Featured Father Friday: Roger

Each week we feature a new dad from our community, in a segment called #FeaturedFatherFriday

Tell us about yourself

I am Roger Bodenstab. I am one of the youngest (twin brother) of 10 children. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ since I was 10 years old. I have been married almost 28 years to my wonderful wife, Ronda and we have 3 daughters; Shelby (27), Courtney (25) and Chelsey (22). We live in the amazing Wild Rivers Coast in Crescent City, CA . I have served at the Foursquare Church in various roles since 1995; including Children's Pastor, Christian School Principal, Executive Pastor, Interim Pastor and now as the Lead Pastor. I like to spend time with my family and one of my favorite past times is reading Lamplighter Rare Collector Books (www.lamplighter.net). I love our church family and grateful that we are committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus with the world in what I believe to be the best time in history. I am thrilled to be involved in a variety of organizations that help build strong families and communities, including Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) as well as advocating with the Department of Health and Human Services for Foster and Adoptive Care

What has been your most memorable #Dadtired moment?

I think that it is important that we are able to laugh at ourselves as dads! When our girls were teens, we were leaving to go somewhere and I was the first person to go out of the front door and I fell, face first, off of the step! I am not generally a clumsy person! I was expecting sympathetic moans and sighs, instead I heard roaring laughter! Once my wife knew I was ok, she too entered into the laughter. It was definitely a #DadTired moment that has been a helpful to reminder to not take life too seriously, especially as our children go through the teen years. We have learned to find the laughter in the midst of some very hard times. As our children grew into adults, we have had the incredible privilege of them being our friends and they will often come to us to just share life with and even at times invite our counsel on things they are dealing with in their lives.

Best parenting advice you've ever received?

As a dad there is a great responsibility to raise children and one that I was always looking forward to. As believers, the understanding that we are stewards of God's amazing gifts to us, is a challenge to do our best for Him! But the struggle for me and even for Ronda was the challenge to not take things personally. It really isn't about us when our girls would say things that were hurtful toward us or when they were upset for things not going as they had planned or when they didn't really want to hang out with us. It was difficult to not take these things personally! The best advice we got was, "Don't take it personally!" This helped me as a dad to look beyond their attitudes, their words and their actions and see how I could better help them in the situation that they were struggling. When you don't take things personally, it is much easier to stay engaged and not become angry or retreat at critical times in their lives, when many times they just need a "listening ear." Again, as they grow into adulthood, it gives opportunity to enjoy the fruit of your labor as they decide to hang out with you more and share their lives with you!

What area of your life do you want to be more like Jesus? How do you plan on getting there?

I want to love God more and love people better, especially those I may not like or normally connect with! In the last year, I have been challenged by 1 Peter 4:8, "Above all, love one another deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins." Unpacking this verse and learning how to apply it in my relationship with Christ, with Ronda, with my children, with others has been rewarding. I want people to see the Father in my life. Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). The Apostle John writes in 1 John 4:12, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." When I spend time in the Word, prayer, worship and loving Him, I experience His love and when I love others, I get to see Him.

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