CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

Affairs

By

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 9: Step One – Explanation, Examples, and How to Work the Step

Step one is the beginning of the journey of the 12-steps. Learn what it takes to break free of the denial and recognize our own insane behaviors.

This is a 2-part series that is designed to help us see how we were powerless to change without help from our Higher Power.

In this casual conversation, learn what it takes to begin to seek healing and help by being vulnerable enough to admit we can’t change on our own no matter how much we want to.

Email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org for more information or to give us your feedback, and remember that you are not walking this road alone!

By

Emotional Adultery

High school chemistry taught me a very valuable lesson: When certain substances come into close contact, they can form a chemical reaction. I proved that one day during my senior year of high school when I dropped a jar full of pure sodium off a bridge into a river and nearly blew up the bridge! What I’ve learned since then is that many people don’t respect the laws of chemistry any more than I did as a teenager. They mix volatile ingredients without giving much thought to the consequences. I’ve discovered that many married people don’t understand that a chemical reaction can occur with someone other than their spouse. Don’t misunderstand me—I’m not just talking about sexual attraction. I’m referring to a reaction of two hearts, the chemistry of two souls. This is emotional adultery—an intimacy with the opposite sex outside of marriage. Emotional adultery is unfaithfulness of the heart. When two people begin talking of intimate struggles, doubts, or feelings, they may be sharing their souls in a way that God intended exclusively for the marriage relationship. Emotional adultery is friendship with the opposite sex that has progressed too far. I’ve talked with many men and women who have fallen into full-fledged adultery, and I’ve discovered that, in most cases, the adulterous relationships started as a casual relationship at work, school, or even church.

You may be converging on a chemical reaction with another person when:

• You’ve got a need you feel your mate isn’t meeting—a need for attention, approval, or affection.
• You find it easier to unwind with someone other than your spouse by dissecting the day’s difficulties over lunch, coffee, a ride home, or through email or social media.
• You begin to talk about problems you’re having with your spouse.
• You rationalize the “rightness” of this relationship by saying that surely it must be God’s will to talk openly and honestly with a fellow Christian.
• You look forward to being with this person.
• You wonder what you’d do if you didn’t have this friend to talk with.
• You hide the relationship from your spouse.

From an article at:
http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/troubled-marriage/infidelity/emotional-adultery-unfaithfulness-of-the-heart#.U-ORZ010yM8

 

By

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 8: Recovery Resources (Books)

Episode 8.

In this mini-podcast episode, Tim Mavergeorge and Doug discuss some great recovery books as resources for those seeking help and healing. Our spiritual path needs guidance from those that have gone before us, so they share a few resources that can be beneficial to those looking for something better.

This list isn’t designed to be exhaustive, but it should allow those to have a starting point for those looking to replace certain behaviors with reading resources that can lead to increased positive relationships, thinking, and living.

Please email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org with more book suggestions that we can add to future resource podcasts.

Here are the books that were discussed (in order):

Patrick Carnes — “Don’t Call it Love” and “Out of the Shadows” — workbook available

Milton Magness — “Stop Sex Addiction”

Joe Dallas — “The Game Plan” — 30 day plan

Russell Willingham — “Breaking Free”

William Struthers — “Wired for Intimacy” (Medical and brain chemistry in addiction)

Mark Laaser — “Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction”

Stephen Arterburn — “Every Man’s Battle” (not specific for sex addiction)

Deb Laaser — “Shattered Vows” (for wives)

Barbara Steffens — “Your Sexually Addicted Spouse”

Jason Martinkus — “Worthy of Her Trust”

Al Cole — “Shadow Christian”

Donald Miller — “Scary Close”

Kristen A. Jenson — “Good Pictures, Bad Pictures” (resource for talking to kids)

For more information on the Houston Center for visit http://www.christiancounselinghouston.com/

By

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 7: The Addiction Cycle Explained – How Can Anyone Act Like That? Can’t They Just Stop?

Episode 7.

Tim Mavergeorge is a Christian counselor that manages the branches of the Houston Center for Christian Counseling, and he has extensive experience dealing with addictions and sexual compulsive behaviors. He is personal in his approach with each client, and he looks to find the root cause that is driving the medication.

In this podcast episode, he explains the addiction cycle as well as many of the root causes that are common among his patients. He offers insights and suggestions for how to find help as well as guidance in our thought patterns in fighting false beliefs.  

For more information on the podcast or to get help please e-mail us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org.

For more information on the Houston Center for Christian Counseling please visit:
http://www.christiancounselinghouston.com/