Jump!

There is a story in the AA “Big Book” that reads, “I stopped wondering ‘Why me?’ a long time ago. It’s like a man standing on a bridge in the middle of a river with his pants on fire, wondering why his pants are on fire. It doesn’t matter. Just jump in the water!” The…

Grover Cleveland

It was perhaps the greatest government cover-up in history. In May of 1893, President Grover Cleveland noticed a rough spot on the roof of his mouth, which was soon diagnosed as a cancerous growth the size of a quarter. At the time, America was going through a financial crisis, and the White House feared that…

A Way Out

Are you going through a “down” time right now? Is life a struggle? Is your sobriety in jeopardy? If you are walking through a valley this week, take heart. God has you right where he wants you.  Oswald Chambers said, “If a man cannot prove his religion in the valley, it is not worth anything.”…

Reach vs Grasp

Let me give you a thought to ponder. Our reach must exceed our grasp. In other words, no matter how much you have grasped (in recovery or in life), keep reaching. Never let what you have keep you from reaching for more.  Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but…

Bricks

I love the words of David Brinkley: “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” Booker T. Washington said it a bit differently. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles…

New Data on Sex Addiction

Here are three statistics on sex addiction that may surprise you. 42.7% of internet users view pornography. There are more sex addicts in America than the population of 47 states. More than 80% of female porn addicts seek out multiple partners, casual sex, and affairs, which is more than men in all three categories.  The…

Co-MVPs

Something rare happened in baseball, 20 years ago today. Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were named co-MVPs of the World Series. This was unprecedented because in each Series, one player always stands out as the most outstanding performer. But this year was different. Johnson and Schilling each pitched multiple games of near…

Disease or Choice?

Is addiction a disease or a choice? The short answer is yes. Health expert Lorelie Rozzano writes, “Many believe addiction is not a disease because it’s caused by the person’s choice to use. That’s true. The first time is a choice.” In simple terms, we “catch” this disease in various ways, often from trauma, abuse,…

Politicians

This time next year, those of us who live in America will be going to the polls. Groucho Marx offered a world of wisdom on the subject: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” Ron Paul may have had it right: “I don’t…

Love Each Other

Mr. Jones called a pastor whom he had never met to come by his house to pray for his wife. “What’s wrong with your wife?” asked the pastor. “She is very sick and extremely contagious. Can you come pray for her now?” “Sure,” said the pastor. “But why didn’t you call your own pastor to…