Freedom NEWSLETTER Brought to you by New Life Spirit Recovery               May, 2009    Volume 1, Issue 4   In this Issue:   Newsletter Home   Reprogramming Our Minds, Transforming Our Lives by Dr. Tucker   Understanding Boundaries By Stephanie Tucker   Alumni Events   The Vulcan Issue Purge by Robert Beaupre   Personal Testimonies    Find a Meeting     The Heart of the Father by Stephanie Tucker Have you ever been able to comprehend the heart of God as your Father? This is difficult for some people to do. We can misunderstand God. We can blame Him. We can believe He is distant and far, and doesn't care for us. Yet deep down, as our Maker and Creator, He is saying "don't you know how much I love you? I brought you into this world for a reason, you are precious to me."   My two-year old manages to find ways to get in messes throughout the day.  As I look at her little hands and face covered in dirt, I still think she is the most precious thing in the universe. Yet by design, she isn't meant to look dirty! She usually comes to me and exclaims "wash hands! wash hands!" It seems although she enjoys rolling around in dirt occasionally, she doesn't like the residue it leaves. And most certainly, before she can play in the house again, I gladly and willingness clean off that dirt and make her sparkly clean again.    As simplistic as it might sound, that is exactly how God works in our lives. When He sees us, He sees our inherent value and worth, not just the wrong things we do. While we are rolling around in "muddy" choices and sinful tendancies, God's love for us never changes. Yet He looks at the dirt and says, "that looks nothing like you, why are you doing that? I don't like it". Then,  He waits for us to ask Him to clean it. Yet, the picture of Him waiting isn't an angry one. It's the picture of a daddy waiting to clean off His child's hands so he can come back home to play. God is just looking for us to say "Lord, please wash me clean".   As we enter recovery, we can be covered in thick layers of mud. We can be so out of touch with our true purpose and identity in life that we can think the mud is who we are. It is not who we are. If you know Jesus Christ, you are a child of the Most High God! He is willing and waiting to restore you back to your original design. This is the picture of genuine recovery: God takes out a cloth and begins to wipe each and every spot, stain and blemish in your life as you surrender to Him. Tenderly, mercifully, He will take you from stain-filled and burdened, to a cleansed, whole person who will reflect His love and light.   Where are you today? Are you living in the messiness of life decisions or are you finally ready to let the Father restore your life? He is WAITING for you! Please pray a prayer and ask Him into your life if you haven't done so already.

What's Happening Now NLSR Current Events   Browse our photo gallery to view last month's bbq pictures!      Upcoming Alumni Event:  BBQ Joins us on May 30th 12:00 pm         About Last Month's Event: Thank you to ALL our alumni who participated in our recent event on April 25th. We enjoyed seeing and hearing positive stories of people remaining clean and sober, despite some challenging circumstances. We are so thankful and grateful to the four people who professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and identified with Him through baptism. A Message For Our Alumni: As you continue on this journey, we encourage you to stay connected in recovery, church and meetings. We are one of many support systems designed to help you stay clean and sober. Remember, it really is all about Jesus, but we also need each other in recovery. Would you be interested in finding another way to connect with alumni through an online forum to encourage and give support? We realize some of you aren't able to make it to the monthly event in Huntington Beach. Please send your ideas to NLSRalumni@gmail.com. Your response will help us develop something that can meet those needs. See Pictures from this last month's BBQ   Read the latest testimonies!   To view our alumni page, click here

The 12 Steps from a Biblical Perspective Series by Dr. Robert T. Tucker For people in recovery, application of the Word of God is mandatory. Many Christians do not understand the 12 steps and therefore assume they have a secular purpose. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the next several series, I will be discussing the 12 steps from a biblical persepctive. I hope that you will gain an in-depth understanding of how this important process can change you or your loved ones life forever.  Introduction to the 12 Steps: Reprogramming Our Minds, Transforming Our Lives  Salvation is a gift that is secure in Christ and eternal (forever). On the other hand, experiencing freedom, peace, and joy while living on earth requires some degree of effort on our part.   Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior alone will not keep you from drinking or using.  This is the beginning of the process.  The process of removing all forms of bondage, including addiction, occurs as we surrender to God on a daily basis and allow Him to teach us through His Word. He provided us with a full instruction book to use here on earth that offers all the answers and solutions we need in the situations we face. He also gave us the power in Christ to carry them out.  To read full article, click here.   Read archived articles about the process of recovery, leading to lifelong and genuine change: The True Path to Recovery Struggles Are Blessings Understanding the Recovery Process from a Biblical Perspective   Understanding Boundaries Without healthy boundaries, we will allow things into our life that don't belong. We will give away things we should not give away. We will enable a person in an addiction. And ultimately, we will lose our sense of values and beliefs. It is vital to learn healthy boundaries. Do you understand how they are working in your life? by Stephanie Tucker, MDAAC, MMin.   If you are dealing with an addict in your life, learning healthy boundaries is an essential ingredient in coping with that relationship. It is important to understand that a person functioning with addictive behaviors is doing things that are inappropriate and irresponsible. However, that person is in deep need of authentic love and concern. How can you love a person suffering from addiction? By taking a stand against wrong behavior and addiction itself, while at the same time knowing that your loved one’s brokenness can be the beginning of a new life. You can only do this by defining and setting healthy boundaries in your life. This allows you the opportunity to love that person, but hate and refuse the addictive behaviors that cause pain and conflict in your home. It will also allow the addict to feel the ramifications of choices that you are not willing to tolerate. Often, when family members are committed to no longer enabling the addict, the addict will come to the desperate place of wanting or needing help. This is not an easy task. But in order to do this, it’s important to begin to understand what boundaries are all about.      To read the full article, click here   Read archived article relating to family member issues and codependency What's My Role in Addiction? My Family Member is in Treatment, Now What? Facing Codependency   Points of View & Perspectives This column is written by staff, alumni, or anyone who wishes to contribute. It is an individual's unique experience and perspective about recovery, but does not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of New Life Spirit Recovery. We welcome your articles. Please e-mail to nlsrnewsletter@gmail.com.    THE VULCAN ISSUE PURGE by Robert Beaupre, CDAAC, MMin. The Vulcan Issue Purse is a fun group taught in our life skills series, based both on Spock’s mind “meld” from Star Trek (some of us remember that TV series), and a rumored Ivy League business school technique. It is effective in getting that young recovery mind started out in life planning, and a great technique anytime in life, especially when one is facing a crossroad or making a large decision. Spock would be able to read a persons (or alien's) complete thoughts, by simply placing his hand on their head. That is pretty much what we want the piece of paper to do. A prayer to quicken our minds and to be thorough and honest is the most necessary ingredient in this process! To read full article, click here   Read archived articles of Points of View & Perspectives Alcoholics, Addicts & Doors Just Do It, Steps In the Snow The Sugar in the Candy: How I found my Career  Personal Testimonies These are the testimonies of actual clients who recently participated in our program and want to share their personal strength and hope they have found. WE HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAMES TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY. We encourage all alumni or anyone who has experienced deliverance from an addiction to send us your story. E-mail to nlsrnewsletter@gmail.com     Alex's Story When I first got put into the New Life Spirit Recovery program I was very skeptical and narrow minded. I was convinced I didn't have a problem and it was all just fun and games. I came into the office with my head down and a little angry at the world.  For full testimony, click here     Josh's Story My story begins when I was in the hospital because I had something wrong with my lungs.  While I was in the hospital my parents found some syringes and spoons in my room.  My Dad called up to the hospital told me I was kicked out of the house.   For full testimony, click here     Prayers of Wisdom From Randall's library Randall is sharing some of the resources he uses in recovery and bible studies.   The fellowship we need in recovery cannot always be conflict-free fellowship. There will be times of anger. And that can be a good thing.     I am afraid of anger, Lord.    But I know it can't be avoided.    Help me to acknowledge my anger rather than hide from it.    Help me to use it in ways that are not destructive.    Let it energize me to risk and change and grow.    Help me to learn to live constructively with my anger.    Amen.  -Author Unknown

Meet Our Staff New Life Spirit Recovery  Dr. Robert & Stephanie Tucker Owners/Directors Dr. Jerry Morris Consulting Physician Dr. Michael Belzman Director of Education Robert B. (3Bob) Manager Randall O. Assistant Elizabeth O. Intake Coordinator   AOD Instructors Tom K. Roxanna G. Tracy C. Stephanie T. Robert B.   Detox   Dr. Jerry & Minda Morris Owners/Medical Director   Dr. Robert & Stephanie Tucker Owners/Clinical Director   Frank I. Manager Jeff T. Detox Technician   Juliet V. Detox Technician Heath K. Detox Technician Amy W. Detox Technician Victor R. Detox Technician Seth Detox Technician   Laurel Detox Technician Other Volunteers & Helpers   Sean & Missy S. Patrick S.   Kenny K.   Thank you to all our dedicated staff members.               I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,        Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock,  And established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.    Psalm 40:1-3