10 Reasons Why A Christian Might Need Recovery

Never before has there been a greater opportunity to teach the power and significance of reconciliation and restoration in relationships as guided by the Holy Spirit.

During my 40 plus years of ministry there have been many milestones.  I thank God for the many positive and rewarding events in my life.  Unfortunately there were other times that were not my proudest moments.

Not only did I fail God during these turbulent times, but I am also painfully aware that I was the cause of hurt and pain for many people. As a believer committed to the principles set forth in the Scriptures, I take every opportunity to “repair the breach” as recorded in the book of Isaiah.  According to the recovery paradigm, we are responsible for our actions and thus we must make amends to the people we have mistreated or offended.

If we are interested in reconciliation our focus should not be to blame other or burden them with shame. Our aim is to seek  diligently for a way to reconnect. The pain of separation has to long lived in my heart and spirit. God is calling us to unity as a people and a nation.

What Does The Bible Say About Reconciliation?

 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  2Cor 5:18, 19 

Jesus took upon himself the weight of the sin of others.  We must learn to approach others even if we are the wounded or violated party. We go towards them because Christ has gladly and joyfully died for us. As we have freely received we freely give. The sin of pride is a major hindrance in the process of reconciliation.

Yes we have been hurt however; we recognize that our daggers have cut deeply as well.

With regard to the hurt we have caused others, we must recognize that the mere utterance of “I am sorry” is not enough. Those words do not reflect a Biblical principle of reconciliation.

The Biblical paradigm requires godly sorrow followed by repentance for our wrongdoing.  The words “I am sorry” are simply a phrase of convenience used by humans to help them feel better about their actions. By not naming our specific transgressions we are not taking full responsibility for how we have hurt others.

Reconciliation means taking ownership of our own actions.

Selfish and self-centered people tend to minimize their actions and culpability. Denial is a skill learned in our youth that insulates us from the pain of reality. Identify your actions. If Jesus humbled himself even to the death of the cross, how dare we make efforts to make ourselves look better than we are. Brokenness and contriteness are prerequisites for reconciliation. However, our ability to attain this attitude directly hinges on our intentional willingness to specifically identify and confess our actions and behaviors.

• Does pride hinder you from being reconnected to your spouse or loved one?
• Do you go to sleep at night refusing to be restored in a holy manner to people placed in your life by the Holy Spirit?
• Have there been years since your last friendly dialogue with various loved ones?

Remember it is not important who is at fault. It is not our job to decide who is right or who is wrong. Because of Calvary we pray “Lord I want to be restored”. Then our heart says in response to conviction “show me how”.

I hope as you read this article you are challenged to travel on the road to reconciliation.

Restoration in all your relationships; especially those in which you were chiefly responsible for the injury, is essential.  Be very careful that in your efforts to reconcile you are not looking for an easy way out or in other words the “cheap seats.” To be confronted and to seek the forgiveness of others is far more pleasing to God than choosing the path that costs nothing.

I encourage you to embrace reconciliation as we begin a new year.

Related articles

• Love… the most powerful reconciliation tool (eigeges.wordpress.com)
• Restoration To God’s Favor (pureglory.net)
• Reconciliation (traskman.wordpress.com)

In his book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer quotes from the 1919 Archbishops Committee on the evangelistic work of the church, To evangelize, declared the Committee, “is so to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church.[1]”

What a powerful statement. Note the clarity of the charge. This is not a mere casual mention of Christ or the need to attend church but a revolutionary statement demanding that one’s life be turned over completely to God. He becomes their King!

When speaking of the ministry of the Apostle Paul; who saw himself as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus, a slave, a servant, a herald, Packer offers these thoughts; “Hence, on the one hand, his (Paul’s) sustained boldness and unshakeable sense of authority in face of ridicule and indifference; hence, on the other hand, his intransigent refusal to modify his message in order to suit circumstances. These two things, of course, were connected, for Paul could regard himself as speaking with Christ’s authority only as long as he remained faithful to the terms of his commission and said neither less nor more that he had been given to say.[2]”

And lastly, Packer summarizes his chapter on Evangelism with these thoughts, “Evangelizing, therefore, is not simply a matter of teaching, and instructing, and imparting information to the mind. There is more to it than that. Evangelizing includes the endeavor to elicit a response to the truth taught. It is communication with a view to conversion. It is a matter, not merely of informing, but also of inviting. It is an attempt to gain, or win, or catch, our fellow-men.[3]”

This brings me to the meat of this writing, fishing for men.

Evangelism?  Majority of Christians Are Not Soul Winners

Most Christians by and large are not soul winners.

That being said, it should not come as a surprise as this is a statistical reality. According to research, only 3% – 10% of all members have the “gift of Evangelism.” These people, with the gift, have a “burn” to win souls.

The reality of the numbers indicates that the other 90%-97% do not have a burning desire to win souls. Let’s translate that into real numbers.

Let’s say you have a congregation of 50 people. Using the high end of the statistical estimate (10%) that would mean that there are 5 people in the congregation who; according to Larry Gilbert are “constantly consumed with the need of confronting sinners with the gospel or encouraging other Christians to do the same.[4]”

Gilbert  goes on to make this observation on the difference or role between those with the gift of Evangelism and the rest who have the Biblical mandate to witness; “the largest difference in the function of these two groups is the methods, not the results of each. The witness has the responsibility to take advantage of the opportunities God provides for him to actively present the Gospel, while the evangelist has the responsibility to make opportunities for himself.[5]”

Further he states, “The real problem is that only five percent of those with the gift of evangelism are actually leading people to Christ.” “The problem occurs when the blame is placed on the ninety-nine and one-half percent for not evangelizing. The blame should be put on the ninety-five percent of the gifted evangelists who are not fulfilling their mission and calling. They are the ones God has called to do the job.[6]”

How Do I Increase Evangelism?

If this is true, our efforts to increase evangelism efforts would be to identify, encourage and train those members, albeit five of them, to exercise their spiritual giftedness.

Next, experienced fisherman know that in the lakes, streams, brooks, ponds, rivers, seas and oceans there are a multitude of fish. In fact, there are over 29,000 species of fish. Now, these fish respond differently depending on the kind of bait used.

There are varied techniques applied to fishing depending on the type of fish you want to catch, their location (stream, river, lake, ocean), the type of water (fresh water or salt water) the time of day or night, their location in the water (trout vs. catfish), and your experience as a fisherman.

Also, there is a difference between the weekend fisherman who fishes his local streams and lakes and the professional fisherman who may own his own boat and fish commercially and then there are the fleet commercial fishers.

From one end of the spectrum to the other, different tactics are employed to successfully harvest fish.

I submit, that successful ministries in addition to prayer, fasting and study of scripture, learn the nature of the fish they are after and like the successful fisherman, use the correct bait, timing and nets to attract and harvest the fish they’re after.

What kind of fish are we after? What kind of bait will they respond to? When is the best time to fish for them?

To answer these questions is to begin a successful campaign at winning the lost.

I close these thoughts with a quote from the Art of War by Sun Tzu. “The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.”

Related articles

• An alternative to cold evangelism (savouringthegospel.wordpress.com)
• Evangelism Defined Simply (trinitytuscaloosa.wordpress.com)
• THE GOSPEL AND PERSONAL EVANGELISM – Mark Dever (2007) (baldreformer.wordpress.com)

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What Is Anger Management

Anger management is the process of managing anger. Anger is an emotion experienced by youngsters and grownups alike. When one thing or someone interferes with an individual in a destructive manner, it might probably trigger them to turn into angry. Anger is a traditional response to such a situation.

Nonetheless anger will be classed as a light or intense irritation. Depending on the person, the circumstance and their emotions, anger could trigger a person to develop into enraged or even furious.

People who become angry behave in numerous ways. Some lash out or grow to be extremely defensive.

Different individuals are likely to keep their anger to themselves, bottling up their negative emotions and hurt. Whereas some people change into reckless and even abusive. Anger is usually a terribly dangerous emotion if it is not controlled.

Controlling anger is considered anger management

The first step to controlling anger issues it to confess there’s a problem. Some individuals have main anger issues but can not see it. Naturally something happens to set a person off making them angry. People, who have hassle admitting to their anger and accepting responsibility for their actions, typically play the blame game.

They have problem seeing the scenario as being their fault. There’s all the time one thing or someone to blame. Their fits of anger are at all times blamed on something else. These individuals might actually use a couple of classes in anger management. However they need to settle for their actions and reactions for what they’re, anger.

Many people who’ve anger issues find it demeaning when anger management is suggested. Unable to simply accept their problem prevents them from in search of the assistance they require. If a person continues down a path where they’re consistently angry and acting out, it would ultimately trigger major problems. With out anger administration this individual will likely experience loss, loss of their family, loss of their job and lack of their very own identity.

Anger Management Is Not a Punishment

It’s essential to convince the individual with anger issues, anger management is just not meant to be a punishment but rather to help them have a greater high quality of life. Anger Management is designed to help the individual work out their issues, assist them figure out why they grow to be so angry. It also teaches the person to not be enslaved by their feelings, their anger. Anger administration is meant to show the person methods which forestall them from getting angry as often or for very long.

There are all sorts of anger administration strategies. There are packages created specifically to help those with anger issues. These packages are damaged down to address completely different people, children, teenagers, adults, couples and families. These anger management applications are in place to teach or assist people to work on their anger. Teaching people strategies for figuring out their issues and controlling their anger are important in anger management.

Anger may be a wholesome, normal emotion however when the anger takes over an individual’s life making them damaging and violent, it is a huge problem. Not only does the anger destroy the individual nevertheless it additionally impacts everyone and every thing around them. Anger administration could change this particular person and ensure a wholesome, normal life.

As reported by Watts. M. Callier, in The Addictive Behaviors, an individual can come to be dependent, addicted, or compulsively obsessed with just about any activity, chemical substance, object, or simply action that gives him or her pleasure.

The aforementioned applies to Christians. All too often we see the signs and choose to look the other way; resolved to mind our own business. Whose ever heard the story of the “Good Samaritan?”

What are Addictive Behaviors?

There are actually similarities between physical addiction to liquor as well as other chemical compounds, and a mental dependence that occurs with such activities as compulsive wagering, sex, and eating problems. Lots of people with addictive behaviors report a blackout for the time they were engaging in the actions and don’t remember what amount or what these bought, and so forth. Endorphins are produced in the brain during an addicting activity plus a experience of well-being and euphoria outcome, that may cause some individuals getting into an paralyzing cycle.

Any behaviors of the addicted person can progress into negative overall health and/or societal repercussions because the man or woman will become obsessed and will eventually try to get the chemical substance or activity within the detriment for work or ethical connections.

Addictive Behaviors Can Be Compulsive

He or she will compulsively do the activity whether or not there’s no desire to do so, when not doing the activity alienation problems will regularly occur, like being easily annoyed, desiring, plus restlessness. The individual won’t feel like issues exists because of the habit forming conduct, and also deny that it is influencing them and even their livelihood, even though confronted by troubled relatives and buddies participants. He or she may feel like it’s merely a bad practice, they’ve got full deal with of the state of affairs, and that they are able to handle just how often these stick to any behavior, which is during direct opposition of the term compulsion.

Depression is typical during people who have addictive behaviors, mainly because is certainly low self-worth, and commonly come from psychologically or personally abusive families.

As per specialized literature, there isn’t well-known consensus as to the etiology, prohibition, together with treatment for obsessive conditions. Lots of individuals take into account these behaviors conditions while others think of them to get manners resulting from a mixture of heredity together with environmental factors.

Some disagree with the fact that addictive behaviors happen to be medical conditions simply because there isn’t certain produce together with course of treatment used by all experts. This scarcity of agreement among scientists together with health care individuals results in difficulties with deterrence together with cure solutions, because no one method succeeds for every single addict together with his or her addiction.

All this absent, there are various sorts of counseling that do succeed, together with continue to be a very good meant for medication for obsessive manners.

Related articles

• Addictive Behaviors and the Addictive Process (bariatricrecoverycoaching.wordpress.com)
• How To Tell Who is Right about Addiction (psychologytoday.com)
• Addiction Has A New Definition – It Is A Disease, Not Just Bad Choices Or Behaviors (medicalnewstoday.com)

There are many Christians who are continually plagued with the notion of being under attack. In their thoughts, unkind people, Satan, or the forces of evil have targeted them – they become victims!

I pose to you the following question. When really are we actually victims? The answer is more intricate when compared with what exactly many people decide to believe.

It really is a fact that Satan hates us and he is dedicated to our discomfort in addition to defeat. On the other hand, it is also legitimate that God is still developing your characters into that, which reflects Him.

I cannot with good conscious, call the “developmental plan of God” an attack from hell. Nor do I believe that life has not been  fair to me because of what I am going through or what exactly I have gone through. “For all things do work together for the good to them that love the Lord”.

The truth about feelings and “victims”.

The perceptions of our reality are dictated by the state of our hearts.

Narcissism is the idea of being preoccupied with our selves. Narcissistic folks always feel victimized, never seeing that they often give more pain as compared with what they have received.

Too often the  predicaments that we find ourselves in have been produced by our own choices, fostered by our faulty perceptions.

We are products associated with what we think. We will not be any better than what our imagination of ourselves allow us. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. (Proverbs 23:7) Is it so inconceivable that we have thought our way into many of the unfolding dramas in our life.

The Bible cautions us about being led by emotions, feelings, or hunches. Our path should not be directed by circumstances, conditions, or surroundings. Things however, will happen.  Failures will occur. We will make mistakes.   Even so, we shall be guided by the Spirit of our Lord and not the spirit of pity.

Victims Can Become Slaves To Negative Emotions

We become victims when we are enslaved by the negative emotions in addition to feelings that have resulted from the attacks of people as well as other adversaries. Thoughts of victimization really are subjective, and are often based upon past experiences in addition to exposures.

Feelings are valid emotions not necessarily valid truths or facts. What you feel is your reality not necessarily “the” reality.

As believers we must struggle past the garbage around us (the actual garbage that causes feelings associated with victimization) in addition to the garbage in us (emotions that cause us to feel inadequate), and fight to pull down a direction from the Lord.

The people around us need us to release our hurts in addition to grudges. Your focus is to be on the prize of the mark of the high calling of God.

Our cause is just but not our emotions.  The pulpit of our life is for Good news. Our lives are not to be a celebration connected with what went wrong with us. God has not anointed us to to celebrate pity. Charles Wesley said “a charge to keep I have and a God to glorify”. We would do well to remember these words in our times of feeling like a victim.

In your anger do not sin…

Most Christians are familiar with the above verse from Ephesians 4:26. This tells us something very important – there is an anger that is acceptable.

In Ephesians chapter 4, we have two seemingly conflicting statements. In verse 26, we seem to be commanded to be angry; in verse 31 we seem to be commanded not to be angry. Here is the resolution to what seems to be a contradiction.

The anger which is a manifestation of our flesh is to be put off. The anger which is a manifestation of God’s righteousness is to be put on.

There is the “anger of man”, which “does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20), and the anger which is an expression of God’s righteousness. We are commanded in our text to be angry in a way that is righteous, that is a reflection of God.

Christians are people like everyone else. We hurt, laugh, and sometimes get very angry. However, sometimes our anger can get us into deep trouble.

Uncontrolled anger, anger that is a manifestation of the flesh,  can exact enormous costs. That impulse or feeling that felt so right and so justified later becomes the source of guilt and anguish. The incident that seemed so deserving of your outrage has quickly passed. But, the scars resulting from the inappropriate behavior have become the trophies of our moments of insanity and dysfunction.  What we now feel are the hurt, shame and the alienation. We ask ourselves, “Was it worth it”?

High Cost of Anger

A severe example of the damage that anger can bring is seen in what happened in Reading, Mass. on July 5, 2000. What began as a simple hockey practice, with kids taking turns slapping shots at the goalie, ended in murder. Michael Costin, 40, whose three sons were on the ice, was informally supervising the play. After a while things got a bit rough, and Thomas Junta, 42, one of a handful of people in the stands, complained loudly to Costin when his 10-year-old took an elbow to the nose. Accounts vary, but some say Junta stepped to the edge of the ice, where he and Costin got into a shoving match, and a rink employee ordered Junta to leave the building.

He did. But a short time later Junta returned and confronted Costin outside the locker room. At that point, Junta knocked Costin to the floor and kneeling on his chest, “Was doing a job on him, wacking him…and slapping his head on the floor,” Reading Police Chief Edward Marchand told The Boston Globe. When officers arrived, Costin, whose sons witnessed the beating, was unconscious and had no pulse. Two days later he was removed from life support and died. It was just a stick practice, and because of anger, one father died, and one went to prison. Anger grips our lives and causes us to do things we later wish we had not done.

Excerpted from http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/topical/be_angry.htm

If you find that your anger controls you, every one of your relationships may be affected.

Unbridled anger will cause your friends and companions to distance themselves from you, walls thicken, and friendships may eventually fade away. Children may become hardened and resistant to your affections, while all along carrying deep feelings of worthlessness.  Co-workers may withdraw or sabotage your projects, bosses become critical.

What can/will you do about your anger?  God has answers in His word.

God’s truth is ray of light to the individual lost in an ocean of wounded feelings and damaged emotions. Christians have an anchor for the soul. Jesus is our Christ and redeemer. There is hope for our humanity. You no longer have to lie and justify inappropriate behavior. You can simply own your stuff, humble yourself and confess that you are often out of control.

After telling God about your state and predicament, find a person to whom you can be accountable. You will discover a lessening of the momentum that has been driving the behavior. We will never be perfect. But, we can become mature about who we are and heal the relationships around us that are meaningful and essential to our existence.

The road to a better life is a process. It consists of daily activities filled with accountability and underlined by humility. You see, pride has fueled our “feelings of being taken advantage of”. While we have real feelings, often they are not based upon valid facts.

God is real. He is not an allusion. He promises to give you “the peace that passes all understanding”.

When you are angry, make sure it is the anger which is an expression of God’s righteousness.

Otherwise, your anger is merely a manifestation of the flesh, which is sin.

Related articles

• Is It Really Worth Being Angry? (pastorpaulvbsblog.blogspot.com)
• 3 Foundations for Helping Kids Express Anger Effectively (pdresources.wordpress.com)

Successful marketing means being aware of the needs and wishes of the mainstream – your market and this works very well in business.

Corporate America would have it no other way. Sensitivity to the mainstream allows a company to sell their products or services. Find a felt need and fill it is the basic mantra. The mainstream has money and businesses needs money to stay in the black. Unfortunately, some churches operate under the same notion.

I am a pastor in a small community with no desire of paying the price to be a part of the mainstream. I will not bite the apple of the tree of popularity, wealth, and palatial surroundings. I am not qualified to judge anyone but I know sin from personal experience. Regardless of the shape, size, or allure of the activity, forbidden behavior is well defined in the scriptures.

If it is wrong to sin for a penny, it is just as wrong to sin for a million dollars.

In our modern society, many pastors have lost sight of the biblical mandate. God did not call us to be social giants or members of the popular mainstream. When we join the status quo, it often calls for compromise.

This may seem harsh but the reality of my position is being demonstrated in the theology and preaching of many in the mainstream church.

The unwillingness  of the mainstream church to stand for biblical principles because they often make Christians unpopular  is evident.

Mainstream Church = Political Power & Influence

I recently read a comment in Christianity Today by Adelle M. Banks which stated, “Like it or not, when you become politically active,  you become associated with the politicians you support,” Balmer said, alluding to many evangelicals’ embrace of the GOP. “Once you begin to covet political power and influence, you lose the prophetic voice.”

In an earlier blog, I stated that the Christian Right is Wrong for being so political and not spiritual.

As believers we maintain that there is power in the word of God. It is the power of God unto salvation. Mainstream preachers have become skillful at preaching messages that make folks feel good, but fail to bring the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Their intent is to make folks feel safe.  Many ministers in these mainstream churches refuse to go off the reservation. They are allotted a safe piece of ground and there they will be fed.

Not only have too many pastors embraced the politically correct, they too have embraced the idea of duality.

I will say what most mainstream pastors will not dare say publicly. Christianity in its purest form can not and will not ever tolerate pluralism. It is not a matter of religious bigotry or intolerance. It is a matter of integrity.

Many consider the Bible to be an outdated, archaic book of fables and old wives tales. They have reduced the scriptures to just another book of antiquity. This has not changed my belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

I do not see myself as being better than others. Neither do I feel more loved by God than anyone else. However, I would not be true to my faith or myself if I believed that there was another way to God other than His son Jesus the Christ.

Our Lord died for a principle and many mainstream pastors refuse to ruffle the feathers of those who support them and their agenda financially.

Mainstream Church Fulfills Biblical Prophecy

Ironically the compromising mainstream ministers and their supporters are fulfilling the biblical prophecy for the end game.

For example.  Harold Camping, the infamous heretic who proclaimed the end of the world was to take place on May 21, 2011, was absolutely wrong about the date. His arrogance would not allow him to relent or simply wait on the timing of God.

All Christians who are born again believe in biblical teaching of the last days. Some are pre-millennial others are post-millennial. These are merely theological differences held between believers in Jesus Christ. Most still believe in a rapture. All believe that Jesus Christ is the only way.

Mainstream preachers cloak controversial spiritual teachings in order to remain in the mainstream. For a remnant of us, the price for acceptance into the American mainstream is too high. We would rather obey God.

Christians are not immune to the ravages of addictions or addictive behavior. Although salvation promises that we become “new creations”; it is still likely that most of us will bring our old baggage into our new Christian experience.

Often Christians with addiction issues avoid counseling or other treatment options to avoid perceived stigmas associated with such addiction(s) as substance abuse, alcoholism, sexual additions, and eating disorders.

In this short article, I will briefly touch on some of the tale-tell signs of addictive behavior. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, a family member or friend, remember that help is available.

As reported by W. R. Miller, inside the Addictive Behaviors, a person might turn out to be reliant, hooked, or even compulsively enthusiastic about just about any action, chemical substance, thing, or even action which gives him / her fulfillment.

Exactly what are obsessive (addictive) habits?

There are actually parallels relating to actual physical dependence on liquor and also other substances, plus a subconscious dependancy occurring together with many of these actions like uncontrollable gaming, sexual activity, along with over eating conditions.

Lots of individuals along with addicting conditions record some sort of blackout in the point in time these folks were performing the actual routine and even don’t recall the quantity of or even exactly what these people paid for, etcetera.

Addiction Gives a False Sense of Euphoria

Endorphins are actually discharged inside the chemistry of the brain in the course of a addictive adventure as well as a sense connected with well-being and also excitement outcomes, which commonly trigger lots of people starting a particular hard to kick pattern.

The actual conduct for the hooked man or woman can develop directly into undesirable wellness and/or community repercussions since particular person has become addicted and will eventually try to get any element as well as action in the detriment associated with job or even ethical family relationships.

The affected individual is going to compulsively do the game whether or not there isn’t a need to do this, you should definitely carrying out the game drawback problems will regularly show up, including depression, wanting, plus uneasyness.

The person will not feel like a situation exist as a result of addicting habits, not to mention refute that it must be impinging on him or her and additionally his or her living, no matter if faced with interested loved ones people.

The affected individual may well feel like it’s simply a unhealthy routine, they have got 100 % manage of this state of affairs, and they are able to deal with precisely how regularly these people participate in the actual conduct, that’s within immediate resistance of this phrase compulsion.

Sadness is usually normal within people that have addicting actions, because is actually lower self-worth, plus they commonly result from emotionally or even actually violent family’s.

How To Tell Who Is Right About Addiction

Based on specialist document, there isn’t any typical agreement regarding the etiology, prohibition, as well as treatment solution associated with addicting problems. Lots of people take into consideration these types of habits disorders while some think about these to end up being actions caused by blending genetics as well as the environmental components.

Many people differ which addicting actions tend to be illnesses mainly because there isn’t any clear trigger as well as treatment course employed by virtually all experts. The insufficient understanding between investigators as well as medical care experts leads to complications with avoidance as well as medication solutions, simply because no-one methodology works out for each abuser as well as their dependancy.

All of this apart, there are many sorts of counseling that succeed, as well as remain to be an excellent addiction recovery tools with regard to remedy associated with addicting actions.

Keep in mind, the addiction or behaviors associated with addiction are merely the symptoms of more severe underlying causes beneath the surface.

An alcoholic does not drink simply to get drunk. Most often he/she is anesthetizing themselves from deeper pain or issues they choose not to face. Alcohol is their “drug” of choice.

For a deeper look into how issues can plague our lives and subvert our productivity and relationship with God and others, I recommend you grab a copy of the Issue Driven Life. – Click here to review.

Related addiction articles

• How To Tell Who is Right about Addiction (psychologytoday.com)
• Addiction and Enabling (socyberty.com)

Samson is one of the most famous of the biblical characters. Renown for his great strength and courage we first learn about him in Sunday school.

And then there is the famous Cecil B. DeMille film “Samson & Delilah” with Victor Mature and Heddy Lamar. Who can forget those scenes.

But the story of Samson is important. It is one of Major Miscalculations.

Samson was the main attraction at the party to end all parties. The Philistines were amusing themselves as their former enemy was now the source of their derision. Samson, once feared because of his cunning and strength, was now a tragic comic display. They called out what was now a blind hulk of a man and forced him to do tricks in front of the drunken crowd.

Samson – how the mighty had fallen.

As the night of festivities went on and on, Samson did something he had done little of the most of his life. He prayed. In that simple prayer he asked God to let him have the last laugh on his enemies.

How Did Samson Lose His Way?

What had brought Samson to this terrible, desperate place? He had made a series of huge miscalculations.

As we explore the many miscalculations in this story we see the hand of God.  Samson had more potential than anyone in the Old Testament with the possible exception of Moses, yet he failed miserably. He became the most worthless of the Judges. The excitement of all his adventures does not overshadow the tragedy of his wasted life. A life wasted best describes this powerful and yet tragic person. How many of us today will travel this same path?

There are events that preceded the above story? Some are astounding and others are simply pathetic. But, that is the life of Samson. It is filled with both monumental highs and shattering lows.

Samson came from family whose heritage was prayer and in being yielded to the Lord. His family offered him up to the Lord, as was the custom in those days. Samson took the oath of a Nazarite but never lived it.  His promise to God seemed to have little value when compared to his personal passions.  How many of us do the same? How many start out with pure ideals and promises of doing well but end up distracted by the lures of the world.  Weakened by uncontrollable appetites they fail to maintain.  We promise God obedience yet live in rebellion.

Samson could serve as the prototype of today’s high profile politicians, entertainers and public personalities that boldly claim to represent family values.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anthony Wiener, Tiger Woods and John Edwards just to name a few are tragic cases in point. How often the mighty fall for the fragrance of a temptress.

Consider the wisdom from the Proverbs.

She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;

now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.

She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,

“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;

so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.

For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;

he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast

till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

-         Proverbs 7:12-23

What powerful words these are. Too many men have fallen victim to ungodly thoughts and inordinate feelings. I am fascinated by the contemporaneous value of advice given thousands of years ago and even more so by the fact that it is still ignored. The Proverb admonishes us is that it is such ill-advised action that will cost one their life.

Samson Let His Issues Rule His Life

Samson also had anger issues and often allowed himself to lose control in outbursts of sheer havoc. The anger did not seem to bother Samson and it often led him into sin. Can we conclude from his life that one cannot afford to break promises to God and live as though there are no consequences? The bible calls people who break their promises to God – Truce Breakers.

On the surface, all of these men had potential. But in order to understand what went wrong, we must look at the inner state of these men. With so much to gain by adhering to the rules why then would they risk so much for so little.

I humbly offer the notion that these men have very low self-esteem. Generally you don’t think of the famous personalities and powerful politicians as being insecure or of having low self esteem, but in my experience, the insecure need validation more than others.

Some feed off the applause of the crowd; others need the attention of pretty women. Still there are those who need to be worshiped as heroes and the accompanying adoration. These are issues stemming from their childhood. These unresolved internal conflicts go on to create all kinds of havoc in their adult life. People with addictive personalities are sired from unmet inner needs.

We now understand that there may be issues that drive the negative behavior. Are individuals wise or irresponsible who ignore their compulsive tendencies?  Can we indulge our passions and not look over our shoulder with trepidation?

Samson followed his passion and married poorly. His unbridled sexuality did not further the plan of God.  Many like Samson have experienced the devastation caused by this addictive behavior. A life of major miscalculations best describes the character of Samson’s existence.

Samson miscalculated thinking that he could live life recklessly and that his strength would not leave him. He did not weigh the consequences of walking outside of the path of righteousness. Many make the same mistake and still expect to be effective?

The Philistines too miscalculated. They assumed the power and strength of Samson was of human design.

While Samson failed to uphold his end of his Nazarite vow, God never failed. Now blind and seemingly defeated, Samson finally “saw” the true purpose of his life.

In the end he prayed a sincere prayer and God answered. He used Samson to defeat the enemy.

How much more of a powerful life he could have enjoyed if only he chose to obey.

What is the morale of this story? We can realize our true potential is we trust God and take Him at his word. He is able to do what He promises through His word.  To disobey is a miscalculation with often dire results that could have been avoided.