Category Archives: 180 Blog

Grow where you are planted

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Many people that we talk to feel that because they screwed up their life in the past,  they have no future in leadership.  They feel that because of their past and past choices that no one will ever listen to them as a leader nor allow them into a leadership role. We teach them what God says in  Jeremiah 29

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

We then talk about the fact that we are created to good things that were planned long ago.  To reiterate that we use Ephesians 2

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

But to undo our “go to behaviors”, which sabotage our futures and make us believe we can never be good enough, we have to “transform our thinking”, so we add Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

So when people say they can’t become a leader or something different in their life because of their past, we challenge them to start seeing themselves worthy as God sees them and to do something different with their life. As Paul writes in Colossians 4

 “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you” 

grow in rock

You may have a past that has lots of rocks and very little soil, but as you can see in this picture that this TREE has grown anyway and is full of color and alive.

 Or maybe your life has been flooded with bad choices that would stop you and, because it doesn’t look like the perfect circumstances to grow, you allow fear to stop you.  But as you can see in this picture even being surrounded by a lot of water these trees are still growing.

water grow

So don’t let others or your past stop you from doing what God has asked of you:

Be sure to GROW where GOD PLANTS YOU….

Soy, Decaf, Peppermint, Extra hot…Choices

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Choices.

Everyday is filled with choices. Some choices are habits. For example: getting up when the alarm goes off and leaving for work and turning down the same road just like you do every work day.

Some choices have to be made in a split second: if I don’t react to this car that’s backing out into oncoming traffic and this truck pulling out in front of me, I will total my vehicle and possibly injure myself and my passenger.

Other choices need to be prayed over, thought over, and sometimes weighed out with the pros and cons.

 

The issue with choices is that when we get into a routine with the habitual choices. For example: we always take a certain way to work. Today because of a storm last night our normal route has been closed.

road closed

We are so focused on the fact that this is how we have ALWAYS gone to work that we sit in front of the road closed sign paralyzed with fear.

Because of fear we make a CHOICE to sit there and wait. Why? Because that’s how it’s always been done and to try something new is not a CHOICE you are willing to make.

Because of a CHOICE you now have missed work, gotten written up or maybe this was your last chance and now you have lost your job… All because you were so focused on “the way it’s always been done” that you missed the sign that clearly showed you “tree down, take detour at next right”.

detour

Now you may think that this is silly, I would never do that.  Well it may not be this same scenario but the CHOICE is the same….sit in front of a “road closed” waiting for it to open back up so you can finish your goal. That road closed has been put in your way for a reason. Your CHOICE now is to back up look for the detour sign and travel it with thankfulness.  Our issue becomes when we look at detours as setbacks and grumble and pout.

So next time you have to take a detour you have 2 choices:

opportunity

Who’s opinion are you living by?

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Today while teaching I realized that there was a new twist on the same story.  We teach that an event happened, that created an opinion that started an expectation (good or bad) which in turn led to an action.  This cycle goes around and around.  Some will call it the cycle of insanity if its producing negative consequences.   But today as I was teaching I had an epiphany as a participant (who happens at this time to be a resident of our local jail) says “yes but you are different, you don’t see me as a felon”.

So I stopped teaching sat on the table and went one by one till all 15 young men had told me: their name, who they are i.e. a father, grandfather, son, uncle, and/or husband.  Then I had them tell me what they had accomplished, i.e. graduate high school, GED, College, successful business owner and so on and so forth.

I wanted them to see who they were, not what society was calling them.  They were allowing the opinion of others to dictate who they were going to become.

I have put this cycle in so you can see how this works.

Self Fulfilling prohecy template crop

 

 

 

So my question to you is; what is the opinion you have about yourself? Now go back and rework the cycle with that opinion as your starting point.  If it is negative then please contact us so that we can help you get the cycle started on a positive cycle.  And the best way to do that is to start with an EXPECTATION that you want for yourself.  So the cycle would look like this.

Self Fulfilling prohecy template expectation crop

 

 

 

 

So today what are you believing in for yourself so that your Self-Fulfilling Prophecy will start to take a positive turn. What is your EXPECTATION in life? And quit living by the negative opinions that others have about you.

 

**disclaimer** when I talk about EXPECTATION I am not talking about winning the lottery, I am talking about: Education, Career, Home, being a good parent, being sober, going to church… real life goals that are achievable.

Where does my HOPE come from?

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HOPE?
Where does my HOPE come from

 

This morning as I was reading Proverbs 20 I felt the need to rewrite it in this way:

When the day is too overwhelming don’t medicate the pain with alcohol or drugs because “Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.” Medicating the pain puts you in a place mediocrity and complacency.  You will become lazy and then “Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.” Or you will just want to sleep away the pain “If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!”  Medicating the pain also takes away your ability to think straight, all you know is you want the pain to go away so you need more drugs/alcohol; but with no money to pay for more, you start to steal. “Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.” In the end the consequences are not how you played them out in your head. You get caught and with desperation being your only counsel “Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice”, you start making empty promises. “Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost”. So in the end you need to remember that “The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive”.  We also need to remember that “The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”

 

May today be a fresh day with a new outlook!  If you are ready to quit medicating your pain and have a HOPE for tomorrow please contact us.

Letting Life Happen-Making Life Happen

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Body language we all use it. Intentional or unintentional.

Yesterday while teaching in jail one of the participants who was new, just sat there with arms folded and a stern look on her face.  Her body language was: I cannot believe I came to this class, this is stupid and I am better than this.

I continued to speak and handed out papers. I wanted them to fill out an “ILP- Individualized Life Plan”.  This guided them to make decisions as to where they wanted to be in 90 days, 6 months, 2 years and 5 years.  As I was asking the questions the ladies were writing their answers and everyone would answer except for this particular lady whose “body language” was closed off.

We finished the 90 day page and I asked a question:  Based on your past life experineces, how are you going to get there?  So I went to the board and showed them this:  An Event has happened which created an opinion about yourself, which then created an expectation (good or bad) which was then followed by an action.  This cycle is called “letting life happen”.

letting life happen_1

So this cycle continues until you see yourself worthy enough to make the change.  Or until you let someone into your life that will hold you accountable to make the changes that you wish to see. For most people they are so far in the cycle of “letting life happen” that they can’t even start to imagine a different life. The bondage of life is so bad, but it’s all they know so it’s comfortable- plus they don’t want to hear the “I told you it wouldn’t work” by someone in their past that still has a hold on them, this could be a parent, relative or a past significant other that they have a child with.

Now back to the “ILP”.  I showed them by flipping the cycle just 180° they will now enter a cycle of “Making Life Happen”


Making life happen_1

So back to my lady in class:  Her body language has now totally changed and you can see that the wheels are turning. And I ask her “so what do you think?”  She says, “Since July I have been wondering why I can’t get a court date until next month and why I am sitting back in that cell…. But now I know; I was locked up so I could see this.  I have been floundering for the past 2 years and knew that it was about to end nowhere good, but I could not stop it”.

She went on to say that she was caught up in the “I’ll never be good enough or good as” thought process.

I looked at her and said “Don’t let Satan use your thoughts that you will never be good as or good enough to be forgiven.  When God forgives he forgets; Satan just uses our low self esteem and low self confidence to keep us in the bondage of worthlessness, and that we aren’t worthy to be someone of importance.”

So what is it that God is asking you to change in your life but you are so used to “letting life happen” that you don’t see yourself worthy of attaining:

  • Finishing High School
  • College education
  • Teaching a Sunday School Class
  • Starting a Business
  • Being a good parent
  • Being a good spouse
  • ___________________________________________________

 

 

 

This content is from the 180 Program© New Beginnings Curriculum

One Smart Cookie

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10 years ago I had the privilege of meeting a 5 year old. He forever changed my life. He also has changed how I look at kids who have “attitudes”. As I have walked with this young man I wish I could turn back the hands of time and help him more. To love him was just not enough. His anger and hatred for the world and all authority has eaten him alive.
I remember one day the school giving us this answer when we asked if he could be tested for the gifted program: “when he gets his anger under control, then we will test him”.
Why do I bring this young man to the forefront of my blog today? Because I have 3 more years to try and reach him before he becomes a legal adult and I DO NOT want him to become a resident of our Correctional system. He has a great heart but growing up for so long in a fatherless home and then to grow up with a stepfather that has no rights to even tell him to clean his room (according to our state system), it seems that everyone has given up and said “well he’s going to just end up like his dad”.
Today I taught 135 men in the Ohio Prison. It was an amazing time teaching and I love what I do… but God stopped me in my tracks and said “what about the children? You can still help save the children.” During the talk I asked how many of the men were dads? About 90% or 122 men were dads. That means at least 122 children are growing up fatherless. At the end of the talk Rob (my awesome husband) asked the guys to go back to page 2 which was the genogram. As they turned there, Rob asked the question: “when your children get older what is their genogram going to say about you?” You can change today if you want.
As we finished our drive today in silence my heart was breaking. I wanted to scream and cry. What about the children? When we got to our hotel I started searching for the facts about children who live in fatherless homes and I am going to tell you the statistics scared me.
• 5 times more likely to commit suicide
• 32 times more likely to run away
• 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders
• 14 times more likely to commit rape
• 9 times more likely to drop out of high school
• 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances
• 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution
• 20 times more likely to end up in prison
Now for another stat:
Men and women who are incarcerated, their children are 70% more likely to end up in the Correctional system also. Not 70% of them will end up, but they have a 70% greater possibility of ending up in the correctional system.
But I already knew these statistics I just did not know the numbers. How did I know these stats existed because I have lived it for the past 10 years doing inner city ministry. I have seen my share of the behavioral issues just as I stated at the beginning but I do not put these stats here for you to say “oh poor baby”. I wrote this in hopes you will join me in being an Image Builder for a child or a 180 person for a teen or adult. Before you decide let me finish with what I am asking of you.
How do we fix the problem: RELATIONSHIPS: Relationships with the fathers to teach them how to be good dads. RELATIONSHIPS: Relationships with the mothers to teach them how to be good moms. In the 180 Program we talk about getting a “Board of Directors”, well it’s going to take YOUR time and effort to make this successful. And how do we reach the kids? Its by becoming an Image Builder in your local school. Working with a child who is academically at risk of becoming one of the statistics mentioned above.
So it all boils down to 2 things:
1. RELATIONSHIPS
2. EDUCATION

Are you in? For more information please contact us: info@atghope.org home of the 180 Program and the Image Builders Program.

defining moments at Starbucks

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This morning as I was reading, it was talking about choices we make every day: Paper/plastic; this road or that road.

When making choices, the movie “You’ve Got Mail” comes to mind: “The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”

Whether you believe that last statement or not, ponder it for just a minute. You get all kinds of people shopping at “coffee” shops. But, if you took each person for who they are outside the walls of the “coffee” shop, can they even make a decision that will help them get to the top of the mountain to success?

Before you shut me out, success here is NOT monetary; it is life decisions that will allow you get to the top of the mountain.

From my reading this morning it says that we need to listen for God’s whisper in our hearts and to the acquired wisdom of family and friends when we are making choices. This is great advice right? Or is it? For some, we have very successful family and friends so listening to their acquired wisdom would be great.

But what about those whose family and friends have lots of wisdom, it’s just bad wisdom. It’s the wisdom, that if you take it, your chances of ending up addicted to drugs, alcohol, or being a resident of the county jail, rehab center or worse yet 6 feet under, are greater.

As we get to really know our new friends in the county jails, the parents are starting to open up and we are finding out that their charge partner (i.e. partner in crime) is THEIR CHILD. So I know that the last paragraph I wrote is true.

Think about the single mom who was never shown how she could afford to go to college. All she was told; it is too expensive. Did anyone take the time to say these words “yes, college is expensive, BUT it is doable and let me show you how”.

So for some people, going to family and friends for wisdom may not be such a good idea. But if they shouldn’t go to their family and friends who then?

Consider using your wisdom to empower someone else to get to the top of the mountain. Consider using your gifts in a mentoring relationship contact us today for more information.

Self defeated… but there is hope…just need someone to believe

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Today was the last 180 Class in the WCJ for 2011. Our lesson today was on Thoughts and how thoughts turn into words which turn into actions. We start the class with: Are you taking your “thoughts” hostage or are they taking you hostage? And that thoughts in themselves are not bad its when you dwell on them and they become your actions is when it can have a positive or a negative effect on your life. Most people can think all day long they are going to do something different… it is the Action (the actual doing part) when it comes to change that is hard.

Usually those first time in the class are quiet, just taking it all in. Well today was different. A first time inmate about 15 minutes into the discussion pipes up and says “this is really good stuff and I agree with what you are saying….BUT”… he proceeds to tell me that he has no drivers license and because of that fact he states he will now have to live the rest of his life homeless, under the bridge or at the Mission.

I have to say I have never seen anyone so beat down on life, with no hope in life… because of a driver’s license.

We took the next few minutes in class to talk about choices/excuses (which is lesson 3) and how without a driver’s license it is not the end of the world but the ACTION part of this cycle will take more processes and learning. We talked about there were other options besides living under the bridge and that if he wanted to take the much needed ACTION then I knew of places and people that would help him. BUT he needed to take the negative thoughts hostage and start thinking that he was worthy of having a life that was filled with joy.

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

AtG has served just in the Williamson County Jail this year almost 350 inmates. In the Maury County Jail we served 58 (and that is women only and only one 8 week course). These numbers do not include children from the study buddy program which is now in 5 schools and growing weekly. It also does not include numbers from the homeless shelters and transitional homes.

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you? “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ Matthew 25:44-45 NLT

We need your support to have an even more IMPACTFUL 2012, as we work with the men,women and children to help them:
recover~ rebuild ~restore

AtG relies solely on individuals, churches, businesses and private grants to make the programming possible.

Even a gift of $20 will purchase one piece of curriculum. AtG does NOT charge for its services NOR does it take State or Federal funding.

May you all be blessed this Christmas season and please remember to include AtG, the 180 Program and Study Buddy Program in your prayers and if possible your yearend giving. To donate on-line go to www.atghope.org or mail donations to PO Box 809 Franklin TN 37065

The Forgotten Church

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On Monday AtG’s day started like this: Williamson County Jail for 6 hours, Tennessee Prison for Women for a Parole Hearing, where it was a bitter sweet day, some of the 30 women had lots of support, some had none, some came out crying with tears of joy that they might be home by Christmas other tears of pain that they would have to wait until they were eligible again. Then a meeting with a Pastor of a downtown Nashville Church. Between that: 12 messages, 20 missed calls and putting out fires and trying to locate a mom that left this message, “I am done, if you hear something bad has happened, well I lost my kids today”.

In the 25th Chapter of Matthew starting with verse 31 there states a mandate from God we read it all the time, but do we really understand that with the mandate comes a very harsh punishment for not obeying: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Six months ago Nashville TN was hit with a historic flood. The historic flooding barely made National News but, as the “Volunteer State”, we banded together, served our neighbors, but there are some who did not receive help. That is why I am writing this blog. The meeting with the downtown Nashville Pastor, ( a 76 year old who refuses to give up) made me physically sick yesterday, not just from the mold and mildew but from the aspect that NO ONE has shown up to help.

The little church of approximately 30 parishioners is not about Church on Sunday Morning or Wednesday Evening, it’s about what it does the rest of the week; serve a home cooked meal to 40 homeless/prostitutes 4 times a week. They had plans to further impact their community; turn the upstairs into housing for those who wanted a hand up not a hand out, have a children’s summer program and bring life skills training to the homeless/prostitutes that show up week after week.

So fast forward to today.
water up to here

We need your help. The church is the victim of a catch 22; FEMA qualifies them as a Church “non-profit” so they can only receive loans but no financial assistance, they can’t get help from United Way because they are a church and not a 501(C)(3). Bottom line, we need your help. It’s going to take an army of workers to repair this Church. We need people to underwrite this work: dumpsters, cleaning supplies, drywall, nails, paint, flooring, appliances, sprinkler systems and much more. You name it we are going to need it to make this Church to live up to its new name “The PLACE” People Loved Accepted Changed & Encouraged. Will you help serve the least of these?

Donations can be made to Against the Grain memo: The Place