God has NEVER failed me!

God is good!  I remember in my youth Oral Roberts was on the television weekly. His message was always the same:  “God is good!”  I love that saying even to this day because it is so true.  A life in Christ doesn’t mean that we won’t have hard times or that everything will be easy.  He’s good all the time!  There are many things that I struggle over but God is always with me.  I may not always hear from Him or feel Him but He does not abandon His own!  God is true to His promises.

At one time in my life, I hadn’t “heard” from God.  I thought He left me!  I felt that since I had been such a sinner, He just had given up on me.  I thought a great deal about my life as a sinner and my new life as a Christian.  I knew that my worse day as a Christian was by far better than my best day as a sinner. I made up my mind that if I never felt God again, I was going to serve Him.  I sought godly counsel about not feeling God.  The man of God I spoke to asked me one question and then said something that I will never forget.  He asked me if God had ever failed me.  I immediately answered that God had never failed me!  The man then said to me that if God failed me today, it would be the first time! What a profound statement!  God had never failed me!  He is good all the time.  He may not answer my prayers the way I want them answered but there was an answer.  He may have withheld things that I thought I couldn’t live without but it was for my own good.  God had never failed me!  He is good all the time!

How about you?  How has your life been?  Have you made a decision to accept Jesus as your savior?  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  God loves you no matter what you’ve done in your life.  He sent his son as a sacrifice for your sins.  The plan of salvation is simple as ABC.  Accept!  Believe!  Confess!  Acknowledge Jesus as you Savior by accepting him into your heart.  Believe that he rose from the dead.  Then confess your new found Savior to someone else!

Please contact us at our web site if you made a decision to change your life today.  I’ll answer you and we will send you some literature on your new life in Christ.  We will also be glad to refer you to a church near you for discipleship.  God bless you!

Absolutes

Nothing ever changes!  This never works!  No one ever listens! You never change.   My computer never works.  This printer never prints! You’re never in your office!  Every time I call, you’re on the phone!  Everything is always the same.  Nothing changes. I have been acutely aware of people speaking in absolutes.  The absolutes can be about people, machinery, equipment, even situations which I’m sure you can come up with more to add to my list.

I have been keenly sensitive to my own absolutes.  Mine sound much like those that I’ve been hearing.  I have spent some time pondering the “absolute” attitude or even mind-set.  I use the words “mind-set” because when I ask staff to not speak in an absolute, to speak specifically of the problem; most of them take a few minutes before they grasp the idea of my instructions.  Some don’t ever understand what I’m getting at.

When I looked up the word “absolute”, I was surprised to find that outside of the absolute alcohol definition; most of the bullet points for the word were positive, not negative.  (By the way, absolute alcohol means pure and unadulterated which may fit in with what I’m thinking as well.)  The definitions included free from imperfection; complete; perfect as in absolute liberty. Another meant free from restriction or limitation, not limited in any way as in absolute command or absolute freedom. This definition even uses the word positive:  positive, certain as in absolute in opinion or absolute evidence. However the definition that best fits what I’m hearing and thinking is complete, outright as in an absolute lie or in absolute denial.  If I use the Thesaurus to look up synonyms, I find words like total, complete, utter, fixed, unquestionable, unconditional, conclusive, firm, resolved, definite, unmovable, final, and unchangeable.

Persons speaking in absolutes are most often frustrated by situations that they have no control over; even equipment that they don’t understand or have no control over.  They have no hope that the problem can be changed.  I’ve spoken to many parents and spouses who use absolutes when they’re talking about their loved ones.  He can’t change!

From my own experience, I know that I can’t see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and begin to spout off absolutes:  This never changes!  We’re always out of money!  Everything is always broken! I’ve found myself with an attitude of superstition not wanting to say: What next?  Can any anything else go wrong? I feel that if I’m absolutely sure that there will be the next thing that happens and that anything else will certainly be happening within the next few minutes.  Absolute thinking comes from frustrations to situations or people.  Absolute thinking in this case is always linked to something negative event, situation, or behavior.  Knowing how to solve problems can help with the absolute mind-set.  Many times the problem exists based on my own perception or from the fact that I’m not getting my way.  I don’t have control!  I often feel “under the gun”, stressed, and very short for time when I begin to think in absolutes.  I know that I can solidify that thinking by allowing it to continue.  Then it becomes a mind-set for me.

The steps to problem solving include:

1)  Do I understand why the problem exists or do I even need to understand why the problem exists?  If I do understand why the problem exists, I’ll have a better time resolving it.  Defining the root cause of the problem will help me to logically think it out or to be ready to explain the problem when I’m seeking help.

• What can I see that causes me to think there’s a problem?
• Where is it happening?
• How is it happening?
• When is it happening?
• With whom is it happening? (As a director, I need to address issues more than people.)
• Why is it happening?
• I can write down a five-sentence description of the problem.

2)  I should try to clearly identify the problem and any obstacles that it presents.  Often I’m seeing many problems that are a result of one problem.  The computer doesn’t work.  I never can get to do what I want.  The screen is always dark.

I’ve made these statements when the computer has been unplugged or I forgot that I shut it down the last time I was on it.  My mind goes immediately to a bigger problem when I have those rambling, negative, absolute statements going through my brain.

3)  Once I’ve clearly identified the problem, I need to understand what I have control over and what I don’t.  I must try to resolve the problem within the areas of what I do have control over.  Do I have control over plugging the computer into the socket?  Sure I do!  Do I have control over the smoke that’s coming out of it?  I don’t think so!  I’ll need help!

4)  Do I have all the information I need to resolve this problem?  Solving problems is like being a detective.  I should do my investigation of the facts before I
jump to those absolutes.

5)  I should not jump to conclusions.  Once I have all the information, once I’ve analyzed it carefully, once I’ve looked at it from different vantage points, I should be as objective as possible.

6)  Now I’m ready to take action.  I’ve got a strategy in place.  Can I take care of this problem myself or do I need help?  Do I need a second opinion?  If I don’t have control over this situation, do I know someone who can help me?  Does someone else have control over it?

Simply put, problem solving includes:

1) Defining the problem.

2) Looking for potential causes of the problem.

3) Identifying alternatives for approaches to resolve the problem.

4) Selecting an approach to resolve the problems.

5) Planning the implementation of the best alternative.  Take action!

6) Re-evaluating the action plan.

7) Verifying if the problem has been resolved.

I’m praying that God will help me to be more aware of my “absolute mentality” so that I can change it.  My desire is to be a positive role model as was Jesus.  God designed me to be a problem-solver and to be a leader.  I can’t lead people when I have that negative nothing ever changes attitude.  I am in the business of change!  Finally, I’m going to instruct the other leaders of my organization to identify their absolute thinking as well.  When we are bringing a problem to the table, we will identify the root of the problem and bring possible solutions as well.  We’re a team that has a foundation built on the principles of God’s Word.  There is ABSOLUTELY nothing that we can’t handle when we ask for God’s wisdom and stay in prayer.  Absolutely!

Celebrating 10 Years of Drug Court

June 4, 2009

Tonight I had the privilege of attending the Yuma County Adult Probation Office Drug Court graduation ceremony. Every drug court graduation is special but this one tonight was extra special. APO was celebrating the 39th graduation in 10 years. What a record. Retired Judge, the Honorable Tom C. Cole was the main speaker. Judge Cole was instrumental in starting drug court in Yuma County. I was thrilled to witness the 16 graduates receive their certificates of graduation. Families united; healthy looking people of all ages; tax paying citizens; and smiles indicating joy from the inside out. What a testament to change!

Crossroads Mission is proud to partner with Drug Court. Often drug court participants are court ordered to the residential program at the Mission. Once they complete the program at Crossroads, they return to the county program. The participants then complete the remaining “sentence” of the drug court program. The combined support of the residential program followed by the support of the drug court program reinforces recovery goals. Not everyone has or needs such an intensive program but the longer an individual can stay in a program, the opportunities for staying sober are increased exponentially.

Drug court programs across the United States have helped addicts deal with the disease of addiction. Learning to live with the disease or perhaps learning to live past the disease (a better way to say it) is a matter of using the tools of recovery to stay sober. Crossroads Mission philosophy is the principles of a 12-step program coupled with a spiritual “awakening” in Jesus Christ to help people move into the action stage of change. The residential program followed by the groups, accountability, and long term support of drug court provide ample support to people who might very well be dead or serving prison sentences. Please remember that prison itself is something but the prison “bars” created by the addiction itself are just as debilitating as any locked facility.

I was reminded tonight that there are several good programs in the Yuma community for the treatment of drug or alcohol abuse. Some might look at the so many programs as being competitive but when we help make healthier, safer, drug-free neighborhoods, we are united for the greater good—a better community. Drug Court in Yuma County has made a difference in this community for 10 years. Crossroads Mission has made a difference in this community for 50 years. Yuma County’s Adult Probation Drug Court collaborating with Crossroads Mission is paying dividends to this community. The Yuma County Board of Supervisors should be commended for continuing to support programs such as drug court.

We’re keeping busy at Crossroads Mission!

I haven’t blogged for several months and it is just plain procrastination.  Of course, having so many activities during our 50^th year celebration has had a great deal to do with it also.  We are focused on our capital campaign to raise funds for the new family shelter.  Having fund raisers in honor of our 50^th birthday has kept staff and volunteers very busy.  The family shelter is such a necessity.  For several years we have taken families in at the shelter who were requesting emergency shelter and just made do with what we have.  We have been over capacity for years.  Families are housed in one room and sleep on the floor.  While the shelter is crowded, we are proud to offer services that help people return to “normal” living.

Three department directors and I attended the 96^th annual Association of Gospel Rescue Mission’s conference this past week.  Each year it is held in a major city and this year’s hosting mission was the Denver Rescue Mission in Denver, Colorado.  These conferences are structured to be informative, educational, and spiritually refreshing.  The speakers and teachers are solely selected because of their expertise in the topic, heart for mission work, and professional qualifications.  This year’s conference was exceptional.  I hesitated to attend because of the economy but it was well worth the sacrifice.  The information and knowledge that we gained will be shared with the Board of Directors, staff members, and volunteers.  I admit that prior to the conference; I was suffering from burn out.  I am amazed at how God has so wonderfully designed our bodies, that we can be rejuvenated by rest.  The conference was jammed pack with sessions during the day and late into the night but I am home—rested and ready to implement many new ideas.  Thank you, God, for the opportunity to learn, get rested, and feel spiritually renewed!

Our 3-Days of Thanksgiving!

I know that I can’t always have it my way and I was reminded of that on the second day of our 3-Days of Thanksgiving celebration.  It rained!  In the desert, where you can take chances on almost any given day that it won’t rain, it rained!  I said a silent prayer to God and told Him that it was His day and I was only here to serve.  I thought that His reasons were greater than my reasons.  We would just work around that rain and would welcome it. 

 

We had invited the homeless, had staff and over 200 volunteers standing by!  I learned a valuable lesson that day.  Even in the challenge of feeding over 750 people, God’s grace is sufficient.  We managed to move that many hungry folks through the chapel in a couple of hours. Even some of the volunteers took time to “break bread” with us.  At the end of the day, I felt good about what we had accomplished.  The volunteers got to serve, the hungry were fed and we headed into the 3^rd and final day of the event.  No rain on the last day and once again we were outside with beautiful weather.

 

The 3-Days of Thanksgiving Celebration belongs to our community.  During those 3 days, we served over 2600 meals.  While some might frown on our 3-day celebration, we use that opportunity to help the homeless and needy of Yuma County.  This year we were pleased to have several agencies and organizations join us to provide services.  Cenpatico of Arizona was there.  This is the State’s Regional Behavioral Health Authority for this area.  This professional, helpful, agency helps people find assistance for a wide range of mental health issues and support.  The Humane Society of Yuma sent a veterinarian and staff to the event to give rabies shots and to schedule appointments for spaying or neutering the homeless folk’s animals.  Yuma City and County Housing Authorities were there to help people find permanent housing.  The Veteran’s Administration was there handing out clothing, shoes, and other items to our homeless vets.  Legacy Church and Generations Church stood by to minister to those who had questions or who were seeking to change their lives spiritually.  Greg Luna of “The Barbershop” was providing haircuts.  (Greg had a waiting line of over 2 hours and he gave 17 cuts!)  A big “Thank You” to all of them for attending and serving.

 

Also, during the event, Crossroads staff members are working to find those individual needs of the folks attending.  Case managers complete a survey that helps them  understand the individual needs of the homeless.  They are able to provide referrals for needed services or tell them how to go about receiving programs or services at Crossroads, The voucher store is open to provide clothing, shoes, household items, blankets and coats to folks who need these items.  This year over 21, 000 items were given out.  This was a record breaker!

 

If you missed serving, come see us next year or perhaps you would like to come down to visit us on Christmas Day.  We expect close to 3,000 that day for the Downtown Christmas Party for the Poor and Crossroads Mission’s Christmas Day activities.    Please don’t be worried about the rain or any bad weather!  God is doing His job and we will continue to do ours!

Homelessness as choice?

Of course my interest peaked, as I heard the “teaser” on television.  That channel’s investigative reporter had a startling headline story that Homelessness was Sometimes a Choice.  Being my cynical self, I could almost write the script on what the “big” story was about.  The reporter would be diligent to “uncover the truth,” and I knew it was unlikely that the truth would have revealed at all.  When a reporter seeks out someone who chooses to be homeless they must be careful to choose a person who has the mental capacity to make a sound decision.  The homeless are a vulnerable group and should be treated with respect and dignity. Anyone interviewing a homeless person should consider if the interviewee really understands the question.  Most importantly, does the interviewer understand their question?

 

After working at the Mission nine years, I don’t believe people make a choice to be homeless.  They are thrown into situations that force them into homelessness.  Loss of a job, divorce, domestic violence, loss of a home or any number of reasons that cause homelessness force the person into homelessness.  They learn to survive in their homeless state and then the choice is made to be homeless.  They really didn’t have a choice in the beginning.  There hasn’t been one homeless person I’ve interviewed that was sitting at home watching television and started thinking “I’m going to give up my job, my home, and my family, because I want to be homeless.”

 

Many homeless have low levels of motivation due to years of depression or mental illness.  They may be hiding from society because of anxiety from socializing with other people.  They may be hiding from the law.  Most of those I’ve talked to who tell me that are running from the law are paranoid.  Many of the homeless have been abused, neglected, or had a moment in their lives that something mental just broke.  I see many talking to themselves, even hitting themselves, or simply being by themselves in a world that has rejected them.    

 

There’s a man who I’ve seen walking the streets of Yuma.  Not once have I seen him at the Mission.  He’s very dirty.  His hair hasn’t been washed in months; maybe years.  His clothes are dirty and ragged.  His shoes are two sizes too big for him.  He’s usually deep in a conversation with some invisible person.  Recently, very early in the morning, I was entering a building for a meeting.  I had to climb up a flight of steep stairs.  As I turned the corner to climb up the stairs I noticed that he was sitting on the steps about ¾ of the way up in my direct path.  I hesitated for one a split second because I wasn’t sure what to do.  He looks fairly rugged.  I took the first step and he saw me.  I wondered if he felt the same way about me as I had when I first saw him because he quickly scrambled up the rest of the way.   I continued my flight up the stairs and heard him talking somewhere down the way.   He was crouched down behind the block wall by the entrance to the elevator.  I still hesitated because the man had not made eye contact and was talking rapidly now.  As I walked by him I kept an ever-watchful eye on him.  He was talking about spies, and subversive activities taking place somewhere in his mind.  He talked about government infiltration.    Was he a Veteran?  Did his family know where he was located?  Did he have any one who cared for him?

 

I also thought of the day that Jesus was getting out of the boat and a demon-possessed man approached him.  In Mark 5:1-9, we learn that this man lived in the tombs and cut himself with the stones.  He had been bound hand and foot but couldn’t even be held with chains.  Jesus was compassionate towards the man but unmerciful to the demons that possessed the man.  That man was homeless. 

 

I thought of the man on the stairway as the reporter would make her story line real to the listening audience.  Did she hurt our cause?  Does the average citizen really understand the homeless?   I believe that God intends for us to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves.  The majority of the homeless can’t take care of themselves just as the man in the tombs could not take care of himself during Jesus’ day.    

 

My message to the reporter:  get all the facts; you can call the Mission for information;  you can come visit the Mission and learn much about the homeless and the addicted.    I’m calling the reporter and inviting her to lunch.  Maybe she can get the big picture for her next story.

To blog or not to blog–that is the question!

I recently attended training on staying up-to-date with technology.  I must admit that I am “old school”.  I like typewriters and postage stamps.  I still write old fashioned letters on occasion and feel like I accomplished something great in doing so.   I was thinking about putting my message on the web site so hundreds might be able to read it and was a little unnerved.  Then I thought about the possibilities available through the computer.  My message may help someone understand homelessness or addiction.  My message may give hope to someone who has nowhere to turn and who feels hopeless.  My message, no matter how insignificant, may be that message that God uses to start a change in someone.  I believe that God gives us resources and it’s up to us to use those resources wisely and to the fullest extent. 

 

Blogging gives me the opportunity to share what I know about homelessness.  With nine years of working at the Mission, I have gained a great deal of knowledge.  Did you know that women and children are the fastest growing demographic in the homeless population today?  Did you know that as a city’s population doubles the homeless population will triple?  Did you know that many homeless can’t get a job because of mental illness or other physical ailments that keep them from doing so?  Did you know that most homeless folks never set out to be homeless?  Their situations dictated their homelessness.  Many who don’t receive help are likely to die homeless.  The Bible instructs us to take care of the poor and needy.   At Crossroads Mission our mission is to “rescue” those men, women, and children who need help. 

 

Blogging?  This wasn’t as hard as I thought but I think I’ll still write my mom a letter the good, old fashioned, snail-mail way!   I hope I shared something with you that gave you some knowledge about homelessness or addiction.  Until the next blog…