BIG EVENT THIS WEEKEND???

There is a big event this weekend and it is not the Fourth of July. Independence Day is big. My wife Nancy is a relative of one of the original Minutemen of Concord who helped bring in our Independence. 

The really big event this weekend is the Fifth of July at Discovery. No joke! It is our Ground Breaking Celebration at 10:30. This will be a historic moment at Discovery. Years of praying, planning, and providing (sacrificial giving) have gone into it. The Lord blessed and we are ready to start our final building expansion to maximize our property to within one square foot by code.

In our first building project in 2005 we built our current auditorium and renovated the existing butcher’s shop into our current foyer area. It gave us a nice area for ministry.  But this Sunday July 5th will be more exciting as we break ground to expand our worship center, foyer, and build new classrooms, offices, and a multipurpose hall.

DBC Ground Breaking service 2005. The Big Gig Dig.

Floor pour for what is our current auditorium with entrance and Cry Room window cut out of the butcher shop building. 2005

Our service will be at 10:30 on the patio. For those concerned about distancing they can park and watch from their car or at home on Livestream. It will be a beautiful day and a great time of fellowship. Bring your own chairs, stools, and sack lunch for the picnic on the lawn.

Sunday is also Mike & Rachel Gustafson's last Sunday before returning July 8th to Ukraine for another 4 years of mission ministry. It will be a good time to greet them.

Our focus will not be only on the "building" but the true church, the body of believers, which Christ is building. This is the meaning of the Greek word "church" (a gathered together group). Jesus said, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Mat. 16:18b). This is “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." (I Timothy 3:15b).

See you Sunday July 5th at 10:30.

-Pastor Mark

MEMORIAL DAY MEMORIES

I woke this morning to see what was happening on Memorial Day; the annual ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. It was an impressive picture of military people in dress uniforms at ridged attention waiting for the Commander in Chief to arrive. After a long wait he did. The President, Vice President and Secretary of Defense took their places in somber fashion nearest the gleaming white tomb. President Trump seemed to be praying silently, then he stepped forward to the large wreath next to the crypt, looked mournfully at it and reached out to touch it. Soon he stepped back in line with his entourage and all of them bowed their heads. What a sober reminder of war, death and the roughly one million Americans who have died defending our country. My eyes teared up thinking of our own loss and how God worked so wonderfully through Gabe’s ultimate sacrifice.

This place was familiar to me and it brought back memories of visiting this tomb when I was nine years old. My parents and I had come to visit my aunt and uncle who lived here. Uncle Bill, an officer in the Marine Corp, was stationed at the Pentagon at the time so we got a tour of the place, the various memorials around Washington, the Capitol, the White House, and this Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard was fascinating to this young farm boy as I took it all in. What did this mean and why do they do this every hour? I would visit this place several more times in the years ahead as a young man and later in the military myself. Not far from here my Uncle Bill, in dress uniform, would hand me my commission as a young officer in the Coast Guard. I was proud to have him do that knowing the wars he had fought in. It all made more sense now.

As I quietly watched the ceremony this morning I was reminded of the inscription on the crypt which said, “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD.” God does know every name. It is a reminder of the stark reality of war and death in this world that continues to be cursed by the fall of man in the Garden. When will it all end? I do not know but I do know we are called to pray for it to end. It will, since it is a promise from God; so pray!

Thank God for the part America has played in liberating captives, pushing back evil, and defending our own shores. That is only because of our Christian worldview. We need to continue to pray we will remain spiritually strong because that is why God has blessed America so uniquely.

Christians know this world of war, death, and disease will end eventually. The Scriptures speaks of this. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.” (Rev. 19:11-14; cf.Mat. 26:53)

Pastor Mark

Pray with us for America on Sunday evening May 31st from 6-7 p.m. Watch our website for details on location.

MY MANY MOTHERS

Mother’s Day is a big event at our home. We eulogize Mom, eat her favorite foods, and shower her with flowers. However, it is time to tell you of many mothers.

Eve is my first mother. I believe Eve was a real person made in God’s image as Genesis indicates. She was perfect and the most gorgeous Miss Universe ever. But Satan tempted her and then she led her husband into sin resulting in a God’s curse on Satan and the world. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." (Gen. 3:15). God was saying Satan’s seed, those who followed him, would bruise Eve’s seed on the heal, not a life-threatening blow. But her seed would bruise Satan’s on the head which is a death blow.

When Cain was born Eve said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord” (Genesis 4:1). Luther and others say she may have been thinking Cain was the promised Seed that would crush Satan’s head. But that was not the case yet. The Seed would be Jesus whom Satan opposed. But Christ triumphed over him at the Cross and in the Resurrection so that all who repent and believe in Jesus may be forgiven and saved from eternal damnation.

Eve truly was “the mother of all the living.” (Gen. 3:20b) and had “other sons and daughters.” (Gen. 5:4). Let Ancestry.com trace that out. I am thankful for the life she gave all of us and the warning her life gives of the long reaching effects of sin.

Another mother was my grandmother Anna Maria (Widmer) Suko. She was born in war torn Bessarabia (now Ukraine), married my grandfather, and immigrated to America in 1902 to homestead near what would be Warden, WA. I grew up in the ranch house they built as did three generations of us. She was a hardworking mother of eleven children; driving a horse drawn wheat wagon twenty miles while she was fully pregnant. Everyone called her “Grossmama” (German for grandmother). I may have been her favorite grandchild since I was among the last born, saw her frequently, and our birthdays were a day on either side of Christmas. She taught me my first prayer (in German). I recall her old German Bible and knew she had faith in God by how she lived. She also helped give me a good work ethic early in life. She died when I was ten, but I still miss and think of her.

My third mother was my grandmother on my mother’s side. My grandfather and she homesteaded near Nepel (what is now Moses Lake) and raised seven girls. For reasons unknown she left grandfather and spent her remaining years in Seattle. Her contribution to my life was that she was a woman of prayer and often talked about it. Whatever happened earlier I think drove her to prayer and faith in Christ. Nancy and I had the blessing of visiting her the final time before she died in Seattle.

My grandmother Olive on left and Anna Maria on right with my nephew Mike.

My birth mother was Victoria (Penhallick) Suko. She was a huge blessing to me. She raised my brother and me on the farm and was a warm and affectionate mother. She was also a good writer which is probably why I am doing this blog. My parents took me to church often and laid a foundation in Bible truth. Her life was shortened by a brain tumor while I was in grade school. This caused her to seek God’s healing. Because of that I eventually heard the Gospel clearly, repented, and was born again. The 8 years that followed were hard as she was unable to speak or do anything at all for herself. The Lord used her illness to eventually lead me into the ministry. I look forward to seeing her in the Kingdom.

My mother Victoria (Pennhallick) Suko

As you may have guessed my Nancy is the next mother on my mind. She came into my life while my own mother was failing. I am so thankful for her and our nearly 51 years of marriage. I cannot say enough for her impact on me and our eight children and our twenty-eight grandchildren and one great; two more are due in June. May I add Nancy also gave birth to our son Ezra on Mothers Day 1981. What a gift! She has been my constant companion, cook, spell checker, bill payer, bookkeeper, helper in ministry, lawn mower, encouragement, and the absolute love of my life.

Back L to R: Ruth, Hannah, Nehemiah, Elijah (youngest), Ezra, Joshua (Oldest), Caleb Rachel.

Front: Nancy and me.

I salute also my three sweet daughters Rachel, Hannah, and Ruth as well as my four wonderful daughters-in-law Kirsten, Christina, Heather, and Kristi and my precious grandaugher Naomi who all are raising another generation that will fill the earth with the image of God. I pray for them often since they are now all raising families which is hard work but has eternal rewards. God bless you all.

It’s true I could talk of other mothers I have but I have gone on too long already. May I simply say, Happy Mother’s Day.  

Pastor Mark

Note: No Sunday School Sunday Mothers Day