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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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| APRIL 9, 2003 ISSUE |
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature
Article: Standing at the Turning Point
In The Spotlight: Addiction/Recovery
What's New & Coming Soon
Daily Thoughts: Walk in Love
Prayer Requests/Results
Quotables: Norman Vincent Peale
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Standing at the Turning Point
by Tom Gilbert
Unless you have experienced first hand the devastating effects
of life-threatening addictions it is difficult to appreciate
the damage. It is more than the physical problems. These
diseases include a soul-sickness. The people in the grips
of these afflictions are spiritually ill, too. The illness
can even spread to family members and friends. They may
not be addicts, but the resentment and hurt they suffer
from the abusers results in real spiritual damage for
the often innocent victims.
Alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling, eating disorders or
sexual addictions are often misunderstood. Still, almost
everyone can see the ill effects. Families have been torn
apart. Society suffers. It’s sad and depressing.
Despite the bad news, the recovery process has produced
countless untold miracles. The very process of hitting
bottom and admitting powerlessness is often the only thing
that will bring about the catalyst for true change. The
“Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous speaks
of standing at the turning point. It is the place that
all addicts must come to and finally make a choice to
either go on to the bitter end or seek spiritual help.
Why Suffer?
You don’t have to be in
the throes of addiction to choose God. However, real transformation
often comes only from suffering. It’s the way of
the cross, the redeeming death and resurrection of Christ
Jesus. It’s the paschal mystery.
If you think that comparing recovery from addiction to
Christ’ dying on the cross and rising from the dead
to be inaccurate then perhaps you’ve never witnessed
someone brought back from the depths. Lives are changed
through a real spiritual awakening produced by abandonment
to God, a thorough and fearless moral inventory, the making
of amends and a life lived in service to others.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Addiction/Recovery
The bondage of addiction is a strange kind of enslavement.
It doesn’t seem like slavery, at least to begin
with. Therefore, so many who are trapped in an addiction
of some kind fail to see it. What starts as a pleasurable
thing becomes a demanding master. Usually one in the grips
of a crippling addiction, such as alcoholism, drug abuse,
gambling or pornography, suffers from the inability to
stop on their own human power. Lack of power—that
is the dilemma.
The solution is to find a power greater than one’s
limited self will. When that power is God, and is called
upon, it frees a person from the addiction. But, that
is a bare beginning. God works through us in our weakness
and nowhere is this more apparent than with those who
have succumbed to devastating addictions. He restores
health, invigorates the spirit and allows for the truth
to step forth and break the chains of denial or hopelessness.
God’s restorative powers through unconditional
love and forgiveness heal everyone caught in the wake
of the dis-ease. In April we explore this subject and
offer up some possible resources to help those who choose
the road to recovery.
Numerous featured books on addictions and recovery are available
through our online store -- go here
to find out more.
With “tax day” (April 15) just around the
corner we invite you to revisit our feature on money
matters. We have some financial management resource
specials online, too.
When you shop with us, you support our ministry – thank
you!
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| WHAT'S
NEW & COMING SOON |
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This month we focus on how to face
the issues of addiction and recovery. This includes alcohol,
drugs, gambling and sex addiction, but also even problems
like obsessive online behavior. In our next issue of the
newsletter we ask the question, “Can you become
addicted to the Internet?” We will also give you
some resources to help people who are dealing with various
addictions.
Later in April we look at the role suffering plays in
our lives and why confession “is good for the soul”.
We are also introducing a new feature: God
FAQ (frequently asked questions of/about God) We don’t
assume to have all the answers or to know the mind of
God--who can? Yet, we believe that God does work miraculously
in people’s lives. Many people have questions about
God and we will share one in each issue of this newsletter.
The first question came from an email to our site: Andy
asked “How do I know that God really exists without
referring to the bible for evidence?”
A great question, Andy. We have some thoughts on this.
See it online here.
Some of the new articles on our site include:
Tired of Waiting
Be Not Afraid by Angie
Ledbetter
We Can Pray
Revisit:
Home Front by Angie Ledbetter
Money and Me
New reviews on the following books:
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Left...But
Three Do new music release from Relient K
Cheap Ways To…
by Jason Boyett, Margaret Feinberg
Josh Hatcher, and Katie Meier
Abba’s Child by
Brennan Manning
The Tao of Enron by
Chris Seay
Future Reviews:
“Hooked on the Net” by Andrew Careaga
“Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical”
by Fr John R. Waiss and James G. McCarthy
“The Love Languages of God” by Gary Chapman
"Offerings II" Third Day (music review)
You can read the various reviews currently on site at
Reviews
New links:
Just
Pray No help with addictions
24-7pray.com
“Non-stop prayer across the nations”
See more at our links page
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Walk
in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself
up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant
aroma (Ephesians 5:2).
There were once two brothers who loved each other very
much. The brothers were about five years old when one
of them became sick. The parents took both boys to the
hospital, where they found that the sick brother needed
a blood transfusion. They talked to the brother who was
well and explained to him what they needed to do. Because
he had the same type of blood, they needed to take some
of his blood and give it to the sick brother so he could
get well.
The healthy brother said that he understood, and he
lay down as they began to take his blood. When they
were done, this brother said quietly, "How long
will it be until I die?" You see, he thought that
because he had given his blood to his brother, he was
going to die. And he had been willing to do that to
make his brother well.
That's the kind of love Jesus had for you. He is the
brother who loved you so much that he shed his blood
and willing gave up his life so you could live.
In His Grace
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does. Only those who've never truly tried
it with the proper intentions would say otherwise. We
want to pray for you and your needs. If you have a specific
request let us know at prayer
requests.
Of course, we keep you information confidential.
We also like to share testimonies of answered prayers
at prayer results.
You can send us your testimony by email. Use our form
at contact us. If
you do not want your name to be listed simply let us know.
By sharing God's love and how He helps us you encourage
others in a powerful way.
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would like
to submit an article please see our writer's
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It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution
will stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly
a result for us in both our writing and reading. If you
would like to see articles on a particular topic or you
have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotables:
“Use your head. Without it, you’ll never get
ahead”
– Norman Vincent Peale
Copyright 2003 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105
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