·        Approximately 14 million Americans, 7.4% of the population, meet the diagnostic criteria for ALCOHOL ABUSE or alcoholism.

·        Approximately 40 million people in the United States are SEXUALLY INVOLVED WITH THE INTERNET.

·        It is estimated that around 2-3% of people in America (around 5 million) suffer from GAMBLING ADDICTION.

·        Every day, 40 Americans die from prescription PAINKILLER ABUSE.

·        The National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that over 80% of those incarcerated in adult & juvenile penal institutions were there directly or indirectly as a result of addiction (usually alcohol, drugs, gambling, or sex).

And these statistics don't even begin to address our culture's other obsessions -- addictions to work, food, gossip, TV, video games, social media, and cellphones -- just to name a few. We are a culture of walking dependents. And most of us are too busy texting or browsing the latest Kim Kardashian news while we're waiting for our order of loaded fries to even look up and notice there's a problem with this scene. We are a culture of slaves -- to technology, to information, to sensations, to anything that will distract us from thoughts, feelings, or actions of actual importance.

       And so that's why our lesson this Sunday focuses on addiction and where it begins -- IDOLATRY. When we choose other objects rather than God to feel the void in our lives, the process of dependency begins. And it never ends well...unless the cycle is broken. Paul felt this frustration too. But he follows it with a statement of thanksgiving and hope...even for the addict like you or me.

       "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25)  


To His Glory,
Caleb