Today, millions of Christians are directed to a modern-day Yellow Brick Road to recovery from addictions. They are assured by the treatment industry that sobriety is found along many paths and in a higher power, not the higher power.
People battling addictions get to choose from an array of recovery methods, modalities, therapies, spiritual philosophies, and programs on their journey along the Yellow Brick Road. They’re also given a long list of excuses for their inability to get and stay sober. We’ve used a few ourselves
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, and abusive parents are a few reasons addicts give to justify actions. The pre-treatment cure is often a stabilizing pill, which offers a temporary and false sense of well-being. (As ex-addicts, we find it hard to believe that drugs are used to treat addictive personalities. It’s one of the many ironies of life.)
Before anyone gets offended, we acknowledge that mental health issues exist and realize that people have suffered, been mistreated, molested, neglected, and rejected. We’ve had our share of pain, so we have true compassion for anyone who has endured hardship and difficult circumstances.
Still, there comes a time when your past should no longer determine your future – when you leave your old life for a brand new one and enact the new creation reality that God made available through His Son, Jesus Christ.
It’s good to reflect on your life. There’s value in acknowledging the mistakes you’ve made and learning from the pain others have caused you. But Philippians 3:13 tells us to look ahead, “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
The Solid Rock Road leads people on an experiential journey of discovery along the path of God with Jesus Christ as the foundation. On this path are the plans of God and at the end is a destiny on earth and everlasting life.
To find out more about The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Oregon, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or visit Twitter or Facebook. You can also contact Jerry of Jamee Rae Pineda at 541-778-8680.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Christian Recovery: God is Enough!
Perhaps the first step in your journey to recovery from addictions is to admit you haven’t believed that God is enough. There’s no shame in making such a confession if that’s your truth. However, once you’ve acknowledged a lack of faith or limited understanding of who God is, you are responsible for doing something about it.
No one can force truth down your throat, nor is God going to place a spiritual feeding tube in you. You have to want it and you have to get it yourself. There’s plenty of spiritual food to go around. At church, your pastor is at the pulpit preaching his guts out. Your Bible is full of the inspired Word of God. If you have doubt, then you would be wise to become obsessed with scripture about faith, the heroes of faith, and hang around people who consistently demonstrate faith.
Whether you lack faith, don’t fully understand Christian principles, or are just being stubborn, your only hope in overcoming your addictions and living a blessed life is to completely surrender to God. And, you must start claiming and believing that God is truly enough.
You can resist all you want or whine about how your situation is harder or worse than everyone else’s, but God can’t be manipulated by your tears, fears, or false promises. And if you believe that your addiction is stronger than his power to set you free, then your message to the world is that Christ’s suffering on the cross was meaningless to you.
The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Medford, Oregon is a template for recovery within the churches. With our website (www.thesolidrockroad.com) and book titled "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery" people can learn to fight and win the battle for their souls, and for the souls of others. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
No one can force truth down your throat, nor is God going to place a spiritual feeding tube in you. You have to want it and you have to get it yourself. There’s plenty of spiritual food to go around. At church, your pastor is at the pulpit preaching his guts out. Your Bible is full of the inspired Word of God. If you have doubt, then you would be wise to become obsessed with scripture about faith, the heroes of faith, and hang around people who consistently demonstrate faith.
Whether you lack faith, don’t fully understand Christian principles, or are just being stubborn, your only hope in overcoming your addictions and living a blessed life is to completely surrender to God. And, you must start claiming and believing that God is truly enough.
You can resist all you want or whine about how your situation is harder or worse than everyone else’s, but God can’t be manipulated by your tears, fears, or false promises. And if you believe that your addiction is stronger than his power to set you free, then your message to the world is that Christ’s suffering on the cross was meaningless to you.
The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Medford, Oregon is a template for recovery within the churches. With our website (www.thesolidrockroad.com) and book titled "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery" people can learn to fight and win the battle for their souls, and for the souls of others. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Friday, September 24, 2010
How to Work with Christian Co-Dependents
After years of working in the addictions ministry, it’s become evident that it’s not just substance abusers needing recovery help. The loved ones of the addicts are in desperate need of their own kind of freedom. They are locked in a battle that they can’t seem to win and often become entangled in unhealthy habits that promote the cycle of insanity.
The secular treatment world refers to these loved ones as co-dependants. Like the addicts, the Christian co-dependents can’t stop their negative behaviors. They aren’t driven to drink or use, but instead are driven to “save” their loved ones. Co-dependents will go to any length to find the addicts the help they need. In many cases, the addicts haven’t even asked for the help, nor do they really want it.
Christian co-dependents continually offer spiritual advice to the addict they love. They quote scripture, pray incessantly, buy books for them, find recovery programs and create all kinds of schemes and tactics to get their loved one to stop abusing drugs and/or alcohol. Co-dependants work their tails off while the addicts enjoy a good high.
In The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Oregon, we often do interventions with those who are co-dependent. Our number one rule is that the person must be ready to end the cycle of insanity. If so, we lead them into a surrender process with God, followed by a series of steps that result in an intervention with the addict.
The Solid Rock Road team offers an outsider’s perspective with the added benefit of having the grace of God in the situation. Our ultimate goal is freedom for all!
If you have a loved one that is addicted, you can visit The Solid Rock Road website at www.thesolidrockroad.com, or visit us on Twitter and Facebook. You are also welcome to call 541-778-8680.
The secular treatment world refers to these loved ones as co-dependants. Like the addicts, the Christian co-dependents can’t stop their negative behaviors. They aren’t driven to drink or use, but instead are driven to “save” their loved ones. Co-dependents will go to any length to find the addicts the help they need. In many cases, the addicts haven’t even asked for the help, nor do they really want it.
Christian co-dependents continually offer spiritual advice to the addict they love. They quote scripture, pray incessantly, buy books for them, find recovery programs and create all kinds of schemes and tactics to get their loved one to stop abusing drugs and/or alcohol. Co-dependants work their tails off while the addicts enjoy a good high.
In The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Oregon, we often do interventions with those who are co-dependent. Our number one rule is that the person must be ready to end the cycle of insanity. If so, we lead them into a surrender process with God, followed by a series of steps that result in an intervention with the addict.
The Solid Rock Road team offers an outsider’s perspective with the added benefit of having the grace of God in the situation. Our ultimate goal is freedom for all!
If you have a loved one that is addicted, you can visit The Solid Rock Road website at www.thesolidrockroad.com, or visit us on Twitter and Facebook. You are also welcome to call 541-778-8680.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Missing Body Parts in the Church
If Christians are the Body of Christ, then it makes sense for it to be healthy and fully functional. But the Body of Christ appears to be anemic, and worse yet, has missing body parts.
God created each person to be part of the church body. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Cor. 12:27) But there are Christians who have become missing body parts. Plus, there are a lot of artificial limbs that are missing the DNA of the church. These people go to church, but they are disconnected from God’s way and His truths.
When Christians become addicted to drugs and alcohol, they obviously detach from the Body of Christ because their sin separates them. But many Christians in recovery have yet to fully re-attach to the Body. Instead, they attach themselves to a recovery program.
Recovery programs are not the problem. It’s the mindset of the people that are not always in line with Biblical principles. For example, The Solid Rock Road helps people to get back on the path and to stay on it. Our goal is to assimilate every participant back into the Body of Christ. That’s why there’s a beginning and an end to our program. People graduate in order to assimilate.
However, many other Christian recovery programs take body members hostage. They help them to the right path, but then insist that the program must be a lifetime addition to their Christian journey. Often times, addicts are told that they must give back to the program, or give back to addicts, which may be steering them from their actual destiny in God.
Not all addicts have the grace and anointing for the addictions ministry. If someone is counseling addicts but it’s not their call, they have become a missing body part. The goal is to discover the gifting and the call of God on every individual’s life so they can be placed properly in the Body of Christ.
The Solid Rock Road is a Christian recovery program in Oregon that promotes freedom in Christ and assimilation into the Body of Christ. Learn more at www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. You can also call us at 541-778-8680.
God created each person to be part of the church body. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Cor. 12:27) But there are Christians who have become missing body parts. Plus, there are a lot of artificial limbs that are missing the DNA of the church. These people go to church, but they are disconnected from God’s way and His truths.
When Christians become addicted to drugs and alcohol, they obviously detach from the Body of Christ because their sin separates them. But many Christians in recovery have yet to fully re-attach to the Body. Instead, they attach themselves to a recovery program.
Recovery programs are not the problem. It’s the mindset of the people that are not always in line with Biblical principles. For example, The Solid Rock Road helps people to get back on the path and to stay on it. Our goal is to assimilate every participant back into the Body of Christ. That’s why there’s a beginning and an end to our program. People graduate in order to assimilate.
However, many other Christian recovery programs take body members hostage. They help them to the right path, but then insist that the program must be a lifetime addition to their Christian journey. Often times, addicts are told that they must give back to the program, or give back to addicts, which may be steering them from their actual destiny in God.
Not all addicts have the grace and anointing for the addictions ministry. If someone is counseling addicts but it’s not their call, they have become a missing body part. The goal is to discover the gifting and the call of God on every individual’s life so they can be placed properly in the Body of Christ.
The Solid Rock Road is a Christian recovery program in Oregon that promotes freedom in Christ and assimilation into the Body of Christ. Learn more at www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. You can also call us at 541-778-8680.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Obedience in Christian Recovery
In the first few verses in the book of Acts, we read that just prior to his ascension, Jesus commanded his followers to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. With such an awesome promise, it’s surprising that a mere 25% of them actually obeyed. And yet, verse 8 gives us a clue as to why at least some of the 380 out of 500 followers left before the miraculous event took place.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The command to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit wasn’t what the followers had a problem with. It was the command to go do something with that power. In other words, selfishness and self-serving attitudes were evident even in the days of Jesus.
It’s true that some followers may have been impatient and that a few may have had emergencies or outside circumstances that prevented them from participating in the original outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But history tends to repeat itself. We see in churches today that many members of a congregation want the benefits of Christianity but not the responsibilities that go with it. They come in with great enthusiasm and tout the amazing miracles of God, only to walk away when they discover that God wants something in return.
A lot of people miss out on the real blessings of God that are gained through faith, obedience and the process of sanctification. Obedience to Christ will always lead to deeper levels of relationship with God and ultimately, increased power of the Holy Spirit. Peter is a great example of this.
Directly following the impartation of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other languages, Peter found himself passionately preaching to the Jews, as described in Acts 2:14-39. The fruit of his obedience is described in Acts 2:40,41.
“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
With Peter as one of many role Biblical role models, it’s clear that obedience to God’s commands results in the manifestation of God’s power and the miraculous.
The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Medford, Oregon, is a 10-week program that teaches people about obedience. Visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The command to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit wasn’t what the followers had a problem with. It was the command to go do something with that power. In other words, selfishness and self-serving attitudes were evident even in the days of Jesus.
It’s true that some followers may have been impatient and that a few may have had emergencies or outside circumstances that prevented them from participating in the original outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But history tends to repeat itself. We see in churches today that many members of a congregation want the benefits of Christianity but not the responsibilities that go with it. They come in with great enthusiasm and tout the amazing miracles of God, only to walk away when they discover that God wants something in return.
A lot of people miss out on the real blessings of God that are gained through faith, obedience and the process of sanctification. Obedience to Christ will always lead to deeper levels of relationship with God and ultimately, increased power of the Holy Spirit. Peter is a great example of this.
Directly following the impartation of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other languages, Peter found himself passionately preaching to the Jews, as described in Acts 2:14-39. The fruit of his obedience is described in Acts 2:40,41.
“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
With Peter as one of many role Biblical role models, it’s clear that obedience to God’s commands results in the manifestation of God’s power and the miraculous.
The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Medford, Oregon, is a 10-week program that teaches people about obedience. Visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Christian Recovery for Co-Dependents
Since serving in a Christian recovery program in Medford, Oregon, I have discovered that addicts get all the attention, when their loved ones are often just as desperate for help. Christians in addiction meet with their pastors, they get treatment in both secular and Christian programs and are presented with many opportunities for individual and group counseling.
Christians in addiction usually have teams of people working with them on their sobriety and recovery programs. Meanwhile, the spouses and significant others of addicts do what they do best: They pray and ask others to join with them in crying out to God on behalf of their loved ones; They focus intently on the addict’s recovery, anticipating their needs and putting aside their own. In most cases, co-dependents work harder on recovery than Christians in addiction.
The Solid Rock Road not only provides a system of recovery for addicts, but works with the co-dependent to surrender, to forgive and move forward in their own walk with God. The Solid Rock Road ministry offers counseling and strategies for those whose co-dependency has clouded their judgment over an extended period of time, and whose own addiction has been to rescue the addict in their lives.
Christian counseling for co-dependents is offered by Sherry Colby, CADC1, a certified alcohol and drug counselor. The strategy portion of the Solid Rock Road’s ministry is done by Jamee Rae Pineda, who works with women to create boundaries and bottom lines with the addicts. Sherry and Jamee are the authors of a recovery book titled Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
When men are co-dependent, Pastor Jerry Pineda counsels and works with them to understand their role in enabling the addict. Jerry is the director and a lead facilitator of The Solid Rock Road recovery ministry.
To find out more about The Solid Rock Road recovery program in Medford, Oregon, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad or on Facebook. You can also call The Solid Rock Road Christian counseling team at 541-778-8680.
Christians in addiction usually have teams of people working with them on their sobriety and recovery programs. Meanwhile, the spouses and significant others of addicts do what they do best: They pray and ask others to join with them in crying out to God on behalf of their loved ones; They focus intently on the addict’s recovery, anticipating their needs and putting aside their own. In most cases, co-dependents work harder on recovery than Christians in addiction.
The Solid Rock Road not only provides a system of recovery for addicts, but works with the co-dependent to surrender, to forgive and move forward in their own walk with God. The Solid Rock Road ministry offers counseling and strategies for those whose co-dependency has clouded their judgment over an extended period of time, and whose own addiction has been to rescue the addict in their lives.
Christian counseling for co-dependents is offered by Sherry Colby, CADC1, a certified alcohol and drug counselor. The strategy portion of the Solid Rock Road’s ministry is done by Jamee Rae Pineda, who works with women to create boundaries and bottom lines with the addicts. Sherry and Jamee are the authors of a recovery book titled Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
When men are co-dependent, Pastor Jerry Pineda counsels and works with them to understand their role in enabling the addict. Jerry is the director and a lead facilitator of The Solid Rock Road recovery ministry.
To find out more about The Solid Rock Road recovery program in Medford, Oregon, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad or on Facebook. You can also call The Solid Rock Road Christian counseling team at 541-778-8680.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
How to Work with Christians in Addiction
Christians who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol have a great advantage over agnostics, atheists and people of other religions. With the power of God and the blood of Jesus, Christians can be delivered, healed and restored to experience total freedom from addictions. They can be transformed by the renewing of their minds and forgiven by God for every sin they have ever committed.
While Christians have everything they need to resist temptation and to live clean and sober lives, there is an epidemic of addictions within the church. Many Christians live secret lives, addicted to marijuana, methamphetamines, heroine and other street drugs. However, the abuse of prescription medication is on the rise as well. This includes Vicodin, Oxycodon, methadone and other pain-killing drugs.
When people get addicted to narcotics prescribed by doctors, they often run out of their drugs and have no way of getting more from the doctor. By over-medicating themselves, addicts resort to purchasing illegal prescription drugs, moving them into dangerous criminal activity.
Many pastors and leaders are at a loss for how to work with Christians in addiction. As a result, the issue of addictions in the church gets swept under the carpet or ignored altogether. Many times, pastors recommend that addicted members of their congregation get help from the secular system. While this may be necessary in some cases, the role of the church in the realm of addictions should be an offer for prayers of deliverance combined with Christian counseling.
The Solid Rock Road works with addicts and their families. The Christian recovery program in Oregon uses the book “Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery” for individuals and group treatment. Visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or find The Solid Rock recovery ministry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad or on Facebook.
While Christians have everything they need to resist temptation and to live clean and sober lives, there is an epidemic of addictions within the church. Many Christians live secret lives, addicted to marijuana, methamphetamines, heroine and other street drugs. However, the abuse of prescription medication is on the rise as well. This includes Vicodin, Oxycodon, methadone and other pain-killing drugs.
When people get addicted to narcotics prescribed by doctors, they often run out of their drugs and have no way of getting more from the doctor. By over-medicating themselves, addicts resort to purchasing illegal prescription drugs, moving them into dangerous criminal activity.
Many pastors and leaders are at a loss for how to work with Christians in addiction. As a result, the issue of addictions in the church gets swept under the carpet or ignored altogether. Many times, pastors recommend that addicted members of their congregation get help from the secular system. While this may be necessary in some cases, the role of the church in the realm of addictions should be an offer for prayers of deliverance combined with Christian counseling.
The Solid Rock Road works with addicts and their families. The Christian recovery program in Oregon uses the book “Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery” for individuals and group treatment. Visit www.thesolidrockroad.com or find The Solid Rock recovery ministry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad or on Facebook.
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