A common misconception about Christianity is that before we can become believers, we first need to be perfect. Only after we've taken care of all of our past mistakes do we dare approach God and ask Him for forgiveness. One problem with this belief is that it sets us up to fail. There is no way we can ever resolve all the bad things we do, because by the time we fix one mistake, we have already made another. Making mistakes is like breathing for humans; it's part of our nature. The other problem with this belief is that it misses the whole point of Christianity, which is precisely God's plan for dealing with the bad things that we do. We can't fix our mistakes, only God can.   more...

After threatening to leave after the drug incident, we started going to church and it really seemed to help. Now, though, it is so weird. The people at church think so highly of him and yet here in our home he is a totally different person. He still has a problem with the drinking and of course when he feels bad afterwards, I am the one who gets to be the burden of his anger. He is very choosy as to who he will get drunk around. Not his family...but my family. And it seems to be fine with him if he gets sloppy drunk and humiliates me around my friends and his too.   more...

Q:How can I get free from addiction? A: Addiction, in any form, can cause inner tensions and frustration which you may feel powerless to overcome. God longs to set you free through Jesus Christ our Lord   more...

Their alcohol dependence had started more than a year before the survey. Most were middle-aged white men. More than half were married or living with someone, and 60% had attended or completed college.   more...

Some Christians lack total commitment to Christ Jesus. They are saved, on their way to heaven, but do not draw nigh to the Lord. They are bounced around by spiritual warfare because of one thing they lack: total surrender to Christ Jesus.   more...

In addition to being afraid, we are angry. We are sure He's part of our problem. We don't want to let Him in. He has let us down too many times before. He could have prevented our pain. He could have given us the kind of life He has given others. He hasn't been fair. Yet now He wants more. We sense intuitively that He wants our hearts. He wants to control us. Inviting Him in feels like we're inviting the enemy in.   more...

Addictions often begin as a pursuit of pleasure to numb the discomfort of painful losses. But we soon discover that addictions multiply the pain. In time, it becomes worse than the pain we were trying to relieve. Now we find ourselves needing relief not only from our inescapable losses but also from the shame of our own foolishness.   more...

I don't see how I'm going to learn anything about God from these people. They don't seem to be very educated. They certainly don't know as much about theology as I do." I have never been more wrong about anything in my life.   more...

First are the physical effects. Marijuana, for instance, may have dangerous long-term effects, including cancers of the head and neck. Amphetamines and cocaine are highly addictive and cause rapid physical deterioration. Barbiturates depress the central nervous system and are so physically addictive that withdrawal can be fatal if someone dependent on them attempts to stop taking them without medical supervision.   more...