March 2014 Newsletter

His Steps Ministries Newsletter    Ministry News     I had the privilege this month to speak at the annual Biblical Counseling Conference at my home church Faith Community Church. During my preparation for the "Overview of Addictions" session I was reminded again of the sufficiency of the Scriptures. As biblical counselors, we are so blessed to know we can give people hope. All the other counseling models leave a person with the understanding that once an addict, always an addict. These people would have you believe that addiction is not a heart/inner man problem but a body problem first and foremost. The Bible presents an entirely different interpretation and conclusion about “addictive” behavior. The Bible teaches that every person lives out of his heart.  The “addict” is one who wholly treasures something in his heart, such that he is willing to put aside almost anything to possess it (Ed Welch, Addictions: A Banquet at the Grave). At the root of “addictive behavior” is the desire to please self.  At the core of “addiction” is self worship. In reality, the “addict” doesn’t worship the drug, substance, or a person but himself. He has become an idol worshiper, and the idol is self. The idol worship of self, brought on by the intoxicating effects of drugs or alcohol, captures and grasps securely the person in captivity. At His Steps we teach that this bondage can be broken through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s always a blessing when I hear from former residents. Twice in the past couple of weeks I’ve been greatly encouraged by phone calls of former residents. I’m sure you, like me, sometimes wonder how all the guys are doing. Recently, men from Texas and Washington state called to say thank you for all I had done for them three years ago while in the program. Those affirmations are little blessings the Lord brings from time to time. I hope they encourage you as much as they do me. The guys headed to church. The Lord continues to bring men into the program. Currently there are two men from California, one from Alabama, another that was living here in Atlanta and the most recent counselee came here to Atlanta from Hawaii for his dad’s funeral and never made it back. He fell deep into addiction in a very short time frame after the funeral. He had gone to Hawaii to get away from all his life here but soon found out the environment was not his problem. The Bible tells us that our deceptive wicked hearts are the problem, not our environment. We cannot get away from ourselves, so moving does not do any good. This is exactly what this man discovered as he abused drugs in Hawaii just as he did on the mainland.   Shane getting ready to do some serious yard work! Please continue to pray for the men here. Please pray that the men would see others in the house as more important than themselves. Since addicts are such self centered people, this is a hard sin for them to turn from.         Jesus is Lord,      Tim Brown        Director of His Steps Ministries   Give If you are interested in meeting any ministry needs, you may contact Tim Brown: timbrown@hisstepsministries.org or (770) 595-4249 All support is welcome. We exist by the grace of God through partners who care about helping others as our Lord commanded. Your gift is tax deductible.        Our mailing address is: 2011 Meadows Dr., Woodstock, GA 30188 Copyright (C) 2010 His Steps Ministries, Inc All rights reserved.   unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences