Many addicts suffer with depression. They aren’t alone. Major depressive disorder affects 17.3 million American adults (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017). If you struggle with depression, repeat this at least 20 times every day: “Depression lies. It tells you you’ve always felt this way, and you always will. But you haven’t, and you won’t”…
A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor’s office. After the check-up, the doctor pulled the wife aside and told her, “Unless you do the following four things, your husband will die: (a) bring him breakfast in bed every morning, (b) give him a neck massage after work every day, (c) let him control the…
I recently came across this line: “Men were given a brain and reproductive machinery, but only enough blood to run one at a time.” Maintaining sexual integrity is a battle that men have struggled with as long as there have been men. The man who was said to pursue God’s own heart reflected, “How can…
In his classic book, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “Not all who wander are lost.” Let’s talk about purpose. Sometimes, we must wander until we find it. And finding that purpose is critical for addiction recovery. In his best-selling book Unwanted, Jay Stringer concludes, “In the research I completed for my book,…
Israel’s first king died a tragic death. When David heard about it, he responded in a way many of us would not understand. “Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for…
Acting out is to delve into one’s pleasures at all costs. With no regard for the consequences, we return to the thrill – over and over. Recovery, on the other hand, is about self-denial. And self-denial is counterintuitive 100 percent of the time. For many, there is no greater pleasure than sex. Perhaps you can…
Al McGuire once mused, “The only mystery of life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.” There are other great mysteries of life. For example, why do cows always face north or south while eating? Why does lemonade have artificial flavoring, but furniture polish contains real lemon juice? Why do we believe someone when they…
In case there was any doubt about the problem of addiction in America, here are a few numbers. 1. Cost to the economy – $600 billion/year. 2. Addiction is the leading cause of youth suicide. 3. Alcohol contributes to over 200 diseases and health conditions. 4. In the last ten years, 48,000 women died from…
Paul knew what it was to live in difficult times. He struggled in many areas. That is why his counsel to the church of Rome is so helpful to this day. Whether you are in recovery or married to someone who is, consider this simple formula for success. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,…
The following obituary told the story of a dear church member’s unexpected death. “Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members – Someone Else. Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else always did more than his share of the work.…