Attitude

If you fall

World Day of Prayer

Love your own wife



Identify your addiction

Addictive behaviours and the addictive process

Any activity, substance, object or behaviour that become the major focus of a person’s life to the exclusion of other activities or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially is considered an addictive behaviour.  A person can become addicted, dependent or compulsively obsessed with anything. Some researches imply that there are similarities between physical addiction to various chemicals, such as alcohol and heroin, and psychological dependence to activities such as compulsive gambling, sex, work, running, shipping, or eating disorders.

 

It is thought that these behaviour activities may produce beta-endorphins in the brain, which makes the person feel ‘high’. Some experts suggest that if a person continues to engage in the activity to achieve this feeling of well-being and euphoria, he or she may get into an addictive cycle. In so doing he/she becomes physically addicted to his/her own brain chemicals, thus leading to continuation of the behaviour even though it may have negative health or social consequences. Others feel that these are just bad habits. It isn’t. This is a full blown addiction.

Most physical addictions to substance such as alcohol, heroin or barbiturates also have a psychological component.  For example an alcoholic who has not used alcohol for years may still crave a drink. Thus some researches feel that we need to look at both physical and psychological dependencies upon a variety of substance, activities and behaviours as an addictive process and as addictive behaviours.  They suggest that all of these behaviours have a host of commonalities that make them even more similar than different from each other and that they should not be divided into separate categories or problems.

 Common Characteristics among addictive behaviours.

Identify your addiction:

There are many common characteristics among the various addictive behaviours:

·     The person becomes obsessed (constantly thinks of) the object, activity or substance

·    They will seek it out or engage in the behaviour even though it is causing harm (physical problems, poor work or study performance, problems with friends, family, loved ones, fellow workers)

·    The person will compulsively engage in the activity - that is do the activity over and over even if she/he does not want to and find it difficult to stop.

·    Upon ending the activity, withdrawal symptoms often occur. These can include irritability, craving, restlessness or depression.

·    The person does not appear to have control as to when, how long, or how much he or she will continue the behaviour (you now have lost control). (They drink 6 beers when they only wanted one, buy 8 pairs of shoes when they only needed a belt, ate the whole box of cookies, eventually get caught up in homosexuality or child pornography when they only wanted to look at a few naked pictures).

·    He/she often denies problems resulting from his/her engagement in the behaviour, even though others can the negative effects.

·    Person hides the behaviour after family or close friends have mentioned their concern (hide food under beds, alcohol bottles in closets, doesn’t show spouse credit card bills, passwords on websites and personal profiles, etc.)

·    Many individuals with addictive behaviours report a blackout for the time they were engaging in the behaviour (don’t remember how much or what they bought, how much they lost gambling, how many miles they ran on a sore foot, what they did at the party when drinking etc.)

·    Depression is common in individuals with addictive behaviours.  That is why it is important to find out what is going on.

·    Individuals with addictive behaviours often have I low self-esteem, feel anxious if they do not have control over their environment and comes from psychologically or physically abusive families.

      Addictive persons often becomes violent themselves towards loved ones, express road rage and are highly irritable with those around them.  This often is the result of suppressing their cravings for their addiction or when they want to hide the matter at hand.

No regrets

Look forward with HOPE not backwards with REGRET....

Irrespective of your past, where you have been, what you have done...or how many times. Jesus is the Author of Hope.

He is HOPE.

Give Him your life, start afresh.
Let today be a new beginning for you.
Let your day start with HOPE today.
Let HOPE take control.

Broken heart

God Draws Near to Those With a Broken Heart. ~ Psalm 34:18

forgive like Jesus

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. 

About one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. 

He began to speak and his statement was this: "My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very fundamental part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

today's weather

Anger

Anyone can become angry - that is easy. 

But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - this is is the challenge.”

~ Aristotle’s