Best A2D From Addict To Disciple Podcasts (2025)

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# 303 Invincible in Recovery? 12:44

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4 days ago12:44

12:44

Have you said "I'm never going to relapse?" What makes you feel invincible to the triggers and temptations that have caused millions of guys before you to relapse? Let's look at what makes an invincible mindset and how to apply it to our recovery and our life. Remember, Joseph Stalin said "History shows that there are no invincible armies."…

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# 302 Burnout: Stuck & Tired 10:15

11 days ago10:15

10:15

Do you feel like you have reached burnout in your recovery? Do you find yourself battling with mental, physical or emotional exhaustion on a regular basis? If that's you it may be time to shift gears and focus on self-care. It's not good to reach the point where you say "I used to be sick and tired of being sick and tired in my addiction, now I fee…

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# 301 Dead Horses 11:15

18 days ago11:15

11:15

We've all heard the idiom "Don't beat a dead horse!" Today we look at this saying and how it applies to our recovery. Why are you continuing to use ineffective strategies even though they aren't working for you? What can you do to restore enthusiasm and excitement to your recovery? Remember, you and you alone, are responsible for maintaining your e…

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# 300 Unexpected Moments 11:50

25 days ago11:50

11:50

We all have those unexpected moments in life when our sense of peace, joy, safety, stability vanishes. How do you handle those moments? Do you find yourself riddled with panic and fear? Today we look at how to withstand those moments, how to remain elastic and flexible, how to be calm in the midst of the storm. Martin Luther King Jr. said "The ulti…

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# 299 Anger 12:35

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about a year ago12:35

12:35

Many people in recovery struggle to deal with their anger issues. Family members sign them up for anger management and behavior modification classes. Today's episode talks us through how to dig deeper into this topic of out anger. Using an iceberg model we look at the things below the surface that we need to process and learn how to control before …

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# 298 Weekend Warrior Park 10:47

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about a year ago10:47

10:47

In today's episode I take a walk through Weekend Warrior Park with four friends who were weekend warrior alcoholics. The walk leads us to look at alcoholics who who started out as: 1) social drinkers, 2) conformist drinkers, 3) thrill seekers or 4) copers. By the end of the park we look at ways to become a Weekend Warrior for recovery…

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# 297 Closure: Moving On 11:46

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about a year ago11:46

11:46

This is part 2 of the two episodes on closure. Today we look at the aspect of moving on. Moving forward, not just turning a page. Not focusing on what you left behind, but realizing you have the power to choose your future and the direction you will take to get there.

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# 296 Closure: Make Peace With Your Past 10:39

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about a year ago10:39

10:39

Today's episode is part 1 of two parts on the topic of closure. I believe it is crucial to make peace with our past or memories will continue to draw us back into relapse. In this podcast we look at aspects of closure and how to prepare ourself to move forward in life and recovery.

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# 295 Broken Promises 11:11

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about a year ago11:11

11:11

A client working on making amends said to me "I made a promise I couldn't keep no matter how hard I tried! I left them hurt and me with guilt and shame." Are you tired of the broken trust, damaged relationships, shredded hope and shattered dreams? In todays' episode we look at the impact of promises we've broken and how we can become someone who un…

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# 294 Take The Stairs 11:09

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about a year ago11:09

11:09

Today's episode looks at three quotes from the book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. This is not a book review but I'll discuss the quotes from the standpoint of achieving success in recovery. We'll look at the critical aspects of the journey of recovery and how to choose the hard right thing over the easy wrong one…

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# 293 We've Come This Far 11:39

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about a year ago11:39

11:39

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from the United States, South Africa and Australia. I'm sure you'll enjoy their openness and insight as they share their reactions to: "There's an anonymous quote that says 'We didn't come this far to just come this far.' How has your achieving recovery become a stepping stone for you t…

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# 292 Feeding the Squatter 12:27

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about a year ago12:27

12:27

Today's episode looks at the question, "Are you feeding the squatter?". This question was asked by Lynda Holt in her blog "Manage Your Mind" on www.bravescene.com. We'll look at the negative self-talk that has become a squatter in our brain, how it has affected our recovery and how to stop feeding that squatter. What steps can you take to evict the…

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# 291 Sweet Tooth 11:42

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about a year ago11:42

11:42

Today's episode takes a look at the question "Do I have a sugar addiction?" Many people admit t o having a sweet tooth, but when they see the consequences of physical health or appearance, they try to "break free from the bondage to food!" Even if you don't have a sweet tooth , I'm sure you'll find things you relate to in this episode. Enjoy.…

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# 290 Lonesome Park Walkabout 12:51

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about a year ago12:51

12:51

Dictionaries say being lonely is the same thing as feeling lonesome. But I have found that lonesome is a much deeper feeling of sadness, isolation and melancholy. I hope you enjoy our walkabout through Lonesome Park as we read the signs with quotes about being lonesome and the comments others have written in the journal. I encourage you to journal …

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# 289 Mirroring For Manipulation 11:32

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about a year ago11:32

11:32

In today's episode we look at mirroring, also called mimicry. This behavior often start in our infancy and can become an unconscious aspect of our behavior. But, too often in recovery a pattern of conscious imitation becomes a tool of manipulation used to maintain control of people, conversations and situations. American psychologist Joyce Brothers…

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# 288 Addictive Personality 13:42

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about a year ago13:42

13:42

Have people told you "You have an addictive personality"? Do you believe you have an addictive personality because you always go from one addiction to another? Have you substituted a socially acceptable addiction for the drugs, alcohol or porn that got you in trouble? In today's episode we look at these questions and more. Enjoy and share it with y…

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# 287 Forgiveness and Second Chances 13:11

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about a year ago13:11

13:11

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from South Africa, Australia and the USA. The topic for our group discussion is "Happy people have learned to forgive and to give second chances." I know you'll enjoy as each of our six guys share their insight and their personal struggles in the area of forgiveness AND the power of an …

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# 286 I Was NOT Your Choice 10:56

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about a year ago10:56

10:56

In today's episode I'd like to talk about a topic that has come up in a couple of rehabs, homeless shelters and community groups in the past few weeks in South Africa. I'll share comments that I heard from people who said "I may have been their son or daughter (or spouse or boyfriend, etc.) but I was NOT your choice! Many of the group participants …

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# 285 People, Places and Things 12:27

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about a year ago12:27

12:27

In today's episode we look at the "People, Places and Things" that can trigger a relapse in recovery. It's important to understand that people, places and things are everywhere AND they are not going away! Often early in recovery we are told to control our triggers and we often feel that we need to control our people, places and things. This often …

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# 284 Failure of Imagination 11:39

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about a year ago11:39

11:39

William Golding coined the phrase "failure of imagination" in his book The Lord of the Flies in 1954. In today's episode we look at how a failure of our imagination can shape our defeat in recovery. And we'll discuss the positive aspects of imagination: exploring new ideas, birthing creativity and solving problems can be a key to a successful recov…

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# 283 Supporter vs Neutral vs Underminer 11:48

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about a year ago11:48

11:48

As I travel to rehabs, homeless shelters, prisons or meet with addicts one on one, a common question is "How do I build a strong support system?" In today's episode we tackle that question and ask you to dig deeper to see who really can't support our recovery but would actually undermine it or be neutral. I hope you enjoy learning to tell the diffe…

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# 282 Class Clown Park 11:47

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about a year ago11:47

11:47

Today's episode is a walkabout through Class Clown Park. As you go on this walkabout the signs will lead you on a journey of why people become the class clown or the life of the party. Even if that isn't you, I encourage you to see how you relate to each sign's topic and the responses the guys wrote in the journals at each sign.…

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# 281 Worse Than Strangers 12:57

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about a year ago12:57

12:57

Today's episode is in response to feedback I got from the two previous episodes. Listeners were asking how to dig deeper into topics about homelessness, addiction, going off the rails. So today we'll look at estrangement and discuss aspects of it, like thoughts and feelings , utilizing the model of the Russian dolls from the From Ashes to Destiny c…

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# 280 Off the Rails! 13:04

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about a year ago13:04

13:04

What are the causes of trains going off the rails? What causes people to go off the rails? Why did you or your loved one lose control and begin behaving in a way that was not normal, not acceptable? How can we take a self-inventory to put corrective actions in place to be sure we don't go off the rails in the future?…

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# 279 Home Is ... 13:34

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about a year ago13:34

13:34

Today's episode looks at how each of us defines home and what makes up a home. My hope is that it will stir thought in all of us whether we are unhoused or housed, in a shelter or a rehab, on the streets or never experienced homelessness. We'll be looking at a variety of quotes including: "Don't try to drive the homeless into places we find suitabl…

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# 278 Happiness Park 11:35

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about a year ago11:35

11:35

I've had several requests to do another episode on finding happiness. If you want to listen to earlier podcasts I suggest #72 and #206. In this episode we go on a walkabout and read journal entries from guys in response to quotes about happiness such as: "The purpose of life is to be happy" by the Dalai Lama. "The power of finding beauty in the hum…

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# 277 It's Honest Work 10:08

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about a year ago10:08

10:08

This episode is the final Wacky Wednesday episode as it covers the last chapter of the From Ashes to Destiny Curriculum. The story for this episode is the story of Toons who was a street corner drug seller who called it "honest work" because he didn't mug anyone or boost any stores for money because he got paid by the dealer in crack cocaine. Quest…

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# 276 No Reason to Get Clean 8:00

about a year ago8:00

8:00

This Wacky Wednesday episode is from Chapter 17 of Phase 4 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. We take a look at the first story from the chapter which is the story of Tim. He lost his job working with horses at the racetrack due to his addiction and horses were his life. Tim said he lost his life and had No Reason to Get Clean. What is your r…

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# 275 Wake Up Call Park 10:56

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about a year ago10:56

10:56

Today's episode is a walkabout in Wake Up Call Park. Join me as we walk, read the signs and the journal entries of people who have gone on this walk before us. Some of the quotes in this park are: "First thing every morning before you arise, say out loud, 'I believe' three time." by Ovid. "Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with …

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# 274 Changed by an Overdose 10:18

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about a year ago10:18

10:18

This is the second Wacky Wednesday episode for today and it deals with the first story from Chapter 16 of Phase 4 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. This story looks at two men who "fell out" or OD'd from heroin. Mohammed was saved by CPR and Narcan. Webster died and was moved to the bushes and robbed by his friends. Mohammed chose life and n…

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# 273 Brian's Story 8:40

about a year ago8:40

8:40

Welcome to Wacky Wednesday! In today's episode we look at Brian's story from Chapter 15 of Phase 4 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. This story has to do with finding spirituality in rehab and how Brian found transformation as a result of finding spirituality. What things have your eyes been opened up to in rehab, a homeless shelter, prison,…

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# 272 Bald Faced Lies 12:24

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about a year ago12:24

12:24

Today's episode is a walkabout through Bald Face Lies Park. These types of lies are the ones where they are obvious lies and the one telling the lie doesn't really care if they get caught in the lie because they have more lies ready to tell. In the [ark we'll look at five categories of bald faced lies that addicts tell and how these lies affect the…

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# 271 Spiritual Warfare 9:17

about a year ago9:17

9:17

This is today's second Wacky Wednesday episode and it deals with Chapter 14 in Phase 4 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. We will look at stories about spiritual warfare and other aspects of attacks on you and your strength in recovery. What aspects of your life seem to always be under attack as you try to stay strong in recovery? How do you …

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# 270 Turning Away So Soon 11:00

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about a year ago11:00

11:00

Welcome to today's Wacky Wednesday episode as we start Phase 4 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. This episode is from Chapter 13 of Phase 4 and deals with the story of IOU. We look at those people who trouble us and what we have learned in recovery by influencing us to turn to others ideas and reject what they told us in rehab or in the prog…

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# 269 Healthy Boundaries 13:14

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about a year ago13:14

13:14

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from Australia, South Africa and the US. I know you will enjoy their insight and responses to this topic: "Therapists and psychologists often teach people to set healthy boundaries. But I often find that these don't work with addicts. The problem with healthy boundaries is the addict or…

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# 268 Spiritual Awakening 9:08

about a year ago9:08

9:08

This is the second Wacky Wednesday podcast episode for today and this covers Step 12 of the 12 Steps. We look at the first story from Chapter 12 in Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum, The Story of Kathy. She found her spiritual awakening through a search for unconditional love. Have you found your spiritual awakening at this point in y…

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# 267 Conscious Contact 9:33

about a year ago9:33

9:33

This Wacky Wednesday episode looks at the challenge of Step 11 to "improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him." We look at the story of Jose and his heart change as he was in a rehab in the El Segundo section of Philadelphia. We see in Jose the importance of getting serious about the homework in recovery, digging deep and finding m…

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# 266 There's One Piece Missing! 12:58

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about a year ago12:58

12:58

Recovery is like a jigsaw puzzle. One piece at a time. One day at a time. Many people that I work with in recovery talk about the "something missing" in their life or in their recovery. Many search frantically like someone searching for the puzzle piece that must have fallen on the floor or under the couch. Today's episode looks at what could be th…

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# 265 Personal Inventory of Emotions 9:24

about a year ago9:24

9:24

This is the second Wacky Wednesday episode for today and it deals with Chapter 10 of Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. In this chapter we look at Step 10 of the 12 Steps which has us take a personal inventory and to promptly admit our wrongs. Looking at the story of Val we ask questions including, What was Val's emotional pain? What …

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# 264 Did You Really Make Amends? 11:44

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about a year ago11:44

11:44

Today's Wacky Wednesday episode deals with the story of Nicky and Daisy from Chapter 9 of Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. This looks at Step 9 of the 12 Steps on making amends. After the story we look at questions about making amends with your daughter for not being there for them during your addiction. What's the difference betwee…

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# 263 I'd Do Anything to Feel Loved 9:29

about a year ago9:29

9:29

Today's episode is the result of lots of feedback after recent episodes where we heard stories of the young women who were being pimped by Germaine. He had told each one that he loved them. The common theme in the messages I received was that the women were not seeking drugs, they were seeking the feeling of being loved and the men they found got t…

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# 262 Simple Acts of Normalcy 8:57

about a year ago8:57

8:57

This episode is the second Wacky Wednesday episode for today and it looks at Noreen's story from Chapter 8 of Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. This also is an introduction to Step 8 of the Twelve Steps which focuses on acknowledging the harm we did to people and being willing to make amends. In Noreen's story we look at questions in…

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# 261 Humbly Ask 7:43

about a year ago7:43

7:43

This is the first of our two Wacky Wednesday episodes for today. This one is the story of Donald from Chapter 7 of Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. The topic of step 7 is to humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings. Donald's story looks at his change from quiet and hard to talk with, to him asking for help and humbly talking about …

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# 260 Aha Moment of Clarity 12:01

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about a year ago12:01

12:01

Today's podcast is a group session with my friends in recovery from Australia, South Africa and the US. I'm sure you'll find several nuggets of wisdom as they answer the following question. Which phrase can you identify with in your addiction, hitting bottom or aha moment of clarity? 1) I felt like I got a death sentence, 2) I'm the weakest I've ev…

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# 259 Entirely Ready? 10:52

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about a year ago10:52

10:52

This Wacky Wednesday episode is the story of Stew from Chapter 6 in Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. We look at what it means to be entirely ready to have all of your character defects removed. Are you ready to look at every stone and talk about each and every defect of character? What is your weakness that left you vulnerable to ge…

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# 258 Heart Nature vs Actual Behavior 10:10

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about a year ago10:10

10:10

Today's Wacky Wednesday is the first story in Phase 3 Chapter 5 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum. We hear Germaine's story. (episode # 256 introduces Germaine) Germaine had a moment where he was truly broken, all pretense was gone and he decided to stop being a pimp and drug dealer and return home to Georgia. Discussion questions look at: wh…

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# 257 Landmines in Recovery 13:01

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about a year ago13:01

13:01

Today's episode is a walkabout through Landmines in Recovery Park. I go on this walkabout with Neil, a friend of Michael. Neil shares how it seems like everything that is a common part of recovery is feeling like another landmine in the field for him. Join us as he shares how emotional triggers, coping skills, mistakes, family and success are all l…

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# 256 He Loves Me and Promised... 9:52

about a year ago9:52

9:52

Welcome to the second Wacky Wednesday episode for today. This is the beginning of Phase 3 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum which focuses on moral regeneration and positive character development. It also marks the return to the Twelve Steps and the chapter covers step 4. This episode looks at the story of Lisa her life in addiction, living in…

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# 255 A Restored Heart 11:29

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about a year ago11:29

11:29

Welcome to Wacky Wednesday. This episode is the poem written by Gregory Williams entitled "The Lord's Love". This is also from Chapter 12 of Phase 2 of the From Ashes to Destiny curriculum which is entitled "The Heart in Need of Restoration Not Rehabilitation. What's the difference between those two terms? How do we find restoration for our heart a…

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# 254 Who Am I? 12:53

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about a year ago12:53

12:53

In today's episode we listen to the journal entry of William, a 20 year old in Tower of Life Men's Shelter in Krugersdorp, South Africa. William shares his thoughts and questions. Who am I? What am I? I feel like a stranger. Feels like there's something missing in my life. Where is everyone? What happened to me? I'm sure you will be challenged and …