Regeneration

The End of Toxic Pride

I’ve fed on pods, I must confess,
Out in the field, when hunger pressed,
What’s meant for swine I’ve feasted on,
Midst dung I dined, my gusto gone.

I took my fill of stagnant swill,
Ingested things that might have killed,
I found myself in distant land
Fresh out of luck, life out of hand.

There should have been an ending there
In blending with the empty stares
But something woke and pushed aside
The prison of my toxic pride.

When given strength to journey back
I found the fruit I sorely lacked,
The wine that’s poured from royal blood,
A Father’s feast, prepared in love.

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A Lifelong Reconstruction Project

One of the most sobering chapters in all of Scripture can be found in Deuteronomy 6. In this well-known portion of the Old Testament, we are informed that the Law of God is more than just a series of directives handed down by a Divine Deity. In fact, we learn that obeying the Law is not only a life-long pursuit, but a pursuit that can actually lead to a longer life (6:2). We are also told that obeying the Law is “for our good always and for our survival” (6:24). Further, we are tasked with the mission of not only obeying this Law ourselves, but of passing it on and teaching it to our children (6:6-7). Any one of these three components, when considered on its own, should be enough to convince us that God takes His Law seriously.

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Origins of the Christian Recovery Movement

Effective Christian Help for Drunks by Five Important Groups & Organizations in the 1800’s-long before A.A. was founded in 1935

Young Men’s Christian Association lay workers (1870). Non-denominational work
in revival meetings with conversions and Bible studies. Galvanized the Great Awakening of 1875 in St. Johnsbury. (Bob and Bill both had “Y” connections).

The Gospel Rescue Missions (1872) exemplified by Jerry McAuley and the Water Street Mission in NY, NY – followed by Calvary Rescue Mission where Bill and Ebby each separately made their decisions for Jesus Christ.

Evangelists and Revivalists (1875) Charles Finney, John B. Gough, Dwight Moody, Ira

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Who is Your Hero?

I recently heard a surprising, thought-provoking response to that question. A critique group gathered to practice their public speaking skills. They challenged each other to do a two-minute impromptu talk answering the question, “Who is your hero?”

The last speaker began with an attention-grabbing opening line: I am my hero.

Sounds a bit self-centered, doesn’t it? I wondered immediately whether the guy had trouble getting his big head through the door.

But his explanation made a lot of sense. He’s right, and I really admire the unique look at a common question. Based on his thoughts, here’s my take on myself as my own hero.

I’m a Hero?

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When We are No Longer Invincible

My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

The older I get, the more I become aware of my own frailties. When we’re young, particularly if we’ve been blessed with good health and strength, we fall into the trap of thinking we’re invincible: someone else may step into the street and get mowed down by a truck; someone else might get cancer and die before their thirtieth birthday; someone else may drop dead of a heart attack in the middle of shooting hoops with friends. But not us.

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Tremors

somewhere between physical reality and spiritual mentality
a chord was struck
and I resonated

tremors led to trephining truths
timeless tipped
targeting the center of my existence

midst all the quaking
my excuses became quiet
reacquainted with the ground of my being

when shaking ceased
I found a crease
and a Rock
where I stand amazed.

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An Invitation to Christian Eating Disorder Recovery

Does your eating disorder seem to serve a purpose in your life? Perhaps it seems that it gives you comfort or that it even serves as a distraction from painful underlying issues. Can you imagine your life without the eating disorder? Is there something unexplainable about the eating disorder that keeps you bound to it?

I can relate. It seemed impossible that I would ever be ready to let go of the eating disorder. I was even afraid of what would take its place since I felt there would be a void in my life without it. Eventually, though, I was ready to let go of the eating disorder and allow God to show me a better life without it.

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God will do What He Says

Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

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