Blog

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 When I was in medical training, I met physicians who, though they provided excellent care for patients, were monsters in their personal life. It seemed they thought that because they saved lives, that they could behave horribly outside the…
Read more

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Nearly four years ago, as life fell apart in my drug addiction, my problems only multiplied. Knowing I had to go away to inpatient treatment in a few days, I spent as much time with my kids as I could, and while playing, ended up tearing…
Read more

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28 Whenever I have experienced success in self-control, whether it has been in my drug addiction, thought life or overeating, I have almost immediately succumbed to pride, condescending to those who are still struggling. Look at me. I’ve got self-control. Why…
Read more

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Proverbs 25:16 I often write that we must surrender our destructive desires. Using drugs and donuts as my most common examples might lead you to think that I view sugar consumption and drug abuse as…
Read more

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? . . . Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine . . . Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.…
Read more

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 When I pray for my kids, I usually regress into childlike prayers. God, help my kids to have easy lives, free from pain and struggles. It may not be quite that obvious, but…
Read more

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Proverbs 22:5 I love the Sonoran Desert of the Southwest. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a giant playground of trails and mountains just made for hiking, biking, and exploring. It’s also a dangerous place though. While…
Read more

The desire of the sluggard kills him . . . All day long he craves and craves . . . Proverbs 21:25-26 Recently, a memory popped into my head of a late winter day, perhaps ten years ago, when I first began to realize I had a problem with pills. I was agitated and impatient for…
Read more

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?Proverbs 20:6 Do you ever say that you will do something, only to fail to carry through with it? The addict finds himself in this position frequently. His intentions may be good, but because he continually tells himself – and others…
Read more

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler . . . Proverbs 20:1 I recently listened as a gambling addict detailed his horrific story. Throwing away massive amounts of money and then lying and stealing to cover it up, simply became routine behavior, eventually leading him to prison. It was hard to for me to…
Read more