Steps away from God lead only to destruction. by Rick Stock as told to Jeanette Littleton Somewhere inside, my brain knew it was cold. I saw white puffs when I breathed. I heard the wind whipping the chains on the courthouse flagpole. But as I put my head against the frosty green Pinto, I…
Read moreMonth: October 2015
Back from the Dead
by Steve Henderson “Going to Texas. Nice knowing you.” The handwritten note on the TV set stunned me. It was from my wife Daneen. Without saying anything to me beforehand, she had taken our little daughter and left me behind in Oklahoma. In a way, I couldn’t blame her. I had been coming home…
Read moreWhat Sets Us Free
Sometimes victory over addictions occursover time, as we mature in faith. by Nancy Slack I sat at the kitchen table, staring at a pack of cigarettes. I took one out of the pack and lit it. After tomorrow, I thought, I will never light a cigarette again. Tomorrow I’m going to quit smoking. I…
Read moreUnderstanding Gambling-twenty questions
Twenty Questions Have you ever lost time from work or school due to gambling? Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? Has gambling affected your reputation? Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? Did you ever gamble to get money to pay debts or solve financial difficulties? Has gambling caused a decrease in your…
Read moreUnderstanding Gambling-Various treatment options are available
Resources Gamblers Anonymouswww.gamblersanonymous.org; 1-888 GA Helps or 1-888-424-3577 Debtors Anonymouswww.debtorsanonymous.org Gam-Anonwww.gam-anon.orgA resource site for spouses, family members or friends of compulsive gamblers. Gambling Addiction HelpFree, live, online advice and support for gamblingwww.gamblingtherapy.org Center for Internet Addiction Recoverywww.netaddiction.com/ American Gaming Associationwww.americangaming.org/Industry/factsheets/statistics_detail.cfv?id=7 – Jeri Darby
Read moreThe Unhappy Hooker
by Phyllis Nicholas The rumble of traffic was deafening. Dust and exhaust fumes stung my eyes as I leaned against a telephone pole. Four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon; I hadn’t had a bath in days. If I don’t get a trick soon, I thought, I’ll be a dead duck. At age 19, I was…
Read moreThe Truth About Bulimia
How to break the bonds of an eating disorder. by Laurie Glass Do you panic after you eat? Do you sometimes binge and then feel a strong urge to get rid of what you’ve eaten in one way or another? Is it difficult for you to find healthy ways to express your emotions? Is…
Read moreThe Truth About Anorexia
Facts that lead to freedom, with the help of God. by Laurie Glass Are you afraid to eat? Afraid of getting fat? Do you restrict what you eat when something in your life feels out of control? Do you regularly criticize yourself? Do you expect perfection from yourself? Do painful events haunt you that you’ve never been able to…
Read moreThe Gambling Trap
Hard lessons from easy money. by Jeri Darby While scanning the newspaper, my eyes rested on a short story about a crumbling marriage. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then laughter rose inside me as I read further. The distraught husband was divorcing his wife because she refused to give up bingo. Bingo? I silently…
Read moreSaving Ophelia Resources
Want more information on eating disorders? Check these out: I’m Beautiful? Why Can’t I See It? Daily Encouragement to Promote Healthy Eating and Positive Self-Esteem, by Kimberly Davidson Hope, Help, and Healing for Eating Disorders: A New Approach to Treating Anorexia, Bulimia, and Overeating, by Gregory Jantz, Ph.D. Life Inside the Thin Cage: A Personal…
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