The Addiction Connection Podcast

Dr. Mark E. Shaw interviews CJ McMurry, who is the Founder of The Refuge in Winterset, Iowa, one of the recommended programs highlighted on TAC's residential program page. CJ is one of the many key leaders and a member of the Board of Directors of The Addiction Connection as well as a Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor. CJ shares what he loves about 1 Timothy 1:15-17, and what his passion for addiction ministry looks like now at his local church, Redeemer Church. Not only does Redeemer offer addicts a residential program, but they also gather for weekly GCR (Gospel Centered Recovery) meetings in which Dr. Shaw's The Heart of Addiction and other quality publications for addiction ministry from a biblical perspective are being used. Find more programming outreach all over the country on this resource page at TAC. Mark and CJ discuss how essential it is to tether all addiction outreach to the local church. CJ answers the questions: "What makes addiction ministry so hard?" and "Who is qualified to counsel an addict?"

Dr. Mark E. Shaw interviews his sister in Christ, Miss Shirley Crowder, an M.K. and author from www.throughthelensofscripture.com.  She is a Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor with The Addiction Connection and one of TAC's earliest leaders on the team. Mark and Shirley share a discussion on the truth and grace dynamic in disciple-making relationships and co-counseling. They also talk about the leadership and mission of The Addiction Connection, and the truth that addiction is not a disease but a life-dominating heart desire problem. Emphasis is made on Christ's offering of redemption, forgiveness, and a new identity, and the Holy Spirit's leading and sanctifying power for all Christ- followers. The following published resources are available from Miss Crowder: Hope for New Beginnings Glimpses of God: a winter devotional for women Study Guide on Prayer—A Companion to Prayer, It’s Not About You Glimpses of Prayer: A Devotional Prayer Warrior Confessions Glimpses of the Savior: 50 Meditations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year Paul the Counselor: Counseling and Disciple-making Modeled by the Apostle

Dr. Mark E. Shaw introduces us to a brand new resource by Dr. Jim Berg called, "Help! I'm Addicted" available from Shepherd Press.  Dr. Jim Berg is a CABC (Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor) with The Addiction Connection. He is the Executive Director of Freedom That Lasts (R) and hosts Friday night addiction recovery discipleship meetings that are reaching around 100 persons every week. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Shaw reviews and gives a basic overview of Help! I'm Addicted: What is ASAMs definition of addiction? (American Society of Addiction and Medicine)  How does Romans 5:8 apply to addictive struggles? What did Christ's death accomplish for me? In what ways does addiction feel like a disease vs. a "desire disorder"? How has our "image-bearer" nature been vandalized? What do Jeremiah 2:13, Genesis 3, John 8:44, and 2 Peter 1:5-10 have to say to the struggling addict? In what ways do we choose to believe lies as opposed to accepting God's truth and making changes? What is Dr. Berg's "Roadmap to Freedom?"

Dr. Mark E Shaw was recently interviewed by Carissa Koh of WORLD magazine on March 11th, 2020 in an article entitled "A Sobering Task".  Sobering Centers are starting to pop up in cities around America as an alternative to jail or ER visits for those being found publicly intoxicated. Dr. Shaw expounds upon this fascinating and fairly new attempt to intervene in an addict's life by discussing: How do sobering centers work? Is this a viable solution to the problem of addiction and public intoxication? What are the benefits for law enforcement personnel? How are ER personnel helped? What are the costs of sobering centers and who pays for these services? How are addicts receiving follow up help? What about "repeat offenders"? How does Romans 15:13 apply to this scenario? What is the "Hope of the Gospel for the Heart of Addiction"?

Hosted by Dr. Mark E. Shaw, author of "Cross Talking: A Daily Gospel for Transforming Addicts". When he uses the 45 daily devotional lessons, fascinating small group discussions develop. Each devotional starts with a scripture, tells a short snippet of a story, gives a "point to ponder," gives a short lesson, and then ends with a prayer. Dr. Shaw then explains the true double meaning behind the title of the book. He teaches Romans 12:2 as the goal of addiction counseling, not just a "better self." Salvation and Sanctification -- changing the heart -- are both important to God. The danger of calling sin a disease points people away from the forgiveness of all sins, even those of drunkenness and those of idolatry. Using the example of the use of the words recovery and transformation, Dr. Shaw teaches that God has something so much better for us -- such higher goals and purposes for us as His children -- which is the best way to live. The words from 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us that we "are being transformed from one degree of glory to the other..." Recovered is fine, but being born again, transformed, and brand new is the promise that God gives us.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw continues his conversation with Ben Funkhouser, the Director of The Refuge in Winterset, Iowa (www.refugewinterset.com) that is "Taking the Light of the Gospel into the Darkness of Addiction." The Refuge is one of the few ministries to appear twice on TAC's Resources listings - both on the Residential and the non-Residential programs - because they are reaching out and providing care with a genuinely biblical approach to addictions. Ben reviews the admissions process, the context of the program intricately woven into the fabric of their local church (Redeemer Church), the biblical counseling they offer, employment of the men at Rose Acres, and the church volunteering time for everything from fundraisers to mentoring. Mark and Ben close the conversation by discussing the implications of Philillpians 3:8-11 on addiction ministry and the Christian walk in general.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw introduces listeners to Ben Funhouser, the Director of The Refuge (www.refugewinterset.com) -- a brand new men's residential program for those struggling with addiction in Winterset, Iowa. Ben gives a brief history and mission of the ministry, mentioning CJ McMurry, the founder of The Refuge, and Jason Gurwell, the pastor of Redeemer Church (who started Gospel Centered Recovery, or GCR). Sharing how Isaiah 4:6 communicates the heartbeat of the ministry of The Refuge, Ben illustrates how The Refuge helps men get away from the storm of the things that have taken over their lives and to find refuge in Jesus Christ and in the Gospel. The Refuge is one of the few ministries that appears twice on TAC's Resources list - both as a Residential listing and a non-Residential listing at www.theaddictionconnection.org because of the comprehensive care they give to those struggling with addiction.

10th episode of The Addiction Connection Podcast hosted by Dr. Mark E. Shaw. Using the choices of Abram in Genesis 12 and and Abraham in Genesis 20, Dr. Mark E. Shaw teaches a life lesson for all of us. He explains that sometimes our lies, deception, and withholding of truth are clues to what we might be afraid of. As a believer, you may still have similar heart struggles in your life just as when you were an unbeliever. Dr. Shaw leaves us with the encouragement that being a transparent person in all the different places and roles we have in life, being honest with our struggles, is the best way to overcome a heart of addiction. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so fear God and trust God in a right way that glorifies God, rather than living for self and the lies we believe.

9th episode of The Addiction Connection Podcast hosted by Dr. Mark E. Shaw, author of the book "The Heart of Addiction".  Understanding the war of temptation in ourselves helps us cut right to the heart of addiction. Dr. Mark E. Shaw gives an overview of what he calls the "secret sauce" of the biblical approach to addiction by teaching 1 John 2:16-17 and Galatians 5:16.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw introduces us to Pastor Adam Williams, Pastor of Family and Care at Mountain View Community Church in Frederick, Maryland. Pastor Williams shares some biblical imagery surrounding a favorite hobby he enjoys with his family.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw reads and teaches Proverbs 23:19-21 in light of our world's addiction crisis today. He also elaborates on the intentional meaning of each of the words in the ministry's name, The Addiction Connection.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw and Bethany Roseberry discuss the transforming power of Jesus, the importance of small groups for continuing in our battle against sin, and the opportunity in the local church to step into someone's mess -what the world calls a disease- and offer the Hope of the Gospel for the Heart of Addiction.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw teaches about how The Addiction Connection defines the problem of addiction and how it defines the solution for addiction. Delineating all the talking points of the TAC's unity statement, Mark brings scriptural encouragement for the battle for the heart of addiction.

Interview and discussion of Galatians 2:20.

3rd episode of The Addiction Connection Podcast hosted by Dr. Mark E. Shaw.

Dr. Mark E. Shaw talks to Jim Quigley about Freedom Farm Ministries.

Alcohol, methamphetamines, heroin, and marijuana have been causing thousands of overdose deaths in recent years, and even worse is the lacing of so many of these drugs with fentanyl. But hope and help for the addicted is here! Mark Shaw introduces The Addiction Connection’s mission to see the community of believers in the Body of Christ as an extension of love from God to the addicted.