Focused and Free Site News

31 AUG 08 - Beginning today, Focused and Free has taken on a slight change of direction and purpose. Prior to today, Focused and Free simply had a basic Christian theme, featuring articles, videos, commentary, devotions and so forth (see Site History). It was more a personal expression of my faith. Over the summer, I have moved much of the content that was here over to A Life in Christ.com.

The (ahem) FOCUS of the site today is Christ-centered recovery (from drugs, alcohol, etc.). It is based on my experience of recovery from drugs and alcohol with Christ as the "God of my understanding".

I began my journey of recovery in Christ in July of 1999. My last drunk was on July 9, 1999. The next morning I called a man whom I had met in a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. He agreed to "sponsor" me and helped me through the 12-Step program of A.A., with Christ as my "Higher Power". On August 12th of that same year I quit smoking cigarettes and on December 29th of that same year I quit smoking weed. So for all intents and purposes, I celebrate being clean and sober every New Year's Day -- beginning January 1, 2000.

Since then, I have been made aware of other areas of my life that I am powerless over; so I am now using the same 12-Step principles so I can become completely free of everything in my life that keeps me in bondage to my sin nature. So while I consider myself a recovered alcoholic/addict, in all truth, I am still a work in progress. Of note, I have personalized the 12-steps, so as to better apply the principles based upon my faith in Christ -- as opposed to "God was we understand Him".

I still have some work yet to do on this site, such as add more content and a links page and setup the discussion forums, but I wanted to get the site change implemented by Labor Day (September 1, 2008).

I pray that this site will honor God and help others to apply the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous in their life with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone and foundation of their recovery.

Grace and Peace,

Karl R.