Heal and Restore

One of the biggest tragedies in today's world is boys growing up with absentee fathers. Fathers are to be role models, instill language, create believes,  transfer self-worth, provide standards for the types of friends sons should have, teach their boys how to treat women and so much more. Fathers also help their daughters develop their worth and teach them how they are to be treated by men. In this four part series will look at how God fathered Jesus and how we in turn are to father our children. 

I recently read a post on FaceBook from someone new in recovery that asked this question: What are some Higher Powers that you use other than God in the "Christian Sense?' It got me wondering about what has happened to people to make them believe that there is only  a God in a "Christian" sense. What have "people" done to turn people away from the one and only God. God Yaweh, God the Father. On this episode I dive into this topic with my good friend and fellow believer Albert.

Are you a person that struggles believing there is a God that loves and cares for you?

Do you believe that if there is a God, he forgot about you and has no time for you?

I can relate as I was in those exact shoes fifteen years ago. However, today is different. 

There is an pandemic not only in this country that throughout the world that no one wants to talk about. In fact most people act as though it never happens. If it happens in their family, to their son or daughter, more often than not they will blame it on them saying he/she must have asked for it.

So what is this pandemic I am talking about? Sexual abuse of boys and girls. Statistically 1:3 girls will be sexually abuse before the age of 18 and that statistic stands firm. On the other hand the statistic for boys that have been sexually abused is all over the board. The statistic I use in my presentations is 1:4 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18 (Lisa Project 2010).

In many ways sexual abuse of children, of any gender, is like an out of control cancer, and like any cancer there is a treatment for it. However, before the treatment can begin we must acknowledge the fact that we do indeed have a cancer growing inside of us. Next lets look at some comparisons.

“Everything belongs; God uses everything. There are no dead-ends. There is no wasted energy. Everything is recycled. Sin history and salvation are two sides of one coin”

–Richard Rohr

"Faith does not need to push the river precisely because it is able to trust that there is a river. The river is flowing; we are in it. The river is God’s providential love - so do not be afraid.”

– Richard Rohr

In the atmosphere of todays world and times, fear and anxiety are on the uprise and rightfully so. It's okay to be fearful, let's just not live in fear. In this episode of Healing Courageously, I talk about how fear has existed even in some of he biggest biblical leaders and how we can learn to deal with our fear through some biblical principles. 

There is much confusion and controversy around the subject of spanking our children especially in the realm of Christianity. Many parents believe that there is a biblical mandate that tells them they must spank their children or chance committing a sin by not not having control of their children.

All to often parents take "spare the rod and spoil the child" literally. The truth is that by doing so they are miss understanding the true concept of the "rod."  In this episode your host explores this topic biblically and brings to light the reality of how the "rod" and scriptures are taken out of context in order to justify a parents abusive behaviors. He also brings to light scripture that are rarely if ever talked about regarding how God looks at parents who harm little ones. 

As a child abuse and neglect therapist, I do battle daily with Christians enamored of the Old Testament phrase “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” No matter how far I stretch my imagination, it does not stretch far enough to include the image of a cool dude like Jesus taking a rod to a kid.

—Chris Crutcher

In the same way that sexual abuse can be devastating because it leaves the child no safe physical space to go to heal from the trauma, spiritual abuse denies the victim any soul-based solace.

On this episode we will be discussing what Spiritual abuse looks like, how it used, and the long term ramifications it1 is has the victims of said abuse. 

The founders of AA are likely rolling over in their graves today. Why? Because the God that most people in the rooms of A.A. understand today is more commonly referred to as a tree, stone, radiator, fan and so many other tangible items. This is not the God that Dr. Bob and Bill W. are talking about in Step 3. If you notice that God is spelled with a capital “G” which is referring to God the creator or Yahweh. Not the false god’s that are being referred to in the rooms of A.A. today as mentioned above. Even the “H” in Him is referring to God. This has always been something that stumped me. So, I decided to do a little research of my own. I was referred to the book titled “The James Club and The Original A.A. Programs Absolute Essentials,” – By: Bick B. This book answered all of my questions regarding the original intent of A.A.’s founders.