World’s Worst Transgressor
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I am the world’s worst transgressor I have murdered millions I have made people failures I have made millions of homes miserable I have changed promising people into hopeless social parasites I have driven untold millions to despair I have wasted the weak I have snared the innocent I have caused starving children to know me I have made the hair turn gray on many parents I have ruined millions and shall seek to yet ruin multiplied millions My Name is Addiction |
World’s Greatest Benefactor
I have given life to millions I have made failures successful I have made millions of homes happy World’s Worst Transgressor Read More » Are You Stuck in a Hole?Imagine you’re running a marathon. You’re monitoring the situation, carefully maintaining a reasonable pace based on ability and training. You’ve prepared your body and mind for the race; you know the signs that tell you to run faster or slower, when to drink or eat. You also know about “the wall,” that point where you’ll be tested nearly beyond your ability. You anticipate that burning muscles and aching lungs will challenge desire and discipline. You expect the urge to give up, to stop and allow the pain to subside. The lure of immediate relief will entice you to cast aside goals and dreams, surrendering the satisfaction of the finish line in return for an end to the struggle. Then, without any warning, you fall into a hole. The publicized course didn’t mention this complication. You didn’t train for it, couldn’t see it coming, didn’t prepare survival supplies or pack climbing equipment. There’s no cell phone reception in the hole. You try everything you know to escape from the hole on your own, but Are You Stuck in a Hole? Read More » What About Salvation?
There are a number of aspects to salvation. Salvation isn’t just getting out of hell and into heaven. There are many different things which make up what we refer to broadly as salvation — things What About Salvation? Read More » Why is it Called “Good” Friday?
Jesus did indeed die on what we call Friday – the next to last day of the Jewish week, of which the seventh day was the sabbath. We use essentially the same week, though instead of paying special attention to the seventh day, we give heed to the first day of the week; instead of the sabbath, we celebrate the Lord’s Day. But whatever we call the day – Friday in English, el viernes in Spanish, other names in the other languages of the world – on this particular Friday, Good Friday, we turn our minds to the infinite good that took place on another Friday, 2,000 years ago. Why is it Called “Good” Friday? Read More » Reaching Perfection?
The artist, Salvador Dali is famous for stating one of my favorite quotes:
If one cannot find his depiction of perfection in his work, the same, however, cannot be said about the existence of excellence there. It is pervasive. Imagination, bravery and human imperfections are all there. And, I believe, that’s part of why we identify so strongly with his art. We can relate to Reaching Perfection? Read More » Abused? God has victory for You!There are many of us out there who have been bullied and abused. Many of us are underdogs, the forgotten, the least likely. And that is precisely why one of the things that I love most about God is His viewpoint on that status. God’s “M.O.” is one of championing the underdog, encouraging him/her, and exalting/promoting that individual, not just in spite of the odds, but quite often, because of them. Abused? God has victory for You! Read More » Discipline Or Regret: Which Pain Do We Embrace?I don’t know who said it, but there is a quote which goes something like:
Nevertheless, it is a reality check, especially for those of us in recovery from any particular thing which has seized our pleasure centers, all in an effort to escape pain. We desire pleasure to soothe, numb or obliterate our pain. We believe the lie it will happen. Furthermore, we also believe there can be no good thing which comes from denying our indulgences for it. Therefore, as we stumble and relapse, we often choose to embrace the pain of regret concerning our addictions and the harmful consequences which can follow. It’s not to shame anyone. Rather, it’s, again, to provide the reality check that none of us are immune from relapse and bad decisions. We are all vulnerable.
It’s acknowledged in the first two Twelve Steps: Discipline Or Regret: Which Pain Do We Embrace? Read More » Grace Brings Context to Our LivesThe Grace of Jesus brings true context to our lives. If you examine your meaning by any other context, you cheapen your worth. Also, relationships viewed through the lenses of Grace take on an unalterable value. Apart from Grace we tend to use people and love things. Grace implores us to use things and love people!
Grace Brings Context to Our Lives Read More » Unbreakable Grace
It’s irritating, yet also meditative, as it got me thinking about the whole grace thing. Memories: Ouch!
And, with that flooding, often comes the tinged bittersweet feelings that accompany a childhood innocence of long ago. I recently caught a funny post on the internet. It read: “Memories: Ouch!” They say humor is humor because it is unflinching truth. And that certainly was the case with this post. |
which themselves are great and marvelous, and which together make up a mighty work which only God could conceive and carry out, and which, like all His works, depends only and entirely on His purpose and power and not on anything in the work or its result.
