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Category: With Audio

How Quickly Life Changes

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4 I grew up in an evangelical Christian tradition, which placed a high emphasis on making a decision to follow Christ. Over the years, I’ve heard many preachers ask, “What if you died…
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White Trash

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” John 8:1-2 I grew up in a loving, Christian home where I never had to worry about food, shelter, clothing, or security. I had caring, involved…
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Lashing Out

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” John 8:48 Not everyone was caught by surprise when my addiction came to light. There were a couple of individuals who had figured out what was happening, and in my downward spiral, they sought to warn…
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Selective Hearing

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. John 8:47 I once thought that being a Christian insulated me from addiction. I grew up in a Christian home, I believed in God from a young age, and I’ve genuinely…
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The Lies of Addiction

When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 Most of us who’ve been addicted have bought into the lie that the drug is going to improve our lives. When I first started using, I realized I could easily manage my own…
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Spiritual Bastards

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. John 8:44 Growing up, my brother and I fought as brothers will do. After one particularly contentious day, when I was probably five or six, I proclaimed that I didn’t want to live at home with my brother anymore.…
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The Best (and Worst) Thing for the Addict

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 I daily find freedom from my addiction in following Christ. I believe that following his way, instead of my own, is the foundation of my recovery. I also believe however, that Christians have often tragically led addicts astray because we’ve misunderstood…
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It’s Human Nature

Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34 The other day, my son showed me a humorous video reenactment of a conversation between God and Gabriel at creation. At one point in the video, Gabriel suggests that God make healthy food taste good and unhealthy food…
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Freedom Is Doing Whatever I Want, Right?

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:33 When I was a kid, if I’d had my way, I’d probably have just sat on the couch, eating junk food and watching TV all day. Fortunately, I…
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How Many Treatments Does It Take?

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 I’m ashamed to admit it, but my 2014 trip to chemical dependency treatment wasn’t my first attempt. I completed two prior out-patient treatments, spending 10 hours every week for…
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