We had the distinct honor of welcoming Dakota Ray Duke into the world today (January 21, 2009) at 5:49 PM.  Both he and his mom are strong and healthy (and my wife is a champ). 

Join us in praising God for this tremendous blessing!

Quick update: I injured my back a little over a month ago and I have been really slowed (almost to a grinding halt) with constant pain.  In the midst of this mess, I find myself oscillating between two positions: 1) the downtrodden, depressed “poor, pitiful me” syndrome, and 2) the “what in the world is God trying to show me through this” mindset.  Thanks be to God that I have spent a lot more time on #2.

And one of the myriad revelations that I have been shown during this time is just how blessed I am.  God has allowed me to spend the rest of my life with the woman of my dreams, He’s shaping perhaps the coolest little boy in world in my son T.J., He is currently forming another blessed son of mine in the womb (we’re looking for a launch in late January ‘09), and He has called me to lead an awesome assemblage of people known locally as Iron City Church.

He has also been showing me all over again the value of my TIME.  My time with Amber and TJ during this painful period has grown both of those relationships like crazy – especially between TJ and me.  I am reminded once again of the resounding, truthful words of Paul in his letter to the Romans: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   – Romans 8:28

I have never been prouder of the Iron City family than I was yesterday afternoon.  I had the joy of helping Ami M. and six or seven other servant-leaders from ICC distribute and wrap all the toys that we collected over the last few weeks. 

As a part of our Christmas Conspiracy, we partnered with our friends at Faithbridge Community Church to help out their community during the holiday season.  One of the greatest needs that was shared was the very real concerns of parents – many of whom have lost jobs this year - who were afraid that they may not have anything to give to their children this Christmas.  We shared this need with Iron City and they responded in unbelievable fashion, overflowing the collection boxes every week.

In three short weeks, we collected enough toys to fill a Honda Element and to make Christmas morning special for a couple dozen families in McKees Rocks.  In addition, we were able to tangibly demonstrate the love of Jesus to an anxious bunch of parents.  And as I watched grateful parents file in and out of the gift room yesterday I was reminded of this passage:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.   James 1:27 (NIV)

We just finished week #2 of our Dirty Little Secrets message series at ICC.  It’s based on one specific secret, that we’re all created with a need and desire for relationships but we all suck at making them work.  That’s how God created us, to live, grow, and thrive in the context of relationships.  This series is all about sharing some of the “dirty little secrets” to help us make our relationships work. 

Yesterday’s topic was marriage, titled “Fairy Tales are for Children (not your love life).”  The love we hear about in fairy tales, movies, and pop songs is all about infatuation, but God-pleasing love (the kind required to make marriage work) is hard work.

Here are some resources to help:

• Movie – Fireproof
• Book – The Love Dare (Kendrick & Kendrick)
• Book – The Five Love Languages (Chapman)
• Book – Sheet Music (Leman)
• Book – Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (Parrott)

Even as I type this, Jeff and Leslie are in the hospital, awaiting the arrival of little Cadence.  If you’re reading this, please pray for them all to get some rest and for Cadence to come on out.  We’re all waiting to meet you, little one…

She’s not even here yet, but Cadence has been blogging for months now: http://cadenceolivia.wordpress.com/.  Check it out!

I love Mondays.

First of all, Sundays are my favorite days of the week.  Yesterday, we had a decent crowd (57) at ICC in spite of a bunch of folks out for the weekend.  The “Catalytic One” (my dad, Lamar Duke, and our Catalytic Pastor) preached for us and talked about “A Lifestyle of Generosity.”  The band did a great job — started off the day with a pretty sweet version of “Give a Little Bit.”  It was a good one all around.

On top of the “good exhausted” feeling of coming off of Sunday, Mondays are great because Monday night is Date Night around here.  Amber and I didn’t really date at all before we got married.  We “hung out” a lot.  Spent a lot of time with friends.  But not much dating before or after we got married for the first couple of years.  We really made Date Night a priority when we moved to Pittsburgh and it’s been awesome.

Why date night?  Because as life gets (and stays) busy, it’s amazing how easy it is to go all week and not have much — or any — meaningful, one-on-one conversation with each other.  Marriage is work. 

Hey married guys out there — get off it and put together a Date Night.  You have to take the lead.  Give your wife a couple of days notice, pay for a babysitter, and take her out on a date.  Just the two of you.  You’ll be amazed…

4 years ago today was a Saturday. It was sunny and warm in South Georgia – not a cloud in the sky (although there were a few buzzards — another story).  The sun was shining, there was a light wind blowing, and it was one of those days that I believe God specifically made beautiful for a reason.

That was the day that Ms. Amber Pachel became Mrs. Amber Duke and she has rocked my world every day since!  Today is our 4th Anniversary and I love her exponentially more today than I did on that Saturday afternoon 1,461 days ago.

Besides my new life in Jesus Christ, Amber is BY FAR the greatest blessing that God has ever given to me and I just want to thank her for being my helpmate and putting up with me (not always easy)!

And I want to thank God for knocking my socks off by giving me a wife who is far beyond anything I could have asked or even imagined!

Just because I’m proud to share . . .

  

  

 

Have a great weekend!

Another good weekend at ICC.  We had a slimmer crowd than I had thought might be there, but with the sickness running around and the crazy cold weather we had yesterday it was decent.  We also had a few folks we hadn’t seen in a while there yesterday — good stuff!

I am stoked about our new series, “Family Ties.”  We’re spending three weeks looking at what scripture has to say about relationships in the family. 

We kicked off yesterday a little differently than what I’ve seen from a lot of churches.  Often, people who aren’t married aren’t included in this type of message series.  I think on a larger scale that in many churches the issues that singles face are rarely addressed with any level of seriousness. 

We talked about living single at length yesterday in a message called “Single in Limbo.”  The limbo aspect of singleness involves challenges, pressures and frustrations that the rest of society doesn’t necessarily deal with and I think God has a lot to say about it.  Here’s the link if you want to download the message: http://www.ironcitychurch.com/downloads.html

Good stuff.

Well, I normally fall into at least the early adopter category when it comes to new things and ideas. 

Unfortunately, it looks like that applies to illnesses as well. 

Every other person living in my household is currently suffering with some version of the flu mess that I had for a couple of weeks. 

Please pray for their healing and for me to know how to best serve them.  Thanks.