I just moved to a new town and I’m looking for a new church. I’m in recovery and I went to a recovery based?
March 42010
church in my previous city for over the last 3 years. I heard about one in my new city that is simliar to my old, mentioned going, and my new sponsor told me that she doesn’t "allow" her sponsees to go there… I live in a small town and there aren’t a lot of people who "have what I want" so I don’t want to drop her, but I think that is obsurd. She said it is because people mix sprituality with religion, but I am honest with myself enough to know that I have already been going to a simliar deal for 3+ years, I DON’T do that, and it has enhanced my sprituality, and I really think it’s important for me to continue on. I’m really bad about having a huge ego and not listening to suggestions, and it has lead me to a miserable 6 months of self-will run riot, so I’m trying to get out of that. I’ve thought about listening to my old churches pod casts instead, but I wouldn’t have that common fellowship from attending. I’ve also thought of going to the other more distant services where nobody would recognize me. Other than this, she is a really great, wise, smart, teacher, and I’m ready to learn from her, but I think it’s obsurd to tell someone that they can be Christian, but forbid them to go to a certain church. She is a chaplin and she said she picked being a chaplin instead of going into ministry because she is interested in "your relationship with God, not the specifics of a particular religion", but I feel that this totally contradicts that.
sponsors can "suggest" not demand. remember, recovery is not one size fits all—my program works well for me, but it might make you utterly miserable.
i was told early on that the answer to the question "how do i stay clean/sober?" is HONESTY, OPEN MINDEDNESS, AND WILLINGNESS! (is your sponsor showing an open mind?)
if your sponsor is not open minded, it may be time for you to stand up to her.
another thing i learned early on, the 12 steps can save your ass, church may save your soul,…i go to church to enhance my spiritual understanding/relationship, and just like meetings-i take some ideas home and leave some there because i do not believe in cookie cutter religion,…
p.s. i only have one MUST for my sponsees, (don’t drink or use, no matter what!)
March 5th, 2010 at 2:06 am
Seek a Unitarian Universalist Church/Fellowship nearby…they do an excellent job with folks in "recovery". GOOD LUCK!
References :
March 5th, 2010 at 2:50 am
Recovery?? Hmmmmmmmmmm. Are you recovering from drug addicition, alchoholism, or from being a non believer??? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, whom if you now believe in Him is with you always, you need to talk to him in prayer directly. You must remember you where born into sin like every other person on this earth. If you now believe in Christ, and that he died for your sins and rose from the dead defeating the Devil, then you will be with him in Heaven for eternity when your time is here. That does not mean you will not make mistakes for the rest of your life, but you now have something to judge your decisions with before you make them. You will know when you are making a wrong decision. When you make a wrong decision against what Christ teach’s us, then it is you that have turned away from Him. He never turns his back on you. You can turn around and face him admitting your mistake and thank Him for the blessings he gives you that you don’t even think about, like the air you breath, the beautiful things around you, the smell of flowers etc.etc.. You don’t need someones permission to go anywhere other than making sure that the Church you are in follows the Gospels. Remember a Church is not the building, it is the congregation. Perhaps try " Moody.com" and follow their lead
They can direct you to the proper location/church you are looking for. They are non denominational and have no reason to send you anywhere that is not Christian.
References :
March 5th, 2010 at 3:38 am
sponsors can "suggest" not demand. remember, recovery is not one size fits all—my program works well for me, but it might make you utterly miserable.
i was told early on that the answer to the question "how do i stay clean/sober?" is HONESTY, OPEN MINDEDNESS, AND WILLINGNESS! (is your sponsor showing an open mind?)
if your sponsor is not open minded, it may be time for you to stand up to her.
another thing i learned early on, the 12 steps can save your ass, church may save your soul,…i go to church to enhance my spiritual understanding/relationship, and just like meetings-i take some ideas home and leave some there because i do not believe in cookie cutter religion,…
p.s. i only have one MUST for my sponsees, (don’t drink or use, no matter what!)
References :
clean 26 years