“FOURTH STEP,” MADE A SEARCHING AND FEARLESS MORAL INVENTORY OF OURSELVES.
In the last post we talked extensively about rape and used Scripture to express the heart of God; intently. This week is going to be about addiction at its core. To begin, the basics often taught about addiction is the ineffective, outward expression of pain.
Imagine a paper cut; the smaller the cut, the lesser the amount of blood one expects the wound to express. However, the pain is agonizing, aching, excruciating and tormenting! Even while the skin may cover over the paper cut and it may heal really fast, (in the back of your mind) you remember how that injury occurred. You recall the pain every time you commit an action relative to that experience, because ultimately you don’t want to experience that pain again.
Just imagine if the cut led to a deeper wound; it got exposed to the elements, it got infected, it has some drainage, (pustules that began to ooze out). This cut becomes a never -ending open wound. You pick at the wound because you’re reminded always that it’s there; you want it to heal, but it’s abrasive. The wound scabs over; its just beginning to heal and you rip off the scab prematurely. It gets exposed to the elements all over again; this time with a malaise onset. Thereby, the infection spreads inside the wound; the veins, the arteries and now blood poisoning. It’s accompanied with intense fever and the area is now turning black;the doctors want to amputate. The paper cut assuredly has spun out of control!
(https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10947170/paper-cut-nearly-killed-me-sepsis-arm/)(02/12/2020)
The reality is that the amputation did not stem from the paper cut itself. The cut was described as “agonizing, aching, excruciating and tormenting,” all of which is a reflection of the effect of the paper cut. The paper cut was the behavior that we want to change so that we can get the desired outcome. However, the question at hand is . . . what was the antecedent? What happened before the cut?
Automatically, one assumes that one had to pick up or handle the paper at some point for the interaction to result in a cut. But, let’s go back a little further. What made you pick up the paper? Were you shopping for paper? Did you need a piece of paper? Was it the color, the shape, or the weight that made you choose the paper? Did you choose the paper because you had an assignment in mind; homework, a letter, a posts ? The bottom line is there was an attraction! A thought, a desire, a proposed outcome, a need, a want; something made you choose that paper! Whatever it was, it was the antecedent; the action before the behavior, (the paper cut).
Before you picked up the paper, did you think of what the end would be—a newsletter, a memo, a proposal, a grant application, etc.? You imagined something, you envisioned something in your mind and you saw the end before the beginning; you saw the outcome and imagined it in your head. You saw the consequence; the outcome as a result of the behavior. The irony is that the behavior is not one you anticipated and consequently you got an outcome you did not desire.
I know there are scholars readings my post; theologians, apologetics, psychologists, etc. The introduction may very well seem oversimplified. Notwithstanding, if you’ve never been dependent upon something (anything) to alter your mind or your mood, you too have oversimplified the subject at hand; addiction. I’m not so concerned with scholarly summations. I am however concerned with my ability to reach an eighth grade audience. I want my eighth grade audience to understand the A, B, C’s of Behavior Modification and how to intersect Psychology, (the study of the mind) with Theology (the study of God’s mind) while intently causing a changed perspective; ultimately reshaping one’s behavior, (the desired consequence).
In the last post, we resumed ”The Fourth Step,” of taking a searching and fearless moral inventory of the triune God, (God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit). We inaugurated the origin of every condemnation; every reprehensible speculation one might conceive of to accuse God for in every dark area of his/her life; barrenness, fatherless, motherless, rape, addiction, homosexuality, sickness, disease, injury, death, murder, poverty, hunger, famine, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes . . . . Did I miss anything???
Remember the charge is to compare God to man; not just any man, but the one who is perceived as Christ Jesus here on earth; the one whose pretense is holy; the “Holy See,” the Pope. Recall if you will, the charge concerts the Priests, Archbishops, Chaplains, Nuns, anyone under the Pope’s leadership. We agreed that was a fair assessment . . . Right??? Notably, only the Pope and his Clergy-persons can purportedly absolve your sins. Surely they too are holy? Thus, the whole package must be addressed as one entity; the Catholic Church!!!
”A- Antecedent, B-Behavior, C-Consequences,” The A,B,C’s of Behavior Modification. Just like the narrative above with the paper cut, the archbishop too had an antecedent that led to his maladaptive behaviors, (sexual abuse of minors and adults). The exile from the church, the court trials, public disgrace and the sentencing are the consequences. The question is how did all of this happen?
SATAN THE ANGEL OF LIGHT . . .
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)(Bold added)(Italics added)
For the record, I only write and report on that which the Lord instructs me . . .
“Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”(Jeremiah 1:9)(Bold added)
STUDY OUTCOMES OF JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE . . .
The psychological data would have us believe the antecedent was conceived in the 2002 study founded by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) entitled, “The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Children by Catholic Priests and Deacons within the United States.”(Bold added)(Italics added) https://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2004_02_27_JohnJay_revised/2004_02_27_John_Jay_Main_Report_Optimized.pdf
Nevertheless, the study embraces a correlation between Priests who themselves have been victims of some form of abuse (i.e. 3% drug addiction, 89% alcohol addiction, 8% alcohol and drug addiction, 64.96% sexual abuse, 14.60% physical abuse, 7.3% physical and sexual abuse, 11.68% emotional abuse, et. al. types of abuse). Consequently, priests are twice as likely to present some type of maladaptive sexual behavior, (93 priests or 34.4% had problems with alcohol, illegal drugs or both) as apposed to 17.4% or 646 priests without any form of childhood abuse,(see Table 3.4.1, 3.4.3 and 3.4.4, PRIESTS WITH A HISTORY OF VICTIMIZATION, BY TYPE OF ABUSE).
In essence, the pretense of this study entails the abuse endured by the Priest in their childhood, (i.e. physical, sexual, emotional; both or all three forms of abuse) is the antecedent. The sexual abuse of children in the U.S. captured in the study from the period of 1950 to 2002 is the behavior. The addiction to alcohol, drugs or both is the consequence (along with any form of physical or sexual abuse carried out in their adult life). By and large, the details of the behaviors are worth evaluating in correlation to the Priest profiles.
inquiry finds
(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/child-sexual-abuse-in-catholic-church-swept-under-the-carpet-inquiry-finds)
First, “109,694” served in the ecclesiastic ministry from the period “1950 to 2002.” Of these, the study indicated seventy-nine percent, (79%) of the ordained priest were between the ages of “25 and 29” years old. The largest population of alleged priest abuse, over forty percent, (40%) were between the ages of 30 and 39; their first infraction. Furthermore, the population under the age 30 was twenty-percent, (20%). Approximately twenty-three percent (23%) were between ages 40 and 49. Lastly, seventeen percent (17%) of this same population was over 50. (Pg. 8)(Bold added)
What’s more, these laypersons were serving in leadership capacities. Over forty-two percent, (42.3%) were “associate pastors” at the time the abuse was alleged. Another twenty-five percent, (25.1%) were “pastors.” Likewise, over seven percent, (7.2%) served in the capacity of a “teacher” and another ten percent, (10.4%) were “resident priests.” Finally, the other groups under three percent (3%) were “seminary administrators, deacons and chaplains.” (Pg. 8)(Bold added)
Ultimately, the incidence of abuse was far more venomous. At least fifty-six percent (56%) of the priest allegedly abused at least one person. Another twenty-seven percent (27%) purportedly abused another two or three persons. Over three percent (3.4%) professedly abused more than ten persons. The priest with more than ten complaints alleging abuse, (149 priests in all) abused 2,960 persons, accounting for 26% of allegations. (Pg. 8)(Bold added)
Consequently, “10,667” individuals made complaints regarding the sexual abuse of children by a priest. Professedly, thirteen percent (13%) of the accusations were documented the same year the abuse charges began. Purportedly, it was not until more than 30 years later when more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the indictments were articulated. (Pg. 8)(Bolded added)
(https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/26/world/europe/pope-francis-ireland-live-updates.html)
Detrimentally, the Catholic Church has paid an excess of $500,000,000, (excluding the “recent and highly publicized” $85,000,000 settlement). All of which encompasses the $472,000,000 paid for legal fees, counseling for priests, and compensations to victims resulting allegations. Keep in mind, these figures were captured as a result of this study, 1950-2002. However, the year of this post is 2021 and it does not encompass the findings of the 2011 study below neither the ongoing allegations of rape or molestation statistics up and through the twenty-first century. So, I ask you is the Catholic Church run by a Pope or a Pimp?
Likewise, the second study, “The Causes and Context of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Children by Catholic Priests and Deacons within the United States,”was founded by the same entity, the USCCB who yielded an inconceivable outcome. (Bold added)(Italics added) John Jay College of Criminal Justice Research Team determined that there was ”no single cause of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests is identified as a result of their research.”
Second, cultural and social metamorphoses during the 60’s and 70’s uncovered heightened levels of nonconformist conduct among the U.S. Catholic Priests. Once more, the study determined that individual priests were susceptible to situational, psychological and organizational variables. Hence, the analysis surmised in “the Causes and Context” identified an acceleration of abuse until the latter part of the 70s in opposition to the course downshift in abuse by 1985. Correspondingly, the researchers measured two groups; priests who abused minors and priests who did not abuse minors. The researchers determined that there was no statistical significance in the developmental or psychological characteristics of either group. However, the researchers detected an anomaly coupling Seminary pedagogy (teaching) with repressed volatile behaviors of the priests. That means that the introduction to God’s Word (the antecedent) had an affect on the how the priest responded; applied self-control (behavior) and as a result, there was a reduction in priest raping, molesting, drinking and/or abusing drugs (consequences).
Priests counteraccusations described acts which were confidential and defined in more than 20 classifications. The most prevalent acts depicted were: touching the victim with clothes on (52.6%), touching the victim’s underneath their clothing (44.9%), laypersons committing oral sex on the victim (26%), laypersons removing victims clothing (25.7%), attempted or committed an action of penetration with a penis (22.4%). Multiple violators were accused of many forms of abuse against singular victims, and an extremely small population of priests engaged in only the least forms of betrayal. Of the 90% disclosed complaints which accompanied detailed behavioral aspects, (141 events) or 1.5% reported another form of abuse, (i.e pornography or verbal abuse).
Lastly, to substantiate the reasoning behind the question, “Pope or Pimp” one has to examine the behavior from a consequential perspective exhaustively just as the researchers Finkelhor and Jones did in the study, ”The Decline in Child Sexual Abuse Cases.” Specifically, data was analyzed from 1992 to 2000 utilizing the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, (NCANDS) to measure the sexual abuse cases authenticated by Child Protective Services, (CPS) in more than forty states. Consequently, the cases increased in 1992 to its highest point at no less than 149,800 descending annually 2 to 11 percent yearly through 2000 when CPS reported a decrease of 89,355.5 cases. As to why the drop in cases, Finkelhor and Jones concluded that the decline, ”72% between 1993 and 2000 against children ages 12-17” was the blame of indictments engaged by familiar offenders. Those being “family and acquaintances,” ones considered “offenders” whose violations were immensely defined as sexual abuse as measured by The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). What’s more, Finkelhor and Jones implied that the reduction in sexual abuse may have a correlation to the rate of incarceration for sex-offenders. Likewise, from 1991 to 1997 the thirty-nine percent (39%) increase from 43,500 to 60,700 had already doubled in 1986 to 19,900 according to the numbers reported by the state correctional facilities. (Pg. 24-25)
“For the Name of God because of you is reviled among the Gentiles, even as it stands written.”(Romans 2:24)
(https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2021/10/05/inquiry-into-french-catholic-church-finds-216000-sex-abuse-victims-from-1950)
WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S BOTTOM LINE? . . .
Psychological profiles link child sexual abuse to behavioral and psychological problems; personality dysfunctions, mental disorders, anxiety and depression along with substance abuse. Based on self-disclosure, the information provided from Church records indicate, ”very few priests accused of sexual abuse had themselves been victims of abuse.” (P. 45) Nearly seven percent, (6.8%) or 279 of the 4,392 priests and deacons reported childhood abuse, (including verbal and emotional abuse. (see Table 3.4.1)
“Church records for 476 priests, or 10.9% of the total in the study, raised questions about those priests’ being fit for ministry. Another 774 priests were identified as having behavioral problems. The handwritten notes documenting these problems indicated they were largely psychological in nature (82.2% of those with noted behavioral or fitness for ministry problems were described as priest with psychological problems). If fitness and behavioral problems are considered together with other noted problems, (1,400 priests and deacons) or 32% of those who were later the subject of an allegation of sexual abuse had been recognized as having behavioral problems.” (Bold added)(P. 48)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/defiance-and-obstruction-on-child-sex-abuse/2016/04/19/22efc3de-0351-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html
Consequentially, the church is repeatedly paying out settlements for violating minors; Cost by Type (Table 6.1.1), Proportions (Table 6.1.2), Region (Table 6.1.3), Insurance (Table 6.1.4, 6.1.6, and 6.1.8), Victim Treatment (Table 6.1.5), Priest Treatment (Table 6.1.7) and Attorney Fees, (Table 6.1.9). At the time of this report, ”More than 1,000 cases not yet reported a compensation for alleged victims, or resolved the amount of attorney fees.” (P. 103) Again, the study resolved that ”no single cause of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests is identified as a result of their research.” What’s more, the researchers detected an anomaly coupling Seminary pedagogy (teaching) with repressed volatile behaviors of the priests. That means that the introduction to God’s Word (the antecedent) had an affect on how the priest responded; applied self-control (behavior) and as a result, there was a reduction in priest raping, molesting, drinking and/or abusing drugs (consequences).
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . . What does GOD have to SAY about THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RAPING and MOLESTING???
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”(1 Th 4:3-8)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“For from within, out of the hearts of men are constantly proceeding the depraved thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetousness, perniciousness, deceit, wantonness, a malicious, mischief-working eye, malicious misrepresentation, pride, folly. All these pernicious things from within are constantly proceeding and are constantly defiling the man.” (Mark 7:21-23)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“By a once-for-all act, and at once, put to death your members which are upon the earth: fornication, impurity, depraved passion, wicked craving, and avarice which is of such a nature as to be idolatry; because of which things there comes the wrath of God; in the sphere of which things also you ordered your behavior at one time when you were living in them. But now put away once for all, and at once, also all these things: a habitual, revengeful anger, violent fits of anger, malignity, slander, obscene speech out of your mouth.” (Colossians 3:5-8)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“But [He knows how to reserve for the day of judgment to be punished] especially those who proceed on their way, hot in pursuit of the flesh [the totally depraved nature] in the sphere of passionate desire of that which defiles, and who disdain authority. Presumptuous, arrogant, they do not tremble when defaming those in exalted positions.” (2 Peter 2:10)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“For when they are uttering extravagant things that are in their character futile, they are alluring by means of the cravings of the flesh [the totally depraved nature], by means of wanton acts, those who are just about escaping from those who are ordering their behavior in the sphere of error.” (2 Peter 2:18)(Bold added)(Italics added)
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . .What does GOD have to SAY about WORSHIPPERS of the POPE and THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ???
like never before”
(https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/surge-of-new-abuse-claims-threatens-catholic-church-like-never-before)
“For there is revealed God’s wrath from heaven upon every lack of reverence and upon every unrighteousness of men who in unrighteousness are holding down the truth. Because that which is knowable concerning God is plainly evident in them, for God made it clear to them; for the things concerning Him which are invisible since the creation of the universe are clearly seen, being understood by means of the things that are made, namely, His eternal power and divine Being, resulting in their being without a defense. Because, knowing God, not as God did they glorify Him, nor were they grateful, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their stupid heart was darkened. Asserting themselves to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for a likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and or quadrupeds and of snakes. On which account God delivered them over in the passionate cravings of their hearts to bestial profligacy which had for its purpose the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves; who were of such a character that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and rendered religious service to the creation rather than to the Creator who is to be eulogized forever. Amen.”(Romans 1:18-25)(Bold added)(Italics added)
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . . What does GOD have to SAY to those ADDICTED because of the VIOLATIONS of the CATHOLIC POPES, ASSOCIATE PASTORS, PASTORS, TEACHER, PRIESTS, SEMINARY ADMINISTRATORS, DEACONS, CHAPLAINS and others???
He tried fighting back. “I was a skinny little kid, but I was throwing punches at the priest. He got violent when I tried to get him to stop.”
(https://www.knoxnews.com/story/life/2018/09/07/catholic-priest-abuse-sevierville-tennessee-john-delaney-pennsylvania/1186046002/)
“Divinely loved ones [loved by God], I beg of you, please, as aliens and those who have settled down alongside of pagan [unsaved] people should, be constantly holding yourselves back from the passionate cravings which are fleshly by nature [fleshly in that they come from the totally depraved nature], cravings of such a nature that, like an army carrying on a military campaign, they are waging war, hurling themselves down upon your soul . . .” (1 Peter 2:11) (Bold added)(Italics added)
“Because of this God gave them over to dishonorable passions, for even their females exchanged their natural use for that which is against nature. And likewise also the males, having put aside the natural use of the females, burned themselves out in their lustful appetite toward one another, males with males carrying to its ultimate conclusion that which is shameful, receiving in themselves that retribution which was a necessity in the nature of the case because of their deviation from the norm. And even as after putting God to the test for the purpose of approving Him should He meet their specifications, and finding that He did not, they disapproved of holding Him in their full and precise knowledge, God gave them up to a mind that would not meet the test for that which a mind was meant, to practice those things which were not becoming or fitting; being filled with every unrighteousness, pernicious evil, avarice, malice, full of envy, murder, wrangling, guile, malicious craftiness; secret slanderers, backbiters; hateful to God, insolent, haughty; swaggerers, inventors of evil things; disobedient to parents, stupid, faithless, without natural affection, merciless; such are those who, knowing the judgment of God that these who practice such things are worthy of death, not only habitually do the same things but also take pleasure in those who practice them.”(Romans 1:26-32)(Bold added)(Italics added)
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . . What does GOD have to SAY about how YOU got ADDICTED?
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16) (NASB)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“Because everything which is in the world, the passionate desire of the flesh [the totally depraved nature], and the passionate desire of the eyes, and the insolent and empty assurance which trusts in the things that serve the creature life, is not from the Father as a source but is from the world as a source.”(1 John 2:16)(Expanded Greek)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“For, when you were slaves of the sinful nature, you were those who were free with respect to righteousness. Therefore, what fruit were you having then, upon the basis of which things now you are ashamed? For the consummation of these things is death.” (Romans 6:20-21)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“The one who is habitually committing sin is out of the devil as a source, because from the beginning the devil has been sinning. For this purpose there was manifested the Son of God, in order that He might bring to naught the works of the devil.” (1 Jo 3:8)(Bold added)
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . . What does GOD have to SAY to YOU who are struggling with ADDICTION . . .
That very experience with the paper cut, (as innocent as it seemed) is where Satan has an encounter with possibility and once “possibility” is manifested through lust, it becomes dark, evil, and pernicious. As for God, “And it is this message which we have heard from Him and at present is ringing in our ears and we are bringing back tidings to you, that God as to His nature is light, and darkness in Him does not exist, not even one particle.”(1 John 1:5)(Bold added)(Italics added)
And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:23-26)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.”(Romans 6:19-21)(Bold added)(Italics added)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:16-21)
“Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 12b-14)
WHAT DOES GOD SAY NOW . . . After HIS COUNCIL about ADDICTION??? . . .
“Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:11-12)(bold added)(lower case added)
Almost 1,700 Clergy members and priest that the Roman Catholic Church plausibly incriminated of sexually abusing a child are residing beneath “the radar with little to no oversight from religious authorities or law enforcement,” many years following the initial surge of the Catholic Church abuse disgrace angered U.S. dioceses, an Associated Press (AP) inquisition established.
The very same laypersons; monks, deacons, priests are presently teaching schools with middle-age children the subject of Math. These same layperson are now counsellors of victims who survived sexual assault. These very same laypersons are employed as nurses and are volunteering under the guise of a nonprofit developed to empower at-risk children. These same laypersons reside near daycare facilities and playgrounds. These very same laypersons take care of children and often times foster children.
The Catholic Dioceses and other religious entities up to this point have disclosed more than 5,100 clergy laypersons, with man increase of seventy-five percent of the names disclosed “in the last year.” Almost 2,000 living laypersons residents and work histories were discovered by The AP. This review was the largest in any capacity to follow-up on the lawbreaking priest accused of sexual abusing offenses.
In combination with the approximate 1,700 that the AP discovered as emancipated were 76 laypersons they could not find. The leftover clergy laypersons were determined to be guided by a type of surveillance, including some adhering to church guidance or imprisonment.
The investigation uncovered hundreds of priests entrusted with authoritative jobs positions of involving the care of children. Over 160 priests remained as employees or volunteers inside the church as well as an abundance of Catholic dioceses in foreign designations. Approximately 190 acquired the technical accredits for careers in counseling, social work, education, and medicine; among those 76 howbeit with “valid credentials” as recent as August.
Lastly, AP discovered that there were “cases where the priests were once again able to prey on victims.” (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/nearly-1-700-priests-clergy-accused-sex-abuse-are-unsupervised-n1062396)(10/04/2019)
AFTER KNOWING THESE THINGS . . . WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ADDICTION???
“Michael K. Williams . . . About Addiction and His Mental Health Struggles . . .”
“Speaking to NJ.com about how bad his addiction battle got, Williams said: “I was playing with fire.”
“It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid or I went to jail or, worse, I ended up dead. When I look back on it now, I don’t know how I didn’t end up in a body bag,” he continued. “Eventually, I got so sick and tired of this charade. No one who was in my circle, who knew me as Mike, was allowing me to get high. I had to slip away to do drugs. I had to hide it.”
“I’d be gone for days at a time. I was lonely in that part of my life. I was broke, broken and beat up. Exhausted. Empty. I finally said, ‘I can’t do this no more.’ I didn’t want to end up dead,” he added.”(https://people.com/tv/everything-michael-k-williams-has-said-about-addiction-and-his-mental-health-struggles/)
Unfortunately, Psychology would teach you that the consequences of addiction are jails, institutions and death. A Twelve Step Program will teach you , ”A grateful addict just won’t use!” Also, you have to apply the literature offered in a Twelve Step Program, i.e. Get a Sponsor, pray, go to meetings, and read your literature. But there is another possibility . . . God!
“And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
You have tried everything else . . . Why NOT give Him a chance? The drugs aren’t going anywhere and anytime you want, you give up on God and be a lab rat. The world is holding daily experiments betting you won’t make it this time! I’ve done everything I can to show you that God is the only way. There are so many encouraging words in HIS WORD, THE HOLY BIBLE. Don’t be afraid of it . . . Your goal IS NOT religion! YOUR GOAL IS RELATIONSHIP! But, how can you have a relationship with somebody if you DON’T KNOW THEM??? Apparently, you don’t know God. He is only asking you to believe. You believed in the drug dealer every-time you gave him your money and expected him to come back with your drugs! You don’t know what he/she is giving you to put in your body! I know you’re in pain, that’s why you continue to do what you do, but I’m telling you about a HEALER that I KNOW PERSONALLY! Read this last story. . .
“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”(Mark 9:14-29)
THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL BE SAVED FROM ADDICTION IS THROUGH PRAYER AND YOU MUST BELIEVE!
Pray with me . . . God, please forgive me! I need you to help me to not pick up another drug (or drink) another day in my life, one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and even one second at a time. God, your Word says, through you all things are possible if only I believe. God, please help my unbelief! I give you my life! Take it! I’m done with it, the best I can do is get high and I surrender! From this moment on, I want you to be my Savior, Jesus. I believe you died on the cross for my sins, was buried and rose from the dead. I trust you with my life! I’m yours Lord, I’m yours! Do with me whatever you will! In your name Jesus I pray! AMEN!
NOW LET GO AND LET GOD . . . WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE IF YOU BELIEVE!
Now go to the ”Songs of the Day” page at the top and listen to some music. Let the Lord minister to your soul. He wants to heal your brokenness and love you because he NEVER intended for you to be broken. He created you beautifully and wonderfully made in His image! God Bless!
Loving you in Christ Jesus,
“Water Walker”
Kingdom Fire Ecumenical Church 
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