Call to Worship. The Fifth Precept and the 12 Steps A Sermon by Mel Harkrader Pine December 1, 2013 The Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun
|
|
- Cory Berry
- 8 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Call to Worship This quote has been attributed to Albert Einstein, probably inaccurately, but it s a good quote wherever it came from: A human being is a part of the whole, called by us: universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The Fifth Precept and the 12 Steps A Sermon by Mel Harkrader Pine December 1, 2013 The Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun How many of you know The Count on Sesame Street? He loves to count things. I think that the Buddha shared his obsession. The Buddha and his followers loved to count things. There are the Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, the Five Precepts, the Six Realms, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Eightfold Path, and the Nine Consciousnesses, sometimes regarded as just Eight Consciousnesses. And there are many more numbered lists. Now I ll do some counting of my own and declare Mel s Four Most Important Numbered Buddhist Lists. They are the Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, the Five Precepts, and the Eightfold Path. Being a Buddhist means taking refuge in the Three Jewels the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. I take refuge in the Buddha means both the historical person, Siddhartha Gautama, and the Buddha that exists in all of us the potential to be awakened from the world s illusions. I take refuge in the Dharma refers to the Buddha s teachings, or what a Buddhist might call the world the way it really is. I take refuge in the Sangha is the commitment to the community of believers. The Four Noble Truths are at the heart of Buddhism. They are what Siddhartha Gautama came to realize as he sat under the Bodhi Tree and became the awakened one, the Buddha. The first truth is that we all suffer, we all find life unsatisfactory. The 1
2 second truth is that there s a reason for the suffering: our unrealistic expectations that we can avoid pain and loss. Because the suffering has a cause, the third truth says we can stop it. And the fourth truth is the way to stop suffering following the Eightfold Path. I won t enumerate the eight factors of the Eightfold Path, but they direct us to gain wisdom, to live ethically, and to train our minds to be in the here and now and fully aware of the present moment, which is our only reality. [pause] The Five Precepts are Buddhism s core ethics. There are longer lists of precepts in some Buddhist schools, and longer lists for teachers and monastics, but just about anyone who practices Buddhism commits to these five. I committed to them in a ceremony some 15 years ago. The precepts are not commandments, but rather pledges to train our minds. Buddhist teachers compare them to the North Star. They give direction, but they are not the destination. Many Buddhist teachers use terms like mind training instead of precept, so they become: 1) I undertake the mind training to refrain from destroying living creatures. 2) I undertake the mind training to refrain from taking that which is not given. 3) I undertake the mind training to refrain from sexual misconduct. 4) I undertake the mind training to refrain from false speech. 5) I undertake the mind training to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs, which lead to carelessness. These are broad. So, for example, we want to train our minds to avoid taking the life of any living being, but we know there will be times that we do kill a microbe or an insect or a trout or a deer. What s important is that we re mindful of what we re doing and why we re traveling outside of our ethical zone. There s some confusion over the third precept, about sexual misconduct. For most monastic Buddhists, it s any sexual conduct at all. For lay people, it means excessive attachment to sensual not just sexual pleasures. Much of Buddhism is about freeing oneself from attachments. A Buddhist friend of mine once described attachment this way? It s OK to want a Maserati. What s not OK is believing that your happiness depends on getting a Maserati. Commandments about killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and bearing false witness are also in the Ten Commandments, of course, and they re somewhat similar to the first 2
3 four Buddhist precepts. But nothing like the fifth precept was engraved on the stone tablets that God and Moses worked out on Mount Sinai. I don t think Irish Catholicism would exist if one of the commandments was thou shalt not drink intoxicating beverages. (Forgive me, Father, for stereotyping.) I ve never been much of a drinker or drug user, and neither were my parents or siblings. So in the five years that I considered myself a practicing Buddhist and in the decade or so since then, when I ve considered myself a sort of Buddhist fellow traveler, I never gave much thought to that fifth precept. It didn t mean much to me. Many of you know, however, that over the last 13 months I and my family have done a lot of soul-searching about alcohol, drugs and addiction. Why does Buddhism put intoxication into the top five things to avoid? A teacher of Carol s and mine once said that all of Buddhism can be summed up in six words: Living happily in the present moment. It s all about awakening from the illusions of this world waking up to the fact n that all we have is the here and the now, and that it s wonderful the way it is; n that the past and the future are only mental constructs; n that everything is impermanent; n that the mind is constantly distracting us from enjoying what simply is. Intoxicants lead us farther from the simple reality of now; lead us farther from the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha; lead us farther from our true selves. In the Buddha s words, The person who drinks alcohol digs up his own root in this world. So intoxicants interfere with the practice of Buddhism, with mindfulness, with pursuing the other four precepts, the Three Jewels and the Eightfold Path. And although intoxication doesn t show up among the Ten Commandments, I was surprised, after doing a little research, at how much condemnation of alcohol I found elsewhere in the Bible. This line from Ephesians (ee-phee-shuns) comes close to the Buddhist view: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. Rather than being filled with the Spirit, a Buddhist might talk about being empty, or being mindful, but the idea is similar. (Emptiness in Buddhism is a good thing.) In case you re fidgeting in your seat now saying: Don t tell me Mel is doing a fire and brimstone sermon about the evils of drink and drugs, well, I am minus the fire and brimstone. Let s look at some numbers from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, carried out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I apologize for all 3
4 the statistics, but you re welcome to a printed copy of this sermon if you d like to review them. First, for alcohol: n 23% of Americans 12 or older reported being binge drinkers within the last 30 days and 6.5% described themselves as heavy drinkers. Binge drinking here means repeatedly getting drunk. Heavy drinking is regular use of alcohol at higher-than-moderate levels. n Among young adults, Americans 18 to 25 years old, the rate for binge drinking was 39.5% and for heavy drinking was 12.7%. n For children, 12 to 17 years old, 12.9% reported being current drinkers. n An estimated 11.2% of Americans 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol within the last year. Now turning to drugs: n 9.2% of Americans 12 and older reported using an illicit drug within the last month. That s almost one in ten of us. n For Americans 18 to 25 years old, the rate was much higher, 21.3%. n From 2007 to 2012, there were sharp increases in heroin users, and in people who used marijuana daily or almost daily, defined as 20 or more times in the previous month. Some of you may want to factor occasional use of marijuana out of the statistics for other illicit drugs, but I don t have a neat way to do that, and I don t believe that changes the overall point. What became painfully clear to me over the last year or so is the extent to which junior high and high school children have access to and use alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy, psychedelics, opiates, and psychoactive prescription drugs filched from someone s medicine chest. And I repeat I m talking about junior highs as well as our high schools. I am generally not a conspiracy theorist, but I have come to believe that the schools keep that quiet for fear of criticism, or maybe for fear of making the situation even worse. I know of instances in my own community when the schools did not report incidents involving drugs and underage drinking to the local police. According to a study last year, 10% of Americans 18 and older reported being in recovery from a problem with drugs or alcohol. That is, they reported having an alcohol or drug problem in the past that they have overcome. By conservative estimate, another 10% to 15% of adults have drug or alcohol problems severe enough that they are harming themselves or others. So that s 20% to 25% of the adult population dealing with or suffering from addiction to or abuse of alcohol or drugs. 4
5 I won t begin to address the economic cost, or the diversion of resources, inherent in alcohol and drug abuse, but there are very clear human costs. More people in the U.S, died last year because of drunk driving than because of gun homicides. Drug overdoses killed more people than traffic accidents or gunfire. And substance abuse harms other family members to a larger degree than any other illness. The quote in your order of service today is one that Carol and I heard recently from a young woman in recovery from drug use. Even though she had been clean for some time and in fact was working in a recovery center, she broke down when she talked about her failures to care for her daughter, as she told us: There s no love greater than the disease of addiction. Carol and I had a family friend who started using heroin at the age of 21 and didn t live to 22. South Korean novelist Young Ha Kim described in a New York Times op-ed article a week ago the ease with which some people get drawn into addiction. He had come to New York City in October 2012 to promote the English translation of his book, Black Flower. Hurricane Sandy hit, and his promotional event was canceled, so he made use of the Xbox and its equipment in the small New York City apartment he had rented. For the next few weeks I lived inside a video and Internet-based game called Killzone. As soon as I woke up I reached for a game controller that resembled a gun, and shot and killed thousands of bad guys on the screen until my sore arms stopped me from continuing. I battled users from around the world. My book publicist contacted me with plans for a new event, but in a terse , I replied that I had no interest, and continued playing. I ate tacos and drank Corona beer while killing thousands into the night. I lost weight. My eyes became hollow. Looking back, I see my life has been a series of addictions. As a child, I went through a period devouring comics and martial arts books. For only a short time (thankfully) I became obsessed with card games. In my 20s, I became obsessed with the role-playing game Romance of the Three Kingdoms, named after a classical Chinese novel, and later The Sims, a life-simulation game, and StarCraft, a science-fiction game. After 15 years of smoking, I barely managed to quit, at age 33. Until that point, I had been a chain smoker who even lit up in bed. After giving up smoking, I began my battle with alcohol. I mixed whiskey and beer together into a glass and had it every night. It was the only way I could fall asleep. It took another few years to overcome this habit. 5
6 Though my addictive personality didn t cut too badly into my productivity as a writer, it caused me to waste time, and I was always ashamed of it. Many, although not all, addicts and abusers in recovery are members of 12-step groups. As an aside, some UUs and some Buddhists may have difficulty with the first couple of steps, because of the need to see yourself as powerless, with your life unmanageable, with the need to depend on a power greater than yourself. Some Buddhist organizations have integrated the non-theistic Buddhist teachings into the 12 steps. They may be helpful to some of us. Even though so many of our friends and neighbors suffer from their own substance abuse or someone else s, most of us go from day to day holding up the use of alcohol as the societal default. I don t know if calling alcohol a gateway to other drugs is accurate, but I am certain that the way we drink, share, talk about and joke about alcohol normalizes it normalizes the use of intoxicants that can be addictive. I ve begun to understand why so many in recovery go to 12-step meetings almost daily. In part, of course, it s replacing a bad habit with a good habit. But I see now that the almost constant reminders are needed to overcome the endless stream of cultural pulls toward intoxicants. And there s a stigma attached to speaking up too loudly against, say, greeting everyone with a flute of champagne as they enter a party. I have been just as likely as others in the past to go along with alcohol as the default. I can think of two times in the not too distant past when I did nothing to stop a friend from driving home drunk. But I am seeking ways to change and ways to encourage others to change. I recently learned of an organization called Many Faces One Voice working to overcome the silence that goes along with the anonymity of people in 12-step programs. They are calling on people in recovery to tell their stories to come out in order to promote understanding and better support from their communities. If you d like to see and hear some of these stories, you can go to manyfaces1voice.org, with the one as a numeral. The organization produced a documentary called The Anonymous People to tell the stories of and advocate for the 24 million Americans living in long-term recovery. To bring the film to a local movie theater requires a host to get it started, a movie theater willing to show the film, and a number of people to buy tickets in advance. Yesterday, as I was working on this sermon, I decided one thing I can do is to bring the film to the Leesburg area. So I have contacted the distributor to request that the film to be shown at the Cobb Village 12 on a Sunday afternoon in January. Once Cobb, or another theater agrees, I ll be asking you to help spread the word and sell tickets. 6
7 I ve heard it said that every minister has just one sermon that she or he keeps giving in different ways. I am not a minister, but I have delivered many sermons. And working on this one led me to see that my one sermon is about compassion for the lost and troubled. This time I m calling for compassion for the people who are in recovery or need to be. I m asking that we all think twice before acting or speaking in ways that glorify, or that simply normalize, intoxicants. Our call to worship today was a quote about widening our circle of compassion. It s a good thought to return to now as we sing our closing hymn, #131, Love Will Guide Us. ### 7
CMA Relapse Prevention Meeting Mondays, 6pm Chairman s Script. Good evening. My name is and I am an addict.
CMA Relapse Prevention Meeting Mondays, 6pm Chairman s Script Good evening. My name is and I am an addict. Welcome to the Monday Night Relapse Prevention Meeting of Crystal Meth Anonymous. Please join
More informationParenting. Coping with A Parent s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use. For children. aged 6 to 12
Parenting Positively Coping with A Parent s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use For children aged 6 to 12 The information in this booklet is meant to help children who are living with harmful parental drug or
More informationIN A SMALL PART OF THE CITY WEST OF
p T h e L a s t L e a f IN A SMALL PART OF THE CITY WEST OF Washington Square, the streets have gone wild. They turn in different directions. They are broken into small pieces called places. One street
More information12 Step Worksheet Questions
12 Step Worksheet Questions STEP 1 We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. The first time I took a drink I knew it wasn't for me. Every time I drank I got drunk
More informationWhat is the National Night of Conversation?
What is the National Night of Conversation? ON NOVEMBER 19, 2015, WE ARE CALLING ON EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HAVE DINNER WITH THE PEOPLE THEY CARE ABOUT AND TO BREAK THE SILENCE ON DRUGS AND ADDICTION
More informationOlder Adults and Alcohol
Older Adults and Alcohol You can get help From the National Institute on Aging Table of Contents What s inside 1 Get the facts about aging and alcohol 2 You can become more sensitive to alcohol as you
More informationDRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION. BY: Kristen Mehl AGE: 17 GRADE: 12. SCHOOL NAME: St. Clair High School
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION BY: Kristen Mehl AGE: 17 GRADE: 12 SCHOOL NAME: St. Clair High School DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION Drug and alcohol addiction is a rising problem among all ages, including our
More informationDUI Voir Dire Questions INTRODUCTION
DUI Voir Dire Questions INTRODUCTION 1. Can you give me an example of a law that you disagree with (i.e., the speed limit)? 2. Someone tell me what the First Amendment protects? You see Ladies and Gentlemen,
More informationA Sample Radio Interview
A Sample Radio Interview By Erik R, 7/5/00 The following is a sample interview that has been put together to help show how to provide a positive approach to answering questions about Narcotics Anonymous.
More informationToo Good for Drugs Grade 5
Dear Parent: Our class is participating in Too Good for Drugs, a prevention program designed by the Mendez Foundation to teach skills for living healthy, drug-free lives. We are excited about this opportunity
More informationONE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS.
T h e G i f t o f t h e M a g i p T h e G i f t o f t h e M a g i ONE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS. That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying
More informationWhat Is the Narcotics Anonymous Program?
Who Is an Addict? Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. We know! Our whole life and thinking was centered in drugs in one form or another the getting and using and finding ways and
More informationStay Healthy By Not Smoking
Stay Healthy By Not Smoking Stay Healthy By Not Smoking ENGLISH ENGLISH This edition printed 2009 Published by Books of Hope LLC Sound element design and engineering copyright cc Books of Hope Visit our
More information"God's Wisdom Revealed to All (Ephesians 3:7-20)
"God's Wisdom Revealed to All (Ephesians 3:7-20) by Rev. Jackie Stoneman Paul begins this chapter by reminding the Ephesians that he is in fact a prisoner. Because he has been preaching to the Gospel especially
More information[live] As young members, most of us didn t come to. World Service Office PO Box 9999 Van Nuys, CA 91409 USA
[ ] [live] Copyright 1983, 2008 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved. World Service Office PO Box 9999 Van Nuys, CA 91409 USA TEL (818) 773-9999 FAX (818) 700-0700 WEB www.na.org
More informationFour Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Enlightenment
The Way of Martial Arts MONTHLY INTERACTIVE LESSONS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR DAILY LIFE B Y M A S T E R E R I C S B A R G E Lesson 39 Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Enlightenment As you know, all of the
More informationOlder Adults and Alcohol
Older Adults and Alcohol You Can Get Help 5 What s Inside? Read this booklet to learn about alcohol and aging. Share this booklet with your friends and family. Use this booklet to start talking about how
More informationHaslingden High School RE HOMEWORK BOOKLET Year 8 Block A
Haslingden High School RE HOMEWORK BOOKLET Year 8 Block A Name: Form: Subject Teacher: Date Given: Date to Hand in: Level: Effort: House Points: Comment: Target: Parent / Guardian Comment: 0 Year 8 Block
More informationAlcohol Awareness. When Does Alcohol Abuse Become Alcoholism?
Alcohol Awareness When Does Alcohol Abuse Become Alcoholism? Heavy drinkers may appear to function day to day yet still be putting themselves and others at risk. Learn how to recognize problem drinking.
More informationLife With Hope I m Not An Addict I M NOT AN ADDICT 147
I M NOT AN ADDICT How could I be an addict? My life is great. I live in a very good area of Los Angeles, drive a nice sports car, have a good job, pay all my bills, and have a wonderful family. This is
More informationWhy Do I Need to Stay Abstinent
Chapter 12 Why Do I Need to Stay Abstinent From ALL Alcohol and Other Drugs? T After some time in recovery I decided that my problem was drugs and not alcohol and I started to drink socially. It wasn t
More informationNew Beginnings: Managing the Emotional Impact of Diabetes Module 1
New Beginnings: Managing the Emotional Impact of Diabetes Module 1 ALEXIS (AW): Welcome to New Beginnings: Managing the Emotional Impact of Diabetes. MICHELLE (MOG): And I m Dr. Michelle Owens-Gary. AW:
More informationMammon and the Archer
O. H e n r y p Mammon and the Archer OLD ANTHONY ROCKWALL, WHO HAD MADE millions of dollars by making and selling Rockwall s soap, stood at a window of his large Fifth Avenue house. He was looking out
More informationThe Heroic Journey: Metaphor for the path through addiction and recovery. to becoming one who has gifts to share
The Heroic Journey: Metaphor for the path through addiction and recovery to becoming one who has gifts to share There is a plot which appears over and over in stories told by all cultures, in books, movies,
More informationFor Those in Treatment
For Those in Treatment This is NA Fellowship-approved literature. Copyright 1991 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved. This pamphlet is designed to introduce you to recovery
More informationUSSC of Narcotics Anonymous Newcomer Orientation Workshop
USSC of Narcotics Anonymous Newcomer Orientation Workshop Approved USSCNA 3 October 2014 Hi everyone. I would like to welcome you all to the Narcotic Anonymous Orientation Workshop presented by the. I
More informationLESSON TITLE: Taming the Tongue. THEME: God wants us to watch what we say. SCRIPTURE: James 3:1-12 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF:
Devotion NT349 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: Taming the Tongue THEME: God wants us to watch what we say. SCRIPTURE: James 3:1-12 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time for Kids! Bible
More informationThe Lord Gives Moses the Ten Commandments
The Lord Gives Moses the Ten Commandments (portions of Exodus 19-20, 32-34) By Rev. Kurt Horigan Asplundh Illustrated by Marguerite Acton 2004 General Church Office of Education Have you ever heard anyone
More informationBeing Present Luke 1:39-55. Presbyterian pastor Mark Labberton tells the story of one his members
1 Being Present Luke 1:39-55 Presbyterian pastor Mark Labberton tells the story of one his members named Doris. 1 A very active woman with silver-blond hair, Doris was in her eighties. Every Friday morning
More informationEpi Data Tables. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene October 2012, No. 19
Epi Data Tables New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene October 2012, No. 19 Qualitative Data on Young Adult, Non-Daily Smokers in New York City Themes and Associated Quotes Theme 1: 1) Perceived
More informationFive Practices of Fruitful Congregations Radical Hospitality
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations Radical Hospitality When we began to think about this topic of Radical Hospitality and what images or props would help illustrate it, I put the question to people
More informationDiscover The God Who Believes In You
Discover The God Who Believes In You I AM LOVED The most basic fact of the Bible is that there is a God. He made everything that is, including you, and loves you with an everlasting love. God has loved
More informationWhat are some of the signs that alcohol is a problem?
Problems with Alcohol How can I tell if alcohol is a problem for me? Alcohol is a problem if it affects any part of your life, including your health, your work and your life at home. You may have a problem
More informationKS2 RE Quiz Buddhism. See how much you know about Buddhism by trying this quiz. 1. Whose teachings are the foundation of Buddhism?
KS2 RE Quiz Buddhism Buddhism focuses on spiritual development in order to reach Enlightenment. Buddhism is an ancient religion - over 2,500 years old! Buddhists believe that wisdom can be learned by observation,
More informationHope, Help & Healing. A guide to helping someone who might have a drug or alcohol problem. www.drugfree.org
Hope, Help & Healing A guide to helping someone who might have a drug or alcohol problem www.drugfree.org Are you worried that someone you care about has a drug or alcohol problem? Or do you feel your
More informationPreparing an Evangelistic Bible Lesson
Preparing an Evangelistic Bible Lesson 1 Preparing an Evangelistic Bible Lesson Prepare Your Heart Pray for yourself; ask God to speak to you through this Scripture passage. Pray for your students and
More informationTRAINING WORSHIP LEADERS
TRAINING WORSHIP LEADERS SESSION ONE LIVING FOR GOD S GLORY Junko is a gifted singer. She also loves to sing praise songs. So her small group leader asked Junko to use her talents and gifts by becoming
More informationOlder Adults and Alcohol. You can get help
Older Adults and Alcohol You can get help Table of Contents What s inside 1 Get the facts about aging and alcohol 2 You can become more sensitive to alcohol as you get older 2 Heavy drinking can make
More informationTHEME: God has a calling on the lives of every one of His children!
Devotion NT298 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: Paul s First Missionary Journey THEME: God has a calling on the lives of every one of His children! SCRIPTURE: Acts 12:25 13:52 Dear Parents
More informationCopyright 1980 Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Mail address: Box 459 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163. www.aa.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
More informationBrett. Jorge. Nicole. Marisol. Dre. Kenny
No one is too young to have trouble with alcohol. Alcoholism is an illness that affects people of all ages, the rich, the poor, men and women. It doesn t matter how long, or how much you drink. When your
More informationGetting Help With an Addiction by Jim Auer
Getting Help With an Addiction by Jim Auer It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Every person recovering from an addiction can identify with Charles Dickens famous line when remembering
More informationPresentation by Mark E., Lebanon, OH. and delivered at the International
Presentation by Mark E., Lebanon, OH. and delivered at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous July 4 th, 2015 in Atlanta, GA. The Warranties: Maturity in the Fellowship Saturday, July 4,
More informationQuotes from survivors
Quotes from survivors Once I was able to let my shame go I became a new person. I did not know I was caring such a heavy weight until it was gone. It s great to be free! I can t stop smiling. Pam P. People
More informationPsychic Lotto Formula 3-Step Formula Secret Template To Lottery Secrets Module 3
Page 1 Table of Content The Psychic Lotto Formula Jackpot to Success System... 4 Part 1 Channeling the Power of Your Mind to Success... 6 Part 2 Visualization... 12 Part 3 Integrating Luck and Making it
More informationRECOVERY ALTERNATIVES
RECOVERY ALTERNATIVES Contact us at: 1-800-805-0499 http://www.recoveryalternatives.com INTERVENTION PREPARATION WORKSHEET To help guide you through the process of preparing for the intervention, a series
More informationYOUTH AND ALCOHOL SURVEY
YOUTH AND ALCOHOL SURVEY OVERVIEW Based on a survey conducted by the Business Research Centre for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand ALAC Occasional Publication: No. 1 ALCOHOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
More informationConfirmation Faith Statement
A is simply 1-2 paragraphs of what you believe about God, faith, Jesus, salvation, etc. Every Confirmation student will pick out a Confirmation verse as a basis of their faith statement. You can use one
More informationGrace to you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whiplash 1 Matthew 16:21-28 (NRSV) From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes,
More informationWhereas I was Blind, Now I See. John 9: 1-11; 25
Whereas I was Blind, Now I See John 9: 1-11; 25 We all know that great hymn well: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I m found; was blind, but now
More informationShe Wants Out Part II. Female gang members are second-class citizens. The guys sometimes throw
Carol Adams Huntington Junior College Literary Dictation Material Marked in 20 Word Groups She Wants Out Part II Female gang members are second-class citizens. The guys sometimes throw parties and don
More informationRock-N-Happy Heart: The Devotional By Yancy. by Yancy
Rock-N-Happy Heart: The Devotional By Yancy by Yancy 1 73 Day 1-Dreams Will Come True Once upon a time a long time ago, I was a little girl with a dream. I loved to sing. (My parents have told that me
More informationJesus Teaches About Prayer
CHAPTER 4 Jesus Teaches About Prayer Jesus prayed. He prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for future believers. He also taught about prayer. Prayer is our way of communicating with God whenever we want
More informationHope, Help & Healing. A guide to helping someone who might have a drug or alcohol problem. www.warecoveryhelpline.
Hope, Help & Healing A guide to helping someone who might have a drug or alcohol problem www.warecoveryhelpline.org 1-866-789-1511 Are you worried that someone you care about has a drug or alcohol problem?
More informationentrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?
Serving Two Masters This month I am looking at the stories Jesus told. And since I like a challenge, I am either looking at stories we don t usually hear about or a different view of a familiar story.
More informationCity Vision College (Course 414): Help for Alcoholics
City Vision College (Course 414): Help for Alcoholics Chapter 4: The Tools of Recovery (pages 65 85) 1. According to your text, how many million Americans currently abuse or are dependent on alcohol? How
More informationNobody intends to become an addict.
Nobody intends to become an addict. Nobody takes his first drink, pops her first pill, or snorts her first line thinking, I plan on getting hooked on this. Instead, people tend to think things like this:
More informationSBIRT Scenario. Setting: Elementary School System
Setting: Elementary School System Social Worker Information: Ryan is a 10 year old third grader who is in danger of being retained again. School identified concerns include tardiness, excessive absences
More informationLESSON TITLE: The Great Commandment. THEME: Love is the fulfillment of the Law. SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:28-34 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF:
Devotion NT264 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Great Commandment THEME: Love is the fulfillment of the Law. SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:28-34 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time for Kids.
More informationIdidn t think I was an alcoholic. I thought my
(2) FEAR OF FEAR This lady was cautious. She decided she wouldn t let herself go in her drinking. And she would never, never take that morning drink! Ididn t think I was an alcoholic. I thought my problem
More informationwhen i m at work: drugs and alcohol
disability BUSINESS and advocacy services when i m at work: drugs and alcohol a fact sheet for supported employees This fact sheet is to help you understand the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol with
More informationTime Management August 16, 2015 Rev. Frank Allen First Presbyterian Church, Kissimmee, Florida
1 Time Management August 16, 2015 Rev. Frank Allen First Presbyterian Church, Kissimmee, Florida Ephesians 5:15-20 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of
More informationWhat s your score? 350M 10/14 (DG3)
What s your score? Did you answer YES four or more times? If so, you are probably in trouble with alcohol. Why do we say this? Because thousands of people in A.A. have said so for many years. They found
More informationJesus and the Counsellor in John s Gospel
Jesus and the Counsellor in John s Gospel In Jesus farewell speech, recorded in John s Gospel (chapters 13-17) Jesus introduces the disciples to one he calls the Counsellor. This Counsellor (the name itself
More informationIntroduction. Preparation DISCUSSION GUIDE
Introduction Dr. A. Thomas McLellan, Executive Director of the Treatment Research Institute, notes that 13 is the age when most children begin to experiment with alcohol and other drugs. Ten thousand children
More informationHealth and Substance Abuse
The only time I was really serious about killing myself was the night I slept in the park. It was cold and damp and the fog ran over the water all night. I sat under a slide to keep dry and just let my
More information12 Step Addiction Programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): www.aa.org Narcotics Anonymous (NA): www.na.org Suggested local meetings AA: COMMUNICATIONS GROUP Sundays 8 9 p.m. 12 Step Addiction Programs 30 minutes open speaker; 30 minutes
More informationWe recover by the Steps we take, not the meetings we make! Page 1
Alcoholics Anonymous is for alcoholics who want to stop drinking, start living and enjoy being alive. But, AA has two elements; (1) the Fellowship and (2) the Program. The Fellowship of AA is comprised
More informationOrdinary Moments of Grace
Ordinary Moments of Grace To everything there is a time and a season for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to sow and a time to reap. A time to laugh and a time to
More informationVermont PRAMS Data Brief
Prenatal Counseling part 3 Alcohol, Tobacco & Drugs This is a report on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a survey conducted on a sample of Vermont women with live births since 2001.
More informationAddiction, Recovery & Yoga - About the Film
Addiction, Recovery & Yoga - About the Film Addiction Recovery and Yoga is a documentary that I did not expect to make. It contains innovative and valuable information, which I hope will help you or someone
More informationDrunk Driving Vocabulary Lesson
Hello and welcome to the vocabulary lesson for the conversation Drunk Driving. In this conversation, Joe and I are just talking about different friends or different people that we ve known that have gotten
More informationRelated KidsHealth Links
Grades 3 to 5 Health Problems Series KidsHealth.org/classroom Teacher s Guide This guide includes: Standards Related Links Discussion Questions Activities for Students Reproducible Materials Standards
More informationMy best friend died. I don t want you to.
My best friend died. I don t want you to. Shar and I, we did everything together. Same grade, same classes. She lived right downstairs. We would talk and talk. We had our secrets and we tried new stuff
More informationYoung homeless people on healthcare. The views of the National Youth Reference Group
Young homeless people on healthcare The views of the National Youth Reference Group Introduction The Queen s Nursing Institute s Homeless Health Project visited the St Basil s Charity in Birmingham in
More informationGOD S BIG STORY Week 1: Creation God Saw That It Was Good 1. LEADER PREPARATION
This includes: 1. Leader Preparation 2. Lesson Guide GOD S BIG STORY Week 1: Creation God Saw That It Was Good 1. LEADER PREPARATION LESSON OVERVIEW Exploring the first two chapters of Genesis provides
More informationOpening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses
Preface Alcoholism is a disease of many losses. For those of us who are the relatives and friends of alcoholics, these losses affect many aspects of our lives and remain with us over time, whether or not
More informationHope, Help & Healing
and Washington Hope, Help & Healing A guide to helping someone who might have a drug or alcohol problem www.drugfree.org 1-800-562-1240 YOU ARE NOT ALONE Are you worried that someone you care about has
More informationWELCOME TO GOD S FAMILY
WELCOME TO GOD S FAMILY To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband
More informationThe Book of Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians Chapter Five Workbook This Bible Study Workbook is designed to facilitate your study of Chapter Five of the Book of Ephesians. Upon completion of the study, it is recommended that
More informationWhat Is Tolerance to. Alcohol and Other Drugs? Chapter 7
Chapter 7 What Is Tolerance to Alcohol and Other Drugs? T My first time was at a private party with a handful of people. I watched the others do it and figured, it can t be that bad... I snorted my first
More informationSenior Seminar Skit It s Drug Abuse! Narrator: This is a three-scene skit entitled It s Drug Abuse!
Alli Hall Senior Seminar Skit It s Drug Abuse! Narrator: This is a three-scene skit entitled It s Drug Abuse! representing three different ways prescription drugs are and can be abused by teenagers. It
More informationChristmas Eve Sermon 2015. John 1: 1 5. Woodridge. John 1: 1-5
1 Christmas Eve Sermon 2015 John 1: 1 5 Woodridge John 1: 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being
More informationLESSON TITLE: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Devotion NT271 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life THEME: We can always trust Jesus. SCRIPTURE: John 14:1-6 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time
More informationS OAPY MOVED RESTLESSLY ON HIS SEAT
T h e C o p a n d t h e A n t h e m p The Cop and the Anthem S OAPY MOVED RESTLESSLY ON HIS SEAT in Madison Square. There are certain signs to show that winter is coming. Birds begin to fly south. Women
More informationMilitary and Substance Abuse Dr. Amy Menna & Gift From Within
1 Military and Substance Abuse Dr. Amy Menna & Gift From Within This article is meant to assist soldiers and those who support them to identify the differences between substance abuse and addiction. In
More informationMy Sheep Hear My Voice
My Sheep Hear My Voice John 10: 27 Items Needed! Bible with marked scripture! Crayons/Markers/Pencils! Items for Sheep Craft (see lesson, craft is optional)! Copies of color block worksheet! Copies of
More informationRunning head: TIME FOR A CHANGE 1. Time for a Change: Legalizing Marijuana in the State of Texas. Ronald Cummings.
Running head: TIME FOR A CHANGE 1 Time for a Change: Legalizing Marijuana in the State of Texas Ronald Cummings Excelsior College TIME FOR A CHANGE 2 Time for a Change: Legalizing Marijuana in the State
More informationAlcohol Addiction. Introduction. Overview and Facts. Symptoms
Alcohol Addiction Alcohol Addiction Introduction Alcohol is a drug. It is classed as a depressant, meaning that it slows down vital functions -resulting in slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed
More informationAre you feeling... Tired, Sad, Angry, Irritable, Hopeless?
Are you feeling... Tired, Sad, Angry, Irritable, Hopeless? I feel tired and achy all the time. I can t concentrate and my body just doesn t feel right. Ray B. I don t want to get out of bed in the morning
More informationBlue Ribbon Task Force Focus Groups Notes prepared by Kathryn Lennox, Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina
Blue Ribbon Task Force Focus Groups Notes prepared by Kathryn Lennox, Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina Focus Group #2: Flynn Home Question 1: How do you define homelessness? #5 Sleep under bridge;
More informationEthnography: Alcoholics Anonymous. Audrey Uchimoto. Loyola Marymount University
Running Head: ETHNOGRAPHY: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 1 Ethnography: Alcoholics Anonymous Audrey Uchimoto Loyola Marymount University ETHNOGRAPHY: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 2 Alcoholics Anonymous, also referred to
More informationTHEME: Jesus knows all about us and He loves us.
Devotion NT224 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Woman at the Well THEME: Jesus knows all about us and He loves us. SCRIPTURE: John 4:1-42 Dear Parents Welcome to Bible Time for Kids!
More informationAlcohol use or abuse. Lesson 2
Leaps and Lesson 2 Alcohol use or abuse SPECIFIC OUTCOMES W-6.1 Evaluate the need for balance and variety in daily activities that promote personal health W-6.7 Identify and communicate values and beliefs
More informationIntroduction. The ACFkids Staff
Introduction Every parent has a daunting task ahead of them helping their kids to know, love and serve Jesus. We often talk about discipling another person. But the most important disciples you will ever
More informationYoung people and drugs
Young people and drugs Many parents worry about whether their son or daughter is taking illegal drugs, how they can tell, and what to do about it. While there s a lot of concern about illegal drugs in
More informationTHEME: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us.
Devotion NT285 CHILDREN S DEVOTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF: LESSON TITLE: The Day of Pentecost THEME: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us. Dear Parents SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1-41 Dear Parents, Welcome
More informationChange Cycle. Contact us at info@addictionrecoveryministry.org
Change Cycle Change often involves a process. The Bible describes five significant stages of change that are important to understand. They include Rebellion, Realization, Remorse, Repentance, and Restoration.
More informationWHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES?
BY RICHARD ENSMAN READ ANY NEWSPAPER TODAY, OR WATCH THE TELEVISION NEWS, AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT ENCOUNTER WORD OF THE EVER-DEEPENING PROBLEM OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CHEMICAL
More informationTheir stories are tragic. A new chapter starts now. now.
! Their stories are tragic. A new chapter starts now. now.! Bully is a movie that tells powerful stories about children and their families dealing with extreme pain and tragic consequences related to bullying.
More information