9-5-2014 – The Lord becoming my father when I lost mine in divorce at four. Directing me to join the military, which turned out to be a lifelong blessing, saving my eyesight not once but twice!

9-4-2014 – For me I discovered Psalm 136 was a great outline. The first eight verses reviews what the Lord has done that all of us experience. The next verses reveal what God had done for Israel. It is here that I write beside the text specific things done for me; being born a twin, 2 months premature on the verge of death and mother begging the Lord for healing.

8-21-2014 – So one begins by making list focusing first what God had done, individually, personally, then what mankind has given.

8-16-2014 – So where does one begin in the endeavor to acquire gratefulness? First one has to recognize what has been given and received from God, parents or guardians, friends and even enemies.

8-14-2014 – Again, Paul tells us in Rom 6:16 “if you yield yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness.” The slavery of addiction—and who would deny the heavy burden of addiction, is the result of disobedience.

8-9-2014 – This is the implicit warning in Colossians 2:20 ff. Paul clarifies for the reader that abstinence (humanistic attempts to heal addiction), lack any value in restraining indulgence.

8-8-2014 – Addiction is not a sin—addiction is the consequences of sin. This explains why one cannot stop the addiction until the root sin is discovered and repentance occurs. If one fights the addiction it becomes stronger, and if perchance one conquers it then it will break out in other areas.

8-6-2014 – Addiction is a malady of the heart. Effective treatment means getting to the root of the problem and employing the cure that is most effective with the problem.

8-5-2014 – How would you respond, if having pneumonia you went to a doctor and he told you just to take a bath, and you will get well? As if cleansing the outside of the body would cure the inside. Yet, how frequently we try to cure heart problems with cognitive behavior or spiritual problems with radical emotional changes.

8-1-2014 – We understand that certain medicines may effect one type of illness and yet not effect others. Thus, while one type of antibiotic may destroy bacteria in the lungs it has no effect on infection of the kidneys.