Facebook www.facebook.com/live180ps Website www.live180.org September 2017 WHAT S IN THIS EDITION? Highlights from last month David Guerrero Testimony How to pray for us What we believe Contact information SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAST MONTH Ray Ray & Pastor David Since Andrea and I are no longer working in San Juan Capistrano, I thought it would be fun to join Ray Ray at each of his meetings for a week. Monday 7pm Betty Ford AA Tuesday 7pm Alano Club NA (Narcotics Anonymous) Wednesday noon 559 AA Thursday noon 559 HA (Heroin Anonymous) Friday 7pm 559 AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) Saturday 10am Alano Club NA (Narcotics Anonymous) Saturday Live 180 4pm I attended most of these meetings and these are some of the quotes I heard Ray Ray say while he was the leader or just a participant. - I had to learn how to be a man. My connection with Jesus showed me how. Only God has saved me and shown me how to live. - I used to think that drugs made me feel great, but that was before I knew the real joy, the real hope that God can give me. - I came to realize that I did not have a drug or alcohol problem, I had a perception problem. At some point my unhealthy perception made me think that using was a good solution to my problem. Now that I am drug free, I still have to deal with my perception problem. Only God can help me have a healthy perception. - I don t spend much time talking about my past, everyone has their horror stories. I want to talk about my strength and hope and the practical ways we can really change. - In the program, we like to say that staying clean has to be our first priority. I have to make my relationship with God my first priority. Then my sobriety and the many other issues I must face will be manageable with His help. - My relationship with God used to be: save me from this or that, God if you get me out of this, I will, God, I know I shouldn t do this, but please protect me anyway. Now I stay in conscious contact with Him each day trying to hear from Him, rather than telling Him or negotiating with Him. - God doesn t do to me, God does for me. We want the promise, but not the process.
DAVID GUERRERO TESTIMONY
I was born in Compton, California, and I am 49 years old. I thank God for my parents; though not perfect, I love and respect them very much. However, there was a time in my life when I had no respect for anyone or anything other than sex, methamphetamines and money. This brought nothing but pain and anger to me and to all the people who loved me most. As a child, I was molested by many people who were supposed to be safe. Even the priests in my church took advantage of my vulnerable state. I walked away from my faith at a young age. There was no power that seemed to be able to help me escape the abuse. So, drugs and sex with men became my escape. Now I have finally turned my life over to my higher power! He is God. Through His Son, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible, I am loving Him and showing His love to others through my actions. After 30 years of drug use, 30 rehabs, and thousands of sexual encounters, I am now 8 months clean from both drugs and sex. I have been clean from drugs before for short periods, but never from sex. How did God do this? By His love, He brought people into my life to lead me to Him. I was invited to Liz and Mark s home Bible study about two years ago. I was deeply touched there, but was sporadic in my attendance not able to give up my lifestyle. This started a process for me, where I would fall off the deep end and then come back to the Bible study, church and Pastor David. When Pastor David left Our Savior s and we started having the Bible study at FARM, I began to attend more regularly and visit Pastor David. However, I was still a big mess. One time I spent the afternoon with David and Andrea praying that God would break the bondage that I was in. I was profoundly touched, but I still struggled. I remember a lot of weeks where the Bible study was my only safe place from the chaos of my daily life. I knew I was safe and I would even come when I was high and nod off in the corner. They loved me no matter what! Then eight months ago in one of my desperate moments, I dropped by FARM one afternoon after closing because I was broke and in a real rage. Both Liz and Pastor David were there. God had a moment planned for me. Liz told me not to give up or get mad but let s pray. During the prayer, Liz asked God to give me a Damascus moment like the Apostle Paul had when he encountered Jesus. I started crying and felt much better about the problem. I had a change of heart. I did not want to blame anyone, not even myself. I knew God was going to help me and my situation. I left and went to a meeting and asked a friend to help me. He gave me a refuge and food. That evening I just felt safe and warm in my heart. I looked up the Apostle Paul on You Tube and learned more about his spiritual awakening. It was like a fire was lit in me and I believe it was God telling me I was on the right road and to not be afraid. He would take care of me and bring me to a place of love in order to help others. I began calling my friend Chris Spencer every morning. He owns multiple rehabs. He had been in my life for some time. He said that if I stayed clean for a while and kept going to Bible study, I could come to LA and stay and work in one of his sober living homes. I have been here 6 months now. I have continued to text and talk and pray with Pastor David at least once a week. I am growing in my relationship with God. My life is so different and so full of peace and joy. My relationship with my parents and my brothers is being restored.
With God in my heart, I can now be true to my promises to love my family and to love others. I am a work in progress, but I am living proof that with Jesus in your life, anything is possible. I am working little by slow to change my life and I know even if it gets dark, I have the light in me to bring safety to others who seek God s refuge. I am even hoping that one-day God might restore my sexuality and maybe even get married and have children. I am now thankful for every part of my journey. It is His story of love to me. I am also thankful for all the people who have been a part of me becoming free and connected to Jesus and His love for others. Never give up hope. If God can change me, He can change anyone or anything. Please keep loving Him and each other! Past Testimonies can be seen on our website www.live180.org HOW TO PRAY FOR US That Ray Ray will get his CA driver s license and begin work at our local Rehab. I know this has been on the list awhile, but it looks like this will happen this month. Look for the God story about it in next month s newsletter. That our son Glenn will be approved for permanent disability. That God will bless David Guerrero to move into his full destiny. That Andrea s shoulder pain will go away. This is her left shoulder, not the one she had surgery on; it s feeling much better. That My many one-on-one meetings will continue to be fruitful. WE EXIST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE God wants all of us to live 180 degrees, that is, turning our eyes off ourselves and fixing them on Jesus and others. There are a large number of people in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley who are uneasy about walking through the doors of a church. There are others who are looking for a place without labels and a lot of love to grow in their faith walk. That these people are longing for the following things: - a safe place to meet one-on-one and in groups to talk honestly about God. - a relationship with God. - a place to use their gifts to serve God and others. That Holy Spirit will lead each of us closer to Him and to His church. OUR MAILING ADDRESS Live 180 PO Box 5167 Palm Springs, CA 92263
Live 180 is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit. Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made out to Live 180. Online giving is available through our website as a one-time or ongoing gift. OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION 11 La Plaza, by FARM restaurant, in the historic La Plaza, in the heart of downtown Palm Springs