Chapter 36

On the topic of self-improvement, many times the way you see a problem is itself the problem. Much good can be said of the intrinsic value in a thorough paradigm shift, which when properly consummated can produce an initiation of vigorous self-reformation. One very basic and important shift process is from dependence (depending on others to get what you want) to independence (depending on yourself to get what you want) to interdependence (depending on God and one another to get what everyone wants).

A dependence problem is usually a personal maturity issue and has little to do with circumstances (other than ones we create or exaggerate). Though a step up, independent thinking alone is not suited to interdependent reality. I firmly believe you can create an empowering center of correct maps from high quality values which enables you to resolve problems, capitalize on opportunities, and amalgamate spiritual principles into an upward spiral of growth. Your unique contribution capacity in self-development depends on your level of enthusiastic, passionate change, and this constant movement must become habitual. An advantage in the habit of being proactive is that we acknowledge our behavior is a byproduct of our decisions and values, and we thus refuse to empower those things to control us which are harmful. We must also realize that reactive people are too easily affected by their environment.

Here are some great questions to reflect on: How can you live in greater harmony with the Law of Human Nature? How do you attain a higher degree of positive and useful life results? Do you constantly tell people what you think, rather than listen to them? Do you truly have the skills to listen? How is your mind working, can you describe your current mental state? Are you quick and alert or indolent and lifeless? Do you recklessly attempt to recruit others into your way of thinking despite its known ineffectiveness? Though change is very hard to accept emotionally, and not very endearing, it is necessary for growth. So, all things considered, here is a great life lesson: Be value-driven.

Chapter 35

The only irresistible impulse is the one which is not resisted. I refuse to entertain the illusory knowledge that sufficiency of truth need lie in bad experience. Every dark corner of evil need not be explored before the pursuit of moral decency is asserted as priority in one’s life.

It has been said by some early in recovery “at least I haven’t done that yet.” Well, by all means, do not feel there is any requirement to perpetrate every conceivable evil before pursuing goodness. Remember that temptations sometimes appear as impulses, and once you have the power to choose, you CAN resist. You MUST resist; for you alone are responsible for how your life turns out.

What happens to a seed when it has no sunlight shining on it? It withers and dies. While we may plant good seeds in our minds, they still need exposure to sunlight; for nothing can grow in the dark. Let us plant good seeds in our mind and ask for God’s light to shine on it so we can grow.

Chapter 34

Perhaps my greatest antithetical observation in recovery is this: With honest resolution, some well-intentioned people still have a propensity to fragment reality into an endless series of “either-ors;” they think the world to be abstruse. (i.e.: you can’t have your cake and eat it too). I suggest rather than succumbing to the tyranny of “either-or;” the wise will fastidiously embrace the genius of “and.”

Recovery can be a huge, yet selective tent of loving tolerance of differences in thoughtful creativity. I do not mean to suggest fundamental changes of course, but rather advocate open-mindedness toward those with unusual mental capacities. Everyone seems eager and quick to listen to foolishness, why not offer deference to those with cerebral acumen? (ie: don’t make ugly comments to smart people and push them away, this hurts their recovery just like anyone else)

There is no need to exude copacetic, passionate intensity in the wrong area (i.e.: don’t worry about the wrong thing). For, in this line of reasoning, we may find that unanticipated innocence can be drowned in a sea of forgetfulness. We must also not push away unexpected wisdom if and when it is offered; but rather, examine the ideas closely. Though I must acquiesce, all matters involving complication do not share equal nobility (i.e.: when everyone yells “fire!” it is best not to quibble over the definition of “smoke”).

Should we then effortlessly accept unfamiliar philosophy with dogmatism or relativism? Well, the question is both simple and complicated, and the answer is both yes and no. However incongruous this may seem at first, ALL matters upon closer examination need proper balancing. (ie: don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater) Consider this example of proper balancing: We should reject moral relativism, as decency and morality are based on concrete spiritual laws; but we should affably accept other people lovingly as they are, dogmatically. The only change we should help reinforce or encourage in others is closer adherence to the moral law (in AA, this is known as doing a “daily moral inventory”).

Chapter 33

In order for any person to be well, he must feel love and acceptance. His contributions to others should be considered important no matter how miniscule or trivial. For, what is superficial trivia to one may be trampling upon sacred ground of the heart of another. We find this helpful message in Philippians 2:3 “… consider others better than yourselves.” (NIV)

Along with virtues of loving-kindness toward others, we find self-control is another difficult ideal to aspire to at times. For example, being eager to rush into judgment without investing any effort to collect sufficient details to even make a clear opinion (much less a judgment) is imprudent, dangerous, impulsive, and reckless. Excitedly spreading rumors with limited or no factual data is another type of irresponsible rush to judgment, and may reveal the indolent, insensitive, egocentric motives of a heart bent on evil.

Within self-control, we sometimes find difficulty adjudicating the appropriate, necessary time-interval between acting and reacting. Consider this: Between stimulus and response is a space. In that space lays our freedom and power to choose our response. In these very choices lay our growth and happiness. If we use our spaces wisely, we can experience quality change from the inside out. And remember - effective and lasting change must always come from the inside out, not from the outside in.

While these general platitudes are useful to anyone, addicts must pay particular attention to self-improvement in the areas involving human interaction. It may well be said that knowledge is a mind that is accurately informed. Christ changes men who then change their environment; and the real estate between our ears sometimes needs the most attention. If we ever avoid reflecting on these inward truths by justifying our actions or using rationalizations, we protect ourselves from the experience of change, and cling voraciously to some spiritual semblance of false hope.

Here is the creed I now try to live by (and maybe this will help my readers): I am trying to find that slight glitter of light in a very dark world. I am slowly learning that temptations are suggestions, not commands. I am accepting more responsibility. I am becoming more fully human (as opposed to the animalistic, self-centered, survival-of-the-fittest mentality that I had in addiction). I’m trying to help folks eliminate from their lives the pain over which they have control. And I’m trying to help folks see that the single-minded desire to be respected at the expense of honor is a fast track to misery. I have had to learn many of these lessons the hard way; please learn from my mistakes and grow into who God wants you to be.

Chapter 32

In the realm of science, the primary model of discovery, according to Francis Bacon (great 16th century philosopher and scientist), is through systematic observation and measurement; basically, the way you get the right answer is by finding the right method of inquiry. This has been popularized in the “scientific method,” which is still used today (as is effective as long as the scientist is free from too much Darwinist philosophy obfuscating his judgment, but that’s another story).

Bacon went on to posit that the way in which natural phenomena occur is traceable to the causes from which they proceeded, and that any moral action is a by-product of the human will, which is governed by belief and spurred on by the passions. While Bacon did not propose any actual philosophy, he argued rather that the method of discovering philosophy (which is simply the pursuit of wisdom) should proceed through inductive reasoning from fact to axiom to law.

These ideas have merit among those wishing to remove themselves from addictive lifestyles. As we travel along, we realize the pursuit of higher ideals spurs our growth and development; but we can support our own growth by asking the right questions before we decide which way to go. Questions lead to answers which lead to choices which lead to direction. The everlasting principle of human choice, an irresistible, yet hazardous constant in the cosmos, must serve as an alluring appeal to help from God in recognition of our powerlessness over our human condition. One simple technique to assist spiritual growth is to ask this simple question: What would a selfless, loving, Christian act look like?

After much reflection, this really is not a philosophical puzzle after all. Once we pray and then answer the question according to known, proven spiritual principles, it should be treated as law to us, never questioned.

Chapter 31

It is not a new concept that people with a predisposition toward addictive behavior seek purpose in their lives and feel disaffected and alienated from those unlike themselves; hence we see the openhanded, magnetic attachment to gangs, cults, drug cultures, and other forms of exclusivity. To a high degree of accuracy, one can predict the likelihood that cultural influences would help steer a person of this kind into destructive behaviors. It is important, however, to emphasize yet again that predisposition in this kind does not require future dysfunction. A good and simple illustration would be the NFL star that, though he had a crack-addicted mother and grew up in a ghetto, rose above all odds and made something out of his life.

Studies in clinical neurology indicate you can achieve almost any desired change from systematically altering the central nervous system, and addicts have mastered the art (so to speak) of chemical augmentation of the worst variety. It has been rightly said that using illegal narcotics for prolonged periods of time is biologically identical to performing brain neurosurgery with a rusty scalpel.

In treatment, initiation of the process of healing is difficult because most addicts act like grown-up, rebellious children who defy discipline and deny they have a problem. And to complicate matters, their very brains have been altered in such a way (this is where the disease aspect comes into play) so as to hinder recognition of the damaging aspects of their drug and alcohol abuse because they are only capable (at times) of remembering the good feelings produced by the “temporary chemical enhancement.” They have absolutely no idea of the severity of pain they have caused others and the general lunacy that surrounds the tornado-like damage addictive behavior causes everyone. In one sense, because of the brain and central nervous system damage an addict suffers from, he is quite incapable at times of controlling his compulsions or, life for that matter. But the sad truth is, addicts do this to themselves, unknowingly, on purpose. Once they have what in the realm of psychology is known as a “break-through,” and they are able to finally understand what’s going on, it is imperative to teach adherence to spiritual principles immediately, so as to assure the likelihood of future success.

Once the chains of addiction are broken, this is the beginning of the possibility of a brand new life with exciting opportunities. There is no cure for addiction though, and since relapse is always a dangerous potentiality, a life-long fight against these compulsions is required. The fight gets easier with time, but there will always be the danger, so one must stay on guard.

There is so much more to freedom than just being free. If a man was bound in chains in a communist country, fed next to nothing, thought he was going nowhere, and led a life of decadence (even unwillingly at times), suddenly was taken to a free country to do as he pleased… what would he do? What should he do? These are evidentiary questions that I think need to be answered by each individual honestly and openly.

Chapter 30

Along with the problem of evil, many people struggle to understand the problem of pain and suffering. The reason it is commonly referred to as a problem is that it provides yet another excuse to refuse belief in God, or a sufficient reason to be angry at God, and thus refuse belief by protest. This is a difficult area in philosophy, as many great thinkers over thousands of years have struggled with a concept that works for everyone. It is a very personal issue with strong emotional attachments, and when people are suffering, they don’t need words, they need comfort. Jesus is the only true comforter.

Philosophically speaking, perhaps the failure to understand pain is due to a lack of discernment or use of proper perspective. God, in His infinite wisdom, foresees that we sometimes need pain for reasons which we may not understand but which He foresees as being essential to some ultimate good. Even though God is good and He loves us, sometimes to be good is NOT to be kind. Ever since the ancient Greek thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates) first posited the problems of evil, pain, and suffering, they realized that sometimes wisdom is taught through suffering, and moral character is formed through hardship by overcoming obstacles. Oftentimes we learn obedience through suffering (addicts are notorious for learning things the hard way, for example). But the important point is this: Learn from it, grow from it. Be who God wants you to be. In Romans 5:3 we find this lesson, “… suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NIV)

Many people have uttered bewilderment at why good people suffer, if there is a God, and why evil people sometimes get a “free pass.” The quick and simple answer is, first of all, that there are no good people, so the point is moot. Some people claim to see no justice in this world. Once again, due to lack of philosophical guidance or lack of independent deep thinking, people tend to focus on what is seen rather than on what is unseen. God tells us (in the Bible) there WILL be a judgment day, when evil WILL pay the ultimate price. Please keep in mind that justice delayed is NOT justice denied. This brings up my next point: Since God does not judge man until his life is over; perhaps we should follow that example.

(for further study: please read The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, Making Sense out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft, and Where is God When It Hurts by Phillip Yancey)

Chapter 29

Since the beginning, we have had freedom of action based on a certain level of deliberated choices, credentialed judgments, instinctual desires, varieties of personal preference, and other self-deterministic paths which can all be summed in the theological term “free-will.” It is the ultimate will of God that we have free-will, which of course lends the opportunity of evil. While God did not “invent” evil, He did invent free-will, which allows the existence of evil under the theological category of “the permissive will of God.” This is important to understand: Once again, God did not create “evil,” only the possibility of evil; and we as people actualized that potentiality.

And keep in mind, we are under the universal power of God, which means if you don’t like how He set things up you are free to go create your own universe, and if you can’t do that then you better submit to the universal power of God. Apparently God desired a love relationship with his highest beings (us) which can only be possible by allowing us the freedom of choice to love Him on our own, or not. He, of course, knew full well in advance the possibility of evil by allowing us free-will, but still thought it worth the cost.

Many uninformed, unintelligent people claim the existence of evil proves the non-existence of God. This type of ignorance is of the highest order of philosophical inconsistency. First off, if there is no God, where did we get the standard of goodness or decency by which we judge evil as evil? Even the word “evil” would have no meaning. The great ancient theologian Augustine put it best: “If there is no God, why is there so much good? If there is a God, why is there so much evil?” There are countless unfortunates over many thousands of years who, in their eagerness to promote atheism as a viable and (get this) even intellectual alternative to faith in God, search out any excuse not to believe. Funny thing is, I see no advance in intelligence when someone proclaims proof of the non-existence of God (which is EXACTLY what atheists do), since, philosophically speaking, one would have to have absolute knowledge (or be godlike) in order to make such a pronouncement truthfully with any confidence.

Like most things in life, sometimes people plainly do not understand concepts or beliefs in the right way, which leads to doubt, bewilderment, and then apathy. Upon deeper thinking, we find our freedom includes the possibility of sin within the context of its definition. Our actions must be within our powers, such that sufficient moral freedom is required for us to be held responsible for what we do.

Chapter 28

How could you ever know a law of nature was true? The simple and quick answer: It has been tested in every possible way; every attempt to falsify it has proven unsuccessful; its origins are from the Divine. We have immutable laws of physics (created by God) that govern physical reality. We have mathematics (created by God) to explain observable physical reality. We have ourselves, human beings, (created by God) that are subject to unassailable Laws of Human Nature. What is the source of our ignorance and confusions? What constitutes a virtuous and decent life? Why should we care? What happens if we don’t care? What is the ultimate purpose and fate of man? (a little clue: your trusty little Bible has these answers if you know where to look)

For present purposes, let us discover additional clues about the Laws of Human Nature that we can find out on our own steam. The metaphysical (which is simply the philosophical term for the supernatural) origins of math, music, logic, and reason (things only accessible to humans) should increase our curiosity to learn more about God and appreciate our Great Creator. Whenever delving into discovery-mode (as I like to term it), it is crucially important to embrace a proper attitude of respect, love, admiration, worth, and utmost reverence for God FIRST, then go ahead and see what we can learn through that lens.

The great Pythagoras (ancient mathematician) argued ultimate truth only expresses itself in the form of number, which can be translated relationally, in the form of harmonic relationships and rational order. He posited that the number one is the numerical source of a point, the number two constitutes the possibility of a line, the number three constitutes the possibility of a plane, the number four constitutes the possibility of a solid; and out of these simple 4 positive integers, all our perceptions of physical reality can be explained. He then went on to explain that the ability to enjoy music is derived from our soul that is tune to match up with precise mathematical relationships in the harmonic scales (basically, it sounds right because it is right). As discussed in the previous chapter, we can use the normological deductive model of scientific explanation to account for a great degree of mathematical predictability and reliability in the physical world and our attachments to it; but we can also use Spiritual Principles in the Laws of Human Nature with the same degree of precision.

Now what is interesting about all this is that deep within us, we find additional evidences not only of creative design leading us to God, but upon closer examination, we can find clues to the mind of God and His purposes for us that come from the immutable laws of Human Nature. Taking charge of our lives and pursuing His purposes for us is the ultimate blessing and challenge.

Some of the answers we spend a lifetime seeking are found when we simply realize that we always had the answers within us already. By using rational power and using philosophical guidance to lead us to our own understandings, we can find clues God left for us that lead right back to Him. The reason these truths cannot be found easily is because we are saddled with materialistic perceptions of the physical world, which upon closer examination, can be explained with 4 simple numbers.

Let us NOT focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we find this message “… do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (NKJV)

Chapter 27

As a reader of my writings, you will be taken on a fully encompassing intellectual joyride all over creation, with no (current) rhyme or reason. Some days you will see mini Bible studies, some days you will discover my views on addictive psychology, some days you will notice my viewpoints on philosophy and theology, some days you will find references to the general sciences (which I love), and some days you will find (well-intentioned) intellectual rants replete with many awesome new words (forcing you to open a dictionary and use your brain); though obviously sometimes you will find a combination of all the above. Now that you have been lovingly warned, let us continue our exquisite journey into the delightful realm of self-discovery.

The normological deductive model of scientific explanation explains a phenomenon or an event of any kind by showing that it is an instance of a universal law known to be true. The right answer to a question filtered through this model is not a generalization based on what happened in the past, but rather is a reference to a universal law known to be true, such that this event had to happen the way it did because this event is an instance of the class of events covered by that law. Is there anything as dependable or unfailing in its influence as a set of universal laws subject to this governing criterion?

This exposes us to truth with absolute certainty; as far as the epistemological limits to knowledge allow. Allow me to provide a clear example of what I’m talking about: What did Newton do in the 17th century? Through his Universal Law of Gravitation, he proved all objects attract each other with a force that’s directly proportional to a product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. What does this mean to you? Well, it explains the physics and mathematics behind something as simple as dropping a ball to the ground (which lands you into mysteries and complications you can hardly get to the end of). The ball did NOT fall to the ground simply because in past experiences - you just know that balls always fall to the ground. This would be an over-simplified generalization based on past experience, but does not follow the normological deductive model of scientific explanation. The true explanation will be that the mass of the ball and the mass of the Earth will attract each other with a force proportional to the product of the mass of the ball times the mass of the Earth and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the ball and the gravitational center of the Earth. So the answer to the question of why the ball falls to the Earth is: It had to, since this class of events is covered under known, proven scientific law.

This begs the next obvious question, what universal laws are known to be true, beyond all uncertainty, in the realm of psychology (the study of behavior)? Are there laws that govern human behavior that provide the same advanced level of predictability? What about the Spiritual component? What’s really going on here? (stay tuned, we’ll go deeper into this soon)

Chapter 26

Listening with non-judgmental acceptance and offering empathy to suffering newcomers are core values offered in AA meetings. Attendees will notice creative power (what to say each night) and communication skills (how to say it) usually improve with prolonged membership, and oftentimes a deeper level of helpful introspection also develops as a result of this wonderful therapy. In recovery from alcohol (and drugs), many forms of therapy actually work, including psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral, psychotherapy, and group therapy; however, the AA fellowship has an outstanding (and free) track record of helping millions of suffering alcoholics (and addicts) find God and heal.

In many ways, it is a beautiful spiritual mission field of opportunity; however, the Bible verse that states in Matthew 9:37 “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (NIV) is quite descriptive of the situation as a whole. The Christians who attend these meetings have a unique opportunity to witness and help bring these precious souls into a healthier walk with God. You may ask how this is done... (and for my friends who possess devotion to simplicity, here is something simple): Lead by example.

Christians have a responsibility to help those in need. In Proverbs 24:11 we find “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” (NIV) And in verse 14 it says “Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you.” (NIV) We also find in James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (NIV)

Christians not only have a responsibility to lead others to a healthy walk in Christ, but most importantly must show by example how to live a life exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit. Warn of the dangers of wickedness, encourage the pursuit of wisdom, and help people turn away from errors in their thinking.

Simplicity may provide comfort at first, but one must not stay there. Change and growth are vital to all persons in recovery - and keep in mind - you cannot remain the same and somehow change. The Bible speaks about the matter in Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?” (NIV) Then again in Proverbs 8:5 we find “You who are simple, gain prudence…” (NIV) In Proverbs 14:15 it says “A simple man believes anything…” (NIV) And we find in Proverbs 14:18 “The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” (NKJV)

While there is clear danger in overcomplicating matters for a newcomer, there should be gentle, steady progress toward the ideal of intelligent wisdom. Wisdom leads to clear judgment, and paves the way to long-term success.

Chapter 25

When a farmer goes out to plant, the ground does not care what he plants in it, but it will always return what he plants. For example, he may go out to the field with two types of seed (one in each hand). In one hand he has corn seeds; in the other hand he has seeds of a poisonous plant. When the farmer feeds the ground with these seeds, he will get a beautiful harvest of corn as well as a beautiful harvest of poison. Once again, the ground does not care what you plant in it.

Our mind is like the ground in the same way. It is a highly complex biological mass with mysteries beyond comprehension, yet in light of all this, it is there simply awaiting input so it can supply output. It has been rightly said, “garbage in, garbage out.” Or you may have heard the Law of Nature known as “sowing and reaping.” This is an important life principle we all need to be conscious of, especially addicts.

We alcoholics and addicts usually have a poignant, wretched history of inviting foulness into our minds with elation and ebullience while simultaneously ignoring or rejecting goodness and decency. Accordingly, we should recognize no great advance in ratiocination when examining life results in violation of this great life principle. Since we become what we think about, let us think on constructive, useful, positive thoughts. Let us guard what we allow into our minds and lives. Let us guard our eyes, which are the window to the soul.

The apostle Paul said it best in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (NIV)

Chapter 24

There may be those who through a curiosity or desire of learning, of their own accord, understand the exceeding difficulties inherent with disentangling truth and its adjuncts from pervasive and insidious falsehood. These painful new truths I am adumbrating throughout my philosophy may be conformable to prevailing principles, or may be qualified as discoveries of the highest kind, and of the greatest possible utility to the erudite paucity.

It may feed vain imagination to assume the general public would voraciously cling to new ideas constructed in such a way as to overthrow conventional thinking, to some degree. It would, however, be my hope that the few, the wise, the learned would rapaciously devour my precepts and teachings with the same level of fervor that some people exhibit with regard to love of simplicity. In my way of thinking, pursuit of intellectual simplicity is slothful and representative of an idle mind. And we all know the saying “an idle mind is the devil’s playground.”

Idleness, minimalism, or quick and fierce denunciation of any suggestion of mental exertion is a clear testament to acceptance of the mental condition of someone who, at best, could ever ascend to mediocrity. That being said, let us journey even deeper into the mind.

Chapter 23

It is of no value to decide what you want to accomplish - before you decide what you want to be. At the end of your life, it will be too late to announce your intentions; for it is of no use to say you want to sit when it has become impossible to stand. Who you are - will determine the direction, quality, and eventual results of your life. We addicts often have identity crisis problems, and learn to acclimatize ourselves to whatever seems necessary at any moment in time; this is sometimes called being a chameleon. Today, right now, you can make a decision to turn your life over to God and be who He wants you to be, and never turn back, never change again.

Though a great deal of consideration to proper moral behavior should be deliberately offered, it is a terrible mistake to falsely assume obedience to The Ten Commandments or adherence to moral guidelines alone ensures you a place in Heaven. Please remember that morality (or the Law of Human Nature) is given to us for the human machine to run properly. Just like a set of instructions for a complex machine, if ignored, the machine breaks down. It is for our own good, and God is intensely interested in us functioning correctly.

From a theological standpoint (theology means the science and study of God), all our good behavior alone does not earn us salvation. In Isaiah 64:6 we find this message “… and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (NIV) Again, we find in Romans 3:10 “… there is no one righteous, not even one…” (NIV) And finally, we find Jesus said in John 14:6 “… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)

In the Bible, the word heaven does not appear in the books where God gives the Law. There is also no verse anywhere that says if we keep the commandments, we will go to heaven. This is important to understand clearly: good people do not go to heaven on their own steam; we are completely dependent on Jesus to get us through. Only forgiven people go to Heaven. Trusting in Christ alone will get you to Heaven; and it naturally follows that disciples (or followers) of Christ seek to follow His moral precepts (which are so beautifully laid out in the gospels).

Now, if we have specific moral instructions to follow, it would be unthinkably foolish to disregard them. A great collection of moral virtues is located in Galatians 5:22, which lists “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Since we are commanded to love, let us discover the most beautiful description known to us which is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and it says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (NIV)

As clearly established, every answer we need is found neatly tucked away in our Bible, awaiting our discovery. It is a wonderful tool given to us, which has literally led countless billions of people over many thousands of years to a healthy walk in faith. And if you follow Christ, the retirement plan is out of this world.

Chapter 22

The particular religious book of antiquity I find most authentic and valuable is the Holy Bible. It is the only religious book of its kind which has stood the test of innumerable skeptics for thousands of years, and has been verifiably confirmed accurate in geography, archaeology, and history. The Holy Bible is quite remarkable in many respects, not the least of which is the fact that it is actually a collection of 66 different books, written by 40 different authors, on 3 different continents, in 3 different languages, over a period of 1,500 years. And in the face of all this, is remarkably continuous and fluid in its message of morality and redemption.

For present purposes, I want to examine a certain attribute of faith, which is: responsibility. Faith carries with it responsibility and duty to uncover truth and confront darkness. In Romans 13:12-14, we find the following message: “… So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (NIV)

The warning against drunkenness and debauchery (extreme indulgence in sensuality) is clear and easily understood as destructive; however, the instruction to behave decently should not remain subtle, elusive, or unacknowledged. If we are directed to behave a certain way, surely this implies the possibility and opportunity of doing so. Are addicts who honestly work a quality program of recovery capable of reinstating a high standard of morality? Yes, certainly. Does this or can this happen overnight? No, certainly not.

An old, commendable church saying deserving meritorious exaltation among addicts working a serious program of recovery is: “come as you are, but don’t stay as you are.” Since it has been rightly said “there is no standing still in recovery,” we might deductively suppose progression is an ideal worth pursuing. It is, however, precarious to ever entrench oneself in a false set of ideals, so as to cause progression in the wrong direction. That being said, let us reflect on the highest and best set of principles and moral values attracting our pursuit.

Chapter 21

It is a great advance in knowledge to become aware of one’s own ignorance. No one among us who is intelligent declares all that is presently known as anything in comparison to what remains to be discovered. Let us then continue our voyage of discovery into the meaning of the universe and our place in it.

We humans are troubled, so to speak, with the inspiration of a sort of behavior we know we ought to practice, which is what I term the Law of Human Nature (or rule of fair play, or decency, or morality, or Law of Nature). Without listing an endless litany of examples, here are but a few: “hey, I gave you some you some of my candy so give me a bit of yours,” or “hey, you took my seat, that’s uncouth,” or “hey, the other team isn’t following the rules of fair play.” I could go on ad nauseam, but you get my drift. Each of us appeals to a higher standard of conduct we expect the other person to know about and this is a cross-cultural phenomenon throughout all recorded history. To what standard, if not the Law of Human Nature, could we be appealing? Where did this come from? Humans are the only beings that have this rigid system of governance that reminds us what we ought to do.

In self-discovery, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by seeking it first. If you seek truth, you may find comfort in the end; but if you seek no more than comfort, you will discover neither truth nor comfort, only malleable and dangerously impressionable wishful thinking. The primary premise I hope to eventually convey throughout this entire philosophical work is that the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet known is belief one can operate independently of God (I base this premise on John 15:5, which states “… apart from Me you can do nothing”).

The Great Designer of the universe instilled a sense of awe in His highest creatures, with a capability and eagerness to discover all that that there is available to us. Rather than fight against God, His purposes, or the beautiful Human Nature He placed within us, let us discover its purpose and usefulness to our wellbeing. You discover more about God from the Moral Law He placed within us than you do by discovering the vastness of the universe through a telescope, in the same sense that you discover more information about the way an engine works by the engineer speaking with you rather than just driving the car making up the rules as you go along.

We can thus fairly deduce that this great Creator of the Universe is intensely interested in right conduct – in fair play, unselfishness, tolerance, courage, good faith, honesty, truthfulness, kindness, reliability, compassion, and so forth. The Moral Law prompts us to do the right thing and is not lenient or soft about how painful, dangerous, difficult, or challenging it might be to us as persons. None of us obeys the Moral Law completely and yet we want off the hook, so to speak, or we may come up with a thousand excuses why we cannot do it and need forgiveness (or a free pass).

God is love, absolute goodness, absolute power, and in every way immeasurably superior to us. God is the only comfort, and then in one sense also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. Romans 11: 22 says, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness…” (NIV) God is either the great shelter or the great danger, depending on how you react to Him.

You will now start noticing a great deal of scriptural reference in my philosophical viewpoints. There are a great many reasons why I choose the Holy Bible as the supreme source of information about this great Creator God. In the next chapter, we will examine what makes the Bible special.

Chapter 20

Since it is important for all addicts to discover God, I have compiled a few thoughts to facilitate this conversion. Atheism turns out to be too simple. It is rationally effortless and undemanding of the intellect. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have discovered that it has no meaning. As far as falsely ascribing creative power to evolution (that being chance, random mutation, and natural selection being the driving forces of life), this faces a fatal difficulty, not the least of which is: that is logically identical to claiming the likelihood a tornado ripping through a junkyard is capable of blowing out a Boeing 747. This, on one level, is statistically absurd to even consider, even using mathematical chaos theory or considering the possibility of quantum fluctuations (yes, I am aware of EVERY aspect of evolutionary teaching, after two decades of self-study... so if you ever need an outright refutation of evolution, give me about 3 hours to speak with you, and you won't have that problem anymore).

For, even this wouldn’t solve all problems… one would want to then know what caused the tornado to blow in the first place and where the materials came from to construct such an engineering marvel as an airplane. What’s interesting in this analogy is that the heightened degree of complexity in something as simple as the design of our cells alone is more complex from an engineering standpoint than an airplane. That being said, we are logically correct to deduce that a Master Designer is Creator of all. We humans are the only known intelligent life in the universe, and are therefore by default the Creator’s highest physical beings (that we know of). This special status makes each of us unique and important on a cosmic scale.

If, on our own steam, we could discover certain attributes about this Creator, or God as I like to call Him, what would we find? Let us first start with the Rule of Right and Wrong, or Law of Human Nature, which is a real, pre-existing phenomenon inside each of us. One could argue that right behaviors, or morality as I like to call it, are simply learned behaviors passed on to children from parents. This is true in one sense, but morality is pre-existing in the same way mathematics is, humans have only discovered it. For example, when a teacher teaches mathematics to a child in a school room, the rules by which addition and subtraction operate would be no different than a man on a remote island would find if he were to discover mathematics simultaneously on his own. We each find this Rule of Right Behavior pressing on us, making us feel responsible and uncomfortable when we do wrong. This gives us our first clue into the Mind of God.

Human beings all over the earth have this curious idea they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot rid themselves of it. We all know the Law of Nature, a basic Law that we did not invent, and yet still do not obey it fully (hence the need for a Savior, but more on that later). This Law is over and above our basic instincts, and acts as a governing force between the two, silently but insistently urging Right Behavior. These basic facts are foundational to all future clear thinking about ourselves and the world we live in.

Now, since we acknowledge this sense of morality as originating from the Designer of the universe (where else would anything pre-existent come from since there cannot be an infinite regress of causes, thus, there had to be an original cause), we realize this Creator has purposes and appears to prefer one thing to another. We can deduce that this controlling power behind the universe, the great Designer, created a vast and beautiful universe partly for reasons we do not know, but yet still intends to show us details about His purposes inside us as an influence or a command trying to get us to behave in a certain way. Certainly this ought to arouse our suspicions?

Relax, I am not yet within a thousand miles of the God of Christian theology… but let us sum up what we have learned so far: there is a Something which is directing the universe, and which appears in us as a moral law urging us to do right and making us feel responsible and uncomfortable when we do wrong, and it is similar to a mind in the sense that it has purposes.

The next subject matter I shall delve into will be the discussion of the rigidness of this moral law, which is hard as nails, and doesn’t seem to care whether or not it is convenient or easy to obey. (More on this later, so stay tuned)

(many of the thoughts listed in this chapter are representative of my personal summation of ideas from the great book Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis… read it if you haven’t already)

Chapter 19

Men of even the lowest grade of intellect are capable of joining together different words, and thereby constructing an unambiguous declaration by which to make their explicit thought processes understood. Intelligent judgment relating to the veracity of such proclamations is reasonably subjective to each individual to some degree; unless the inequality of mental capacity is too great. Some men are more capable of being instructed than others, some men parrot others to disingenuously mimic intelligible output, and still other men find greater comfort denying the possibility of the existence of innovative, original knowledge. Wisdom may be cleverly disguised in unassuming packaging; and most definitely is reserved for the few, the deserving, the thoughtful, the hard-thinking, and the attentive.

There may be some men whose peculiar mental limitation compels them to regard new philosophical propositions with fearfulness and mistrust. These types would seemingly rather evade study of the intellectual proposals to discover more and more intricate relations between the lines of reasoning presented. Otherwise they could then sort these relations out with great toil into confident regularities to distinguish whether or not useful knowledge is present. Perhaps scholarly laziness is the motive for this rationality, but then again, it could be a general mistrust of the source of such new information. If one were invited to enjoy an intellectual feast on a gourmet meal, it would be ill-advised to eat this meal on the back seat of a toilet… granted. To a certain degree of sympathetic understanding, consideration of the source of any new information and the manner of its presentment - is justified and valid reasoning.

But if one is able to detect underlying wisdom throughout any new such philosophical proposition, academic consolation should be manifestly obligatory. For is not wisdom itself simple acknowledgement of the nature of things which are unchangeable, immutable laws of human conditions? If one is able to intelligently describe laws of nature and portend a certain vernacular exclusive to a specific, intentional audience – then all will be well. Relax… new, high quality knowledge can only enrich your life, not endanger it.

Chapter 18

Overcoming denial (which can take many clever forms) is an ongoing challenge for all addicts. Too many people in recovery only want to conquer the denial that they have a drug problem… and stop right there. A great deal of moral laziness and half-stepping prevents the abundant life from taking over and keeps us stagnant and unfruitful. This is what I call bottom-feeding, or being perfectly willing to accept the bare minimum that is required in the restoration to sanity.

Let us think for a moment exactly what we mean by the concept of sanity. The dictionary defines sanity as “the quality or state of being sane; especially: soundness or health of mind.” If we wish to re-establish healthiness of mind, we need to retrain our brain using the only formula proven to work: appeal of pleasure, avoidance of pain. Positive reinforcement of healthy habits in daily activities will certainly counteract harmful addictive behavioral tendencies over time. Pursuit of religious ideals (after a clear mind is obtained) helps tremendously - and provides excellent groundwork for positive change and growth.

Moral laziness is an easy trap to fall into, and cessation of drug or alcohol abuse alone rarely reconstructs a tattered and torn life. It is irresponsible to persist in moral slothfulness, and attempt to nudge the fence as closely as possible. Irresponsibility is almost impossible to see in the mirror, though it is easy to recognize in others. We must be careful nevertheless, since it is dangerously contagious. We all know that which gets rewarded gets repeated, so when working with others, it is important not to reinforce laziness or moral irresponsibility; but on the contrary, encourage a course of vigorous action based on quality knowledge, wisdom, and direction.

Repetition of rewarded behaviors and habits is not a phenomenon restricted to addiction; this is really truthful in all facets of life. Addicts in particular have a heightened awareness of this truth because while they traverse through progressive stages of recovery, memories of reward based drug use occasionally steamroll through their minds without warning. It is difficult to reprogram an addict’s poisoned brain with new reward-based habits and reinforcements that over-ride the pleasure sensors (which have been well trained) while simultaneously reminding him of the pain that chemical abuse causes.

A key insight into helping an addict is to facilitate understanding of his immorality and wrongdoing, while encouraging the promise of a better life, a new life. There is so much more to freedom than just being free. We can be happy too, and this is only fully possible when we try and seek God. God set us free to be happy, plain and simple. We are free to love, and live. You will never live out your God-given potential or live your best life if you refuse responsibility. Likewise, you cannot run away from problems, but you must face them head on… this is the quickest way forward. If you realize you have been on the wrong road, change NOW… get on the right path and clear your thinking.

We will always live in a manner consistent with our self concept. Be the change you want to see in others. You do become what you think about, but you can’t build character on what you are hoping to do. Do it now, CHANGE, and do not procrastinate hoping for a better day that may never come. What are you waiting for? People get unmotivated when they realize deep down they’re not living the life that could be. The journey into self discovery can be exciting and rewarding, so go ahead and cross the bridge from what you are into what you want to be. Our circumstances reflect our belief, whether we like it or not. We need to c0llect new ideas every day, and then put them into action. What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.

Chapter 17

The question may be asked – is drug abuse a moral problem? That is a simple and uncomplicated question, and the answer is: most definitely YES. The dictionary defines the word moral as: “of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior; ethical; expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior; conforming to a standard of right behavior; sanctioned by one's conscience or ethical judgment.”

One every level, an addict most assuredly engages in immoral, depraved, dishonest, self-indulgent, hedonistic, deceitful, and untrustworthy behavior bordering on outright wickedness and debauchery; hence it should seem perfectly clear that all addicts are by definition morally wrong (or immoral). An addict usually commits every known possible sin, and then invents a few more to go along with it.

This may be an uncomfortable self realization for some, but it is unavoidable truth: we are what we do, plain and simple. There is no use brushing aside responsibility for wicked behaviors in favor of the delusion that addicts are “not imperfect people who need improvement, but sick people who need to get well.” The fact is: we are rebels who need to lay down our arms. You cannot avoid obvious truth by white-washing decadent behavior, denying its existence in our lives, or blaming it on a disease. This is not to say there are not biological causes motivating behaviors in an addict, because obviously there are. But I intend to clearly point out that alcoholism has gone on for thousands of years and is mentioned in the Bible numerous times as a sin – and all sin leads to death.

All of our lives are driven by choices, plain and simple. Some choices are harder than others, and some urges, desires, or compulsions are overwhelming to the point of insanity (as is the case with addiction); but this still does not relieve us of the responsibility of choice. On some level, you could make the argument that Adolf Hitler himself had some good in him and was not morally wrong, just misunderstood, misdirected, but yet still well-intentioned. The fact is: good intentions alone pave the way to hell. If at any time you falsely believe that addiction is not a moral problem, ask yourself this simple question: why does society frantically want to lock an addict away and toss out the key? Could it be the logical consequence of wicked behavior committed by a desperately wicked person? Yes, of course.

Now this brings me to my next point: once an addict recognizes his moral problem, and acknowledges the harmful and negative impact on his life and society – this makes no difference and is seemingly still not enough to effect change (insomuch as the simple awareness of moral transgressions does not seem to matter at first). Hence we see the problems inherent with jailing an addict: too often he is unable to draw the connection between the good feeling of the drugs or alcohol with the punishment of that behavior, so upon release he repeats the bad habit… and on goes the circle of eternal punishment with no healing. The reason the paradox is so baffling to those outside addiction (that being confusion of why an addict engages in temporary pleasure knowing full well enormous pain will soon result) is simply that the addict has trained his pleasure sensors (so to speak) and simultaneously numbed his pain sensors. The neurobiological study of addiction teaches us these simple principles.

Is there a solution? Yes, indeed. Good programs of recovery reconstitute good habits in well-intentioned people to properly develop morally upright behaviors over time, which of course leads eventually to being morally decent. You have to walk the talk. Be the change you want to see.

Chapter 16

It could well be said that the greatest continent yet to be fully explored is the immense human mind. The human brain is the most complex and orderly arrangement of matter in the known universe; nothing is more intricate, capable or elaborate. Yet despite all this, it is the most unexplored, underused, and unfamiliar aspect of ourselves. Our possibilities are endless, yet we take it all for granted. Why is this? (I’ll answer this mystery shortly)

Since the mind controls the body, and the body controls our actions, and our actions control our destiny, should we not pay more attention to how our mind is controlled? Addicts rarely seem to exhibit strong will-power outside drug seeking behaviors (an unfortunate paradox), which means we allow our minds to be controlled by external forces. If we so easily abdicate control of our minds to the whim of urges (something every mature adult recognizes as childish and harmful) or allow ourselves to be led by others (with little regard to the quality of leadership), we should not be surprised at the unsettling lunacy that settles in nor should we blame anyone other than ourselves for our predicaments.

The reason we don’t pay more attention to the wonderful gift freely given us, which is our minds, is just that… it was a free gift from God to us at birth. We are all given a brain, yet we never seem to want to use it positively or train it in the way we want it to perform. All good and perfect gifts come from God and are free to us. We humans have a tendency to only place value on things that cost us money and disregard the rest. This is a terrible mistake; for the best things in life are indeed free (i.e.: love, care, family, successful accomplishments, charity…)

I once thought of a giant earth-moving tractor hauling 30 tons of dirt, and a little man sitting on top of the machine driving it… what a spectacular display of powerful control. Our life is the same way, we have tremendous potential to effect positive change and do wonderful things with our lives, and whether we admit it or not, WE ARE driving our lives each day with every little choice we make. Every little decision we make in our minds steers our life in a certain direction and will take us exactly where that road leads. Let us make sure we are on the right road. This all starts with a quality spirit-filled life. (more on this soon, so stay tuned)