Tag Archives: Mark Burchell

Family Awareness Month

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Greetings Recovery Community,

This month is a month that I will be lecturing on “Family Enabling” and “Family Codependency”, and overall reaction to addicts and alcoholics behaviors.  I’d like to share with you first, a letter that a mom has sent to me from Boca Raton, Florida about her son Billy, that stayed with Doorway to Recovery for a short time…  Here is that letter:

“I am very sad of the news of my son. I was hopeful this would be a good start for his wellness program and new life. But as we know it’s completely up to the person. When he’s ready it will happen. Unfortunately the next few years of his life will be spent in solitude but at least he will be forced to be sober. I do not believe that jail is the answer for those who suffer so deeply from addiction but when you commit a crime there is a price to pay. I am hopeful Billy will learn his lesson and one day be an example to others. He has a good heart just a polluted mind.

Thank you to you and your staff for your support and the time that you spent with me and my son. I do appreciate what you do. Billy also said that he was so thankful as well. Unfortunately his actions showed differently.

Please extend my apologizes to you and your staff on behalf of my family.”

 

Having worked with this young man, Billy, for a short time, I found this man to be troubled and in need of guidance and counseling in several areas.  Having talked with his mother after Billy’s incident, and reading her email; gave me insight to this mom’s love and nurturing of her son.  Being far away, in another state, and trying to be in her son’s life is a difficult thing.  Thankfully, she is supported by her husband and other community members that she has no control over Billy.  Only through prayer and self surrendering can she make it through another day.  I talked with her that the things that Billy will need is  a relationship with god, with therapy, and with a sober community.  Here at The Doorway to Recovery, myself and staff will continue to pray for Billy and his family, in their ongoing search for peace and happiness.

 

God be with you as always.
In His Service,
Mark Burchell

 

Becoming the Man God Designed Me to be

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I’ve heard it said that a real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, exemplifies integrity, has reconciled with his past, is working on leaving a legacy and expects a greater reward!

As I spoke about at Woodside Bible Church in Troy and in my last blog, I haven’t always been that man. However, through Christ, with my family, friends and my brothers in Christ I am working on becoming that man in the following ways:

  • Rejects Passivity – Instead of ignoring the problems and issues and hoping they just go away, I am facing them head on and I know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
  • Accepts Responsibility – I am taking full responsibility for my failures of the past and my actions of the future by submitting myself to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
  • Leads Courageously – I will love and lead my family and business with the courage to always do the right thing even when it isn’t comfortable. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
  • Exemplifies Integrity – I will be the example of integrity by being a man of my word and a man of The Word. “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” – Proverbs 28:18
  • Reconciled with his past – I have faced my failures, accepted responsibility for my actions, asked for forgiveness and stand in the truth that “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” – 2 Corinthians 5:18
  • Working on leaving a legacy – I do not want to be remembered by my failures but by my love and the way I allowed Christ’s love to show through me, that is a true legacy! – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. – John 13:34
  • Expecting a Greater Reward – I know because I have chosen to follow Jesus, I have a guaranteed reward “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21

I hope you have made the choice to follow Him too!

My First Open Talk – Forgiveness and Reconciliation

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I gave my first Open Talk at Troy, Woodside Bible Church in front of a large group of people.  This talk was a testimony of my storms, with and without Christ.  It was very scary to say the least, as I looked out and saw faces that I thought were there to judge me.  I closed my eyes, I asked Christ to come into my heart; to give me the words I needed to say, and as always he did.  As I talked about my sin, and how through that sin I have caused a lot of hurt, I found it to be very healing.  I spoke of me and my participation, and my character defects.  Christ was working though me because out of my mouth came love and forgiveness, not anger and resentment.  This was so refreshing.

At the end of the talk, which was about 45 minutes (that’s a new one for me); people all gathered around me to pray and let me know how surprised they were that I didn’t play the victim role.  Two of those people in the crowd were therapists.  After breaking away into our men’s group, the two male therapists shared how angry and mad they were at for me for the things that they had read and heard; admitting that they have their faults and sins as well, and who are they to hold those resentments.  But because of Christ and his love, and teaching of forgiveness, they were able to look at me in a different way.  I am so grateful to my friends at Woodside Bible, Larry, Gail, Tony, Mark, for allowing me to come in and openly confess my hurts, habits, and hang-ups.  I love Christ; I love Celebrate Recovery, my love to all of you.

Blessings your way,

 

Mark Burchell.

Spring is in the air

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And so is Recovery.  As the doors open and people are able to get out and about, change is happening.  That’s with weather, attitudes, family issues, personal issues; spring is a time for a restart, it’s a time for change.  During the months of May and June, we want to concentrate on our new changes; new smells, new relationships, new beginnings.  Spring is a very important time to start recovery fresh.  For some us, that means, if some of us have been in recovery, a fresh start.  For those who are new in recovery, a fresh start.  As we all know Recovery is a daily thing, not to be taken for granted.  God says to us, Rely on ME and I will show you the way.  Jesus says “Only through Me can you get the healing that you need.”  John 3:30.  He is above, I am below.

We are happy to announce the New Women’s Program at Doorway to Recovery.  As we move forward at Doorway to Recovery, we are happy for our new staff members, Angela Spino, Diana D., Grateful Gail… strong women in recovery heading this much needed Women’s Recovery Program.  Women in Recovery ran by women, and organized by women.

As the next 30 days move on, we will have a Licensed Medical Social Worker (female) at the Helm to guide women and men in their walk in recovery.  Many blessings, love, and thanks to all of you out there that have stuck with us through our hard times and through our growing times.  God’s blessings to all of you,
Mark Burchell