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Parenthood Reflections On My Daughter’s 18th

Today, as my little girls turns 18, I’m reflecting on parenthood.  Definitely one of the greatest joys and challenges in my life, with many successes & failures along the way.  When I was 29, and preparing to become a parent for the first time, Marina and I had been doing our homework for years so that we wouldn’t make any mistakes…we were determined to be perfect parents.  It’s funny how time & experience & frailty all contribute to the erosion of unrealistic expectations we ‘perfectionists’ burden ourselves with.  The older & wiser I get, the more I realize how imperfect I am and how much I truly depend on my relationship with Jesus to direct me each day…and how resilient kids are to the shortcomings of their parents!  Through all the years of loving McKenzie and watching her grow into a beautiful & fierce young woman, I’ve done my best to invest myself in this little princess in a way that honors God and empowers her.  Here’s a quote from a favorite author:

“Parents who truly understand the goal of parenting – to draw out the image-bearing potential of each child – become fully engaged in the challenge…They build character, value, and vision into young lives…These parents see the ’season of parenting’ as the ultimate spiritual challenge, worthy of their best efforts, most fervent prayers, and largest investments of time. They search for ways to improve their skills through books, tapes, seminars, and interacting with other parents.  These parents look to the church for assistance, and they support with their time, money, and prayer, the ministries that enhance their children’s spiritual training.  In short, they do anything they can to encourage authentic spiritual growth in their children – even if it slows their professional advancement and postpones the pursuit of personal dreams.  They know that molding a runny-nosed little bandit into a God-honoring difference-maker is the most stretching, demanding, and ultimately fulfilling challenge they can face. So they earnestly devote themselves to it.”  (Bill Hybels)

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The ‘Bagel Thing’ Continues

This Sunday, Feb.8, 6:00pm at West Coast Bagels in Tigard, I’ll be sharing some thoughts that Bruce Ecker had been developing about the nature and meaning of the “Kingdom of God” that Jesus spoke about so often…then we’ll discuss as a group or in small clusters if there’s enough people there.
You should have heard by now that or dear friend Bruce passed away last weekend from a massive heart attack. He will be missed terribly by family, friends, and by us in the Catalyst world. You may be wondering whether or not this new “Bagel Thing” monthly meeting will continue, since he was the primary facilitator & teacher….Well, if I know Bruce, he would be absolutely ticked-off if we canceled on his account! There were few endeavors dearer to his heart than gathering in small groups to read the Bible, discuss it honestly, pray, and break bread together. I hope you will join us, and please feel encouraged to invite a friend.
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God’s Joy In Forgiving

I don’t think God’s as upset with us when we sin, as He is pleased with how we come back to Him when we do.

“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:3-7

I am that sinner.