Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
May 27
Psalm 68:5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy h abitation.
Andy was a saint. It wasn't enough that he had a wife and a large
family to take care of. He chose to adopt every person he met who was in
need. He befriended a young boy in the neighborhood who had no father,
and spent precious time with him. He sought out the widows and single
women on the block and offered to do whatever they needed done around
their houses. He never took payment for what he did. Instead, he shared a
Christlike love and spirit, and served everyone unselfishly.
The Andys of the world are those rare individuals who take seriously
their call to be perfect as God is perfect. They strive to be the best
people they can be, and they do this by exemplifying love and sacrifice.
God gives us the Andys to prove that it can be done. We, too, can walk
in the steps of Christ, if we will only give ourselves totally to God.
It means nothing more than giving to God what He has given to us.
Prayer: I want to walk in Your footsteps, Lord. Help
me to be willing to share with others what I have been given. Teach me
to use my time, my talents, my gifts, and my service to show Your glory.
Amen.
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Sunday, May 26, 2013
May 26
Psalm 68:2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
The conference room was a fog of cigarette smoke. Everyone sat
red-eyed, both smoker and nonsmoker alike. It was hard to utter a
sentence without choking. Finally, someone discovered switches that
turned on exhaust fans. The room cleared, and breathing was possible
once more.
Evil is as oppressive as a thick cloud of smoke. It envelops people and
chokes them, making it impossible for them to function. The Lord will
one day dispel all evil as a fan dispels smoke. On that day, all good
people will breathe richly of the fragrance of God, and no more will we
be covered by the haze of sin.
Prayer: Lord, send the breath of Your Spirit to
cleanse me of all sin. Free me from the oppression of all that I have
done wrong, through Your blessed forgiveness. Amen.
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Saturday, May 25, 2013
23 Attorneys General Urge Urban Outfitters to Pull Products Promoting Rx Drug Abuse
On Wednesday 23 attorneys general sent a letter to Urban Outfitters CEO and Chairman Richard A. Hayne, urging him to remove products promoting prescription drug abuse from the stores’ shelves.The letter asked the company to stop selling a line of items that look like prescription pill bottles, boxes, pads and syringes, according to The Miami Herald.
“These products are not in any way fun or humorous but make light of this rampant problem,” the attorneys general wrote. “We invite you to pull these products from your shelves and join with us to fight prescription drug abuse.”
Earlier this month, The Partnership at Drugfree.org urged people to write or email Hayne, or sign a Facebook petition calling on Urban Outfitters to remove the products from its stores and website. A week later, the Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hal Rogers, called on Urban Outfitters to stop selling the products.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who signed the letter, said in a statement, “Profiting from an ad campaign that is contrary to Florida’s efforts to combat prescription drug overdoses and drinking is unacceptable. We are calling on Urban Outfitters to forgo a few sales and help us save a lot of lives.”
May 25
Psalm 66:20Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Think of it! God is actually waiting to hear from us. It's not that God
doesn't have other things to do, but that there is nothing He'd rather
do than spend time with the children He loves. It boggles the mind to
realize that God loves us that much. He has made us to be like Him, and
He anxiously awaits our call. Offer your prayers to God. He will hear
them, and He will send His mercy upon them.
Prayer: Hear me, O God. Though I may have nothing of
much importance to say to You, I need to know that You will listen to me
and respond. I love You, Lord. Amen.
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Friday, May 24, 2013
May 24
Psalm 66:6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
Professor Marsh shook his head emphatically. He maintained that the
story of the Red Sea was phony. Dr. Reed proposed that maybe they
crossed somewhere else. Brother Allwell said true believers knew it
happened just as it was written. For hours the men argued and fought. No
one changed his mind, nothing was gained, faith was never spoken of,
and the promoters of the debate thought, all in all, it was a great
success.
What is the big idea? The fact is, the Hebrew people escaped the finest
fighting force of its day by crossing a body of water that stopped the
Egyptian army. A miracle is a miracle is a miracle. The [how] is not
nearly as important as the fact that it [did] happen. Our God is a God
of miracle and wonder. Praise Him for what He does, rather than for how
He does it, and you will find your faith grows by leaps and bounds.
Prayer: When Your miracles get reduced to topics for
debate, I find I lose interest, Father. Refresh me with the strangeness
and awe of Your power, Lord. Amen.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
The first ever EAST COAST SUMMIT will be held Wednesday, July 10th – Friday, July 12th
Start making plans now to join us for the 1st Annual Celebrate Recovery East Coast Summit
This event is being held at:
RESTORATION CHURCH
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Register here is you are a resident of the USA
Register here if you are a resident outside the USA
For a printable Registration Form click here
Questions about registration? Please send an e-mail to registration@saddleback.com or call (949) 609-8020
Questions about the travel arrangements or local hotels? Please click here
New Psychiatric Manual Combines Alcohol Disorders
The newly released update to psychiatry’s diagnostic manual
combines problem drinking and alcoholism into a single condition known
as “alcohol use disorder,” which some experts say could lead binge
drinkers to be mislabeled as alcoholics.
CNN reports the new diagnosis, found in the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as DSM-5,
could follow college students into adulthood. The earlier version of
the manual, DSM-4, had separate categories for alcohol abuse and the
more serious alcohol dependence.
A recent study
suggests the changes to alcohol disorders may not improve the diagnosis
of alcoholism. The study found the changes are unlikely to result in a
less accurate diagnosis, but they do not represent a clear improvement
above the current diagnostic criteria.
In addition to being used by mental health professionals to diagnose
patients, the DSM is used by insurance companies and schools in making
decisions about coverage and special provisions for people with
developmental or mental disorders, the article notes.
Critics of the DSM-5 say it will expand the list
of what constitutes mental illness and will lead to a needless increase
in diagnoses. A growing number of psychiatrists, psychologists and
clinical social workers say depression and other normal responses to
life events are too often labeled as mental illness, increasing the use
of potentially dangerous medication.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Massachusetts to Bring Drug-Sniffing Dogs to State Prisons
Massachusetts will soon bring drug-sniffing dogs to 17 state prisons, according to Boston Magazine. The dogs will sniff visiting areas and visitors.
If the dog detects drugs, the visitor must consent to a thorough
search by Department of Corrections (DOC) staff. Anyone refusing to be
searched will not be allowed to enter the facility. Alternate
arrangements will be made for people who have dog allergies or who are
“dog phobic,” the magazine notes.
In a statement,
the DOC says the dogs are Labrador and Golden Retrievers chosen for
their gentle natures. “These dogs are always on a leash and handled by
trained personnel, who will walk them past the line of visitors. They
have been carefully trained to detect the presence of drugs by smell and
to alert their handlers to that detection by merely sitting down.” The
dogs do not bark, snarl or lunge at people suspected of having drugs,
the statement notes. A video demonstrates how the dogs will be used to detect drugs.
The dog searches will be random, and will begin at the two prisons
with the highest rates of visitors who try to bring in drugs. The
procedure will not apply to volunteers, contractors and attorneys
visiting their inmate clients.
Lois Ahrens, Executive Director of the Real Cost of Prisons Project,
says the new drug-sniffing dog policy is “demeaning, degrading, and
treats the visitor as a suspect.”
Visitors currently go through a scanner before entering a state
prison. They are often asked to take off articles of clothing such as
shoes and belts. Visitors are sometimes asked to open their mouth, or a
DOC staff person may examine their hair.
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police must first obtain a search warrant before bringing drug-sniffing police dogs onto a suspect’s property to look for evidence.
May 20
Psalm 65:7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
The two boys stood out on the rocks, looking at the crashing waves.
They tried to shout above the roar of the surf, but finally gave up. The
water thundered as it hit the rocks. Both boys were a little frightened
and a little thrilled by the deafening sound.
When we get a little cocky and conceited, a trip to the ocean can bring
us back to reality really fast. The water rolls into shore in great,
whitecapped waves, hits the rocks, sending spray high into the air, and
crates a noise that obliterates every other sound. The sound of the
water on the rocks is the voice of God thundering out through creation,
"it is good!" Human beings in all their wisdom and genius have created
nothing to compare with the least of God's creations. His power, might,
and majesty humble us and help us to remember that He alone is God.
Prayer: Show forth Your might through Your creation, O
Lord. Remind me of Your greatness and power throughout the day. You are
wonderful, Lord, and I thank You that I can worship You. Amen.
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Sunday, May 19, 2013
Commentary: Drug Courts’ Positive Effects on Families and Society
Jails and prisons in America are overflowing with people
who suffer from substance use disorders. In fact, more than three
quarters of inmates have either been arrested for a drug- or
alcohol-related crime, have been intoxicated at the time of their
arrest, have a history of regular drug or alcohol use, or have
previously received drug or alcohol treatment.
Despite what most people think, the association between drugs and
criminal behavior is not solely due to people committing crimes to
further their drug habit. Drug use is actually a factor in many crimes
that have nothing to do with obtaining money for drugs. In fact, drug
use is implicated in 50 percent of violent crimes, 50 percent of
instances of domestic violence and 80 percent of child abuse and neglect
cases. Historically, policies addressing substance abuse and crime have
shifted back and forth between either using treatment or using criminal
sanctions. But research indicates that a more balanced approach that
incorporates both treatment and criminal justice supervision is more
effective.
This is where drug courts come in. Drug courts are specialized courts
that offer people arrested for drug-related crimes an opportunity to
obtain community-based treatment coupled with close judicial supervision
as a way of avoiding sentencing and potential incarceration. By
successfully completing this voluntary program, individuals have the
potential to avoid criminal penalties and even have the arrest erased
from their permanent record. Drug courts represent a criminal justice
approach that takes into account the need to ensure public safety
through close supervision, and public health through the delivery of
community-based treatment. They are among the most effective ways to
address the problem of substance abuse and crime.
Drug courts improve people’s lives in a variety of ways. They have
been shown to increase rates of employment, help people obtain stable
living arrangements, improve mental and physical health, and enhance
interpersonal relationships. The improvements to the individual, their
community and society are almost too numerous to mention.
Perhaps one of the most important and far-reaching effects of a drug
court, which is often overlooked, is the positive impact it has on
families who have been negatively affected by their loved one’s
addiction. These families often face poverty, strained or broken
relationships and separation from spouses or parents. The positive
healing and restorative effects of drug courts on the family are
dramatic.
One need only talk to a drug court alumnus, go to a drug court graduation or attend an annual National Association of Drug Court Professionals
conference to witness these effects. As a result of drug courts,
mothers and fathers can regain custody of their children, provide for
their families and become productive members of their community. The
personal evolution that many drug court participants undergo is nothing
short of astounding.
As we approach the end of National Drug Court Month, we should
continue to recognize the important role that drug courts serve in
helping individuals and families overcome the devastating effects of
addiction.
David S. Festinger, PhD, is Director of Treatment
Research Institute’s Section on Law & Ethics Dr. Festinger holds a
PhD in clinical psychology, Masters Degrees in both counseling and
clinical health psychology, and is a licensed clinical psychologist.
Karen Leggett Dugosh, PhD, is a Research Scientist for
Treatment Research Institute’s Section on Law & Ethics. Dr. Dugosh
holds MS and PhD degrees in Experimental Psychology.
Treatment Research Institute
is a non-profit research and development organization focused on
improving substance abuse programs and policies. TRI researchers have
conducted seminal research around the efficacy of drug courts and have
developed tools that support effective management of substance abusing
offenders.
Georgia “Generation Rx” Campaign Aimed at Curbing Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Georgia launched a campaign this week, “Generation Rx,” aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse in teens and young adults.
The campaign is funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, according to the Associated Press.
It is focused on 12- to 25-year-olds. The campaign includes education
and awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and promotes
Georgia’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. It also features
education about how to properly dispose of unused and expired
medications, and collaboration with law enforcement to eliminate
improper prescribing practices.
In a statement,
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Commissioner Frank Berry said, “The abuse of prescription drugs by youth
in Georgia and across the country has grown substantially since the
1990s. Every day, 2,500 youth aged 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain
reliever for the first time, and nearly 20 percent of teens report
abusing medications that were not prescribed to them.
Addict's Mom Looking for Resources
The Addict's Mom has a new group "Addict's Mom Florida Addiction Professionals." We are working on bringing our members valuable resources. We are starting in Florida and will be working our way to other states.
If you are an addiction professional, treatment center etc.. located in Florida please click on the link above join our group and introduce yourself.
Also, on another note the Addict's Mom is looking for
volunteers, if you find it in your heart to help a little or a lot
please email me at Barbara@mommymentors.com please put volunteer in the subject line.
Much love to all addict's moms and their families...Barbara
Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_
May 19
Psalm 65:6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power.
Todd's teacher talked about the mountains he had visited just the
summer before. The teacher said that thousands of years ago, the
mountains weren't nearly so high. With each passing year, they jutted
higher and higher. Amazing power pushed them skyward. Todd had walked
along the ridge of one mountain, taking for granted that it had always
been there. The world was a really fascinating place.
It is wonderful to think of our God as the creator of all that is.
There is so much that truly is fascinating, and we cannot begin to
understand it all. God set the mountains in their places, and He changes
them ever so slightly all the time. A God powerful enough to do all
that is a God worthy of our praise and devotion. Put your faith in God,
and you will be moved no more easily than a mountain can be.
Prayer: Lord, You have done so many wonderful things.
Your power is beyond imagining. Send t hat power to me, that I might
stand fast in my faith and be unmoved in a world full of temptation.
Amen.
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