The more people I chat with and the more that I share my heart about the state of Christian recovery ministry, the more I find that I’m not alone. 

More people seem to agree with my basic viewpoints than I imagined.  But as I learn that more people agree, it begs the question of “Why aren’t more people speaking up?”. 

Why is it so hard to find people who will willingly voice their beliefs on this matter?  Fear of what others will say?  Doubt?  I’m not sure. 

What I do know is one thing.  One simple little thing.  One thing that I have to ask people when we are addressing this issue.  This one little thing is what pushes me because I really do fear for the future of Christian addiction ministry. 

We have to determine this within ourselves. 

Do we really believe what Jesus said, or not?

If we say that we do, then why are we allowing people to believe that they will most likely live with their addictions forever?  If we really do, then why are people spending the remainder of their lives “in recovery”?

Today I put out a plea for people to contribute to getting a friend into a long-term recovery program.  See HERE. 

The response has been INSANE!!

The amount needed to get him into Teen Challenge in Hot Springs, AR was $650.  As of the end of the day, I’ve received gifts/commitments totalling right at $400.  That means that we only need to come up with another $250.  This is doable!!  But only with your help….can you help get Mark into this program that he desperately needs?  Or can you at least re-tweet this post or share it on your Facebook? 

You all are so amazing!!  Your hearts make mine jump for joy inside my chest!!

The enemy has been defeated!  Death couldn’t hold you down!  Gonna lift our voice in victory, gonna make your praises LOUD!!  Thank you God for your provision!!

This is my friend Mark.  We’ve gone through a lot together.  The first time I met Mark, he came into the front office of the outreach ministry where I was working at the time and I knew instantly that he had hit rock bottom and then started chiseling even deeper. 

Mark was so ridden with shame and guilt, that wouldn’t look anyone in the eye.  All he knew is that he needed change.  He needed Jesus. 

After visiting a while, one of my Team Leaders at that time prayed with Mark to acknowledge Jesus as his ultimate savior. 

Mark then entered the drug/alcohol rehab program and God moved in his life like nothing I’ve seen before.  But just like the recovery roller coaster does to most, he found himself crashing after the program.  After taking a few punches to the chin, I finally found him again last night on the streets at about 10pm. 

He is desperate for help and cried like a small child on my shoulder last night.  He is currently sitting at my dining room table filling out an application for Teen Challenge.  I believe wholeheartedly that this is the place that he needs to be. 

The only roadblock is that there is an initial admittance fee of $650.  He has been sleeping in the woods and obviously doesn’t have the money.  Nor do I. 

My hope is to find enough people to contribute this weekend, that we can get him checked in there on Monday or Tuesday.  Without such a program, Mark will probably die out on the streets. 

If you would please help get him in, click on the “contact” tab to the right and get in touch with me.  Thank you all for your help in advance!!

One of two things will certainly come of this post.

Either there will be no response because church leaders fail to see the significance of the topic, or don’t have a legitimate answer….

Or, it will draw some type of strong debate.

Just to be honest, I expect option number one to be the case.

Nevertheless, I pose this question: Is it justified to have AA meetings in a church?

I can find no justification. I actually find it hard to swallow when a church hosts an AA or even NA meeting in the same areas where they are teaching the Bible.

Reason being, secular recovery curriculum and the Bible contradict each other all day long. Yes, I can back that up and have numerous times.

I wonder what leaders/pastors are thinking when they decide, “yes, we can have that here”.

Does your church host AA or NA meetings? If so, can you help me understand the rationale used in allowing that?

This is for you Derek.  Even if I lose 98 readers, it’s worth it to dedicate a Throwback Thursday just to you dude!!!  I hope you enjoy!!

OK, right off the bat……

This is not an “I want pity” post.

Now, let me tell you what this post is.

This is a post about a messed up dude, in a messed up world who is really needing the advice of wise people. I promise, that’s it. I don’t mind being open and transparent about my life.  BUT, if you don’t have solid advice for this situation, then please don’t post any comment about how you will pray for us and all that.

This really is a practical post, looking for practical answers (only if you have any).

Most of you know that I had been working in outreach ministry for the last 2 1/2 years here in Little Rock. It was a Christian para-church ministry.

I stopped working in beginning of December, as my 3rd back surgery was inevitable. The organization was gracious enough to help us get through the next two months, but with the stipulation that I return on February 15th or else I would be terminated.

I thought I was on track to return on time. But when my surgeon saw me again, he said I needed at least 6 more weeks.

Long story short: I was terminated from my position there. What’s critical is that since it was a non-profit organization they are not obligated to pay unemployment and therefore I was left with no way to draw income. Also, having less than 50 employees, MFLA didn’t apply and was not an option either.

So, without a paycheck and without the ability to file for unemployment my only hope was that I could get disability until I could return to some type of normalcy and go back to work somewhere.

Yesterday I received notice that I was denied disability.

So, I’m terminated for reasons beyond my control….
can’t draw unemployment…..
can’t get disability…..
starting appeal process tomorrow which could take 97 years…..
and can’t get another job until surgeon releases me…..

What’s left? Are there really no other options?

Now, don’t get me wrong. We don’t have an eviction notice and our cars are not being repossessed. We are not starving. We are able to make life work somehow. Actually God is making it work.

But I just can’t believe that there would be NO other options for us, until I am able to return to work.

So, I turn to you! The wise people of the world and ask you what your advice would be…..

Is there something I can do now, to prevent catastrophe later? I’m not begging for change, but I am begging for advice.  There is wisdom in the counsel of many….

Are there options when there are no other options? What do you do? What WOULD you do?

I have tried things without asking advice too many times in life and failed.  So now I ask your advice……ready GO!!!   (Remember, practical answers only!!)

Don’t freak out on me yet!!  Just go with me on this analogy.

Jesus did a ton of breeding.  He bred hope.  He bred healing.  He bred deliverance from bondages.  He bred love.

He reproduced these things in the lives of others so that they would go and breed them into more and more people.

You can see it over and over through the great things that Jesus did in the lives of others, he made sure that they understood how to achieve the same “life change” results in others.  That’s breeding.  Reproducing.

It’s my personal belief that we are not doing this as a Church when it comes to addictions ministry.  We are not breeding hope like we should.  We can easily believe that God can and will heal a marriage, but not addictions.  This is rubbish and has no place in the Church.

Hope must be bred into the lives of those who struggle with bondage to drugs/alcohol.  If not, we have missed Jesus and his instructions to us.

I’m excited to let you know that we will begin having “meetings” here in Central Arkansas that offer an alternative to your typical meetings.  To be very honest, I want to offer an alternative to NA, AA, and even CR.

I had a wonderful meeting yesterday with Jamey Bentley from Canvas Community.  They are going to partner in offering their space for us to use as we come together to search out the Word of God for the truth that an addiction doesn’t have to live until you die.

A start date is not official yet, but I will announce it soon.  These “meetings” will be completely open to anyone of any background or religious preference.

The biggest catch is this:  NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO CALL THEMSELVES NAMES!  (i.e. addict, alcoholic)

If this sounds like something you would be interested in attending, please check back here to the blog for more details soon.

If this is something you would like to be a part of then you are one of my heroes!!  We will need help with basic tasks, social media promotion, pastoral care, mentoring, and I would love to have some music in the mix somehow!!

Please contact me via the info on the “contact” tab over to the right if you are interested in being a part of this thing!!

Thanks to Matt Millsap for sharing this one….

If you write, blog, or create anything at all then you understand writer’s block. Maybe. I thought I did. I thought it was much like anything else. Seasonal. At times you’ve “got it” and others you don’t.

I realized yesterday that my attitude has been nothing but crap lately. I’m not going to feed you a bunch of excuses. I’ve just had a crappy attitude. Toward others, toward myself, and toward God.

I noticed also that I haven’t been able to write anything worth $0.02 during this same time. Time for a gut check wouldn’t you say?

I know God gave me writing. Whether I’m good at it or not, I don’t care. I love it.

I know God gave me the ability to determine how I would respond to people and circumstances as well. Good….or crappy.

I know that I can’t write anything of value, or have an incredible attitude without seeking Him. I’m nothing. I’m just a dude. I can be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.

Yesterday I saw my attitude. I don’t know how or why. But I saw it and it was so ugly. I realized that I had chosen to respond to things in inappropriate ways and that I was just trying to go through my days on my own strength (which isn’t much, regardless of what you may have thought). ;)

So, with all of that being admitted, I’m on my way home. I want to get there and let God deal with me as He sees fit, which is currently to chizzle more crap off of my stoney heart.

Sometimes it can just be said better with a song. So here’s my today for you in a song. I’m on my way home. I hope to write something today when I get there.

This idea began last year as we found that many homeless would not come into shelters due to their geographic location. If they are near their work or resources it makes no sense to go to a shelter several miles away.

BUT, when asked if we provided them a free bicycle, would that decision change…..without hesitation the answer was yes.

This spring as many will be cleaning their garages and patios, there are THOUSANDS of bikes that will either get thrown out or just sit there for another wasted year. Why not donate it and give a homeless or even impoverished person a more effective mode of transportation?

I am currently seeking partners, sponsors, volunteers and other organizations that would like to get in on this magnificent effort with me.

If you would like to be a part in any way, please contact me at aaron@aaronreddin.com.

Big point:  Even when presenting the Word in regards to Christian drug/alcohol recovery, it’s a fine line between attacking the church and fighting for her. 

I’ve openly admitted my anger and at times disgust with the way that the Church (broad statement) has handled addiction ministry.  It’s no secret.  It’s also no secret that many people disagree with what I have to say about this topic, and even the way that I present it. 

A very dear and wise friend of mine told me just the other day that the more people know of me and read/hear the message that I’m bringing, the more I will have critics and nay-sayers.  I’ve found this to be very true.  I don’t mind.  I’m teachable.  At least I think I am.  And if someone has a well thought out and factual argument to correct me, I am all ears. 

What drives me is spreading the right message.  The last thing I want to do is spread the wrong one.  I believe that’s the problem I’m trying to combat. 

When I make statements about secular recovery programs, they are mostly blanket statements that would cover the literature and methods of the likes of AA or NA.

When I make statements regarding Christian recovery programs, they are not blanket statements.  They are not generalized.  There are some that are doing AMAZING work and find their power in Jesus alone.   That’s their core, and they know that God is bigger than any addiction. 

It’s the Christian groups who know the Word, yet breed a culture that is contrary that makes me feel like this guy. 

They make me angry.  I may be direct when addressing them.  I may even be overly direct. 

I don’t mind, because I don’t feel that there is enough time to wait for a baited hook to draw in a crowd that will listen.  I will openly put the Word to them and receive whatever response they offer. 

Life change should be the #1 priority.  Not group growth.  Not good fellowship.  Not good music. 

Life change.

So, for those who do think that I’m an addiction tyrant who wants to blast the Church as a whole, you’re wrong.  I want to end the bondage that’s being bred into MOST Christian recovery circles.  Not all of them have this problem.  There are some that are doing some amazing work and ushering in the presence of the Holy Spirit to radically change the lives of men and women. 

My goal is not to attack the Church as a whole.  My goal is to fight a battle against man-made ideas, traditions, customs, and even cultures in Christian recovery circles that are holding people in more and more bondage and ultimately decreasing the amount of faith that people put in our living and POWERFUL God. 

So, before you see me as an enemy of the church, realize that I am indeed fighting, but I’m not fighting the Church.  I’m fighting the enemy that is creeping into our people’s hearts and uprooting the truth of scripture and replacing it with man’s ideas. 

Try to see me as this guy, not fighting the Church, but fighting the enemy.  Then search out the scriptures that address bondage and strongholds.  Even healing.  Then read more of what I have written about addictions and you will see that you too may have a passion to roll up your sleeves and attack the enemy that is now breaking through our gates.  It’s time to stop him.  Jesus fights for this every single day.  I will also. 

Christians don’t have to live in bondage to addiction, groups, shame, blame, failure, guilt or anything else.  It is for FREEDOM that Christ has already set us FREE.  Are we going to walk in it?  Are we going to make sure that others know how to walk in it?  Or do we let the enemy continually advance into our friends and family and sell them on the belief that this is as good as it’s going to get? 

Not me.  I’m fighting.  Say what you want.  I’m fighting.

I have no clue where I found this, so unfortunately I am unable to give credit to anyone.  If it’s yours, tell me so I can give you mad gangsta props homie…..

Far too often I have an agenda.  I wake up and my agenda for the day is all that matters. 

I’m shallow.  I’m vain.  But if you could cut my heart open, you’d see that I so desperately want to give every single second to God.  I want to be consumed with his presence.  I secretly hate the way that I prioritize my life, then notice the priorities are out of whack.  But what do I do to change it?  Nothing.  I stay in my mess.  The status quo. 

I once heard (not sure if it’s true) that the definition of “status quo” is “the mess we’re in”.  We stay in it.  It’s what we know.  It’s comfortable.  Yet when our little bubbles get popped we run to daddy for that real quick refresher.  We run down the isle.  We feel better, but make no lasting changes. 

Jesus doesn’t do one-night stands.  It’s not his style.  It’s not his way.  Yet it’s mine, and some of yours’. 

I don’t want to be a whore anymore.  Watch this video and see what I mean.

God, EXPLODE in my life today. I don’t want to act like whore, or treat you like one either. Please manifest your Holy Spirit in my being today as I seek you out in all that I do. I want to do everyday, for you. In Jesus’ name….

Confession:  I am angry.  I really am.  I am so angered by the culture and the hopelessness that is being pushed into and bred throughout the church in recovery groups.  I’m pissed.  There I said it. 

In having lunch yesterday with a local pastor, I learned a lot about what drives my passion on these topics. 

He is a pastor who doesn’t even try to pretend to be “Mr. Pastor”.  He knows that he doesn’t know everything.  That was so freakin’ refreshing to me.  But what boosted my respect for him through the roof was the fact that after YEARS in full-time church ministry, he is still hungry to learn how to practically minister to people who he can’t personally relate to.  That’s HUGE. 

Not many pastors will invite a big-mouth little pee-on like me to lunch, just so he can pick his brain to understand how he can minister to people “in recovery”. 

Ok, so on to the point.  I realized at some point in our discussion that a lot of what I have a problem with comes from the “faith placement” of the people in Christian recovery groups. 

Some of them get very defensive and even hostile if you even insinuate that God is greater than their group.  For some reason, they want God, but they don’t want to buy into his SUPREME power. 

Recovery groups are becoming idols.  You may disagree, and the comment section below is a great place to do so. 

If you are quick to defend your “group” over your “god” then you have a serious problem there.  That’s where I find a serious problem. 

Most groups have amazing literature.  Amazing processes.  Amazing love and acceptance.  Amazing support.  A truck load of great intentions.

The problem lies in the heart and culture which silently spreads the message that “Recovery Group > God”……