"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." Deuteronomy 30:15, 16

Dear Friends and Family,

Over the past decade or so we have reviewed literally hundreds of counseling applications. Hit me in the head enough times with the exact same club and in the exact same place and eventually even I will be able to figure some things out...maybe. Here are a few observed commonalities:

The conscience is never satisfied until sin is mortified. God has written His law onto the hearts of all men and women everywhere from the very beginning (Romans 2:15). Even the unregenerate man knows the difference between right and wrong in his innermost being. He knows lying, stealing, adultery, homosexuality, murder, and the like are wrong because God has written it onto his conscience that these are wrong. It is part of what it means to be made in the image of God (imago Deo).

When we do sin, and we all sin, we will do one of two things. We will try to cover up the sin, ignore it, and when we're really depraved, actually glory in it (Phil 3:19), or we will confess it, repent of it, and be washed by the Word from it (Hebrews 10:22). The results of the first option often bring with it a host of emotional problems because man is not equipped to sin capriciously, violate conscience, and not endure severe consequences. I am a firm believer that the reason so many people are suffering from emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, and anger today is because of unresolved, un-confessed, un-repented sin. Our culture embraces its list of "disorders" because it provides an excellent outlet for blame-shifting the responsibility for our sin away from its owner. Sin then often gets covered up by misplacing it onto our genes, our parents, or our environment. Here's a quick example: TFR has a garden full of weeds right now. If I simply throw dirt on top of those weeds, the garden will look great for about 4 days, then what do you think we'll see? Yep, more weeds than ever before. What I need to do is get off of my office-sitting brains and rip up those weeds! Our sin must be mortified, put to death, before our conscience will be satisfied.

Here is the good news. Faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ can actually re-sensitize a conscience and bring back the sensitivity it once had to sin. In so doing, anxiety disorders, depression disorders, eating disorders, and even intermittent explosive disorders (anger) can be washed away and ripped up forever. God's Word is sufficient! The two greatest healers I have ever seen are faith in and regeneration through Jesus Christ and confession with repentance. They are joined at the hip. Martin Luther said: "The truest form of repentance is to do so no more." Herein lies healing for our souls.

Excavation at TFR has started! I have enclosed a couple pictures of the machinery and the large amounts of earth being moved. We've logged some trees to make way for an improved and expanded road and for an additional home. Large excavation equipment is digging trenches for water, power, and phone lines. This expansion, when completed, will more than double our current capacity, allowing us to serve up to 25 women at a time. It will also allow us to bring on another staff family committed to serving hurting and wounded women who are in need of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.

Our entire water system has been provided for through a generous gift of $4,000.00. Our final bid came in at 4,100.00! Our power is being done by our local PUD. Their bill was unexpected and came in at $7,700.00. Please pray for the provision for this bill as we do not currently have the means to pay it. We are attempting to build this additional home step by step as the Lord leads and provides. Please pray for His continued provision for it. Please also pray for our faith and witness through the process.

TFR's residential counseling program continues to go forward in high demand. We have a full house and more are knocking on the door. This is typical of summer time. We are currently serving young women who are struggling with drug/alcohol addictions, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and other life-debilitating issues. Some are able to help financially to off-set their stay here at TFR but many can't. Money is never a show-stopper for us receiving them.

We are in need of additional help in the form of interns to live among our students and a Women's Program Director to oversee and lead the women's residential ministry. We are open to considering shorter term commitments from interns so as not to have to turn these student applicants away. If you or someone you know might be interested in serving at TFR for a season, please contact us. Please pray for us during this important time that the Lord would provide just the right women for these positions.

The Biblical Counseling Center of Okanogan (BCCO) continues to serve the local community by providing Biblical counseling to struggling marriages and hurting individuals. Our counselors go to town at least once or twice a week to serve people, often without pay. This can be thankless work but fruitful work as marriages are healed, individuals are brought closer to Christ, and families are restored. Please continue to pray for this portion of TFR's ministry.

Your faithful prayers, gifts, and service, in whatever capacity the Lord may lead, are the means that the Lord uses to enable this work and bless it. Thank you for your sacrificial love. You are appreciated.

For the Glory of the Lord Alone,