Answers for the Overloaded Person | Family Conference | Pleasing God | What Kind of Father Ought we to Be?
The Official Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI
accent
June 2014
Oregon District Apostolic Accent Volume 50, Number 6
www.ORUPC.com Editor……………………..........…………….Kassie Meyer kassiemeyer@hotmail.com (503) 689-3589 District Officials Superintendent……………......……………Ted Graves Secretary/Treasurer……..........……..Dan Sargeant Presbyters Section 1…………………......…..…………Gary Gleason Section 2……………………........…M. Dennis Johnson Section 3………………………......……..Kevin Goodwin Section 4…………………………......Steven L. Johnson Honorary Board Member M. David Johnson North American Missions Director…………………………….......…..Steve Hanson Secretary…………………….……….....…Virgil Alldritt Global Missions Director…………………………….......David Reynolds Apostolic Man Director……………………………..……......Mark Edday Ladies Ministries Director…………………………......….Geanice Langley Secretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell Sparks Secretary…………....………………….....…..Joe Higgins Oregon Youth President………………………….......…Shane Graves Secretary………………………………......……Kevin Neu Spanish Ministries Director……………………………………......Fito Avenia Life in Focus Coordinator…...........Bill Tittsworth Prison Ministry Coordinator….....….Doug Lethin Media Missions Director……......David P. Johnson A.C.T.S. President………...….......M. Dennis Johnson Senior Quiz Coordinator.…......…..Brian Huffman Junior Quiz Coordinator.…......…Jonathan Toews
Editors Note In the Craziness of life sometimes we just need to slow down and, “smell the roses.” We get so caught up with our schedules and how full we can pack them that we fail to take time for ourselves and we fail to spend time with the Maker or in His word. From experience, I know what it is to have a full schedule, especially during the summer months and then by the time things do slow down the weather has changed and it can be rather gloomy. I also know what it is like to have my calendar completely cleaned off with time to spare. I find that when my calendar is less packed I am able to find more time with God or I can hear His voice during those times of meditating more clearly. Sometimes we need to slow down our pace of life so that He can be heard or so we can take care of ourselves. God gave us these bodies and taking care of ourselves and our relationship with the maker should be our highest priority. If our bodies suffer physically, mentally or spiritually we cannot function to our full capabilities and as a member of a body, we can hurt the body. We can hurt the body spiritually or physically. When one member suffers, we all do or the whole body does. A wise lady once told me to be careful of all that I do because I may regret it later. Not to take on so much that I fail in the areas that matter most. I pray that my life will never be so full of unimportant things again that I will regret it. We can get too wrapped up with the “work,” that we miss it...I want to be a Mary and sit at His feet, not a Martha who is so consumed with the work that she missed her time with Him. Here are a few Scriptures to ponder... Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I [am] God” 1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” Luke 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
2 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
Kassie Meyer
Inside this Issue Articles/Columns 2 Editors Note KASSIE MEYER 4 Answers for the Overloaded Person STEVE JOHNSON
Family Conference 2014 Oregon District
reaching higher
Special Minister’s Session July 22
July 23–25, 2014 Salem Convention Center 200 Commercial St. SE Salem, Oregon 97301
GUESTSPEAKERS
SERVICESCHEDULE WEDNESDAYJULY 23 Evening Services: 7:00 pm North American Missions 7:15 Global Missions 7:30 General Rally Rev. Ted Graves Rev. Stan Gleason
DAYTEACHER
REV. JOHN PUTNAM
THURSDAYJULY 24 Day Sessions: Prayer Rev. Shane Graves Rev. Jamaal Maddox 10:30—1:00 pm Sunday School 10:30—1:00 Youth 11:00—1:00 Rev. John Putnam 10:00 am 10:30
NIGHTEVANGELIST
REV. STAN GLEASON
Evening Services: 6:45 pm Spanish Ministries 7:00 Ladies Ministries 7:15 Men’s Ministries 7:30 General Rally Rev. Stan Gleason
FRIDAYJULY 25 Day Sessions: 10:00 am Prayer 10:30 Rev. Stan Gleason (OR) Rev. Anthony Hanson 10:30—1:00 pm Sunday School 10:30—1:00 Youth 11:00—1:00 Rev. John Putnam Evening Services: Sunday School Pentecostal Youth Oregon ACTS General Rally Rev. Stan Gleason
6:45 pm 7:00 7:15 7:30
MINISTERS & WIVES Location: Christian World Fellowship TUESDAYJULY 22 | CURRENT & ASPIRING 7:30 pm Departmental Awards Ordination Service Rev. Stan Gleason SATURDAYJULY 26 | DISTRICT CONFERENCE 10:00 am Prayer 10:30 Business Meeting/Ladies Tea
RECOMMENDED LODGING OPTIONS AND FURTHER INFO CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: WWW.ORUPC.COM
7 Pleasing God RACHEL SPARKS 12 What Kind of Father Ought we to Be? DAVID REYNOLDS
Promotions
6 Family Conference OREGON DISTRICT 10 Missionaries in June
GLOBAL MISSIONS
11 Sheaves for Christ
YOUTH DIVISION
14 NAM Giving NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS
June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 3
Answers for the
Overloaded Person By Steve Johnson Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” I remember a saying of my father from years ago, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” There was a time I was feeling overloaded, and from time to time I’ve felt I did not have time. No time to go fishing. No time to simply sit down to read a relaxing book. No time to rest between responsibilities. It was simply go from one task to another. Study for the Sunday morning sermon. Give the Sunday morning sermon. Study for the Sunday night sermon. Give the Sunday night sermon. Cram all the work into the home responsibilities I could get into Monday from dawn to dark. Study for Tuesday’s home Bible studies. Give the Tuesday Bible studies. Study for Wednesday night Bible study. More work on home responsibilities. Give the Wednesday night Bible study. Visit saints, take care of District business, spend time on the phone encouraging the struggling person, pray with the discouraged person, attempt 4 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
to help the troubled marriage, change the oil in the car, have multiple conversations with those planning weddings, go shopping with the wife, take David up to his college classes, work for a couple of hours on a project, pick David up from his college classes, try to straighten out the Bank’s errors concerning the church’s accounts (again…and again…and again… for months), and on it went. I must admit it was choice that led me into much of this schedule. I made the comment to my wife that it seemed we needed to make appointments to see each other. A wise and concerned elder in our church made the comment to me, “Pastor, you are too busy. It is a sign of burn out when a person says, “I don’t have time.” He may not have thought I was listening or paying attention, but I was. I was sure he knew what he was talking about. So I started making changes. I started making myself put away the tools earlier in the day. I purposely took more time to simply spend time in the Word of God and in prayer before starting the day. There were times when I stopped what I was doing to simply sit down at the table with my wife and drink a cup of coffee. You see, I was tired of being tired. Steve and Mary Farrar have written a book I’ve started reading
titled Overcoming Overload. I know from a construction background what happens when an electrical circuit in a house becomes overloaded and stays that way for a period of time. Something snaps in the electrical panel called a breaker. And when the breaker snaps, everything shuts down on the circuit that was overloaded. The reality of life is if we hit the overload point and there is no let up in life, something will snap. Physical health can be affected. Relationships can suffer, both with God and humanity. Mental fatigue can overcome us. Some of you can relate to what I’m talking about. You are overwhelmed, overworked, overcommitted, overanxious, and overextended in life. How can any of us enjoy the next couple of months if we are overloaded? And yet there are important issues of life beckoning and demanding our time and attention. Family needs, the job responsibilities, personal goals, and the never ending to-do lists. When we look at all these things it can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Especially when you add into the mix those other issues like care giving, doctor visits, weddings, and funerals. We can be overwhelmed by the pace of life, by the pressures of life, and by the pain life sometimes
brings. We’ve no doubt all heard and understood what someone meant when they said something was going on 24/7. It meant something was happening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, there was no let up, no relief. Quoting Richard Swenson, Overcoming Overload points out we are not only experiencing life at a non-stop pace, but we are dealing with more of everything in almost all areas of life. More products, more choices, more remedies, more responsibilities, more information, more problems, more activities, more commitments, more change, more shopping malls, more roads, more subdivisions, and more stress. More of everything. Robert Vacca is credited with this quote, “Everything grows: Everything is on the increase, and every year the speed of that increase is greater.” In a book titled Hurtling Toward Oblivion the following observations are made: -In 1800 there were one billion people; in 1930 there were two billion people; in 1960 there were three billion people; in 1975 there were four billion people; in 1987 there were five billion people, and in 1998 there were six billion people. -Life expectancy worldwide was 21 years at the time of Jesus, 48 years in 1955, and 65 in 1995. -There are 62,000 new book titles and new editions each year. -The Physician’s Desk Reference had 300 pages when it first came out in 1948; fifty years later it had 3,000 pages.
-In 1978 the average grocery store had 11,000 products on the shelves, today there are over 30,000 products. -Choices for the consumer today include 550 different kinds of coffee, 250 different kinds of toothpaste, and 175 different kinds of salad dressing. We really are being offered more of everything in life, and all of this “more” is coming at us in an ever increasing rate of speed. Overcoming Overload points out three lies we tend to buy into which lead us to into this feeling of being overwhelmed. Lie number one is “You can have it all.” Our human experience is such that covetousness is easily embraced. We’d like to think we can have it all because when we think about all that is potential in areas we like, we want it all. As I’ve said before, I like cast iron cookware. But the truth of the matter is I can’t have it all. How would I afford it? Where would I put it? How could I possible use it all? And what would be the purpose of getting it all anyway? Some of you collect other things. There are people who collect knives, guns, figurines, china dolls, paintings, and antiques. Will you ever come to the point that you own it all? What about other areas of having it all? What about having not only a house, but having a vacation home, a motor home, and all the things that go with them? What about having float tubes, canoes, kayaks, and boats? How about all the stuff connected with water sports like fishing equipment, skis, fish locators,
and tubes to pull behind them? How about having it all when it comes to collecting antique farm equipment? In this quest to have it all we can get overwhelmed by the care of things, the storage of all the stuff, and the expenses involved. In the end, is it really worth it to try to have it all? Solomon was not only the wisest man who ever lived, he also was the only man recorded in the Bible who was able to do and have whatever he wanted. Ecclesiastes 2:10 (NLT) “Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors.” But all this striving to have whatever he wanted did not satisfy Solomon. In the end he had this to say: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 (NLT) “So now I hate life because everything done here under the sun is so irrational. Everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind. 18 I am disgusted that I must leave the fruits of my hard work to others. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? And yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work. How meaningless! 20 So I turned in despair from hard work. It was not the answer to my search for satisfaction in this life. 21 For though I do my work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave everything I gain to people who haven’t worked to earn it. This is not only foolish but highly unfair. (continued on pg. 8) June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 5
Family Conference 2014 Oregon District
reaching higher
Special Minister’s Session July 22
July 23–25, 2014 Salem Convention Center 200 Commercial St. SE Salem, Oregon 97301
GUESTSPEAKERS
SERVICESCHEDULE WEDNESDAYJULY 23
DAYTEACHER
REV. JOHN PUTNAM
Evening Services: 7:00 pm North American Missions 7:15 Global Missions 7:30 General Rally Rev. Ted Graves Rev. Stan Gleason
THURSDAYJULY 24 Day Sessions: Prayer 10:30 Rev. Shane Graves Rev. Jamaal Maddox 10:30—1:00 pm Sunday School 10:30—1:00 Youth 11:00—1:00 Rev. John Putnam 10:00 am
NIGHTEVANGELIST
REV. STAN GLEASON
6 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
Evening Services: 6:45 pm Spanish Ministries 7:00 Ladies Ministries 7:15 Men’s Ministries 7:30 General Rally Rev. Stan Gleason
FRIDAYJULY 25 Day Sessions: 10:00 am Prayer 10:30 Rev. Stan Gleason (OR) Rev. Anthony Hanson 10:30—1:00 pm Sunday School 10:30—1:00 Youth 11:00—1:00 Rev. John Putnam Evening Services: Sunday School 7:00 Pentecostal Youth 7:15 Oregon ACTS 7:30 General Rally Rev. Stan Gleason 6:45 pm
MINISTERS & WIVES Location: Christian World Fellowship TUESDAYJULY 22 | CURRENT & ASPIRING 7:30 pm Departmental Awards Ordination Service Rev. Stan Gleason SATURDAYJULY 26 | DISTRICT CONFERENCE
10:00 am Prayer 10:30 Business Meeting/Ladies Tea
RECOMMENDED LODGING OPTIONS AND FURTHER INFO CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT: WWW.ORUPC.COM
“Pleasing God” By Rachel Sparks “ Pleasing God is all that really matters”. Quote: “The key to failure is to try to please everyone”. Quote:” If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection” Ephesians 6:6-7, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers: but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart: With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Galatians 1:10, “For if I pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Acts 20:24, “ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God.” An example in the Bible that comes to mind is John the Baptist. In today’s world, we would consider him odd and a little different. In his day, he was considered a unique individual that stood apart from the crowd. He dressed in peculiar attire, and he ate only certain foods. But He wasn’t affected by peer pressure because he had a mission and a calling for his life. John the Baptist had a message: “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Conclusion: We may dress peculiar and be restricted in what we allow
into this fleshly temple of God according to this world’s standards. But remember we have a calling on our lives. That calling is to prepare the way of the Lord for a wicked generation that has lost their way. Jesus is coming…our message should be the same as John the Baptist. We must let the people know they have hope through repentance. ◊ ____________________________ Rachel Sparks is a Pastor’s wife in Aloha, Oregon. She also serves as the Ladies Secretary for the state of Oregon.
Unmasked $10.00
A Clear Reflection—The Truth about Body Art, Makeup, and Jewelry. This book, Unmasked, follows The Girl in the Dress and Covered by Love in helping young ladies be strong in their journey along the path of godliness. To order call (314) 837-7300 and ask for Jane Buford June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 7
Answers for the Overloaded Person (continued from pg. 5) 22 So what do people get for all their hard work? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night they cannot rest. It is all utterly meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. Even this, however, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.” The testimony of someone who was wise and had it all is that having it all doesn’t satisfy. If we are wise enough to listen to this wise man, we will spare ourselves some stress in life and not strive to have it all. In doing so we will not be led into feeling overwhelmed. True contentment and satisfaction in life go far in helping us avoid being overwhelmed. Lie number two is “You can do it all.” We know in our hearts that we cannot do it all. But we sure try hard at it. Not only that, but some are pressuring others into the mold of attempting to do it all too. My daughter teaches piano, and some of her students have told her about their schedules. The parents of these children have them enrolled in sports, piano lessons, church activities, and other things. It is not 8 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
unusual today for a child in this environment to spend 8 hours in school five days of the week, have at least 2 hours of homework each day, a piano lesson once a week and practice times for the piano on top of that, soccer practice five days a week and a game each week on top of that, and church youth group activities. When is this child supposed to play? When are they going to relax with a book? When are they going to enjoy a walk through the park at an unhurried pace? When are they going to spend time with the family as a group? Most families have more than one child. This means mom and dad are driving to different soccer fields at different times, often with different children if the games overlap. And then of course, mom and dad have their own schedules. When is this family supposed to eat dinner together? When do they simply enjoy each other in a relaxed setting? Lie number 3 is “You deserve it all.” And if you really believe you deserve it all, you’re going to work 24/7 to make sure you get it all. No one will stand in front of you getting it all if you deserve it all. Your marriage will be sacrificed, your commitment to church will be sacrificed, your relationships with other people will be expendable because nothing is going to keep you from having it all if you believe you deserve it all. People get hurt when we believe we deserve it all and are willing to do it all to get it all because we can have it all. There is a story about an attorney that makes the point. A
local charity had never received a donation from the town’s most successful attorney. The director called to attempt getting a contribution. “Our records show that you make $500,000.00 dollars a year, yet you haven’t given a penny to charity,” the director began. “Wouldn’t you like to help the community?” The lawyer replied, “Did your research show that my mother is ill, with medical bills several times her annual income?” “Um, no,” confessed the director. “Or that my brother is blind and unemployed?” The stricken director began to stammer out an apology. “Or that my sister’s husband died in an accident,” said the lawyer, his voice rising in indignation, “leaving her penniless and with three kids?” The humiliated director said, “I had no idea.” “So,” said the lawyer, “if I don’t give any money to any of them, why would I want to give any to you? When we feel we deserve it all no one is exempt from the pain we will inflict on them. The headlines are full these days about government officials and CEOs who line their own pockets at the expense of not only shareholders and employees, but also at the expense of the taxpayer and citizens of the future. Many of them have marriages that fail in the process. There are suicides when the resources are lost by the victims and suicides when some of these greedy and selfish individuals lose their own resources to other greedy and selfish persons. What is it that would cause someone to want to buy pieces of the Madoff estate now that
he is in prison? It is the same motivation that caused Madoff to accumulate the stuff for himself. “I see it, I want it, and I’ll pay the price to get it.” And so the pace of life is overwhelming when we think we can have it all, can do it all, and deserve it all. Sometimes it isn’t the pace of life that is overwhelming; it is the pressure of life. Pressure can come to us through our own choices. Much of our schedule is under our control, and if the calendar is too full, we can and should do something about it. There really isn’t much point in allowing pressure to continue if we can do something about it. Pressure also comes at us though through things we have no control over. When we are unemployed and cannot find a job, when the car breaks down, when the aging parent falls and breaks a hip, when the community votes to increase your taxes against your will, and when sickness invades your home, the pressure is bound to increase in your life. And this can lead to feeling overwhelmed. We also can be overwhelmed by pain in life. I have a neighbor who had lost about 40 lbs. in just a few weeks. His wife left him for an old flame from high school. It can be overwhelming when someone you loved and trusted has betrayed you. I heard last week about a man who has been in business with his brother for years. Now he is discovering the truth about his brother concerning his brother’s business ethics and how his brother really feels about him, and the pain is so deep he doesn’t care if he
ever sees his brother again. He is feeling overwhelmed by the pain. People who are living overloaded and are feeling overwhelmed often have deficits in their lives. They are in deficit emotionally, they are in deficit in relationships, and they are in deficit spiritually. Overload often happens as people try to find happiness, fulfillment, and love in the wrong places and in the wrong ways. It is not wrong to want happiness, fulfillment, and love. God made us to have these desires. But the culture of our day is that many people are looking for happiness, fulfillment, and love outside of God’s plan for humanity. That is exactly why so many people are buying, possessing, and experiencing so many things in life. We don’t have time today to go into the Biblical principles for happiness, fulfillment, and love in detail. But there are at least 7 Biblical principles which are related to these issues. 1. You need a Sabbath. 2. You need a sanctuary. 3. You need sustenance. 4. You need supplication. 5. You need to simplify. 6. You need a Sovereign. 7. You need a Saviour. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites us to overcome overload not by reading the latest book by a psychologist, or attending a motivational seminar, or going to the library and looking in the selfhelp section. Jesus gives us an answer to overcoming overload in himself. In The Message translation of the Bible this passage reads this
way: 28-30”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” The first step in overcoming overload is to come to Jesus. He knows how to live according to God’s plan for humanity, and we don’t. Let Jesus be the Lord of your life. In him you will find rest for your souls. In Jesus you’ll find a sanctuary for life. Jesus can become the source of your security and provision. Living for Jesus will simplify your life. And because he is the Prince of peace, through Jesus you can experience real peace. ◊ (Holy Bible : New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House, 1997) __________________________ Steve Johnson is the pastor of True Gospel UPC in Bend, Oregon. He also serves as the section 4 presbyter and section 4 NAM director for the Oregon District.
June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 9
Global Missionary Service
In Oregon July 15th-20th on
Lonnie J. and Damarys Burton Justin and Jackelyn
Venezuela Lonnie James Burton arrived in Venezuela as a two and a half-year-old missionary kid and was raised on the field. After graduating Indiana Bible College, he returned to Venezuela as an AIMer, working in the Bible school in Valera, opening new works, and pastoring four churches. He married Damarys and together they worked at the Bible school in administration and as teachers. They received full missionary appointment to Venezuela in 2004 and arrived back on the field in November 2008. They were given immediate oversight of the Valera Bible school. In four years of Bible school, they have seen over 230 students graduate. They also pastor a work in the Andes Mountains called La Puerta. Besides being involved in the education department of the church in Venezuela, they work with the missions department to establish more churches throughout the country. 10 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
This poster and other info is available online at www.globalmissions.com.
January 2013
June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 11
“What Kind of a Father Ought We to Be?” By David Reynolds
“I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord almighty.” II Corinthians 6:17,18
All across America children are
growing up without a father in their lives. Our young people are crying out for a father. With some young people there is a man in the house but he is not the real father. For others the father is physically present but emotionally and spiritually is not fulfilling the role of fatherhood. One study I read claimed that the average time fathers talk to their teenage sons is less than five minutes a day. Fathers are providing ‘things’ but not time and not guidance. Even in ‘evangelical believing’ homes many fathers are not fulfilling their role. Josh McDowell in his book, “The Father Connection”, reports a study he did on Christian homes --which should shock all of us men to action. Of the 3,795 youth surveyed in the study, 82 percent attended an evangelical church weekly and 86 percent said they had made a
12 APOSTOLIC ACCENT June 2014
“commitment to Christ as their Lord and savior. Yet the study showed that 54 percent of teens and pre-teens in evangelical families say they seldom or never talk to their father about personal concerns -- compared to 26 percent who said that they seldom or never talk with their Mom about such things. One in every four young person surveyed stated that he never has a meaningful conversation with his father. More than two in five say they seldom or never do something special with their father that involves “just the two of you.” One in five say his father seldom or never shows love for him” Josh McDowell cites other studies that show: • The absence of a father is a stronger factor than poverty in contributing to juvenile delinquency. • Crime rates are highest among adults who as children were raised solely by women. • Conversation at the dinner table with fathers stimulates a child to perform better in school. • There may be a connection in teenage girls between eating disorders and an absent father. • Young teenage girls living in fatherless families were 60 percent more likely to have premarital sex than those in two-parent families. • Emotionally or physically absent fathers contribute to: a. Low motivation for achievement b. Inability to defer immediate gratification c. Low self esteem d. Susceptibility to peer influence and to juvenile delinquency.
Every father, down deep, desires be-- we must be. What we want to be a good dad. Yet, many fathers our children to do --we as fathers do not know what to do for this must model. We may be a success to happen. Many “well- meaning” on the job and in our profession dads feel but if our Being a good father is over whelmed children do not by the job of the greatest calling a man respect us—we becoming an can have. “No man, when are a failure. effective father. facing eternity, has ever Being a good Many admit regretted the time spent father is the that they are with his children.” greatest calling fumbling the a man can have. job of fatherhood and juggling “No man, when facing eternity, the act of marriage, career and has ever regretted the time spent fatherhood. Most feel trapped by with his children.” the intense work schedules and I recommend that each of you accompanying pressures. Many prayfully read the entire book, feel limited by the lack of fathering “The Father Connection,” by Josh skills, by difficult marriage, or by McDowell. In this book he talks unhealthy patterns in their lives” about these ten qualities a father [p.3] can develop in order to help his Coupled with these is the children meet the above goals. inability of expressing deep love Josh McDowell, “The Father and feelings to their wife and Connection,” Broadman & Holman children. Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.◊ In spite of their own ____________________________ David Reynolds has inadequacies many fathers been the Minister of can express what they feel is Discipleship at Portland Pentecostals since important for their children to be 2007. He is a graduate able to feel and to do. Most dads of Conquerors Bible College, Cascade College, want his children to: Portland State University 1. Feel loved and secure and post graduate work at the University of He served as 2. Develop a reputation of a teacher, assistant Oregon. Principle & Principle. integrity Since retiring from public education he has extensively to over 37 countries 3. Say that their dad keeps his traveled preaching & teaching in Bible Schools and promises has written several books on Education, The 4. Stand up to unhealthy peer Family & Parenting. pressure 5. Avoid drug and alcohol abuse 6. Save sex for marriage 7. Come to him for advice and counsel 8. Admit when they are wrong 9. Come to him when they are hurting or in trouble 10. Admire and respect him as their parent. What we want our children to June 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 13
North American Missions June Giving Apostolic Worship Center $50.00 Apostolics of Portland - Alldritt $50.00 Bend, True Gospel U.P.C. $90.00 Corvallis, United Pentecostal Church $25.00 Cottage Grove, Hope Fellowship UPC $25.00 Grace Point Ministries $25.00 Hillsboro, Bethel U.P.C. $50.00 Klamath Falls, United Pentecostal Church $50.00 Oregon City, United Pentecostal Church $1,200.00 Redmond, Heights Pentecostals $50.00 Springfield, United Pentecostal Church $20.00 TOTAL $1,635.00
May Giving
Apostolic Worship Center $50.00 Apostolics of Portland - Alldritt $50.00 Bend, True Gospel U.P.C. $90.00 Corvallis, United Pentecostal Church $25.00 Cottage Grove, Hope Fellowship UPC $25.00 Florence, Apostolic UPC $60.00 Grace Point Ministries $25.00 Hillsboro, Bethel U.P.C. $50.00 Klamath Falls, United Pentecostal Church $50.00 Oregon City, United Pentecostal Church $800.00 Redmond, Heights Pentecostals $50.00 Roseburg, Christian Life Center U.P.C. $40.00 Springfield, United Pentecostal Church $20.00 TOTAL $1,335.00
14 APOSTOLIC ACCENT April 2014