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| Duane Gilchrist |
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A Christian Businessman's Pilgrimage
High lights in the life of Duane Gilchrist
One of Duane's earliest memories was about a decision he made when he was approximately 5 years of age. He had asked his mother about things he'd picked up in church and Sunday school. Things like:
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", Rom. 3:23 and ;
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Rom. 6:23.
She explained that Duane, as an admitted young sinner, needed to trust in God's solution for sinners, to be forgiven of his sins. That, God Himself, the Lord Jesus, had chosen to come to this earth and die on the cross in Duane's place! So, wanting and needing God's forgiveness, Duane accepted the truth of John 3:16 for himself. This scripture states;
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life."
Duane was told that as a result of that simple act of faith, trusting in God's gift and promise, he had become a child of God, was born again, and would live forever with Him in heaven. This launched his life on a path with his Savior.
His life as a child was relatively carefree, but this could not be said for his parents.
Duane grew up in the depression of the 1930's. His family lost a business, and then lost the Kansas wheat farm. They moved from place to place in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. His Dad took whatever work was available, somehow able to hold to his determination to not accept the pitiful government "relief" that was sometimes available. The family worked together in many ways to get by.
(Duane's "growing up" years were complicated by his Dad's loss of an eye at carpentry work in 1936, just as things were picking up. This accident progressed into a mental breakdown. He was hospitalized for 2 years in what was called in those days, "the insane asylum", located in a town, with the whimsical name of, Chatahoochie, Florida! When he was finally discharged, he reported that most of the 2 years, he had been fully recovered and that many fully recovered patients were unable to obtain discharges. It developed that the institution needed patients in those days to maintain their "budget", so once patients were committed, it required significant efforts to effect a release! How different today with the "swarms" of drug addicts out there with on-going mental dis-orders! Institutions have no shortage of "business" these days! While the family rejoiced when he was finally released from the hospital, the stigma remained and had a negative impact on his Dad over the years. Duane always admired his efforts to put the sadness of that time behind him. Also, Duane profited from his parents consistent discipline as they raised the family under trying circumstances. To some extent, this hospitalization contributed to his Dad's "roller coaster" life as a Christian. While he was well founded in the faith, especially as he embraced the prophetic truths of the Lord's 2nd coming, he was given to discouragement which too often, resulted in a defeated Christian life. Further, the prominent "pastor" in Duane's life through those years was an uncle who lived a life of remarkable hypocrisy).
Thankfully, through all this his Mom was a stabilizing influence, and Duane held to that promise from God, that had resulted in his "conversion". But he lived two lives as he moved through pre-teens into young adulthood. He lived one style of life at home and in church and another in school, out on the paper route, with buddies or later at work for Pan American Airways as a radio technician and then in the Army Air Corp as a flight radio operator, during World War II.
In 1946, on returning to civilian life, to Hood River Oregon, (his family had relocated from Florida to follow defense work in the Vancouver Washington shipyards), Duane was given special attention by the pastor of the small Baptist church of that town. Thankfully, his pastor's answers to questions that he had accumulated drew him to a closer fellowship with his Lord Jesus.
About this time he met, Myra, the wonderful Christian girl who was to become his wife.
(Myra's Dad, Con Watterberg, was a good, positive influence on Duane. He was, unlike his own father, a strong, consistent Christian, and as a mentor, built Christian strengths into Duane's life.)
In 1947, Myra and Duane started their married life with a determination to serve their Lord together. Then, as the children arrived, they seriously committed them to their Lord, willing for Him to use them as He pleased. This was a sincere, deliberate act of dedication for each one while they were still in the womb.
Further, they agreed to raise the children in the love and discipline of the Lord following Biblical principles as nearly as they could understand them. This parenting style, practiced consistently, has rewarded them with a family that loves and serves the Lord. Each family member, right down to the great-grand children have each made individual, personal commitments to the Lord Jesus as they reached ages around 4 or 5! Duane and Myra are truly blessed!
Their children and now their grandchildren have also followed the Biblical principles of child rearing and it shows in all the kid's lives! What a blessed family! Duane's family gives them more honor and appreciation than they deserve!
In their early years together, Duane held a variety of jobs, which included 2 years of part-time attendance at Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland Oregon.
Then after 2 years in the securities brokerage business, in 1959, Duane with, Myra's help, launched an extensive, computer based, technical, statistical analysis, stock market report, called Market Monitor, along with a related advisory report, Market Guidance. This business was maintained from their home in Silverton Oregon, renting time on the earliest main frame computers available in Portland.
To their knowledge, this was the first computer based market report made available to the public. While the business was recognized as a "technical" success, it never became a financial success, being handicapped by early decisions that never allowed the infusion of adequate working capital.
His venture continued for 9 years and was followed by 7 years when Duane worked in the insurance industry as a systems analyst and project manager.
In 1975, with the family grown, Duane and Myra elected to fulfill another lifetime desire. They joined a Christian Mission organization, Campus Crusade for Christ, International. Duane developed computer systems for this worldwide organization, and Myra served in Human Resources. (Both their sons, Scott and Brett also served in the Campus Crusade for Christ organization).
After several years of system development and project management, Duane was promoted to be the Director of Computer Services, and was also responsible for the organization's mailing and donation services, giving support to fund development.
During this time, in 1978, he purchased his first micro computer, (The first one to surface, the MITS Altair kit. You old timers out there may recall it! This micro preceded IBM's and Apple's micro-computer offerings by about 3 to 5 years). As you can imagine, there have been numerous upgrades in his personal computer installations since then!
This early experience with micros encouraged him to introduce personal computers into Campus Crusade, well ahead of their general acceptance by most computer main frame managements. Communication between the personal computers and the main frame was introduced.
In 1987, Duane and his wife, Myra, transferred to the field ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, to serve as the City Director for the Here's Life branch of Campus Crusade ministry in Portland Oregon, encouraging evangelistic outreach among pastors and lay persons.
In the mid 90's they were re-assigned to Associate Staff, giving them more flexibility in their ministry.
They are closely involved in their church, Southwest Bible Church, of Beaverton Oregon, (pastored by their son, Scott) and The Portland Downtown Bible Class, which they helped found, with other businessmen, in 1993. The class has grown with regular weekly attendance of 250 - 300 men and women each Wednesday noon.
Other Business Ventures:
In 1995, after 20 years of full time service with Campus Crusade, in semi-retirement, as Associate Staff, Duane began to devote more time to develop some business applications on the PC.
A couple of his friends were active real estate brokers. They attended a 2 day seminar that gave them valuable instructions how to properly evaluate and inter-relate all the variables that impact the profitability of investment real estate opportunities.
Duane recognized this detailed study as a good application for a PC. When it was completed, (it proved to be a larger project than seen at first!), it was a great time saver. Also, it allowed the broker and the prospect to see, perhaps for the first time, just how the proposed investment could work out. It allowed the broker and the prospect to work up the study as a team, re-submitting some of the variables to get comparable results under different circumstances.
The system has been marketed on the internet for several years and in early 2001 it was re-programmed for the Windows and Mac environments. It's great for the prospect as well as the broker. Anyone investigating Investment Real Estate should have this tool, reProbe.
Now, the conclusion is nearby!
It's always amazed me how so many can move through this life with little or no preparation for their eternity! An eternity that looms nearby for all! There is a scripture that is read or quoted at many funeral or memorial services where Jesus says:
"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also", John 14:1-3
This great promise is only for those who make preparations for eternity following God's plan rather than trusting their own or some plan that excludes God's only plan!
There can be no doubt about who Jesus is speaking of: This promise from Him is exclusively for those who have believed on Him as their Savior. And in the same passage, He makes it PLAIN, in the following verses, that there is only ONE way to this PLACE He has prepared for His children. "Jesus said to him,” I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." “John 14:6
It is pure foolishness for one to take any comfort in these words of Jesus' if you have not received Him as your Savior. And, there is only ONE way to have Him as your Savior. You cannot trust in your works, or your religion, or your heritage. He says, you must quit trusting in any and all of these things and instead, trust in Him. He then will be your Savior and give you eternal life as a free gift! Then you are prepared for whatever life "deals" you!
Sadly, a huge majority refuse to trust solely on Jesus. They think they are going to heaven based upon their works or religion etc. Jesus said, "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name - - - - And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you' - - -"Matt. 7:22-23
You don't have to stay and go with the crowd! You can know for sure that you are ready for whatever "life" deals you! You see, I have a "written contract" from God! And you can also have His written contract! It's up to you!
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe in God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life." 1st John 5:10-13
You can have this written contract too!
Notice that there are only 2 kinds of people, those who have the Son, and those who do not have the Son. No middle ground! It's His way or No way! The only way, (His way), is with Him, but any "other way" is to have an eternity without Him!
So, in conclusion, at this writing, being 78 years old, I can honestly say that God has met all my material needs and most of my "wants"! And in His wisdom, He has kept me, (at least for the most part), humble, since significant material success has eluded me. Humble, and undeserving, but extremely thankful to be forgiven and His child, in His care!
Then, on the other hand, in what really counts; He has blessed me immensely with riches in family and friends, co-workers and relationships. He has gifted me with the assurance that I have an eternity with Him, now underway, which started 72 years ago, that will improve in the future, and will be wonderful beyond description. What more could one wish?!
"Speed the day!"
Sincerely,
Duane
Click on the links below for more detailed information about Duane Gilchrist's life. Duane's website also contains many important links to great Christian websites.
http://dgilch.sirlook.com/
http://www.ablesoftexchange.com/
http://www.ablesoftexchange.com/aboutnew.html
http://www.ablesoftexchange.com/about.html
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