Author: Scott

Philippians 3:12,13 Not that I am already perfect, but I press on . . . forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. One of the most common conflicts between those in church and those in recovery, revolves around identity. Am I a Christian or an addict? The extreme position on one…
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Philippians 3:8-10 I have suffered the loss of all things . . . that I may know him . . . It is natural to be skeptical of the faith of the one in jail or treatment. An addict often becomes hyper-religious in the wreckage of his life, but the insincerity of his faith is…
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Philippians 3:7,8 Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for . . .  the surpassing worth of knowing Christ . . . I have suffered the loss of all things . . . that I may gain Christ. In my addictions to food and drugs, I told myself that I would do anything to…
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Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may . . . shine as lights in the world. When my addiction came to light, I had to leave the emergency room and for months, could not practice medicine. Appropriately, I had to go to treatment if I ever wanted to get back…
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Philippians 2:12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling . . . God, why won’t you help me? I have asked you again and again to fix me and you remain silent. Where are you? Do you not care or am I not your child? Strangely, it was my own defects which led…
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Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. At a weekly bible study in our local jail, I have heard many stories of conflict and fights. Though there are various causes, the most common stories revolve around the remote control. It is not uncommon for…
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Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. My son and I love to rock jump. Few things are as exhilarating as falling through space with heart in throat before plunging into the water below. We have found that in picking a spot from which to jump, perspective matters.…
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Philippians 1:12 I want you to know that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard . . . that my imprisonment is for Christ. As miserable as my addiction and subsequent destruction was for me, it was that much…
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Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Three years ago, a week before life fell apart, I had the opportunity to be involved in a save-a-life kind of event in the emergency room. I remember desperately wanting to be known as…
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Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God . . . that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. When I was a sophomore, playing high school football, I desperately wanted into every varsity game. Each Friday, I thought, Surely, this will be my…
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