In A Downward Spiral of Regrets

In A Downward Spiral of Regrets

In a downward spiral approaching the vortex.
The light at the end of the tunnel is dimming.
Dreams not achieved, bridges burned.
How do I know when my life turned?

It turned when I caved to peer pressure.
And when I gave up on my dream.
It turned when I groomed my dead father,
And said goodbye to my devoted mother.

It turned when I traded in my virtue,
For friendships superficial.
Not realizing the most important ones in life,
Are family, my children and wife.

Now I arrive at a turning point.
Which path am I to choose?
The downward path that leads to death,
Or toward His love which gives life new breath?

For this moment I'll choose to continue,
But I don't know for how long.
Every day I work behind the wire, encouraging the inmates
To better themselves and rise above their past.

Sometimes I wonder if I've sentenced myself to prison,
Daily incarceration with men of a similar vision.

Loving an Addict, Guest Story

Being the spouse of an addict is probably one of the toughest things I have ever been through, and I have been through a lot. To love someone so much and to see what substances do to them can be completely heart wrenching. But when you love someone enough, the way that God loves us, you stick by their side. You accept the circumstances and you support them as they go through their addiction and try to overcome. You don’t get upset because they slip up. You continue to love them and give it to God. After all, if you ask, you will receive. It may not be when or how you want it to be, but it will be how and when God wants it to be.

My husband has cursed me out and said the most horrible things, all because he wanted some beer. I would get so upset and he would make me feel so guilty, that I would cave and get him what he wanted, just because I did not want him to be upset with me. After all, he worked so hard all day and he deserved it, right? Plus, he would apologize later and everything would be okay in his eyes. It wasn’t okay though. Our marriage was falling apart because of his alcoholism and the fact that instead of helping him get through his urges, I was enabling him. I began praying to God every day and night. When he wanted a drink, I would hide the keys and block his way from getting out the door. But the addict in him always found a way to get a drink. I refused to give up though. However, instead of trying to stop him, I let him do what he wanted. I began to focus more on my children and myself and let God handle my husband. I still kept praying and believing, but I knew I would not be the one to make him stop drinking. It was between him and God.

On December 31, 2011, my husband made the decision to go into the New Year sober, to recommit himself to our marriage, family, and most of all to his Lord and Savior. It has been over three months since he made this decision and I must say it has been a very rough three months. But through the grace of God, he is finally overcoming his addiction. I see him get stronger every day. That craving is still there, but with God by his side and with my love and support, he gets through it. I thank God every day for helping not only him get through his addiction, but also for giving me the strength to be able to stay in the marriage and get through it with him.

- By Dawn

When you're at your worst, count your blessings.

I really feel compelled to tell you my story, or at least some of the highlights.  For now, I'll just share a snippet.  It seems like this past decade has had some of the worst and some of the best times in my life.  In 2000, and then again in 2001 I lost my Dad, then my Mom.  Then by 2002 I had a near job lay-off, and a divorce.  A psychologist told me that each incident was enough to bring any person to the brink of depression, drink or just plain giving up, so I was trying to deal with these setbacks, trying to keep my sanity.

I had a buddy that got me involved a bit with the Catholic church, just long enough to learn some of their ways by reading a couple of books and attending a mass or two.  During the process, I somehow ended up with some Rosary beads.  Of course, I didn't know any of the formal Catholic prayers, but I loved holding the cross.  It made me feel peaceful.  My original Rosary was made of wood, I've since purchased several more.

One night alone in bed, lonely as could be, contemplating all of the crap I was going through and about in tears with despair, I clutched the Rosary beads.  I had heard that when you’re feeling down to count your blessings, so I started doing that, naming one blessing per bead as they slipped through my fingers.  I know I went around the loop for sure one time, perhaps two, naming blessings one-by-one.  I first listed my children, then my siblings, then my dog, job and friends.  Before I knew it, I felt better.  The neat thing about using the beads to count each blessing was that when I was done, I could look at something tangible and visually identify a whole bunch of things I should be thankful for.  I still use the beads to this day in the same way.  I also love this old hymn sung in many churches called “Count our blessings”.  Here's the first verse.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Youth Shooting Sports, A Risky Business (Risk Management)

Even though my primary thoughts when writing this are geared toward the shooting sports, it is virtually the same for adults leading youth in any training, activity or exercise.  Risk is the chance of loss or injury.  In managing that risk, we can either assume, reduce, avoid or transfer it.

When we assume the risk we recognize your specific duties by liability, and there are 2 types of liability, criminal (duties toward community) and civil (duties toward individuals).  Within civil there is contractual and tort  (negligence).

We have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for our program, recognizing and controlling potential hazards.  We also are responsible for conducting activities in a .  Remember that those words, reasonable and prudent manner.  That's why it is so imperative that we follow the guidelines we've been given in our training from our organization, as well as the umbrella organization who wrote the curriculum for our training, like the National Rifle Association.

When leading our activities, our specific duties are to:

• Follow your instructors manual when teaching your discipline
• Properly plan ahead
• Provide adequate instruction
• Explain the risks to youth and parents
• Monitor for injury or incapacity
• Provide safe equipment
• Have a plan for emergencies
• Keep records
• Provide close supervision

We are also responsible for developing a Risk Management Plan, or using one that has been provided by our sponsoring organization.  A good plan will include the following points: Goals, Staffing/ Supervision, Insurance, Record Keeping System, Emergency procedures, Equipment Handling/ Inspections, Facility Inspection and perhaps more.  If you are sponsored by a government organization, more than likely they will require you to follow an Affirmative Action, providing equal access to all.

I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with risk management in this short article.  The very best source for protecting yourself and your participants will be your sponsoring organization.  Any quality organization will have all their ducks in a row on this topic.  For further information and a good sample plan for 4-H, which could be adapted to any youth organization is from the University of Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program, and U of N 4-H Risk Management Plan. It expands upon what I have written today.

Seeking Bloggers For This Site

I am looking for a few individuals to work with me as a team in this new ministry from the ground floor up. Part of the ministry is writing, contributing to this blog column.

I am an experienced blogger and know how to get peoples attention, but writing a daily and sometimes weekly story can be difficult, besides with several eyes and hearts working on a project the quality can be improved.

Voice of Truth Ministry is about overcoming hardship, and through Christ finding hope, grace and healing on the other end.

Requirements:

• Be a sinner who has found healing through Jesus Christ. Your hardship(s) may include, but are not limited to substance abuse, overeating, immorality, victim issues, etc.
• Be willing to share your story with others. Your anonymity will be protected.
• Have some writing ability, and be willing to have others look at your work and make constructive comments. (a challenge for me!)
• Be willing to write stories/columns, from 100 to 400 words with a single point in mind, Biblical reference, ending in a message of hope.
• Be willing to get together as a team in person if possible, is not a requirement but would be nice.

Email me if interested, then we can talk about it on the phone. I'd like to see a sample of your work if you are truly sincere about helping.

by Andrew

When Christ healed people he forgave them of their sins.

The scripture we studied today was in the Bible, Mark chapter 2.  I found it interesting that when ever Jesus healed someone, he didn't say anything like "you are healed", instead he forgave them of their sins, and then they were healed.  That's my interpretation anyway.

NIV Mark Chapter 2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Read the chapter. 
by Andrew


It's amazing that once we start to straighten out our life, things start to get better.  God bless you in your recovery and healing.