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Month: July 2020

The Billy Graham Syndrome

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 A close friend and I do a fair amount of addiction and jail ministry together, both knowing that we’re not evangelists. We’re just two guys trying to help others in need. We’ve joked many times though, that if…
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My Dysfunctional Relationship with Food

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts . . . Acts 2:46 Food and eating means different things to different people. Some see food simply as nutrition or fuel. They know what’s healthy and so, they eat only what’s…
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I Disagree

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. Acts 2:44 Addicts come up with some whacky ideas. Once, while sitting in jail Bible study, an addict told me that God commanded him to share his faith with his drug dealing friends. In order to gain their trust, he had to first…
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The Problem with Christians

They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Acts 2:45 Though I’ve been in recovery for a few years, I’ve still got my struggles. I might be sober, but I remain prideful, judgmental, and selfish. Twice over the last year, I’ve learned of acquaintances who, in…
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What do Summer Camp and Jail Have in Common?

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. Acts 2:43 When I was a kid, I went to a Christian camp every summer where I lived, for one week, in an environment that was designed to promote faith. I remember feeling an authentic closeness to God…
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If I Wrote the Bible

And they devoted themselves to church for an hour, once a week on Sunday, unless the weather was really nice, or the Vikings played early. Acts 2:42 (Scott’s Lazy Revised Version) Most of us addicts, when introduced to all the effort required for recovery – go to treatment, attend meetings, avoid using friends, change your…
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Is Obesity a Disease?

Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Acts 2:40 Is this a behavioral problem of poor self-control or is this a disease? In my circles, this question is usually addressing drug addiction, but the other day, it came up regarding obesity. By any modern medical definition, obesity is an abnormal condition that causes significant harm to…
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Recovery Lessons from the Grill

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 A few years ago, my family got me a new grill for Father’s Day. It came disassembled in a box and so, it…
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The Right Question

Brothers, what shall we do? Acts 2:37 God, why won’t you remove this problem from my life? Why don’t you fix this? Most of us who have struggled with some trial have prayed this way. We believe in God and we know that we’re supposed to ask him for help when we need it. So,…
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Living on the Corner of Grace and Grace

Note: This is the written version of yesterday’s video blog, which can be viewed at Faith in the Struggle’s Facebook page. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. Acts 2:28 One terrible morning in the fall of 2014, as my wife was…
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