A Theology of the Cross for People in Recovery
Christ’s Passion, his death on the cross, is an indispensable element of the Christian faith. Doctrines that champion the life of Jesus but fail to affirm the significance of his crucifixion lack the depth and relevance of those that do. A Christ who lives and rises from the dead is a very good Christ indeed. But a Christ who lives, rises from the dead and suffers is a Christ to whom we can relate. God’s son hurts like we hurt. He knows what it means to be human. Read More.
Step Four
The process of looking closely at ourselves in Step Four will be challenging. It is like opening the door to a messy closet. Our first response may be to feel overwhelmed or depressed by the mess. Sorting and organizing everything in this closet may seem like an impossible task. Read More.
Natural Disasters and Nurturers Disasters
All the pain of natural disasters pales when compared to the pain people suffer in relationships. When people are polled regarding their deepest pains, nurturer’s disasters leave nature’s disasters far behind. Read More.
Daily Meditations
The NACR Daily Meditation
Meditations on biblical texts from Rooted in God's Love by Dale and Juanita Ryan
Meditations for Christian Who Try to Be Perfect
A daily dose of practical wisdom from Joan Webb.
Meditations by Teresa McBean
Daily wisdom from NorthStar Community
Other daily wisdom: AA | NA | HazeldenRecovery Blogs
The Recovery Theology Blog is co-hosted by Matt Russell and Dale Ryan. Discussion of theological issues related to recovery.
Keep Breathing: What to do when you don't know what to do.
by Juanita Ryan
Spirituality and Recovery: Reflections on the connections between spiritual practices and the recovery process. Cohosted by Barb Milligan and Kim Engelmann
Additional blogs on different topics are in the planning stages. Check back!Most Recent Blog Posts:
Let Go of ShameLet us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before himendured the cross, scorning the shame. Hebrews 12:2 Shame is that terrible, private feeling that something is wrong with us—that we are somehow defective as a person. That we are irreparably damaged. That if anyone [...]
Take InventorySearch me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is an offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:25-26 Difficulties in life bring out the best in us. And the worst. This was certainly true of my experience with cancer. I [...]
Notice Your ReactivityThe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Galatians 5:22 The first responses I received when I told people about being diagnosed with cancer were usually responses of shock and compassion. I felt tenderness from most people. And I was soothed by that tenderness.
My Joyful LentRecently I was sitting with my eyes closed, listening to a friend read aloud a familiar passage from Philippians 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone…,” and so on through several more verses. A few friends and I were doing a lectio divina (“sacred [...]












