First Church of the Radically Recovered

07/05/2024

Happy Birthday America! David and I were sitting out front watching no less than 5 different fireworks events. Various local parks held the displays. I watched and thought... this beautiful, colorful 'show' originally took place in the midst of the Revolutionary War. (and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air... gave proof through the night that America was indeed being born)! My thoughts went then to all those amongst us who have served us while real bombs, artillery and rockets were actually surrounding them. Friends were no more, or struggling to stay alive, saying their last prayers

04/25/2024

I have spent the last 20 years of my life sitting across from some of the most broken people this country has ever known. The rejected, the horrifically abused, and those suffering with PTSD. Sitting with people who are in a war with their minds as to whether to commit su***de or not. The wife that just found out her husband cheated on her over the weekend. They have brutalized their families - spiritually, financially, emotionally, and sometimes, physically. They have lost the limbs due to their addictions. They have gone to the extreme of having elective surgery within their belief system; as they feel they should be another gender. Thousands of people. I have spoken at funerals, held crushed family members in my arms, and stood by graves and wept with loved ones. People have died in the clothes that I gave them only days before.

Every one of these people came into the world as a precious innocent baby. Filled with purpose and identity, spilling over with potential and motivation to accomplish the impossible.
Yet, bit by bit, life chiseled away at them. People, circumstances, and the lies of pure evil put them on a pathway of destruction, whether towards themselves or others.

The same God who created you dreamed of them as well. Yes, people who we call our enemies… those ones who are the ‘problem’. Oh! If we could just get rid of them, everything would get better!!!???

Yet, God sits in in heaven’s. He’s better than the best parent! Refusing to give in to fear and discouragement concerning creation. The ‘Great Adopting One’, God Almighty! Never will give up on those broken ones…
An earth-filled-family is God’s dream!

Let’s find ourselves on the team who won’t give up. With the ones who know there is a way, even if we can’t see it yet.

God will never be in the mood to change his plans. Plans for good and never evil.

04/17/2024

Come one and all!!! Brand new PHP Program! If you come, I get to see your face and say hello!

04/17/2024

I am so relieved that my opinion matters so little. 😎

04/13/2024

04/11/2024

Simply had to share this post from a dear friend who posted this on my personal page!
I hope you take a moment to read his words. John has a heart of gold…

JOHN CUMBERLAND - Now this is a seriously excellent post, cool relevant picture n all.
One of the things I realized as I was getting out into the world in my mid 20's was that there were actually people whose lives Weren't full of trama - I thought everybody went from one trama to another.
Surviving - Always
Surviving!
Then as time went along and I began working with troubled folks in various capacities. I began to learn so much about troubled people. Troubled folks have a special way of connecting with other troubled people. I learned to listen in that certain way - that way that was safe tor folks to shear feelings. We Could Exchange "Things" - "Experiences". I began to help folks establish Safe Places to Open Up Their Insides. I began growing in Understandings.
For example as I was working with prostitutes - I believe somewhere between the 20 n 30 one - was that every single one of them had been sexualy abused as children - I began paying attention - after knowing around a 100 quite well, maybe two or three wernt abused as children (these were cold - in it for the money - truly blank people). But I began to realize that children who are abused learn to "go to the Other Place" when things get too much to handle. After several journeys "to that Other Place " it becomes a familiar, even somewhat comfortable place . . .
Working with drug dealers - most ( including me) were very poor as children with no foundation to their lives as growing up - a common phrase I heard was "when growing up it seemed I was always falling - always falling but never landing". Lacking money But the Lack of Control was even more impactful. Drug dealers , in a certain real, Are The Ones In Control.
When I was in prison I quickly began learning things from my prison mates. Few could really read - very few. They had never even learned to comprehend anything aroundthem - how to sift n prioritize information. Actually - this is important, please hear - most had specialized in forgetting rather than retaining information.
Specialized in shutting out - Shutting off.
I used to help them write letters - I'd began helping them express feelings. They were astounded that someone was actually listening to them and hearing What They Were Trying To Say ! Looking into their eyes as they realized someone was doing more than listening but actually Shearing their Feelings. Helping them feeling their feelings. Someone crying With them - crying with them. That's real.
As I read letters written to them. Which I gently began after watching someone pretending to read a letter but holding it upside down - now thats real - then helping them shear with me that they can't read - a delicate thing - these weren't your everyday folks mind you. No not you everyday troubled folks. I was in with some pretty scarry people - rapists, three or four time losers - killers - Bikers n gang members. Hard core people. When they open up - it gets real quickly - realer than real.
One day as I was helping someone read a letter from their mother I asked him if he wanted to write back. Immediately he said "Why". I put my hand on his shoulder and just let it Rest for a bit. You Can't Force Love . . . But we can prepare a safe place for Love to Settle.

Love Needs a Safe Place.
I began preying about it - talking to God - asking Him to help me Absorb what I was experiencing. Just talking it through with God - of course we were living in a hell hole. People were screaming in the night - rapes - su***des - brutal bloody fights - no place to slip up , no way to escape it- a wrong look (too hard or too weak) could go bad - Permenatly Bad !
Well, in this environment I met the real part of people.
I began reading the Bible to them - the groups quickly grew - And We began talking about what God was Shearing with Us ( His Children) in the Bible - I began listening to How it made them Feel !
Listening - Listening
Now - back to the letters - I began helping guys writing letters - helping them say what they wanted to say.
Helping them Feel Safe - think of that, helping someone feel safe in a place like hard core prison.
Then one day I helped a guy write a letter to his mother - he was waiting trial for some pretty bad s**t - we never ask specifics - most only sheared surface stuff about their crimes - obvious reasons.
Well, after we finished he had me read it back - we both cried - he asked me if he should sing it like I did. I said sure. He said - I want to use That Word . . . I got real careful - I could see it in his eyes - I could feel it was important Not to mess this up. Help him go where he Sort Of was trying to go. I went back to my letter. Then to his.
I wrote it - I asked this word - he said "yes". I said "if you can say it I will write it". I looked at the other two guys in thr cell - (I have a serious side - it can be real serious) they left. Then he said " I Love You Mom".
I wrote it.
He told me he couldn't remember the last time he told her that - he said "John - I don't think I ever told her".
We Never Ever Know What Troubled People Are Really going through inside (not what they have gone through because somethings that happen to people . . . Never Stop Happening.
They Never Stop Happening!
One day I'll shear with you folks what people like this Don't Dream About - what they dont dream about . . .
What does a person do with things like this - what to you do when you've been where I've been??
I wounder - will anyone even read this (I wouldn't have written accept to you Mimi because I know You will read it) but will anyone else read it? It's not easy to really care - I know! Learning these things hasn't come easy. It's cost me - it's still costing me. Sometimes I feel Stained. Sometimes when I tell people these things they Stop Looking at me.
Does anyone actually want to know these things?

04/10/2024

Some of us… and (statistically), someone you know – have endured more damage than most in this world will ever understand. Judging them only pushes them further away from Love. Please, pray for them more than you judge them.

04/10/2024

I absolutely love the phrase - “Came to believe”
(BB step 2) It always open us up to MORE! It opens the human heart as well!

04/06/2024

The pastor says they sit front and center. The gay boys. Sometimes they hold hands. And some folks have said he should address the issue. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
There is the couple who are pregnant and not married. Walks in shame as her father a “Man of God”, physically slaps her legs while she is having morning sickness and the Boyfriend who is not wanting to marry her. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the man who sneaks in the back door. Fresh off the street. After the service starts. And leaves before altar call. The people sitting close complain about how bad he smells. Of beer and smoke and sweat. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the young mama who wears dirty clothes and lets her four children come in and eat all the donuts and drink all the watered-down juice. Some church staff say they “…eat like little pigs. Like they haven’t eaten in weeks.” While the Mama just stands there and lets them. And the elders say something must be done and said. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And there’s the w***e sitting among the faithful. And everybody knows her. She sits with a painted-up face, cheap perfume, and a broken heart. And those who sit close, well, they all treat her for what they think she is. And at the last staff meeting, her name came up. Something must be done about her. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
The pastor is a good man. Holy and just. And he wants to do the “right and loving” thing. And he wants to “look like Jesus”. And he asks me if I have any thoughts on anything he could say.
Yes, sweet Pastor. I do. Start with this and say it Louder than any other words:
“Welcome to Church. This is a place of love and hope and safety and forgiveness. There will be food for the hungry. Living water for the thirsty. We are so glad you are here. You are invited. You are loved. Come on in—we’ve been waiting on you. Welcome here. We are the church.”
Say that. To the called and to the called-out. To the leaders and the greeters. To the dirty and the clean. We are all the same. We are.
May we blow the dust of religion out of our souls and choose affection instead. May our words and actions and reactions be a sanctuary for all.
Jesus broke many laws to love. So, Jesus, be our voice. Be the only words we should ever speak.I believe this with all my heart. Years ago we were kinder. Everybody looked out for one another. We need to go back to that. It takes us all. We gotta do better at looking out for each other instead of breaking each other down. Amen

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