Batman and a lesson in Recovery

No matter how old I get I will never stop watching cartoons! I could tell you that they bring memories of childhood (which they do) or I just watch them with my grandkids (which I do) but the truth of the matter I watch them because I still like them! I was watching the Cartoon Network the other day and came across my favorite group- “The Justice League of America” remember those guys? (and girls) This particular episode the league was fighting an alien from outer space and they were getting their butts kicked big time. The alien knew each members special powers and as eliminated every hero’s power as he fought them. Eliminating Superman by exposing him to kryptonite, taking away Wonder Woman’s lasso, Destroying the Green Lantern’s lantern etc.
He finally comes to Batman and he says- “Why do you even want to fight me? I have defeated everybody else by getting to their special powers but you don’t even have any special powers this will be too easy!” Batman pauses and looks at the alien and says “That’s where you are wrong, I do have special powers? What powers? the alien sarcastically asks “that utility belt? You gotta be kidding?” No Batman replies…my power is “I never give up!”
One of the things my mother would consistently tell me throughout my life but especially through recovery is “Tim, never give up!” Life will have us depend on what we think is our special powers to get through life- job, career, talents, status etc. However when those things are gone we are lost and feel defeated. I just got a text from Nadine Nippard (Winning the World-FB) who reminded me of 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him..stand firm in the faith…Thinking about giving up? He didn’t! Jesus endured the cross for us…he never gave up because of his love for us!

Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks-Annual Recovery Retreat

Ananepho Ministries
Third Recovery Retreat
Circle Y Bible Camp,
Bangor, Michigan
August 20-23, 2009
Theme: Recovering from You
Children used reeds to make flutes in Biblical times. When the reeds were bruised or broken, they were discarded. Come join us - recover and make beautiful music again.
Don’t let the enemy make you feel alone. God has said He will not and has not forgotten about us! Bring your hurts, habits and hang-ups and leave with hope, healing and happiness! No matter what you are recovering from, we need you. Together we will receive God’s healing, grace and love.
Circle Y Bible Camp is a tranquil setting this retreat.
Our weekend together will be time well spent in the presence of the Lord. Registration is $120 per person and includes meals and accommodations. The camp is located at 65361 34th Avenue, Bangor, MI 49013. www.circleyranch.org
…that they may recover themselves 2 Tim 2:26

Ananepho Ministries, led by Rev. Tim Cross, is a ministry of New Life Christian Fellowship, located in Chicago Heights, IL.

Ananepho is a Greek word that translates “to return to soberness.” In that vein, the ministry focuses on helping believers break the emotional, spiritual, social and chemical bondage that tries to inhibit victorious living in Christ. Ananepho sponsors quarterly fellowships and a weekly Celebrate Recovery® support group which meets one Saturday a month, 10:00 a.m. until noon. at New Life Christian Fellowship, 1645 Wilson Avenue in Chicago Heights. The support group does not require church affiliation.
For more information visit our blog at:
www.newlifeananepho.blogspot.com or
call 708-990-7865
Our Speakers





Pastor Rick Thomas, author of the powerful gripping autobiography “The Prodigal Son”, From Dope Dealer to Hope Dealer…..a true story of Redemption, Restoration and Forgiveness.
Pastor Thomas strayed away from his spiritual upbringing and became a drug dealer, user and felon, that was caught up in a life of crime and many addictions for over twenty five years.
He is now a Pastor, Lecturer, Biblical Counselor, Motivational Speaker, Missionary and Author. He travels nationally and internationally spreading the message that “There Is Hope” for all people, from the high and mighty to the homeless and helpless.
Pastor Thomas is the Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church of Highland Park, Michigan and the Executive Director of Prodigal Son Ministries.


Demetry English, over 25 years sober and an outstanding conference and retreat speaker. Demetry is a deaconess at Rosedale Park Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich and a dynamic woman of God with a message to tell about God’s Grace and Mercy. She is a sponsor to many over the years and has been married to jazz musician Ron English for over 30 years. Demi, as she is affectionately known, keeps it real and will challenge us to “grow through what we are going through”!

Audiences who hear Temperance Renee Cross-Jackson are both captivated and ministered to as her thought-provoking and personal lyrics penetrate hearts through spoken word and song. Temperance has seen her ministry bear the fruit of comfort, love, healing, peace and instruction that can only come from Word-based lyrics and a submitted life to match.

Recovery Brunch

 

Ananepho Ministries /Celebrate Recovery Ministries

Of New Life Christian Felowship Church invite you it's

Recovery Brunch

"God's Will and your Recovery"

Speaker- Pastor Haman Cross Jr.- Senior Pastor, Rosedale Park Baptist Church
(via-video tape)

Where: New Life Christian Fellowship

1645 Wilson

Chicago Heights,Il

 

When: July 25^th- 10am-12pm

Cost: free

Call-708-755-7900 for more info

Whatever u are recovering from....drugs,abuse,divorce or just life on life's terms....Come fellowship as we allow God to heal us from life's hurts, habits and hangups!

Our speaker: Pastor Haman Cross Jr. Haman is a down to earth, keep it real, urban pastor who has answered the call to have a global and local impact for Christ. He has been faithful to the call for over three decades and has ministered to hundreds of thousands from every walk of life. His transparency about personal failures and recovery has been a source of hope to thousands. Haman's some times hard hitting and unique style, coupled with a skillful use of humorous anecdotes, allows him to present the word of God in a way that leads people of all ages, races and cultures to a deeper spirituality. Whether pastors, prisoners, athletes, entrepreneurs, paupers or aristocrats Haman's message is consistent: "Grow! Glow! Go!"

 

 

Butterfly on God's Shoulder

It is said that if God had a sister it would be Malettor Cross... My mother went to be with the Lord on July 4th...God granted her own independence from this world. She was truly a woman of God. Her favorite verse that motivated her into ministry was "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of Life and he that winneth souls is wise..Prov. 11:30" In addition to raising 11 children and being the wife of a Pastor she spent the majority of her life ministering to children through children's Bible clubs in the public schools in Detroit. She was also a very popular speaker at conference's across the country. along with my Dad~Pastor Haman Cross Sr. they founded Detroit's Afro-American Mission in the late 60's pionenering inner-city work among Detroit's homeless and destitute. Bringing a message of God's love.mercy and grace through clothing give-aways, food pantry bible studies and numerous youth programs at a time when this type of work was unprecedented.

My mother meant more than I can ever write about in every area of my life but espy in the last 15 years in my recovery and all the struggles that came in between. she absolutly never gave up on me...and as the song says by Marvin Sapp..I truly never would have it..without her. A mother's love is truly next to God's love.

I miss you Mama..more than anything...fly away Butterfly and rest on God's shoulder...

Iron Sharpens Iron

I am so excited to not only get back to blogging...but tell you about our new men's support group that meets every Monday Morning- from 10- 12 (although we go longer than that!) We are simply men (women's group to form later)that meet to hold each other accountable, encourage each other and to get into God's word. Many of us are in recovery others are just seeking direction and support from other brothers in the body. We are Pastors, laborers, professionals, teachers, -from all aspects of life. Pray for us as we seek God's direction for where he wants to take us.


We will be hosting our first -one day confernce in October....our theme will be "Who dropped You"..from 2 sam 2:4....look for details soon. But before that happens -Ananepho Ministries is extremly excited about our third recovery retreat this year. We will be at Circly y Bible Camp...I will have a separate post on that later.

Consecration- Worship

Consecration- Day One

This is my first day of consecration during these 40 days. Thanks for reading and looking in. Why consecration? Why 40 days? I’ll get into more details about that later but I wanted to look at what is consecration? There are several Greek and Hebrew words that render consecration. They all point to the same thing: setting apart a person or thing for worship to the Lord. God has been dealing with me for the past month on worship. My real worship has been sporadic at best. My good friend and Pastor Dwight Knight was recently at my church and stated this in his sermon- “anybody can praise him but you need to be qualified to worship him” Wow!-Powerful and true statement. Worship requires a clean heart and hands. I’ll have more to say on that later.
This has been a very difficult season in all areas of my life. I have tendency to not be transparent when I really need to be. Struggle with trying to keep up an image of what I think I should be and how that should look to other people. My barometer of measurement seems to always be measured by the wrong thing. As my Pastor says…”when you judge yourselves by the wrong standard...you will always come up with the wrong measurement” As I face life issues on life’s terms…God is convicting me that my worship is not what it should be. Worship should not be an event but at experience. Adam and Eve experienced worship and relationship with God...Continuously until that was interrupted by sin…then worship began to be an event. I desire to stay in his presence and experience him like never before…despite of what is happening around me and what the circumstances seem to be.

Ps 63:3- Because your love is better than life...my lips will glorify you…