The year was 1990. Hugh Gallagher entered an essay contest in search of a college scholarship. His assignment was to highlight his personal achievements from the first 18 years of his life. Among Hugh’s claims: “I write award-winning operas. I often tread water for three days at a time. Using only a hoe and a…
In their song, Jesus, Friend of Sinners, Casting Crowns included the following words: “Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth’s become so hard to see. The world is on their way to you, but they’re tripping over me.” Too often, it is those of us who claim a Christian faith and who claim real sobriety who…
In the middle of Jesus’ public ministry, we find this startling verse: “Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66). I would find that disheartening. My initial response would be to chase after those who had dropped out. Not so with Jesus. In the latter part of John 6, we…
J.I. Packer said, “What makes life worthwhile is having an objective.” What is your objective in life? Any kind of success, especially in the arena of recovery, must have a clear objective at its genesis. Notice the process suggested by wise Solomon: “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that;…
A blonde asked the salesman at Best Buy how much the TV that she was admiring would cost. “I don’t serve blondes,” the salesman replied. She returned the next day, having dyed her hair red, and asked the same clerk the same question. “I don’t serve blondes,” the man answered. The next day, the blonde…
How did you learn how to walk? I wasn’t there, but I’ve come to this conclusion: Walking is nothing more than controlled falling. You learned to walk by learning to quit falling. It was only by not falling that you learned how to walk. No one walks without falling a few zillion times first. That’s…
Slavery is still prevalent throughout the world. About 46 million people in 167 different countries are slaves. In a spiritual sense, we are all slaves – to something or somebody. Freedom is simply the ability to decide whose slave you’re going to be. Paul wrote to an entire church that had been set free. “But…
The Universities of North Carolina and Toronto did a fascinating study of 84 people. All 84 participants were given the same set of math problems, but half were placed in a bright room, while the other half were seated in a dark room. The ones in the dark room performed better on the test. Why?…
R.C. Sproul wrote, “If Jesus has one complaint, it would be, ‘My bride never talks to me.’” Notice something Jesus said three times, just before offering us the Model Prayer. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:5). “When you pray, go into your room” (6:6). “When you pray, do not babble…
Willpower won’t work. Dr. Dean Drosnes explains: “Why is surrender, not willpower, the key to recovery? The answer lies in brain science. Prolonged [instances of addictive behavior] damage the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in problem-solving, self-awareness, and controlled behavior. Addiction damages the very part of the brain that could enable the addict to stop.”…