blog

A student's mom reflects on Agony

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:59:48 -0600

Our family had the privilege of attending the church service at the ranch the Sunday following one of the Agony Rides. As I sat and listened to each individual relate their experiences with the ride, I found myself seeing similarities in their experiences to my own in trying to help our daughter in the months before she came to CEM.

Many riders talked about the lack of sleep. Because they chose to miss a few hours of sleep, I now sleep in peace. During her illness, I learned not to sleep for fear that I would not hear her if she got up in the night and needed me, or, worse, tried to harm herself. Because these precious people made this sacrifice, she now sleeps a healthy amount of time instead of a drug- and depression-induced 14 hours or more. She sleeps in relative peace and no longer fears her own thoughts when sleep comes.

Riders endured injury and one dear soul was hospitalized as a result of his ride. Before the Ranch, my daughter spent over a month of her life hospitalized. Her internal pain was so great that physical pain felt like a release to her. This girl I see now no longer carries that pain. Because you were willing to risk pain and injury, my daughter no longer seeks to harm herself.

Several birthdays were celebrated during the ride. People willingly spent their day serving others or in the physical discomfort of the ride. Because they did this, my baby girl celebrated her 18^thbirthday at CEM a few weeks later.”

This is CEM’s season of provision

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:30:35 -0600

It is the time to make decisions and plans. This season comes each year as we prepare CEM’s budget, engage in our primary fund-raising activity (The Agony Ride), conduct an annual meeting, and review the year’s activity. This is the season to rejoice in God’s goodness, and to look to Him for guidance for wise allocation of the funds He provides.

It is not an easy one-two-three set of decisions. The interplay of faith and practicality is always at work—and there are no exact rules to account for God’s creative process of producing something from nothing! Still, for each of our 43 years, God has uniquely provided. So, let us be clear, He gets all the credit. All that goes well is on God’s side of the ledger. We are not the reason why Christian Encounter Ministries exists. He is. God is good; He has proved Himself again and again. By faith we believe certain things about CEM’s existence. God allows spiritual battle and financial strain and our imperfections to co-exist with His eternal, certain, and reliable promises (such as: “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything…” II Cor. 9:8-10)

Part of God’s plan includes this axiom: we don’t know how tomorrow’s need will be supplied or where it will come from. We are on a faith trek encountering a lot of invisible factors on the way. What we do know is that people who read this newsletter are the main source of God’s provision. Plainly, then, you are always involved in this season of provision. If you read this article, then you are inside the faith trek of provision. Invisibly, yet powerfully and wonderfully, God has made you an instrument in His hands. We can’t see Him at work, but perhaps you are aware that He has made you a partner in an amazing supply chain. If you are led to give, you know a very deep joy and satisfaction. If you are strongly inclined to pray, then you can picture the invisible becoming manifest to CEM; your faith becomes a real and supernatural power that works grace and forgiveness into broken lives. Perhaps also you are inclined to communicate encouragement to us. These messages always find their mark and bring more hope and strength to us. Finally, if none of the above applies, then you are appointed as a courier to pass this information along to another. We believe that this is a divine moment in a season of provision. Your action is going to make an impact somewhere, somehow, as only the Lord himself could direct.

This is an especially important season of provision. Our visible deficit lingers from last year to this year. Our dependence is upon an invisible God. We are calling out to Him to provide in May, June, and July of 2013 in a manner beyond our comprehension. In Christian Encounter Ministries’ mission to tend lives and to train leaders we follow Jesus’ directions to make disciples. As you give, pray, encourage, and courier the news to others, you, too, are fulfilling Jesus’ great commission. Right now, we hope, we pray, we believe that this is God’s moment in God’s season of provision to use you. Please give. Please pray. Please encourage. Please carry His good news.

Student Poetry

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:19:56 -0600

The following pieces were written by Andrew while he was a student at the ranch:

My Life

I used to think my life would never change
How I’d always be the guy nobody cared about

I would go around and try my hardest
To just be nice even at my own expense

I didn’t really notice all the scars
That I would take home every day

I never chose to talk about the pain
So it all kept building up inside

Until one day I couldn’t take it anymore
And I let all the hurt consume me from within.

I hurt all of the people that I loved
But above all I hurt myself

I turned away from my friends and family
I stopped caring and started drinking

I wouldn’t turn to God for help
Even though I always knew He was there

Soon enough, He knocked on my head loud and clear
And gave me nowhere that I could turn except to Him

So I packed my bags and left the life I knew behind
To follow Him and make a new life for myself.

Now here I am a year later
Made anew every day and waking up because of His grace

My life is not what it once was and my heart sings a new song
I am learning each day how to best be like Jesus

And walk the path He has set before me
So now I lift up my voice and try to be a blessing to God

From now on all I want to do is give Him praise
So Jesus, I ask you today to take my heart and help me follow you

And I ask you to give me new life each day to give you glory
So please accept my words and search my heart to see my love.

Now!

I’m done, done living this way:
Done letting this feeling build up

Done letting it turn into anger
Done trying so hard to not follow Him

Done working to be happy for nothing
Done letting Satan walk all over me

Done waiting, only to be in pain
Done giving into all that sin

Done walking straight into darkness
Done feeling like I’m worthless

Done seeing that I’m no good
Done being here in this emptiness

Done!

So now here comes the change:
Now I’ll give it up to God

Now I’ll take all His grace and peace
Now I’ll give my life and heart to Him

Now I’ll learn what it means to die and live for Jesus
Now I’ll let Jesus fight my battles

Now I’ll cry out for His love
Now I am purified by His blood

Now I’ll walk in the light
Now I am a conqueror

Now I am pure and holy
Now I am complete in Him and He will bless me

Now!

We Need a Great God

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:00:27 -0600

We just finished a viewing of Del Tackett’s Truth Project developed by Focus on the Family. In his fifth episode, Dr. Tackett explores what is true in regard to science. At the time the video series was made, discoveries in astronomy led scientists to estimate the number of stars (in over a billion galaxies) at 70 sextillion stars. Less certain is the time in which these stars were formed. If current thought is correct—and new information will certainly alter these findings—all these stars were forming in an active period lasting one billion years. I have no way of confirming this, nor do I care to, but some simple arithmetic points toward the scope and majesty of our God and creator. If there really was a one-billion-year span of star formation, the sheer scope of the project required that 133 million stars were formed each and every minute of that one billion consecutive years. 133 million per minute. Non stop. For a billion years.

Now if the formation happened faster or later or whenever, the numbers still are shattering to our little minds. The power of this universe is in the hands of a vast and incredible God. Without the revelation of Jesus, as Savior and mediator between God and man, we could never imagine approaching a being as holy and immense as God must be. However, we need a big God. We need a God great enough to recover us from our horrible sin state. We need a God big enough to invent heaven, and with enough power to manage judgment, hell, and death. We need a great God. We need a God who loves people who are not lovely. We need grace and forgiveness in proportion to His greatness. We need a God whose character and nature far surpasses any human capability. We need mercy and goodness in a world filled with cruelty and darkness. We need God all through the day.

To bring it to the moment, here and now, at Christian Encounter Ministries we need a God who is great and generous and kind, who supplies us each day with life’s necessities. We need a God who has ordained a plan of salvation and who is carrying it out on behalf of students who come to CEM. We depend on a great and wonderful God who has wisdom where we lack, who has insight where we are broken. In brief, we cannot succeed at anything without a God great enough to make 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! This universe displays His love, and if He required a universe this big to represent that love, then I am pretty sure we are not going to run out. Ever. Because this massive physical universe is just a shadow of what looms ahead; the eternal Kingdom of God is bigger, better, greater yet! “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” In other words, there are not enough zeroes to put at the end of the number. God’s love is that great.

We need it, Lord. Please open our hearts today.

Student Profile: Jesse

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:28:21 -0600

Jesse James, the names given by his mother, had a very direct purpose. Jesse would be trained to steal. The goal: provide enough food for mother and son to survive each day. “I thought stealing was what made the world go ‘round. It was constant, because I never knew if I would get enough food. If I had food I could never eat it fast enough.” Jesse remembers that he was hungry most every day, and he remembers worse than that. Violence was everywhere, and the instinct toward flight or fight was always on high alert. There were very few stable moments, as his mom moved from house to house, room to room, car to car, street to street. Mom went wherever the drugs were. The stress level never relented. “Mom’s boyfriends were dangerous. One guy argued with my mom about why he should kill me. I watched and listened to the whole conversation while he was waving a gun at me.” Jesse was six.

A year later, Jesse’s mom was hospitalized after a car accident. She never came home. Her lifetime drug addiction was a key factor in her early demise. Jesse observed her drug use on many occasions and he knew “when she went away for awhile,” what the reason was. When Mom was “away,” Jesse had short periods of safety at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, and when Mom died, he went to live with them. A believing family, they helped begin the transition for Jesse into normal childhood. He started eating, but found that he kept stealing food for quite a long time. Eventually, Jesse began to trust that he would have enough. Still, whenever the living situation changes, the urge to grab some food is powerful.

A young family with three adopted children, which was acquainted with his uncle, invited Jesse to join their family. His new mom and dad continued the rebuilding of trust in Jesse’s heart. Amazingly, he connected with his new family and bonded with his new parents in a way not possible before. His losses and grief were monumental, of course, but the gaps in education and social and spiritual development were just as great. His parents also adopted his younger cousin, and Jesse became the oldest of five kids after nine years of being an only child. He was always competitive and found an outlet in the myriad of sports in which the family participated. Jesse belonged. Love was talked about and expressed and lived out every day. Jesus’ love lived in his new family. Healing began. Still, much turmoil continued in Jesse’s heart, and his parents recognized that other steps might be necessary for Jesse’s full restoration. His new family has a long line of connections with Christian Encounter Ministries, and when Jesse reached his junior year of high school, they decided the next step in the healing process could be accomplished at CEM. So, last summer, CEM became part of Jesse’s family.

Telling this story is part of the healing. Jesse has a desire to be transparent, to be known and understood. “I believe in Jesus, I know he died on a cross for me, but with my life, it’s hard to believe I can be good enough to be a Christian. My life is pre

The Imago Dei in Parenting

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:08:54 -0600

As Image Bearers, having been created in the Image of God, we bear on our faces the internalized images of every relationship we have been in. Of these, the most foundational is that of our parents—the structure of belonging which we call home.

When a child says, “I’m going home,” he describes the personal connection he carries within himself, referencing who he belongs to, not just the place and location of a house. We hear this very clearly in Jesus’ own words to His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The personal love connection, the first “we,” is implied—we are together and will always belong to one another. Mature love co-creates a solid, sure, secure place. God is with us and in us; we belong first of all to Him. When two (male and female) are bonded together in mature, unselfish, giving love, they are equipped to invite in a third (a child) to receive from the love they share. There is enough to go around. This shared love multiplies their joy. From childhood we are taught that God is love—an understandable concept if a child has experienced shared love.

We often watch children play with their dolls or toy animals. They project their ideas onto the toy, and imagine how the plaything feels about them. Sadly, some children grow up and still function this way with people. Helping children move from fantasy idealizations and devaluations of others takes work. It requires steadfast love as parents, the kind mentioned in Psalms over 120 times—never ending grace, favor, and mercy emphasizing how we are to love and develop into maturity (not whether we are to do so). Our children need assistance developing well in these areas.

God seeks us out in an intense desire to have intimacy with us. The inference of the Greek word in “seeking” is to “crave.” The holy ground for a child being born to mature parents is their craving one another as God craves us. In our modern culture the concept of craving usually references one form of addiction or another. Since all addictions are a replacement for relationship, it’s time we re-embrace the true meaning and identify with the pre-fall “bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.”

In order to parent well there needs to be a well-put-together couple. Sadly, a decision to marry is often made too quickly, at too young an age, with unrealistic expectations—a decision made on romantic grounds alone. Often one (or both) of the couple has a poorly developed self image—too high or too low. There can be an idealization or devaluation of one another as well as a flawed view of the family system they emerged from. If they see their own family of origin as the standard of what their family should be, it creates an inability to leave before cleaving as commanded by God.

Some false beliefs:

“Marriage will fix a lot of my other emotional and mental problems.”

“The friendship of my mate will meet all of my friendship needs.”

“The love connection with my mate will make up for all that I did not receive from my family.”

Having not worked out their own unforgiveness issues with parents and siblings, emotionally immature persons look for a replacement family. In an immature marriage children may be tossed to and fro as intruders or replacements. The inability of a not-yet-mature couple to hold on to their union as primary sets up the child (even as adults) to be pulled to love one or the other more or less. The child, malnourished from lack of the parents’ love for one another, along with the parents, now creates a condition called enmeshment whereby the child becomes the emotional surrogate spouse.

This condition impedes normal maturing development and gives the child (no matter the age) a flawed view of herself. She believes she is responsible for others’ relationships. In other words, she feels omnipotent, a “parentified” child. I’ve heard adult children of immature couples criticize and instruct the parents in how they should be with one another. They have grown up in competition rather than cooperation and have difficulties forming mature relationships themselves. I often say “Your parents’ marriage belongs solely to them; it is a gift from the hand and heart of God; the only one who has the right to be between them is God Himself.”

We are to give the gift of true and deep intimacy to our children appropriately by loving one another (craving) as He has loved (craved) us. Watch their countenances change and be uplifted as they witness the joy you share in being husband and wife first and foremost. Assist them in learning how to leave in maturity so they too can cleave well before becoming parents themselves. Your future grandchildren someday will be watching. God bless you, and the generations to come, in the expanse of mature love.

When communication skills are inadequately developed, routine conflicts and disagreements, normal to shared living, are not resolved. If religious values and beliefs are not shared, the foundational anchor for the couple and their children is compromised.

Written by Susan Hicks, CEM Marriage and Family Therapist

Respect, the key to thriving teens

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:54:00 -0600

I’ve noticed it. I’m sure you have too: a parent in a store with a child sitting in the front of the cart or tagging alongside. As you pass by, you hear chatter about choosing items from the shelf, what the day has held, or some other topic of interest to both. The parent interacts. She listens, laughs, takes in each question or comment, and replies appropriately to the child’s age. When we see that, it warms our souls. Why is that?

I’ll take a guess and say it’s because we’ve caught a glimpse of two human beings thoroughly enjoying one another, but even more, a parent loving her child. We watched her sincerely value who her child is, delighting in who God created this one to be. We saw actions and responses that seemed natural and yet intentional. Her tone was one of respect that goes deep to the core of how she views her child. And the child didn’t have to earn it. Children thrive on that. Really thrive. So do our teens.

When we value our teens and respect them, we are building relationships that create space for strengthened communication and a gracious influence in their lives. Wait, you say? What about my teens respecting me? It starts with you, with me. As parents we lay that foundation.

Family coach, Diane Sterling, author of The Parent as Coach Approach, learned that crucial lesson in her relationship with her teenage son. Tension, criticism, false assumptions, and mistrust characterized their communication. Her son felt it and finally told her. They had an honest conversation during which Diane realized she was carrying a negative view of her son and his peers. She decided to begin with a simple shift to view them as positive, creative, searching, and developing individuals. In other words, she began to value and respect her son and his friends. She now teaches parents: “We endeavor to respect their humanity, hear them out, try to understand their viewpoints, appreciate their unique qualities, stand behind them, hold them responsible, and help them to become independent. It all begins with respect.” Within that statement are the seven ways Diane teaches parents to coach their teens through strong, respect-based communication.

I highly recommend Diane’s practical guide. One caveat. She writes to a general audience and so leaves out the essential faith component of being led by God in Christ, who is our greatest example of how to love, lead, and value others. But many of her concepts will ring true to us as parents who are Christians. We are encouraged to love and train our children, and not exasperate them (Ephesians 6:4). Sounds a lot like respect, a lot like valuing.

Think again of the parent chatting with her little one who sat in the shopping cart. While our teens are far past fitting in that tiny seat, perhaps we can reevaluate and strengthen the ways we listen, respond, and engage. Let our teens know they are deeply valued. They’ll thrive.

Jan Kern, wife of CEM High School Principal, Tom Kern, is an author, speaker, and a credentialed life coach. Her books include Scars that Wound, Scars that Heal—A Journey out of Self-Injury; Seduced by Sex, Saved by Love—A Journey out of False Intimacy; Eyes Online, Eyes on Life—A Journey out of Online Addictions; and Take a Closer Look for Women.

The Church on Sunday Morning

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:16:29 -0700

Our CEM Lodge building houses a good-sized living area that we use for fellowship and recreation during the week and for worship services on Sunday. The view toward the pond and the fields and the hillsides covered with oaks and pines is like the stained-glass windows of great cathedrals. The four panes form a cross that extends toward the ceiling. Nature pours into the room with conviction—telling each worshipper that God is sovereign, that His nature is beautiful, and that His love is eternal.

Those who lead each Sunday’s service gather to pray before church begins, and soon afterwards the guitar and/or piano and/or drums and voices lead us on into His presence. This is my favorite moment. The music breaks through the sounds of human conflict and confusion. My own will yields to His as worry is silenced.

Songs stir emotions, some wonder, some conviction, some affection, some inspiration and power. As the notes of the instruments diminish, hearts turn toward the communion, the Body and Blood of Christ. He himself calls us to join in fellowship with cleared consciences, freshly washed free from sin, guilt wiped away by the Redeemer. These are cherished seconds, when Heaven may call and we may answer without shame or doubt—if the Holy of Holies were to come into view, we could walk fearlessly toward the Almighty Father.

Minutes later the Word is preached. Scriptures passages come to life. Cross-references spring to mind and the wholeness of the Bible, integrated, complex, simple, comforting, challenging, practical and spiritual leads us in a walk of faith. Sermon topics I heard as a young child still have power and depth and uniqueness. The new wine of the spirit makes John 3:16 an infinite masterpiece of wisdom and grace. When received with belief that every word shall accomplish the purpose for which He intended, each chapter embodies divine revelation, a lightened and open path to fellowship with the Lord.

The preaching concludes and a season of prayer ensues. The rough and unseemly needs of flesh and bones and mind and soul are laid before the gentle hands and eyes and heart of Him with whom we have to do. He sees each thought and tear and holds them, precious intercessions, mustard seeds of faith, soaring fragrances of prayers that enter the courts of Eternity. Perhaps our Father smiles in approval when the congregation says Amen.

My Sunday morning comes to a close and I think that I am the most fortunate of men this day. Imagining the earth’s circle, dotted with many hundreds of thousands of such gatherings, each uniquely connected to the source in Christ, I am filled. A tiny member of the Body humbly spills a prayer from his lips, “Jesus, bless your church today, fill each room with your Spirit, shake some with new power, comfort some with deep love, grant the message of Truth to ring out into the darkness, and gather the lost sheep. Thank you, Lord.” Many will have worshipped and loved and prayed and listened. Many will have declared and spoken and encouraged and gone forward. Jesus will be meeting with his church again on Monday, Tuesday and each day through the week. It will be like Sunday somewhere, wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there.

Training Leaders—CEM’S Other Mission

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:35:47 -0700

“Tending Lives” is the opening phrase of the Christian Encounter Ministries motto. It is the phrase we use to denote the work of rescuing and rebuilding broken lives through the love of Christ. The great joy of seeing Jesus transform those lives would never happen, though, if the second phrase of the motto, “Training Leaders,” were not in place. The CEM Internship program has operated for almost 40 years; it is interns who disciple, encourage, teach, confront, model, and represent daily Jesus’ love and sacrifice to the students who come to be tended. It is as Jesus did with the twelve—walking and talking hour-by-hour, season-by-season, developing a transforming relationship with each one.

Our goal is to replicate discipleship and so expand the influence of CEM far beyond the boundaries of our 86 acres. And so it is that former interns have moved into every area of Christian life, serving God as lay leaders in the local church; missionaries in distant continents; preaching and teaching and counseling; parenting and grand-parenting; filling key positions in business, law, medicine, and non-profit service agencies. Former interns are pillars in the Body of Christ, shining brightly for Him wherever He leads.

Many of these stellar individuals have continued with Christian Encounter Ministries or returned to serve on the staff. During humble hours of internship a strength of character, a depth of faith, an enduring spirit, a sensitivity for the broken-hearted, and a commitment to the Savior were honed. Let me introduce them to you. Tom Kern served his internship in 1978-80, and returned a few years later to serve as principal of our high school. Mark Andrews did a brief internship in 1980, and came back in 2008 to direct the Discipleship and Internship program. Robbin Adams came as an intern in 1980-81, was Office Manager for several years, and is currently an instructor in the high school. Suzanne Hartley leads our Wilderness Program besides teaching full-time alongside Robbin and Tom, and began her stint at CEM with a two-year internship in 1994-96. Our Food Service Director, Jessica Colvin, began in 2000, and following two years of internship, led the Women’s Ministry House for 3 years until taking over the food service position. Alison Guiremand leads the Women's Ministry House. Her two-year internship in 2001-2003 led to seven years as an Agony rider before joining the staff. Pedro Mauras moved directly into the responsibilities of the Ranch Foreman role after his internship in 2009-10. Nate Boyd was an intern in 2010 and became the initial leader of the Men’s Ministry House and Assistant Director of Discipleship. Sharon MacLean, now our Bookkeeper, was leader of the Women’s Ministry house after her internship in 2010-11. Kayla Babson, also an intern in 2010-11, does double duty, serving part-time with CEM and another Christian ministry for youth.

As a very interested observer, I saw how God called each one to serve. I watched as they sought His guidance, listened for His voice, and answered with devotion and commitment. They came from all over the country, two from Illinois, from Missouri and Massachusetts, one from northern and two from southern California, from Pennsylvania, Washington, and North Carolina. These interns came for training and have grown into powerful ministers, fulfilling the Lord’s purposes in His work. The other staff members of CEM share equally inspiring stories of obedience and faith. Space fails me to mention them and all the others that were brilliant interns and who became dynamic staff members here and in other positions and professions. Simply, the multiplication process works! And well it should. It is Jesus who put it in place, and by His grace directs our steps each day.

Student Profile: Haywood

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:11:39 -0700

CEM receptionist Mary Parrott and her son Jamie made a campus visit last winter to The Master's College in Southern California. Hampton, an admissions representative, led their tour of the school. Almost immediately the conversation turned to Christian Encounter Ministries. Hampton’s younger brother, Haywood, had been investigating residential programs for several months, and was excited to hear about CEM. That divine appointment (a Romans 8:28 moment) led directly to Haywood’s arrival at CEM.

To compress the story, Haywood recalls, “The only thing I can say is that I was always a naughty boy. From six years old on I was always mischievous. I got in trouble often and lost the trust of my parents.” As the rest of his six siblings seemingly flourished in home school, in church activities, and then in college, Haywood got poor grades and lost out on many family activities because he was in trouble. He can remember many of those painful incidents in full detail. Haywood understands now that he has been challenging and testing limits since he was a very young child. Sometimes he would experiment just to see when they would resist his behavior. Often there were negative consequences. Barriers were erected that became unbearable to him as he matured. It all added up to a profound sense of isolation, even in the very middle of a cohesive, large, extended family.

“I am very extroverted, but I felt alone a lot of the time. My parents promoted the idea that your siblings are your best friends, and they really are.” Still, Haywood was the odd man out in the family, and though his brothers and sister were extremely close, they never realized how isolated Haywood was.” By age sixteen, Haywood was determined to find a way to start over. “I would have run away, but I am too practical. I knew that wouldn’t solve anything.” When the door opened to come to Christian Encounter Ministries, Haywood jumped through the doorway! “It was love, I felt love from the first day I was here. My favorite Bible passage is Romans 8:28-39. ‘Nothing can separate us from the love of God!’” Haywood opened his heart to a deeper relationship with God immediately at CEM. Truly a maximum extrovert, someone who is always comfortable with a large family group, he invested himself in friendships, communication, openness, and, most of all, trust.

Because of years of broken trust, Haywood was especially hungry for that fresh start with people, where he could build trust and respect from the ground up. Seven months of intense counseling, discipleship, fellowship, responsibility, consistency of schedule, discipline, and accountability have produced huge gains for Haywood. He has moved swiftly through the level system of CEM. His evaluations are extremely positive and, though he came into his junior year of high school with below average grades, he has been on the Honor Roll in his first two quarters at CEM. “I was a little afraid about coming across the country to a place where I didn’t know anyone, but the Lord showed me that ‘He would take my hand and lead me step by step.’” Certainly, this was the road God prepared for Haywood, and since He found that the Lord is walking with him on it, he has been eager to discover everything he can about living inside the will of God.

Another year of high school remains for Haywood. If the Lord allows, he will follow his brothers to The Master's College, and then perhaps into a career in law enforcement. He will not be alone in the journey again. Being indeed convinced that nothing will ever separate him from God’s love, isolation has been vanquished. Negative behaviors that were ingrained at an early age are being transformed. That indwelling presence of God, the Love of the Father, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are at home in Haywood’s heart—never alone again.

Prayer and God's Provision

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:09:36 -0700

We are so blessed by God’s answers to prayer for the provision of the ministry. On a day-to-day basis we need food, funds, materials, tools, and various kinds of vehicles to carry out all the operations of life at CEM. It's convenient to have several vans, when possible, to transport the students and the stuff we need each week. We have been without any minivans at all for several months and we were using four vehicles when two would do. Then the answer came. A neighbor, just a mile and a half away, had a van sitting in his driveway for the last six months, “Could Encounter Ranch use it?” he asked. Yeah God! During the first four days that van hauled 8,000 newsletters to the Post Office, made a 100 mile trip to pick up donated food, (stacked to the top), and took students on two recreation outings. The Lord knew we needed it!

When you give to CEM, those funds and material gifts go to fulfill the petitions and prayers about dozens of needs for the “tending lives and training leaders” of the Ministry. We laugh and smile and rejoice often about the way our Lord graciously provides all we need. This van request went up into heaven, made several circuits about the Throne, and came back with an answer half a year later, but just down the street! God’s timing and the work of His Spirit through His people are true wonders of our faith.

Sincerely, in Philippians 4:19,

Mike Petrillo
Executive Director, CEM

Distressing Disguises

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:05:22 -0700

Mother Theresa was once asked by a reporter, “How can you do this type of work, day in and day out?” (taking care of the impoverished, sick and dying). Her response was simple, yet profound. She replied, “I seek to minister to Christ in whatever distressing disguise He presents Himself.”

Have you ever recognized someone as Christ in a “distressing disguise”? Unlike those Mother Theresa cared for, that doesn’t necessarily mean someone who has leprosy or is dying. It can be someone who is lonely, frightened, angry, or even one who is a perpetual thorn in your side! Is it possible for you to see Christ in the faces of folks like these?

Here at the ranch we often see Jesus in “distressing disguise” in our students. They come to us broken and hurting, with faces of fear, anxiety, depression, and anger, and exhibiting the symptoms of many forms of abuse. However, as they gradually and courageously allow us to peer inside their pain, we see the face of Christ, and we hear Him say, “In the same manner that you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” And in time, as our students feel safe enough to drop their disguises, we see the light of Christ shine through them in amazing ways.

Jesus is calling each of us to look for him in “distressing disguise.” You don’t have to be at Christian Encounter Ministries to see Him this way. He is all around you—in your neighbors, your co-workers, your church, your school, and even in your family. The disguise is never pretty—in fact it can be quite troubling. Mother Theresa stated that, while working with the poor and ill, “...feelings of repugnance are human; but if I see the face of Jesus in His distressing disguise, I will be holy.”

The challenge for us here at CEM is to look beyond the brokenness in our students—to look intensely enough to see that beyond the disguises, we find Christ calling us to help restore them to wholeness. And the challenge is the same for every believer—to open our eyes to those individuals, sometimes hidden but all around us, who live broken lives in a distressing disguise. In this New Year, may our corporate prayer as believers be that God will grant us the strength and insight to look behind the distressing disguises of our neighbors, to take the faithful step of seeing Christ in those individuals!

Merry Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:26:19 -0700

Good News, Great Joy and a Precious Gift

Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Where are you—taking stock or still stocking up?

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:32:36 -0700

Remember when you were a young adult? (Perhaps you still are.) Your future was wide open, you were full of desires and plans, and a good deal of your resources and energy went into acquiring “things.” You needed a house, furnishings, vehicles, recreation equipment, books, hobby materials, clothing, jewelry, tools, and much more. Usually that acquisition cycle gets rolling and doesn’t slow down for many years— for some, it never stops.

Before my mother and mother-in-law died, during the last few years of their lives, they received much pleasure in giving to others and, aside from polite gratefulness, they expressed very little pleasure in receiving anything of monetary value. Their treasured gifts were the pictures drawn or notes sent by their great-grandchildren and visits from friends and members of the family.

As 2012 draws to a close, perhaps this is a good time to take stock of our own values and goals. Are we still stocking up earth’s trinkets, or are we beginning to savor life itself? Wise, unbelievably wealthy King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes chapter 2, “…I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks…I owned herds and flocks…I amassed silver and gold…Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

That is not to say there is any virtue in poverty, but perhaps the time is right this month for some of us to begin (or continue) “downsizing”—evaluating our possessions and sharing them with others who have legitimate needs. At Christian Encounter, our young people have many needs: love, education, spiritual direction, counseling, and healing. Perhaps some of your no-longer-necessary vehicles, jewelry, collections, stocks, bonds, or real estate could be used to restore these youngsters and help establish them as whole, productive, caring Christians, and family members themselves. In addition to tax benefits there is much joy in that kind of giving!

Book Review

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:45:43 -0700

‘From Fear to Love: Parenting Difficult Adopted Children,’ by Bryan Post Reviewed by Marion Parker

“Home is where healing happens” according to B. Bryan Post, author of the readable, encouraging, and often counter-traditional book on child rearing. Post himself, adopted as an infant, brings hope and healing to families who have felt helpless and hopeless as they witness their child’s anger, rage, depression, lying, stealing, cheating, or self-destructive patterns.

This is a short, compelling, easy-to-read book for parents of traumatized or adopted children whose behaviors make no sense to them. Post writes in a conversational style from three perspectives: that of the child, the adoptive parent, and the therapist. He delves briefly into the neuroscience aspects of brain development and emotion and provides tools every parent can use to soothe and comfort their children—even those who have been damaged by neglect, abuse, and abandonment. Post says, “There’s hope! By creating both a positive environment and positive relationships with/ for the child…the child’s response to stress will begin to moderate.” (That is our goal at Christian Encounter Ranch.)

The author’s adoptive mom writes in the forward, “We hadn’t a clue about parenting children with significant emotional needs…We did our best, and I’m sure you have as well…I am so proud of my son. Through all the hell he raised as a child, he has grown into an angel. One thing he has told me before that I want to offer to you is to never give up on your child—no matter what might happen and what you go through. As long as there is air in the sky to breathe, there is hope. Take these words of wisdom, understanding, passion, and insight… and go claim your child’s heart.

Student Profile: Andrew

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:36:36 -0700

Andrews’s life has always been in God’s hands. His parents are strong believers who welcomed him into their home when he was two months old. Many positive spiritual influences were in his life from infancy on—including his uncle Joe, a devoted Catholic priest. Andrew still calls him “his hero.” He attended Christian schools most of childhood, but he recalls his lack of motivation. “I was just trying to get through it. I knew I didn’t really have a connection with anyone, and that made me feel like there wasn’t much good in life.” His outward demeanor through age 13 was “just not caring.” Two weeks of Christian camp gave Andrew a sense of what could be, but it didn’t carry into daily life.

There still lingered a deep sense of disconnection through much of high school. “I was painfully aware of the relationships I didn’t have,” he says. He knows that many people go through life with loneliness as their only constant companion. “I was lonely but tried not to feel it by withdrawing into gaming.” Computer gaming bred even more time alone and less connection with others. In the darkness of Andrew’s isolation was still a desire to know more about God. The seed of faith was alive, but the vine of life in Christ was nearly choked out.

Then, astonishingly, Andrew graduated from high school and immediately got a job at Disney World! He found himself working hard, going to community college, and immersing himself in activity every day. Outwardly, the negative patterns were broken, and he flourished. Inwardly, the stresses started to overload him. After two years he resigned his job, quit school, and went into the deepest depression yet. He withdrew again, but with his parents’ support and the friendship of a Christian brother he came to a turning point. “Do what you need to do!” was the simple message surging to the surface from deep in his heart. Andrew held firmly to that thought through many difficult months of setbacks and discouragement. Then the opportunity to come to Christian Encounter Ministries was presented. “I knew it was divine intervention! It was a huge trust step for me, but something clicked in my head, ‘I’m going to go and do the best I can do.’ I was scared, but I knew I needed it!”

The first three months of counseling at CEM helped Andrew gain insight into his view of himself and others. “I had a long list in my heart of unforgiveness. Then I had a moment of yelling out to God in Angels’ Meadow. Later, [intern] Jason shared a Bible study on forgiveness which was the most powerful God moment in my life.” Hope began to grow. His view of the world suddenly had some light, some future, some real sense of love and compassion and connection with others. This new perspective was reinforced when Andrew was on CEM’s 15-day wilderness trip—two weeks of intense and close relationships with other young Christians. “We studied John 17:20-26 where Jesus prays for the believers. I felt Jesus praying for me. But I questioned it. ‘Who am I?’ The answer came to me. ‘I am Andrew Robert…, a Christian man, and I am following God the best I can to be the man God wants me to be! Even if I am still a nerd!’ I don’t have to be alone.”

So this life-long journey is now gathering momentum and purpose. Deeper relationships are forming. A core identity and self-acceptance are being strengthened every day. At the center there is Jesus, the good shepherd who has been there all along—Jesus, who prayed for Andrew and gave his life for him. It is Jesus, now in clear focus, walking along the way with His friend, Andrew.

Is an internship for You?

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:33:25 -0700

Solid gold is too soft to use for jewelry; it has to be mixed with other compounds. Ever bake a cake with flour? Just flour? No one would enjoy it much; a good cake requires other ingredients. So it is in ministry. You have abilities, insight, and spiritual gifts; but to be used most effectively, you must be blended into the team, the family, the body of Christ.

Those who come to the Ranch to minister as interns experience the value of shared responsibilities. Helping individuals who have suffered extreme emotional or spiritual pain can be very difficult and discouraging if you do it by yourself. Being part of a team is easier and more effective.

Perhaps you are ready to give yourself a try at full-time ministry as an intern. Contact Mark Andrews or Nathaniel Boyd and chat about the possibilities!

Power Vs Humility

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:26:57 -0600

Power Versus Humility—An Uneven Contest

By the time this issue of Expressions is mailed the election of an American president may already be complete. He will be one of the most powerful people in history. I can remember the US presidents back to Eisenhower, and my observation is that most presidents have truly enjoyed the exercise of that power. With some exceptions, these men gloried in their position, in their prestige, and in their global importance. Only a few were better at grasping the weight of responsibility and their need for divine wisdom, and therefore brought some degree of humility to the presidency.

Still, being powerful intoxicates human beings. Our tendency is to overestimate our independence from a supreme Maker. As we accumulate confidence in ourselves we are prone to forget His watchful eye over the affairs of humanity. But God is indeed checking up on us. He established the nature of authority, the chain of command of governance, and the responsibility of leaders to provide justice, righteousness and security for people. So, God indeed does follow the elections, revolutions, dictatorships, and monarchies. He has one quality in mind as He evaluates each leader’s activities: “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God.” (Psalm 14:2)

So, everyone, great and small, powerful and weak, is under the same scrutiny. For each day, without fail, a grade has been posted. It is a correct and pure and flawless evaluation, a divine record that stretches to eternity. All human actions and attitudes are contrasted with the perfect example. Man’s sense of power comes into perspective in I Corinthians 1:25 as Paul reveals, “…the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Jesus found himself (the ruler of the universe) in human form and humbled himself as a servant. Though in weakness, Jesus retained authority. What if the leaders of men were to “have this mind…which is yours in Christ Jesus?” (Phil. 2:5) Imagine a leader of the free world, serving as President, following Jesus’ example! Jesus deferred the exercise of authority until other pressing issues were settled. He saw the need for sacrifice, the purpose of humility, and pressed forward with that purpose to redeem mankind. Jesus did not seek the adulation of people, did not seek the popular opinion, did not secure his own safety, but instead valued us above himself. Imagine political leaders walking in Jesus’ steps! It is indeed difficult.

I keep a copy of Psalm 14:2 on my desk, attached to my phone, to ensure that some part of my day is dedicated to seeking God. It is the only smart thing to do. As to the human lure toward power, there is much wisdom in scripture about that. It is a wisdom that does not come from position or rank or academic accomplishment or age. The wisdom of God, in regard to power, comes from that perfect example in Christ. Jesus lived the life of submission to His Father, setting aside personal gain for the higher purposes of winning salvation for all of us. He demonstrated the wisdom of submission over power. “My power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Cor. 12:9) This is the power we seek after, and it bears no resemblance to worldly power. This is the power that only comes through a relationship with the Lamb who calls us to follow in his steps of humility. It is in humility that we place America before the throne. It is a mighty nation in which we dwell, but all ultimate power rests in Christ. Wisdom requires that we look forward to the day when He will be revealed in fullness of power. Wisdom requires that we humble ourselves in prayer for the purposes of the Almighty in our land. Wisdom requires that we submit our country under the mighty hand of God.

Our conclusion is this: The Lamb will become the Lion. The suffering servant will be King of Kings. The crucified carpenter from Galilee will be Lord of Lords. All power in heaven and on earth will reside in the person of Jesus, to the glory of God, forever and ever. This is the time for America to be humble, starting with the highest leader, and down to each of us.

Blog Hiatus

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:19:08 -0600

We are taking a temporary break from blogging. We hope to have new posts up soon -- keep checking back!

Christians, we are special

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:56:45 -0600

Once we were broken, confused and discouraged. We were caught in destructive activities and destructive relationships with others just like us. But now...We have been redeemed from our former selfish and corrupted way of life. Our relationship with God has been restored by the death and resurrection of Christ. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our great privilege is to reflect the love and character of Jesus Christ to those around us.

We join other Christians in trying to change the world around us (rather than being changed by the world), treating people the way we want to be treated. We offer encouragement, practical help, and love. We are willing to sacrifice time and money to help when opportunities come. We see value in every person because they too may someday reflect the love and character of Jesus Christ.

As representatives of Jesus we speak out against injustice. We uphold the clear commands of Scripture; all of God’s instructions are for our benefit and for the good of others. So, we do not conform to the culture around us, but influence that culture to see a new way of life, a better way of life.

God sees a world where fathers and mothers live together in faithfulness, loving their children, giving them clear instructions, and setting good examples of how to live Christian lives in a world that glorifies a crude, immoral, and illegal life style.

How special we are! We are called to overcome evil with good! (Romans 12:21)