Late News on Homeless

We went out the other night in the rain and cold to the streets of Oceanside. We found some homeless. They were suffering miserably. We took some blankets and tried to comfort them with the Love of Christ. After we returned we heard from local officials that that night some people died from the exposure of rain and cold. We were heartbroken. I cannot emphasize enough to you my Brethren of Christ Jesus, that you MUST DO something to stop this needless loss of life. We live in warm homes, and have many material blessings from our God. But, He wants us to Give some (Or all if needed) for His purposes. And, one of His purposes has always been to go out to the poor and suffering. And, we work to help homeless and Soldiers and their Families. We do not concern ourselves with WHY they are homeless or suffering. Some of them do have problems with chemical abuse and other mental issues; however, to reach them for Christ is what we try to do and what they really need! We can refer them to other agencies for their other issues. You are Saved by your Belief in Christ, but Faith without works for Christ is required also (Read James in the Bible). We cannot only have Faith alone without Showing our Love to God through Good works! They go hand in hand. So, Please join us, please DO something to help our ignorant and suffering lost people on the streets in our own backyard! It only takes a small amount of time, money or Prayers. If you can move, then move with us out to the streets! As Jacob Marley said to Ebenezer Scrooge, “Business!, Mankind is my business, the common welfare of my fellow man was my business”. Do not make the same mistake with your life. Blessings in His NAME.

More About Us

Occasionally, some ask what is our mission at “New Destinies”. So, to try and clear this up, we are trying to Focus on Jesus Christ, through The Holy Spirit to please God The Father. In our way, we try to show our Love for God and our fellow human beings in any way we can. I am just a man and not without my own faults, merely trying to allow God to move and change me for His Purposes. Besides being a Christian Counselor with and under Christ (Teacher), I am also an “Organizer” (See 1 Peter 4:7-11 and 1 Cor. 12:27-32 and Chapter 13, MEV Version). My Gifts (Talents) are in these two areas of The Church. In practical means, I (We) let Christ and The Holy Spirit guide us along these verses. Also, to reach out to try and carry out Our Lord’s “Great Commission” of carrying the Good News about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). I care not for any recognition or reward from people. I only want God to show Himself in human hearts through Christ and the Holy Spirit and what They can DO to change us all who come to believe to be faithful, loving and Action followers. “Faith without works is dead” (Read Book of James in the Bible on that). Therefore, may Faith, Hope and Charity (Love in ACTION) be Our goal until Our Lord Jesus is sent back to us. Keep Jesus in Christmas and for every day. Blessings and Service in His NAME.

Food For The Homeless

Along with Christian Counseling, we at New Destinies are always looking for new ways to help our community. We coordinate and cooperate with any agency that supports Soldiers, Veterans and their Families. We also have a heartfelt desire to reach the homeless, especially in the San Diego area and surrounding Cities. Along with our Christian Counseling, we are involved with cooperating with all San Diego areas for distribution of food to the homeless. This is a new mission for us for Christ and we are focusing our efforts to locate extremely needed PORTABLE Refrigeration Units for the San Diego Food Bank. The San Diego Food Bank distributes food to homeless shelters, and Food Kitchens, and others throughout all San Diego areas. They have an Urgent need for portable refrigeration units. And, especially now and during the winter months ahead. We are asking that if anyone in the Church Congregations in North County knows of or can coordinate with us or the San Diego Food Bank to find any portable refrigeration units by contacting companies that make, rent at reduced cost, donate or will lend us a few of these units for any length of time to contact us. We have already contacted the San Diego Food Bank and they are hoping we Christians may help them in this search. You can contact us or contact Arielle Golden (agolden@feedingamericasd.org) if you know about or can assist in this way. Listen, my friends. Church is Christ’s Body. It is not simply a Place to go like parking your car in a garage. One of my Mentors said, “Faith without works is dead!” (The Bible, Book of James, half Brother of Jesus). Another mentor of mine said once,“ We are as a Church Not an adult day care facility, we are here to also go out and change the world like our Lord did.” That’s wise advice for those who have ears to hear. Blessings! In His NAME.

Our Street Homeless Solution

Again I have to write about the North County San Diego homeless situation. I am impelled by Our Father, Christ Jesus, and The Holy Spirit to do so again! We at New Destinies only hope to be hands and feet for Christ. We ask no other reward or recognition. Yet, it seems that our pleas for helping the homeless street people have been entirely ignored by the Christian community this year. This is the Holiday Season when Christ should be the Center of all the activities we do, not just bask in our benefits and blessings of material gain. How would YOU feel if you were living on the streets in the cold, trying to hang on to Hope or that anyone Cares about your terrible condition and not know what to do about it? Most of us are focused on our own Families or friends during this season (Or any other) and forget that Jesus showed us a better way. We have no excuse to believe that we are following Him IF we neglect the hurting and lost just for our own families and friends or comforts only. There are so many others who have nothing So, I propose you, as the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 4, to give all you can for the suffering needy, both in the Church, and also out of it. You can not be a true Christian if you just try to make yourselves comfortable with songs and celebrations only, when so many more of us are dying for the “Good NEWS”. And everyone can DO something! Either Volunteer with us, or some other organization or if you are physically unable,then PRAY and GIVE something as you can. Please, have the LOVE of God in your Hearts! Join us in our efforts. We have a few Disciples of Christ and they are exhausted trying to go out to the worlds hurting. More help is needed. You will be blessed for your compassion.

Our Soldier Experience

I am a veteran of America and many wars. In my old age I often ask myself (And God) did I and my fellow comrades in arms really make a difference in this crazy world for good? The answer often comes that, “There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your brother.” (As Jesus Christ said). And, although I am still among the earthly living, I sometimes hear the truth that even though I survived the horrors of wars and other’s died, that we the survivors have the greater responsibility of reminding the world that God is real and He is sovereign and He decides who must suffer, sacrifice, live or die. That it is necessary in order to get our attention back on Him. I find much comfort in this truth. It keeps me, as faulty as I am, looking forward and outward toward trying to see things through the eyes of Jesus. After all, no man suffered more than Him. So, whatever I suffered in wars is really small compared to what He did. Most people throughout history always seem to forget the noble efforts of Soldiers (And others) to love Him and their Homeland. The love for God and Country is real no matter if you win or lose a war. But, the main thing is that a Soldier believes that they are fighting for Liberty and Freedom and Justice for ALL people. If a Soldier can come back from any war knowing that, then, they are among the “Heavenly Armies of God.” Since God is in control of all events, then we have done our duty. Be proud! Be thankful! Yes, perhaps people will forget your sacrifice, but God will always remember it! Yes, the people who have not fought in any war may never understand us Veterans. And, yes, we will always feel that people around us can’t ever understand our daily memories and suffering for lost opportunities, lost comrades and the death and destruction of innocent people we have seen. These things remain forever etched in our minds. It is only among our fellow “Brothers in arms” that we find our identity and comfort until we finally find Christ (Or rather He finds us). Once that happens we find we can live with after the war with our physical, mental and emotional suffering and know that Jesus suffered more than we can ever imagine and He was there always with us on the battlefield even if we did not know it at the time. We are then impelled to tell our stories of our losses and try to live a good life for our dead friends. And we ourselves can live in a way that truly honors them. Make your life count for love, for God, and for others, even if they never understand you. Then, you will be free to really live and be the true Hero that you are. Fight now the good fight of Faith with God and do everything possible to love people even if they never understand or love you back or know what we know. At least, you will find peace in your suffering and will know you are a special and respected and loved person in God’s and Americas eyes. God will always know yourself sacrifice and love you even if others do not.

Christ in Action

Forgive me if I sound critical. But, there is a need in the present Church for leaders to stir some and rebuke as The Lord did when He was on Earth. The rebuke we received from the Holy Spirit is this. That many Church leaders and members are acting like defeated goats and not stepping out in Faith as true Sheep. Many go to Church meetings. Many Pastoral Ministers and leaders seem to be comfortable by ONLY “Preaching” The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is NOT enough (Read James in the Bible). As Christians, we all MUST DO (Act) in something to make true Faith real. We must act to help the poor! We cannot merely be so selfish by just going to a Sunday service alone just so that we can feel we are right with God. The self-centered way is NOT the way to Christ Freedom! Jesus taught and lived to teach us that self sacrifice is the ONLY way to the Kingdom of God. We must reach out to our suffering neighbor. We must die like Jesus did to our selfish desires. And, to do that, we must obey God and reach out to those who yet do not understand or know Him. In order to have a Faith that is alive we must take every opportunity presented us by anyone trying to help the suffering in our world. We must be willing to suffer like Jesus. We must believe that all the material and spiritual things we have been blessed with do not belong to us alone. We must share what belongs to God (And that is everything, our time, our money and our very lives) to promote the Kingdom of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven. Salvation is a Free gift, IF you believe God. But, you will be judged by your action or inaction while you are alive on Earth. Why miss the extra blessings? If you have God’s Holy Spirit IN you, then you will sacrifice everything necessary (Even if it is uncomfortable for you) to reach out to the hurting people around you where you live now. To Worship God one must Love Him AND His Children (And all people are His). Your Faith alone without ACTION will NOT be enough to please Our Father! To be a true follower of Christ requires that you suffer in like kind what Jesus suffered on THE CROSS! Then and ONLY then, can you hope for a resurrection. Jesus said, “Of myself I am nothing. It is the FATHER that does the work.” Make no mistake, you must help the suffering and poor around you any way that you can, or you are NOT a follower of Jesus Christ! You must GIVE! The blessings come first from that. Not first from receiving as many of us think. You must suffer hardship, even if your comforts suffer, by giving ALL (If necessary) your money, time or resources or self (Which are from God anyway and belong to Him). Please think and Pray about it, then act! On “Judgment Day” you alone will either be a Sheep or a Goat. And, only the BLOOD of Christ will Save you. But also, your works for Him while alive on Earth will determine if you are pleasing to God or not. You may be terribly surprised at His reply to YOU, If you fail to give more than He has given you. Even a cup of water given to a suffering soul is better than having your personal comforts here on Earth. A Rebuke with Love. Pastor Smitty

Our Homeless Blanket Project

Our Homeless Blanket Project in San Diego believes there is much more need for helping the homeless living on our streets who are unable to find a Shelter during winter months from December through March every year. And this year of 2015-2016 it is predicted we will have one of the coldest winters on record. Approximately 1000 people cannot remain warm. Some will die from the cold alone. As Christians, we are all hard pressed to support our Families and many other outreaches for the poor both in our own Churches and for other charities. Yet, in our own Cities in North County San Diego, many people, Children of God, are in desperate need all around us on the streets. I ask, is it too much to ask North County Church Congregations regardless of denomination to reach out just a little more for the Love of Jesus Christ and give a little of what God has blessed us all with financially for this cause for the helpless homeless on our very streets? Our idea about this Ministry is to set aside every rational or judgmental excuses about WHY we have homeless or the CAUSES of it. We at New Destinies focus only on the Love and Mercy toward our suffering fellow Humans regardless of trying to explain HOW the homeless got on the streets. We believe that if we show kindness by giving a blanket to them and asking them to go to one other homeless person on the streets, they will respond and find a sense of purpose and value again. Then, we can begin preaching the Gospel of Christ to them one at a time. Our experience with this outreach has proved that many street homeless First need a reason to help each other, so that, they themselves can feel a Personal Value in doing so. And, at the same time, feel better about themselves. That then opens the door to our ability to tell them about other organizations that may assist them off the streets. But, the main goal is to talk with them about Jesus. Therefore, if you agree with our mission outreach, we ask our fellow Christians to contact and work with us on our “Blanket Project.” by offering $8.00 to your local Church this winter. We at New Destinies will coordinate the funds together for their distribution by Church members and their own volunteers to distribute the blankets here in our neighborhoods. So, join our Blog, email us and, May God Bless you! In His NAME.