Self Esteem – Reconnecting with our Creator

A Self-Esteem Declaration

            I am me.  I am made in the image of God, just a little lower than the angels.  I am unique.  In the entire world there is no one exactly like me.  That means that everything which comes out of me is important.  Nothing I say or do is meaningless.

Everything about me is important.  My body.  My mind.  My spirit.  My dreams.  My ideas and opinions.  My talents. My feelings (both positive and negative).  My words.  All my thoughts and actions are important, and they make a unique contribution to life.

I can accept myself because God accepts me.  I can love myself because God loves me.  I know I matter because God lived in Jesus Christ and through Him gave me the chance to live abundantly and eternally.  I do not have to be perfect to be loved, because God has loved me while I was imperfect.

This means that I am important even though I have “rough edges” in my life and when I make mistakes, even big ones.  I can fail.  I can stumble.  God still says, “I love you!”  I don’t have to have everything in the right order, or have everything cleaned up for God to accept me.”

Understanding and knowing that I can live with myself, I have hope that I can take all that I am, and all that I have to God (the good and the bad), and he will keep improving me.  I can be totally honest.  I have something to look forward to.  With His help and guidance I will be even more effective in living, loving, and serving than I have been.  Tomorrow will be better than today.

I am not afraid to keep at the task of enriching what is good in me and discarding what is not.  I can use God’s grace and all of my faculties to work at the task of self-improvement.  I am worth spending time on.

So I accept the fact that I am important.  I have eternal value.  I like myself.  It’s okay to be me.  God has said it, and I believe it!

Author Kept Anonymous

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My plan to save Social Security. . .

So here is what I have been thinking.

I am 34 and have no chance of ever getting any money out of Social Security. . . yet I pay into it weekly.  The government is at a loss of how to handle the quickly dying program.  This problem has been weighing on my mind for some time now and I think that I have the solution.  Before I explain my plan, I need for you to be open minded as it is not the current ‘political’ way of thinking.  Here goes. . .

We start by offering to let U.S. Citizens ’Buy Out’ of the program.  This means they take a lump sum of money upfront (a percentage of what they have paid in), never to pay into or receive any other assistance from the Social Security program again.  There has to be a pre-set financial figure of ‘Buy Out’ dollars that would make the program financially stable (I don’t know what this would be but am sure it could be figured out).  We start by offering 10% of what you have paid in.  It’s your choice to take the offer or wait to see if you get a better offer.  If not enough people take the ‘Buy Out’ then we would move on to offer two.

Offer two would be 15% of what you paid in.

Offer three 20% and so on. . .

Once the pre-determined amount is reached your chance of getting out of the program have ended.

We also have to let future U.S. Citizens have the option of buying onto Social Security or planning on their own.  The catch is if you don’t buy into the program, or if you take the initial ‘Buy Out’ there is no longer any assistance available if you were to need it.

I have worked this through many different ways and really think this plan will work.  Please let me know what you think and lets see if we can get the power’s that be to take a look at the proposal.  It can’t hurt!

Thanks for looking!

A glimpse into an addicts life – Part 6

Effects on my spiritual life:

As a result of my use, I put up with a lot.  Often by my so called friends who just wanted to get high.  Now even to this day I guard myself from any meaningful friendships in fear of being used.  I tried to fix my loneliness by using.  I knew that my drugs loved me and wouldn’t turn their back on me.    Sober, I wouldn’t steal or lie, but when using drugs this became an essential function in my life.  Before using I didn’t have faith in anything or anyone.  I felt that the world was hell and that was the best I could get.  I never talked to anyone about this, and I made using the only thing I could possible have fun doing.  Since I have been sober, I have been going to church and seeking God in the best way that I know how.

Effects on my emotional Life:

Going through all these points of my life fills me with remorse.  Even to this day I have a hard time being happy or admitting my fear.  Most of my using was justified by thinking the world dealt this hand to me, and nobody really cared.  I was often depressed and hated who I was the whole time I used.  Today, I accept life and actually like who I am becoming.  I’ve realized life is a gift from God.  He will help me through my addiction.  My addiction will always be there, but if I keep fighting with God on my side, it will never defeat me.  That makes me confident in my recovery, and I optimistically anticipate the future.

 

This 6 part story is written by a Meth user.  His name and some situations have been changed to protect him.  If you like this story please let us know.  An addiction is a very hard thing to overcome and this series was written to show you the effects drugs can have on your life.   Get help now if you have an addiction, don’t let it ruin your life.

 

Why Jesus is Better than Santa Clause

 

Santa lives at the North Pole…

JESUS is everywhere.

 

Santa rides in a sleigh…

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year…

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies…JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa…JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap…JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”…

JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO…JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says “You better not cry”…JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys…JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but…JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree…JESUS became our gift and died on a tree…

 

It’s obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember Who CHRISTmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas,

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Yes, Jesus is better, He is even better than Santa Clause!

 

Author Unknown

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Thanks Secret Office Santa for leaving this for me today on my desk. . .

Burn a Koran Day ~ Religion Without Compassion

The news and media are buzzing about the “International Burn a Koran Day”.  I sit here confused about why the media is giving one guy and his fifty followers national attention.  It makes me wonder is there is a secret agenda?  Just look at some of the Tea Party Rallies (which I am not a member of) there are thousands of people taking a stand and where is the media?  It makes you wonder doesn’t it. . .

Another puzzling thing is that Pastor Jones is demanding a call from the President, and the President is considering calling him!!!!!  How silly is that?  If this happens every crazy person will start demanding the President call them (this is not the attention that we should be giving them!).  I think that Pastor Jones started the “International Burn a Koran Day” as a fundraiser and a attention scheme (and the media and President are giving him just what he wants).  Pastor Jones and his church are even selling shirts and coffee cups with their slogan on them.  According to Jones, burning the Koran is a way to get back at the Islamic people for the terrorist attacks that happened on 9-11.  This is Religion without compassion.

Here are some of the issues I have,  I think that what happened on 9-11 was a terrible thing but I support anyone’s right to burn a Koran, a Bible, or an American Flag.  This is our constitutional right, not that it doesn’t upset me.  I also feel that if you are to take such a drastic step it needs to be done from a pure heart with no secret motives (like selling t shirts, or getting attention from the President).  The great thing about the United States is that we are prepared to fight for and defend every single persons right to his or her choice to practice the religion of their choice.

Islam is not the religion of my choice, I am a Christian and every true Christian believes that no man can come to God but through Jesus Christ.  This is simply the truth, the one single truth that drives my faith.  I would expect that many would tell me that my religion, Christianity, is a false religion.  That is their right!

So where does this leave us?  Well, I hope we can stand for freedom, and the right to stand up for what we believe in (isn’t that the American Dream?).  I hope we can stand together to remember the victims of the terror attacks that happened on 9-11.  I hope we can stop giving attention to silly little men who just want attention and start to give it to something that really matters.  Let us stand for the peace that can only be found in Jesus.

If you want to make a difference, don’t burn a book!  Try reading one, I recommend the Bible. . . it promotes true compassion.

Old Time Barber Shop – There Is Nothing Better

Last weekend I was in Chicago to visit my mom who had major abdominal surgery.  Although she is doing fine I am sure she could use your prayers.  While I was there, I stayed with my sister who lives 2 blocks down from the hospital.  Every day I would get around early and walk down to visit my mom.  After spending the morning with her, I would leave and walk around a little.  I remember the neighborhood from my childhood, but this was different.  I was now a visitor.

Two blocks past the hospital was a quaint little antique shop next to an old fashioned barber shop.  I was in need of a haircut anyway so I thought I would go give it a try.  For the past 9 years I have been getting my hair cut at one of those super clip places.  They do a good job, but I never realized what I was missing out on.

I walked into the barber shop, there were several guys sitting there chatting.  Even though I was a visitor to the area, they allowed me right into their conversations like I was an old friend.  “I never get this at the super clip place”, I thought. . . next it was my turn in the over sized antique barbers chair.  I sat down and it was surprisingly very comfortable.  The barber chatted with me for a minute and then started cutting my hair.  He took his time and took pride in his style and talent.  We chatted as though we were the best of friends, the very friendly conversation continued for the next 18 minutes as I got my hair cut.  After he was done with my hair, he lathered up some old fashioned shaving cream, and slapped it on the back of my neck.  The warm cream helped me relax as the barber shaved my neck with a straight razor.  He soon finished and I settled up on my bill (included a nice tip), and was out the door.

Now this may not seem like anything special, but it reminded me of what is lacking in the world today.  It is illustrated well in comparing the two hair cutting places.  The super clip place does good work and cuts my hair just fine, but the girls rush you out the door and the conversation is minimal at best.  The old fashioned barber, didn’t cut my hair any better than the super clip place, but the culture of the shop was much more inviting.  The need to not rush to the next customer, and the friendly home town feel made this shop a much better experience than the fast paced super clip place.  The nostalgia of the old style barber shop with the spinning barber pole out front sure helped.  But it was the friendly conversation, the guys looking out for each other, the your special attitude of the barber, these are the things that made me feel welcome here.

So the next time you are looking for a haircut, remember to visit the old fashioned barber where people connect and the world seems a much brighter place.  I guarantee, you’ll enjoy it.  I know I did.

Gambling – A letter in protest!

Brandon Bower, MA, CADAC 1                               
Mental Health and Addictions Therapist

October 21, 2009

Mayor Tom Henry
One Main Street,
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Dear Mayor Henry,

I come before you today to protest the introduction of casinos to the Fort Wayne area. As a fellow Hoosier, I love my state. I think it is one of the best states in the country.  One of the greatest assets of our state is its hard-working, upstanding citizens.  As one of those citizens, I am asking you to NOT bring a casino to our area.  A casino will bring more financial and social harm to us than it will bring in taxes. It is an outright deception to call gambling a painless form of income. There is a lot of pain involved in compulsive gambling: addictions, unpaid bills, bankruptcies, theft, crime, suicide, broken homes, and child abuse. When the average compulsive gambler enters a treatment program, he/she owes between 50,000 and 100,000 dollars in gambling debt alone.   Compulsive gamblers cost American businesses billions of dollars in lost wages and insurance claims each year. Businesses, consumers, and taxpayers suffer the financial strain of increased gambling addictions. But most of all our families pay the worst price of all in divorce, financial strain, homelessness, and abuse.

As a state certified addiction counselor, I have met with many individuals from our area that struggle with gambling addiction.  I have met people who are living in debt that they will never be able to pay because of their addiction.  Some without running water, power, or a working phone because they gambled their entire month’s wages away.  The social impact of bringing a casino to Fort Wayne WILL put more financial strain on our town than it will help.

One positive of introducing a casino into Fort Wayne is job security for me (addiction counselor), but is that really a positive?  We cannot gamble ourselves rich. History tells us that societies gamble themselves poor, not rich. Our state was built on the backs of hard-working farmers. Courageous and faith-filled parents taught us right from wrong. As our Mayor, bound under oath before God, to work for the welfare of the people of Fort Wayne I would hope that you do not take this lightly! Therefore, I ask you to stop the casinos from coming to Fort Wayne.

Please listen to the voice of the people.

Sincerely,

Brandon Bower, MA, CADAC 1
Mental Health and Addictions Counselor

Counseling Helped Me Stay Sober!

I often have people who want to share their story of addiction and recovery.  The following letter was written so that you can see what recovery is about and find hope in sobriety.

Hi, My name is RC,  I would like to share a little about my addiction to drugs and alcohol.  I have been struggling with my addiction for 30 years.  I started drinking and smoking pot at the age of 15.  As my addiction progressed, I found that my life had become full of problems, a failed marriage, several auto accidents, lost jobs, and severe depression.  Towards the end of my drinking, I would drink a fifth of whiskey or more per day!

I didn’t know how I was going to stop, nor did I care if I ever would.  Then I hit bottom.  I was arrested for a D.U.I., I lost a good job and I was facing a long stay at the county jail or possibly prison;  all because of my addiction.

I was referred to a local addictions counseling center and thank God for that!  I began to work with counselors who actually cared.  They showed me how I could change.  While I attended the 16 week program I learned about a program called Alcoholics Anonymous.  I learned that through a spiritual awakening and by working the steps laid out in the program that I could regain a fulfilling and joyful life.  Today I am sober, I thank God for that every day!

I truly believe that counseling has given me a fresh start on life.  If you are struggling with an addiction like I was get help!  Counseling made a world of difference in my life.  I am sure it can help yours.

You can also visit www.counselingworksheets.com for more counseling information.