Recent Posts
The Pragmatic Christian
February 9, 2012
Sick To Death
February 2, 2012
The Real Lesson from the Sinking of Costa Concordia
January 26, 2012
Depression
Overcoming Thorns
June 23, 2011
Tribulation encompasses a great deal more than you may conceive when you hear the word. I imagine it brings to mind traumatic...
June 23, 2011
Tribulation encompasses a great deal more than you may conceive when you hear the word. I imagine it brings to mind traumatic...
The Antidote to Suicide
April 28, 2011
What do you do when your guilt is too heavy to bear, your soul is so miserable you can find no relief, you are embarrassed...
April 28, 2011
What do you do when your guilt is too heavy to bear, your soul is so miserable you can find no relief, you are embarrassed...
Post-Christmas Blues?
December 30, 2010
Scriptural Basis: “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other………I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass...
December 30, 2010
Scriptural Basis: “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other………I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass...
Substance Abuse and Depression Among Teens
November 3, 2009
Most addicted teens don’t consciously intend to kill themselves. But many become so depressed that they just don’t care one way or the other. I had been smoking marijuana for 2 years but pot wasn’t doing it for me anymore. II was failing school lost all my real friends--I hated everything. So one night I got 5 Vicodin and was drinking vodka. I remember thinking that if I do this, I may never wake up. It was funny; the thought of never waking up didn’t scare me as much as the thought of facing...
November 3, 2009
Most addicted teens don’t consciously intend to kill themselves. But many become so depressed that they just don’t care one way or the other. I had been smoking marijuana for 2 years but pot wasn’t doing it for me anymore. II was failing school lost all my real friends--I hated everything. So one night I got 5 Vicodin and was drinking vodka. I remember thinking that if I do this, I may never wake up. It was funny; the thought of never waking up didn’t scare me as much as the thought of facing...
Sex and Depression Among Teen Girls
October 9, 2009
“I used to think it was cool to be a party girl, drink and hook up with cute guys--but what I really want is for someone to want to spend time with me and try to get to know me. After the sex, the guys are never interested in anything else—-its so depressing.” --Tanya, age 16 The truth is--the party girl, hook-up thing doesn’t work. Instead of the fun and liberation it promises, it delivers disease, heartbreak, shame and despair. Yet Hollywood and the star crazed media hold...
October 9, 2009
“I used to think it was cool to be a party girl, drink and hook up with cute guys--but what I really want is for someone to want to spend time with me and try to get to know me. After the sex, the guys are never interested in anything else—-its so depressing.” --Tanya, age 16 The truth is--the party girl, hook-up thing doesn’t work. Instead of the fun and liberation it promises, it delivers disease, heartbreak, shame and despair. Yet Hollywood and the star crazed media hold...
Substance Abuse and Depression Among Teens
October 8, 2009
Most addicted teens don’t consciously intend to kill themselves. But many become so depressed that they just don’t care one way or the other. I had been smoking marijuana for 2 years but pot wasn’t doing it for me anymore. II was failing school, lost all my real friends--I hated everything. So one night I got 5 Vicodin and was drinking vodka. I remember thinking that if I do this, I may never wake up. It was funny, the thought of never waking up didn’t scare me as much as the thought...
October 8, 2009
Most addicted teens don’t consciously intend to kill themselves. But many become so depressed that they just don’t care one way or the other. I had been smoking marijuana for 2 years but pot wasn’t doing it for me anymore. II was failing school, lost all my real friends--I hated everything. So one night I got 5 Vicodin and was drinking vodka. I remember thinking that if I do this, I may never wake up. It was funny, the thought of never waking up didn’t scare me as much as the thought...
What are some tips for parents who want to take an active role in their teen’s recovery from addictive disease?
September 28, 2009
Part 4 of facing your teen’s addiction Here are some tips: Start a conversation by asking open-ended questions. Open-ended questions… cannot be answered “yes” or “no” allow your child to give spontaneous and honest answers—she should tell her story in her own words usually begin with: “Tell me about…” “Describe…” “To what extent…” “What was that like?” “Help me understand…” Affirm his worth, courage and challenges....
September 28, 2009
Part 4 of facing your teen’s addiction Here are some tips: Start a conversation by asking open-ended questions. Open-ended questions… cannot be answered “yes” or “no” allow your child to give spontaneous and honest answers—she should tell her story in her own words usually begin with: “Tell me about…” “Describe…” “To what extent…” “What was that like?” “Help me understand…” Affirm his worth, courage and challenges....
What are the emotional challenges that parents will face when their teen is recovering from an addictive disease?
September 26, 2009
Part 3 of facing your teen’s addiction Substance abuse hinders emotional development in teens. This is due to the psychoactive effects of drugs on the emotional center (limbic system) in the brain. All drugs of abuse change how this part of the brain functions. Teens learn that using drugs and alcohol will quickly change their mood. When a teen is bored, smoking marijuana makes the time pass. When they feel depressed, alcohol or cocaine works wonders—for a while. We become emotionally...
September 26, 2009
Part 3 of facing your teen’s addiction Substance abuse hinders emotional development in teens. This is due to the psychoactive effects of drugs on the emotional center (limbic system) in the brain. All drugs of abuse change how this part of the brain functions. Teens learn that using drugs and alcohol will quickly change their mood. When a teen is bored, smoking marijuana makes the time pass. When they feel depressed, alcohol or cocaine works wonders—for a while. We become emotionally...
What are the social challenges that parents will face when their teen is recovering from an addictive disease?
September 25, 2009
Part 2 of facing your teen’s addiction One of the indications of addiction is the extent to which one’s life becomes organized around using drugs or alcohol. For addicted teens, there is almost always a well-defined sub-culture of friends, associates, parties, and rituals that becomes the center of their social life. Healthy activities that used to capture their imagination such as sports and academics soon become secondary to the “party” culture.” Helping teens find a new, drug-free...
September 25, 2009
Part 2 of facing your teen’s addiction One of the indications of addiction is the extent to which one’s life becomes organized around using drugs or alcohol. For addicted teens, there is almost always a well-defined sub-culture of friends, associates, parties, and rituals that becomes the center of their social life. Healthy activities that used to capture their imagination such as sports and academics soon become secondary to the “party” culture.” Helping teens find a new, drug-free...
How Parents can take an active role in their teen’s recovery from addictive disease?
September 24, 2009
Part 1 of facing your teen’s addiction During illness, good parents instinctively attend to their children’s needs and provide an ample supply of love and comfort. As the child recovers, family life quickly returns to normal. Unfortunately, it’s not the same when a teen becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol dependence are chronic, debilitating disorders where recovery is possible, but a cure is not. Some addicted teens require prolonged treatment or multiple stints in treatment...
September 24, 2009
Part 1 of facing your teen’s addiction During illness, good parents instinctively attend to their children’s needs and provide an ample supply of love and comfort. As the child recovers, family life quickly returns to normal. Unfortunately, it’s not the same when a teen becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol dependence are chronic, debilitating disorders where recovery is possible, but a cure is not. Some addicted teens require prolonged treatment or multiple stints in treatment...