CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

Freedom

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There’s Still Hope Freedom Group – Register NOW!

Hope for the Addict
Click on the link above to visit the website and register for the Freedom Group!

Freedom Groups

If you’re ready to take your recovery to the next level, FREEDOM GROUPS are for you! These new groups are based on Mark’s new 400-page workbook, Life Recovery Plan, which utilizes the latest research and data on addiction recovery. Here’s all you need to know.

Cost: $10 per week plus $25 workbook

Groups: Each meeting will last one hour, and be led by Dr. Denison. Some of the groups will be designed for specific needs. These are the tentative times for the groups:

  • Live Group: Bradenton, FL (Mon. nights at 7 pm, starting Sep. 21)
  • General Group: by Zoom (Tue. at 8 am EST, starting Sep. 22)
  • General Group: by Zoom (Wed. at 8 pm EST, starting Sep. 23)
  • Pastor’s Group: by Zoom (Thur. at 2 pm EST, starting Sep. 24)
  • Physician’s Group: by Zoom (Sat. at 10 am EST, starting Sep. 26)

How do you get started? Just follow these three easy steps . . .

STEP 1 – BUY THE WORKBOOK

Simply go to the Resource page. From there, order the Life Recovery Plan workbook.

STEP 2 – REGISTER FOR A GROUP

Click the ‘REGISTER ME’ button below and this will take you to PayPal. After you complete payment for your first month, Mark will contact you and place you in the group that is right for you. If you have questions, or need a scholarship, contact Mark directly at Mark@theresstillhope.org.

STEP 3 – I WILL CONTACT YOU

I will email you to follow up. We will place you in the group that fits your needs and schedule. It’s that simple. Welcome to FREEDOM GROUPS!

Hope for the Addict

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Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 16: Dr. Milton Magness – Stop Sex Addiction

Dr. Milton Magness is a leader in the fight against sex addiction, and he has developed a proven system for couples to find healing. He is the author of “Stop Sex Addiction,” and he is a known world-wide as a champion for the recovery process.

In this podcast, he discusses his approach as well as the healing that is possible from true recovery. He discusses the resources that are available at his website www.hopeandfreedom.com as well his upcoming book with co-author Marsha Means.  (www.acircleofjoy.com)

He is candid and passionate about the process of men taking ownership in their recovery, and he is dedicated to providing practical tools for men to use.

He discussed the 3 day couples’ intensive, and the toolkit that he has for couples as well. That kit can be found at www.couplesrecoverykit.com. 

If you are not in the Houston area, there are other Magness-trained CSATs spread throughout the country that are available, and they can be found at www.findachfp.com

For more information on the podcast or to get help, please email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org.

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Do You Really Believe You Can Be Free?

Originally posted here: http://porntopurity.com/blog/2014/02/14/do-you-really-believe-you-can-be-free/

Hear Jeff Fisher podcast this blog on his Top Tips For Sexual Purity Podcast:  CLICK HERE

I want you to be honest about what you’re about to read.

These Scriptures speak to your sexual sin, and any other areas of your life that God wants to touch.  Read them slowly.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

Romans 6:12-14 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

THREE HONEST RESPONSES Response #1:  I believe it.  I’m experiencing Christ’s freedom and learning to walk in it.

Response #2:  I believe it.  I can’t figure out how to get there.

Response #3:  I read these verses, but have a hard time believing them.

There’s no question what the Bible says here:

  • Freedom exists.
  • It is Christ who makes it happen.
  • I can use my freedom to indulge in sin or serve God and others.
  • There is a connection between freedom and the grace of God.

I have struggled with these Scriptures (even as a Christian) because my sexual sin was so dominant.  I believed in Jesus, I knew He had saved me, but I didn’t think I could be free from lust, pornography and masturbation.  How was that possible?  If there was freedom in Christ, why was I having such a hard time staying pure?

Some Scriptures are easy to believe and obey.  I like those.  Some Scriptures I struggle with, but still believe they are possible.  Other Scriptures kick me in the butt and seem so out of reach for my life that I have trouble accepting them.  The exercise here is to be honest… with yourself, with others, and with God.

It’s OK to admit that you are having trouble believing a Scripture.  God is our loving Father.  He can take it.  He will not strike you down or punish you for your honest.  The people He had the strongest judgment for in the Bible were the fakers.

I’m learning not to be a faker.

I’m also learning that freedom is a journey of faith.  I am learning to believe that God’s Word is true.  I believe if He allowed it to be penned in the Scriptures there must be a way to get there.

If you’re having trouble believing that freedom from sexual sin is possible, that’s OK.  Be honest with God and ask Him to help you believe.

Mark 9:24 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”

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A Declaration of Independence

A Declaration of Independence
Originally posted on July 4, 2012

Today, we celebrate Independence Day in the United States of America.  I am grateful for the freedoms we have been given in this country.  Some of the freedoms I had, however, were very harmful to me.  These freedoms included the freedom to view and use pornography, the freedom to pursue happiness in legal forms of sexual acting out, and the freedom to worship my own god; sex addiction.  I have also been given new freedoms, the freedom choose a recovery program that satisfies my needs, the freedom to say “no” to sexual acting out, and the freedom to call Jesus Christ my higher power, and worship Him fully without fear of persecution or harm against me or my family.

Independence means a lot of things to different people.  The definition is written below:

in·de·pend·ence /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns/ [in-di-pen-duhns] noun 1. Also, independency. the state or quality of being independent. 2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.

In my case, it is freedom from the control of my sexual addiction and the behaviors associated with that addiction.  Every July 4th, I not only celebrate the independence of these United States of America, but I also make the following declaration written below, as edited from the original Declaration of Independence.

I, Jorge S., a recovering sex addict, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of my intention, do, in the Name, and by Authority of Jesus Christ and my healthy being, solemnly publish and declare, That I am, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent of sexual compulsive behaviors, that I am Absolved from all Allegiance to demoralizing and incomprehensible compulsive sexual behaviors, and that all connection between me and my addiction, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as a Free and Independent man, I have full Power to levy War against my addiction, conclude Peace of mind, contract Alliances in my recovery, establish psychological therapy as needed to do all other Acts and Things which a healthy, sexually pure man may of right do.  — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Jesus Christ, I mutually pledge to my Life, my Fortunes, and my sacred Honor.

My declaration is short and to the point, definitely not as elegant as the one written by our Country’s founders.  Also, I wish it was as simple as making the declaration!  The United States had to fight a war, and subsequent wars against the British to gain their independence.  Furthermore, the United States had to continue to battle against other foreign nations in order to gain full independence.  And later, it had to fight a Civil War (a war against oneself) in order to maintain its independence!  Even today, the United States continues to fight to maintain its independence, this fight may be against terrorists, against energy monopolies, against corruption, etc…  The point is, the United States of American has continued to fight to maintain its independence and must continue to fight.

In this same way, I need to continue to fight against my sexual addiction.  I can’t let my guard down.  If I do, then I will have allowed my addiction a foothold into my life and that makes the fall easier!  I must be always vigilant in my struggle to maintain sexual purity.  Sexual Purity is not a right, it is a privilege given to me, by God, on a daily basis, and I must always be grateful for that privilege and do whatever I can to maintain it.  I have not been and am not perfect, however, I will continue to strive for progress, not perfection in my recovery.

So I not only declare indepenendce from my sexual addiction but also that I will do whatever it takes to maintain my sobriety. One moment at a time, one second at a time, one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time!

Take what you like and leave the rest.