Good Morning CR Family,

I hope everyone has had a great week so far.  Don't forget to tune in to CR Friday Night Live Tonight at 6:30pm.  Tonight's topic is "You might be co-dependent if...." You can tune in by following this link CR Youtube Channel Link.    Also, if you haven't had a chance to sign-up for the virtual open share groups that start at 7:30pm tonight.  The links can be found below in the announcements.  Have a great day

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 11th

Good Morning CR Family,

Below you will find today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C!

The Cure

Have you ever been talking with a friend or loved one, said something and wished you could take it back the moment it escaped your lips? It happened to me last night.  I said something that was true but harsh and the minute it came out of my mouth, I thought wow that was severe and insensitive.  I wish I hadn’t said that.  When I got off the phone, I knew I needed to apologize. But I got busy, it was late, and I went to bed.

This morning, one cup of coffee down I am spending time with God and bingo the Holy Spirit reminds me of my offense from last night. Step 9 and its Biblical principle came to mind. “We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift,” Matthew 5:23-24. Hmm, I really should call my friend and apologize. 

Then all the rationalizing happened.  My comment was not about the person I was speaking with…no one is perfect… my hip was hurting me when I said it, she most likely didn’t even notice my comment....in fact she has probably already forgotten what I said.  Really, those are my excuses?

People in recovery are skillful and great at lying and rationalizing to ourselves.  Come on now, this is all of us. But making amends, being willing to say, I was wrong, please forgive me is the only cure to moving on in life, free and forgiven.  Forgiveness is the path of healing. Facing our past, forgiving ourselves and those who have hurt us as well as God who allowed it to happen and then making amends for our part is the only lasting solution to sin.  Forgiveness breaks the cycle and allows relationships to heal.

So, hey I got to go and make a phone call.  To my accountability partners, please check in on me and hold me accountable, make sure I apologized to my friend and asked her to forgive me. It takes a tribe, we need one another.

Who will you call today to make an amend?

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 9th

Good Morning CR Family,

Below you will find today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C!

Hit Bottom More Than Once

In the world of recovery in order for change to happen we have to hit bottom.  We hit bottom when we know that our life is not working.  When we are out of control with our addictions, full of pain, toxic relationships and we have finally had it. We hit bottom when we reach the end of our rope, wave the white flag and give up.  When all our attempts to change have not worked and all we’ve done has produced the same unhealthy results. Our bottom is that point where we finally get fed up with being beat up by ourselves and mistreated by others.  Then and only then, at the point of complete surrender are we ready to enter recovery, work all 12 of the steps, be recreated and find peace of mind.

I’ve come to believe this surrender and letting go is needed not just once when we hit bottom but throughout our entire journey of recovery.  Each step takes courage, bravery and dying to the old self.  We have to daily let go and submit to working the next step before us.  This is what means to “trust the process.” Stay committed to the present challenge. Let God work in us.   

There are a few things that will help us move through the steps. First is to surround ourselves with people in recovery who have victories in a few areas and are making progress.  They give us hope and help us see how the process of recovery works. That is why CR stresses we all attend Friday nights and Monday 12 step groups.  We need to be around others further along the journey, it is critical to our healing.  Secondly, reject all old negative ways of thinking (I’m a loser, unlovable, beyond healing etc.) and renew our minds by filling it with truths found in scripture and being told to us by our sponsor, 12 step leaders and accountability partners. This is precisely where the battle rages, in our minds.  Will we reject the old thoughts and submit to accepting the new truth?  Peace and joy are ours, but we have to fight for them. It is so worth it you guys.  I want us all to live the very best life we can!  How bad do you want that?  Then do the work and we'll be right here with you.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 8th

Good Morning CR Family,

Please the the Recovery Thought of the Day below from Dana C.

CR Monday: We Are in This together

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16

Brokenness, we have all experienced it at some point in our lives. But what do we do with our brokenness is the question? Stay in it and suffer needlessly or work to over come it and move forward in our lives. That’s what we do in Celebrate Recovery, we enlist Gods help and in community we move thorough it and move on. As we recover, we learn the value of helping others on their journey. Not content in just serving others but being deeply engaged with them as we travel this road of recovery, our walk with Jesus.

Which leads me to my next opportunity as I walk this road with Jesus. The question for me today is this:  Am I a light only to those in recovery, or my family or church, or workmates and friends. Is God calling me to be a light to everyone? I think he is and this is where opportunity exists to make and even bigger impact for Jesus.

Gregory Boyle (from Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation) put it this way: It would seem that, quite possibly, the ultimate measure of health in any community might well reside in our ability to stand in awe at what folks have to carry rather than in judgment at how they carry it.  Often, we strike the high moral distance that separates “us” from “them,” and yet it is God’s dream come true when we recognize that there exists no daylight between us. Serving others is good. It’s a start. But it’s just the hallway that leads to the Grand Ballroom.

I have some work to do to get to the point that there exists no daylight between me and my brother and sister. In this regard I have been in the hallway but I need to open the door wide to the grand ballroom, let go of the biases I have, to see people as my equal, not better or worse, but loved by God all the same.

Reverend Howard Thurman: Co-Founder of the first interracial church in America, circa 1944:

What had I learned about love? One of the central things was that the experience of being understood by another was of primary importance. Somewhere deep within was a “place” beyond all faults and virtues that had to be confirmed before I could run the risk of opening my life up to another. To find ultimate security in an ultimate vulnerability, this is to be loved.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 7th

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day:

Grief and Unfinished Hurt

Over the past week I have been reading an amazing book that was gifted to me called: "From Wild Man to Wise Man," by Richard Rohr.  Today I would like to share a small passage that really resonated with my in my own recovery journey.

"You see, the "grieving mode" is quite different than the fixing mode, the controlling mode or even the understanding mode of life.  The male had to be shown how to live and feel grief, or he would spend all his life in these other three, which is what has largely happened.  Grief, as I define it, is simply unfinished hurt."

Wow... It was like he was talking straight to me.  I had never really thought of grief from that perspective before, but I have found it to be true.  Before recovery, every time that I was hurt, rather than facing it, I would ignore it and stuff it down.  When my Mom unexpectedly passed away at the age of 50, rather than working through that grief, I did my best to ignore it. After being subjected to infidelity and a failed first marriage, same thing...  The result of my unprocessed grief showed up in my life in many ways: trust issues, anger issues, acting out in my addition when those feelings of grief surfaced, planning out everything to the n-th degree (trying to control my life) as so on.

The fact of the matter is, working through grief is hard, it hurts.  Working through the 12 steps can hurt and is not always fun. The result of working through pain, as hard as it may be, is healing and restoration.  On the other end, the result of not dealing with our internal hurts is on-going hurt the rest of our lives and more than likely hurting others while we are at it.

What is an unfinished hurt that you are holding on to?

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 4th

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C:

No Change is Too Small

US Navy Admiral, William McRaven, delivered a speech in which he stated, if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”  I love that.  Look for things in our lives upon which we can exert influence and do it. And it’s okay to start small.  The success of doing a small task provides a sense of accomplishment that motivates us to do another small task.  Truth is, it’s often the little changes in life that matter.  Saying I love you to your spouse, going out and looking for a job (again), being kind, showing up for a friend, saying no to violence, being generous or patient with a child or co-worker.  Every small change produces a new outcome.

In recovery change is essential.  If we don’t change, we will continue to get the same unfulfilling, painful results that brought us into recovery in the first place.  Just like the Admiral said, the change does not need to be impressive or substantial, it can be as small as making your bed.  Sometimes in recovery we fall into the trap of having grandiose ideas of the changes we want to see manifested in our lives and forget the importance of starting small and doing the little things.  When we make small changes in our daily routine, we learn to accept change as a normal part of our growth cycle and are less likely to resist it.  And making small changes makes it easier to make big changes when we need to do so.

Jesus taught, “If you are faithful in the little things, more will be given to you,” Luke 19:17.  So today, be sober, make your bed and start to change your world.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 3rd

Good Afternoon CR Family,


For today's Recovery Thought of the Day, check out Pastor Ryan Howell's Daily Drop of Hope from Monday (Pastor Howell Daily Drop of Hope Video Link).  This week his them is one liner prayers.  The one from Monday was " Guide My "Fill in the Blank" on paths of Righteousness for your name's sake."  As you listen, think about what needs to go into the blank space of that prayer.

On another note, it came to my attention yesterday that the sign up link for the women's open share group meeting was not working.  It is now fixed if you want to get on and sign up for the women's virtual open share group meeting this Friday at 7:30pm.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 2nd

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day below Perry C:

People

Part of my job at the church is to speak and help people in crisis.  This week I got a phone call from a women entrenched in a long term abusive relationship.  What do you tell someone when they say they love their husband and in the same breath reveal he manipulates and physically abuses her routinely?  Instinctually she knew this must be wrong, but it is all she has ever known.  The woman who called me in tears and fear had no idea what a healthy relationship looks like or how a truly safe person behaves.

Dr. Henry Cloud is the authority figure on this subject and whose work I refer to from his lectures and book, “Safe People”.

An unsafe person will harm you, intentionally or unintentionally. An unsafe person will trip you up and not have your best interest at heart.  They will try to turn you into someone you are not.  An unsafe person will try to own or possess you.  They will restrict your connection with other people and often they don’t want you to have other friends. 

A safe person helps you become the very best version of yourself that is possible.  A safe person helps you grow and get connected with other safe people.  They help us get closer to God.  A safe person wants us to be healthy and learn how to love and fulfill our purpose in life. A safe person wants us to expand, to become, to use every ounce of potential to impact the world for good.

Take a moment and evaluate the relationships in your life.  How are you being treated? Are your friends and family safe or unsafe? Then if you’re brave and I know you are, evaluate how you relate to others, are you a safe or an unsafe person?

There is no shame or condemnation in realizing you or those around you are unsafe people. I was an unsafe person for years because I didn’t know differently.  It simply is your reality today.  But stay in recovery, work the program and you will change and learn how to become a safe person.

I believe in you,
Perry

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - June 1st

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day below from Dana C:

CR Monday: Paradoxical Truths

As we engage in recovery, we sometimes get confused about what God may be doing in our lives. As Christ followers, we don’t always know how he is working in us, in fact most of the time I don’t know, but that is where faith comes in as we continue the journey. The mystery of God is real. It’s not my job to figure it out, it’s my job to believe and trust in Him.

This is where the paradox of recovery reveals itself to us. Or should I say how God reveals himself to us. There are four paradoxes in recovery that I learned about many years ago through my AA sponsor. The paradoxes seem counter-intuitive on the surface but as we experience them through Celebrate Recovery, we see the message of Jesus intersecting in our lives in the most amazing ways.

• We suffer to get well. We come to recovery in turmoil and pain. As we work the12 Steps we continue to encounter pain, but it is necessary as we let go of the past and look forward to a better today and future. Pain is necessary but misery is optional. Psalm 6:2-3 “Pity me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, for my body is sick, and I am upset and disturbed. My mind is filled with apprehension and with gloom.”
• We surrender to win. As we turn our life and will over to God, we ask him to be in charge, relying on his grace to move us forward. Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
• We die to live. We have to let go of the past and our old ways of thinking to let the new come in. John 12: 24-25 “Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never more than a grain of wheat. But if it’s is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.”
• We give it away to keep it. By the time we arrive at Step 12 we realize that many people have helped us on the road to recovery and we need to pass that on to others; sharing our experience, strength and hope. Carry the Good news of how Jesus has saved you and transformed you. Galatians 6: 1-2 “If a Christian is overcome by some sin… humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that the next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lords command.”

I am reminded how my definition of recovery has changed over the years. In CR I have come to realize that recovery is my daily walk with Jesus, letting him teach me and guide me. Recovery for me is Salvation.

Dana Cramer, Celebrate Recovery/Crossroads

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day Below.  Also, if you missed CR Friday Night Live, you can check it out here: CR Friday Night Live Recording - May 29th
.
Balancing the Scales

Step 4 - We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 NIV

One of the things that I love about Celebrate Recovery is that when it comes to step 4, there is an emphasis on "Balancing the Scales."  What does that mean?  It means that when we get to step 4, we need to also look at the good stuff, rather than just focusing on all of the bad.  This really helped me when I completed my first inventory. As I completed my first inventory, I remember how hard it was.  I remember being overwhelmed with emotion as I wrote out all of my past hurts, habits and hang-ups.  I could only work on it about an hour at a time before needing to take a break. 

When I was about half way though my inventory, I remember sitting down with my sponsor and he asked me, "where are all of the positive things that you have done?"  As I went back and continued to work on my inventory, capturing the positive stuff,  I realized the my mindset starting to change.  Forcing myself to focus on the positive things in my life, helped prevent me from beating myself up too bad.

Another thing that helped me as I completed my first inventory was "balancing the scales,"  as I wrote about the people that had hurt me in the past.  I challenged myself to write one positive thing for every person that was listed in my inventory.  This went a  long ways for me to start to show grace to others and helping be to become ready to complete steps 8 and 9.

What is something good that you have done for yourself or others this past week?  Spend some time thinking about the good stuff and give yourself a pat on the back.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 29th

Good Morning CR Family,

For today's Thought of the Day, I ask that you think of a Recovery Based Question that you would like to ask during tonight's CR Friday Night Live.  Tonight, Dana C and I are going to spend about 20-30 minutes answering recovery questions that people post in the comment section. Here is the link to our CR Youtube page where we will go live tonight at 6:30pm.   CR Youtube Channel Link. After CR Friday Night Live, we will be hosting virtual Open Share Group Meetings at 7:30pm.  You can sign up for the men's or women's group using the link in the announcement section

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 28th

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day below from Perry C!

Closed versus an Open System

The Dead Sea is a landlocked Salt Lake between Israel and Jordan. It is the lowest elevation and the lowest body of water on the surface of earth. It is named the Dead Sea because the high content of salt prevents fish and plant forms from living in it.  The Jordan river flows into the Dead Sea but there is no outlet, making it a closed system.  In order for any system to be alive and healthy it must be an open system where there is room for things to come in and things to leave. There is a flow and rhythm of activity in all open systems.

This is true in our recovery as well. In fact the Scriptures reveal a bias towards action not stagnation.  James, the brother of Jesus said 1:22-25, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

This is what makes Celebrate Recovery work.  CR is an open system and teaches us how to become open systems as well.  We receive from others further along on the journey and learn how to participate in our recovery but that isn’t enough.  We become active in our recovery, making amends, offering forgiveness and once we experience freedom from our hurts, hang-ups and habits we must get involved in helping others and giving back.  If we don’t we become like the Dead Sea, a closed system and the changes made will not last and our recovery will not survive.  Because nothing lives for long in a closed system.

Step 12 requires that once we have had a spiritual experience as a result of taking the 12 steps, “we are to carry that message to others and practice those principles in all our affairs.”  We do this by giving our time and energy to others as we are able.  It is through serving that we demonstrate our gratitude and true recovery.  And it is by giving back that we remain a life giving and open sustaining system.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 27th

Good Morning CR Family,

For today's Thought of the Day, check out Pastor Ryan's Daily Drop of Hope from Yesterday (Daily Drop of Hope Video - May 26th). After watching, take some time to reflect on what you heard.  What stuck out to you?  For me it was patience...  After  planting seeds, you have to give them time to grow, you can't rush the process.  Have a great day everyone!

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 26th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C:

This reflection is taken from Day 9 of the Celebrate Recovery 365 Daily Devotional.  I read it in the mornings along with my Bible.

Even When I’m Cranky
“As my wife and I boarded a flight for London to teach a training seminar, we were told that there would be a delay.  The plane was full and after two hours on the runway, most of us were hot, tired and sweaty and becoming more and more cranky and agitated.  But seated in front of us was a woman who provided a much-needed example of Christlike behavior in uncomfortable circumstances.

This woman was a grandmother, who was juggling a screaming toddler.  Though the baby cried for a full two hours, the woman never once lost her composure or let the smile slip from her face.  Instead she continued to try to comfort the child.  Once the plane finally took off, the baby went to sleep.  But the grandmother continued to hold her for the next nine hours.  Never once did she complain, set the baby down or hand her to someone else.

Long after the flight was over, I thought about how our heavenly Father is much like that grandmother.  God puts up with us when we are cranky, tired, crying, complaining and just plain no fun to be around.  God never loses his cool or his desire to comfort us.  God is right there carrying us, never putting us down or handing us off to someone else.  No matter what we are going through, we can trust that God will always be there for us.”

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I am thankful for your faithful watch-care over us.  You have promised never to leave us no matter what circumstances we encounter.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Celebrate Recovery Thought of the Day - May 24th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day from Dorothy H.  Also, if you missed CR Friday Night Live, you can watch the video here CR Friday Night Live - May 22nd Video.  I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the long weekend!

FROM Brennan Manning:” Have you been son-bathing or soaking in a hot tub with the love of God. “ It is like coming out of the sun and everybody can see what you have been doing. 

During this time at stay at home, have you took the opportunity to worship God and experience the love that he has for you. Were you able to color and play with bubbles like a child. A retreat that Brennan went on the leader gave him some crayons and bubbles. This was to bring him back into childhood, so he can experience the child like faith we are suppose to.have. Children are powerless and so are we as
an adult. This whole lock down makes us even more powerless in this world. We know who is in control and that is God.

For me I tend to work and be busy because that is what I was taught as a child.. We did not take the
time to bask with the son to experience is love for us. What I am finding out that I need to be in the
word and worshiping with Him. This keeps me in the present and in the positive. When I don’t I start to think bad things about me. He loves to wrap His arms around you and smother you in His love.
Worshiping is like basking in the sun and when you get through people should be able to see the light of the Lord a pond you. You should be smiling huge and you can’t stop doing it.

Have you basked or taken a hot bath in the Love of the Lord?

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 22nd

Good Morning CR Family! Today for the thought of the day, I would encourage you to tune into CR Friday Night Live Tonight.  Jimmy S and I are going live at 6:30pm tonight and we will be talk about areas where we can get stuck in our recovery.  CR Friday Night Live Link.

After CR Friday Night Live, we will also be hosting virtual open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  Please see the sign up links below.

Have a great day everyone!


Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 21st

Good Morning CR Family! Please see below for the recovery thought of the day from Perry C.  Have a great one!

Create More Space for God

Last post I talked about creating space for connection with God through participating in various spiritual disciplines.  Today I want to share with you another way to experience God in our ordinary lives. Like the other spiritual disciplines this practice requires us to leave a gap/place for God to show up and work on our behalf.

Isn’t it true that sometimes our life plans do not go the way we hoped or anticipated?  We have certainly experienced that with the Covid-19 but it has also been true before the pandemic. Such occurrences are just a fact of life. We have all made plans and watched them collapse around us, and sometimes no fault of our own. But how do we react to those disappointments? Do we give up, blame others, act out, get bitter, curse God or take it out on those closest to us? There is another way to think and respond when life throws us a curveball and we face another difficult situation. It is a spiritual discipline of serenity.

Think of the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-45.  Here is a guy who just couldn’t get a break.  His 10 brothers sold him into slavery because they were jealous of him.  In Egypt Joseph thrived working as a servant for a family until falsely accused of attempted rape.  He was wrongly thrown into prison. While in prison Joseph made the most of his situation and after many long years of imprisonment was released.  While free God continued to bless Joseph and gave him a powerful position as prime minister of Egypt. It was from this position that Joseph was able to eventually confront and forgive his brothers who sold him into slavery and declare that although they meant it for evil, God meant it for good.  Life was not fair to Joseph.  But Joseph learned to control what he could, his attitude.  He practiced serenity and courage when life was not fair.  And this made space for God to work on his behalf.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” Yep serenity is a spiritual discipline, an attitude mind-set that allows us to accept reality, courageously do the next right thing and trust God to do what’s best.


Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 20th

Good Morning CR Family! For today's Thought of the Day, I would encourage you to watch Crossroads Church's Lead Pastor's, Daily Drop of Hope Video.  In the video he uses a story/parable to show how unconditional love has the power to transform.  Enjoy!

Pastor Ryan Howell's Daily Drop of Hope Video Link

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Throught of the Day - May 19th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see below for the recovery thought of the day from Perry C.

Spiritual Discipline

In my last post I revealed that up until now I have enjoyed an active lifestyle: hiking, dancing, martial arts, bicycle riding, walking, yoga and group fitness classes.  As a child I watched my dad, a disciplined navy man, perform early morning calisthenics on a daily basis in our downstairs play area. I learned from him the importance of routine exercise to stay healthy. Bodily exercising uses concentrated effort to strengthen muscles so when called upon they respond quickly to the mind.  The apostle Paul speaks of the value of bodily discipline in 1 Cor. 9:27.

How is spiritual discipline similar and different than bodily discipline? With spiritual discipline we set up mental boundaries that create space for connection with God.
For example:

• When I set aside time to pray, it connects and empowers me with the loving creator of the universe. 
• When I worship it opens my heart to experience God’s love and receive radical acceptance from the Holy  Spirit. (If you missed it, check out CR Friday Night Live on YouTube, 5/15/2020.  It’s all about worship and recovery.) 
• When I tithe and give away my resources it connects my soul to humanity and builds bonds of love with others in the community. 
• When I meditate, I set aside my goals and schedule and listen to God's love and guidance for my day.   
• Lastly when I spend time reading the Bible my mind is transformed.  This comes from encountering Jesus in the scriptures and learning healthier ways to think and act.  Then because I am in connection with God and supported by others in recovery, I am able to choose beneficial ways of thinking and behaving.  And those new behaviors produce positive outcomes instead of continuing to repeat a life full of more hurts, hang ups and destructive habits. This is huge.  Our old negative thought patterns can be changed over time with spiritual discipline. Check out Romans 12:2.

Here’s the nugget if you’re still reading.  We all can agree the result of physical discipline is determined by how much time and effort was put into exercising.  Well, it is the same with God.  We get as much of God as we put into seeking God.  So, go after God, seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! And God promises to take care of everything else you may need, Matthew 6:33.
Is there anything stopping you from getting spiritually fit today? Share this with a recovery friend.  

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.