During the epic Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back, we find master Yoda imparting his Jedi wisdom to a young Luke Skywalker who is faced with a challenging situation: “Do or do not, there is no try.” While Yoda may have been encouraging Luke to be resolute in his mind as he approached his…
In our modern world it can be hard to live one day at a time. We’re encouraged to look ahead in our jobs, anticipate the latest upgrade, plan the next holiday, and save for retirement. Whilst many of these opportunities open up for people who become clean and sober, living one day at a time remains…
At Hope for Glasgow, we see the Bible as central to understanding the life of addiction. You may well ask: What on earth would an ancient book have to say to the person whose life is caught up in lies, unruly desires, hiding, covering up, blame-shifting, destructive consequences, and misery? Well, we don’t have to…
Sometimes we say that ‘money makes the world go round’ but it’s perhaps more accurate to say that it’s a ‘promise that makes the world go round,’ for it’s the promise on the bank note, taken in trust that makes the economy work. Promises have also played a role in recovery. AA’s famous twelve promises…
At Hope For Glasgow one of our regular readings is called ‘Engaging In The Battle.’ It reminds us that the Christian life is an ongoing battle and a fight. That change is a process and not simply an event. As we Engage In The Battle in recovery, it’s helpful to be aware of the enemy’s…
In May this year the United Kingdom marked the 80th anniversary of the famous dam busters mission which took place during World War 2. Although initially the effects of the effort were downplayed, in the years following, it became clear just how significant Operation Chastise was. The historian James Holland, brother of podcasting superstar Tom…
For many in recovery we have had a chance to think through some of the reasons why we have turned to our choice drug in the first instance. We quickly begin to see that we are what AA describes as, “iffy people.”[1] “If it wasn’t for my upbringing,’ ‘If it wasn’t for the pressure at…
Sometimes in life we may be told to accept our lot! Usually this is said when we want to change the unchangeable or if we’re daydreaming about our lives, wishing we were somewhere else, doing other things with greater recognition and success. A big part of recovery (and of life) is learning to manage expectations…
In his helpful article, “The Mortification of Addictions,” Jeremy Pierre offers us a very insightful reading into the nature of addictions and how practically, we can go about killing them. He writes, Addictions always involve some idolatry of the heart that, when pursued repeatedly, conditions the soul and the body in such a way that…
Make it your business to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. (1 Thessalonians 4:11). I wonder when you last head a sermon with the title ‘lead a quiet life.’ In our world where we’re often looking for the bigger apple,…