What is the Purpose

Let's take a walk down reality row for a few moments here. Do you know in the past 48 hours in our community over two hundred women were abused by those that say they Love them. Few were reported to the authorities. Yet the wound is there. The abuse ranges from demeaning the value and the beauty of the women to actually beating the shit out her. Leaving her on the floor bloodied. The excuses range from " Well she has gained weight. I just let her know it." To the extreme. " The house wasn't clean and dinner was cold when I got home. She gave me some stupid excuse so I smacked her around. That way she knows what I expect from her. If it happens again I will do it again. She needs to know her role in this house. I do this to show her what love is."

In each of these circumstances their was a young child in the room watching their parents basically kill the heart of the other. What does that child learn about love when watching this? How will the young boy be when he becomes a man. How will the young girl be when she is a woman? Statistically, they will take what they see grow up and keep the cycle going. FEW very FEW will learn that this isn't love, therefore going on a personal journey to finding real love.

For five years I have watched the battered women walk into huge places of worship and beg for help. To be turned away. I have witnessed a retired pastor look down on his raped daughter and tell her : "Look what you have done to the church. If you would have just said yes to sex, we wouldn't have to deal with the shame you brought the family." The same girls mother agreed with the fathers words. Time and again I have seen those called to help fail. In such a grand scale that it has taken every ounce of my strength to not beat the shit out of them. Yes it is true violence sometimes has to be used to prevent violence.

Do all churches in America act this way?? No. Are the majority of the Pastors in the pulpit qualified to actually sit down and provide wise counsel to these women? No. Would they spend the time to walk some one from the scar of a battered heart to the unending river of Love? No. Seminary is not designed to teach this.

That saddens me and pisses me off at the same time. I have sat in these seminaries. I am licensed Pastor in the state of California. I can marry, bury and get behind a pulpit and preach the word to build yet another church with nice stain glass windows, huge worship teams, and nice comfy seats. Where on any Sunday you can come hear me present my show. Yet, I would never know you personally. You see. I have machine to keep running. If you know me I am the absolute polar opposite of that spectrum. As is my partner.

Here is another piece of reality for your day. We are sending men and women from this country to foreign soil to fight a war. Each person there has volunteered their very life to protect OUR country from all enemies foreign and domestic. Everyday a veteran returns to his home town. Ill-prepared to deal with what their heart and mind had to see in that foreign land. Are these men and women candy asses for having nightmares of death? Are they a candy ass because their heart is broken by having to pick up a weapon and kill another human being to save the life of himself or his buddies next to him? No. A candy ass they are not.

Are we to simply to sit on our fat happy asses watching Oprah and American Idol as these men and women suffer? When they do go for help the Government has inadequate facilities and staff to assist these people. A shrink writes a script to medicate the person. Maybe sees them twice to see if the dosing is correct. Makes a note on a chart and sends the walking wounded on their merry way. They diagnose, bill the VA for their time and go back and do it all over.

Not since Vietnam has this country had a suicide rate as high as it is now. Of veterans that come home. In Spokane Washington in a 4 month period of time 8 men took their lives. The phone calls to the VA suicide lines were played and these men were cast aside. When asked if the VA felt any responsibility for not assisting they passed the buck. Took no responsibility for their inadequate handling of the cases. People.. Damn the bodies are hitting the floor daily.

What about the cop that walks into a crime scene that will forever change him? Or the Fireman that walks into a home too find the charred bodies of an entire family. Where if either should go ask for help it is placed on their employment file. Marked for the duration of their tour of duty. That they have some instability that required the department shrink to intervene. Umm.. I call bull shit!!!

Here is another fact I would like you to consider. What if there was an organization that worked with all these various groups, would you turn off Oprah or Simon for a minute and look at what they do and how you can help them.

I am a partner in one of these organizations. Our approach isn't conventional by any means. We whole heartily believe that the word of God has the ability to show us our life purpose. To restore the battered heart. To revive the fight in the Warriors. To sit with all walks of life and build a relationship with the person. Do we win every time we meet someone. The answer is no. Not everyone that comes to us will get it. Do my partner and I throw our arms up in the air and say "Screw It?" NO.

We fight with every fiber of our being to make a heart whole again. Hours upon hours of listening, questioning, and walking people along side us to the One. Here is another reality. We can't do this for free. No organization can!!! We don't charge those that serve the community or our country. Most abuse victims don't have the funds to pay either. For us to continue saving hearts in our community we require help. That's a fact Jack!!

Since 1983 my partner has had the only biblical counseling center in the Ventura/Los Angeles county area. This center has helped Thousands of people regain their heart. To find true love. To recover from abusive acts that were dealt upon them.

What is the purpose of this blog today. Why are we asking people to read it. Simple. We need help. We are a non-profit organization that requires people to financially support us so we can continue helping those that seek us out. All donations are tax deductible.. (Lawyer Speak)

Man I am starting to sound like the Jerry Lewis telethon here. This isn't my greatest quality. Folks. I love what I do with everything inside of me. Whether I win or loose. I know God has placed this on Frank and I. If you are interested in knowing more please visit us @ www.hopecoming.com

Read the reality again. Some one has to walk into the middle of peoples personal hell's to show them a measure of hope. Like the Warriors, the Cops and Firemen, when every one else is running away from it. We run towards it.

S/F
Smokin Chaplain