Rest

Sleep is an important ingredient to recovery.  The Primary Care Collaborative did an extensive study on the effects of sleep on recovery. In their presentation in May, 2019, they summarized, “One of the symptoms of withdrawal is trouble sleeping. As insufficient sleep is correlated with poor self-control, it’s important for recovering addicts to do what…

George Washington

On a rainy day during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington rode up to a group of soldiers attempting to raise a wooden beam to a high position. After watching their lack of success, Washington asked the corporal why he didn’t join in and help, to which the corporal replied, “Don’t you realize that I…

Airplane!

When I was in college, one of the greatest movies of all time came out – Airplane. There was a particular line in the movie that has stuck with me. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.” The audience roared with every corny line of Airplane. But the “sniffing glue” line…

TV vs A Good Book

I’ve never heard anyone say, “The key to my recovery was watching more television.”  Groucho Marx said, “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Research confirms a direct correlation between excessive television reviewing and lessened commitment within marriage. In his…

Poor Preacher

After church one Sunday, young Billy came by to see the pastor at the exit door. He handed the preacher a $10 bill, as he said, “This is for you!” The pastor said, “Why, Billy, you don’t need to give me $10. What is this for?” Billy said, “You need it more than I do.…

Civil War Lesson

On April 12, 1861, Confederates fired 40 cannons at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. With that, the Civil War had begun. For the next four years, friends and families were divided by their competing visions and beliefs. Two former army buddies soon found themselves in conflict. Confederate General Braxton Bragg was in command…

The Right Pursuit

Let me give you six words: We pursue relief; God pursues results. That’s how we get into addiction. We value comfort over character, pleasure over peace, and gratification over God. And relief over results. You will never find sobriety until you become okay with not always being happy. Sometimes, life hurts. And some level of…

The Root of All Evil

“The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s a strong statement. Think of all the things we could have put in place of money, in that verse. “_______ is the root of all evil.” Lust Envy Pride Resentment A bad burrito But the Bible says our problem is the…

The Hammock

For those of us living in America, July 22 is a day of wild celebration. July 22 is . . .  National Mango Day National Penuche Fudge Day National Rat Catcher’s Day National Refreshment Day But more importantly, today is National Hammock Day.  The hammock comes from Spanish culture. They invented the hammock, or “stretch…

Grandpa Didn’t See This Coming

Some things are hard to predict. Just two generations ago, my grandparents’ world would have never seen any of this coming:  A motorized vehicle replacing the horse and buggy Bicycle repair man inventing an airplane The eradication of polio Man walking on the moon A peanut farmer becoming President of the United States The Miracle…