CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

addiction

By

Wear a Tie

Originally posted at: http://www.theresstillhope.org

A man whose car broke down walked ten miles in the desert in search of water. He was barely able to make it to a small house on the edge of town. Knocking on the door, he then collapsed, near death. A man answered the door, and the poor fellow gasped, “Water! I need water!” 

The homeowner offered him a tie instead. 

“But I need water! I don’t want your tie!” Then he left and crawled to the only other home within sight. A man wearing a tuxedo came to the door, and the parched fellow whispered, “Water! I need water!”

The man in the tux replied, “I’m sorry, but we don’t serve anyone who isn’t wearing a tie.”

Lesson: Do what you need to do today in order to take an even bigger step tomorrow.

Recovery Step: Jesus pointed out the tragedy of not understanding the Scriptures (Matthew 22:29). Similarly, there will be times when you will be told to take certain steps toward recovery that don’t make sense at the time. Be okay with that.

By

Earl Campbell

Originally posted at: http://www.theresstillhope.org

One day after practice, a veteran Houston Oiler football player came over to Head Coach Bum Phillips and said, “Coach, I don’t know if you know this or not, but that rookie, Earl Campbell, was unable to finish the mile run at the end of practice.”

Bum responded, “That’s good to know. The next time it is third down with a mile to go, I won’t give him the ball.”

Forty years later, nobody remembers who that veteran football complainer was. Meanwhile, Earl Campbell is in the NFL Hall-of-Fame.

It is easy to criticize others. In the Great Sermon, Jesus had a lot to say about judging the actions of others (Matthew 7:1-5).

What’s not so easy is to reflect on our own lives. I suggest that you take a moment today to ask yourself this question: “What can I be doing better in my own recovery?”

Recovery Step: Focus on your own shortcomings and leave everyone else to God.

By

‘Love hormone’ could be to blame for male sex addiction: study

Originally posted at: https://nycdailypost.com/2022/02/03/lifestyle/love-hormone-could-be-to-blame-for-male-sex-addiction-study/

Sex-addicted men have long been accused of lacking self-discipline — but new research suggests there may be a scientific reason for their insatiable bedroom appetites.

A new study published Wednesday in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that men with “hypersexual disorder” have “significantly higher” levels of oxytocin in their system.

The research could significantly change the way that hypersexual men are viewed by society — transforming them from lusty Lotharios with poor impulse control to helpless victims of their own biology.

Oxytocin — informally known as the “love hormone” — is naturally produced by both men and women and helps fuel positive emotions, like other hormones such as dopamine and serotonin.

According to Healthline, previous research has shown “couples in the first stages of romantic attachment had significantly higher levels of oxytocin than their unattached counterparts.”

Oxytocin is also credited with increasing levels of relaxation and trust — but the new study asserts that too much of the hormone could be a bad thing for men.

The study examined 64 males with hypersexual disorder, as well as 38 men who reported ordinary levels of sexual interest and arousal.

Researchers found “significant positive correlations between oxytocin levels and the rating scales measuring hypersexual behavior.”

“Oxytocin plays an important role in sex addiction and may be a potential drug target for future pharmacological treatment,” co-author Dr. Andreas Chatzittofis told Newswise.

Interestingly, the levels of oxytocin in the sex-addicted men significantly reduced after they underwent cognitive behavioral therapy — appearing to confirm that sex addiction can successfully be treated without pharmaceuticals.

Sex addiction is not recognized as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, and many people have questioned whether it is a legitimate ailment or simply an excuse for bad behavior.

However, in 2018, compulsive sex behavior was included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases list for the first time.

WHO’s list describes compulsive sexual behavior disorder as a “persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in a repetitive sexual behavior.”

Symptoms include sex becoming the “central focus” of the person’s life at the neglect of health, personal care or interests and responsibilities. The behavior should be clear for six months or more and cause distress in personal lives.

It’s previously been estimated that between 3 and 6 percent of American adults suffer from sex addiction.

By

New Early Morning Castimonia Meeting – Kingsland Baptist Church – Wednesdays

I am humbled by what the Lord continues to do in expanding His ministry. We will be starting a new Castimonia early morning meeting at Kingsland Baptist church on Wednesday mornings beginning on May 4th. Please join us! Information is below.

Kingsland Baptist Church (Central Campus)
20555 Kingsland Blvd
Katy, TX 77450
Wednesday Mornings
Time: 6:00 am – 7:00 am
Location: Conference room A Main Entrance #1 / Main Bldg.
Starting Wednesday May 4th 

By

Trust and Accessing All of Recovery’s Features

Originally posted at: https://kentarecovery.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/trust-and-accessing-all-of-recoverys-features/

Early yesterday evening, our family went out to the store together. Before exiting the car, I adjusted the car’s settings using a knob located in the center console of the car. It is practically a reflex to do so, because it allows the car to maintain its internal temperature while the car sits idle. So, it would be nice and toasty still when our mission at the store was complete.

A winter storm was just beginning to spit sleet from the skies above. We had been inside the store for a little over thirty minutes by the time we returned to the car. Ice and sleet were covering everything outside; but the car’s windows were free of any ice. The warmth of the car’s interior had prevented it from accumulating.

Before I began to drive, my wife Amanda asked me if I would like her to activate the traction control on her car. “Yes please!” She quickly made adjustments to the car’s settings by rotating that same knob in the center console, and before I knew it, a light appeared on the dashboard telling me that traction control was now activated.

It was almost as though the car had a mind of its own as I drove. A couple of times, the car made adjustments on the icy road before I had any chance to react to the effects of the ice. Though I might otherwise have lost control because of icy patches on the road, that traction control was not going to allow it to happen.

That little knob in the center console of Amanda’s car controls a lot of different features. I am very much a novice at using it. Setting the climate controls is about the limit of my skills. Amanda, though, can quickly scroll through a host of different settings; making adjustments to a variety of options.

Same knob, different users.

Recovery through the Twelve Steps offers a single promise: Freedom from active addiction. It’s very simple, and straightforward. It is like setting the climate control on Amanda’s car. Even I can do it!

However, there are other features available to the recovering addict. There is a “New way of life” described in the message of recovery. Also, Step Twelve indicates that by the time we have reached that step, we will have experienced a spiritual awakening. Sanity is also offered to the recovering addict. It is a welcomed relief after experiencing the insanity of active addiction.

The fact is, recovery offers more options for my life than that little knob in Amanda’s car ever could. The question is not whether or not recovery can bring these adjustments to my life. Rather, it is a question of how many areas of my life I am willing to entrust to it. Then, that trust must be put into action as I go about the work unlocks those features.

In the same way that I am satisfied with simply knowing how to adjust the climate control in Amanda’s car, there are those who are satisfied with simply staying clean.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that for me, just staying clean would not be enough. Scrolling through the available features of recovery, I find myself wanting them all. Spiritual awakening – check. New way to live – check. Sanity – definitely check!

For a time, these things had all occurred as a result of working the Twelve Steps with my sponsor; but I got lazy and proud. For well over two years, I thought I had done enough work for those features of recovery to be sustained. Eventually, though, I realized that all I was doing was staying clean. Even scarier, I realized that the path I was on would not keep me clean forever.

That is when I finally put my laziness and pride aside; and began working the steps once again. I put action behind my trust, and I began to see results again.

Today, I trust recovery for so much more than simply staying clean. I trust it to continue revealing features that will benefit my life, and the lives of those around me.

Have a remarkable day!