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Date Posted: 15:34:21 03/05/06 Sun
Author: Pastor Mark McManus
Author Host/IP: 69.144.154.39
Subject: Re: Scenario / Seeking Advise and Prayer
In reply to: Robert Brozoski 's message, "Scenario / Seeking Advise and Prayer" on 22:28:36 03/03/06 Fri

My dear brother,

I have lived out this scenerio in sorts with my own son a couple of years ago. Drugs, Gang activity violence, and finally resulting in the murder of one drug dealer,sucide of the other, and a third who had half his face blown off.

This all happened "after" my son was taken into custody, and transported to another state for treatment for his safety, not only in recovery but from those who would consider him a liability.

One Easter morning I recieved a phone call during a church service from his mother (my X) telling me he had been missing for about 5 days. I flew imediately to that state to help find him. The scenerio was literally so heated, volitile and dangerous that I had to ask God how to and when to take "each"..step or word spoken. Without going into the whole story, I would share what I learned coming out of that situation, that may help guide you.

#1. Continually pray a hedge of protection over him - rebuking the agent of the enemy. Stand on "God's" faithfulness that the seed planted in his heart "will" bare fruit, even if it is dornmant right now.

#2. You have spoken all you can. You have alerted the parents, who if are in denial will not see untill they are possibly abruptly confronted with the truth in a way that they can neither rationalize, turn their head, or make excuses. You are not in control of how the Lord may bring that to pass.

#3. Their is no honor or nobleness in loyalty in response to the devils manipulation. In other words, someone shares that they are pondering suicide, or dealt drugs only a couple of times, or whatever. Exposing that truth to save the life of the individual is NOT betraying a trust. That is called "not keeping a deadly secret".

#4. It's OK for someone like this young man to be angry at you, because you know the truth, and that threatens what HE..is CHOOSING to do. and it threatens the image, or self compsed picture of what the parents "want" to see of their son. I'm not preaching thoery here. Seen it, lived it, battled it.

#5. This is going to sound a bit odd, but.. Love him enough to let him hate you for a season. At this point your job may simply to be there at the "other end" of this situation. It may be time to step back on "your" efforts to convice, and move into the area of Prayer warrior for him. He indeed, as well as his family may have to run head long into the truth. Trying to delay it, deny it, or curtail it may "feel" loving, but in fact be of no effect, and simply delaying the process. Ever put off going to the dentist untill the "pain" of not dealing with it, is greater than the "pay off" of denial and delay?

Know that even at the harsh and sometimes even brutal gate of truth, stands the grace and healing mercy of the Father.

I have had my own son in times of anger, and in the midst of his pain anger, and addiction say things to me that would tear a heart to peices. But Jesus is the great physicain. Take the apraisal and counsel of what and who
"The Lord" says you are. Not the words of this young man.
One is forged in truth, the other is heated in emotion.

Finally brother, I will share what a good friend, fellow Pastor and my Command Police Chaplain told me while walking through an ordeal with this son.

Mark..you are "too" close to this one. emotionally etc. The enemy will try to capitalize on this. Remember the promises of the Word for him and...for you.

There is a season for everything under heaven. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENTITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE.

THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN.

AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

God bless you.

Pastor Mark

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