recovery

Continual Conversion: St. Augustine and Me

"Conquer yourself and the world lies at your feet." St Augustine of Hippo. Like Augustine, I squandered God's gifts throughout the days of my youth in riotous living. Only by the grace of God was I able to survive and function with relative effectiveness. Were it not for God's sufficient grace, my behavior would have led to an early grave. But also like Augustine, I had people praying for me. My mother, Patsy, was like Saint Monica, refusing to give me over to forces within and around me that tried to steal my soul. In time, I came to my senses. God set me straight and I began the long journey home. I have turned away from addictive behavior and devote each day to continual conversion. Taking one step at a time, living day by day, I focus not on gratifying my own cravings but loving God and others, even [...]

Continual Conversion: St. Augustine and Metonyroberts2026-05-05T06:45:51-04:00

A New Creation: Delighting in Recovery

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! - 2 Corinthians 5:17, NRSVCE To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often. ― John Henry Newman 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be; And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed; to turn, turn, will be my delight. Till by turning, turning we come round right. - Joseph Brackett Many changes have taken place in my life and in our ministry here at Delight in Disorder. At the same time, one essential thing stayed the same. In the midst of [...]

A New Creation: Delighting in Recoverytonyroberts2026-04-30T12:56:36-04:00

7 Years of Revealing Voices

On March 1, 2018 our Revealing Voices podcast debuted. Since that time we have released over 100 episodes informing and inspiring those impacted by brain illnesses and other mental health conditions, pointing to an inclusive faith as a balm to promote the healing process. This week Eric and Tony sat down miles apart geographically yet sharing one heart’s vision for episodes for the coming year. As Jake and Elwood Blues said, “We are on a mission from God.” To accomplish this mission we have gotten the (garage) band back together. Eric will continue to share Haikast episodes, blending the poetic words with words about his life pursuing mental health and overall well-being. Meanwhile, Tony will produce “Healing Stories” — testimonies of the people, places, and things that contribute to his sober, sane, and serene life. These will be laced with faith, the foundation that gives him a reason to [...]

7 Years of Revealing Voicestonyroberts2025-02-26T18:16:20-05:00

Desert Dispatches

A new devotional email series will begin next week. Starting on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, I will be sending out spiritual reflections called "Desert Dispatches". These brief mediations on life in recovery are designed to uplift your spirit no matter where you are on your journey. If you would like to receive these messages, please use the form linked below to sign up. This will be a separate mailing list from our newsletter, and you can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time. https://delightindisorder.org/desert-dispatches/

Desert Dispatchestonyroberts2025-02-26T18:14:09-05:00

Six Months Sober, Sane, Serene

To my Delightful friends — Good News! Six months sober, sane, serene! I’ve been sober for: 0.50 Years 6.00 Months 184 Days 4,423 Hours Posted on Empower Alumni page — “As God would have it, I connected with Empower Health Group on Day 1. Y’all have journeyed with me each step of the way. Only God knows what lies ahead. I don’t know what the future holds but I know Who holds the future. And thanks be to God and those I’ve met at Empower, I know I am not alone.” Posted on Facebook — To all my FB friends who supported and continue to support me in recovery — I first accepted my Higher Power (God) over 50 years ago when I asked Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior. Since then I have been in a desert wasteland facing many temptations to put addictions to people, [...]

Six Months Sober, Sane, Serenetonyroberts2025-02-19T13:26:40-05:00

7 Biblical Principles for Taking Care of Your Mind

This post is derived from two blog posts I wrote over on PastorBrad.blog and KatieRDale.com. The Bible is full of wisdom for living a successful, God-honoring life. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we want to address our personhood in full, we can’t overlook our mind and how we handle its health. The following principles are derived from passages in Scripture that can help us understand how God values our mental well-being and the spirit seated within. Principle #1: Express your hurts and frustrations In numerous passages in the Psalms, we see David cry out to the Lord in his pain and troubles. Examples of his fears, doubts, hurts, and sorrow can be found throughout the book of Psalms. As a general interpretation, David’s example sometimes echoes and foreshadows the pain and trials Christ ends up enduring hundreds [...]

7 Biblical Principles for Taking Care of Your MindKatie R. Dale2024-10-12T09:52:55-04:00

Eric Riddle is on the Verge

http://revealingvoices.com/index.php/2024/01/07/haikast-xi-on-the-verge/

Eric Riddle is on the Vergetonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:20-04:00

Hope for Troubled Minds: KyLee and her mother’s love.

When I was 17 years old, I delay enlisted into the Air Force. I had known at a very young age that I wanted a life devoted to the service of others. I was the oldest of four and already knew what sacrifice was or at least I thought I did. I enjoyed my time in the Air Force and short stint in law enforcement, but chose a different path because I felt I was too optimistic and in law enforcement you were always waiting for someone to make a mistake. Instead, I chose to go to college and work as a paralegal. Divorced young, I learned sacrifice as a parent. I was a single parent for 16 years. Sometimes I worked two jobs and went to college full time. I had aspirations of going to law school and making a real impact in the world. Then, two months shy [...]

Hope for Troubled Minds: KyLee and her mother’s love.tonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:22-04:00

Prayers Inspired by Psalms with a Friend by George Love

In his book Psalms with a Friend George Love recommends writing Psalm prayers after reading and reflecting on them. Here is my Psalm 18 prayer: God of the Sabbath, my enemies surround me and disturb me. I have been restless and have desperately tried to fight back, overextending myself. I panicked. Then I cried out to you. I asked my friends to pray for me. You heard my cries. You answered our prayers. You delivered me from the deadly ways of desperation and gave me restorative rest. And from Psalm 35: Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because he rescues me. With every bone in my body I will praise him. Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? (Psalm 35.9-10) ... give great joy to those who came to my defense. [...]

Prayers Inspired by Psalms with a Friend by George Lovetonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:23-04:00

A Wondrous Lifestyle Change

I have now admitted that I am powerless over my compulsive eating -- that my life has become unmanageable. But this is not the full truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It is not the Gospel truth. The Gospel says this: By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3) I have all I need to stay clean from sugar and eat well not on my own, but through all the many means God gives me. My intellect and desire. Food labels and the money to purchase healthy food. My sponsor and friends in recovery. My wife and family encouraging me. Prayer and reflection on Scripture and other spiritual readings. I am blessed by God with so many things to keep me on track. So how does this relate to my mental illness? One key component toward mental [...]

A Wondrous Lifestyle Changetonyroberts2024-08-26T13:03:28-04:00