True North Brochure

changes

ISIS

session

so yeah well i went to see dr. t today.

we were all like totally mad at him and i went so atene didn't go in and go off and start yelling at him and cursing and all ...

so yeah i went.

i told dr. t about how we're disappointed that he didn't explore the stories/stuff that the monicas wrote 'cuz they really did write it themselves and it really was insightful. and we were mad 'cuz he asked "what did crystal have to say about them?" that's where atene went off. so i told dr. t that we really didn't "care what crystal thought 'cuz she's not our therapist, you are!" i told him.

so yeah well then we did just some talk about the nine years we spent with kathleen and what it is we need to work on now and the monicas and yeah well like stuff like that.

so yeah well i so think that it was a good session.

expect to work on the taboo - the female parental unit ...

wordl apology

Not Worthy

I am soooo tired of always being wrong.
I am soooo tired of hearing about all the ways we are failing.
I am soooo tired of not measuring up.

I am soooo tired of hearing about how ashamed Jesus would be of us.

Alright, I get it - we aren't an outward thinking church. Quit condemning and start doing!

Yeah, we may be the church known for our tomb and our rummage sale but HEY! at least we ARE KNOWN!!!

Why not, instead of talking around and behind ..., why don't you, instead of griping and complaining ...

YOU go to The Lamb House because "somebody has to do the work of the church".
YOU go to The Breakthrough Center because "somebody has to want to help others".
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!

How about EMPOWERING US!?! How about LEADING US!?! How about INVITING US!?!

If you would have invited me, I would have gone to The Lamb House with you. I'm curious enough to see what is so appealing. If you would have led, I would have followed. If you empower me with the tools, I can accomplish great things.

The church is just a building ... that's it, nothing more. The PEOPLE are the "little Christians". The PEOPLE are the hands and feet of Christ. The church is just a place to worship God, just a place to share common beliefs and affirmations. The church is just a place to refuel, recharge, and re-learn.

STOP criticizing IT!!
STOP making me feel like $%#@ for being a member of the church.
STOP! STOP!! STOP!!!

"You seem rather sullen today."
"Nope, I'm not."
"You're not?"
"No, I'm Not!"
At least I wasn't until you walked over and began complaining about the rummage sale about charging for the items, about using the money inward; the place that Jesus would walk into and upturn tables, the activity that "maybe Jesus SHOULD come to and over turn every single table".

Go away.

Just GO AWAY!!!

Breakthrough Center

I wanted to go check out the Breakthrough Center today. I wanted to go in and see why Pastor John is so enthralled with the place. I wanted to go see for myself.

I wanted to.

I got into my car, programmed the address in to my nav system and let it guide me to the front door of the center. There were many cars there, three people outside, but plenty of parking. I drove on past.
 
I wanted to stop, park, go inside. I wanted to talk to those that are managing the organization. I really wanted to query them - find out how long they have been in the community, if they knew more of H.E.L.P. beyond the building they currently occupied. I WANTED to see if they realized that the services they offer are almost exactly the same services that H.E.L.P offers or if not to understand the differences as they see them. I wanted to like the place, I really did.

I wanted to.

But I drove around the block again and did not stop.

There are only three possible outcomes here: 
1) the two organizations will work together mutually to the benefit of the community
2) the two organizations will vie for resources, draining precious support from the community and both will fail
3) one organization will triumph and the other will self-sacrifice for the good of the community


H.E.L.P. is a faith-based organization supported by member congregations, schools, businesses, civic clubs and organizations in conjunction with the area cities.  Together it has made great strides in providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, a winter shelter program, food, financial assistance to those in need, life skill training and job placement for the homeless, and free healthcare to those without medical coverage.


The Breakthrough Center exists to unite local fellowships and congregations desiring to reach out together to the community. It is an expression of the love of God in practical, helpful, and supportive ways. All of their services are offered free of charge to the general public. They currently offer a clothing center, an emergency food pantry, basic computer classes, Grieving Together sessions, and a support/prayer ministry.


I'm pretty sure that H.E.L.P. began with such a simple vision when it was founded in 1982. Over the years it has become so much more. What will be The Breakthrough Center be like in 28 years? It has lofty dreams, a big BIG vision that include the acquisition of abandoned city elementary schools for shelter for the homeless. How it will obtain the support for such a dream? Will it even survive that long?

I wanted to walk in through those doors and yes judge the place. Maybe that is why my fear overwhelmed me and I never found the courage to stop, park and walk through those doors. I drove around the block yet again.

I wanted to see why our True North minister, Pastor John, is so infatuated with the place ... why this facility, this organization, has his blessing and H.E.L.P. is the bastard step-child.
 
I wanted to.
 
I drove home, stopped, parked my car, and went inside where I sat and pondered and wrote. 


Maybe God protects his own - I cannot judge what I do not experience. Maybe it is for the best that I am otherwise occupied both on Thursday (the only other day the facility is open this week) and Saturday (the day of the big Breakthrough Center Community Day and Festival). Maybe I just need to let this all just slip from my brain and quit pondering ... for now.