Pirate Monk Podcast

Episode 166 • Cycles

On episode 166 of The Pirate Monk Podcast, Nate shares a personal challenge and we take two phone calls from listeners like you.

 

Show Notes

Aaron shared a quote by his co-pastor at Vintage Community Church.

Nate also said, "Don't go toward isolation to get out of a cycle."

If you feel stuck in a cycle, Nate offers these four ideas:

Tracking your sobriety and serenity. Some groups use chips. Some individuals use a Sobriety Counter app [iOS] [Android] to track their "one day at a time."

Keeping a Gratitude List. Write down everything—big and small—you're thankful to God for.

Service in Obscurity. Nate told the story of a man who picked up trash in the Walmart parking lot as a way to serve without anyone patting him on the back.

Get your butt to a meeting. Find Samson meetings here. Find AA meetings here.

 

Scripture Used

Romans 1:21

 

Music Used

"California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas

"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" by Relient K

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You will be entered for a random drawing of a free copy of Samson and the Pirate Monks.

0165 Gospelicious (aka Gospel Grace)

Nate Larkin and the guys welcome Erik Guzman, Vice President of Communications from Key Life, to discuss transformation by the gospel even in the midst of recovery.

Show Notes

Read more about Erik

Read Erik's article series on addiction

Drunk Believers

Pain is Your Friend

Beauty from Brutality

The Gift of Addiction

Order Erik's new novel, The Seek: A True Myth

 

Resources Discussed

TED Talk: Everything You Think You Know about Addiction is Wrong

Johann Hari

Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

Key Life Network

Steve Brown's Daily Thoughts: You Think About That

Ep164 • Best of 2015

Listen back to clips from the top three listened to podcast episodes of 2015.

The number three most popular episode of 2015 was #161, "Cross Road" featuring Ken Snyder.


Click here to listen to the entire episode #161 "Cross Road."

Find out more or order Ken Snyder's book, Cross Road.

In this clip, Ken addresses the spiritual benefits of recovery and how he brings the Gospel into the process. Nate, Aaron, and Newton talk about community and the standards in their recovery program.

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The number two most popular episode of 2015 was #153, "The River of Denial" featuring Nate Larkin.



Click here to listen to the entire episode #153 "The River of Denial"

Subscribe to the Walking Lessons podcast by Nate Larkin.

In this clip, Nate addresses ten strategies we employ to deny our problems and addictions.

Ten Strategies for Denial

1. Minimizing
2. Comparison
   
3. Create a Diversion
   
4. Distraction
   
5. Blaming
   
6. Working
7. Pick Another Area in which to Succeed
   
8. Fantasy
9. False Repentance
10. Absolute Denial

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The most popular episode of 2015 was #159 "Where Do I Go from Here" featuring Greg Oliver and Adam Calvert of Route 1520.



Click here to listen to the entire episode #159, "Where Do I Go from Here?"

In this clip, Greg and Adam discuss the first steps of safety for a man struggling with sex addiction in one of its many forms.

Take the self-inventory discussed in this clip.

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Subscribe to the Pirate Monk podcast

Click here to take the listener survey.
You will be entered for a random drawing of a free copy of Samson and the Pirate Monks.

If you live in Tennessee, please click here to help us plan our retreat coming up April 15-17.

Ep 163 • Dating God

Show Notes:

In this episode, a look at Stage 4 of The Path as expressed in the charter of The Samson Society. (Download the Charter here.)

Encouraged by my Silas and others, I develop the daily disciplines of prayer, study, and self-examination. I abandon self-help, asking God instead to do for me what I cannot do for myself.

Nate shared an article by Tim Challies. Read the article here.

Download Psalm 23 in several translations here.

Special Request:

The guys are taking a break for Christmas and New Year’s, so we want YOU to be the guest on the next podcast. Will you please call us and tell us:

What did you see God do through Samson Society or your recovery this year?

and/or

What was the best tip or quote about recovery you heard this year?

Call (615) 807-0476 and leave a voice mail. We'll choose as many as we can to feature on the next podcast.

Note for Men Living in Tennessee:

The Samson Society Spring Retreat is scheduled for April 15–17. Let us know your thoughts to help us plan. Click here to take a short survey and give us your email address so you can be notified as plans come together.

Episode 162 • The Mailbag, Positive Sobriety, and To Drink or Not to Drink

Nate, Aaron, and Mondo are back after a too-long hiatus and welcome a new member of the team, Mark.

On this Episode:

1. What happened to Aaron in the hot tub?

2. How can a man make sure he is fully known?

3. What does Positive Sobriety look like?

4. Should we go to the pub for the "meeting after the meeting?"

Show Notes:

Nate quoted this passage from the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book.

We began practicing a positive sobriety, taking the actions of love to improve our relations with others. We were learning how to give; and the measure we gave was the measure we got back. We were finding what none of the substitutes had ever supplied. We were making the real connection. We were home.

Related to Positive Sobriety, Nate mentioned these resources:

Book: The Cure by by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNichol, and John Lynch

Workbook: The Cure Workbook

Video: The Two Roads

Bible Passages Discussed:

Philippians 2:12–13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Romans 14

Episode 161• Cross Road

A conversation with author Ken Snyder.

Episode 160 • Fight Club!

An inspiring conversation with Kurt Graves of Warehouse 242.

Episode 159 * Where do I go from here...

Greg Oliver of Route 1520 and Adam Calvert, a certified sex addiction therapist call in to chat about the nuts and bolts of addiction, what diagnosis looks like, and what some first steps towards healing could be.

Episode 158 • Rod Tucker Uncovered

A refreshingly frank conversation about authenticity with Rod Tucker, author of Uncovered: The Truth About Honesty and Community.

Episode 157 * The Fatal Cubit

A cubit is a measurement from biblical times, roughly the distance from one's fist to their elbow, which is roughly the distance from your brain to your heart. Today Bill Delveux and the boys explore the journey to trust God's truths beyond the head until it sinks into the soul.