My personal progres April 29-May 5, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	Be on page 630 (5 pg a day)	On page 630
Faith in Action Bible	Be on page 756 (6 pg a day)	On page 756
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	25 miles a week	26
Running 2012 Overall	1212 miles by 12/12/12	289.5
Crunches	1000 a week	1100
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	3
Guy Time	10 X a quarter	2
Self Exam	3 a week	3
Book Reading	1 Book a week	2
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	10
Paid Speaking	3 a quarter	0
Date with Cara	3 a quarter	1
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

We all have people and things that come against us reaching our goals.  In my goal setting workshops and in my life change seminar I cover some ways to increase your odds of success.  One of those ways is to seek accountability.  That is why I post this each week.  So that you can see my progress and boo or cheer me depending on what I am doing.  More importantly I do not wish to disappoint, so I push myself to meet or exceed my own standards.
I long to live heroically.  I read a book this week called the Butterfly Effect.  It essentially points out that doing little things can cause huge chain reactions to the future that may very well change the world.  The other book that I read this week The Resolution for Men, is simply refocusing me toward becoming the man that I want to be.
The other push this week was having a semi informal marriage counseling session.  I long to be a heroic husband and father.  This desire often serves against me as my own disappointments can prevent others from being totally honest with me.  Basically, I am falling short but nobody tells me so I think that I am doing great!  How sad.  I long to be open, transparent and continue on with my drive to live heroically in all areas of my life.
Next week will be very busy. I pray that I will be able to push through the challanges and meet my own standards head on.

Hero Quest Chapter 2 part 2

“It seems that you just told me that you needed to go to the hospital right away.  You should be back by five.”  He didn’t know what was really going on, but he was going to stand by shelter policies.  They were there for good reasons. 

But, this woman couldn’t relate with those reasons just now.  If fact, she seemed to quiver with anger.  She said nothing and went to her room.  John shrugged and went toward the staff office.

            The decoration on the door jingled like a warning bell.  “How goes the battle?”  John greeted Darlene.

            She looked up from updating the computer.  “Wild and woolly, as always.”  He walked past her as she spoke and started warming up his computer.  He walked back out for the daily snapshot book.  Darlene gave him the to-do list.  “Room five has a clog in the bathroom sink.  I was taking the new gal around back to show her the back gate and the bell when I saw Sue smoking a doobie.” 

“Really.” 

“Yeah it’s really clogged.” 

“No, I meant…” 

Darlene cut him off with a smile, “I know, I know.  She was very apologetic.  She even apologized for disrespecting our guidelines, the shelter, and the mission as a whole.  Before she left she even confessed to being here high on other types of drugs.  Weird, isn’t it?” 

“There is hope for that one.  Go ahead and put her on the accountability list, if she comes back, she’ll have to pass our drug test.”  Darlene nodded as she moved to do so.  “Anything else of interest?” John asked.

“A few people are still shaken up from yesterday, but for the most part they are very angry with Sarah.  There was even talk among the ladies in room nine about taking her out, permanent like.” Darlene winced and shuffled some papers.

“They know that’s not ok, right?” 

“I hope so but they are fairly passionate about this,” she shook her head.

“Make sure they know that I do not want any revenge,” he enunciated firmly.

“I will.”  There was a knock on the door and John took the book back to his office. 

            Flipping the book open, he read Maggie’s account of last night’s events.  Most of these he was intimately familiar with, but there were some notes about the after effects.  Several of the ladies had asked for a special prayer meeting and one of the volunteers had not only joined them but led them.  Apparently the ladies from room nine were having their own kind of meeting, thought John. 

Maggie’s account really made him sound like a hero, but he really didn’t feel that way.  He got home the night before and was so out of it.  What did his kids think of him?  Was he a real man?  He had been crying half the evening.  He shook his head as if to shake off last night’s unpleasant events.

Three people had checked in the night before, and John updated the register in the computer.  In the other room, he heard Darlene talking with a guest who was wondering if it was okay to take a job at a near by strip club.  Darlene was trying to lovingly tell her that she was worth much more than they would be paying her.  The guest was trying to explain that all she had to offer the world was an incredible body.  John could hear the desperation in her voice and longed for her to see herself as God saw her; so much more than simply a sexual object.   Darlene explained that shelter policy would not be giving her a late exception for that sort of job.  Darlene encouraged her to get a job that was more in line with her real value.  He heard the urgency in Darlene’s tone, explaining to the guest that she was precious in the sight of God, created for much more than this.  As she talked about purpose and value and dignity, he prayed that Darlene’s seeds would find good soil in this heart. 

He returned to his work, checking emails, making a quick to-do list and prioritizing the assorted crisis situations presented at the Shelter. 

Real Life at the Crisis Shelter April 23-29, 2012

Weekly highlights

Monday April 23:  The door of the dining room broke off of the hinge as one of our ladies was walking through it.  She was not hurt but was stuck trying to hold it up.  This was a bit more challenging for her since she had only one arm, however she did a great job!  We did an incredible amount of check ins today.  One of our guests in phase II had relapsed again so has now been moved to overflow as her only shelter option (10pm-6 am mattress on the floor).        

Tuesday April 24:  One of our former guests was in a motorcycle accident and passed away today.  Funeral will be next week.  Pray for one of our Guest Assistants who decided today that she going to quit smoking!      

Wednesday April 25:  Two of our singles started the morning in a verbal fight.  One of them happily left when she had cleared her thoughts.  The boyfriend of a former guest stole a different former guest’s truck and then left it at the shelter.  One of our guests through a temper tantrum over viewing modules, getting her belongings into a tote and a wide array of other complaints.  Ultimately she lost her bed at the shelter but is eligible of Phase II (5pm-8am dinner, breakfast offered)   

Thursday April 26:  Lots of people keep coming.  We are stuffed to the gills.  Many of the ladies have health concerns.  Please be praying for them.    One of our ladies had an ear infection and had heard that putting garlic in your ear can help that out.  Many questioned that idea but she insisted that it would help.  It turns out that putting garlic in your ear can increase the infection so by today she was in total pain.  Doctors removed the garlic and then treated the infection.  She is doing better now.      

Friday April 27:  One of our moms received her 2^nd part time job.  She is very excited.

Weekend:    A couple of our guest assistants were drinking and asked to leave. 

General comments:      We set a record in March (1 more day so it will only go up from here) for number of regular shelter check ins (185) as well as total served (336)!           

    

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 progres April 21-28, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	Be on page 595 (5 pg a day)	On page 596
Faith in Action Bible	Be on page 714 (6 pg a day)	On page 714
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	25 miles a week
Running 2012 Overall	1212 miles by 12/12/12	263.5
Crunches	1000 a week
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	1
Self Exam	3 a week	2
Book Reading	1 Book a week	1
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	9
Paid Speaking	3 a quarter	0
Date with Cara	3 a quarter	1
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

This week I finished one of my ultimate goals.  I completed my first novel and sent it to a publisher who has tentatively agreed to print it.  The book Hero Quest follows John Hero as he moves through life and interacts with a wide array of people at the Shelter.  This book shows the drama of Shelter life as well as the lifestyles of those who come and go around the Shelter.  Check it out. 
As a result of working on the book I had to not run all week.  This was a difficult call as I have big goals that will be more difficult to accomplish now.  But I can make up for those over the weeks to come. 
I finished reading a book called Founding Fathers.  Another examination of the Puritans.  In many ways I long to be like these people.  To be a man who is pure and holy before God.  While history tends to paint these folks with a broad Pharisee sort of brush they were mostly that way towards themselves.  I long to be pure and holy and to have Jesus find me serving Him, if He should return.  I hope to always be faithful to my Lord and King.
I did experience some disappointment this week when I lost the speech contest on Wednesday night.  While I believe that God would have me make a living as a public speaker I am starting to doubt that Toastmasters is my road to that destiny.  I am in prayer about this now.
The week was topped off with a celebration date with Cara.  I love spending time with her and look forward to a lifetime with her.

Hero Quest Chapter 2 Part 2

It took quite a few minutes for him to pull it together enough to get his day going again.  It was 7:00 and it was time to kick start the family.  Though he felt with every fiber of his being that he did not want to go to work, he knew that he must return to the battle.  He had a job to do, a world to impact.  Determination filled his soul as he climbed the stairs to make coffee for Corrina and make breakfast.  This was just an ordinary morning of an ordinary day and regardless of how he felt inside, he would not let fear own him today. 

            The car was cold but at least he didn’t have to scrape the windows.  Most of the snow from the day before was gone but he could still see some in the shadows.  Less than a block from the house he heard the sound of his cell phone.  Thoughtfully, John reached instinctively for his cell phone.  “I know I’m not supposed to answer this while driving, but I should see who it is and put it on speaker if it seems to be important.”  Casually he looked at the number on the phone. “Hmm, it’s the Mission.  I should probably take this.”   Quickly he pushed the off button on the radio that was playing an audio book.  Deep down; he was frustrated because he was losing his momentum with the book by answering the phone. 

He flipped open the phone and pushed the speaker button.  “Good morning!” John nearly sang his welcome.   There was complete silence on the other end.  “Hello…  hello? …is anybody there?  …I guess it wasn’t that important.”  John smiled as he turned the audio book back on. 

Pulling into the parking lot, tension and fear crawled all over him.  Looking around the empty parking lot he took a deep breath, carefully opened the door, got out of the vehicle, opened the back door and took out his computer and backpack. 

Suddenly a large woman with a large black bag appeared seemingly from nowhere.  “I need to talk to you.”

“OK.  What’s going on?”  John hid his frustration from not even getting in the door of the office before he was accosted. 

“I need to go to the hospital.”  She put her bag on her shoulder as if to go.

“Oh man.  What’s going on?” 

“I think I got food poisoning or something.” 

“Would you like me to pray for you?” John offered.

“You can, but I need to go now,” she said abruptly.

“I understand, I hope you’ll be better soon.” 

The woman glared at him with an increasingly searching stare. “What if I don’t get back on time?” 

John looked at his watch casually.  “It’s not quite 9:00 in the morning.  I am sure that you’ll be back by five tonight.” 

“So if I’m not back by five, you’re kicking me out for going to the hospital for food poisoning that you most likely gave me.” 

The thought going through John’s mind was, ‘I haven’t even gotten to my office yet.’  What he said out loud was, “I’ll tell you what.  I think that you’ll be back on time.  If it looks like you will be late, give us a call.  We will want you to bring paperwork from the hospital as proof that’s where you were.” 

“But I need to go to the store first and then I have to watch my sister’s kids in the valley.  I won’t get to the hospital before three at best.”  Her story began to change, John noticed.

Real World Events at the Shelter

Weekly highlights

Monday April 16:    We had a woman who was very angry because one of her room mates was coughing.  She wanted us to throw the cougher out on the street.  When we chose not to do that, she became angry that the woman would not go to the health food store with her.  Eventually she became unreasonable and we had to have her leave.  We had several ladies feign sickness when it came to chapel time and had miraculous healing when the shuttles left for Celebrate Recovery.  For some of these it has become a habit so they were asked to leave at their next outdate.      

Tuesday April 17:  The mom with the 25 year old son that we have been helping was heart broken when her son decided to leave to stay with a family friend for the night.  He eventually changed his mind.  Welcomed back a guest from about 2 years ago who caused lots of trouble last time.  Crisis Shelter Staff briefed the Board of Directors and enjoyed meeting them.   

Wednesday April 18:  One of our Guest Assistants was slipping because of a feeling of superiority.  With a conversation and some immediate consequences she was able to stay at the shelter and is making some personality adjustments.  We had the great loofa conspiracy.  One guest used another guests loofa and World War III broke out.  While staff agreed that it was gross, we did not feel that we should throw someone out over the situation much to the dismay of another guest.  

Thursday April 19:  We decided to give a room to the mom with 25 year old son!  Several of the ladies at the shelter wrapped around these two and have worked to help them feel loved.  Dramatic night with a woman who became afraid that her room mates were going to steal her teeth.  She eventually left on her own.       

Friday April 20:   

Weekend:   We had a small group of women who were hiding their beer in the toilet tank.  When we BA’d everyone in the room 2 refused and one was positive.  The two refusals were treated as positives and they were asked to leave.

General comments:  Numbers dropped a little with nicer weather.  We are helping at least one family who are only here to make CPS happy and that is challenging.              

    

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

Progress on my goals as of April 21,2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	Be on page 560 (5 pg a day)	On page 560
Faith in Action Bible	Be on page 672 (6 pg a day)	On page 672
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	25 miles a week	25
Running 2012 Overall	1212 miles by 12/12/12	263.5
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	1
Guy Time	10 X a quarter	1
Self Exam	3 a week	1
Book Reading	1 Book a week	0
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	9
Paid Speaking	3 a quarter	0
Date with Cara	3 a quarter	0
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

This was a bit of a sleepless week.  I have been working to finish the book.  I had thought that it would take a long time for a publisher to decide on whether to publish the book or not so I sent a sneak peak to a few publishers and was accepted by two.  That was great!  Except for the fact that I was only about 1/2 way through the first draft.  Now I have a deadline of April 30, 2012 to get them the book.  The way it's breaking down right now, I write futher.  Cara edits what I have written and then sends it on to her mom for a second set of eyes for further editing.  Once I finish the original I will take a final look at the book in its entirety. 
I continue to push myself to get this done by next Friday so that I can enjoy the weekend.  I am guessing that this will cost me one week of running but it will be worth it.