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Your mom is an addict (1/5).

Hi my name is Sammy and I’m an addict. 

In fact I’ve been one my whole life.

I remember the first time I became an addict. I was 12 and my dad bought us a Nintendo. Don’t know about anyone else but I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget the 1st time I saw little Mario hop around the screen. 

And 2nd and 3rd and 4th and 1000th time. 

Yes I was addicted. Super Mario Brothers was my first addiction. Probably also my least damaging addiction. My worst happened Junior year in high school.

I’ll never forget that day. I remember exactly where I was sitting when my buddy walked in the room and said I have the “movie”. I remember everyone’s eyes got really big and I remember closing my eyes when he popped it in the VCR. 

Then after a few minutes I remember finally opening my eyes and BOOM there it was. In that moment I opened the door and I became addicted to pornography. 

By far the most damaging addiction I’ve ever had. And you know what the worst part is? I lived in denial the whole time. 

You know what I was telling myself while my addiction to porn was ripping pounds of flesh out of my heart? 

"I can beat this. I can stop whenever I want. I can change. I can control this. I got this. And besides, It’s not that bad. It’s not that harmful. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s not hurting anyone else. I’m not an addict. K, seriously, I’m not..." 

"You know who is an addict? My buddy Bob with the cocaine problem. Yea, he’s definitely an addict. Can’t stop if he tried. Same with Aunt Marge. Ruined our last Christmas party cause she couldn’t stay off the booze. Yup she is def an addict isn’t she?." 

Yea she is and so are you and so am I and so is your mom. 

How do I know? Because addiction is not just something that’s limited to those fringe or extreme cases we like to point to but addiction is something that is a part of the fabric of every human being. 

In other words, every single person reading this is hooked on something. I don’t know what yours is but you got something. Yea you might not be strung up on side of the road but I bet if we dig deep enough, we will find something in your closet that you go to for a fix. 

Don’t care who you are or how much you love Jesus, if you are a human being then you are hooked on something. Or some place or some one. 

We all have things and places and persons that we go to outside of Jesus to find fulfillment, satisfaction and joy. 

Everybody has an idol. 

For some of us in here it is those culturally extreme vices like alcohol and drugs and sex. And for others of us, it’s something as innocent as shopping or Facebook. Technology. Work. Money. Toys. Beauty. Food. Relationships.

Always have to be in a relationship. Always have to be liked. Always have to be pursued. Always have to be praised. Always have to be admired. Always have to be center. 

Everybody is hooked on something and my hope today is that we would all own that.

Can you we do that? Can we admit that? Can we be honest with each other? Can we just say it? 

I am hooked. 

I sure hope so. I hope that we can all own all of our addictions and idols, not because we want to excuse them but because that is the very first step to freedom.

Or in the words of Tenth Avenue North... "this is where the healing begins."

This week we're going to do a 5 part series on addiction. It's probably going to be the hardest series we've ever had on this blog but I'm also praying it's one of the most freeing. 

I believe God truly wants to set us free from all kinds of addictions this week but the reality is, if you're still playing games, living in denial and pointing fingers, no truth you read on here will matter. 

Hate to go Dr Phil on you but I think the Old Bald man is on to something when he says "we can't change what we don't acknowledge."

Yes Jesus wants to free you. The question is, are you willing to admit you need help? 

Comment as 'anonymous' if it makes it easier. Just own your crap out loud. Not tomorrow. Not later. Today. Now.  

What are you (or previously have been) hooked on? What's that one thing that was gnawing at you the whole time you read this? Tell us your honest story. 

(Tomorrow: 4 words every addict needs to here. You won't believe the first one. Mind-blowing. I promise. Sign up here for email updates so you don't miss a thing)