Rescue Mission's 3 graduates change lives through program

By Sean Barron    news@vindy.com   Saturday, January 11, 2014

YOUNGSTOWN

For Paulo Morris, 2013 began with bouts of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction while he roamed the streets in Tuscawaras County. Early this year, however, he has a diploma, completed an intense life-skills and academic program and, perhaps most importantly, he has hope for a brighter future.

“My daughter prayed for me. I came to Youngstown after a friend talked to the pastor, who said, ‘Bring him here,’” Morris recalled, referring to his admission to the Discipleship Academy program at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Morris was one of three men honored during Friday’s ceremony for having graduated from the one-year program. The other two who received diplomas are Randy Bryant and Shane White.

Roughly 100 friends, family members and others attended the two-hour program and worship service at the mission, which also included plenty of fellowship and testimonials praising the men for their accomplishments.

Morris explained that he suffered severe depression after seeing the contrast between his daughter’s having studied to be a minister in Fort Wayne, Ind., and his situation. Morris’ daughter, Kamiyah Morris, prayed for her father, which encouraged him to change his life, he continued, adding that his goals include being part of the Rescue Mission’s staff and helping others better their lives. “I’m proud of him. We love him so much,” said his sister, Harriet Lemapupatton of Dover, Ohio.
Twenty-two men are in the academy, which features courses on conflict-resolution, financial-management skills and U.S. history, noted Doug Gough, supervisor of men’s services. A final project requires the clients to write personal testimonies, take part in mock job interviews, draft resumes, attend Bible classes and, if needed, obtain their general-education diplomas.

“I nearly destroyed my life, brother,” said White, whose plans include attending San Diego Christian College to learn ways to reach out to others via ministry. “I needed an overall life makeover.” The academy’s biblical and educational aspects proved the most beneficial toward helping him turn his life around, White explained, adding that he never thought college would be an option.

Years of drug addiction “got me to the breaking point,” said Bryant, of Austintown, who thanked his sister and her church for their prayers on his behalf. “It has helped me be a better dad, son, brother and uncle,” he said about the academic program, adding that other benefits included learning more effective ways to deal with anger and develop empathy. Bryant said he intends to give back to the community by working in the mission’s men’s department. His duties likely will be assisting with food, clothing and shelter needs, he noted.

Overcoming addictions and other challenges needs to be supplemented with positive choices, said the Rev. Dr. William Finnigan, the mission’s Bible-study instructor and the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

The Rev. Mr. Finnigan, affectionately known as “Doc,” cited 2 Timothy 3:16, which talks about how everything in the Scriptures is God’s word and is useful for teaching, helping and showing people how to live more-productive lives. “Success is finding what God wants you to do and doing it,” he said, adding that many people have material riches yet are spiritually unfulfilled.

John Muckridge, director of education, used the analogy of remodeling a home as a metaphor for the men’s ability to work on changing their hearts.

Additional remarks came from Jim Echement, executive director; Terry Weyand, academy coordinator; and Gary Montagna, worship leader. Weyand noted that Friday’s ceremony marked the first time three men have graduated simultaneously from the academy.

Boot Camp and the Gender War

              My curiosity was recently sparked by an article entitled, “Why Pull-Ups are Harder for Women.” It comes on the heels of a recent law permitting women equal access to front-line combat situations, which would require “man-like” strength and ability. But this piece, written by Rachael Rettner, reports that many female marines in boot camp are hard pressed to complete three pull-ups on an overhead bar. Thus, the question is asked, “Why do women find the exercise so difficult?”

            This problem has caused the Marine Corps to delay this 3-pull-up requirement for women, even though it is a minimum standard for men. The embarrassing setback came when “55 percent of female recruits…could not complete the task.” They actually pursued an answer to the dilemma through Tim Hewitt, a sports medicine researcher from Ohio State University. He verified that women have “about 40 percent less upper-body mass than men do.” This means that a woman’s “natural upper body is only about 50 to 60 percent as strong as a man’s.”

            I look for the elimination of the “three pull-ups” as a requirement for the women recruits. But nothing will change the left’s determination to “prove” that there’s no real distinction between the genders. Thus, there will be no end to the double standard which exists in the “political correctness” arena. Has anyone even considered lately that maybe women don’t belong in “boot camp,” trying to compete with men? Please hear me out before you cuss me out.

            The above report regarding the female’s upper body strength is a fact that should have been a matter of common sense. By design, men have superior physical strength for their roles as laborer, provider and protector. Women are precious creatures who are indispensable to life on the planet! They don’t belong out on the “front line,” but need to be respected and protected for who they are---women!

The truth is that, generally speaking, women can do anything men can do; but men cannot do some things a woman does; namely, bearing and mothering children. That tells me that, in many respects, women are stronger than men. I’ve come to that conclusion after living with a wonderful lady for almost 57 years!

The issue then is not equality, but God’s purpose for the sexes. It’s preposterous

to attempt to make men and women something that they are not. To rub out the line between the genders can only lead to confusion and utter frustration. Have you watched T.V. lately?

            Am I suggesting that there’s no room for women in the military? Certainly not! While combat duty should be relegated to men, there are strategic support roles open for women. I remember the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) established in 1942 during World War II. Women recruits entered their own basic training, and were expected to be in top physical condition. These women held strategic positions in many areas of military life, including investigative and administrative work; not to mention their extraordinary service as physicians and nurses.

Of course, such an idea would be ridiculed today, but would still make sense. It would dispel much of the frustration and immorality created by the “unisex” fantasy. Unfortunately, the present demise of traditional marriage and family life would make such a plan impossible. Women are now attempting to demonstrate their “manlike” capabilities, as in the “three pull-ups” episode; in so doing, they are ignoring their lofty and unique estate of womanhood. I believe that this has also had a profound influence upon the demise of true masculinity in the male gender. Suffice to say, this so-called “progressive” attitude has only served to confuse and corrupt a once-great nation. We are reaping what we’ve sown.

           

            

Execution and ‘Civil rights’

            The recent execution of a condemned killer in Ohio has sparked “heavy criticism,” according to an AP article. The attorney for Dennis McGuire, the convicted murderer, has called the execution “a failed, agonizing experiment,” because of the use of a drug combination never tried in the U.S. Allen Bohnert, representing the McGuire family, elaborated on the length of time (over 20 minutes) it took for the drugs to produce death, and the ensuing “agony and terror” suffered by McGuire. He (Bohnert) plans to sue the state of Ohio, stating the people “should be appalled at what was done…in their names.”

            On the surface, it’s easy to sympathize with the attorney and the criminal’s family. Being the humane society that we are, we have bent over backwards to coddle death-row inmates to the end. The drugs used prior to this execution were swift and effective, resulting in little or no “suffering.” But the reality in this case is the “dried up” supply of the sedative pentobarbital, which is now unattainable since it has been declared by the manufacturer as “off limits for capital punishment.” Thus, the prison officials had to minister intravenous doses of two alternative drugs, to put McGuire to death for the 1989 rape and fatal stabbing of a pregnant newly-wed, Joy Stewart.

            One gets the feel from this article that the State is now the culprit, being accused of “cruel and unusual punishment.”  It’s amazing how subtly the emphasis switched from “justice,” to the welfare of the criminal. The State certainly had no intent in making the killer’s death any more painful than necessary. After all, McGuire was just now facing justice some 25 years after his crime! Had there been swift justice given, he would have been executed “pain free” with the formerly-used drug dosage.  

In the midst of the defense’s cry for McGuire’s “constitutional rights,” the state Assistant Attorney General Thomas Madden pressed for the execution to go ahead. He argued that while the U.S. Constitution bans cruel and unusual punishment, “you’re not entitled to a pain-free execution.” The bottom line of this whole episode was not the killer’s “suffering” per/se, but a further attempt to ban capital punishment—period!

I wonder what Joy Stewart’s family was experiencing through this time? A precious life was brutally snuffed out 25 years ago, but who cares? The concern here was about “constitutional justice” given to her murderer, rather than his judicial payment for the murder. McGuire should have thought of his victim’s “civil rights” before taking her life.

It’s interesting how so-called “Criminal Justice,” is more concerned with the rights and well-being of the criminal, than the justice demanded by the crime. In my opinion, the long, drawn-out waiting periods on death row contribute to this “soft” attitude toward carrying out justice. With the passing of years, human nature tends to forget or at least minimize the horrors attached to snuffing out a life.

 I pictured a similar crime occurring in a Muslim country; just how long would it take for that “legal system” to take action on this murderer? No one doubts that there would be swift, “pain-free” justice, as in severing the man’s head from his shoulders! I’m not advocating that kind of “justice” in America, but our growing disrespect and opposition to swift and fair law enforcement is “killing” us from within. If this trend continues, crime and anarchy will reign, and the prisons will be run by the inmates. What a scary thought!        

Is This the “Year of the Bible?”

            That’s what the Mayor of Flower Mound, TX has proclaimed. According to Ben Russell, NBC 5 News, Mayor Tom Hayden made his declaration during last-month’s city council meeting in the Dallas-area suburb.

            “I ask that you join with me…in proclaiming 2014 to be the ‘Year of the Bible’ in Flower Mound, Texas, and encouraging all residents in their own way to examine the principles and teaching found in the Bible,” Hayden said during that meeting.

            He further promoted a website where a daily choice of Bible verses was posted.  The Jan. 2^nd selections included stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, along with John the Baptist. That same day, Mayor Hayden explained on NBC 5 the inspiration for his proclamation:

            “I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I hope to be able to share the good news with others…Everyone’s personal relationship with God is a personal decision…If I can, I would like to encourage people to read the Bible.”

            Needless to say, the responses came from every angle; from those who supported the Mayor’s position, to those accusing him of “discrimination,” and still others using the “separation of church and state” mantra. As for me, I was impressed with the Mayor’s gutsy move. Thank God, there are still some politicians with conviction and courage. And yet, what was the “big deal” for an American to call people back the Bible, the Book that made America what she is!

It certainly wouldn’t be a problem for a governmental leader in a Muslim country to proclaim 2014 as “the year of the Quran.” But you say, they have state religion, and we don’t. True, but this country was founded on the principles and moral standards of the Bible. Check out the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., along with all of the Presidential monuments and notice the obvious references to the Bible. This is what has made America unique, but that uniqueness is waning rapidly because of our arrogant rejection of the Sacred Scriptures.  

            In Russia’s hay-day of Communism, religion was considered “the opium of the people;” totalitarian government was in, and the people were “slaves of the state.” The Bible was outlawed because of its promotion of God-given personal freedom. The Scriptures were relegated as “fables, and fairy-tales,” etc., supposedly having no life-changing value. Yet I was told that no one visiting a Moscow book store could find one Bible on the “fairy-tale” or fictional literature shelf!

            Amazingly, the government had to lie about the Bible in order to propagate the “Party Line.”  Thankfully, many people under the bondage of Communism were personally liberated and converted to Christ through the Bible. When the Iron Curtain ultimately fell, a new generation was privileged to freely reap the results of that Sacred Book.

            The so-called Progressive, Socialistic cycle is again gaining momentum in America; from the new Pope, to apostate Protestantism, to far left-winged politicians, the down-hill trek continues. Interestingly, what should be the primary responsibility of the Church, i.e. to uphold and promote the Bible as the Word of God, is being done by a city mayor.

Shame on the Church for its failure to demonstrate why it is “separate” from the State! It was sanctioned by our forefathers to do what government could not accomplish; namely, to freely minister the Gospel of God’s grace to human souls. Where are the genuine and courageous preachers of the Bible today? Where are those who proclaim the “whole counsel” of God, unattached from a denominational, political or civil rights agenda?

            Mayor Hayden’s proclamation is simply an attempt to stem the tide of wickedness and moral corruption that is causing our nation to implode. Our primary threat is not from foreign terrorist attacks, but the insidious and destructive forces that are “killing” us from within our borders. In reality, “the enemy is us;” God help us to get back to the foundational truths that birthed and prospered this beloved nation.

I say, “Hat’s off,” to Mayor Hayden, hoping that many other leaders will follow his example!