In our last issue, I began an investigation into the importance of preserving a proper spiritual focus. Like a camera taking pictures, there may be room for variation in many settings, but if the focus is off the result is basically worthless. So, too, if we maintain an improper spiritual focus, we will produce a “life picture” that is blurry and virtually unusable.

So then, where should our focus be? We at Eagle’s Nest have endeavored to boil down where we believe the Lord’s heart lies on this matter:

To Glorify God’s Name,
To Strengthen His Church, and
To Extend His Kingdom.

It is no accident that the list begins with, “To Glorify God’s Name”. However, this phrase means much more to us than just the activities of worship, as essential as they are. Rather, our more fundamental idea is letting God, and our relationship with Him, truly be first in our lives, fully integrated into every area of existence, giving us our purpose and direction.

In the book of Philippians, the famous 21st verse of chapter one, Paul makes a very pointed statement: “For to me, to live is Christ”. Here, Paul is declaring the primary focus and purpose of his life. Notice, he does not say that for him to live is being a Hebrew of Hebrews, a former Pharisee, an apostle, a missionary, or the vessel God was using to pen the majority of the New Testament. All of these things, to one degree or another, carried their benefits and blessings, but indeed Paul says that he counts them all as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8).

In short, Paul is saying that his life was going to be defined not in what he did or who he was, but rather in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To Paul, Christ was everything, and the intimate, personal relationship with the Lord was what then motivated him in his life and ministry.

I even find it interesting that Paul does not say that for him “to live is serving Christ”, “being a good Christian witness”, or even “winning souls”. No! Although certainly very important, even these must be subservient to the primary issue of knowing and loving Christ. Only then can he complete the sentence with, “and to die is gain”. Why? Because the Person he loved the most was waiting for him on the other side. If Paul’s primary concern was for things of this earth, including Christian service, death would actually signify a loss to him. Not a gain.

This same concept I believe is echoed in Christ’s letter to the Ephesian church found in Revelation 2:1-7. Space does not permit me to write the entire letter, but if you read it, notice what He says. This church had a fantastic outward appearance: they had good doctrine, worked hard, and did not abide falsehood in teaching nor compromise in lifestyle. In other words, it was a fundamentalist, evangelical “dream” church.

But then look at verses 4 and 5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love...I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from it’s place - unless you repent”. (Emphasis mine).
Of course Christ is concerned with our doctrine, our testimony (verbal and lifestyle), and our spiritual labors. But, if I get the flavor of these verses properly, He is even more concerned with our love relationship with Himself. You see, if our heart is truly in tune with the heart of Christ, our doctrine and activities will naturally follow - not out of duty, but out of love. If not, these then become nothing but cold, dead religion, and serve only to feed our own misguided, selfish, “spiritual pride”.

May we all, by God’s grace, focus first on our love relationship with Him through the Word and worship. Only then will He truly be glorified, as He will then be free to work in us, “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

In His Service,
Stephen Tecklenberg
President

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Who Are We? Introducing Our Directors...

(It is with great pleasure that I put before you the single greatest male influence in my life: my father, Dr. Paul Tecklenberg. -ST.)

Paul and his wife Dianne (Steve’s Mom) have been a part of what would become Eagle’s Nest Ministries since the first missionary efforts in 1995. In the fall of that year, Paul traveled with Steve to Moscow, Russia, to help in the preparations for the January 1996 Mission To Moscow. Since then, he has continued to devote to the ministry much time, energy, and prayer, serving on the Board of Directors and as the chairman of it’s By-laws committee.
More recently, both Paul and Dianne participated in our mission trip to Romania this past November. (See “Ministry Report”, next page).

Paul was born in Essex, Maryland in 1942, in the home of an evangelical Lutheran pastor. During his formative years, Paul was naturally under the influence of Biblical teaching and the godly example of his father. However, it wasn’t until 1978, at the age of 36, that he came to understand that the life of the Christian is to be lived out in loving service to the Savior and His people.
Since then, in addition to his very busy medical practice, Paul has served with Bible Study Fellowship as a teaching leader (6 years) and then as the area advisor for the northeast men’s BSF classes. He currently attends church at Fellowship Chapel in Jarrettsville, MD.

We are very thankful for the influence that Paul brings to the board. He has a definite keenness of spirit, offering very solid, Biblical guidance to the ministry’s people and programs. We look forward very much to his continued involvement in the years ahead.

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Ministry Report

This past November, Eagle’s Nest again had the joy and privilege of teaching the many eager students at the Golgotha Bible School in Talmaciu, Romania.

During the two week ministry, courses were offered in Romans (Paul Tecklenberg), Spiritual Counseling (Tony Rupp), and Bible Survey (Steve Tecklenberg). Additionally, there were many opportunities to meet with and counsel individual students. This was especially so for Dianne Tecklenberg, who was given many chances to minister to the younger women. We trust that God used these opportunities to strengthen His people as they prepare for their ministries.

Among the notable events of the trip, however, was serving all 80+ of them an American Thanksgiving style dinner. Guessing by how much they ate, we think they enjoyed it!

Then, on December 18th, over 300 people joined us at our Christmas Round-Up, co-sponsored with Beachmont Christian Ministries. Complete with a chuckwagon-style dinner, Christmas caroling with a western flavor, and a “fireside” devotion message on the wonders of the Incarnation, the evening (we trust) was a good opportunity for us all to consider the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Please pray with us that the ministry of His Word would continue in the hearts of all who participated in these programs.