Fellowship of Christian Athletes is grateful to announce a powerful partnership with Second Chance with Saving Grace

May 26, 2009 – SCwSG is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that reaches out to hurting people and animals wherever they may be found. SCwSG impacts the world by focusing on serving others, equipping, empowering and encouraging everyone to be all God created them to be. They visit schools, churches, children’s hospitals, prisoners, civic organizations, wherever they are invited, delivering an inspiring message of Hope with Love Kits of Encouragement! 

Diane Dike, Ph.D., the founder of SCwSG and the co-founder of the Spiritual Tsunami, has teamed up with FCA to travel the Nation to challenge and motivate our “Huddles.” All age groups connect with Diane who knows what it is to be broken, homeless and hopeless. She was an elite athlete and coach but in her twenties, Diane was diagnosed with a painful, debilitating and incurable blood disease. She was devastated and lost all that was important to her, including her athletic abilities. Thinking she was better off dead than disabled she contemplated suicide. However, in the midst of her despair, Diane received the transforming love of Jesus. Through this experience she learned the secret to happiness and that God still has a purpose and plan for her life even if her body is broken. 

She is an expert in perseverance and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The disease turned into a gift that allows her to captivate the corporate executive, the athlete, the coach, the prisoner… she is Satan’s worst nightmare because she will not give up! She challenges us all to realize with God nothing is impossible because he’s given us the tools to meet life’s challenges and be the winner He created us to be no matter what! She’s experienced terrible tragedy yet she prevails with her husband, God’s love and her adorable rescued Italian Greyhound Service Dog, Gracie. 

We appreciate Diane’s desire to partner with our efforts to spread the love of Jesus and minister at our events across this great Nation. Please visit her web site: www.DianeDike.org to learn more about her inspiring ministry and influential books including, The Adventures of Gracie and Diane, series and God Made Only One of Me (foreword by Michael W. Smith). We know you will fall in love with her and Gracie, just like we did. To schedule them for your next event please contact,DianeDike@aol.com 

As Diane always says, “Stay Strong and Courageous!” 
Your FCA & SCwSG Team
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SCwSG is a non-profit 501c(3) organization started by Paul and Diane Dike, Ph.D. with their life’s savings. Diane Dike is an award-winning author, speaker, singer. Together they reach out to hurting people and animals wherever they may be found. SCwSG impacts the world by focusing on serving others, equipping, empowering, educating and encouraging everyone to be all God created them to be. They visit schools, churches, children’s hospitals, prisoners, civic organizations, wherever they are invited, delivering an inspiring message of Hope with Love Kits of Encouragement! See their interesting books for children and adults or schedule this dynamic duo to speak to your group today by email or: www.DianeDike.org

Come join us for the “Wake Up Call X3″ with McCartney, Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Jeff Hutcheon and motivational speaker Diane Dike, Ph.D. 

“Promise Keepers is urgent about bringing God’s people together at this critical time,” said McCartney. “We are pleased to gather with other ministries to rally entire families for what God has planned.” 

Vail-based Dr. Diane Dike (founder of Second Chance with Saving Grace, www.dianedike.com) will also speak. “Current economic stress and spiritual emptiness urge us to come together,” said Dike. “It’s never too late for men, women and youth to be all God created them to be and use their gifts to glorify God.” Dike is also co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Spiritual Tsunami project. 

The “Wake Up Call X3″ begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at Southeast Christian Church, 9650 Jordan Rd., Parker, CO 80134. Worship band 99-4-1. Admission is FREE!

When:

Where: The Vail Christian High School 31621 Hwy 6, Edwards, CO 81632 Everyone is welcome to this FREE event.

A special assembly for the entire community at the High School will encourage all to overcome their challenges and realize they can make a difference. Coach and Dr. Diane Dike sha re a message of hope and victory you will not want to miss.

Local ministry, Second Chance with Saving Grace partnered with Promise Keepers to work together to achieve the goal of igniting the body of Christ to be all God meant for it to be. Founder Dr. Diane Dike is a national speaker and award winning author who deals with an incurable, painful, blood disease that tries daily to steal her joy of living yet she overcomes her challenges with a smile, a service dog and a second chance. She’s inspired the Promise Keepers team and will speak at their events to help others realize, “It is never too late to be all God created you to be!”

“To celebrate our 20th year of ministry, we are called to do three things: honor our wives, daughters, and sisters, be a tangible blessing to the poor and oppressed, and embrace our Messianic Jewish brothers. This year we are calling men to bring the women in their lives,” said Bill McCartney, founder of Promise Keepers. Coach wants to share the exciting things happening for the whole family at Promise Keepers which has gathered more than six million men in stadiums, arenas and churches around the world.

“A Time to Honor” is the name of a day-and-a-half conference at Folsom Field on the University of Colorado campus, in Boulder, July 31 – August 1, 2009. The buzz over Promise Keepers’ summer gathering for men, women and youth is only part of the story. Coach McCartney would like to share the rest.

Please come Tuesday, May 12, 2009 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Vail Christian H.S., Grace Auditorium, 31621 Hwy. 6, in Edwards. “We request the honor of your participation!” See You Tuesday!

www.PromiseKeepers.org

www.DianeDike.org

I Met A Man

It was forty years ago this year that I met a man.  He and I hit it off right from the start.  Over the years I had spoken to people who had told me about him, who claimed that they even knew him, some on a personal basis.  But you know how reliable second and third hand reports can be.  I’m sure that you’ve heard some about yourself.  I know that I have.  Anyway, as fortune would have it, I finally met him one on one.  He and I hit it off right from the start.  And as I learned more about his life, I grew not only to like him even more, but also to feel pretty comfortable around him.  As a matter of fact, I discovered that he was one of the few people that I could really trust.  And that’s saying something, because trust is not something that comes easy to me, given my past experiences and all.  I was always of the firm belief that nothing is free, not even friendship.  To say that I was a skeptic is putting it mildly.  In many ways I guess I still am.

The more I got to know him, specifically about his childhood and his life I realized that we had much in common.  I found out that he was born “out of wedlock” as they put it.  And in the culture he was born into, this was not a good thing.  It’s different today I guess, but then it was a different story.  His mom was engaged to, and eventually married a pretty nice guy.  He was a blue-collar type, a wood worker actually.  They didn’t have much money, but that didn’t seem to matter.  As time went by his parents had more kids, and he earned the unenviable title of “big brother”, the oldest of the bunch.  Some of you know what that entails, but that’s another story.  And then, tragically, his dad passed away.  I’m sure that this came as a shock to his mom and the rest of his family.  Because he was the oldest child, this put him into the position of breadwinner for the family.  Let’s pause for a moment to consider what he already had to put up with.  For starters, there were all the stories he heard about his mother, and who his father “really” was.  While some of these things were said to his face, I am sure that people being what they are, spoke mostly behind his back.  And on top of it, he had to watch the pain that his mother went through.  When you add to this that he had to watch his dad sweat to make a living every day because of their financial situation, you can safely conclude that his early life was not the easiest.

And now to top it all off, his dad passes away.  So, off he went every morning to earn a living.  He had picked up his dad’s trade, so at least he had that.  But no matter how trustworthy and good a man he was, I’m sure that he heard the same lines every day.  You know, “What do you mean it’s going to take that long to make this?”   Or, “I can get this cheaper from . ..” (fill in the blank).  And then, at the end of another long, hard day, he would make his way home, greet his mother who he loved dearly, and take on his second job, which was that of “big brother.”  Now on the plus side, I’m sure that there were some girls in the neighborhood who thought he was pretty special.  Not so much because of his good looks, or his “big income.”  But because of the type of guy that he was.  He was totally trustworthy and honest.  He never blew up at some unruly, disrespectful customer, and neither did he react when he heard the words spoken about his mom.  He never went out drinking with the other guys his age, and he never got involved in the kind of conversations that most young men engage in. 

As a matter of fact, not only did he “put up” with these people, but he actually seemed to care about them and their problems.  He would even go out of his way to listen to them, and to offer his advice.  There was just something special, even extraordinary about him.  He didn’t hide from all the garbage that the world brings.  Instead, he put himself right in the middle of it.  But here is the important part.  Even while in the midst of it all, he never gave in to any of it!  Where did this guy come from?

In closing, the more I heard his words, and the more I learned about his life, I knew that I could trust him with just about anything.  Now mind you, he never once said that it was okay for me to keep doing stupid things.  Not at all.  But he had, and has, a way of straightening me out without ever making me feel like a loser.  Well, that’s about it for now.  Friends like that are hard to find.  His name?  It’s Jesus.  To be continued.

 “The Revv”     (therevv@verizon.net)

If I were to sum up RCM in one word, it would be, “Relevance.”  Now what do I mean by that.  Simply this.  In my life and experience as a Christian, I have found that to much time is wasted, and I use that word knowing exactly what it means, in dealing with issues that while important, do not deal with the place of faith in Jesus Christ as it relates to the world in which we now live.  Let me give you an example.  You can find a myriad of books on the subject of “eschatology.”  Let me give you a definition as found in Wikopedia: “In Christian theology, Christian eschatology is the study of its religious beliefs concerning all future and final events (End Times), as well as the ultimate purpose(s) of the world (i.e., mortal life), of humankind, and the Church.”   In short, when is Jesus coming back to the earth?  “It’s wasted in debating the details of issues that do not deal with faith in Jesus Christ as it relates to the world in which we now live.   I believe with all of my heart that Jesus is, in fact, coming back literally and physically to this earth.  The question is when He is coming.  I have studied this doctrine for many years and can find convincing arguments for every side.  But in the end, I have come to one conclusion. And that is, He IS coming back, literally and physically.  The exact moment that He is coming back is not, at least to me, the main issue.  In Matt.24 Jesus said this in regards to the coming of the Messiah:  ³⁶“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father”.   All I have to know is that He is coming, and that we should be ready for that day, because it might be today!

Now, I am by no means dismissing the importance of the Second Coming.  As a matter of fact, I can hardly wait for it to happen.  I used to have a bumper sticker that read, “Beam Me Up, Jesus!”   And let me tell you, I am ready!  In other words, part of this reality check is that we have to stop wasting time getting distracted by details that aren’t either aren’t important or aren’t relative to our lives and our faith, compared to the larger basic truths.  Is He coming back next week?  In the morning?  In the evening?  In a shiny hotrod?  It doesn’t really matter.  What DOES matter, is that He is coming back.

Let me also say this.  If believing in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world, and Lord of my life will only do me good after I have died, than what is the point?  I hope that you hear what I am saying.   I not only personally believe, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus cares about my life RIGHT NOW!  He cares about what I am going through, He understands the pains that life can bring.  He understands injustice, cruelty and sadness.  And He first came not only to bring us salvation at the end of it all, but to bring us peace now.  When I pray, I don’t have to worry, “will Jesus understand?  Shouldn’t I be embarrassed to confess the things I have said and done?”  And if that is your concern I say to you, ABSOLUTELY NOT! 

Now I want these messages to bring you to a good place, and for them to end with some hope.  And I believe that they will.  But honesty is part of that learning process, one that I am still going through.  I was speaking at a church once, and a man stood up with tears in his eyes and asked, “Pastor Bernard, why doesn’t the Church teach us these things?”  I couldn’t answer him then.  But I can say to you that there IS an answer.  And His name is Jesus.  To be continued.

“The Revv” ( therevv@verizon.net)

     The main alteration involves the addition of some    artwork.  Specifically that of a fighter raising his arms    after a victory.  This particular piece has some    significance for me.  First, because it was a picture given to me by a couple that attended one of the churches that I pastored.  And the second reason?  Well, in days past, I had been both an amateur as well as a professional boxer.  Seems like an odd combination really. “Puncher” / ”Pastor.  Sports, specifically boxing, were one of the methods that I used to “validate” myself.  It afforded me a sense of accomplishment, of achievement. 

     I would contend that there are any number of people who spend much of their lives seeking for that “one thing” that will make them stand out.  Maybe it will be accomplished in a field yet untried.  Perhaps it’s in acquiring financial and material possessions, and by doing so, be able to look back and see what you have done with your life.  And there are many other avenues as well.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, many of us never attain that dream or goal.  And in the end, we find that we are surrounded those who have accomplished everything that we were unable to.  We see them and hear about them every day.  And if we spend too much time focusing on them, we can become unfulfilled, and even vain individuals. You see, in this world, a sense of failure is something far easier to attain.

     I have a number of friends who are into sports, as am I.  But have you ever watched a game or event where it seems as if the fans were living their lives vicariously through the players?  They somehow feel as if every team victory is their personal victory, and every loss becomes a weight that they put upon their own shoulders.  It’s this mindset makes me a little uncomfortable.

     Now back to my picture and the reason that it is so significant to me.  It involves the words that are placed between the upright arms of the victorious warrior.  They are taken from 2^nd Timothy 4:7. To be accurate, let’s read vss.7&8, which say: ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”.  I have come to realize that this is the goal that I should desire to achieve.  There’s nothing wrong with establishing honorable goals for yourself while on this earth.  There is nothing sinful about feeling a sense of accomplishment about something that you may have done in your life, something that may benefit others, and even pass on to your children.  But in reality there is an even greater goal.  And that is to desire a life that is first, pleasing to God and that may lead others to Him. 

     I would love to tell you that I have accomplished that goal, but if I did it would be at best a “mis-truth”, or as we used to call it, a lie.  I cannot say that I have always fought the good fight.  As a matter of fact I’ve lost many battles in the process.  And that is usually because of my own frailties and lack of focus.  And to my shame, there have been times when I have not kept the faith.  But here is the cool thing!  God has more patience and love for us than we could ever have for ourselves.  He doesn’t “lower His standards” just because He loves us.  No!  What He does do is to continue to discipline us, love us, “train” us and direct us until we get to that day when we can really say, “Thank you Lord.  When I look back on some of the trials and failures of my life, I never thought I would ever get here.” 

     That’s my goal and long-term objective.  To finally get to that point when I can say, “I have fought the good fight, and I have kept the faith.”  And the prize at the end?  You can’t beat it.  It’s not only the crown of righteousness, but also an eternity spent with Him, and all the other “scarred warriors” who were slugging it out with us.  What do you think? –

“The Revv”

     As I said in my last newsletter, some of the teachings that I send will not be “sermons.”  Many of them will involve things that are close to my heart.  Topics that I have personally dealt with in my own life.  One of them, oddly enough, involves the demon-possessed man who lived in an area called the Gerasenes.  This story is told in several of the Gospels.  But for our purposes, I’m using the one from the Gospel of Mark.  And why is that?  For me, it involves one detail that Mark points out that the other Gospels do not.  1 “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”  It’s the last few words of this verse that I am referring to.  Specifically where it says that  . . . “he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”      This has nothing to do with the subject of demon-possession.  Do I believe that it is real?  I do.  If you want to have a “theological rumble” about it, you’re reading the wrong study.  But if you are a Christian and you are reading this please understand something.  The world is full of non demon-possessed people who live in as lonely and empty a world as this man did.  And many of them, lost in their loneliness and emptiness, resort to the same actions as this man.  They spend most of their lives, “cutting themselves and crying out.”  I personally know and understand this kind of pain.  Now, does that mean that I, along with others spend our time literally “cutting ourselves>“  No.  But they do, as I did, spend much of their time punishing themselves, and blaming themselves for their own “failures” as people, and even as Christians.   When you see them, you might never be able to detect that pain.  Because, God forbid, they should reveal that pain to you.  Especially if they are Christians.  After all, when you get saved, all that goes away.  Uh-huh.       Now, does that mean that there are those cutting themselves with stones?  No.  But there are many people out there, perhaps in YOUR church, that go home at night, and when the lights are out, they weep, and emotionally fall apart.  And my Lord, they are lonely.  Just like the man in the Gerasenes, they feel desperately and completely alone.  And they feel the extra weight of the guilt from being told that they could “handle it” if they wanted to.  But they can’t.  But God knows they want to.  The Scripture tells us that he “cried out.”  And there are many doing that today.  I know, I used to be one of them.  And did you notice what he did when he saw Jesus?  He  “ran and fell on his knees in front of him.”  Yes, I know, he also asked Him, in effect, to go away, and leave him alone.  But is that what he “really wanted?”  I don’t think so.  And why do I think that?  Because the Scripture tells us that he didn’t run away or hide, but rather he, “fell on his knees in front of him.”Yes, I know, he also asked Him, in effect, to go away, and leave him alone.  But is that what he “really wanted?”  I don’t think so.  And why do I think that?  Because the Scripture tells us that he didn’t run away or hide, but rather he, “fell on his knees in front of him.”           In closing, let me ask you this.  Have you run into any “demon-possessed” folks lately?  Probably not.  But the next time you’re in church, or at the job, or perhaps even at home, take a look around.  There may be someone smiling, and at the same time hiding behind a rock that needs you.  Just some food for thought.  God Bless.  Pastor Edd    

By Diane Dike, Ph.D. – award-winning speaker, singer, author 

My body went numb as I collapsed into the chair. The doctor’s mouth moved, but I heard nothing. He stammered, “Are you alright?” I had no answer.

Pain became my constant companion at the age of twenty-three. I had no idea what “Cryoglobulinemia” meant or even how to pronounce it. The words, “incurable, life threatening, chronic” overwhelmed me. The way I looked at the world and my purpose for living changed in an instant.

Prior to the mysterious diagnosis, at 19 I married my high school sweetheart, became a special needs teacher, church youth leader and coached swimming and track. We realized personal and professional dreams, while making a difference in young people’s lives, even as I sang for thousands at a popular theme park. We had big goals and plans.

One terrible Friday in 1990, a severe pain stabbed my left hip. Later my left foot began to ache with two red spots on the arch. Sunday I stepped out of bed and fell to the floor. While crawling for help I noticed that my left foot had doubled in size and was hot to the touch. My husband rushed me to the emergency room where I was prescribed painkillers, crutches, rest and ice. I would later discover that icing was the worst possible treatment and the painkillers only aggravated symptoms.

Each week a new body part became swollen and covered in hives, rashes, or red/hot spots. Poked and prodded by specialists and admitted to hospitals every few weeks, they tested for lupus, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis and AIDS… Concerned about the possibility of gangrene, two doctors contemplated amputation of my peculiar legs.

When the attacks came on with sudden vengeance, all I could do was helplessly watch my body deteriorate. Flu-like symptoms made working, socializing, shopping, and performing the simplest of daily chores excruciating. In addition, insomnia and the gnawing pain of fibromyalgia that began when I was 15 became more intense. Deep sorrow, weeping and anguish ripped all hope from my being. I cried out, “God, help me!” As if I was dragging around a thousand pound ball of shame, no matter how hard I tried to kick it away, it shackled me and plunged my life into ruin.

On Tuesday, May 11, 1993, the University of South Florida hosted a conference for the world’s leading physicians in the field of rare and difficult to diagnose diseases. Invited to participate, I was told to keep a journal of my symptoms. One doctor after another examined my body and studied my file. My symptoms got worse right before their eyes, and in the end, the group ordered a specialized blood test. I was sent home to wait for the results, again.

Almost three years after those two red spots first appeared on my foot, the doctors concluded that I suffered from a rare, incurable blood disease called CRYOGLOBULINEMIA, cryo-cold, globul-clotting, anemia-blood. It’s an excruciating autoimmune blood clotting disorder that destroys vital organs and gets worse when I’m stressed, sitting with my feet dangling down or my body gets cold. They also confirmed vasculitis (the hurting disease), purpura and Raynaud’s Phenomenon with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the list grows on. I was told to minimize all exposure to the cold and avoid ANYTHING that inflames the potentially life-threatening symptoms. 

Even though I felt relief over finally getting a diagnosis, I detached because a fulfilling life now seemed impossible. I sunk into a deep depression and lost everything that mattered. My divorce and subsequent homelessness led to suicide attempts and confinement in a psychiatric hospital. I could only see these diseases as a source of never ending agony. I didn’t know how to accept or ask for help. I prayed for death to come quickly and I didn’t care how, “Just make this pain end.”

In complete despair, God answered me by directing my focus from my misery to Jesus and His promises for my life. The Bible taught me that peace, protection, good health, wholeness, and provision could be mine despite the storm that surrounded me. One day I made the choice to leave behind old behaviors, thoughts, and labels. Embracing my second chance at God’s saving grace and the opportunity to live my life well, in spite of my dire health problems.

Prayer and Bible reading led me to find refuge from my worldly distress and incredible changes occurred. The truth of God’s Word sank in, and whenever I felt fear, I starved it with faith. The song of my heart returned and helped to combat the battlefield in my mind. One song especially ministered to me: “Take My Hand and Walk,” by Jean Luc Lajoie. With this encouragement, I dispelled the devil’s claims that I was, “Alone, unlovable, deserved to be sick, God was made at me and the world would be better off without me…” During this profound time with God, my hope was restored and old dreams were replaced by new ones. Embracing brokenness, I saw my life as God saw it—worthy to be lived.  

God helped me survive the darkness so I can be a light to help others find their way. He likes to breath life through the most unlikely of candidates. Whereas my brokenness once dragged me into the pit, it now lifts me up into the open arms of a loving God who has an important purpose and plan for each life. The disease hasn’t left yet, but sometimes wellness doesn’t mean the absence of sickness. By letting my mess become my message and my tests become my testimony, day by day, I’m an overcomer! 

Five years ago I rescued a broken dog, and she rescued me back by becoming the world’s first rescued Italian Greyhound Service Dog helping a woman with an incurable blood disease. She has many tasks that help me more safely participate in life. Together we go where no woman and dog have gone before. We visit prisons, schools, orphanages, hospitals, … wherever we are invited to share our message of hope. And I haven’t been hospitalized since I rescued her, a true miracle.

Since few are acquainted with the illness, I’ve written several books including: Gracie Comes Home and God Made Only One of Me, developed a web site, www.DianeDike.org to inform and help, as well as an outreach non-profit organization called Second Chance with Saving Grace. I’m strong and courageous in spite of persistent challenges because I’ve learned the key to happiness: focusing not on myself but on the needs of others, just as Jesus did.

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]]> http://dianedike.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/diane-dike-twtiter/feed/ 0 dianedike 33x80 banner3_proof http://dianedike.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/gracie-diane-see-the-world/ http://dianedike.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/gracie-diane-see-the-world/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:10:45 +0000 dianedike http://dianedike.wordpress.com/?p=36 ]]> We are back in full force, Gracie and I have simply loved our travels though out the country. We have seen the wondrous plains of Utah and soaked in the warmth of the Florida beaches to spread our word of inspiration and good will and we want to share our journeys with you.

Gracie enjoying the sun...

We have had the privilege and blessing to speak to many churches and and even visited prisons. Gracie and I love to share our support with all who need it. You can view our interviews and share in our travels of the recent year by visiting our site at: http://www.DianeDike.org

Also hear our story by viewing this short video below.

There are many things you can do to help in our journey. If you are interested in joining our team you can visit our site and send us a note. Let us know how you would like to work together and what your talents are, we all can help give someone a second chance.

God loves you,

Until next time!

Smiles and Stay Strong and Courageous,

Gracie & Diane