Girls Need Hope, Too

It is easy for us to focus on the 3D boys program; you can see their faces and hear their stories - NOW. But, for the 3D girls program, we aren't quite there yet. However, in the midst of praying for property, we received this phone call for the 3D girls program:

"When do you guys start the girls program?"

"This spring."

"I have a niece. She's on drugs and just came out of court." The lady proceeded to tell me that her niece would be in a Youth Dentition Center (YDC) for a month.

Then she said this: "We want to start the application process now, so that when the girls program opens, she can get in."

This comment struck me because the need is great and ever growing. How many girls come out of YDC with no hope for the future or even the day after?

Be praying that the LORD will provide the perfect property at the precise moment, especially so we don't have to keep telling people to wait.

Update: Parental Forum on Substance Abuse

Tuesday and Thursday, 3 Dimensional Life staff and students attended the Parental Forum on Substance Abuse in Hall County. The 3D students, in particular did an outstanding job of explaining the easy access to drugs in public schools and what parents can do.

On Tuesday, there was one comment made that I simply cannot leave un-discussed:

"I don't think you can get drugs on school property."

This comment holds a magnitude of weight illustrating how easy it is to be naive: if school property says "Drug-Free", then you hope the best that is truly what is said. However, here are some statistics to ponder:

About 2/3 of high school students and 1/4 of middles school students say drugs are used, kept or sold on the grounds of their school.
Students who say they attend drug-infected schools are:

• Almost 3 times likelier to be able to get marijuana in the first hour
• And twice as likely to be able to get prescription drugs in an hour
• 1 out of 5 teens who say drugs are used, kept or sold on the grounds of their schools name school as the place where they could obtain marijuana

(emphasis is mine)

Its one thing to read these statistics. Its an entirely different thing to go a parental forum and discuss the impact of drugs in schools. But it is an extremely eye-opening experience to attend a forum where you can look into the eyes of students who are in regeneration program for drugs or look into the eyes of parents who have lost a child to a drug or alcohol overdose.

3 Dimensional Life received a lot of great feed back from Tuesday night:

"Our [school] counselor went to the parental forum last night and was very impressed with 3D. She said one of the boys spoke also; so glad they went and shared their story/testimony."

"The boys did a great job and the other kids in the audience certainly supported what they were saying."

"John and Riche [the two 3d students who spoke] touched my heart. The personal accountability and and desire for God to be apart of their lives is every parents answered prayer."

3 Dimensional Life has the privilege of helping addicted-students experience a changed and adopted lifestyle transformation. It is our hope that as the need becomes more apparent, that the LORD will open up more opportunities to share about the life-change that is available.

Tearing Down a Building

Demolition.

Today, the guys tore down one of the buildings on our property. Beforehand, the Program Director stuck various banners on each window of the building. The banners had one word on each:

Suicide. Weed. Overdose. Jail. Theft.

As the guys helped tear down the building - before the bulldozer took over - they each chose a window that they related to. Then, symbolic of placing their involvement with their selected window, they broke the window, placing the past behind them.

There are pictures on our Facebook page - be sure to check them out!

(my apologies, I am having difficulty uploading the pictures to the blog...)

Parental Forum on Substance Abuse

We have been invited to participate in a parental forum for substance abuse amongst teenagers; it takes place tonight. We are excited because this will provide a further awareness of who we are, as well as the dangers that drugs and alcohol.

This comes at a pivotal time, especially, because I have been researching lately the subject of teenagers, substance abuse and parents. The combined search has proved to be very challenging to find research. I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for beyond a question of parental involvement (whether overly involved or more hands-off), but I do know I remain curious to the search results.

Upon first glance, it will appear that parents are ignorant. That they honestly have no clue the health risk, the dangers, that substance abuse exposes their child(ren) to. I have a hard time believing this, but there may be more truth to it than what I am aware of. What I did find interesting the warning signs that are always present. In this article I stumbled upon, warning signs are given; I think they parallel nicely to the Top 10 Reasons for Recovery. They both are fascinating to read; mainly because they emphasis again the dire situation of drugs and alcohol.

Tonight, presents an opportunity to raise awareness of hope. Not of behavior modification, but if a lifestyle regeneration. I will be posting pictures and providing an update tomorrow, so stay tune.

The Impact of Family Dinners

Family Dinners. They were a staple when I was growing up. You did not NOT participate. For literally hours, we would sit around the table and talk, laugh and catch up. Sometimes, the conversation would grow intense as my brothers, sisters and parents loudly proclaimed their opinions on world news, local news, sports, music, movies, theology, jokes, etc. It was all in good fun, but what developed was strong good memories of time spent around the dinner table together as a family.

This isn't an old idea, but apparently it is becoming a good reminder: family dinners prevent substance abuse.

Ponder this quote for a minute:

"More than a decade of research by the Natioanl Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs." (emphasis is mine)

Of course, there are those exceptions, but still, the message that CASA is presenting is powerful. As parents invest in their child(ren)'s life, spend time with them, having meaningful conversations, the impact is HUGE. Yes, peer pressure is huge; but how much more influential is a parent's involvement?

Do you have a favorite family dinner memory? I do - it's laughing until my sides hurt and remembering that my parents and siblings were laughing just as hard with me.

Rise of Teenage Drug Usage

As a kid, it drove me crazy. Whenever I did anything I wasn't suppose to do or that was harmful to me, my Mom would quote this:

"Sin is such an awful mien,
That to be hated, must be seen,
But seen too often, familiar with face,
First we endure,
Then we pity,
Then embrace."
- Alexander Pope

I didn't always understand everything in that quote, but I definitely got the "first we endure, then we pity, then embrace". According to this statistic , that is exactly what American teenagers are doing in regards to Marijuana. Ponder this quote from the study:

"According to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future Survey, marijuana used by American adolescents, especially eighth and tenth graders is trending upward for the third year in a row, reversing a decline tracked since 1992.

Two other more worrisome trends were reported in the survey. The age of first time users is dropping, and fewer teenagers believe there are health risks associated with their use of marijuana."

What gives me chills is that more teenagers are using it sooner, and fewer teenagers see the risk. This is huge; as kids embrace drug use as the norm, their sense of danger diminishes. Grades drop, family relationships dissolve, sense of life purpose disappears, and lives are put at risk of death - drug use is dangerous.

"But seen to oft, familiar with face, first we endure, then we pity, then we embrace."

Life Change

Transformed lives. New life change. Renewed family relationships. Small sentences, yes, but powerful implications.

Yesterday, several staff members met with a new student's family. The mom's eye glistened with tears and hope. Hope for restoration of her son. Hope for peace for her family. Hope for life change.

It is sometimes difficult to put into words how powerful a life change can be for the student who wants it.

I stumbled upon this blog recently; its written by a mom of one of our recent graduates. As I read this Mom's blog, my own eyes swelled up with tears. It provides insight to life 9 months later. 9 months after hope has been restored, peace has found its home, and life change has occurred. Life change when a student wants it; when the entire family steps forward and works together.

Here is a picture of two of our recent graduates, pray they stand strong and work their new life style. Pray they are a beacon in world that needs hope.

God brought a tractor

Today has been such a warm day. I even went all morning without my coat! That is a miracle!

For some, the phrase "Kingdom Connections", brings to mind this ministry. But around 3 Dimensional Life, we like to use the phrase (thank you, Pastor Franklin!) as a way to acknowledge the ways the LORD works to bring people to 3 Dimensional Life. I'm not necessarily talking about students, as much as I'm talking about those networking opportunities, those connections, that can only be linked back to the LORD.

It is really fascinating to watch those Kingdom Connections unfold. For instance, just recently we had a man approach us about letting us use his tractor to be used around the property. While we were thankful for the man's thoughtful generosity, it was even more amazing when we realized it was the same exact tractor we had wanted to purchase months before! This week, the man came by with the tractor. As we talked, he mentioned how encouraging 3 Dimensional Life had been for him and how this was a way he could be involved. At a glance, it may seem insignificant to have a tractor. But when you look deeper (or for me, look out the window), I see how the tractor was used by God to bless this man's business, and in turn influence lives for eternity.

3D Family

The 3D family isn't just made up of staff members and students. It extends far beyond that to the students' families.

Each Sunday, we have Family Recovery class. This is a vital opportunity for the students and families to gather together and learn how to heal the wounds in their individual family and walk through recovery together.

Yesterday, I was struck at the uniqueness of 3D Sundays. Families come to see their students, but also, it is a time to get to know other families. Parents who are going through the exact same thing: having a son (soon, daughter!) in a drug and alcohol recovery program. I can only imagine that it must be nice to look across the living room and realize, We aren't alone. That is needed - to know there are others who have walked or are walking through the same or similar situation...

Beyond having that support network with other families, its really neat how students and parents can walk through recovery together. How awesome! What it does is identify that this isn't JUST a student issue, but the addictive behavior has poisoned every aspect of life, but in particular the family.

Next Sunday, be thinking of not only our 3D students, but also their families as they journey to healing together.

Snow Days

A perk of being located on a 54 acre Christmas Tree Farm? SNOW!

Yesterday, we experienced the effects of the recent artic blast. I believe we had about 1 INCH (nothing really, but still...) of it. It was beautiful. I had the opportunity to watch the snow lightly dust the Christmas trees and laughing as the 3D students waited outside the office to attack the intern with snowballs. By late in the evening, everything was covered and appeared clean and breathtaking.

Its fascinating that schools and businesses will close for snow, but 3D doesn't. We can't. The need is too great; our ministry is 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Which is such a blessing that the ministry staff and interns can continue to pour into the 3D students without the worry of the condition of the weather.

Hope everyone stays warm!

Family Night at the Hawks Game

I've collected quite a number of 3D favorites over the past couple of weeks. I define "3D favorites" as those special events or moments that echo my love for 3D.

Of course, I could easily blog about my engagement or wedding - both events that included the 3D students. But, what comes to mind right now is the ATL Hawks game from last night. While I'll be the first to admit - I'm not a fan of the NBA, last night's game was different.

Last night, not only did we take the 3D students, but we also invited their parents. It was really neat to watch as students and parents alike enjoyed a family activity. For several hours, the only distraction was the Hawks Mascot and the only focus was parents and students spending good quality time together. One of the families sat directly behind me and I loved how the student, his dad and brother carried on a continual conversation.

That's what it is about - developing and restoring relationships. I certainly hope the families had a lot of fun. I did.

What is Your Funeral Song?

It was a somber conversation as we added up the celebrities. Michael Jackson. Heath Ledger. Brittany Murphy. In one year, three celebrities have died. All cited for cardiac arrest, but all connected to drug overdose.

This morning, while at the gym, the TV flashed a story about Casey Johnson, and when to use tough love with a child (regardless of age) who is an addict. While the story unfolded this chilling question was presented to ask your child: "What song do you want played at your funeral?"

No one wants to consider this. Especially when you are a teenager. You are invincible!

However, listening to that question this morning, really made me think. No, we don't know what tomorrow holds. But, we can make a choice to live a life that has purpose, that has hope, that has promise.

For the students at 3 Dimensional Life, they are rediscovering purpose, hope and understanding all that life has to offer them - drug, alcohol and destructive behavior-free. It is our hope, prayer and focus that teenagers and families alike find 3 Dimensional Life before Mom and Dad's are left wondering, "what song?".

Never Forget

Its important to never forget why we do what we do. Check out these statistics:

• females aged 12 to 17 (9 percent) were almost as likely as their male peers (10 percent) to report past month illicit drug use
• Among youths aged 12 to 17 in 2000, the rate of current illicit drug use was similar for boys (9.8 percent) and girls (9.5 percent). While boys aged 12 to 17 had a slightly higher rate of marijuana use than girls in the same age category (7.7 percent compared to 6.6 percent), girls were somewhat more likely to use psychotherapeutics nonmedically than boys (3.3 percent compared to 2.7 percent). Between 1999 and 2000, there was no significant change in the rate of current illicit drug use for either males or females aged 12 to 17.

This is startling. It may be an understatement to say the need is great, but the NEED IS GREAT. Even these little statistics speak volumes - students (guys and girls alike) are hurting. They are hurting themselves, their families, their future. They have lost hope and purpose.

What is fascinating to me is these students are not teenagers living under bridges. These students are in high school - in the band, on the baseball team, attending church, they have brothers and sisters, parents, etc.

Pray for 3Dimensional Life. Pray for the guys at 3D - those in the program now, and those to who will be entering the program. Pray for the Girls 3D - pray for those girls who will be entering in the next couple of months. Pray.

The Look of Sacrifice

He has a huge smile and an even bigger heart. Even though he graduated, he doesn't "officially" complete his program until a couple of weeks. His name is Riche, and if you've ever been around the 3D guys, and not met him, you are missing out. The change that has occurred in his life and in his family's lives is incredible. A change I've seen, not as ministry staff, but as a sideline observer.

Yesterday, Riche began to share about why he made the decision to become an intern. He said, "I kept looking at different options of what I wanted to do. I soon realized everything I was considering started with "I" - what I wanted to do."

Riche said that when he took a moment to consider what God wanted him to do, he went back to the driving force of his entire program: what do I need to do to have long-term sobriety?

At first, when Riche spoke of his driving force, I applauded his focus, then he made this comment: "Regardless of whether or not, someone is an addict, they need to decide what are they willing to sacrifice so that they don't go back to their old habits?" I felt so convicted by that comment.

For Riche, sacrifice means a 9-month internship at 3 Dimensional Life. What does sacrifice look like for us, individually? This is something that has challenged me and I am thinking a lot about: what am I willing to sacrifice for my long-term good?

Be praying for Riche - especially as he finishes his final days as a 3D student and prepares to be a 3D intern.