Silence is a Killer

Silence is a killer;

the words spoken by Elizabeth Cruz on November 30th, 2011 at the beginning of her lecture at the “Life Skills Program – Personal Development” class which is held by Life Achievement Services
at Life Tabernacle Church in Elkhart. The class included teenage boys’ 16-18 years old, from Bashor Children’s Home and the Elkhart community.

Starting the class was one of our regular special speakers Sonny Cruz. Sonny is a young loving father of three wonderful children, full of life and love. But life for Sonny was not always that way. Sonny who feels a strong calling and burden to minister to youth was at one time a troubled youth himself.

Sonny gave his testimony to these young men about his past and how he got mixed up with the wrong crowd and drugs. He became addicted and the results of those addictions began affecting his personality and the way he treated people including his own family.

Elizabeth (Sonny’s Mother) and her husband had no idea why Sonny began treating them so poorly. And it was quite some time before his addiction was revealed to them. They finally began to speak together as a family about his problem and Sonny asked for help. Elizabeth set up a phone call so that Sonny could begin drug rehabilitation, but Sonny had to be the one to ask for the help. On the other line was the clinic and it was time for Sonny to get on the line, but he would not take the phone from Elizabeth. Then there was a second time, they spoke as a family, and Sonny asked for help again. His parents set up another phone call with the clinic, Sonny would not take the phone again.

Frustration, hurt, anger and other emotions will never stop a loving Mother from the devotion and prayer for her child. Elizabeth mentioned the hurt she endured when Sonny introduced her and his Father to someone saying how wonderful of parents they were, and how much respect he had for them. Those words were hollow, not in his right mind, Sonny treated his parent’s with very little respect and honor.

And now a third time, Sonny and his parents spoke about getting help again. This time Elizabeth warned him, “if you don’t take the phone this time, don’t ask for help again.” Sonny took the phone, this time he checked himself into rehabilitation.

Sonny attributes his deliverance from drugs to the God who loves him and never gave up on him, and to Godly, loving and prayerful parents who never gave up on him. Rehabilitation was a necessity for him, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” This was a way to keep him away from the things that the flesh could not bear. And sonny found a way of escape.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Elizabeth Cruz implored these young men to not be silent. Her words and emotions were beheld as she pounded the table in front of one of the young men saying, “Silence is a Killer.” There is help, if you ask. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

Sonny ended their oration by singing and playing his guitar to a song he wrote.

His talent shines, but the sheer emotion he pours into his love for the Lord and his music shines forth much greater. He and his Mother had captured these young men’s undivided attention, and their hearts. This night the gospel was brought to life.

Scripture references (all KJV); Rom 13:14, 1 Cor 10:13, James 4:2

Sonny Cruz is available for speaking engagements, Call Pastor Mark Johnson (Life Tabernacle Church) at 574-293-9332.

Daniel Criss
President / Founder
Life Achievement Services

In Good Hands, if They Weren't Tied

Are we in Indiana proud of ourselves for taking $180 million dollars from programs to help troubled children and putting them into the general fund? Or even worse, giving so much power to the Indiana Department of Child Services that the system has been left in shambles because of the bureaucracy and red tape required by the DOC?

It was a privilege to be able to attend a legislative forum focusing on child and family system issues yesterday. The forum included Senators Mishler and Yoder, as well as State Representatives Culver and Wesco. This meeting was held by the Elkhart County Child and Family Roundtable.

I'm not writing on this issue to discuss all the details of this troubling issue. What I really want to write about is what impressed me the most in this meeting.

I was sincerely touched by the sheer emotions displayed by the leadership of the Elkhart County Judicial system, as well as private youth service providers.

Magistrate Deborah Domine opened the meeting with introductions and was the first speaker. She was not only emotional, but at one point it appeared to me she was about to cry. Candy Yoder of Child and Parent Services (CAPS) too was very emotional and inspirational in her devotion to children's programs. Don Phillips (President/ CEO of Bashor Children's Home), was very terse in his words. As he mentioned in the article in the link below this paragraph, “If you’re going to tie my wallet, don’t tie my hands, too.” Another statement Mr. Phillips made was, "I was always taught since a young boy to leave things in better shape than when you found it." His concern is that right now children's services in Elkhart County are in the worst shape in the 30 years he's worked in the system, because of the legislation. Children are sometimes abused, neglected, or medically fragile. At times they need a new family that will love and nourish them during rehabilitation. DCS has a domestic violence screening process in place that can be reached by either professionals, non-professionals or even an anonymous caller. The screeners have been known to reject a doctor and even a police officer's report concerning child abuse. If they won't accept a professional's word, what do they do for an anonymous caller or regular citizen? That's pretty scary for children.

ETruth article: "Restore Control"

It was very evident that those who participate in this monthly roundtable truly have a love for helping children. Sometimes children start out their lives in the wrong hands. After attending this meeting, and watching and listening to the intelligence and concern of these leaders, I'm certain that the children of Elkhart County are in the right hands, but as Mr. Phillips stated, they're hands have been tied.

Maybe a few of us 'regular' citizens can help get them untied.

Now they're in OUR hands.
(Mat 18:5 KJV) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Daniel Criss
President/Founder
Life Achievement Services, Inc.

I Yield to the Chair

There she stood with her minister, tears streaming down her face. She had expectations of seeing him on this cold rainy night. He wasn't allowed any visitors this evening.

On the long walk to class on bare concrete floors and between concrete walls, her tears stained my mind of thoughts knowing she was someone's daughter, or sister, or wife. Had she made a promise to visit him? She was troubled, she was broken, and she was hurting.

One by one the men walked into class, dejected, lonely, bored, hungry and tired. Now I began to look at them as Fathers, Husbands, Brothers and Sons. Compassion took over my soul, I felt it enter in and compassion began to speak; Hope.

Who needs notes when compassion speaks? Who needs notes when the ONE most compassionate speaks? One with bowed head prayed, repentant. Others asked questions, wanting change, wanting a new life, something different; Hope. One by one as the class ended; there was a smile on each of their faces. There were handshakes, embraces. There was Hope.

"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

Tonight I drove to the Elkhart County Jail in Indiana, tonight I walked to a classroom with men incarcerated for crimes they have been convicted of or accused. Tonight my eyes beheld men who were broken, contrite and remorseful. "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:"

Tonight these men heard a voice that sounded like mine, they saw a man that looked like me, there was a lesson prepared and in front of me. "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

Had she not been there at the perfect time, if it were not for her tears, I may have taught this night. But the Lord in His infinite compassion and wisdom, wanted to visit these men tonight and speak to them. "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name..."

The Lord did not ask me to help them to get out of jail. He did not ask me to fight for their rights. He did not instruct me to do anything in particular, except; to go.

The Lord knows how to get our attention. Sometimes it comes in strange places, and from unexpected events, or even unexpected sources.

Wherever the Lord leads you to go, He will speak, if you yield. If you don't go, He will speak through someone else. "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place;"

If our hearts are prepared, if our eyes are attentive, if our ears are keen to hear, and our tongue is yielded we can be assured that if God wants to speak, He will speak. "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it".

There will be no doubt when God speaks through you. Yield to the chair, yield to the throne. Let him speak.


Daniel Criss
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Scripture references (All KJV): Matthew 25:36, Luke 23:40-41, Psalms 86:15, Acts 9:15, Esther 4:14, Psalms 81:10