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Christ

December 25, 2021 By Communications

Merry Christmas from Castimonia

Fight Addiction by Embracing a Bigger Story this Christmas

“How do we end up like this?
Living lives that we don’t care about?
Too busy fixing things
On computer screens
While the grass grows green
Me, I’m screaming out”

-Ben Rector, Beautiful

Until you realize the intended purposes for your life you will flounder in far lesser pleasures, beauties and glories. CS Lewis paints a powerful metaphor in his sermon; “The Weight of Glory” when he says;

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Addicts start using their “drug of choice” to bring excitement, fun, community and control back to their life while simultaneously (and unknowingly) bringing numbness, chaos and pain into their life. Drugs and alcohol are fun… but only in the short-term.

Consider a Different Scenario

What if I told you that there was a God who made Himself known and part of God’s mission was not only to make His glory known but also to satisfy the deepest longings of your heart and life? What if I told you that no drug or no high would ever bring real meaning, purpose, joy or high that only God could fill? What if I told you that every time you took a hit you were unconsciously looking for God and that God is waiting and wanting to heal you and redeem you? What if I told you that this holiday season is a chance to connect with the Living God in a fresh way as you consider His great salvation and love for you?

The Decision is Up to You

Revelation 3:20 leaves us all with a compelling invitation that we must all consider:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”

What will you do with that knocking? Will you reject it and continue in the downward spiral of abuse or will you open the door and let Jesus be the truest friend and the Savior of your life that you so desperately need?

Community Discussion – Share Your Thoughts Here!

How has Christ reshaped purpose in your life and in addiction recovery?


Pastor Ryan Moffet family photo

About the Author:

Ryan Moffat is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, OR and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR

Ryan received his BS in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. He has pastored students, families and is passionate about Christ-centered recovery and healing. He’s been married to his beautiful wife Michelle for 13 years and they enjoy raising four crazy, unique and special kids together.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. 

We at Addiction Hope understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 28, 2016
Published on AddictionHope.com

Filed Under: Sexual Purity Posts Tagged With: Christ, christian, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, sex addiction

March 5, 2021 By Castimonia

Forgiveness: Doing what Christ does

SOURCE:  Adapted from an article in  Discipleship Journal/Jack & Carole Mayhall

She looked at me defiantly.  Hope, hurt, pain, and anger were mingled in her eyes and in her tone as she said, “I can’t do it, Carole. Could you?”

She had just told me her problem—and it was a giant one. Her in-laws had physically and verbally attacked her in front of her husband and children. And her husband had not only failed to come to her defense, but had sided with his parents. How could she forgive such a thing?

“No,” I replied, “I couldn’t forgive him. But God can—and will through and in you, if you’ll let him. There is no hope for your marriage if you don’t forgive.”

I could have added that there would be no hope for her, either. The lack of forgiveness produces a poison that will eat away one’s very existence, especially the existence of any joy or peace in our lives.

What heartache!

There is no easy answer. But this I know: God does have a solution. It is somehow tied in with the solemn warning in Hebrews 12:15—”See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” I would paraphrase that first part, “Make sure no one fails to receive enough of God’s grace.”

If we don’t have enough of his grace, it isn’t God’s fault. His grace is sufficient for our every need (2 Corinthians 12:9). The fault is ours, because we haven’t really asked for his grace with an accepting heart.

What is forgiveness? One dictionary defines the verb forgive as “to cease to feel resentment” against someone, “to pardon,” “to give up resentment,” or “to grant relief from payment.”

I was struck with two things about this definition. First was the feeling involved—”to cease to feel resentment.” This statement rules out attitudes such as “I forgive him, but I can’t forget it,” or, “I forgive him in my head, but not in my heart.” Our hearts are free only when we cease to feel resentment.

Many times we don’t really want to forgive, for if we do we become vulnerable to be hurt all over again. So we build our walls of resentment and unforgiveness in order not to feel pain again.

Logically this makes some sense. But emotionally it is deadly poison. And it poisons the person with the unforgiving heart first of all. When a person hardens his or her feelings against pain, all feeling can be deadened.

The second thing that struck me about the dictionary definition was the verbs that are used: “cease,” “give up,” and “grant.” An act of our will is involved in ceasing to feel resentful, in giving up a claim, in granting the offender relief from paying for his offense. But to do this is not easy.

David Augsburger, radio speaker for “The Mennonite Hour,” put it this way in Cherishable: Love and Marriage—

Forgiveness is hard.  Especially in a marriage tense with past troubles, tormented by fears of rejection and humiliation, and torn by suspicion and distrust.

Forgiveness hurts.  Especially when it must be extended to a husband or wife who doesn’t deserve it, who hasn’t earned it, who may misuse it. It hurts to forgive.

Forgiveness costs.  Especially in marriage when it means accepting instead of demanding repayment for the wrong done; where it means releasing the other instead of exacting revenge; where it means reaching out in love instead of relinquishing resentments. It costs to forgive.

Forgiveness, Augsburger says, is when the injured person chooses “to accept his angry feelings, bear the burden of them personally, find release through confession and prayer, and set the other person free.”

This is what Jesus Christ did for us.

He forgave us unconditionally, bearing the burden, setting us free. “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7–8).

Many times it is the little, picky matters that stick in our throats and cause us to choke when the need arises to forgive. When we do not deal with the seemingly inconsequential things, we fail to “walk in the light.”

If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin. (1 John 1:7)

Are you walking in the light with your mate?

In Christ, there is “no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), no hidden, secret resentment, no anger or self-pity, or criticism. If we are walking in the light as he is in the light, then we will have true fellowship with one another. We will be best friends in open, honest sharing.

We must forgive, and forgive immediately.

Listen again to David Augsburger:

Forgiveness is smiling silent love to your partner when the justifications for keeping an insult or injury alive are on the tip of your tongue, yet you swallow them. Not because you have to, to keep peace, but because you want to, to make peace.

Forgiveness is not acceptance given “on condition” that the other becomes acceptable. Forgiveness is given freely. . . .

Forgiveness is a relationship between equals who recognize their deep need of each other, share and share-alike. Each needs the other’s forgiveness. Each needs the other’s acceptance. Each needs the other.

Filed Under: Sexual Purity Posts Tagged With: Christ, forgiveness, porn, porn addiction, pornography, sex addiction, sexual

March 4, 2021 By Castimonia

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 88B: Ian’s Testimony part B

Ian’s Testimony Part B

Join Ian and Doug as they discuss the hope and freedom possible in recovery. Listen to Ian’s testimonyof what worked for him to establish sobriety. Ian discusses the idea of recovery being more than just sexual sobriety, but it is about becoming betterevery day in small, meaningful ways.

If you have questions or want to reach out, please email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org, and remember that on this path of recovery, you are not walking alone.

Filed Under: podcast, Podcasts, Purity Podcast, Sex Addiction Podcast Tagged With: castimonia, Christ, Purity Podcast, sex addiction

November 9, 2020 By Castimonia

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 86: Step 11 in Sex Addiction Recovery

Step 11 in Sex Addiction Recovery:

Keith and Doug discuss some ways to work Step 11 by allowing God to truly direct our steps as well as being open to that process.

Remember that you are not alone on this road to recovery. For more information, please email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org

Filed Under: podcast, Podcasts, Purity Podcast, Sex Addiction Podcast Tagged With: castimonia, Christ, Purity Podcast, recovery, sex addiction, step 11

April 14, 2020 By K.LeVeq

Journal Through Recovery – Bonus Podcast #23: The Perfect Storm

https://castimonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Journal-Through-Recovery-Bonus-Episode-23-The-Perfect-Storm.mp3

Bonus Episode 23 – The Perfect Storm 

Where were you when everything stopped? I was traveling for work. Asking why. 

I think that maybe just maybe…God is using this time because He knows it’s how he can bring so many back to Him. When they, like I did, reach the end of themselves. 

 

Filed Under: Journal Through Recovery, Purity Podcast, Sex Addiction Podcast, Sexual Purity Posts Tagged With: anxiety, castimonia, Christ, sex addiction, sexual purity

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This site is intended for individuals who struggle with maintaining sexual purity. This information is posted for individuals at various stages in their recovery, year 1 to year 30+; what applies to some, may not apply others. Spouses are encouraged to read this blog with the caveat that they may not agree with, understand, or know the reason for some items posted. As always, take what you like and leave the rest.

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