Substance abusers, addicts with a physical dependency, and those who cannot stop some type of pleasurable activity can gain insights and practical help from the hopeful message from the Bible regarding addictive thoughts and behavior.

Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award: Sacraments. (Second Place). In the first book to directly integrate the Twelve Steps with the practice of Catholicism, Scott Weeman, founder and director of Catholic in Recovery, pairs his personal story with compassionate straight talk to show Catholics how to bridge the commonly felt gap between the Higher Power of twelve-step programs and the merciful God that he rediscovered in the heart of the sacraments. Weeman entered sobriety from alcohol and drugs on October 10, 2011, and he's made it his full-time ministry to help others who struggle with various types of addiction to find spiritual wholeness through Catholic in Recovery, an organization he founded and directs. In The Twelve Steps and the Sacraments, Weeman candidly tackles the struggle he and other addicts have with getting to know intimately the unnamed Higher Power of recovery. He shares stories of his compulsion to find a personal relationship with God and how his tentative steps back to the Catholic Church opened new doors of healing and brought him surprising joy as he came to know Christ in the sacraments. Catholics in recovery and those moving toward it, as well as the people who love them will recognize Weeman's story and his spiritual struggle to personally encounter God. He tells us how: Baptism helps you admit powerlessness over an unmanageable problem, face your desperate need for God, and choose to believe in and submit to God’s mercy. Reconciliation affirms and strengthens the hard work of examining your life, admitting wrongs, and making amends. The Eucharist provides ongoing sustenance and draws you to the healing power of Christ. The graces of Confirmation strengthen each person to keep moving forward and to share the good news of recovery and new life in Christ. Weeman's words are boldly challenging and brimming with compassion and through them you will discover inspiration, hope, sage advice, and refreshingly practical help.

"Addictions begin with a choice--but come to trap and define you. These daily devotionals refocus us on the God who can restructure lives and disentangle sinners from enslavement"--

No one can predict if a child will grow up to be an -addict- of some kind. This booklet gives an overview of the five basic mentalities of -addictive- thinking. There are dangerous mindsets that children can develop that will likely lead to addictive choices and behavior. Most often, parents acting in love for their children, don't realize how much they may be contributing to the mindsets described here.

The story of Alcoholics Anonymous, featuring Father Jim Collins, an alcoholic Jesuit priest. After a string of unsuccessful attempts at a cure, he finally joins AA, is cured and cures hundreds of people in turn. By the author of Half-Wits.

Many Christians are locked in a cycle of addiction, particularly in the areas of alcohol and drug abuse. Many have turned to 12-Step programs for help. But, where is the incredible power of Christ in this process? In a positive, non-condemning way, Anderson provides an alternative model of recovery for substance and alcohol abusers, a model that will also work for individuals struggling with other kinds of addictions. The first half of Freedom from Addictions tells the unbelievable story of Mike and Julia Quarles, and how Mike overcame a debilitating addiction to alcohol. He achieved success by applying the principles that make up the central theme of Dr. Anderson's message: that we are saints according to God's word (Eph 1) and that true freedom comes from realizing o ur identity in Christ.

Robby Gallaty is not who you think he is. In Recovered, pastor and author Robby Gallaty tells the story of how God radically saved him from his addictions and called him into a life of discipleship. Robby grew up in a very religious Catholic family who attended church every Sunday and confession on Saturday if needed. Very rarely did he miss a Saturday night dinner and a movie with his parents and sister Lori. You can imagine how devastated they were when Robby stole $15,000 from them to fuel his drug addiction. Two years earlier, he was rear-ended on his way home from work by an 18-wheeler. Two herniated discs in his neck and back forced him to rely on pharmaceutical drugs to cope with the pain. Within three months, he transitioned to street drugs, heroine, and cocaine, after blowing through his thirty-day prescription in two weeks. Robbing his parents was the only option to prolong his drug habit. Shortly thereafter, Robby hit rock bottom. But God wasn’t done with him. After a trip to rehab followed by a relapse and a second rehab visit, Robby surrendered his life to Christ, and nothing has ever been the same. This story—a story of salvation and new life—is for any reader who: wonders if God is done with them has messed up time and time again is battling drug or alcohol addiction or other destructive behaviors has a loved one in the throes of addiction needs to be reminded of the miraculous salvation found in the gospel

In Greek, the language of the New Testament, there are four words for love—agape, philia, storge, and eros—but no matter what the Greek word is, the English equivalent is always love. The most used Greek word for love in the NT is agape, the noblest word for self-sacrificial love. The second-most used word for love in the NT is philia, brotherly or sisterly affectionate love between equals. The third word for love in Greek is storge, which refers to love that is based in one’s nature, such as the natural affection of parents toward children. The fourth Greek word for love is eros, which does not appear in the NT. It is the love of sexual passion, intimate love, and romantic love. Each entry in all six chapters of this book follows a five-part exercise: (1) title; (2) a short quotation from Scripture; (3) a two-paragraph reflection on the use of love in the quotation; (4) a journal/meditation question to help the reader connect the reflection to his or her own life; and (5) a short prayer. The process is an exercise in spirituality—that is, the way one is in the divine’s presence.

Pornography is everywhere, and many Christians have fallen prey to its snare. Tim Chester believes we can be captured by a better vision—a liberating confidence that God offers more than pornography does. Moving beyond pat answers or mere willpower, Chester offers spiritual, practical and corporate resources for living porn free.

Addicts are often referred to as fiends, and although we use the word fiend ever so casually, the average person is clueless as to what the word actually means. The dictionary defines the word fiend as a devil, a demon or evil spirit, which raises the question as to how exactly are devils, demons and evil spirits synonymous with the addict. Believe it or not these definitions arose from the idea that the addict is actually an incarnate demon, helplessly possessed by his own evil spirit called the fiend, who tempts him from within to postpone his resolve for recovery, and proceed to feed his insatiable appetite for drugs against his better judgment. Hence, the reason why the relapse rate for addiction is so high, is because as demonically possessed souls, addicts are in need of an exorcism, rather than the ineffective methods of conventional treatment that fails to address the real issue. In a serendipitous turn of events, the addict can now reference The Addiction Experience, where he is instructed by the master exorcist, from whom he receives the authority to cast out his inner demon, and get clean once and for all.