Day 1 - Fun in the Sun

On an all-expense paid trip to a Russ Reid conference in California, I send my jealous staff some greetings:


Hey everyone!

What a day! It started VERY early with a taxi ride from a man who used to volunteer at Dallas Valley as a Maintenance Man, and whose children attend Western Christian College. Oh and they both got a job at McDonald's.

A short flight to Minneapolis with a great seat and the very worst tea; I couldn't even drink it. I sat next to Mary-Louise Read from Estevan. Vicki, she knows a Schnell but not your parents, Ross & Lee. I helped her fill out her customs form.

Then as I was coming through customs I noticed a flight to Orange County 3 hours earlier than mine. Could I rush through the airport and beat the clock??!! I passed everyone on the moving walkways, looking like some kind of madwoman, I'm sure.

I get there, winded, out of breath, having not eaten any food for a very very long time... lo and behold, they said I could get on! BUT, the flight was nearly 4 hours and I was squished between two men.

Anyway, we chatted a bit. Accent man was British, and I learned all about his most interesting work history. He had a brief marked, "Confidential" so I was trying to sneak peaks. He's an inventor!! Numbers man was frustrated because there was a misprint in some kind of newspaper puzzle that is only for people like Jack and Paula. You have to get 10 numbers in
a row, both up and down, in 10 columns, and none of the numbers can be in the same row. See, I'm going bonkers just trying to explain it!

I read a two year old issue of Harvard Review. It's a $25 magazine so I finally got my money's worth. I was soooooo bored on the plane. Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode where Elaine is losing it and screaming in her mind, "I'M SOOO BORED!!" etc. Well, that was me. For sure.

Speaking of Jack and Paula, WELCOME HOME! I missed you both very much!

So, then it was off to the hotel, just a few minutes away. My eyes were BEAT RED and SOOOO sore. They still are, actually. Visine has now helped some. At this point, I was a wreck, for various reasons. At any rate, I checked in, met the Vancouver crew: Maurice, Dwayne, and John; worked on my speech for tomorrow, then back to the John Wayne Airport to get my luggage.

I missed the shuttle back (the driver waited as long as he could but he had to get to his other government job helping senior citizens!) because they were so slow putting the luggage out. So, I went upstairs to buy a magazine and talked to a lady who is very mad at the Trinity Broadcasting Network (a Crouch couple who are in some kind of homosexual lawsuit?) At any rate, she got felt she got ripped off by these people because she tithed to them and never got
any "blessings" in return like they promised. Unless you count the Disneyland 50th anniversary sweatshirt from her mother and the sneakers, too. Yeah, so that was interesting.

Then, back to the hotel, with a Hispanic driver that talked so fast I couldn't understand him! And he forgot to shut the luggage door so had to pull over and fix that. He kept ignoring the beeping and this Danny Barrett sound/look alike and I are thinking, what the heck?

And then registration for the conference. Met the Quebeckers. Yeah, I spelled that like "duck." Sorry, Jon. They brought 5 people!! (It's a new CEO in case you didn't know.) And inside my Russ Reid bag are two books, one by Boundaries dudes, Cloud/Townsend called, "How To Handle the Difficult People In Your Life" LOL and the other called... ready for this, Becca? "BLOG" Yes, so it's my happy day!!

Which brings me to the present. Now I am paying through the nose for internet because KEN WOULDN'T LET ME BRING THE LAPTOP FOR FREE INTERNET IN MY ROOM.

I am at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine California. Apparently I can't play chess on this computer... We'll have to see about that! My number is 949-225-1234 and my room number is 623. You can call me for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if you do it from my house. lol.

So, now that I feel guilty, I better go. Tomorrow is Russ Reid Canada Day. I'm looking forward to it very much. Bye.

Michelle
xoxo

Give of Your Best to The Master

Over the summer I was speaking to a Missionary friend from China. She commented on how in her work, there is much obvious spiritual warfare - obstacles straight from the devil himself. As she worked with us over her summer furlough, she observed that OUR biggest challenge in ministry was distraction, and the temptation to please ourselves.

One of the hymns I clung to when I was in the previous decade of my life was Give of Your Best to The Master. Young people today have a huge challenge ahead of them. Not only to fight peer pressure, and the "Generation X" reputation, but to live a life fully devoted to God and worthy of His call. I believe I have the cream of the crop working for me, and it is to them that I dedicate this song:


Give of Your Best to The Master
Words by Howard B. Grose
Music by Charlotte A. Barnard

Give of your best to the Master, give of the strength of your youth.
Throw your soul's fresh glowing ardor, into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example, dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion, give Him the best that you have.

Refrain
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Clad in Salvation's full armor;
Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master, give Him first place in your heart.
Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given, God His beloved Son gave.
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;Give Him the best that you have.

This Means War!

One of my young staffers was commenting that she thought as a whole, relationships are under spiritual attack right now. She sees acquaintances, clients, and friends pursuing relationships that are detrimental to their spiritual well-being.

I stumbled on this article this morning that describes her sentiments:
http://www.navpress.com/EPubs/DisplayArticle/1/1.13.13.html

Ultimately, our relationship with God MUST be first and foremost in our lives. If we are looking for fulfillment and happiness from aywhere or anyone besides the Lord, it not only tells us we aren't READY for a relationship, but it goes against God's holy Word:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." -Colossians 2:10

Last week Ken told one of our staff that in Scripture, Christianity is likened to a battle, and that we are to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." -2 Timothy 2:3&4

I love having young single staff work for me. I get to train them in their formative career years. They are energetic and enthusiastic, and, I must say, I DO have the cream of the crop ministering at Regina Rescue Mission. BUT, one thing is for certain. They don't have it easy, going against the grain of their peer group and what society deems acceptable.

Well, check out the article. You'll see what I mean. It's very well written and an interesting read. I'll be here when you get back.

Good-Bye

Today I had to release something I love very deeply. Something I've been clinging onto with all my might.

After seeking the Lord's face in the matter, finally, I heard a still small whisper...

"Let go."

And so, I felt the Spirit pry my fists loose to that which I was clutching so tightly. With tears I let Him force them open and take what was there, feeling as Paul did, perhaps, when he admitted his life felt like a drink offering being poured out.

And so, I did not fight it. I felt the switch go off. The walls go up. A moment of clarity, and then...

Good-bye.

Shacking Up or Shackled?

Tonight I had to bar someone from the building. You'd think this would get easier by now. But, as I sit here in the dark stillness of a quiet office, head in hands, I feel shaken. Saddened.

I told this couple that their living in sin was a bad example for our residents and until they chose a more Biblical way, which is, not having sex before marriage, they were not welcome in our building anymore, except to talk to one of the Directors for counselling.

Why do people choose to gratify their own selfish desires and lusts, even at the extent of cutting themselves off from the people who love and support them the most?

I told them I loved them and sent them on their way.

Signature Style

So, our Webmaster, Jonathan, has encouraged us all to have more complete signatures at the end of our email. I was particularly excited about the "Donate Now" link so I thought I had better update mine, as well.

But I couldn't leave out my blog! Not enough people are reading my "Random Thoughts." My co-director said, "Why should I read your random thoughts? You tell me them all anyway." Hm.

Anyway, my signature is quite long now... I think it's longer than half of the emails I send out!

What do you think?

Michelle Porter
Associate Founding Director
Regina RESCUE Mission
PO BOX 3356 STN MAIN REGINA SK S4P 3H1
Tel. 306.543.0011 Fax. 306.525.3079
Email. mporter@reginarescuemission.org
Website. http://www.reginarescuemission.org

Check out my blog at http://www.reginarescuemission.org/blog

Donate Online! http://www.reginarescuemission.org/donatenow.html

Freedom to Crawl

"We cannot do the things we need to do on our own. We are unable to make choices on our own. We have to face our inability and depend on God. We have to depend on others. "

How People Grow, What the Bible Reveals about Personal Growth, by Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend.

This is the crux of the book. We need God. We need each other.

And yet, so many of us struggle through life with a Lone Ranger mentality. Consequently, we DON'T grow in our faith as rapidly as our peers. We wonder why God doesn't seem at work in our life, and why we aren't being directed by the Holy Spirit. When we come to an end of ourselves, our will, our desires, our pleasures, it is THEN that God opens up doors to be with Him and to reach out to others.

The step is ours to make, but what a grand step it is! Awkward. Humbling. Uncomfortable. But like watching one of the babies at the Mission learn to crawl this past week, how EXCITING! There is anticipation and joy in the journey! Whether baby Freedom learns to crawl this week or next month, it is of no matter. The struggle of trying is worth as much as the reward of success.

This week I was dwelling on how God draws us to Himself. If you wonder if God is at work in you, the answer is clear. The wondering in itself IS the answer. If only God draws us to Himself, then it is only through this pull that we would ask such a question in the first place.

And, like baby Freedom, there would be some concern if he wasn't interested in learning to crawl. But in his quest, we find comfort and assurance that all is well.

10 Best & Worst of 2005

My first day off of the year so some time to reflect. I had this idea to review 2005. We'll see how it goes:

Best Decision: promoting Melanie to LifeChange Program Director.

Hardest Decision: placing someone on probation.

Best Event: 2nd Annual Love Your Neighbour Banquet.

Most Rewarding Moment: graduation ceremony from the Banquet.

Favourite Staff Bonding Time: sleepover at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp.

Best Weekly Activity: staff Bible study at Jack & Paula's. 5 years running!

Best Trip: a conference in California during the coldest Regina week of the year!

Best Meal: The amazing feast we shared with the homeless New Year's Eve Day, specially prepared by Melrose Place North and La Bodega/M Bistro.

Most Stressful Thing: my ulcer!

Worst Realization: I forgot to take vacation!

And there you have it. My Top/Bottom 10 list as the life of a director. I love what I do, and I love the Lord. Whatever happens, it is HE who makes the sun rise and fall each day. He holds us in the palm of His hand and preserves us with His awesome power.

Life-Changing Resolutions!

Last night Melanie Van Herk, our LifeChange Preogram Director represented the Mission at a city-wide young adults event. This is the introduction to her talk about the Mission:

Every year at this time, millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions. I’m sure dozens of us make up lists, post them on our bathroom mirrors and follow them for about three days.

They probably go something like this:

1. Lose 10 pounds.
2. Join a gym, critical to achieving number one.
3. Learn Spanish.
4. Start volunteering, maybe at the Regina Rescue Mission.
5. Save up for a big holiday this summer.
6. Organize my crazy closet.

At the Regina Rescue Mission, we offer a LifeChange Discipleship Program for men and women with life-controlling problems and addictions. When they walk in our doors they make their own set of resolutions - sometimes it even ends up on their bathroom mirrors!

Their list usually might contain some of these goals:

1. Stay clean and sober.
2. Start taking my medication for my mental illness regularly.
3. Get a job.
4. Get my GED.
5. Start working towards getting my kids back.
6. Reconcile with my family.
7. Deal with my legal problems.

And so on. These are life changing goals! They are not easy to achieve and there will be many obstacles along the path. The Regina Rescue Mission exists to offer a helping hand along the way.