“Dissecting” the Lord’s Prayer

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…

Read More

Should Christians use Mediation?

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

How Do We Build Spiritual Core Strength?

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

Naaman the Leper and Addiction Recovery

Naaman washing in the Jordan River biblical story representing humility and addiction recovery

What does the story of Naaman teach about addiction recovery?

The story of Naaman the Leper in 2 Kings 5 shows that healing begins with humility and surrender. Like many people struggling with addiction, Naaman first resisted a simple solution because of pride. When he humbled himself and followed God’s instruction, he experienced both physical healing and spiritual transformation.

Read More

Christian courage in action

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…

Read More

Lesson from St. Patrick

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…

Read More

Coming to Believe

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…

Read More