I can't...HE can(and does!)... I think I will let HIM



22 years ago today I finally took the first 3 steps that saved my life…I finally admitted that …I can’t,… He can, (AND DOES!)… Thanks God for letting me! 22 years of blessed sobriety. “You will lose the old life to find one much better.” Big Book pg 120 “everything connected with that old way of life has to go. And then take on an entirely new way of life a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” Ephesians 4:-24 Thank you God, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Salvation Army for showing me a new freedom and way of living based upon a spiritual tool kit freely given.



22 years ago I was a broken man, addicted to methamphetamines and hopelessly alcoholic. In jail again for my 12th DUI I was to be sent to prison. I was 30 years old and had estranged everyone from me in my life. As I stared into the piece of tin that serves as a jail house mirror I suddenly realized that I no longer knew this person staring back at me. I got on my knees, and said the only prayer I could at the time, “God help me.”



Things began to change immediately. My cellmate kept inviting me to the AA meetings and until that day I never wanted to attend. The meeting started with a very short man who was not in jail jumping up on a table and shouting, “If you guys keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting!” It was the shortest AA meeting I have ever attended because that was all I heard. I began reading the AA Big Book, and attending the meetings along with the Christian Overcomers Outreach program.



After a few weeks, I went for my prison sentencing, but my Public Defender did not show up. 2 weeks later I went again to be sentenced and the Prosecutor did not show up. It would be 6 more weeks in the jail before I would be sentenced to prison. I stayed active in AA and in the Christian fellowship Overcomers Outreach. When I finally went to court to be sentenced, there was a different judge on the bench and he shared a letter that was written on my behalf by an anonymous member of AA telling him I was changing and asking him to give me a chance at a rehab program instead of prison. The judge stopped the sentencing and asked me if I would like to spend 6 months at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Sacramento. I knew that God had heard my cry for help and that I needed to keep following Him!



I willingly went to the Salvation Army. They loved me until I could learn to love myself. I threw myself into learning about God and became active in AA and in serving the homeless and addicted. I entered their Adjutant Program and earned my Pastoral certificate. I was awarded a scholarship to go back to college and got my Human Services as well as my CADC counseling certificates for drugs and alcohol. I began running the Phase 1 recovery programs for Salvation Army and helped to manage the homeless shelter.



Through my quest for lasting sobriety in AA I met my beautiful angel Tami, who allowed this strange man with a pony tail who worked at the homeless shelter and rode a bicycle to fall in love with her and eventually marry her. God gave us His gift in Kai 15 years ago. We have traveled this journey together now for 19 years and have had ups and downs like we all do, but NO MATTER WHAT we have loved God and one another without a drink or a drug.



For the past 22 years I have lived one day at a time looking to serve and help. God saved me from alcoholism and addiction and taught me to be free through serving others.



I believe in and truly try to live what the Bible promises that it is through giving to others that we receive. God has given me more than I ever deserved. The Big Book has taught me that Faith without works is dead. The least I can do is to try daily to pay Him back through serving others. Thanks to Mountain Park Community Church, I get the opportunity continue to grow and deepen my faith in Jesus as I help others daily! Thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank God for the Salvation Army and Alcoholics Anonymous!

Final Paper and coursework submitted for my last class as a Senior! Hello Strayer University Bachelors of Business Administration! Thank you Tami, Kai, friends, and family for your support, encouragement, and understanding of the long hours needed to complete this! Thank you to my employer for making my education possible, and thank you Jesus for seeing me through this journey!  MBA school starts in January!!

Furniture Bank has been able to help 50 families with furniture and furnishings in our first year as a nonprofit helping agency! We know there are more families that could use a helping HAND - UP as they emerge from homelessness and back to work and homes for their children. We need your help! Please consider giving your time, energy, prayers, efforts, and donations of cash and gently used furniture and furnishings. Every penny and everything goes to a family who needs and appreciates your kindness! Help us to serve 100 families in our 2nd year!  www.furniturebank.us

 A huge THANK YOU and JOB WELL DONE to all Family Promise volunteers this past week!! 5 families…5 JOBS and 3 moving to permanent housing!!!“All praise to our God of all healing counsel!  He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Come join us December 15 -22 as we host Family Promise again! http://www.mountainpark.org/ministries/care-support/family-promise/

MEN'S Monthly Breakfast this Saturday morning!Saturday, November 9, 7:30 am (Breakfast will be served at 8) East Parking Lot (Staff parking area)
Grab your favorite tailgate chair, a football and join the Men of MP for a Saturday Breakfast like no other. http://www.mountainpark.org/event/461525-2013-11-09-mens-breakfast/

Am I looking to GIVE or GET?...“This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other." John 35 Lord, let us look to be a friend today and see what we can bring instead of looking to get, AMEN. “Think of what you can bring to it.” Big Book pg 102 Have a blessed day y’all!

Tap into the POWER supply!...“With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20 Lord, we seek Your will and want your Spirit working through us, AMEN. “We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” Big Book pg 45  Have a blessed day y’all!  http://www.mountainpark.org/about/why-were-here/

Join us as we support Team Sandy today! “A person's steps are directed by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.” Psalms 37:23 Lord let our walking and running today show our support for Sandy and our love and trust in You, AMEN. “We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe” Big Book pg 75 Have a blessed day y’all! Look for the blue Team Sandy balloons!!!
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition https://www.facebook.com/NOCCValleyoftheSun

Furniture Bank is now Furniture Bank, Inc. Non profit status accepted and in process! 18 families served!
Ms Tami Jackson you are amazing!!
It is a great day! Furniture Bank officially became incorporated today.
We also have an article in the Arizona Republic today.


Furniture Bank, Inc. How's that look in print?


www.furniturebank.us

She will be a Sophomore on Monday…“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20-21 Lord, I thank you for loaning me 2 of your angels, I am truly blessed by Tami and Kai, AMEN. I got to spend the evening with Kai last night. It amazes me that just a little while back she was in preschool. I realized as I enjoyed my time with her that she is now a young woman with a blessed mix of dreams, humility, and security, that fuels an excitement for living with a heartfelt joy for life. Miss Kai Makenzi, you are an amazing child of God with a bright future. You are a joy to me and your mom. I will always be here for you, cheering you on and gently guiding you through the occasional rough times. You are my treasure.

Furniture Bank

Provides beds and essential home furnishings to homeless families transitioning into housing

Every day families emerge from homelessness by working with helping agencies to gain employment and sustainable housing. Unfortunately, most of the families have lost everything and have neither beds nor furniture for their new home. Furniture Bank provides the needed furniture, bedding, and home furnishings that families can take to their new house.

There are an estimated 5000 children in the Maricopa County that are homeless.



http://www.furniturebank.us/

Huge Garage Sale starting at 6AM Saturday! Good furniture, quality business casual clothing for women, paintings and furnishings that are better quality than you would expect to see at a garage sale! ALL PROCEEDS GO TO FURNITURE BANK of Ahwatukee! Help us to help furnish the homes of the families emerging from homelessness! Email me for address!!! You don’t want to miss this one!!! http://www.donateyourstuff2helpothers.org/

Shifting the attention helps others!.. “He must become greater; I must become less.”  John 3:30 Lord, help my heart to focus on being significant and to over rule my selfish desire to be noticed, AMEN.  “We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.” Big Book pg 84 Have a blessed day y’all!  We can make a difference in others lives! Come help! http://mountainpark.org/mountain-park-news-blog/restoring-hope-through-family-promise/

We are going to look at fear this week! I promise that by the end of the week this verse will have an even stronger and more secure place in your heart! .. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." - Proverbs 3:5-6 Lord let me share with others what Your love and Word has taught me about fear this week, AMEN.  “We have had long rendezvous with hurt pride, frustration, self-pity, misunderstanding and fear.” Big Book pg 104  Have a blessed day y’all!  We are collecting bottled water for our homeless friends! Please drop off what you can!! http://mountainpark.org/mountain-park-news-blog/2013-water-drive/

Why is it called GOOD Friday? 

Why not Friday MOURNING?..

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 The tragedy and horror of Jesus’ death followed 2 days later with His resurrection resulted in the opportunity for everyone who turns to God, through Jesus Christ, to be forgiven from their sins and to receive eternal life. So from something so very bad, we have all received something eternally and forever good. “To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek.” Big Book pg 46. Have a blessed day of reflection y’all. Come experience that last days of Jesus’ life through Station of the Cross with a family friendly 40 minute walk of reflection and understanding. http://mountainpark.org/event/424601-2013-03-27-stations-of-the-cross/

What are ya REALLY lookin for?..“ if you seek God you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul.: Deuteronomy 4:29 Lord, Open the eyes of my heart so I can continue to see Your grace, guidance, and love in al things, AMEN. “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him.” Big Book pg 46 Have a blessed day y’all! Come experience a walk in Jesus’ shoes. It’s free and family friendly and there is coffee too!!!

http://www.mountainpark.org/event/424601-2013-03-27-stations-of-the-cross/

Are you mended or broken?.."Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand,” Jeremiah 18:6 Lord please mold me into the person I need to be for You, my family and those You would have me serve, AMEN. “I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.” Big Book pg 76 Have a blessed day y’all! He is the potter and we are His clay...

http://www.mountainpark.org/resources/sermon-library/molded-or-broken/

It's 28 degrees in Albuquerque! Heading home to Ahwatukee.  As our family and others who had loved ones join God in heaven yesterday, I want to share a verse that comforts me in sad times; "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. For my recovering friends,  "I can't, He can, I think I will let Him...AA Steps 1, 2,& 3. Have a blessed day y'all.

“Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.” Proverbs 19:17 Lord, thank you for placing the desire help others in my heart, my I seek and do your will always. AMEN. “Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others,” Big Book pg 102 Have a blessed day y’all! Come help us pack donated personal hygiene and toiletries for our Salvation Army friends The packing date has been moved to this Saturday morning 10 to noon! !http://mountainpark.org/event/403201-2013-01-06-salvation-army-essentials-drive/

In times when big decisions are needed…“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Lord please lead, guide, and direct our family  as we begin to make decisions and plans for Grandma Lora’s care, AMEN.  “We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.” Big Book pg 68 Have a blessed day y’all! Last big push for personal hygiene, toiletries, and undergarments for our Salvation Army friends preparing for job interviews, please help if you can!  http://www.mountainpark.org/event/403201-2013-01-06-salvation-army-essentials-drive/

Tomorrow we will begin hosting 4 families who have stuck together, stayed focused and driven to escape homelessness and are on the path to new secure jobs and affordable housing for their families. This amazing Family Promise program brings the resources necessary and packages it together with churches like MPCC who provide the hope and love to restore lives that have been driven to homelessness due to job loss from unexpected twists and turns. Please pray for God's grace and love to guide our dedicated volunteers who will be serving with love and humble grace this week. http://azmp.cc/ZYEyOE

                       

  

  

Merry Christmas from Tami, Kai, and Mark

2012 has been a busy year full of blessings for our family.

Kai is a freshman this year. Her grades are the best they have ever been and she has discovered a passion for writing. She is taking Journalism and has had 5 articles published for her High School Newspaper, including 3 articles in 1 edition. She has been participating in our Local Outreach events at church, Family Promise, helping with childcare, and our homeless projects. She has finally noticed boys but is “too shy?!?” to talk with them. The boys need to measure up to the members of the musical group One Direction, (those over 30 please Google) and so far none have. I am thanking all of my buddies for their offers of shot gun cleaning parties at our home when Kai starts inviting boys over! Her college goal is to attend Stanford. Prayers are needed, and information on scholarship program offers are welcomed as her grades are there, but finances,... well they are in God’s hands for now. Mom and dad are very proud of our 14 year old!

Tami has enjoyed her busiest and most productive year ever. In addition to helping me with our Local Outreach, Family Promise, and our homeless projects, she continues to volunteer at our church. She began by helping to coordinate church weddings, soon funerals and events were added. In her spare time she has continued to pursue her passion and build her talent for design by leading and coordinating decorating projects for the many events and goings on at our church. On just one of her many projects this year with her partner Jackie; they totally redesigned a waterfall and hill next to the church lobby to host a manger scene. She asked a few of us one Sunday afternoon to move “just a few rocks” to help. 5 hours and (6) 400+ pound rocks later we finished! Tami knows just how to get us all to want to help! She continues to be active in assisting folks for our Wednesday Night Live meals and activities.

The big news for Tami is that this year she was able to realize a dream service she has been praying about for 5 years. She has always wanted to be able to assist our homeless friends as they transition to new homes and lives with furniture and décor to get them started. Our involvement in Family Promise has become a passion for both of us. Through the gift of a safe and secure storage area from our friends and MPCC angels Marty and Marcy, she has been able to now collect donated furniture and décor. She has helped to furnish 3 homes so far and has enough furniture and materials for 2 more as they are needed over the next few weeks! She was asked by Family Promise Leadership and Mark Taylor properties to furnish a large apartment home as a surprise for a Family Promise graduate and her family. Within 48 hours she was able to organize, mobilize, and furnish the home! She has an amazing team of friends who volunteered with her to get this done on short notice. Thank you especially to Shell for her marathon energy that matched Tami’s drive to get this done!

This year I have had many blessings. Our Care & Support Ministries grew and thrived seeing a few more folks step into leadership roles alongside me to help many others to find their way through struggles and challenges that we encounter in this world. I was given the opportunity to also become the interim Director of Local Outreach when our beloved Lori Hall answered the Lord’s calling with her husband Marsh to move onto another ministry in San Diego. Family Promise has grown and we are excited to have more local churches joining us to help even more homeless families this year to find their way back to stable jobs and secure housing. We participated as a church in Feed My Starving Children packing events including a successful Mobile Packing event at the church where we packed over 100,000 meals. Our CASS Homeless meal and 12 Step meeting continues to thrive under our leader Tim B. Pastor Natividad and his From Gangs to Jobs ministry was featured on a local TV news station for all the good he is doing and changes he brings. The other Local Outreach projects of Salvation Army, Angel Tree, Food Pantry and others have enjoyed blessed support and energetic participation this year.

The big news for me was being asked by my Pastoral boss and leader Juno to become an Ordained Pastor with the Church of God. I have been praying about this for a few years now and am honored to be on this path.

I enjoyed another productive year with my employer Verizon Wireless. I began working with my Area team and got to participate in many projects as our ever changing industry embraces new technology.

I had the blessing of receiving a 21 year Sobriety chip on December 17. An unexpected present came as a newspaper article was printed sharing my Salvation Army experience as a Christmas story from our turn Bell Ringing this year for this wonderful organization.

As 2012 closes, Tami, Kai, and I want to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and blessed 2013!

I can't...HE can(and does!)... I think I will let HIM

    21 years ago today I finally took the  first 3 steps  that saved my life…I finally admitted that …I can’t,… He can, (AND DOES!)… Thanks God for letting me! 21 years of blessed sobriety.  “You will lose the old life to find one much better.” Big Book pg 120 “everything   connected with that old way of life has to go. And then take on an entirely new way of life a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” Ephesians 4:22-24 Thank you God, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Salvation Army for showing me a new freedom and way of living based upon a spiritual tool kit freely given.

   21 years ago I was a broken man, addicted to methamphetamines and hopelessly alcoholic. In jail again for my 12^th DUI I was to be sent to prison.  I was 30 years old and had estranged everyone from me in my life. As I stared into the piece of tin that serves as a jail house mirror I suddenly realized that I no longer knew this person staring back at me. I got on my knees, and said the only prayer I could at the time, “God help me.”

     Things began to change immediately. My cellmate kept inviting me to the AA meetings and until that day I never wanted to attend.  The meeting started with a very short man who was not in jail jumping up on a table and shouting, “If you guys keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting!” It was the shortest AA meeting I have ever attended because that was all I heard. I began reading the AA Big Book, and attending the meetings along with the Christian Overcomers Outreach program.

     After a few weeks, I went for my prison sentencing, but my Public Defender did not show up. 2 weeks later I went again to be sentenced and the Prosecutor did not show up. It would be 6 more weeks in the jail before I would be sentenced to prison. I stayed active in AA and in the Christian fellowship Overcomers Outreach . When I finally went to court to be sentenced, there was a different judge on the bench and he shared a letter that was written on my behalf by an anonymous member of AA telling him I was changing and asking him to give me a chance at a rehab program instead of prison. The judge stopped the sentencing and asked me if I would like to spend 6 months at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Sacramento. I knew that God had heard my cry for help and that I needed to keep following Him!

     I willingly went to the Salvation Army. They loved me until I could learn to love myself. I threw myself into learning about God and became active in AA and in serving the homeless and addicted. I entered their Adjutant Program and earned my Pastoral certificate. I was awarded a scholarship to go back to college and got my Human Services as well as my CADC counseling certificates for drugs and alcohol.  I began running the Phase 1 recovery programs for Salvation Army and helped to manage the homeless shelter.

        Through my quest for lasting sobriety in AA I met my beautiful angel Tami, who allowed this strange man with a pony tail who worked at the homeless shelter and rode a bicycle to fall in love with her and eventually marry her. God gave us His gift in Kai 14 years ago. We have traveled this journey together now for 18 years and have had ups and downs like we all do, but NO MATTER WHAT we have loved God and one another without a drink or a drug.

     For the past 21 years I have lived one day at a time looking to serve and help. God saved me from alcoholism and addiction and taught me to be free through serving others.  

     I believe in and truly try to live what the Bible promises that it is through giving to others that we receive. God has given me more than I ever deserved. The Big Book has taught me that Faith without works is dead. The least I can do is to try daily to pay Him back through serving others. Thanks to Mountain Park Community Church, I get the opportunity continue to grow and deepen my faith in Jesus as I help others daily! Thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank God for the Salvation Army and Alcoholics Anonymous!

Our season of HOPE, joy, and giving was hit hard yesterday by the senseless tragedy in Connecticut.  These folks have suffered one of the worst things that I can imagine. We may never know the how or why behind this massacre, but even if we learn this, the pain, loss, and suffering will still remain.  My social media feeds were full of comments and prayer requests yesterday. Even today, I can see this is still in our heavy hearts and troubled minds.  All I could do yesterday was hug Kai harder and hold her longer than normal and hug Tami more and remind her even more than I normally do of how much I love her.

Obviously we all are praying for the affected families, loved ones, and others in Connecticut. We even held a moment of silence and had prayer before we started our small group Christmas get together last night. 

Being the eternal optimist and self appointed  seeker of finding the good in all things despite the obvious hurt, anger, rage, and senseless loss of life from this heartbreaking tragedy yesterday, I have been quietly asking God to show me how He would have me respond. All I know to do is look to God and see what I can learn from the massacre in Newtown yesterday.

This is what God has laid on my heart. Perhaps it will help.  The word He gave me is relationships. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1   “I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

I vow to add this tragedy to the lesson I learned 4 years ago with the suicide of a coworker named Victor. I will continue to build, develop, and have familiar relationships with those who touch the lives of myself, my family, and those I serve spiritually.

I take from this tragedy a renewed willingness and effort to KNOW the environments and people that are around my loved ones daily. I need to take the responsibility to continue with a renewed spirit to instill values in my own home of respect, honor, and love. I will continue to keep open communications with my family, friends, and those I serve. I know that I cannot know every detail of everyone’s life around me, but I CAN take it upon myself to make sure I am aware of the presence and spirit of those I come in contact with there are no quiet ones isolating in the crowd and no strangers having easy access to those I love and serve. 

I know I cannot change the world, and I know I cannot take away the pain and suffering that Newtown Connecticut folks are enduring, but I can take this and turn it into a lesson to learn from and keep my heart humbly focused on God’s promises of grace and love.

God bless us and keep us all.

What a blessing to see an Ahwatukee family get back on their feet and become successful again! Thank you Family Promise, Mark Taylor Properties, and our beloved Mountain Park Community Church for making this happen! We were blessed to be invited to witness Family Promise and Mark Taylor Properties award a free apartment home for a year to Family Promise graduate Tia and her family. Tami and her Mountain Park Community Church volunteer team worked all day and night yesterday filling the home with furniture, furnishings, and such. Shell was with her the whole day! Channel 12 News filmed this, Please take a look! Thanks God!!! Let the blessings roll!

http://www.azcentral.com/video/#/News/A+former+homeless+family+will+soon+settle+in+a+rent%2Dfree+apartment/40280768001/35150280001/1982209632001

Channel 12 News Video of Family Promise Gift

Pastor Natividad is looking to see if anyone wants to get involved with FGTJ as they sponsor a few family meals for Thanksgiving. You and or your family, friends, or small groups can accompany Natividad and his FGTJ team as they go to these families homes and hand deliver them God’s blessing. The magic happens by staying and visiting with the families a short while just so that they can really feel the love of our Lord. It has always been a highlight for the season as some of the families really try to include you in their lives.  Food / Meal sponsors and helpers that are willing to go the extra mile over the last week before Thanksgiving are welcomed and needed. They already have 15 turkeys for 15 families. If anyone wants to participate please contact Pastor Natividad, or if you know of a family we can bless let him know.

Let the blessings roll!

Pastor Natividad M. Mendoza

Executive Director

From Gangs to Jobs

602 384 0340

natividad@fromgangs2jobs.com

www.fromgangs2jobs.com