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June 2007 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ… that I may know Him. – Philippians 3:7, 10a Greetings in Jesus’ Name, I believe that, during this journey on planet Earth, we get to “know Him” mainly as we worship. Worship is a matter of the heart. It is when the Spirit takes the works of God and makes them clear to our hearts. Here on the hill, we live in an environment that is resplendent with the works of God. Many of those entering the program due to some addictive condition, have senses that have either been terribly dulled by chemicals and pain, or have never been sufficiently stimulated. Part of our privilege in coaching them through recovery is to help them see God around them. Once this begins to take place, worship follows more easily. There is no better time to experience this than in the spring. What a transformation occurs this time of year. The very best prepared lessons are there for the learning – if we open our eyes to see. Several weeks ago, as I walked across the campus to the chapel for a weekly staff prayer meeting, I spotted several light blue eggshells on the ground. The color of the shells is a mixture of blue, green, and something else – but as a whole, it is an indescribable color. Original. Beautiful. I stopped to consider the shells. Very fragile. Now broken. Empty. Not broken by the six-foot freefall from the nest, but broken by the life within. Broken from the inside out. What a lesson! Broken from the inside out. Life germinates deep in the dark places, growing, developing. Finally, the boundaries cannot hold it back and the enclosure explodes. I’m free! Well, I was late already, so why not catch the entire message? With a little levitation – well, perhaps a ladder – I got above the nest. There in the soft grass and down, huddled three small, ugly chicks. All skin like some plastic goo toy. Just a bit of rubber with disproportionately large mouths. Three wide beaks, all stretched upward, trembling in anticipation. There was a sense of yearning and desperation that words cannot adequately describe. Desperately dependant. “If you do not feed me, I shall die. I have no hope whatsoever, unless someone supplies the sustenance.” I’m sure there were many good lessons for me to learn, but I climbed down, moved, myself, to cry out: “Please feed me, or I’ll die! I am desperately dependant upon You. Oh, God, please renew the sense of total hopelessness and helplessness, apart from You meeting me.” Despite the dysfunction and consequences the residents at His Mansion suffer, they come pre-brainwashed to believe that they can get what they need, and that they must cooperate in the provision for their recovery. Desperate dependency leaves one so exposed and vulnerable. It constitutes a reckless defenselessness. When I am the chick toward God, this constitutes true worship and God regards! Last month, here at His Mansion, a couple of ladies and at least one guy came to faith in Christ. This month another, here for help, has surrendered to Christ. His Mansion offers much experience and help for the addicted, but only God offers salvation, and that free to us. New birth is the only hope for genuine healing. The old nature is beyond improvement. The new nature, received through the new birth, needs no improvement. Conversion is so essential to recovery. Four young men and women graduated form His Mansion’s program June 2nd. Graduations from the program often rate above the high school or college diplomas (if they graduated) in order of significance. Often it marks the completion of a process that revealed the solution. Sherry came to us broken and hurting, aching from traumatic life experiences. We all are able to so clearly see how God has brought her from being victim to victor. We are happy to have her remaining with us, serving on staff as childcare provider for the Hilliker children. Jenna was successful in many ways of the world, but a lifestyle of addictions separated her from her family and her God. She now returns to both of them in great joy and wholeness, and leaves us to enter ministry with her father. Michael had suffered much trauma in his life, which poor choices intensified. At His Mansion, he learned who his real Father is, his Heavenly Father. He leaves the latter part of this month to enter into music ministry, and prepare for a new life and marriage to one of our past graduates and staff members, Joy! Phil joined our staff in the fall of last year, desiring to serve the Lord and His people. After a few months of witnessing the healing in the residents’ lives, he recognized his own need and stepped into the role of student. He leaves us a new man, walking in forgiveness and grace.
We try, at His Mansion, to cultivate an attitude, among those working the program, of longing for the presence of God, for an attitude of expectancy that God will show up and feed them, and each other. “I cannot exist and thrive with an attitude of self-sufficiency.” We desperately need one another. Those graduates who “get it” enter an old world with a brand new outlook. The survival mentality they once held nearly killed them. This new outlook of dependency upon God and each other brings life – a life worth living. Changes, changes. Life is marked by series of them. Some of the changes are more meaningful to me than others, as when colleagues of many years move on to serve out life somewhere else. Mark & Ruth Harris have served at His Mansion for over seven years. Mark is a highly qualified and certified mechanic and His Mansion always has a vast supply of injured and sickly vehicles! His “posting” has been as resident mechanic, but his value has been in his spiritual insight, prayer, and insightfulness. Mark has mentored young men and taught classes, in addition to keeping the engines turning. Ruth has supported Mark by serving us as a nurse on staff at Crotched Mountain, a residential medical facility serving individuals with disabilities. She loves the kids there and has been a testimony among the staff. She has faithfully served here as well, loving the role of hostess, cook, and decorator for many special occasions, and teaching and mentoring as time and need afford. The Harrises are Canadian citizens and their visas expire in October. They’ve chosen to not renew their visas, and are asking the Lord to direct them from Canada. One of Ruth’s long-time dreams has been to serve aboard YWAM’s Mercy Ships. Perhaps God is going to grant both Ruth and Mark a chance to live her dream. Mark and I meet most Tuesday mornings to pray for each other’s families, especially our children and my grands. This has been a blessed time and I’ll enjoy the Tuesdays before us and not think too much of “someday”! Ruth and Mark will stay to serve here until late summer/early fall and we’ll continue to enjoy them and be blessed by them. This does signal that we need to be praying for an “ace mechanic” to attempt to fill Mark’s shoes. Please be praying with us that God will provide His man. And there is more change – joyful change: Karen Hilliker gave birth to Seth’s and her son early morning on June 4th. Benjamin Paul arrived healthy and thriving into a very loving and welcoming family – the Hillikers, and our Mansion family! Praise God, Alan Dever has decided to serve at His Mansion as Head of Building & Maintenance. He and his family will be on board August 15th. This little family leaves a house that Alan built, relatives, and a wonderful church family (Waldoboro First Baptist of Waldoboro, Maine) behind. They serve by faith, trusting God to supply their needs. This is such an unusual strategy for being a missionary these days, but God has honored it for all of those serving at His Mansion – for up to 36 years! Please pray for the Devers. Consider supporting them as your family missionaries. The spring HCC is just completed. We had students from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, New Hampshire, Canada, and Rwanda. Several are staying on to take advantage of the seven weeks of practicum experience offered as an extension. God usually blesses us with at least one of them staying on as a mentor after the HCC course is complete. Don’t forget that the next Healing in the Context of Community course will be October 13-19, during the height of the fall colors. This is a super opportunity to learn an overview of counseling, the process of healing, spiritual warfare, inner healing, and to meet people from a variety of states and nations. God faithfully meets our HCC students during this week with personal experiences and lessons that are life changing. The Long House project is nearing completion. Joan is excited about moving in. I’m looking forward to it as well. The house was built in 1767 and we have for years been accumulating fireplace and cooking utensils, small tables and chests of the same period. Both Joan and I are joyfully anticipating creating a venue that steps back in time. There is something disarming and comforting to spend some time in a simpler day. We’d love to show it off. This past month I spoke at a gathering of Christian counselors at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. What an encouragement to see so many highly educated men and women offering their training and faith to those struggling to recover. I was particularly struck by three old acquaintances who were all senior pastors and made career steps to enter counseling. A week later I spoke at an Iron Sharpens Iron Conference at Emmaus Bible College. Four hundred church leaders attended. Again, I was struck by the quality of men and women God is preparing to enlist in the army of healers. By the way, what an excellent Bible college they are! Emmaus really offers in-depth study of Scriptures, running parallel with degree programs preparing folks to excel in the market place. I was favorably impressed with the faculty and staff. The heaviest of my travel schedule is passed and I should be nearby the hill for most of the summer. Please include us in your New England travels this summer. Once again, I tell you how much we all value your prayer and support. We are constantly growing and you’ve grown with us. His Mansion is filled with life, spiritual vitality, and rebirth. Your investment is a vital part of this great harvest. Our bills are all paid and we bear no debt. Thank you. Joyful in His service, Stan Farmer
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