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Throughout history opium has been detrimental to individuals and societies. Even as far back as the Neanderthals poppy seeds have been cultivated for the hallucinogenic opium. Although the Neanderthal theory has been widely disputed, the furthest evidence we have of opium use is the ancient texts of ancient Sumeria dating back to 4,000 B.C.E. Today opium is found in forms such as morphine and codeine. These are highly addictive substances. Anyone addicted to an opiate should find help at an opiate medical detox program at a medical detox center.

The Plant Of Joy

Opium is formed from the dried liquid scraped from the unripened Papaver somniferum seed, or opium seed. By collecting and drying this exudate, opium is created. Poppy seed plants have been harvested for centuries, from ancient Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt. It was widely believed to cure many physical ailments as well as emotional pain.

Medicinal Purposes

Physicians in ancient Greece would ground the whole poppy send plant or use the extract for certain ailments. It was known to aid in venomous bites, chronic headaches, vertigo, spitting of blood, and tightness of breath, colic, urinary complaints, fever, melancholy and pestilence. And apparently it also helped aid women, in their womanly matters and complaints, perhaps an ancient Midol.

Emotional Ailments

We know now that the properties of opium did not cure such ailments as vertigo or spitting of blood, though we do know it relieves the sensation of pain. Whether the pain is emotional or physical, it has been used throughout history to help individuals cope with day to day life. Even today poppy seed tea is served at funerals to aid mourners in their grief. Opium has been called many different names such as; The Plant of Joy, Sacred Anchor of Life, Milk of Paradise, The Hand of God, and the Destroyer of Grief. Many ancients thought that opium was specifically given to them from the god(s) to help man and his suffering.

History

Unfortunately although opium relieves physical pain and emotional pain it also leads to addiction. Britain, China, and the Middle East have all been plagued by opium. It is very habit forming, however, despite its addictive nature; its hallucinatory high is widely sought out. It induces a gentle, subtle dream-like hallucinogenic high. Breaking the habit usually requires a detox center.

Opium Wars

Opium has long been a disputed drug, wars ensued, and soon opium was being smuggled in and out of various countries. Still in some cultures opium was and is widely used. Opium smoking was infused within the Chinese culture, so when thousands of Chinese immigrated to the United States to help build railroads in the 1800’s, the use of Opium ran rampant. It was refereed to as the ‘hydra-headed monster’ and blamed for wrecking American culture. Later, in 1874 a pharmacist by the name of C.R. Alder Wright attempted to make a non-addictive alterative to opium. Thus lead to the creation of heroin.

Dr. Russell Moore (my favorite Baptist after John) wrote a surprising and refreshingly thoughtful post on the use of anti-depressants by Christians: “Is it Right for a Christian to Take Anti-Depressants?”

Here are some things I appreciated about Dr. Moore post.

I love that he was willing to go against a powerful and popular philosophy of mental health in the conservative wing of the church which either outright condemns the use of psychiatric drugs or (more insidiously) stigmatizes it within communities.

I love that he addresses the subtle Gnosticism behind the assumption that all mental illnesses must be dealt with “spiritually”:

God created us as whole persons, with body and psyche together. The body affects the psyche. Going without food, for example, or sleep will change the way one thinks or feels dramatically. And the psyche affects the body. We don’t “have” bodies or “have” psyches. We are psychosomatic whole persons, made in the image of God.

If we can so readily admit that the Fall damaged our bodies, why is it so hard for the church to accept that our minds (which are physically embodied) are also damaged?

Few of us would say to a brother with severe arthritis (or male-pattern balding, or broken hands) that his ailments were brought on by sin, and therefore he must repent before he can experience relief. Yet, it’s quite common for us to tell a brother that his severe depression or short-term memory loss, or obsessive thoughts are the result of sin and that they will cease when he ceases sinning.

As Moore points out here, “we are psychosomatic whole persons, made in the image of God.”

I love that he calls us to challenge the Vision of Human Flourishing sold to us by the market:

The “normal” human life isn’t what is marketed to us by the pharmaceutical industry or by the lives we see projected on movie screens, or, frankly, by a lot of Christian sermons and praise songs. The normal human life is the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who sums up in himself everything it means to be human (Eph. 1:10). And the life of Christ presented to us in the Gospels is a life of joy, of fellowship, of celebration, but also of loneliness, of profound sadness, of lament, of grief, of anger, of suffering, all without sin.

On a side note, this idea that “loneliness,” “profound sadness,” “anger,” and “grief” are actually human and good emotions has implications for the kinds of stories and music and art we meditate on. “That movie will make me sad” is really not a sufficient excuse not to see a good film, if sadness is part of the human experience.

That said, I am less approving of his discussion of the effects and purposes of medication:

Numbing, as part of an overall plan, can be a good thing. When I have a toothache, I want my dentist to give me an anesthetic so that I don’t feel that throbbing anymore. Before my tooth can be fixed, someone must “shut down” the agony I’m in, temporarily. But a dentist who simply “treats” my infected tooth with an anesthetic isn’t helping me. Ultimately, the tooth must be fixed.

Dr. Moore never clearly states whether or not anti-depressants could be rightly used indefinitely, rather than as an anesthetic. But this analogy seems to imply that the medication should only be used long enough to “fix” the problem. The difficulty with this position, as I see it, is that it assumes that the psychological ailment can be “fixed.” Certainly, in some cases patients can be helped to identify and address deep psychological trauma with the temporary aid of medication. But I don’t think we can always say that this side of paradise there can be mental healing for ailments.

In any case, hats off to Dr. Moore for fairly tackling a very important issue in the Church; I hope it helps to de-stigmatize the use of psychiatric drugs.

Christ and Pop Culture

Could the search be over? News about Trip Lee! Must Listen.

Christian Rap/Hip Hop news, events, and lyrics ft. Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Flame and more!

Kutless – Believer 2012 English Christian Rock Songs Download

Album Details ::

Album :: Believer

Artist :: Kutless

Release Date :: February 28, 2012

Genre :: Pop, Rock

Label :: BEC Records

Location :: Portland, Oregon, USA

Kutless – Believer 2012 biography and history from the official website

Kutless is a Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released six studio albums including their latest, Believer. The band has also released a live album, Live from Portland. Currently, they have sold almost 2 million records.

Formed in Portland, Oregon as a Campus Worship band named Call Box. They performed during the 1999-2000 school year at Warner Pacific. Their first guitarist, Andrew Morrison, decided to leave the band shortly before they signed with BEC records. James Mead replaced Andrew at lead guitar. The Band changed their name to “Kutless” in October 2001 before releasing their first three track EP followed up by their full-length album in 2002 on BEC Recordings. Kutless chose their name because of a specific Bible verse. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NRSV). Because of this, the band says, “He took our cuts for us… leaving us ‘Kutless’. Their first single was called “Your Touch.” Their second single from their debut album, “Run,” would go on to hold the record for the longest charting song in the history of the R&R Top 40 charts.

Kutless got their big debut between February and April 2003 when they opened up for Audio Adrenaline and MercyMe, two famous Christian bands at that time.In 2004, after releasing and selling over 250,000 copies of their second full-length album, Sea of Faces, Kutless would go on their first headlining tour, X 2004. That same year, Kutless was slated to perform at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece, but could not make it due to the airline canceling their flight. In 2005, Kutless played a Katrina Benefit Relief Concert in their hometown of Portland Oregon. They also released their first worship album, “Strong Tower.” After recording but before release of “Strong Tower,” bassist Kyle Zeigler and drummer Kyle Mitchell left the band to form VERBATIM Records, a nationally distributed record label based in the Portland, Oregon area. They were replaced with bassist Dave Luetkenhoelter and drummer Jeffrey Gilbert, who both came from the recently broken-up Christian rock band Seven Places. Kutless also went on the Strong Tower tour that year. Later in 2005, Kutless began recording their fourth full-length album. The album, “Hearts of the Innocent,” was released on March 21, 2006. The band followed up with a tour, also featuring Stellar Kart, Disciple, and Falling Up………

[CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS]

Tracklisting ::

01. If It Ends Today
02. Carry On
03. All Yours
04. Even If
05. Hero
06. Identity
07. Need
08. Come Back Home
09. This Is Love
10. Gravity
11. I’m With You
12. Believer
13. Carry Me To The Cross

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Website | Lyrics

[CLICK HERE] [TURBOBIT]

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Christian Songs and Movie download

The Mighty Macs 2012 English Christian Movie DVD download for free

Album Details ::

Movie :: The Mighty Macs DVD

Artist :: Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz, Ellen Burstyn etc..

Release Date :: February 21, 2012

Genre :: Drama

Director :: Tim Chambers

Producer :: Tim Chambers

Music :: William Ross

Distribution :: Free Style Releasing(Theatrical), Sony Pictures Entertainment (DVD)

Budget :: million

Box Office :: ,890,437

The Mighty Macs 2012 English Christian Movie DVD HQ screenshots
Storyline ::

It’s 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time, and she’s about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women’s basketball. In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women’s Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College. Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she’s willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals-or perhaps she’s just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them. From the beginning…..

[CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS]

Casting ::

Carla Gugino ………. Cathy Rush
David Boreanaz …… Ed Rush
Marley Shelton …… Sister Sunday
Ellen Burstyn ……… Mother St. John
Lauren Bittner ……. Mary Margaret O’Malley
Margaret Anne Florence … Rosemary Keenan
Jennifer Butler …….. Nun (as Jennifer Wiener)
Phyllis Somerville … Sister Sister
Jesse Draper ……….. Mrs. Ballard
Christopher Mann .. Julius Moore
Ward Horton ……….. Frankie Sharkey
Kate Nowlin …………. Colleen McCann
Malachy McCourt … Monsignor
Katie Hayek …………. Trish Sharkey
Kim Blair ……………… Lizanne Caufield

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ::

Website

[CLICK HERE]

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Christian Songs and Movie download

Thanks to TFCMB reader Matt, I am able to present you with more Guvera credits. Electric Visual is offering three Guvera credits (Matt and I each received six) on their Facebook page, which can be accessed here.

Don’t forget, Monster Energy and Guvera both offer their three weekly downloads. In sum, you’re landing a lot of credits!

The Free Christian Music Blog

I’m excited to bring you some free music today from the Vespers!  The group sounds like a winsome summer in Tennessee, full of love and grace, with has the same kind of innocent, sincere charm as Poema, but with a folk/bluegrass sound – think the Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, and The Civil Wars.  I’ve gotten permission to share “Better Now”, from their upcoming album The Fourth Wall with you, the first track on the album.

I’ve been able to listen to most of the album, and I can definitely recommend it.  The band has matured a lot since Tell Your Mama, and they really shine on The Fourth Wall.  ”Instrument for You” is a great and original worship song, and I dare you to listen to “Flower Flower” without smiling.  Personally, I don’t think it’s possible.

You can download “Better Now” here (right click / save link as…), and make sure to watch for the full album when it drops April 3rd.

Oh, and the Vespers also have a pretty sweet podcast.

The Free Christian Music Blog

There are many different methods of recovery for people getting over a drug addiction or alcohol addiction. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a treatment method such as money, severity of addiction and personal preferences. Normally, people choose to enter a residential rehabilitation facility to take part in counseling and detoxification. A partial hospitalization drug treatment is also common as it allows a recovering addict to get constant medical supervision. When they complete these steps they will have a much better chance of remaining sober for the rest of their lives.

Things To Consider

Recovery, although one of the most important steps in any addicts life comes with a hefty price tag. It means separating yourself from your loved ones, and if you are lucky enough to still be working, it means you must take a hiatus from making money as well. That is why there are options; there are intensive residential rehab as well as partial hospitalizations. These options allow for individual circumstances. Ultimately it will be up to you team to help decide which option is best for you.

Types Of Outpatient Facilities

Depending on the center and program intensive outpatient treatment is a few days a week and features intense counseling and therapy. It is often in the evenings and will normally act as a stepping stone from residential rehab to getting back to a normal life. Depending on an addicts attitude toward recovery and seriousness of the addiction as well as circumstances, intensive outpatient treatment might work out best.

Partial Hospitalization

Partial hospitalizations also vary by program and center. Usually it consists of a pretty tight schedule during the day including meetings and counseling as well as workshops centered around coping mechanisms. However, it does allow the recovering addict to return home. This is a good option for parents whose addiction has not completely cost them their families and who have a strong support system at home. Once again the individual’s attitude towards recovery must be conducive towards this therapy and environment; otherwise an attempt will be in vain.

The Importance Of Aftercare

With all recovery programs there is a strong emphasis on aftercare. This refers to the resources offered after rehabilitation. Aftercare offers invaluable tools towards maintaining recovery as well as coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. Often using drugs or alcohol was a crutch, so now even after rehabilitation an individual will need support to maintain recovery. In addition to continued therapy and counseling, meetings and sponsors are recommended. An attitude towards recovery is ultimately the only thing that will guarantee successful sobriety.

Download the O.C. Supertones’ live version of “Supertones Strike Back” on Noisetrade.

The band is currently working on new music. Also, they have signed up to play at both Cornerstone and Creation this year.

The Free Christian Music Blog

Passports are issued to citizens and non-citizen nationals of the United States of America. Passports are always issued by the United States Department of State. They permit a person to be able to tour anyplace in the World. Within the State Department, the business of passport issuance is assumed by the Passport Services Unit. This division is a segment of the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Passport issues, such as passport replacement or pass port renewal, can be accomplished on the internet.

Early American Passports

During the War of Independence passports were issued to select citizens of the thirteen states by American consular officials. These early passports were simple sheets of paper that contained a description of the holder, and were only valid for three to six months. Benjamin Franklin, who was then the minister to France, based the initial design of American passports on that of French passports.

The State Department

The Department of Foreign Affairs was responsible for issuing passports until 1789. It was then that the name of the branch was altered to the Department of State. They were in tasked with handling all foreign relations, and until the mid-nineteenth century, had numerous domestic duties as well. After World War I registering for a passport became a law that was enacted by an executive order. However, there was no way to enforce the policy and the law was eventually repealed.

Passports During Wartime

Between 1921 and 1941 there was no specific requirement for a passport under United States law. It was World War II (1939-1945) that led to the Travel Control Act. This act made it illegal to enter or leave the United States without an issued passport. This came about at a time when international travel was becoming much more common.

Passport Design

The actual design and contents of United States passports have changed over the years. In 1926, for example, passports had a stiff red cover. In 1941 they changed to green covers and stayed that way until 1976. In celebration of the American bicentennial that year passport covers were changed to blue. In 1981, America became the very first country to have machine-readable passports. Now, all United States passports have digital photos as well.

Processing Time

Regularly, to get a children’s pass portt takes about four to six weeks. However, there are many different ways to expedite the process. Companies are able to offer expedition after having registered with the Department of State’s National Hand Courier Program. These companies are held to a very strict code of conduct. All employees who handle passport applications are mandated to have complete background screenings. Also, these companies must follow guidelines to safeguard passport applicant’s personal information