The prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi has found itself reprinted on posters, plates, and journals – pretty much everywhere. Spending time with individual lines of this prayer is a long-used pathway to contemplative prayer. Regardless of who actually wrote this piece, it has a great deal of value in the lives of any…

An article I read the other day lamented that the holiday of Thanksgiving has become just another secular excuse to miss work, overeat, and drink beer while binge-watching football. For most in the United States, the days of dedicating time to recounting one’s blessings and expressing gratitude to God for the abundance many of us…

Most AA meetings I’ve ever been to are opened with a group recitation of the Serenity Prayer. Here it is in its short form: God, grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change,courage to change the things I can,and the wisdom to know the difference. The purpose of this new book, “Dissecting the…

Another very common prayer used in the rooms of AA is the Lord’s Prayer. This is most frequently used to close the meeting, with all standing and holding hands. Again, many simply recite the words with little or no thought as to what is being said or simply stand quietly. We tend to think ahead…

In my new book, Dissecting the Prayers and Promises of AA, we do a deep dive into the history of prayer and meditation in Alcoholics Anonymous. Many prayers are used in AA, but unfortunately, many people simply repeat them without thinking about what they are saying or why. The purpose of this new book is…

In the past few weeks, we have been exploring various domains of post-traumatic growth (PTG). Our society is inundated with information regarding PTSD. Many books, counselors, medications, and non-traditional treatments offer hope to those willing to swipe their credit cards. While I don’t dismiss these treatments as ineffective, we often see people suffering from PTSD…

The Bible is full of stories where trauma and extreme hardship became the springboard for a life of new strength and power to move forward. The secularization of our society has led to these stories being moved to ancient myths rather than important examples of how God can use your weakness to develop new strengths.…

As a physician with over thirty years of experience, particularly the last seven spent working in a mental health facility, I have encountered countless stories of unimaginable trauma and the accompanying pain. A common thread among those in our care is the struggle to move past their trauma. The perceived injustice of their experiences lingers…

Because of my work in addiction, I have the opportunity to talk openly to many people who may have had exposure to religion as a child, but no longer participate in church. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the most honest answer I hear frequently is that they feel that Christians don’t…

In the current thinking of most people seeking to relieve themselves from the bondage of addiction, a common piece of conventional wisdom is that it is necessary for the person to get used to the idea of being “in recovery” for the rest of their lives. The definition of being in recovery is not written…

Many years ago, I recognized that I was unable to quit drinking on my own. I had heard that Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) worked for many people, so out of desperation, I went to a meeting. At that meeting, a man received his 30-year sobriety coin. I thought to myself, “Why are you still coming to…

When filming a movie, the director starts with a complete story in mind, but often the studio trims it to fit their desired time slot. In 1986, “Aliens” was a highly popular movie, earning numerous awards and substantial profits. However, a few years later, the director, James Cameron, re-added 20 minutes of action and character…

Pictured above is Dr. Don Middleton with Dr. Mike Chubb, CEO of CMDA We’re excited to share a recent development as we continue to bring The Dunamis Initiative to churches and Christian organizations all over the world. I (Don) am incredibly honored and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve as Chair of…

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the national conference for the Christian Medical Dental Association (CMDA) on how to support people going through 12-step recovery for addictions of all kinds. It was great to be at a conference where 1200 professionals could proudly bow their heads and give thanks to their savior, Christ…

In a recent conversation with a friend, he posed a fundamental question in the realm of addiction medicine. Hailing from a religious tradition that staunchly prohibits alcohol, recreational substances, and gambling, he inquired, “Why do people try alcohol and drugs in the first place?” While the answers are undoubtedly multifaceted, they can be distilled into…

As children, we knew a song about an old woman who swallowed a fly. She then swallowed a spider to catch the fly, a bird to catch the spider, and so on until she swallowed a horse and died – of course. This nonsensical song is a reminder that sometimes we mistakenly get caught in…

I’m Don, and I Am… Sometimes I just can’t help myself. I love to stir the pot with a bit of mischief. I know, I know – it’s a character flaw that I am working on. Sort of. Okay, not really. I found in AA meetings that a way to ruffle feathers is to not…

We’re all creatures of habit, and regardless of the setting, we tend to gravitate towards the same seats. Although I didn’t know Carlos well, he always occupied the chair next to mine during our morning meetings. Hence, I couldn’t help but notice when he seemed to be experiencing back problems; he got up tenderly and…

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 10 young adults has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and 1 in 7 is addicted to alcohol or some other drug. In a recent Kaiser Foundation survey, two-thirds of American young people said they had someone in their family who suffered from addiction. These numbers…

While the understanding of genetics has developed over the past century, the debate surrounding the origins of addiction is ancient. Countless writings have explored the choice versus compulsion argument, with scholars grappling with the complexities for generations. In Plato’s “Protagoras,” Socrates suggests that individuals always act in what they perceive to be their best interest,…

Have you ever studied the story of Naaman, a high-ranking Syrian commander, as recounted in 2 Kings 5? Despite his success and wealth, Naaman harbored a secret: he was afflicted with leprosy, a condition that, in those times, could lead to severe social exclusion and eventual death. For a man of his stature, the implications…

Pronounced as “doo’-nam-is,” the Greek term “Dunamis” refers to a (miraculous) power, might, and strength, as defined in Strong’s Concordance. During my tenure as a pre-med student at Northern Arizona University, my foundational knowledge was built upon various scientific disciplines. It included inorganic and organic chemistry, zoology, botany, and microbiology, which ensured I spent countless…

The holiday season, often stretching from Halloween to New Year’s Eve, poses a significant challenge to those newly embracing sobriety. This period, which may also encompass events like the Super Bowl and St. Patrick’s Day, is rife with parties where alcohol is prevalent if not the focal point. Coupled with the stress of family gatherings,…

It’s not a unique story.  A family presents themselves to a pastor with a combination of fear, sadness, and anger. What did he do wrong? Nothing. They want to talk about a family member who won’t stop drinking. They have begged, pleaded, threatened, and offered incentives, and at times he seems to get it together…

The word ” addiction “ used to be whispered in hushed tones and with implied shame, but it has worked its way into our everyday vocabulary. It isn’t even always used as a bad thing anymore like when a person might say, “I’m so addicted to that new sushi restaurant!” We’ll discuss the why use…

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 Few problems encountered by a 21st-century pastoral…

Anybody that says “Dunamis Effect” is anti-AA, obviously hasn’t read the book. There must be at least a dozen times where AA is described as a divine gift, and its members a national treasure of wisdom. While Dunamis Effect (formally Him and Them) is designed to be a stand-alone program, throughout the book one is…

Month 4, Step 4 – Courage. Two men decide to ride their bikes across Death Valley which is a remarkable feat of endurance pitting man against some of the harshest conditions mother nature has to offer. The first is young and strong and fills his water bottles to start his trek without telling anyone in…

Addiction can be like a dozen grenades thrown into a home. You never know who or to what extent that collateral damage will be, but can be assured there will be damage. Too often the “grown-ups” get so deeply entrenched in their needs that they forget to pay attention to the littler folks occupying the…

Patrick lived approximately 1500 years ago in an area not known for extensive written history. It is a bit hard to know a great deal about his life, but we do have what some people consider to be his autobiography. There is a lesson in it for us as we try and ignore the fact…

“Wake up! Wake UP!” yells 5-year-old Tyrell, as he pulls at the sheets of his brother. “Its Christmas! Let’s go see!!” “It’s still dark. Go back to sleep!” Moans 10-year-old Jordan, suppressing some excitement in favor of a few more minutes in the warm bed. “Let’s go see if he came!” insists Tyrell, and his…

Mike screwed up his marriage in a huge way. After being introduced to sexual harm very early in his life, he mistakenly learned to use sexual content to soothe his anxiety. Since he grew up in a Christian house hold, and was now married to a Christian wife, he felt extraordinary shame about it, which…

“All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.”   Lennon and McCartney This week contains Valentine’s Day, and truthfully, I’m getting pretty sick of seeing millions of red hearts all over every store since the day after Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very pro-love, and have been blessed with an amazing…

Hello February; we’ve been missing you. The second month means a look at the second step. “We came to believe that our Heavenly Father could and would restore us to sanity.” “Came to believe” is an interesting phrase. Most people read step 2 and either say “Of course I do.” or “There’s no way I…

The guy in the picture above is my dad at 87. He died last week and everyone appropriately says, “I’m so sorry for your loss.” I want to take this opportunity to scream, “It’s Ok! He did it right!” Dad was a kid that grew up kinda poor, and after serving in the Korean conflict,…