Through My Valleys

I have found that God speaks to us in many different ways, He sends "His Word" to us, sometimes when we least expect it.

I have learned to listen for the "voice of God" when my faith is tested. Of course I search the Scriptures and I might choose a preaching CD or podcast on the topic of my trial, but mostly I spend my times of testing just listening. His voice may come in the form of something I see, or through a conversation with a total stranger, (yes I do talk to strangers, regardless of what Ronnie James Dio says, haha). The Word from God may come through a friend or a spiritual leader. It may come through a preaching or from a book. Regardless of where it does come from, one thing is certain; If you are not listening, you will miss it. If you remain focused on the problem then the solution may slip right on by.

What I love most about God, and there are many reasons I do love Him, but one main reason is, His still small voice. He comes to me with a still small voice and the quietness of it drowns out all the chaos and noise of trouble. He has taught me to listen when my world is crumbling around me and though sometimes this may seem impossible, and I can hear you now screaming at me 'But You Dont Know What I Am Going Through!' I can promise you this, He does.

If you find yourself struggling through trouble stop where you are, cease all effort to free yourself and listen for His still small voice. It will come. When your mind demands that you think upon your troubles, take that thought captive, make it obedient to Christ and be still and listen. If you can remain expectant and stand back from the worry or the pain or even the fear, then you can be sure you have positioned yourself to hear from God and even more sure He will be faithful and not leave you without direction.

I hope you find yourself on the far side of your valley today, ready for the trek up the mountain of promise. God Bless!

Rescued From Destruction

THERE IS A STORY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS MUG SHOT.

I was arrested in the middle of the night for under the influence of heroin. I had a campsite set up alongside the RR tracks near skid row of Salinas, CA and every so often the night shift officers would come and check me out and see who I had with me, they were looking for absconders. My camp was pretty large and it was waterproof so every night people would come to me and I would charge them to stay the night, either drugs, money or they would be a lookout for a couple of hours. I was a small time street pusher at the time so I would spend the nights packaging dope and getting high with whoever was there. That night the Sergeant shows up and calls out to me, “Who do have in there Cy?” He knew me from the many times he had been there. He never really harassed me he would just do his rounds and check up, I believe he really did care for the people out there. That night he was training a couple of rookies, and after admitting to the sergeant that I had used heroin earlier in the day, like I always did while being questioned and searched, I mean why lie, he just gave me the talk about turning my life around. The rookie on the other hand figured I needed taking off the streets. He arrested me and took me in. I appealed to the sergeant but what was he going to do take the side of a junkie over fellow officers?

Interesting thing is I always posted a lookout while I packaged my drugs, but this time the guy out there had warrants so when he saw the cops sneaking up on us he quietly snuck out of there to hide. I never knew they were coming.

I had my guard down, not because there was no-one posted to be a look-out but because I had left the Stronghold of my Savior and pitched my tent in the enemies’ camp. I had no protection from my enemies that surrounded me, but God rescued me from serious trouble. I did about 5 days in jail that time and while I was down some men came to my camp in the middle of the night to do me great harm. When I did get out of jail and I returned everyone was telling me how a bunch of men came with shotguns to kill me, apparently I had made someone mad. It happens on the streets sometimes, worst thing to do is get caught slippen.

One thing I used to do was allow prostitutes to stay there and use my camp, they always kicked down cash or drugs for me doing it but I did it for other reasons. I wouldn’t take advantage of them, just give them a place to do their thing instead of out in the bushes and plus they also bought a lot of drugs from me and brought buyers to me too. I truly did feel very bad for them, they had it the hardest of all street people. It was probably someone’s pimp or connection that was mad at me. I never knew why they came. I knew who they were but not what beef they had with me. By the time I was released and returned to my camp, these men have all been arrested themselves and I never had to be confronted by them.

Even in my backslidden state and in the condition I was in at the time God still had His hand on my life. People will always claim, "Oh it just wasn't your time", but the truth is it just wasn't God's time to let me go. His Word says He will never leave you or forsake you and this picture is proof of that. God also says that "Who so ever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!" And the man you see on the right at one time begged God to save his soul and God was faithful. He not only freed me from the guilt of my sins but He also filled me with an abundant life as well. That is why the smile.

In my memory there are so many more images that took place between the time of these two you see here, and they are far more shocking to behold and way more revealing of God's Amazing Grace and Mercy.

My friend Bonnie commended me for the courage it took to post this the last time I did and though I love you for your words Bon please understand, it took no courage at all to post these pictures. It’s all gratitude. I thank God for finding me at my worst and still loving me. My prayer is that through this picture His love will be revealed to another. God Bless You All and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Let Freedom Reign!

One thing is certain, "IF" Conservatives take over the House next month, then there stands a good chance we will be able to gage how effective they can be compared to the left and also how ineffective the left has been and may have been if they were allowed, by majority vote, to continue to take this country in the direction they have these last four years.

Or, and I say this with great trepidation, we may learn that not even the right had it right. My view is that when the dust settles then a lot of people in the middle are going to slap their forehead and say, Man what an idiot I was to fall for the bait of "Hope and Change."

And of course the real story will be told in 2012, I only "Hope" that the only "Change" we experience is this nation changing back to one with a more patriotic viewpoint.

I love my country and I think the one thing that has angered me most of what Pres. Obama has done, is portray this Nation as one who has had it wrong all these many years that we have been THE SUPERPOWER of the world. None have spent more lives, more resources, and more time in the aid to other nations, many of which had nothing to give back in return. When disaster hits we are there. When oppression rears its head, we are there to lop it off. When there is suffering of the masses, we suffer alongside. When the world shudders from human tragedy, we don’t wait for an invitation, we just respond.

Obama needs to get a clue; this nation is too big and too good for the likes of him. The only Leader who is qualified to lead this country is FREEDOM, because it is Freedom that we share with the world. When we meet a need in a far away land, it is FREEDOM we bring. The Freedom to live life governed by morality and compassion, not tyranny, oppression and corruption.

When I vote this November, I will be voting for Freedom, not government. LET FREEDOM REIGN!

My Father's Orchard

In my Fathers Orchard are many trees. These trees bear the goodness of the soil from whence He dwells. These trees are all heavily laden with a fruit that will nourish the hungered soul, fill the empty heart and strengthen the tired mind.

No barrier separates these trees from any who wish to be filled by their fruit. No need to travel to distant lands or venture into dangerous terrain, prayer is its gateway and one only need enter on bended knee.

In the center of my Fathers Orchard stands the most beautiful Tree of all and from this Tree the fruit of everlasting life is given to all who are willing to receive. Of all of my Father’s trees this One alone has a name, He is Jesus! And with Jesus we are blessed with the greatest gift ever given, Salvation.

From Him one can eat of the fruit of gladness, feast on the fruit of liberty, take a bite from the fruit of victory and so be fed by His Love until all apatite is satisfied.

I visit that Tree every day. The fruit is always ripe, always plentiful and always low enough on the branch that I have no trouble reaching it. There is no greater taste then that of Jesus’ love. It fills us with a warmth that cannot be quenched by the cold hard path of life.

So when you grow weary of your travels and adventures of life’s lonely road, you need only to enter my Father’s orchard and find comfort in its shade and rest for your soul.

THE EYES OF CHRIST

I read something today that caused me to pause. Until reading this I have been struggling with what it is that keeps me from certain breakthroughs in my life. And as I closed my eyes to meditate on it, God gave me this revelation through a vision.

There is a man standing in an empty room before a two-way mirror and he is evaluating himself on all of his achievements and failures as he looks into the eyes his own reflection. But it is failure that is the stronger influence of his assessment of himself, so he looks into the mirror with a furrowed brow and with worried eyes as he takes inventory of his life. Failure wins out because of the pain of its sting and because it is relentless in its need to be brought out to center stage for all to see and never be forgotten.

Then his gaze goes deeper than just the surface of the mirror and his own reflection, it seems as though he can see something inside the mirror just on the other side of his eyes, and the site of it deepens the furrows and intensifies his worry. For on the other side of the two-way mirror there is a group of people which are looking back at him and doing the same thing to him that he does to himself. They are judging him by his shortcomings and are blinded to his natural talents and promised future. He can see it in their eyes.

You see when using a two-way mirror there needs to be darkness on the opposite side of the reflective side in order for it to work properly. If there is light then you will be able to see through the mirror and it becomes nothing more than a foggy window. However, in my vision there is bright light not darkness on the opposite side, and because of this the man is able to see the accusation in the eyes of all those studying him, affirming his own fears of never being able to achieve his goals or dreams because of his past and present failures. They do this because to see his faults more clearly than his potential lessens the sting of their own failures.

In all of us, our glaring neon faults drown out the light of the goodness that shines brightly behind the defects in our character, past and present. I believe that it takes a trained and anointed eye to focus on what lies behind the surface of who we are and nurture and develop the gifts that were created in all of us at the time the foundation of the world was laid down by God, (Ephesians 1:4). For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight in love.

In my vision the light on the opposite side of the mirror tells me that these people who are judging him are not the unsaved or unbeliever, but they are fellow Christians! (1 Thessalonians 5:5) You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

Tragically the goodness and talents in us all rarely are allowed to outshine the veil of condemnation imposed on us by the enemy’s lies and half-truths. Sadly, we ourselves can also be oblivious to this tactic he uses to bring condemnation to people, Christian and Non-Christian alike. For many of us as we look into the mirror and take inventory of ourselves fall victim to our programming that was imposed on us sometimes from a very young age and it influences us in our assessment of ourselves. This negative image may even come from all the way back to our age of understanding, when we first learned the meaning of the word “No”. How many times have we been told we will never change or achieve greatness? How many times have we looked at ourselves and agreed with those vicious lies? How many times have we been told or have told ourselves, “You can’t, or I can’t, or I’ll never be able to, or you’ve failed before you’ll fail again?” It is time we learn to allow our greatness in Christ outshine our past and present failures and shortcomings.

I mentioned that those people on the other side of the mirror couldn’t help but judge him because it lessened the sting of their own failures. This is a survival mechanism in us all that tries to keep us at the front of the meal-line. We believe that if we can position ourselves correctly then our chance for failure lessens and the chance of survival increases. So we make others to look weak as we ourselves give the illusion of looking stronger. It is a human trait that we all must learn to overcome if we are to take on the character of Christ. (Mark 10:45) Jesus said that He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Imagine what it was that He saw in the 12 as He called them to follow Him as His Apostles. If you know anything of these men then you know He saw way past what was on the surface for what was there was rough, untried and in some cases downright wicked. For instance Peter was a train wreck, (or in his day I guess it would be called a caravan collision, ha) always letting his mouth get him in trouble. And Matthew, well simply put, he was a traitor to his people and a thief! No, He looked upon them as they would be when they were martyred for His Gospel. And He did so daily for 3 years never wavering in His knowledge of who they would become and how gloriously they would finish their race. But you may say, “Of course He was able to do that because in Him was no fault or failure. He had no reason to fear the sting of it, so He does not fall into the same category as we do.” But the contrary is true.

Herein lays the Truth we must all grasp if we are to overcome our human nature and be able to look with the Eyes of Christ. Jesus, though being fully God was also fully man, and Christ knew as a man He carried the potential for unrighteous judgment just as we do but He was able to overcome because the Truth was in Him. (John 1:1-5) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He (meaning Jesus) was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

We were created by Christ and for Christ!! And He sees us just as He saw the first 12! If we can gaze into the mirror and look at our image with the Eyes of Christ and see in ourselves what He sees in us and are affirmed in this by the Truth of the Word of God then we need no longer fear failures sting!!! And when we stand on the opposite side of the mirror, (and believe me we will), as others gaze into it and are able to see us gazing back what will it be that they see in our eyes as we look upon them with the Eyes of Christ? Will it be accusation or judgment? No! What they will see is acceptance and hope because in us will be Gods Truth made manifest through our testimony and faith! It is this Truth that conquers failures sting in us all and takes us from glory to glory! (2 Corinthians 3:18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

And this is where the fault lies; because we are prone to fall into this trap isn’t because we are wicked or evil, but rather because we are human and susceptible to human weaknesses. So is this our excuse to continue in our failed state? We are only human and cannot help ourselves after all. Certainly not! We must hold tight to this Truth and never let it slip through our grasp. For failure will come again, good character will grow weary and bad character will try to rear its ugly head. So we must hold fast to God’s Word and remember where our failed state took us that we would never need tread that path again! (Psalm 119:11) Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

It is our enemy’s cowardly nature that drives him to strike at our weaknesses and avoid our strengths. His ruthlessness is like a drop of water, it travels the path of least resistance. Our strength in Christ strikes fear in him and this power which every Christian posses resists his attacks, so the fear of his own failed attempt to rule heaven and his condemnation and coming end because of it drives him to look for the weaknesses in us and an easier and quicker victory. His time is running out and his hatred of humanity drives him on. Because we know this of him and now hold the Truth which conquers failure, we are able to plan our own defenses and strategies of attack. The devils most effective tactic, his knowledge of us and his insatiable desire to destroy us through our weakness, has become our great strength! It has made him predictable. History’s famous Chinese General Sun Tzu teaches us this principle of warfare in his book The Art of War; “The best way to defeat your enemy is to know your enemy.”

We are not evil, we are weakened by our lack of knowledge and anointing. But this is no longer the case for you is it? Take away from this the Truth that is in God’s Living Word and go away from here with the Eyes of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. This means you.

5 Mile Marker

I am about to hit what I like to call a "5 mile marker" you know 5 10 15 20 25....... Well I'm soon to be 45 years old. Wow! I still remember my childhood so well. Maybe if I wasn't able to then 45 wouldn't look so bad. I wouldn't be comparing it to 10, 12 or 21. I used to be so full of energy at those ages; always outside and always venturing off somewhere. By the time I was ten I already had been on most of the rooftops in my neighborhood, had climbed every tree in the park, and I mean every tree no kidding. I knew the river like my backyard for at least 3 miles in either direction from Apricot Lane where my brother, Chipper and I hunted rabbits, dove and quail. I could shoot a shotgun, ride a motorcycle and whistle louder than all my friends, thanks to my brother George. I was a real adventurer. Nothing ever changed until I fell from a roof while building homes in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and ended up back in California.

I was too young to have had such a tragic thing happen to me, I was only 22 years old. but by then I had lived in at least 6 different states with no family for more than a thousand miles, had spent over 5 years in the Army and had driven tanks, fired live missiles and completed more than one marathon. I had repelled out of helicopters, off mountains and over the edge of buildings. I had found my way in the wilderness and the dark with nothing but a map and a compass in search of my next meal, I had been in a full bar-room brawl with Army on one side and Marines on the other, I had my first love and lost her and have been an alcoholic and have recovered after taking the beating of my life by three bouncers. All before I was 23. I was excited about what was to come next. But that sudden stop at the foot of the foundation of a three story house changed everything.

Since then I have done only one thing to boast of. Oh don’t get me wrong, I have done plenty still, but this one thing made it all seem like only the introduction to a good book. That one thing is; I had found Jesus and had fallen in love with Him. My adventures today may seem pretty mellow to most people who hear of them, but I know that through me Christ has done some pretty amazing things. I take no credit for any of it; most times I didn’t even know what was going on. Pastor Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding says it like this; (and I paraphrase) -- The heart can still believe in what the mind has not yet grasped. – Most of my work today follows this principle. I just try to obey God and stay out of His way as he uses me as His instrument.

If I was to encourage you to try some of the things I have done I would tell you to go ahead and learn to ride a motorcycle, if you don’t know how to learn to whistle real loud and if you are willing, start a marathon, who knows you just may finish it. I would tell you that firing a live TOW missile is way cool as is driving a tank, repelling out of choppers is an awesome rush and climbing to the top of the tallest tree in your neighborhood park makes you feel like there is nothing you cannot do when you’re only 8 years old.

But there is one thing that I would tell you about and with the passion of one who has been to the edge of death and has been snatched back and given an abundance of life that not any or not all combined could compare; I would beg you to try. If you would do this only once then you would never, ever, ever be the same again. Allow Jesus in. Experience His love if only for a moment, rest in His embrace and listen to His heart as it beats to the rhythm of your name and your life. He Loves You!!! He Desires You!!! He Is Calling You By Name!!!

I don't know how much more time He will give me here on this earth but I thank Him for what He has already given me, the rest is just gravy.

“Life just seems so full of connections. Most of the time we don't even pay attention to the depth of life. We only see flat surfaces.”

Every connection we make is a thread in the fabric of our lives. Some may be brief like a conversation with a stranger in the grocery line or they may last our lifetimes, like the connection we have with the ones we love most. Some connections are made, then severed but they can never really be disconnected from who we are can they? Some are made and neglected until another brings us full circle and the connection is made again, or, mended so to speak. I’ve gone through life believing that who I was is made up of what I am doing right now. I was a soldier once, a carpenter and a machinist. I spent most of my time working as a printer and now I am what many would call a drug counselor. Truth is I am just a former addict helping other addicts find freedom through Christ. I thought that my makeup is what it is because of my last life altering experience, whatever it may have been. I was once a homeless man, was once a student and was once a minister. What I have learned since joining facebook is; I am who my connections in life have woven me to be. There is a part of all of you entwined within the tapestry of who I am. I have many memories that I love to share of so many of you and I am sure there are many more that when the time comes will be brought to my recollection so that we can reminisce and mend a frayed thread. There is one connection I have made in life however that ties us all together, His name is Jesus. In writing this article I have read up a little on weaving and knitting just to get more of an understanding of what it is that He is telling me. And I have learned one very important rule to them both. This rule, by the way, can be applied to our lives as well. If this fabric that has been woven is left without that final stitch that holds it together it will unravel and fall apart. In weaving you need a hem and in knitting to secure the final stitches or “wale” the method is called “binding off”. That is what Christ has done for me. He has bound all the connections I have ever made and kept them from unraveling. It wasn’t so long ago that I had turned my back on every connection I have ever made and allow my life to unravel and it did actually fall apart. Truth be told in that time of my life very few of you ever crossed my mind and I was empty inside because of that. When my life was rescued Jesus mended every fray, He tightened every loose knot and He bound us all together. I think of you often and am blessed to have ever known each and every one of you. My life is a rich tapestry of color and beauty because of you and I am eternally grateful to call each of you my friend.

May God bless you all as He has blessed me.

New Harvest Salinas - Recovery Center

New Harvest Salinas - Recovery Center

TOTAL SURRENDER by David Wilkerson

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested...even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference...being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:21-24). God has revealed to us a sure way to become absolutely holy and perfect in his sight, whereby all his children can live in absolute peace and joy, knowing God looks upon them as holy and pure. And this is all a free gift! His gift of holiness can never be a reward for anything we have done. It is an unearned, undeserved favor—an outright gift. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:3-5). Submission is the only way into God's holiness, submitting to the righteousness of Christ through faith. To submit means "to surrender the power of your will." With God there is no such thing as willpower—all power is his and he will permit no other power than his own. God demands absolute holiness so that we will be humbled by this demand! He watches over our struggles to be holy with patience, waiting for us to fail so miserably that we will run to his throne, fall on our knees, and cry out, "It's hopeless—I will never be holy! I am weak, sensuous, sinful. I have no good in me at all." The kind of repentance that God is looking for is confessing the weakness of our futile efforts and denying that we have any power at all in ourselves. You can never be clothed in Christ's holiness until you fall on your face before God's throne, naked, poor, wretched, weak, and totally helpless! You must once and for all admit you have no power to resist sin, that you have nothing to offer the Lord but a broken-down, defeated and helpless lump of clay. You must admit you can't be holy, even with help. You must be given holiness as a gift. The greatest gift you can give to God is your faith that he will give you his holiness. Isaiah exulted, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.... So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isaiah 61: 10-11).

Where Are All The Superheroes

Where Are All The Superheroes? USA Today begins their story with this line, “He stopped to help and died because others did not do the same.” America loves its superheroes, and we fantasize and fashion them with every kind of power that the human imagination can conjure up. Superman has powers that can be matched by no other force on Earth. His only weakness is a rock from another planet. Aquaman lives in the sea and communicates with all of its inhabitants. The Flash is as fast as lightning and Spiderman climbs walls and can sense danger. Then there are the superheroes that have no special powers, but are driven with a passion for justice and resources and gadgets that do not exist is reality. Men like Batman and the American superhero of today, IRON MAN. Something was done for all humanity 2000 years ago that no comic strip hero could have accomplished even if he possessed every power given to these imaginary super humans. Only one Man possessed this kind of power and was positioned to wield it, and with a ferocious and violent attack He conquered sin and redeemed every man woman and child who would believe on Him. Forever! He is the True Superhero, and His name is Jesus Christ! He destroys the works of darkness with the power of LOVE and He demonstrated its undeniable and dynamic force on the Cross at Calvary. His creed is this, found in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (NIV). Hugo Tale-Yax, an out of work homeless man, was found dead on a sidewalk in Queens NY from multiple stab wounds received while trying to save a perfect stranger from an attack. It appears his creed was the same as our Lord’s. But for the 24 other people who just passed him by and left him lying there, they chose indifference instead of love as their manifesto. (click here to view entire story) This story grieved my heart in such a way I was inspired to share my thoughts with you. This simple man sparked a passion in me that can only be attributed to the indwelling of God’s Spirit and the desire to rise and live up to the name given by the One who gave His life on a cross. We are Christians! And it is time we infiltrate every area of our lives and bring to our work-place, schools, neighborhoods and all the world the flavor of Love! Jesus preached influence among those we are surrounded by. He says we are to be the salt of the earth and are to flavor the atmosphere with godliness or we are to be thrown out like a useless bag of trash. The Message Bible says it like this, Jesus’ words: Matthew 5:13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Let me ask you this: How much influence do you really have? In Washington DC there is a group who call themselves The Capital City Super Squad. They are real life superheroes or RLSs. And in their principles is found this set of philosophical ideals, or their Superhero Paradigm as one member calls it. For every RLS there are core principles they must possess. 1. A desire to help others; 2. A sense of justice; 3. A commitment to the rules of social order; And 4. The resolve to actively pursue these ideals. And though these ideals are honorable and serve a higher purpose they did not originate with these modern day do-gooders, but are instead only half of the commandment given by Christ in Luke 10:25-37. What we find in Jesus’ example is something greater than just a philosophy that would have us risk ourselves for the victims of injustice. In the parable of the Good Samaritan he takes a man who has shown outright hatred towards the Samaritan and who has acted wickedly to his people all of his life and makes him the victim. The Samaritan had every reason to hate this man and to leave him lying there just as those New Yorkers did to Mr. Hugo Tale, but because of his obedience to God and his love to honor his God he chose instead to show compassion and mercy and to forgive every act of evil shown to him and demonstrate the Love of Christ to a fellow human being. It is this level of love we are to demonstrate in the giving of ourselves to others. Jesus says, “Now go and do likewise.” Authentic faith demands that we are able to look past the individual in need and see only the need. Where are all the Superheroes of today? Demonstrate Christ and people will see we are truly surrounded by them. They are working in your building or sitting in your class. They are driving in the car next to you as you are stuck in traffic or they may be living in your own home. What makes them Superheroes is the fact that in spite of their vulnerabilities and the danger of getting hurt by others or maybe even killed, they continue to give and to risk all the while showing mercy and love. We are Christians, and with that name come many blessings and the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us. But also with that name we have a great responsibility; give sacrificially for the sake of others even though it may cost you everything and God be glorified! So let me leave you with this question: Do you feel like a Superhero?

~ ~ SERVING ANONYMOUSLY ~ ~

I am reminded that great proof for true servant-hood is Anonymity. Poet Ruth Harms Calkin puts it this way: "I Wonder" You know Lord, how I serve you With great emotional fervor In the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You At a womens club. You know how I effervesce when I promote A fellowship group. You know my genuine enthusiasm At a Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder If You pointed to a basin of water And asked me to wash the calloused feet Of a bent and wrinkled old woman Day after day Month after month In a room where nobody saw And nobody knew. This poem tore into my heart and caused great damage to self. Long ago I heard of not letting your right hand know what your left is doing and I understood what God was asking of me. But as I read this poem I asked myself just how faithful have I been to this principle and I realize how easily self makes his way to the front of every good deed. Mold me Father, create in me a new heart. I wanna be like Jesus more and more.

God Still Heals!

As the Director of a Men’s Recovery Center I have in the few short months we have been open, seen many needs enter our doors. Some come in high on drugs, some come in sick from detoxing drugs and alcohol and yet others come because they are tired and alone in their addictions. And though most have not stayed, God is still involved. As we encounter men with serious issues besetting their lives we offer the love of God and His acceptance of who they are, not how they came. We are in the ministry of reaching and winning souls for Christ but we are also here to plant and water the seeds of His goodness in their hearts. Just as Jesus’ desire is that none should perish but all come to repentance, so is it our desire. Our prayer is for the many men and their families in our community as well as in yours. Brandon, (a man in our center), is from this city and I am encouraged to see how deeply he has connected with Christ. It is my hope that we are able to assist many from Salinas in their development of a relationship with Jesus. But our vision reaches much further than our city. This nation has been in a state of emergency for so long and the youth of the drug revolution have all grown up to produce the fatherless generation. Today’s young people have been exposed to so much separation from any positive influence that they are now numb to the effects of the negative media aimed at the family, the church and the morality of our great society. We have created an image of the "individual" no longer do we encourage community. No longer is there a hand to comfort the hurting. No longer is there a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Our young people have either had to blaze a trail through the rough and tough streets of our cities alone or they simply no longer trust those who truly do care and refuse their help. But there is an answer, and as the people of God we do have the solution to their plight, and His name is Jesus Christ! From the time Jesus first began His ministry, until today, He has been healing the broken hearted, He is still making the lame to walk and bringing deliverance to the captive! As the director I have realized something about the work we are doing; what we provide in a clean and sober environment, in our Bible studies and curriculum we teach, in our disciplines and development of good habits, is only preparation for one thing, and that is the altar of God. It is there that we bring our hang-ups and our bondage and find freedom and grace. Before Jesus did His work on the cross God required the best of our possessions as sacrifices, but today it is the junk that clutters our hearts He asks from us. Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) Please consider us when you pray and please take the time to learn more of what we do and how you can be a part in this wonderful ministry. www.nhcfsalinas.com/recovery_center Thank You Very Much, Cy L. Nunez / Program Director