Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 Recently, I sat across from an addict who blamed everyone except himself for his life’s problems. I listened politely for a while, but after 15 minutes, I couldn’t take it anymore. My response was truthful, but in…
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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8 Some struggle with admitting guilt and feeling remorse. Whenever I’ve engaged in behavior that has been destructive to myself and those around me though, I’ve felt terrible. I’ve cried and apologized, promising to do better next time. My problem isn’t in admitting my problem. My problem is in…
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John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4 While putting life back together after the disaster of my addiction, I had a decision to make. Was I going to resume my career, rebuild my family, and just keep quiet about…
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Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under . . . Matthew 2:16 Today’s passage provides a horrifying, yet accurate example of what anger does to our brains.…
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An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you . . .” Matthew 2:13 Recently, while speaking at a meeting of recovering addicts, I talked about following my will and contrasted that with following…
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Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. Matthew 2:8 During my first attempt at chemical dependency treatment, I met a guy in group therapy who seemed sincere . . . while the counselor was present. He participated, lamenting his…
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Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:1-2 For the first time in a long time, I missed blogging this morning. As we drove home from the cities late last night (big basketball game), I calculated how much sleep I could get before work today and realized something…
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And you, O Bethlehem . . . from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Matthew 2:6 Our dog is pretty smart . . . for a dog. He learns quickly, and we have to spell certain words – like “walk” – if we don’t want him to hear. For the most…
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He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:24,25 In my own sobriety, I’ve witnessed a problem that many men have in recovery (My observation is limited to the male’s experience). In the disaster of our addiction, we become acutely aware…
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