LIVING REMINDERS

This week I was reminded that how we live leaves clear clues of what we really believed. There are few accurate earthly indications of a believer’s walk with Christ than their Bible. This week I was given Marie Dougil's NIV Study Bible as I was preparing to speak using it at her memoria servicel. I was astounded to see the cover tattered and torn and the spine almost completely gone. When I held it up at the service, people as far away as 50 feet gasped.

Bible similar looking to Marie's.

The pages were also ragged and there were numerous quotes and notes pasted in it.  She had underlined or taken notes in all 66 books of the Bible. Some had more of her notes than God's words. You could almost compile a commentary on the Scripture just of her words.

Her notes and the tattered Bible made it clear she not only knew God's Word but believed it. The old book looked like it belonged to an aged saint but Marie was only 48 years old.

Modern computer Bibles are helpful, I have my share, but there are times when the book form is better. I have a paper one that has many of my notes from my early years of study. It has been rebound and sits on my desk where I refer to it. There were no computers when I made those notes. 

What does your Bible look like? Do you bring it to church?  Do you know where the books are in it? Don't go tearing it up to look spiritual but use it up instead.  It disturbs me when I don't see Christians carrying a Bible of some kind to church. How can they search the Scripture like the Bereans or take home what the Holy Spirit has impressed on them?  Let's be people of the Book to know and live what it says.

The second clue that we leave behind about what we believe is the people we have influenced. Last weekend was also the tenth anniversary of our son-in-law's death in Iraq (KIA 8/20/2006). Gabe knew Christ and lived it on the battlefield as well. The impact of his life on others brought together some of his former soldiers and family to meet. His battle buddy, Eric Sakuma, was at his side when he fell. Since then Eric has given his life to Christ also and is a living reminder of Gabe's influence. Now, as a sergeant also, he came in dress uniform at

Sgt Eric Sakuma salutes his battle buddy again.

high noon to honor his brother in arms at Tahoma National Cemetery. Then he met with former soldier friends and family to visit for a picnic

Young Gabriel and his mother Hannah meet his dad Gabe's battle buddies after ten years.  L to R:  Hannah (De Roo) Clark, Eric Sakuma, Jon Stuart, Gabriel De Roo II, Greg Savage, Steven Montanio.

that afternoon. You can hear Eric's testimony on our Livestream that he gave Sunday Aug. 21.

What people will you have influenced for the Lord? What example are you to others of courage, faith, giving, commitment, fortitude, godliness and humility? Who will be changed because of how you lived?

Important things coming up.  See more also on our website calendar. 

• Sun. Aug. 28 9:15 & 10:30 Juan Carlos Magallanes, will report on his ministry to Hispanics in the Quincy, WA area. He will have parts in both services. Don't miss it.
• Building Update: We have three contractors we intend to meet with soon. 

SGT. DE ROO: THE REST OF THE STORY

Perhaps a better title for my blog this week might be LEGACY OF AN AMERICAN HERO because it is said that a legacy is where life stories live on. 

Many have heard the story of my son-in-law Sgt. Gabiel De Roo who was killed in action ten years ago this week on Aug. 20, 2006 in Mosul, Iraq. It is chronicled in our tract Duty * Honor * Sacrifice. His integrity, faith in Christ and sacrifice are remarkable. But, what happened in the ten years after that is remarkable too and a testimony to God’s sovereign workings.

Before deploying to Iraq Gabe instructed Hannah that if he died she was to buy a house to be near our family in Gig Harbor. He had provided for this through insurance. She immediately did that after he died.

Hannah also joined the Iraq army widows group at Fort Lewis. She soon became a model for other widows to follow in dealing with grief because of her faith in Christ. The counselor pointed to her as an encouragement to others.   

Gabe had also instructed her to consider marriage again after a year. He didn’t want his son Gabriel to be without a dad. He also gave her a list of qualifications that a Christian husband and father should have.

Willie Clark was a local math teacher in Tacoma who knew nothing of Hannah. He didn’t want to marry because of a bad attitude about marriage. The Lord convicted him about that in a sermon he heard at a youth camp. He repented of it, went and bought a card to give to a future spouse if the Lord should supply. In God’s providence that was the same weekend that Gabe was killed in Iraq but unknown to Willie.

Later he heard about and eventually noticed Hannah. They went out for coffee and began to communicate. Within a year they were married on July 5, 2008. Little Gabriel escorted Hannah down the aisle to be wed to her new husband and little Gabe’s future daddy. In the years ahead they would all visit Gabe’s grave regularly. God blessed and more children were born.  In the mean time Hannah's younger brothers Ezra and Elijah followed in Gabe's foot steps joining the Army and being sent to Mosul where Gabe had fallen.

Many heard of Gabe’s death and wanted to help Hannah. But she was well cared for so the Sgt. De Roo fund was set up help in Iraq. Gabe had expressed a desire to go there after the war and do ministry. Mosul where he died is the modern name for the ancient city of Nineveh that the prophet Jonah evangelized in the greatest revival of history. It needs revival again so we began to look for ways to do Middle East ministries. Eventually we settled on a ministry that made regular trips to the area to help the Iraqi people. As of this date over $68,000 has been given to help church leaders be trained, a ministry center built, believers encouraged, soldiers aided, and refugees fed. All have heard the story of Sgt. De Roo and his Lord.

Many Iraqis, including front line soldiers, have said “Thanks” and even sent greetings back to givers.  Pray for Iraq and the ministry there as it continues.  See the special six-page report with many pictures on THE LEGACY OF SGT. GABRIEL DE ROO available at church or on request. Pray for the Gospel to continue to go out.

For more information on Gabe see www.gabrielderoo.us. You can give to the De Roo Fund at www.DiscoveryBaptist.org. Let me know what you think at msuko@discoverybaptist.org or on a Care Card.

NOTE:

Sat. Aug. 20th marks exactly 10 years since SGT Gabriel De Roo was killed in action in Iraq. Join us in celebrating his life. You may pay respects to his resting place at Tahoma National Cemetery privately any time during the day (18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868). Sgt. Eric Sakuma (Gabe's battle buddy) will be visiting the grave at noon, and anyone is welcome to join him. A grave locator is at the cemetery entrance information center. We have a reservation at Lake Wilderness Park (a mile away) at 3 pm for a potluck-style fellowship (22500 SE 248th St, Maple Valley, WA 98038), where children can play and adults can visit. All welcome.

Sun. Aug. 21 At 9:15 No Sunday School except for the Adult Class this Sunday due to our annual church camp out (Details at www.DiscoveryBaptist.org).  The 10:30 worship will be as usual except for no Jr. Church.  There will be no nursery for either service this Sunday.  

See our online Calendar for more details.

WHERE IS SATAN TODAY?

If you were going to look for Satan where would you find him today?  Some don't believe he exists so they would say he is "in your mind." But, the Bible clearly portrays him as a real created angel that fell with other angels (See Isa. 14:12-14 and Ezk. 28:12-18 where it is symbolically described). He appears right at the start in Genesis, all through the Bible right up to the end of Revelation. 

Many believe he could be found in hell where he is running the place and directing demons to keep the fires burning. But, in reality he has never been to hell. When he eventually gets there he will not be in charge because God is.  Satan will then be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire where he and millions of others "will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev. 20:10).

But, where is Satan today?  Surprise! He is in heaven for the most part? Job 1 & 2 tell us he appeared before God with other angels there to accuse Job. He is called the "prince of the power of the air" and that our struggle is "against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 2:2; 6:12). Then Revelation 12:10b speaks of the last days of human history before Christ returns. As Satan is thrown down he is described as being in heaven where he "accuses them (the brethren) before God day and night." Imagine that. Satan is there presenting your sin to God and sometimes probably twisting the story a bit too as he did in the Garden.

This should remind us we still live in a fallen universe. Some of the problems we face may be because Satan is working against us as he did Job.  It should cause us to read our Bibles and pray and be aware of these spiritual battles that he directs his demons (fallen angels) to fight here on earth. There is plenty of that around.

Satan probably knows the Bible better than any of us.  So why does he resist if he knows he will lose in the end? While he knows a lot, but, he is not all knowing nor can he be everywhere. He may still think he can somehow cause Christians to fail or even lose their salvation.  He won't give up. 

What should you do?  "...resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (I Pet. 5:9).  Is your faith anchored in Christ alone for your forgiveness of sin? Watch our What is the Gospel video or learn more about Satan's final fall in last Sunday's message in our Livestream at http://livestream.com/discoverybaptistgigharbor/events/6024032.

Some important things coming up. 

• Sun. Aug. 14 10:30 Vasiliy Kaletnik will report on his Moldova Ministry.  Pastor Mark will be speaking on Rev. 13.  We'll also bid farewell to Ann Fisher to USCG and Christian Hayes to take teaching post at Judson U.
• Aug. 19-21 Church Camp Out at Manchester State Park.  See www.DiscoveryBaptist.org for registration info.  At church on the 21st only the adult SS class will meet in addition to the regular worship.  See our calendar page for more details.