Expiration Date

If you are drinking your milk with a fork, perhaps you missed the date on the side of the carton. It’s called an expiration date. Eggs, milk, most food – they all have expiration dates.  Could there be an expiration date on God’s mercy? God warned, “My people would not listen to me; Israel would…

Line Up Alphabetically

Offering an example of poor communication, baseball legend Casey Stingel said, “All right everyone, line up alphabetically, according to your height.”  Clear communication is important in any sport – including marriage. The Bible warns us to “avoid irreverent babble” (2 Timothy 2:16). Married sex addicts and their spouses have experienced more than their fair share…

Capital with No McDonald’s

Most of us make too many false assumptions. For example, I bet you thought every state capital has a McDonald’s. All of them do – except one.  Montpelier, Vermont, the nation’s smallest state capital with a population of 7,500, has no McDonald’s. What a travesty!  I hear a lot of false assumptions in my work…

A Great Annoyance

Do you know anyone who wants to be right all the time? Someone who thinks they are smarter than everyone else? That is probably most of us. Isaac Asimov said, “People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”  One of the most important things in recovery is…

The Man in the Mirror

Have you ever been somewhere where you ran into the person who contributed the most to your addiction? You were walking along, and suddenly they were there? I know the feeling. I see the person who contributed the most to my own addiction on a regular basis – every time I look in a mirror. …

All in the Family

On January 12, 1971, All in the Family began a nine-year run, finishing the season as television’s top-rated show for six consecutive years. The show featured the Bunker family, which was both hilarious and dysfunctional. Perhaps the reason so many of us watched was because we came from dysfunctional families, as well.  I love what…

A Lie’s a Lie

Addicts are universally superior in one way. We are world class liars. Of course, we don’t consider it lying. We stretch things a bit, exaggerate occasionally, and shade the truth a bit. Mark Twain’s words resonate with many of us. “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”  To all addicts…

President Tyler’s Grandson

President John Tyler held office from 1841 to 1845. Born during the presidency of George Washington, he was a member of the Whig Party. In other words, John Tyler lived a really long time ago. Or did he? Get this – John Tyler’s grandson is still living! How can that be? Tyler’s last child, Lyon…

The Windy City

If you are from the United States, you probably know that Chicago is known as the Windy City. But you may not know why. The nickname doesn’t come from the winds off Lake Michigan. The name “Windy City” was coined by 19th century journalists, in reference to the city’s leaders who were considered “windbags” and…

Choose Hope

There is nothing more valuable than hope. Actor Christopher Reeve was right. “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” Scripture says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Never forget this – in Christ there will always be hope. Charles Spurgeon said it so…