A Sign from God
“What’s your sign?”
Many decades ago, this was a “line” that many used when they were interested in someone and wanted to try to make a connection. They were referring to the zodiac sign of the person, hoping that the answer would help to strike up a conversation.
In the Gospels, we read that the religious leaders were often asking Jesus this question. Of course, they were not asking Him if He was a Capricorn or a Libra but were trying to get Him to prove His authority. In other words, they wanted to know what sign Jesus could offer to prove He was who He said He was.
Jesus Proved Who He Was
One such example is told to us in Matthew 12:38-42. To understand this better, we must back up to Matthew 12:22-32. Here we read the account of a man who was made blind and mute because he was possessed by demons. Jesus healed him, providing a clear sign of who He was.
The religious leaders did not believe that He was from God. The more accurate way to describe it was that they did not want to believe. They knew He was the Messiah, but they did not want Jesus to be so.
As a result, they accused Him of being from the devil. The Son of God, sent by the Father, they thought was from the devil. It is clear that they did not care what sign Jesus provided; they were not going to believe Him anyway.
This leads us to Matthew 12:38. Realizing that they may very well have crossed some line, the religious leaders changed their tune. Instead of making blasphemous accusations, they demanded that Jesus provide a sign that He was the Messiah.
Once again, they did not really care if they saw a sign. In fact, they saw Him heal a demon possessed man and attributed that to the devil. They saw the sign – they just did not want to see it.
What Are Your Signs?
One of the biggest challenges for our men is that they make dramatic, life-altering changes to turn their lives around, yet they are still rejected by those they love the most. There is no denying that they have likely burned a few bridges in their lives. In fact, they have likely rebuilt those bridges, only to reburn them over, and over, and over, and over…you get the picture.
There is some logic to the skepticism from family members and friends. Yet, it does not mean that it does not hurt. These men have often made radical changes for Jesus and the “signs” of that transformation are authentic. They are proof of the authority that God has taken over these men’s lives. They are the signs of a God who creates tremendous miracles in the lives of the Hope CDA participants, regardless of if they are recognized or not.
Those signs are seen in many ways. They are seen in Tristian Lane, who is nearing a year of sobriety. They are seen in Joe Mason, who has a very clear career path, where he will stay at Hope CDA to serve as Program Navigator. There are signs in Mark Jones and Jason Nichols, both of whom reached the 60-day sobriety mark, and in Logan Klein and Jason Young, who are both doing phenomenal work leading the Divine Shine Auto Detailing business. The signs are there in the eight men in our Stability Program, who are all doing very well, and in Troy Lloyd, who left the Stability Program on Monday to go to college in Missouri to become a minister.
A New Light Shining
Often the most amazing signs are seen in the new participants to Hope CDA, and this is true of Tim Ehlers. Tim came to the program two weeks ago from Ivory Plains Recovery Center. He was living a very challenging life dominated by addiction. However, Tim did not want that life, choosing to go to Ivory Plains before coming to Hope CDA.
At 55, Tim has been renewed. He constantly expresses his thankfulness for this opportunity and is someone that everyone enjoys being around. The father of three is focused on letting God do an amazing work in his life so that the signs will be there for him to be back in the lives of his children.
Come and Celebrate with Us
The stories of Tim and the other participants are the signs that God is doing amazing things at Hope CDA. We don’t need to prove how God has authority over the lives of the participants, volunteers, and staff at Hope CDA. He makes that clear in the miracles He performs every day.
Our theme for this year’s gala is “Writing a New Story,” which will focus on how the transformation in the lives of our men is writing new chapters and stories in lives of thousands of other people. We would like you to join us in the celebration of God’s signs. Our 5th Annual Gala event is on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the DoubleTree. If you would like to join in the celebration, please email Dr. Robert Pannier (Rob.P@hopeCDAcr.org) to be included on our guest list.
As part of the event, we are inviting Christian Comedian-Ventriloquist David Pendleton to perform. It should make for an entertaining and impactful evening that you will not want to miss. Come and make this night a part of your story.
Are You F.A.T.?
Well, you outta be and now you can be. Dr. Robert Pannier’s book, I Wanna Be F.A.T.!, is printed and now available on the Hope CDA website. This book examines three spiritual characteristics that every believer should have on his or her walk with Jesus. Click the Link to get your copy today!
Volunteer Opportunity
The work on 1700 4th Avenue, SE resumed on Friday, August 8, and will continue for each successive Friday until completed. This building will serve as the next Stability House, and we need people who will share some time 1-5 p.m. to help get this building ready. Even if you do not have any construction skills, you can still play a part in helping to make this building a great home for our new graduates. Contact Dr. Pannier if you have questions or want to get involved, or you can simply come to the location.
Prayers for the Week
We ask you to join in prayer for these things:
- We pray for Nick Schiefer, who has an infection in his colon. Pray for healing and relief.
- We pray for Evan Dearborn as we wait for the court to release him from jail to join the Hope CDA program.
- We pray for Chris McFadden and Alex Santiago Rios who are nearing the end of their time in treatment.
- We pray for our upcoming Gala event. May God use it to bring glory to Himself and for even greater success for Hope CDA.
Tuesday Night Encouragement at Hope CDA
On Tuesday, August 12, Foreman Joseph Jurgensmeier will give his testimony and provide a teaching. Joseph has never spoken at Hope on Tuesday before, and the new dad is sure to have a great message. Please come and join us at 5:30 for the meal.
On Tuesday, August 19, the Tuesday Night of Encouragement will move to Mission of Hope (700 B Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402) as the men will begin the Alpha Course each Tuesday evening until the end of October. Alpha is a great course that provides incredible foundational teachings about God and the Bible. Our men always get a lot out of each session.
If you would like to join us each Tuesday, please contact Dr. Pannier (Rob.P@HopeCDAcr.org) so you can be added to the list. Even if you know a lot about the Christian faith, you will enjoy the time of learning and fellowship. Commit yourself to 12 weeks of incredible time with God and your fellow brothers and sisters!
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