"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1, 2

Dear Friends and Family,

Our society's media is among the most powerful, seductive and molding forces the world has ever known. It is not an over-statement to say that our culture has become completely media saturated. Movie theaters, video rentals, cell phones, text messaging, e-mails, video games, laptops, television, radio, and a never-ending bombardment of internet blogging inundate us with a constant flow of audio and visual stimuli and messages. Through these channels of technology, agendas are implemented, ideologies spread, relationships are brought shallow, and thinking is conformed in the masses. Unfortunately, the majority of this media bombardment is ungodly, attractive to the flesh, and has the powerful ability to conform our thinking and influence our behaviors. When a person stops to really ponder this rapid growth and potent pervasiveness, it is alarming! It is especially alarming when the majority of the messages that are being communicated militate against a Biblical world view/paradigm. It is ignorance that keeps more Christians from being concerned. It is often personal compromise and cultural infection that keeps shepherds from heralding the warning to the sheep. For when personal convictions become compromised, how can a person impart to others what they do not have? Media has a potent way of dulling our senses and causing a disturbing compromise within the conscience. As has been stated before..."We should not be entertained by the sins for which Christ died." Lusting, laughing, coveting and consuming sin through media channels has no place in the regenerate persons' life.

Thankfully, God has not abandoned us to suffer from this cultural conformity without sufficient resources. We have been given abundant weapons to fight off the "prince of the power of the air." God's Word has the incredible power to guard and transform the regenerate mind. The Truth of His Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are more powerful than any media influence. However, this does still necessitate the ability to make wise decisions regarding media and our willingness to deny ourselves of it.

Two important principles must be followed to avoid becoming saturated and compromised by media and sin. "Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" Romans 13:12. First, we must "lay aside" or "put off the deeds of darkness" including sinful, influencing, and conforming media choices. Is it time to call the cable company or the satellite company and get the whole TV system disconnected? How about that computer and the images that are being viewed? How Godly is the reading material that is going into your mind these days? I still believe that one of the best ways we can know how "deeply molded" we are by media, is to step back from these influences for a season and pay attention to ourselves. Idols have a way of screaming for our attention when they have been neglected. If, during a season of media fasting we hear the "scream", let it serve as a warning to us that idols have found root in our lives. What is the best way to deal with a rooted idol (sin)? Jesus Christ taught us well..."gauge it out, cut it off, and throw it away" (Matthew 5, Matthew 18, Mark 9). We should never try to keep idols (sin) as pets. They have a way of consuming their owners.

Secondly, we must "put on the armor of light." This armor is thick and impenetrable. Its' primary power is found in God's Holy Word and it will transform the regenerate mind and guard the human heart. It will cause your thinking to be more Biblical and Godly tomorrow than it was today. It will place Jesus Christ as Lord and it will place self in its rightful position of a servant to Christ and others. It will eventually create a Christ-like transformation and cause "the things of this world to grow strangely dim." May it be so with us.

As Hollywood's TV moguls and other masters of media rise up again to grab your mind this Fall (and the minds of your family), be willing to unplug their ungodly influences and replace them with God-honoring alternatives. Take the time to shepherd those you love away from the penetrating power of today's media culture. In doing so, may the American idol that has grown so large in homes across the country today, find no worship in yours.

Ministry News
The Father's Ranch continues to be fully engulfed in the ministry of Biblical Counseling. Our residential program continues to serve and be thoroughly sought after by many who struggle with life-debilitating sins. Addictions, eating disorders, those who struggle with self-abuse or suicidal ideations have all been coming to our door at an alarming rate. While it is impossible to meet all of the needs that come to us, our capacity was actually diminished during the month of June. As you may have heard, our Program Director, Hannah Ketcham, received an unexpected late night phone call that brought sad news for her. Her father, Mr. Marty Ketcham, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 45 years old. Hannah was whisked away the very next morning to help and comfort her family in Michigan. Hannah has a wonderful mother, two younger brothers and two younger sisters. Please pray for the Ketcham family during this time of loss and difficulty. Hannah's father was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! Her return to TFR anytime soon is doubtful.

The Biblical Counseling Center of Okanogan (BCCO) has been up and running for a few months now and has been reaching out into our local community with the Truth of God's Word. Many have come to us with broken/stressed marriages, family problems, addictions, and a host of other problems. We continue to use the building that is owned by the Tonasket Free Methodist Church, free of charge, and we are grateful for their continued generosity. Please pray for the ability to purchase this wonderfully located building. It is serving very well.

Answered Prayer
As you may remember, we have been asking for prayer, for a number of months now, for a farm tractor that would serve TFR's facility needs. Our old Ford tractor had been fixed and re-fixed so many times that I don't think there was an original part left on it! Still, she kept running and serving with a stubborn resilience. Well, during the month of July, TFR was able to purchase a Massey Ferguson tractor that was born in 1991! She has a front loader, a PTO in the back and is four wheel drive. It only has 1,200 hours on it and was sold to us by a Christian man at a very generous price. Thank you all for praying and giving to this needed resource! Lord willing, it will serve for many years.

Facility News
Please forgive some boasting here, but the Lofthus boys are coming of age now and these "strong horses" went to work again this summer. A project was laid out before them to re-design, update, and landscape TFR's 350 foot highway frontage appearance. Ground was tilled, rocks were picked, 35 hedging trees were planted, fence was painted, a rooftop was installed for the new sign (installed by a men's group previously), a landscaped planter was constructed, 64 cubic yards of bark was spread, and 15 cubic yards of rock as well. Adding to the job was our typical Eastern Washington heat that boasted tempts of 90-100 degrees almost every day. The finished product came out great! I hope you all can swing by TFR to see it for yourselves sometime.

On a different note, TFR's main septic system that serves our apartment, the Lofthus home, and the office, gave up the ghost! The system as a whole has been overused for quite some time now and we knew this day was coming. Currently, my wife and kids are showering, doing laundry, dishes, and using toilet facilities elsewhere. All visitors are being redirected to other facilities as well. It's just a little bit inconvenient, although I'm not complaining! Anyone who has taken any kind of trip to another part of the world that doesn't have indoor plumbing knows how spoiled we Americans are! We really do take these things for granted and OHH, how we miss them when they're gone. Still, TFR doesn't have the funds to replace this system right now, although we are moving forward in faith as though we do. PLEASE pray for the provision of a new (replacement) septic system. I've received a number of bids for an enlarged septic system and the price tag for design, excavation, work and materials is right at $7,000.00. Your prayers are coveted for this vital facility need.

Garden Bounty 2009
It's that time again! Harvest is happening all around the Okanogan valley. TFR has once again, been blessed beyond measure by a bountiful harvest and generous friends. Just this week alone we will have brought in 700 ears of corn, 500 pounds of pears, 350 pounds of tomatoes and loads of squash, cucumbers, and zucchini.

There is much more still to come as our gals do their best to can and preserve all of this bounty. We are so thankful for all of the friends and neighbors of TFR who give so generously and freely. As most of you know, gardening is hard work! To give away your produce to others is the same as donating your time, money, labor and resources to someone else. We are blessed to have such incredibly giving friends.

In conjunction with the agricultural blessings, TFR's livestock program continues to thrive as well. Currently, the barnyard is full as we raise pigs, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, beef cows, sheep and goats all for consumption. We do still have some horses, but times would have to get pretty hard...just kidding! Butchering season arrives in about 8-12 weeks and we will once again fill our freezers with the Lord's provision of meat. While raising all of these animals fits into TFR's residential program very well, the ability to raise our own meat also offsets about 50% of the cost it would take to purchase meat in the local grocery store.

Where Are They Now?
Brooke Miracle left her beautiful, oceanfront college campus in San Diego, CA. and arrived at TFR in the cold month of February 2003. The Lord was calling her to the ranch for 'healing' from a 10 year struggle with bulimia. Brooke has this to say: "Little did I know that this change in 'view' would be the catalyst to the change in 'view' of my life, understanding, and relationship with the Lord. I found out very soon that dealing with root issues is often more painful than dealing with the surface issue at hand. The most valuable and cherished thing I took away from TFR was learning the Word. It's wholeness, sufficiency, authority, life, and perfection, is what feeds my every passion in life. 1st Timothy 4:16 says...'Watch your life and doctrine closely, for in it you will save both yourself and your hearers.' A great number of seasons, locations, and struggles have inhabited the time between now and when I was at the ranch. I am currently married to the man of my dreams (naturally, God picked him out!) We are both excited to meet the little girl that is residing inside my belly at the moment! She is due on my birthday, October 11th. We have been so blessed and overjoyed about life, yet daily we are faced with a number of struggles. For the past ten months we have both been out of a job. Still, we have been afforded the opportunity to grow together, as a unit, in trusting and being completely dependent on the Lord and witnessing His blatant provisions for our life. We have grown more in love with each other and more in love with the Lord through it all. We are unsure of what the Lord has in store for our future. We are making plans, and the Lord is faithfully directing our every step. Lastly, I will leave you with this: The healing the Lord had for me was not what I expected. He did not heal me miraculously- which I believe He could have and can do. He has allowed me to struggle in order that I might learn discipline in not just that area of my life, but others as well. His grace is sufficient for me, and my 'thorn' has caused me to be completely dependent on Him every day. And that is something I would not trade for the world." -Brooke Rood-

Brooke is another trophy of God's grace and we are absolutely thrilled to hear of her marriage and precious, little girl! Please be in prayer for them as they go forward in faith, trusting the Lord for His provision and direction.

While donations have done more ebbing than flowing for TFR is recent months, especially with the summertime slowdown, God is graciously meeting our needs and we are profoundly thankful and encouraged. When we ask for prayer for the involvement and investment of you, the Church and Body of Christ, we don't do so lightly. In conjunction, we take the stewardship responsibilities that we have been charged with very seriously as well. We know that every gift, small or large, is a direct blessing from God, through His people, to be used in a manner that is pleasing to Him and glorifying to His Name.

So, it is our privilege to report on the activities of TFR once again, and to tell you "thank you" for your support in whatever form it may take. It is our joy to serve with you for the sake of God's kingdom.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Craig Lofthus