REMAIN

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“I came to Him because I did not know which way to turn. I remained with Him because there is no other way I wish to turn. I came to Him longing for something I did not have. I remain with Him because I have something I will not trade. I came to Him as a stranger. I remain with Him in the most intimate of friendships. I came to Him unsure about the future. I remain with Him certain about my destiny. ― Ravi Zacharias

Who is Ravi speaking of?

Jesus of course.

I have written many times about “orientation day” at the REFUGE.  It is a time when men who don’t know WHICH way to go are given a way to turn.  It is a time when men who know there is something missing are given a chance to find “IT”, a time when uncertainty and loneliness are traded in for hope and belonging.

And yesterday like many Monday’s and the Tuesday’s of the past several men waded into the opportunity to change things.  That included a man brought by a new Champion, NW.  She is a dogged and inspired woman dedicated to changing the destiny of those around her haunted and oppressed by addiction.  What I appreciate most about NW is she is absolutely FEARLESS.  No audience is too big, no challenge or roadblock too tall. 

She without hesitation or equivocation wants those who GOD has placed in her path to not just discover hope and opportunity but as Ravi says over and over again, she wants to see them REMAIN as she has REMAINED (3+ years now)!

Friends it is easy in time of crisis to COME to Jesus.  It is natural to gravitate toward Him when the times are tough or the desperation is at a fever pitch.  The question is do we REMAIN in Him when the pressure is relieved? 

Do we remain in Him when the storm passes? 

Do we REMAIN in Him when times AREN’T so tough?

We should.

He ENCOURAGES it strongly. 

John 15:4 (NIV)

REMAIN in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you REMAIN in me.

You didn't choose me - I chose you

My peace, my joy I leave with you

If you're my friend, here's what you'll do...

Remain in me – J Brian Craig

I am prayerfully enthusiastic and hopeful for NW’s candidate for the REFUGE as I am for the several others who entered a new chapter of possibility and community yesterday.

I pray that their searches would end.

That the confused longings would be fulfilled; that they would no longer see themselves as strangers but as friends of GOD.

Yet how about you?

Choosing to “remain” in Him today? 

Or are you going it alone or disconnected?

Let’s both resolve to “sticking with God” – Lamentations 3:22 (MSG)

Let’s remain in the belonging, the friendship and the assured destiny GOD has offered us!

Remember:

“The branch cannot produce anything on it's own. However, if it remains attached to the vine, it will receive life-sustaining sap, nourishment, strength, everything it needs.” ― Charles R. Swindoll

I love you all.

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)

LORD APPROVES

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Last Saturday marked the official opening of the JEREMIAH TREEHOUSE.  This is an expansion of the ministry of the JEREMIAH TREE in Xenia, Ohio my hometown. It is a place that through relationships folks are connected to Christ and to resources. 

The TREEHOUSE is a recovery house, a sober living facility led by a wonderful team and a powerful hand-selected man of GOD, Jeff C.  

It is a house for men who are suffering in addiction.  

Their mission is:

…dedicated to (sharing) the grace and transformational power of Jesus Christ to redeem men whose lives have been caught in the prison of addiction.  Through the power of the gospel, the fellowship of the body of Christ, and the engagement of community, it is our prayer that the men who come here will experience true freedom in Christ, restored relationships, reunited families, and promising futures.

Some of you might be asking why a “sober house”, why a “recovery residence”?

Well at the risk of being a little clinical this morning, the evidence is continuing to support that addiction is a chronic illness in need of a chronic care approach.  And while often we, especially “we” in the church want to singularly label addiction as a moral failing the truth of the matter it is a relapsing brain disease as well. 

It is sin AND sickness not either or.

And due to the fact that 50 to 69% of individuals relapse, including this author, 6 to 7 times within 12 months of a treatment, sober living opportunities help to bring those staggering numbers down.

For when individuals are released from hospitals or treatment centers only to return to their old people places and things, they relapse more often than not.  That is why if we can offer a “place” that shares “the power of the gospel, the fellowship of the body of Christ, and the engagement of community” the percentages improve and people do RECOVER and are SET FREE!

It is why sober living facilities across the State of Ohio are opening at an exponential rate!  In fact in our little county of Greene, two more are on the horizon with more and more in other communities as well.

But enough with the recovery housing lesson for today.

I share the opening of the JEREMIAH TREEHOUSE as a testimony of GOD’S faithfulness to those who seek Him (You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart - Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). And what can happen when we embrace these commands…

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.’ – Matthew 25:36 MSG)

And I was addicted and you gave me a place to recover. - (my addition)

For when we do GOD moves.

GOD opens doors.

GOD brings help.

GOD honors.

GOD establishes hopeful opportunities!

AND GOD changes circumstances NOT JUST for the hurting but the helper too.

In fact while at the open house I had the chance to spend a minute with a budding friend and colleague, Mike. Mike is a POWERFUL force in the world of Celebrate Recovery.  He has helped to start 7 CR recovery meetings in the Miami Valley, he mentors some of the men at the TREEHOUSE and he is part of our upcoming REFUGE/CHAMPIONS efforts for HOPE OVER HEROIN Miami Valley.

He like me is a recovering alcoholic.  And he has quickly become a valued partner and mentor. He is an obedient servant of CHRIST!

Yet as we were sharing all he could do was speak of the blessing that he gets everyday in SERVING the LEAST of THESE.  In fact he was burdened because he believes the CHURCH is missing out on the SUPERNATURAL and changing blessing that comes with doing what the LORD said to do.  (The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves. His ears hear their prayer… – 1 Peter 3:18 GW)

So that leads me to a couple of things today; some things we all can do:

1.    Pray for the recovering.  Whether they are at our partners TREEHOUSE, REFUGE, GENESIS PROJECT, SAFE HARBOR, WOODHAVEN, TIMOTHY HOUSE, EDNA’S HOUSE…or wherever.  Pray for the leaders, the doctors, the counselors and lay people.

2.    Remember the call to serve the least of these is not reserved for the sober living facilities it is for all of us.

3.    Seek GOD for how you can do just that.

4.    Prepare to be blessed.

For the LORD eyes and ears are open to you and waiting to bless you and you bless others!

That is exactly what we should do…

We will explode with love, with compassion, with hurt for those who are hurting, and with joy for those who rejoice. We will explode with a desire to be more, to be better to be close to the One who made us.”  ― Katie J. Davis

I love you all.

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)

TIME TO CONNECT

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Alder once remarked, “One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.”

A couple months ago I was in Columbus attending a session with our Recovery Housing leaders.  In recent years there has been great progress and momentum around opening and maintain sober living facilities for people who are embracing a lifestyle of recovery. 

There is even a great podcast that echoes the sentiment of Alder called the OPPOSITE of ADDICTON is CONNECTION. - http://thinkt3.libsyn.com/recovery-housing-and-homelessness

And as I have traveled around meeting with churches, pastoral and lay leaders who have a heart for the addicted, I am constantly re-emphasizing the importance of “the church” (and I don’t mean the facilities, WE are the church) in becoming a place of CONNECTION for folks seeking FREEDOM from addiction and its grip.

WE should be the place where folks can comfortably CONNECT.

WE must help folks believe they are not alone.

We constantly ask people who are seeking recovery to “change everything” and that includes changes not just their habits of addiction but their ALLIANCES of addiction.  And sadly many of those who are looking for that new social context don’t see “the church” (US) as an option. 

They often tell me the church is:

Judgmental

Cold

Distant

Barricaded

Uninviting

Unapproachable

Disparaging.

WOW.

Friends, it is time for us to turn that tide.  It is.

Folks are desperate for meaningful connections. 

They can’t function alone.

Connections are not just beneficial they are crucial, helpful and changing!

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp.

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

Friends and Family Give Strength

Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.  Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ERV)

Unfortunately when it comes the addicted, the church has often advanced the stigma. We have implied to the addicted they are moral failures and bad folks who make bad choices who aren't welcome.

We have to stop it.

Our addicted community needs us.  

Their families need us.  Their children need us.  Their spouses need us.  

We must as Alder suggests let people know they are not alone!

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7 ESV

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers...Hebrews 13:2 ESV

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 ESV

“When a stranger (ADDICT) sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself… Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV

Now I don’t normally get too preachy with the OFH. 

But my heart was stirred today by an account shared with one of my closest para-minstry partners Wednesday.  As they were ministering to a desolate and challenging street in Columbus they came upon a little girl who was ALONE and seemingly sleeping on a porch of a home.  Yet upon further examination, she was not sleeping, she was dead. 

Face down.

Alone.

Discarded.

Disconnected.

Forgotten.

Gone.

I don’t need to say anything else.

Things need to change. 

CHURCH, we need to become a community of compassion and connection again.

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another.”  - Merton

Have a blessed weekend.

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)