Christianity Oasis Forum

[vahn]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

It had been a long and heavy time since our Lord had saw fit to lay it upon my heart to express (press out) the Grace He had granted this wretched soul for His purposes . I had been searching many avenues (sometimes literally) to do so , whether it be via one on one talk , groups , frequenting alleys or conferences , one thing ALWAYS stuck out , but the reluctant thick head of mine ALWAYS had tried to avoid the issue .
It went all the way back to my sponsor's calling (while still here with us) and a request from the Maine area literature committee , of compiling all of our lectures and speeches (his lectures , my speeches) into a form of a book or periodic pamphlets . Like I said , I avoided the issue from the word go , but ... now , with my sponsor's passing , the "burden" is getting heavier by the day of fulfilling his unrealized wish .
Sad to say , we started the project , collecting every recording , interviews and gathering of info and feeding them to computer , but ... they ALL went up in smoke with my house , LOST .. FOREVER !!
Fed by my reluctance , I was riding the whim of "See ? It wasn't meant to be after all" rational . That "whim" is not TRUTH !

The time is Here and now , it has arrived , and I cannot put it off any longer for fear of collapsing under the weight , of "turning my back" on A calling (Whether it be mine , or someone else's is irrelevant) .

For those who don't know , it has to do with Addiction/Recovery .

Addiction is a very subtle foe of us trying to do the will of our Lord the best we can . Though some of us are aware of that fact , but , unfortunately , MANY are NOT ! It is a strategy that the enemy had concocted to distract us from His Path . He is a sneaky bastard , hits us when not looking , and addiction AND the denial of it is the smokescreen he uses by glamourizing and minimizing the effects it has on us and , in turn , on those around us .

I had been hammering on the idea of posting (somewhere , don't yet know where) some Truths about , first , Addiction , then , the recovery from it , and lastly the process of it , with a possible conclusion(s) of WHY should we bothered to do that . All Scripture based , combined with the suggestions of recovery outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous , the 12 steps .
Whether it be a weekly post , and then a discussion , a daily one ? , similar to what our brother FollowerofJesus had/has in Cool Recovery Cafe forum ? Real Solutions ? or maybe even altogether new forum or thread ?

I will , in a bit , post a "Sampler" of what I have in mind , taken and incorporated from the Life Recovery Bible that I use for my recovery , and take it from there .

Thank you ALL in advance .


(Oh , by the way , I am not afraid of Truth , so , don't even bother of thinking "it might offend him" !! Hit me with your best shot !! I Looooove to get hit by Truth !!)


In Christ , our Lord

[mlg]

Pssstttt...I think you already know the answers to your own questions...but don't realize it....Holy Spirit has those answers...and I encourage you to follow the path that brings the most peace to your heart. Sometimes we ask others...hoping for guidance....but yet the only guidance we need is Him...right there showing us the path...I urge you to spend some time in prayer and meditation and then follow His lead.

Praying that God's plan is realized through you...you have so much to give to God and His ministry.

luv ya

[Tam]

Vahn I too have to agree with mlg....I am pretty sure that you know the answers to the questions you have asked. I urge you to get on your face before our Father and ask Him what He would have you do. Bind your own thoughs and imaginations and ask Him to tell you what it is you need to know.
I believe in you but more than that I believe in HIM in you.

Vahn you have been such an encoragement for me over the last few months and have urged me to dig really deep in myself and no I urge you to do the say thing.

Prayers are with you and I love you brother.
Tam

[Dora]

I am...as usual...confused. What are you waiting for?


Love you brother!

[Lani]

Hmmmm The opportunity to "hit" vahn

Now how could I possibly pass that up?

Nope! CAN'T

Bro

Ya know... I am glad you said you were thick headed before I did

Much like Timothy and Paul...

Your Sponsor has gone home to party in Heaven, so you are now faced with the decision... continue with your calling by picking up His vision and seeing it through or as you said... collapse under the pressure of turning your back. Perhaps it was meant for you to begin with but since God knows you are thick headed, He planted the seed in one with a swift foot to kick you into action and now, it is your turn to cultivate the fruit... much more appealing to your human way of thinking.

All is not lost bro, perhaps notes and scribbles, but those impressed upon your heart, The REAL light He shared through all of it, remains in your soul. Through you, His truth and work can be shared to guide those who are still wandering, seemingly unaware of the real battle around them as the smokescreen is still too thick and the lies, to glittery.

In my heart and through convos, I know you have prayed on this (all while trying to ignore it)... n He sure isn't givin up is He? duh (I can duh you, you duh'd me already LOTS!)

You know if ya need any help, there is this kinda annoying, far to happy lil sis ready to do whatever she can, though never hesitant to kick ya when ya go and get thick headed again.

Just, whatever ya do, don't ask me to spell check anything for you

God's Will be done.

Much love for ya Bro

[sbennett]

Vahn, I am praying that God gives you the guidance you need in your decisions. I know that you seek to do HIS will and truly want to help others who struggle as you have. God Bless you always!

[goldieluvs]

Vahn i agree with mlg.... u have the answer at your fingertips, through Holy Spirit.

There is ONE thing i would like to share. After you mentioned Life Recovery Bible, i thought hmmmm idk about another bible that uses a different translation.. then i talked about it some in chat and ciny said she had it and it helped alot. Soo..... i got one.... starting with Once upon a time (private joke for others reading this) all i can say is u were right on the money.

Yep i remember the OT stories from childhood. I am finding though that i am seeing things in a whole new light since starting in Genesis in this Bible. See, i always kinda saw God as this foreboding entity until He sent Jesus to die for us. And i thought the OT was simply no longer relevant, just history leading up to Jesus (tho i do still think that, i am seeing there are many lessons in OT as well) The only thing i can say about this bible is I see now God's grace so evident even then. It makes it clear with the notes full of recovery and showing these people's strengths and weaknesses. And addiction comes in many forms, not just alcohol or drugs. I think in many respects this bible addresses all addictions. (or at least what i have read of it so far) Soooo follow leading of HS. Put God's will above own. Yeah i know i stray from that so many times and there is always a price to pay for doing so.

Another thing i wanna point out is that yes, your sponsors lectures tapes etc may not be in exact form, but you remember them and they impacted you in a tremendous way. So, they aren't really totally lost.

luv ya