M.A.D. Ministry Against Drugs

December 1, 2011:

Christians - What have we become

I have spent some time and thought into this and I believe it is a story worth telling. From my experience as a "Christian" there are familiar spirits, tones that have followed man since the world begun. In fact we come to believe through scripture that Lucifer an angel because of his pride wanted to be better than God, he thought he knew better and so was cast down onto the earth and reaps havoc and disention to this very day. His basic recipe is pride and causing division. Something devided and broken is not whole and thus incomplete. We then see his character in the garden of Eden when he speaks to Eve. 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" You see that doubt, that tone is still with us today. We question God , do you really think your marriage will work, do you really think it will happen etc Well we know the story, even Adam later says something that we still hear today 12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." You see Adam blames God, its not his fault, its Gods ... how many of us still do that today?. There is a tone here and a pattern. As the story progresses, man fails and fails God gets upset at mans ignornace and major natural disasters occur etc. God then chooses a specific people as his own, Gods people. He saves them from bondage and slavery and promises them a good life, free and blessed. Some of them on the journey complain that it was better before. They cannot see how truly blessed they are. Eventually they dont like this unseen God , they prefer something they can see and touch. They worship idols. They are given rules to live by and like most of us they break them. They tell God they want a king, someone else they can be lead by and see etc . Please see the tone here and the pattern. We then go through all the kings, we then see prophets telling of a new promise. A new life and a man that will walk the Earth as a King. By this time the chosen people have become arrogant, they see themselves better than the rest. They see themselves as the elite. They go to church and believe they know better. Suddenly a man arrives. GOD HIMSELF. He has to talk and walk like a man because If he came as His true self we could not comprehend Him. So Jesus arrives. He teaches of unconditional forgivness, complete faith and that no person is better than the next. He gets ANGRY at the finger pointers, He keeps telling them that they have it all wrong. Please see the tone and the pattern here. He teaches about grace, mercy, love, kindness and gives us more wisdom than any other teacher the world has SEEN. The very people that are SO religious at the time, dont see him or understand Him becasue of their own limited thinking, their own way of being taught religion and their own way of being conditioned into a religious spirit that believes it is better than the rest. In fact in the end, the beat him so badly that his face is a mush and then they kill him. Even as He is dying, He is still forgiving the sinner at his side. But they kill him,murder their God Jesus says that this must happen for SIN needs to be punished and so he takes it. The righteousness from God is His Gift, It cannot be earned by your good behaviour or your obedience. He then leaves and promises to come back but asks his "chosen few" to spread his gospel , copy his ways and go into the world and preach the good news. He also promises us a Spirit , A Holy spirit that will guide us and murmur Gods truths as we walk this journey. Ok first part done. The pattern, I am talking about is still here NOW , It is the same TONE and yet from my opinion we dont see it....... Not all, but alot of Christians see themselves as better than those who are not. They go to church and get taught by their pastor etc. In fact most see their pastor as a holy figure, most people need that affirmation from the priest. All churches swear that their way is Right (DIVISION). Christians walk around pointing fingers, blaming others and forgiveness, kindness, mercy are all long gone. They forget who God was and what He said.I dont care if this bothers you, I have a right to express my opinion. But We are not seeing God, We dont believe Him. He is not some child in the playground crying because He is being bullied and people are being nasty to Him, He does not need your back up, your help to help Him. HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY, the last thing He Wants is someone making Him so small they feel that they need to Help Him. Religion makes God seem small, it puts Him into a little box percieved by your own mind. Spirituallity MAKES GOD massive , It makes us realize that GOD is Very Big and Certainly does not need US , we need HIM. We worship celebrities and hope for MONEY ... all the things Jesus told us not to do. We dont let go of bitterness, we hold grudges, we somehow think that we are better .... WHY? it makes no sense .... We are murdering Gods word every day. Doubt, cionfusion, worry are the thoughts of today. Faith is jnow ust a word, we all want our own back up plan in case our mini God doesn't come through for US because of what WE WANT !!!! and WE WANT IT NOW. WE dont really care what He says unless it suits us, And DO WE REALLY BELIEVE HIM ?? The world is falling apart, families are falling apart. Churches , pastors will fight because of their perception of scripture. If you cannot see that Christians are becoming a reflection of the Jews that killed our Christ you are blinded. I cant believe he calls himself a Christian? Look at that sinner !! How dare he or she !! They are all going to hell !! Jesus tells us to not be concerned about tomorrow. To turn the other cheek. To forgive. To be self controlled and not say and do things in anger that we will regret. He tells us to love unconditionally. To live in harmony, To love your enemy. To not worry about money. To reflect His love and His gospel. He asks us and shows us that spending time with a sinner is better than pushing them away. He sat for months with the "ungodly" of the day. He went into the churches of the time and was shocked and got so angry. He showed us that if we believe in Him we can walk on water, we can do things above this world. He also showed us that if we lose focus we will sink. He tell Peter to forgive not once but a million times. Turn the other cheek. He asks the holy men pointing out the worst in people, the prostitute to look within themselves and they did and then realised their own sin. He certainly never said, Put yourselves above others, point out wrongs, speak as if you were me.Your church, your version of my gospel is right.I end this by saying that to me , its the same thing happening all over again and we cannot see it. The Jews at the time did what they thought was RIGHT but it wasnt. Make sure what you are saying, your version, your gospel is the truth and that you are not clouded by your own limited, ignorant mind. Because Jesus says he is coming back .... And he promises that the next time , He is not the soft gentle spirit but HE IS HOLY , RIGHTEOUS and MIGHTY. So I hope you can spend some time as I have, thinking about yourself, not others.Focus on your own sin , your own disbelief. That should keep most of us too busy to worry about the next person. You are the reflection of Christ by your action and by words. And if your Christianity is causing, division, causing doubt, fear.. if Its hurting people !! ... If your Christianity is ruled my your mind and not your heart..... then It isnt Christianity ... Its you being religious by your own measure. I pray that God gives me the strength to forgive those who have hurt me,and that all those that I have hurt do the same. That He opens my spiritual eyes and allows me to see people as He does. That He convicts me before I speak, That he heals my Sin because I admit it and ask and see it. If you cannot see your sin you are BLIND. That I am not blinded by my intellect and version of scripture .... That Faith , Hope and LOVE rule me all the days of my life...... and that I never ever lose hope and faith that God can do what He says, that He redeems, makes new and restores. AMEN Hope you have a merry Christmas , gets lots of gifts !!! or maybe remember what it is supposed to be all about !!

August 15th, 2011:

The Lighthouse

There is a place but not a time where all things were decided. There is a pre-planned destiny of all man. God Himself loves us enough that he gives us free will and also the free will to destroy his plan and purpose for us. He gives us the choice to reject him. God doesn’t use the enemy’s tactics to achieve His will or purpose. We do that, we allow it to happen.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

HE KNOWS the PLANS and PURPOSE for our lives. He does not want to Harm us. The enemy will try and destroy every good thing God has given you. It’s His knowing and us choosing to accept His will that is the tricky part. You see from the time we are born, we are selfish people. We care about our own needs and we learn ways to get what we want. We cry when we are young, we rebel as teenagers and throw tantrums.
And as we grow up we learn to manipulate situations and ourselves in order to get what WE want. We often turn to God after what WE want hasn’t worked out, and then we ask Him not for His will but rather to help us get what we want. Most of the time our selfish, disobedient prayers are not answered and so we blame God. We threaten Him and question him. God is good and that is a fact that we need to accept and quickly.
The world and even ourselves are not. Gods will cannot be changed ever. God’s goodness is constant. It’s a force of love that is always forgiving and drawing us back to Him and His will. But if we are darker than light and choose to only allow a flicker of a faith flame into our hearts. We can only see slight visibility and still cannot really focus on anything. You see God knows the darkness but He will not reside there. God hears your cries and offers you the solution but it is your choice to take it. In Revelations God actually says that you will be spat out for your luke warm belief. It is all or nothing. I have always had two things I choose to hold onto. God’s word and then my back up plan that I don’t trust God for. I hand over some things but cling onto others. The truth will set you free and that’s the whole truth. An exaggeration of the truth is a lie, a half-truth is a lie and a lie is a lie. If we live in a world already corrupted and allow ourselves to become corrupted, we are choosing a candle and not true light. If we allow fear, doubt, worry and confusion to pollute our minds we are hiding in the dark. Darkness is a scary place, its is full of hopelessness and pain.

True faith is to completely surrender to God even if it seems scary. True faith is to believe God and believe in God. True faith is realizing that you should not cling onto anything because you will mess it up. True faith is realizing that the past is gone and it can only harm your thoughts and injure your present actions. It is not easy to believe when all we see is pain. But faith asks us to completely believe and we shall see, the light will reveal the true power of Gods will. The world asks us to sit around and see to believe, believe what? It is easy to see that it’s all a mess and it’s hard to really see anything properly when we are sitting in the dark.
Picture a house alit with a few candles. It is gloomy and scary. At any moment the flame could die and then we are left alone in the dark.

I pray for myself and for all of you that we throw away the candles of our flickering faith. That we let go and let God take control of EVERYTHING. That we take that gift of free choice and choose Him. Believe His promises. Let go of what you are clinging to that you cannot trust God for. Give it all to Him. He can be trusted. His will cannot change and He will draw you back to His plan and purpose. Stay away from negative thoughts; leave worry, doubt and confusion behind you. Walk forward but be lead. God wont allow you to try and lead Him. Surrender. Put your arms up like a baby does to its parents and jump up knowing God will catch you. Prove your faith by believing. Confessing His good will.
And I truly believe that His LIGHT will destroy all the darkness in your life. That His spirit will illuminate your life and suddenly you will have a very clear picture of his plan and purpose and His will. Because you will be in it.

By Justin Green

MAD Outpatient Addiction Program

What is it ?
Due to my experience working and running various rehabs centres, I now know what works and what doesn’t work. Rehabs are expensive and often the addict and the family gets a false sense of sobriety and ultimately the addict relapses time and time again. It is very easy to stay clean if you cannot get hold of a substance. It is easy to pay someone else to hopefully solve a problem. A long-term rehab offers the family and the addict a season to be “drug free”; the problem is that eventually the addict must come home and in truth start again. It’s actually not a solution. It is in fact a cop out. The other issue is that “some” rehabs and “most” long-term rehabs don’t employ professionals. They promote patients into a staff role who have never actually proven themselves in reality, in real life. I am sorry to say but any addict who has been through a program without leaving the rehab can offer nothing but his best intentions. Families are also so broke due to the addict’s addiction that they seek the cheapest rehabs. You get what you pay for. On the other hand there are also other rehabs that charge exorbitant prices and only treat the symptoms.

Why Outpatient ?
The best place for any addict to overcome his problem is in life itself. The best way for him to work through triggers, coping mechanisms and various other aspects is in reality. The family and support system also needs to be a part of the process.
Also it’s impractical for most people to take a year or so off and be financially reliant on a sponsor.

MAD Outpatient Addiction Program
MAD has combined the best of both. We have put together a holistic program that utilizes professionals and recovering addicts to tackle the emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical aspects of addiction. The program works and treats the symptoms and the inner core issues at a fraction of the cost.

A portion of the program can be claimed from most medical aids
• Weekly counselling for the addict and the family
• Drug testing
• Various classes on addiction and homework
• Life Skills

Each case is assessed individually and the proper treatment program defined.

MAD TIMES our first newsletter (click to download)

March 10, 2011:

A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

I saw a dilapidated building the other day. The walls were broken, crushed and even the foundation seemed to be in ruins. I could see windows smashed and doorways demolished. But I took a step back and thought for a moment. I suddenly saw potential and I was filled with hope. I thought this house is worth buying, no matter what the cost. I could suddenly see where I wanted the lounge, the kitchen and the bedrooms for my future family. I could picture moments and memories. I knew there was a lot of work but it would all be worth it, I could see the end result and it was a marvellous mansion.

So often we need to realize that God knows the plans He has for us

Jeremiah 29 vs 11
“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

That He sees us complete and we should enjoy the building up and breaking down as He is the builder. That He paid a price for us and there was a cost. We realize that there are walls of doubt, confusion, fear and worry that need to be broken down. But there are also the new walls of peace, love, faith and hope. And spiritually, emotionally and physically God is restoring us everyday. That the winter season cannot even be prayed away. That in faith we believe in order to see.

Romans 8:28
“ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.!

Amen
Justin Green

February 12, 2011:

Prevention beats the cure

I recently got back from visiting a well-known rehab in the Northern Cape. It is amazing to see these long-term rehabs at work. In fact scattered across South Africa are many of these types of rehabs. You see on the solution side of addiction, there is a whole array of possibilities. You have counselling, support groups, out patient programs, primary and secondary care “institutions” and now even tertiary care.

Addiction in any form is progressive and so a proactive reaction is fundamental. The individual and his or her family needs to know where this road leads to and it will get there. Drugs are way to dangerous and highly addictive to innocently experiment anymore. The other obstacle is that nothing is free and most aspects of rehabilitation are very expensive.

Here is an idea of various costs involved.
Counselling can be anything from R350 – R700 per hour
Support Groups are generally free
Short term rehabs (28 day programmes) R30000- R40000 per month
Long term rehabs (12 months programs usually on a farm) R5000- R12000 per month
Medication if needed is also expensive some tablets are R150 per tablet
Half way houses can be anything from R5000 – R8000 per month excluding meals

The point I am trying to make here is this. That drugs and addiction and abuse thereof is on the rise. The average age of some rehabs is 15 years old. Drugs affect all religions, races and “financial classes”. Every child will have to learn to say NO a hundred times. Most schools have a local dealer and lets not even talk about university or even the work place.

Prevention, Education and possible over reaction can save a life. Don’t be fooled that this world is a far away place printed in the newspaper or seen on T.V, this is your world.

The saddest thing with addiction is that is always after the fact, in hindsight and most times by the stage of needing help, the addict and the family is financially ruined.

In conclusion, it is amazing to see the restoration, the healing and the willingness of people in a rehab striving to undo the mess that they willingly chose. Its wonderful to see how a person can find peace again after the torment.
But and this is a big but, PREVENTION beats any cure and if you are a parent, a social user, find help now.

Otherwise as NA puts it, you will find yourself in “jails, institutions or death”

January 10, 2010:

To all the friends and supporters of MAD.

I would like to thank all of you for your interest, support and encouragement of what we do. MAD is not and has never been a Justin thing. It is a place that is dedicated to helping those in need and informing people on the true severity of drugs and addiction and that I do know from personal experience, in my own life and the also the hundreds of families that MAD has managed to help in the past.

2010 was an interesting year.

MAD was featured in a few TV documentaries and also profiled in various magazines.
MAD will now be featured permanently in various Caxton publications as well as there new website.
MAD spoke to thousands of school children again and have many more planned for the new year.
MAD (make a donation) was established and because of generous people in the public we managed to raise funds to help those who cannot afford rehab.
MAD (movement against drugs) was launched and I believe this will become a huge success. Movement is a division based on drug testing, education and solution in the workplace.
MAD launched its Outpatient program.
MAD helped place numerous people into rehabs.
MADness my book was released.

And so I hope that everyone has a blessed new year , I pray that God's peace filters through your life. May all your prayers be answered and your hearts desires come so true. I hope that we can all become more grateful for what we have.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

December 12, 2010:

Some tips for the holidays

Parents:
Limit the amount of cash available to your children.
Make sure that they have a curfew and stick to it.
Know where your children are at all times.
Look out and discern new friendships and places.
Ask the local police station where the “drug hot spots are”
If you are suspicious, test your child.
“ Prevention is better than trying to find the cure”

Teenagers:
If you decide to experiment remember you do not know what you are taking.
Drugs are addictive, and so be careful to just try something for the holidays.
Stay away from dangerous people, places and things.
Remember drinking affects your decision making.
Drug dealers see you as the next best client.
You are made of chemicals and the reaction you may have to a drug can be deadly.
“ Every prostitute, criminal in jail or person in rehab never thought drugs would get that bad”

Those in recovery:
Push into your recovery not and don’t take a step back.
This time can be an emotional one, be aware of that and aware of how you cope with emotions.
The next relapse could kill you
Surround yourself with the right people, places and things.
Have a support system in place.
Be honest about your feelings.
“ Play the movie through, short term gratification is our worst enemy”
May your holiday be full of love, light and lots of laughter.

Justin Green
076 035 5061

Thursday November 18, 2010:

A letter to a guy in rehab .....

I have decided to write you a letter of encouragement. Firstly , I have heard that you are doing well and thats good. I really can identify with the pro's and con's of being away and at a long term rehab centre. Through my struggle I spent over 3 years at various rehabs.

The thing is that addiction is not a quick fix. As addicts we are so used to immediate gratification or immediate medication. We are not used to gradual process or patience. In fact the longer we have been using the more time we actually need to reboot and change our patterns of dealing with conflict, trauma,rejection etc etc.

So often we find ourselves at a rehab and we "feel' better. WE decide that we don't need to listen to other peoples opinions because all of sudden we know better. I have done this a hundred times. The sad reality is that only a few months ago, we were so broken, our lives were an absolute mess and WE did it all to ourselves.

Every person wants to leave a rehab (hopefully). But a rehab is a hospital, a season, there is a time to be there and then the right time to leave. We need to listen to the people that are entrusted and experienced to let us know when that should be.

If you decide that finaces are the reason why you need to leave then its pretty obvious that your mind will feed into that thought. In fact your subconcious will be tuned into making reasons make sense for you to justify what you want to do. You will automatically "believe" that you are right and you will in fact believe it. That makes it easier to cope yes.

But the fact is that your problem was severe, you have hurt many people and yourself. You need and needed help and you got it. MAD is doing our best to have complete strangers help you financially and thats a gift. But If we are to help people and then when they decide they are "healed" we have a problem. I am accountable to them in a way and I hope to help many others this way.

Often a doctor prescribes an antibiotic. He will say "take this course for 5 days" . After 3 days we feel better, we believe we do not need the medication anymore and so we forget or choose to not finish the course. There are reasons for the 5 days. There is a point to take the full course. And what happens normally ? a few months later we find ourselves back at the doctor and with the same illness.

I urge you to trust the right people around you. To stay away from negative conversations as they will pollute your mind and those thoughts , will become actions and could possibly kill you.

You will leave, you will work hard and you will be able to become a financial blessing to those around you. But please do not think that you are a finacial burden to anyone. People are investing in you because they believe in you, I believe in you.

Stay strong and focused on the program and finish strong.

We are all on the side lines supporting you, but it is your race. Finish.

The excuses to leave a rehab are all the same and people like myself in this ministry have heard the same stories over and over again. And I dont want to tell you how most of those stories end.

I hope you hear my heart in this letter and I pray that God gives you a new strength to finish the last few laps.

The world is still the same ...

May God bless you

Justin

Tuesday November 9, 2010:

TRUE LOVE

When you fall in love with someone it feels amazing. You just want to spend every moment with that person, spoil them with gifts and just let them know constantly how you feel. As you grow together , the love grows with you. Sadly for most of us through experience we find that love often doesn't last forever. We get hurt and we wander how it all went so so wrong. You see we put our hearts in someone's hands and we just hope that they treat it with love,kindness and a gentle approach. We give them the power to harm us. We trust them.

If you really love God , if its genuine, then its because you love Him for what He has done already. If you love this God because you are expecting some sort of selfish gain.. is it love? You see then you create an expectation based not on your trust in Him but rather in your " I need" list. and when that list is not filled, your list, then you lose heart.

If you spend time with God and get to know Him, if you realize that your life is a gift and that there is really so much to be grateful for. Sure things are often tough and trying but thats when true friends stick together. Thats the test. If you leave your preconcieved view of love aside. If you realize that this unseen person has your back. Your response will change. And something will change you from the inside out and in time you will reflect that revelation.

God loves us so much that He gives us His heart, He allows us to reject Him. He allows us to hurt His feelings.

I pray that you grow in love together with this God you serve, that your response to His unselfish love is returned.

Monday November 1, 2010:

I never Thought

I never thought that smoking weed was that bad. I like being chilled; I loved laughing with my friends. Having the munchies and trying something new for a change. It was so exciting trying all the types and ways of smoking and hey I was not alone.

I never thought Ecstasy was that bad. All my friends were doing it, the music was great, the feelings even better. I loved the music and the places. I loved the feeling of being free on the dance floor and the sexual feelings that tickled my soul.

I never thought Cocaine was that bad. It made me feel better and I was always in control. I loved drinking, talking and snorting. I loved the fact that I could afford it. I felt like a movie star.

I never thought LSD was that bad. I loved camping as a group and dancing around the fire. I enjoyed the revelations and new found meanings. I experienced new colours and wonderful smells.

I never though Heroin was that bad. I was not spiking and I had it all together. I loved the warm rush washing over me as the days troubles melted away.

I never thought that Crack was that bad. I loved the rush, the sensory overload and the missions to make it happen.

I never thought the weed would make me paranoid. I never thought the ecstasy would lose its touch and I would need so much more to try and feel the same. I never thought the Cocaine was so addictive and that I would be used and abused by people I thought were my friends. I never thought about a bad trip, a 12 hour nightmare that just will not end. I never thought I would need the Heroin just to get through a day, not to feel high but just to feel normal. I never thought that Crack would steal my life, my house, my car and my soul. I never thought I would lose all my friends and end up so alone. I never thought that I would become one of those. I never thought I would spend the rest of my life, labelled and afraid. I never thought that something that was supposed to be fun would become my hell.

I never ever THOUGHT…..

Monday October 4, 2010:

A Recent email from one of my school teachers on Facebook

September 6 at 3:07pm
Been thinking a bit recently. You do a lot of talks for schools kids. What about tutorial sessions for the teachers? Looking back I realize how poorly I handled drug issues as a teacher. I would turn a blind eye for as long as I thought/hoped it wasn't out of hand, and then catch the perpetrators when it did get too much, and expel them. Job done. Very nice. Success. Not.

I now realize that because I was fortunate enough to be born without an addictive personality I had no empathy for what was going on with kids that were displaying early manifestations of addiction at school. I did not recognize it at all and honestly thought my job was done when I removed them from influencing other kids that needed to be protected from exposure to such "naughtiness". That was a failure to understand and acknowledge the real issue and therefore failing to take appropriate action. What constitutes appropriate action? Any teacher that views drug issues through a disciplinary lens alone, is going to make the same mistakes I made, and fail to see addiction when it's staring back at him.

Maybe you would not have gone through such Hell on earth in later life had I been better prepared and known how to act earlier/more appropriately/understood better what was really going. Maybe. Who can really know for sure? But there's nothing to lose by trying to better equip teachers, especially those in school hostels where I'm quite sure drugs are as prevalent, if not more so, that when I was a hostel master. I think many of them can learn from your experience, and I've got no problem being held up a real-life example of how not to do things, if that'll help.

My 2c worth.

Thank you for this letter and yes I agree that I should look into something that better equips the teachers. I do have communication with many teachers and drugs in schools are now far worse than my PB days. Random testing is done at some schools and also police searches. But as far as a proper "system" is concerned there is none. There is no process defined to possibly identify access, educate, inform and the disciple the learner. Sure behind most problems there is a root, there is something that needs to be sorted out. Expulsion, 21 day rehab and jail only deal with the consequence of the end result. A shock tactic that we all hope will work … but it doesn't.

In my case I started smoking and sniffing tipex thinners in School. That was initially naughtiness. Parktown Boys also had a pattern, a ritual ... school during the week and then the weekend "lets get as drunk as we possibly can" " score as many chicks" "do the craziest stuff while being drunk" All these actions then flaunted on Monday and a reputation is formed. You see I got caught into a way of doing things but my tendency to drink that much more was not identified as a problem then. My pattern of doing naughty things became a part of me. As I grew up, so did this pattern. More streamlined, focused and polished. When the dark door of drugs came knocking I had the perfect soil prepared.

There were things going on in my home life. And so my fun on the weekends turned into more self medicating my mind from the pain that was real. But this also became my default setting, my way of dealing with conflict, trauma etc and followed me through life. I became angry and at school had a reputation but again I was defined by that reputation and so I did things and said things and behaved in a way I thought I should.

I am not angry for what happened with me, in hindsight though. Most of us were smoking weed in those days. A group of us. Today we probably would all be tested and so as a group we would be disciplined.

School is most certainly the years where we develop as people and school is where we spend most of our time growing up. So yes I agree that I need to try and tell teachers like I do with parents. That they need to act on early warning signs. Change the addictive behavior by firstly being able to identify it, how to handle it and putting boundaries in place as well as family interaction. Early intervention... before the drugs have come into play.

Thursday September 2, 2010:

Enabling (when helping does not help)
I have been meaning to write this note for sometime now. There really is a big difference between enabling and helping an addict. So often parents, sponsors believe they are really doing the right thing but in fact they are becoming a part of the problem.
There must be consequences for actions and so often the financial and emotional consequences are felt by the family and not the addict. This allows the addict or alcoholic to continue along the same behaviour knowing that no matter what happens someone will always be there to clean up the mess and be rescued from their mistakes.
A simple description is this:
Helping is doing something for someone that they are not capable of doing themselves.
Enabling is doing for someone things that they could, and should be doing themselves.

Thursday May 6, 2010:

AND THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE !!

Its amazing to actually listen to what people pray for. We have the "please can you feed the starving Lord" please can
you help the drug addicts Lord " , "please can you help the families of drugs addicts Lord?"...

There is a song by Tree 63 and the words go something like" its not a question of what you can do for me but what can I do for you?"

So what am i saying ! well i think often Jesus response to these prayers would be " Get off your backside and do something"

In reality He has given us eternal life, He has done His bit. When He left this earth, He left the Holy Spirit within us. That enables us as fleshly humans to reflect this revelation. This enables us to be more than we ever could be. But it does not stop there ....

The church is bigger than any organization or goverment. We have the capacity to feed thousands and help millions. There are more churches in a country than clinics or hospitals...

We have the power to save the world because of what God gave us ... freely recieve .. freely give...

And He said GO GO GO GO not sit around and ask me to do everything GO!!!

Let people experience an often intagible God by spending TIME not money With YOU !! You can reflect Jesus in a very tangible sense !!!

Amen

Sunday Januaury 24, 2010:

To all the supporters of MAD (ministry against drugs)

I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your support of MAD. I thank those who helped bless us with your uplifting words of encouragment. I would like to thank those that donated towards the sound equipment. Those who gave us clothes to give the needy. Those who blessed us with financial aid to help us in our quest to really make a difference.
God truly is amazing. Mad was an idea that was laid on my heart. And it has been so overwhelming watching it all come to life. I was blessed with the absolute privlage of speaking to over 16 000 children at schools in 2009. The Mad youth day was a success and my prayer is that Mad youth day 2010 will be an even better expression of Gods love. Mad also helped numerous families with solutions to this very serious problem.
As I write this , I pray for everyone of you. I pray that Gods awesome light fills your life. I know that with each new day, opportunity is anew... That even though we struggle so often, It really is a great time to show our true devotion to God. That somehow through the struggles we can cling to Him. And our character grows stronger. I pray for more faith for myself and all of you in 2010. I pray that we can not only see to believe... but rather believe and we WILL see.. and through this we are FULL of Hope for the new year ahead.
I pray for anyone struggling with anything. That there really are seasons and reasons for those seasons. That if you find yourself in a winter season of your life now... dont give up... winter must happen... and it cannot even be prayed away.. but spring is is is around the corner ... and so look forward .. prepare your hearts in Hope... for spring.. because it is the PROMISE of summer.
For the unbelievers... I want to tell you what my pastor once said, but i will explain it in more detail. If you had told someone 300 years ago that ... we would have a cell phone that could connect to a satelite in space and tell your exact bearings on the earth. That you could "google" earth and use a sattelite to see your home. That you would be able to speak to someone in Italy and the USA on a screen and the same time. They would not have believed you.... But it is now true after the fact... " you cannot explain how a cell phone works to a 5 month old baby, but it exists.... And so my prayer is that you give God a chance... just because it makes no sense.. and seems invisible.. does not mean that God does not exist... throw religion away!!! but give a relationsip with an unseen God , a chance ... you really have nothing to lose...
Its easy for me to sing this song, why? because I have experienced it first hand.
For 2010 ... there are already such new and exciting developments for Mad ... so watch this space..
And remember WE are here for YOU !!
So may the new year be full of love,laughter,peace,kindness,joy,understanding....
What makes you really angry ?
turn that righteous emotion into something great... use that to fuel a fire to make the world a better place. sure the taxis,the economy,the guy in the shopping centre can make you angry... but do you use that emotion to make the world better?
I am angry that I screwed up a good part of my life using drugs, I am angry that kids still willingly choose to use drugs...
And so ... i use that ANGER to fuel me... to make me MAD.. and to make MAD an organization set on making the world a better place..

God bless you all for 2010
Justin
www.themadfaith.com
ministryagainstdrugs@gmail.com
011 478 2095
076 035 5061

Saturday November 21, 2009:

I have written a book which I hope to get published. I
wrote it many years ago but I believe that it is a story
worth reading. I have decided to post the prelude on my
journal. If you are able to help me somehow get this book
edited and published, I would be so grateful. Hope you
enjoy the taste of the book to come.

Yesterday I took my grandmother shopping, something we do
quite regularly. We arrived and I opened the car doors and
took out the wheelchair. As I pushed the chair we chatted
about life and the very things that passed us by. Our
shopping experience for groceries is always the same. We
use a basket, which is placed, on her lap and complete one
lane of various items and then fill the trolley that waits
patiently for us and the end of the line. The funny thing
is that I only have two arms, so as we proceed, I need to
juggle the trolley and the wheelchair. So the trolley gets
moved up and along as we complete this task. People
watching us, smile and often I think to myself, that they
must be thinking, what a lovely grandson and how nice it is
to see this kind of thing these days. As we finish the
juggle continues. The trolley filled with groceries and the
chair filled with my gran and both need to get to the car.
But we do it and it gets done. When we arrive home, the
mission is still not complete, I need to carry the
groceries and also get the gran back into her home. And the
wheelchair back where it belongs. As the day ends my gran
gives me a kiss and thanks me from the bottom of her heart.
But that was yesterday. And today is today.

Today I am sitting in a crack house. A dealer is busy
cutting me pieces of cocaine rock which I am now smoking. I
sold my phone and pawned my car for the drugs he is now
feeding me. I am sweating and nervous, paranoid and my
thoughts are not of anything else but my next hit. The
outside world worries and I just could not care less. My
addiction is in full force and the crazy thing is that I am
not enjoying this at all. The car I pawned was not mine and
my whole life, everything I have, all that I have rebuilt
is busy being smoked away. The very essence of Justin dying
a quick slow death. The owner of the company car, my boss
has been alerted and the vehicle has been tracked and so
now they have found the vehicle parked outside the crack
house. I am now in trouble, big trouble. I gave the dealer
the car for R3000 worth of crack but he only cut me a few
pieces and now those pieces are all I have left. I stand by
the window and watch as the dealer and my boss argue about
the deal that I had illegally made. A tow truck arrives and
I know how this is going to end. So I run out the back
door. I jump a barbed wire fence and cut my arm. The blood
is spitting all over my pants but I keep jumping fences and
walls just to get away. The real reason I am running is not
because I’m scared, no the reason I am running is because I
don’t want to stop using. I arrive at a housing complex and
find myself locked inside the gate. A couple of people
arrive home and ask me what I am doing. I hesitate to
respond and so they give me my solution. They ask if
someone is fighting me, seeing the blood oozing from my
arm, I agree and ask if I can just hide away for awhile.
They give me the ok and leave me alone. I find a spot
around the back by the rubbish dump and I sit on the
ground. I reach into my top pocket and take out one of the
last pieces and kill myself a little more. The only thing
on my mind is how the hell am I going to get more. I have
no more car, phone or money and I need and want more, more,
more. Every time I smoke the fear and paranoia fills my
sick mind but then fades away into a deep desperation for
more. The drugs are now finished and I don’t know what to
do. I eventually get out cutting myself again on another
razor wire fence. And boldly I walked straight back to the
crack house. My dealer is gone but his friends are there
and they are busy screaming at me. I lie and tell them that
I am going to wait until morning and then I will pay for
the drugs that I have already smoked. I beg them for more
but I am having no luck at all. I offer them my new shoes,
and they respond telling me that they will give me one
piece which will last me, ten seconds. So I willingly take
off my shoes and enjoy a ten second break. They tell me to
leave and I do. I am walking down the street and its
freezing cold. Its winter and I have no jacket and no
shoes. I walk into the busy street where all the dealers
wait patiently for the next car to arrive and place the
order. Not once have I thought of my safety or of those who
love me worrying and withering away back in my normal life.
When the dealers realize I have nothing left they treat me
like nothing and throw bottles at me as I walk away from
the insults and the laughter behind my back. I cannot go
home. It is so cold but my pride keeps me from asking
anyone for help. At this stage, I would do anything for
more but my resources are drained. I find a pavement and
curl into a little ball, shivering as the cold bites me. I
just lie there as the drugs wear off and now my head starts
spinning. I am filled with loss, regret, embarrassment and
despair. I stay there the whole night until the morning. A
homeless man asks me to come sit at a fire because he can
see me shivering. For the next few hours, I just sit at the
fire and say nothing. People are driving past on their ways
to work. Some are staring, some consciously choose not too.
Eventually I walk home. An hour long walk through busy
streets. No shoes, clothes spattered with dried blood
stains. That was today.

Monday October 12, 2009:

Hey Everyone!! I wrote this letter a long time ago. Long before this website. Long before the MAD FaceBook Page.
Long before the hundreds of families. The 10's of 1000's of School kids. Long before all of the newspapers, magazines ,
radio and now television. PLEASE DONT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS , DONT !!!. BECAUSE SO OFTEN WE THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED. WE STAND SHOUTING , SCREAMING, CRYING, PLEADING AND EVENTUALLY GIVE UP. AND WHEN THINGS DONT GO OUR WAY, HOW WE THINK THEY SHOULD GO , WE LEARN TO HATE AND DISTRUST GOD. BUT HE WAITS PATIENTLY , SMILING , POSSIBLY LAUGHING A LITTLE TOO. BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHATS AROUND THE CORNER, HE KNOWS THE NAMES OF YOUR CHILDRENS CHILDREN CHILDREN. AND HE SAYS JUST TRUST ME, LET ME LEAD YOU. BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED AND NEEDED IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THE WORLD TELLS YOU TO "SEE TO BELIEVE.. GOD TELLS US BELIEVE TO SEE"

To everyone,

People keep asking me what I am doing.. so ya I am in
partnership with a guy and we manufacturer various
industrial cleaning chemicals â€| but my focus is this.

I have decided to write this short letter to tell my
friends and family the vision and purpose that God laid on
my heart and to explain how awesome His grace and mercy is
on my life. And that He is patient, kind and endured the
cross for everyone so that we all could live free and
successful lives while on this earth.

Of all the people I was always very far from becoming a
" happy clappy"?, in fact while growing up I was
genuinely irritated by very such people. The only
difference is now through experience in my life and many
others, I know that i know that God is very real and that
miracles do still happen in this day and age.

When I was initially saved, it seemed like a good option. A
crutch someone who promised good and better things and held
no grudges. I was so lost and so I decided to try and learn
the bible to possibly find some contradictions or something
to substantiate my solid unbelief. By doing this from the
old to the new testaments, I found only answers. I began
understanding a God that really did have a plan and a God
that in His nature desired a friendship with His people.
Not some religious man made set of rules but a God who
understands and just wants to be a part of my life and for
me to be a part of His. That sure its great to believe He
exists, but also through relationship and trust to also
believe Him and to realize He also believes in me. Okay so
this all sounds super spiritual but this is now a reality
for me.

And so I began a wrestle with God, He put me back on my
feet and began to restore everything. I adored Him but for
the wrong reasons, for what He could and was doing for me.
After awhile I threw Him away like a used crutch. You see
only now I realize God saved me with someone else in mind.
There is a bigger picture and sometimes we just donâ€™t see
it.

Years ago there were a few prophetic words spoken over my
life and although they were at different venues the message
was always the same. "You will be used by God in a big
way"? ( hmmm I thought pretty vague and general not really
personal to me)"? ,"but also have a home and a place for
the lost and brokenhearted"? ," a place of refuge and
you will become a battering ram for Christ"? ( hmm now
that sounded better).

I had my ups and downs and more downs and forgot the
message until quite recently.

I was away and at a church where they had a guest speaker
who dealt in miracles, signs and wonders. He gave us his
sermon lets say and it was only as we were leaving the
church building that his wife, out of the blue called me
and there it was.. the exact same message again.

I went home bewildered and really just said to God "ok I
surrender to whatever it is you want me to do"? and I
meant what I said.

The next day my mom called me on the phone. A friend of
hers from over 40 years ago happened to reconnect with her
and through a conversation the topic of me came up. He
explained that after matric, he himself had also got into
drugs and alcohol. He eventually put himself through bible
school and then had nowhere to go. As time passed on he
pastored a few churches and his ministry grew. He now
oversees a bible college and also numerous churches
internationally.He explained that whatever the cost for me
to study , whatever it took he would sponsor my studies.
And help me in any way possible.

I returned home and told him and a few others my vision God
gave me and before I knew it, I was put into various
churches sharing my testimony and my vision began and still
is gaining huge momentum. As each day passes on, I am
somehow being put into the right places and with the right
people and I am truly overwhelmed by it all.

The vision that God placed on my heart is a big one and
this is it.

I have started a ministry called M.A.D ( ministry against
drugs). Mad will have offices that will offer counselling
for addicts, for the families and also career guidance for
teenagers. It will be a place of information offering all
literature on drug addiction. Mad will be able to place
people in various rehab centres nationally. Mad will keep a
progress report and open communication with the resident
and the sponsor. (Obviously this will take time as I need
to initially build relationships with various rehabs). A
huge part of MAD is an outreach programme that will travel
to schools and present a modern realistic approach to drug
education. Using movie, sound and of course a group of
young recovering angels sharing their stories.

In the end .. Mad will have a primary care facility, a long
term rehab centre that will be involved with community
projects. The rehab will then offer a second phase where
the residents will work in a factory in a normal career but
still within the rehab itself. After that there will be
secondary sattelite houses situated in the cities where the
residents function within a normal society but with certain
boundaries and the foundation and protection of the house.

All of these will be networked and managed around the MAD
ministry. And at any time, anyone will have access to any
part of the family of MAD and the strength and healing will
be within this bond.

As I sit here today I am busy building a website, in the
process registering MAD as a company. When MAD is a
registered non profit organization, companies will be able
to sew into the organization and possibly sponsor various
aspects of the organization and receive a tax rebate. We
are geared up and ready and will be doing our first school
in April. I have spent hours and hours preparing the
presentation which is now complete. I am studying my
pastoral studies and enjoying the journey. I have written a
book which once edited will be published in the States and
then brought here. I am planning on a second book which
will tell of the stories of some of the other people that I
have met. In the end I really want to write a book ,
explaining how God truly is the only solution to the lost
and broken. I have already had the privilage of speaking at
numerous events and am blessed my sharing my story and as
each day goes by the right doors are opening and This huge
overwhelming vision is coming to life.

My testimony is this that I was literally living on the
streets. God was patient and only once I began to be
obedient did this plan and purpose for my life begin. And
that no matter who or where you are.. God has a plan and
purpose for your life. He can make the impossible, very
possible because its about Him and not us. And that all my
bad choices, every bad decision I have made, somehow now
equips me for a purpose so much bigger than myself. My
revelation now enables me to help so many others, which is
incredible.

Thank you

" Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in
prayer " Romans 12 vs 2

Monday August 17, 2009:

Think this is great....
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."
- Author Unknown

Monday August 8, 2009:

I am writing this just to give people some feedback on MAD's progress so far. We have helped and guided numerous families with counselling. We have succesfully helped many people into numerous rehab centres nationally. We have had a wonderful response from our outreach programme at the schools. And with each new day , the doors are being opened. Newspapers, magazines and even some interest now for TV and radio. Thank you to all the people that have stood by me in my quest. Thank you to my parents for their ongoing love and support. To my love Caryn , for all your encouraging and kind words. To Pastor Steve and his wife for all their ongoing assistance. To all my friends and family , it means so much to me. I give all the glory to God. Because in truth , non of this would be possible without HIM!!! Amen

Tuesday June 23, 2009: Hard Times

It seems that nearly every person I know is struggling with massive issues these days. It seems like their worlds are falling apart at the very seams. And its big stuff like divorce, retrenchment, unemployment, sequestration and the list just keeps getting longer daily. I am also wrestling with so many things and like all the rest it seems like God has somehow decided to ignore us all. Then I started thinking about God and who He is and what He stands for. You see when we pray and our prayers are not answered how we want them answered, we blame God. We blame the creator of the universe for not jumping and meeting our requests. Then a peace came over me. Firstly God does answer prayers, but in His spiritual and righteous timing. If all these people, including myself got exactly what we were praying for would it really be the answer. The answer to that is "No. You see sometimes we think we know what we need but really we don’t. We behave like children, kicking and screaming because we don’t get our way. But Our Dad just waits for us, to calm down accept the situation and then allow Him to lead us to what we really do need. It's only later that we realize all this but by that time we have often said and done things we regret. God wants to help us with our worldly worries of course but He is concerned with our spirit and character that will last forever. And sometimes we need to lose a little of the world to gain more in the spirit. It's written, it's biblical. And so I have decided to try accept the things I cannot change, courage to try and change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference" . And if my faith is strong enough then... I am filled with a peace and new hope because I cannot worry but I can trust God .Amen

'Wednesday May 6, 2009:

Recently I attended the Mighty Mens Conference 2009. This was led by Angus Buchan who has become famous for his faith and his life story which is now a best selling book and also a movie called "Faith like potatoes". On the second last day Angus collapsed and so it was a fairly shocking experience for all who attended. Click here for the testimony of a paramedic. Athough this has nothing to do with addiction or drugs, I feel it is a great testimony of God.

Monday April 20, 2009:

Where do you find yourself today? You see I know where I have been and I don’t want to go back there, so I try not focus on looking in that direction. So many times I allowed myself to be defined by where I had been and so I stayed just there. The new is unknown and the new is filled with possibility and that possibility is sometimes quite scary. My self esteem was so low that I never trusted myself and so change was a chance to make new mistakes and fall even harder, well that’s how I saw it at the time. I was more comfortable in the present and the past because it was all that I knew.
Drugs and addiction are terrible and really put you so many paces backwards. The emotional, spiritual and physical impact that this has on a life is massive as it stunts the growth. And so a person caught in this web never really moves on or forward.
When I look around today, people almost wake up and allow their yesterday to poison their today. A new day is new and has so much potential for positive change. A new day is filled with hope and can if we allow it, be the start of something completely new. I think that’s why we sleep, it gives us a chance to erase and reboot.
I hope that wherever you find yourself today that you realize you don’t need to be there tomorrow and that where you find yourself that’s where you are. But where you take yourself that’s exactly where you will get to.
And then where will you find yourself tomorrow?