Progress on my goals July 22-28, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	Be on page 1050 (5 pg a day)	On page 1050
Faith in Action Bible	Be on page 1260 (6 pg a day)	On page 1260
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Scripture memory	40 passages by July 31	30
Running	35 miles a week	26
Running 2012 Overall	1212 miles by 12/12/12	513
Crunches	1000 a week	1000
Floss	7 times a week	7 Days
Face Cleaning/Lotions	7 times a week	7
I Like Book	7 times a week	7
Modules	2 a week	1
Social Events	3 a quarter	2
Guy Time	10 X a quarter	4
Self Exam	3 a week	2
Book Reading	1 Book a week	1
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	14
Paid Speaking	3 a quarter	0
Date with Cara	3 a quarter	2
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

At a personal level this was an amazing week.  I did fall short on my running miles but it was not a bad week overall.  I plan on adding more to my fitness this week with the inspiration of the Olympics I should be able to do more.  I dream of completing an Ironman in 2014.  I wonder if I can create the discipline to pull that off?  On a Spiritual level I have been touched by God.  He speaks to my heart and challanges me.  Up until now I have been mentored by great men of God.  Now He is calling me to become a mentor to younger men.  I long to see real men rise up and live to the Glory of God.  Real men who are disciplined world changers. 
I will be working this week on my next books.  Your Hero Quest will be a how to become a real world hero.  Heroic Courage will call men and women to overcome fear and impact their world.  Heroic Parenting will call parents to push through what might be the greatest challange of their lives.  Soon I will be making some adjustments to my blog as well as my web site to reflect this passion for helping to create heroes.

Hero Quest Chapter 3 Part 4

After an hour or so of prayer John went and made breakfast and got Corrina’s coffee going.  Dread filled him as he considered the words of Jesus.  “What am I doing?  I should take a sick day,” he thought to himself.  Then he shook his head.  He would face the challenge, whatever it might be.  He decided that he would learn whatever lesson God had for him and move on.  He also realized that he would not be able to exercise today.  That extra hour of sleep had wiped out that possibility.  He felt a twinge of guilt. But he also knew just like this fear was not from God, neither was this guilt. 

He would face the challenge.  He would not give up, he would not surrender.  The pep talk going in his head resounded with words from hundreds of inspiring books and movies.  He would not back down from a challenge, whether he could see what the challenge was or not.  John Hero would not hide out at home.  He would overcome his anxiety.  He would get to work and face his enemy.

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            All the kids knew is that they were hungry, and all of the adults in the place didn’t seem to notice them.  Michelle, the oldest at four, took the lead.  Quietly, Michelle showed her little brother and sister to the kitchen.  Michelle searched each cabinet carefully hoping that they would not creak.  She remembered once being beaten for waking her mom up and she was determined not to make that mistake again.  Michelle thought carefully as she examined each box.  How she wished that she was able to read.  All of these boxes looked alike.  Certainly one of these would have food in them.  Methodically she pulled out a bag with cereal in it.  She opened it and gave some to little Anton, age two.  His eyes brightened with the taste of food.  Handful after handful went into the bag, and then into his mouth.  It had been a long couple of days for him.  Susie, who had just turned three, looked at the bag and saw a bug crawling among the oat cereal and screamed. 

Footsteps pounded from around the house.  The kids were caught up in an angry swirl, and the cereal bag was ripped from Anton’s hand.  A moment later all three kids, with blustery, swollen, tear-filled eyes, found themselves in a basement bedroom.  The dirty laundry all around them was the only furniture.  Michelle was silent as she heard the door lock at the top of the stairs.  Darkness filled most of the room.  When all was again quiet, Michelle comforted her siblings as a good mother would.

Real Life at the Shelter July 16-22 2012

Weekly highlights

Monday July 16:  Seven of our ladies experienced their first day at work this morning and all came back very excited.   One of our guests, who a few weeks ago had shown herself to be unsafe for regular shelter and had been utilizing our phase II, (Bed from 5pm-8am, dinner, breakfast, evening small groups, ladies here take things with them when they leave)   found housing and was very grateful for the experience of staying with us.         

Tuesday July 17:  One of our guests became suicidal.  911 was called.  When the fire truck arrived (Spokane always sends a fire truck with ambulances)  she panicked and took off down the street.  Later it was confirmed that the fire department had found her and treated her.  It turns out that this guest had escaped from the mental hospital so she is now back where she can get some help.   

Wednesday July 18:   One of our overflow guests (mattress on the floor from 10pm-6 am) was working hard to go around the few rules that we have for that program.  She was put on that list as well.  One of our guests went to court over the phone at the shelter today.  Wow modern technology is amazing!

Thursday July 19:   Thursday was an emotional night as several of the ladies examined their hearts and entered into deep conversations with staff and volunteers.   

Friday July 20:   The trafficking victim that we had worked with several weeks ago stopped by to say hello and let us know that she is doing ok.   

Weekend:   Lots of little dramas in each of the rooms.  Many tensions among the ladies.

General comments:  This week we will complete transitioning the staff.  We now have a full staff to include a part time employee (Kathleen) will work Monday – Friday from 10 pm-2am nightly to train our guest assistants.   

    

Current Crisis Shelter Purpose Statement:

 The Crisis Shelter for Women and Children exists to increase the impact of our ministries of rescue, recovery and restoration by partnering with staff, volunteers and donors.  We will do this by meeting basic needs in a safe, clean, temporary shelter, with instruction and guidance for life transformation in a healing environment.

My personal progress July 15-21, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	Be on page 1015 (5 pg a day)	On page 1016
Faith in Action Bible	Be on page 1674 (6 pg a day)	On page 1676
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Scripture memory	40 passages by July 31	30
Running	35 miles a week	18
Running 2012 Overall	1212 miles by 12/12/12	487
Crunches	1000 a week	1000
Floss	7 times a week	7 Days
Face Cleaning/Lotions	7 times a week	7
I Like Book	7 times a week	7
Modules	2 a week	3
Social Events	3 a quarter	2
Guy Time	10 X a quarter	3
Self Exam	3 a week	3
Book Reading	1 Book a week	2
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	13
Paid Speaking	3 a quarter	0
Date with Cara	3 a quarter	2
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

I wake up this week remembering that I am a solider at heart.  God has called me to be part of a great mission and I love it.  Even when I fall short (like in running miles this week) I am a son of the King of Kings and He has called me to fight along side of Him.  I am not to fight in front of Him or behind Him but instead right beside Him.  As the Scripture says, "Make the most of you time for the days are evil."  I will take advantage of every moment to love, to connect, to learn, to grow and to get healthy.  My passion is growing again.  Look for some changes and additions in the days to come as a result.
I read two books this week.  One was about the great warrior Hannibal.  It reminded me of many of the things that I must do as a  leader.  It gave me cautions about getting to comfortable and lax.  Again the days are evil, I must be about my Father's business.  I must be actively resting in the presence of the Lord, discovering where He is working and go do that.  I must have a Kingdom vision and pursue it despite all risks and despite all nay saying.  The future belongs to the King.