have marveled at God's grace as we have watched our son be challenged and then respond with maturity to almost every challenge.  The growth we have observed as a result of this intensive leadership program would be similar in some ways to what a parent sees when their son has returned from boot-camp as a man instead of a boy.  I guess the main difference would be the fact that Stephen has been formed inwardly and is manifesting the nature of Christ more than at any other time!  PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS!!!
2. I traveled with 2 other people from our church to the Philippines for a short term missions trip at the end of November.  Our goals were to train church leaders, visit the orphanage we support, and be a blessing to the Filipino church.  As usual, the Filipino people blessed our lives far beyond anything we could ever do for them.  The trip was very successful and fruitful but for me it had to be cut short due to some of the most difficult news I have ever received...
3. Larry Brice, my dearest friend of 18 years, associate pastor of 9 years, and one of my true heroes in the faith was diagnosed with colon cancer which had spread to his liver.  I returned home immediately to be with him as he navigated through the difficult decisions facing him, his wife Shirley, and their 11 year old daughter, Madison.  Larry determined to fore-go chemotherapy and is asking God, along with thousands of others from around the world, for a miracle of healing.  Larry is truly one of the godliest men I have ever know, and as GENUINE A CHRIST-FOLLOWER as I have observed in my 23 years as a believer.  Larry has a passion for God and His kingdom, and desperately wants to "See the Lord do amazing things in Moses Lake and the world!" PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER AS WE CALL ON OUR MIRACLE WORKING GOD TO DO THE AMAZING AND IMPOSSIBLE IN LARRY.
4. Simultaneously to all of these things, our church is growing, people are being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are starting to move forward in a building campaign.  Truly, this is a time of FAITH STRETCHING and DOUG STRETCHING!  GRACE HARVEST CHURCH seems to be in a time of harvest, blessing and momentum, and our leaders are in need of much support in prayer and encouragement.  PLEASE PRAY FOR MY FAMILY AND I AS WELL.

Well, it's good to be back and get some of this off my mind.  PLEASE POST COMMENTS AND LET ME KNOW YOU ARE READING.  COMMENTS ARE A BLOGGER'S PAY FOR HIS/HER EFFORTS.

Blessings,
Doug

Milestones and Memorials

The year of our Lord 2006 has been a year of milestones and memorials for Peggy and I as we have celebrated our son Stephen's high school graduation and my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. 

Watching our oldest son Stephen grow into a young man has been both a wonderful joy and a painful challenge and reality.  How did this little newborn that I lifted heavenward at birth in a prayer of dedication to Jesus Christ grow so fast and come so far in such a short time?  Where did this facial hair, deep voice, amazing creativity, and stubborn independent thinking come from?  I know I can't blame it all on his mom, so what's a man to do?  Who gave him permission to grow up so fast and become his own person who seems to need us less and less? 

Honestly, I am laughing and crying as I consider these questions.  I am so proud of this young man who bears my name and oozes confidence, personality and talent.  I know Stephen's future is bright with a number of career options and opportunities looming in front of him as they tempt him to test his wings and fly. 

As he goes off to Seattle in the Fall to attend THE GENERATION INTERN PROGRAM at The City Church in Kirkland, Washington, I find myself hoping we have done our job as parents in an honorable way and that Stephen will have the tools necessary to grow and mature as a follower of Jesus Christ in the real world.  Stephen, we are so proud of you and look forward to watching you become the man that God has ordained you to be.  Stretch out those wings and fly high and true.  The Lord is with you!

Currently we are in Southern California hangin' with Peggy's family and experiencing the many generational blessings of a mostly intact family!  Peggy hails from a large Roman Catholic family of 11 children, being the perfect #7 in the birth order.  Though her family has its fair share of dysfunction and problems, it is truly an amazing experience to be a part of their get-togethers.  With babies, toddlers, kids, teens, young marrieds, cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, moms, dads and grandparents, it is almost impossible to feel left out in any way.  The energy, laughter, love and good arguments (um, debates) are a privilege to be a part of. 

Nana and Pop as we call them, have bequeathed a rich heritage to all of us by simply sticking it out and staying married for 50 years.  If there was ever a reason to stay married in this covenant breaking culture, it is clearly illustrated to all of us in this family every time we get together and experience the dynamic of true nitty gritty family life.  Perfect?  No!  Redemptive?  YES!!!  As I always tell my wife, I sure am glad her parents didn't stop having kids after #6.  Thank you Nana and Pop for being an example and model of endurance, perseverance and principle.  Your reward in heaven will be great!

BE A REAL MAN!

I Corinthians 16:13 - Keep your eyes open for spiritual danger; stand true to the Lord; act like men; be strong; TLB.    

John 15:13- Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.  NKJV.

Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, NKJV.    

Nehemiah 4:14- And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." NKJV.

I am leaving today to join about 35-40 men on a MEN'S ADVANCE in a beautiful wooded area just North of Spokane, Washington.  As I embark on what always turns into an interesting adventure, I find myself reflecting on what it means to be a man and why manhood seems to be under such attack today from cultural forces that seek to make "maleness" a bad thing.    

Many men these days seem to be confused about manhood because they have been told for several decades now that aggression, strength, passion, drive and decisive action are qualities to be avoided.  Men are being forced into a mold of "niceness" where the highest virtue to be achieved is to be "nice" to one and all.  Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to say that being manly is defined by being harsh or caustic, just that our highest goal in life should not be to make everybody happy with a kind of sappy sweetness.

As a man, I find that I am most inspired by great stories of love, sacrifice, brotherhood, courage and protection.  Though I hate war, I recognize that it is a sad necessity at those times in history when to avoid it is to risk our very existence as human beings.  War though seems to be one of those endeavors that brings out both the best and worst in men.  Whether it is the story of Sergeant York, or movies like Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List or Hotel Rwanda, there is something so powerful about men who put it all on the line to risk life, limb, property, comfort and privilege to rescue, protect and sacrifice for others.  It seems that when men live like this, they are fulfilling what it truly means to be "manly".  This is precisely why Jesus Christ is the ultimate man and the greatest model ever of what a REAL MAN looks like!    

As the above Scripture references make clear," laying down our lives, loving sacrificially, and fighting for our brothers, children, wives and houses", calls out to the "deep unto deep" within us and inspires something that often lies dormant in the day to day drudgery we call life.  The good news is that it doesn't take a war or some kind of heroic act to live our lives this way.  We were made to give up our rights, desires and comforts to assure that others may live well.  It is in "losing our lives" that we truly "find our lives" and become REAL MEN.  Men were made to give all for the sake of others and to put it all on the line to assure that the weak, the poor, the widows and the orphans are protected, provided for and loved.  We are called to live heroically by loving our wives as they deserve to be loved, and by providing an example for our sons and daughters to follow.

One day, some of us will be called upon to literally put our lives on the line for our families, nation or Lord, but until we do, we must make it a practice in the rhythms of our homes, workplaces and churches.  My friend and associate pastor Larry always reminds me that "we get good at what we practice at most often."  If we practice loving, giving, sacrifice and true manhood, we will be the kind of man we want to be in the day of testing and when we stand in the presence of the Almighty and hear Him pronounce, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord!"    

Powered by QumanaTags: Men, Manhood, Marriage, Family, War, Sacrifice, Love, Jesus

STATISTICS, STATISTICS, STATISTICS! LIES, LIES, LIES, YEA!

50% of all marriages end in divorce, 1 out of every 10 people is homosexual, 40% of Americans attend church every week, "3 out of 4 Dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum."

All of these statements are statistics that have been regularly declared as fact for most of my life and at least 3 of them are not accurate!  Statistics it seems can be manipulated pretty creatively to back up just about any position or viewpoint that the individual or group wants to portray as the truth.  By the way, I think the only accurate study shown above is the one about sugarless gum!  DUH!

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am passionate for the truth as it pertains to God, life, culture, the family and the church.  I receive emails from well meaning Christians all the time that are inaccurate and full of mythology about the government, celebrities, dead atheists, corporations and Christian leaders.  Some of these are bald-faced lies made up by some atheist computer geek with too much time on his hands and a desire to make followers of Jesus look foolish!  AT LEAST I THINK THEY ARE!?  Whenever I receive these forwards, I quickly jump over to www.truthorfiction.com and check out the veracity of the claims made.  It would be good if we all did the same.

Anyway, I digress.  What bothers me even more is the use of statistics that have been long ago debunked to prove points that strengthen a political position or movement.  Several examples of what I mean are given in my opening paragraph and are regularly used to strengthen the agenda of groups trying to gain culture wide acceptance or show the failure of certain institutions.  So, do 50% of all marriages end in divorce, are 1 in 10 people homosexual, and do 40% of Americans regularly attend church? Well, the truth on these issues is fairly difficult to determine, but based upon far more accurate and realistic long-term studies done, the numbers are significantly lower in all three categories.  That's good news for marriage, but bad news for the church and the homosexual community. 

To find out more about these issues, please follow any of the three links below to get a clearer picture of the truth.  Remember, when it comes to statistics, be skeptical and do your homework.  They could be right, and they could be "LIES, LIES, LIES, YEA!"

CHURCH ATTENDANCE STUDY

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE STATISTICS

1 IN 10 PEOPLE IS HOMOSEXUAL?

THE DANGER OF UNDER-POPULATION?!

Genesis 1:26-28 - 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."  27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female.  28 God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."  (THE MESSAGE )

It's an amazing thing how all it takes to get most people to believe something is to repeat it over and over again, throw out a few statistics and then let time and the mainstream media do its insidious work.  In particular I am speaking of the myth of OVERPOPULATION that has been foisted upon the human race for the last 4o years or so.  Many of us have actually come to believe that having children is a bad thing for creation and that birth control and abortion are not only necessary, but our duty for the good of the race!

The problem with this idea is the simple fact that it is in direct opposition to God's command to "be fruitful and multiply... and to take dominion" of the earth.  These two commands are linked together and seem to indicate that multiplication and dominion are a package deal.  Children, the Scriptures declare, are a "blessing", "reward", and evidence of God's covenant keeping power. 

A SAD DAY FOR LIFE!

"I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art."  THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH - CLASSICAL VERSION 4th Paragraph

"You shall not murder."  God - Exodus 20:13

Today, in the hallowed halls of our most powerful political institution, six judges decided it was OK for physicians in the State of Oregon to administer "a deadly drug" to patients who want to die!  In a 6-3 judgment, our U.S. Supreme Court opened a Pandora's box of death for the other 49 States in this great nation and once again demonstrated that the blacked robed ones have entirely too much power and influence upon the course of this land.  The irony of this is that pro-life people around America have set this week aside as a time to honor the Sanctity of Human Life. 

So much for the Hippocratic Oath!  Many physicians today are living according to the Hypo-critic Oath as they claim to care about preserving life, while they insert a needle into a living human being which carries death-filled poison.  Those that support the Oregon Law claim that it is "humane" and well written with a number of protections that prevent abuse like the fact that it "covers only extremely sick people — those with incurable diseases and who are of sound mind, and after at least two doctors agree they have six months or less to live." 

The problem with this reasoning of course is that it assumes the inherent goodness of human beings and the ability to make judgments about the "dying" person.  History and the Bible make it ever so clear that we are not all that good, but rather, we are all fallen and depraved human beings with potential to do horrible things to one another.  All we have to do is look at what a "woman's right to abortion" has got us (other than 45 million dead Americans), namely, a multi-billion dollar industry pedaling murder as a right and alternative.  I can only imagine what kind of sophisticated riff raff is lining up to "make a killing" in this new and terrible industry.  God help us all.  Oh, it is a sad day for life in America!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE USA TODAY STORY

PRO-LIFE=PRO-FIDELITY!

We live in a sex-saturated society that claims to be enlightened and liberated about sex but is clueless when it comes to the beauty and mystery of human sexuality.  It seems that the more we experiment and supposedly learn, the less we truly know and the more broken we become. 

Unfortunately, being a professing follower of Christ does not seem to be making a difference in many who claim His name.  The church, generally speaking, seems to be either afraid to really talk about sex (as though it might offend the God who gave us sex organs, sex drives, nerve endings and the capacity for pleasure) or takes a page from the anti-drug movement and tells people to "JUST SAY NO!"

Well, this isn't helping our young people or those who are desperately looking for some kind of Biblically informed view to help them understand their desire for sex. 

If we are going to claim to be Pro-Life people, we must address the issue of sexuality in our teaching and in our living.  With adultery and the divorce rate as high within Christian Churches as in the un-churched community, something is wrong!  Our hypocrisy is telling on us!  Please follow this link to an article in World Magazine entitled BROKEN SEX.  It has some excellent points which we would be wise to embrace.