Identity Archives - The Dunamis Initiative

Children of Addicted Parents: Hope for Healing Families

Parent and child sitting together near a window in a calm, supportive moment symbolizing hope and healing for children of addicted parents.

Addiction affects families deeply—especially children. Healing is possible through awareness, faith, and supportive community.

Are You a Rich Fool?

A Story You Might Not Know—but Should One day, Jesus told a story about a successful farmer. After a great harvest, the man looked at his overflowing barns and thought, “I’ve made it. I’ll tear down these barns and build bigger ones to store it all. Then I can relax, eat, drink, and enjoy life.”…

Post-Traumatic Growth in Recovery: Seeking New Possibilities

When trauma leaves its mark, it often feels impossible to move past the pain. In my years as a physician—especially the last ten spent in a mental health facility—I’ve heard countless stories of suffering and injustice. A common thread runs through them: the struggle to move forward when life feels deeply unfair. I know this…

Transform the Mind to Transform the Life

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…

I’m Sober — Why Don’t People Trust Me? Rebuilding Trust After Addiction

Why Doesn’t Sobriety Automatically Restore Trust? You’ve stopped using. You’re going to meetings. You’re trying to rebuild your life. Maybe for the first time in years, you feel clear-headed and hopeful. So when the people closest to you still seem guarded, skeptical, or even cold, it stings. You want to say, “Can’t you see I’m…

How should we define addiction in layman’s terms?

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…

The Director’s Cut For Your Life

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…

Hi, I’m Don, and I Am a…

Dunamis Christian 12-Step recovery mission helping people find hope and healing through Christ-centered groups.

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…

Understanding Addiction: A Journey from Ancient Debates to Modern Insights

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,…