by Mark Shaw | Jun 2, 2025 | TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw I am often asked this question from people seeking answers for people they love who are not yet born again (John 3:3) and stuck in the bondage of addictive struggles. And I think about all the different ways Jesus healed people while He was on the...
by Mark Shaw | May 1, 2025 | TAC Blog
by Mark Shaw & TAC Team, Adaptation from Chapter 12 in Mark E. Shaw’s Workbook The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective What commonalities do we see in our hearts as Christ-followers who battle sinful thoughts, words and actions every day of our lives? Are...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 2, 2025 | Addiction Treatment, TAC Blog
Adapted article by TAC team based on Mark E. Shaw’s podcast: There is an interesting dynamic while serving people who are in addiction sins through the high calling of community (or residential) programming. How can we exercise wise graciousness while leading,...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 14, 2025 | TAC Blog
So much of the messaging in the addiction treatment world is geared toward a combination of steps and human efforts to stop the drinking and drug use. At The Addiction Connection, we aim higher, because we know human efforts alone ultimately fail. That’s why we...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 5, 2025 | TAC Blog
The Addiction Connection is GOING LIVE on the podcast! Send in your questions and get them answered on March 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM (EDT)/7:00 PM (CDT). Mark, CJ, and Jim will be on board answering questions sent in by you! Your question just might be read LIVE and...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 1, 2025 | TAC Blog
Read EASTER: Meditations for Addicts Announcement by TAC Team Join The Addiction Connection in preparing for and celebrating Easter and the joy of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ by reading along with us in your own copy of EASTER: Meditations for...
by Mark Shaw | Feb 13, 2025 | TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw & TAC Team based on several recent teachings from Dr. Mark E. Shaw. Take a look at this photo we took recently. Looks like a barber shop is open for business, doesn’t it? But upon further examination… You walk up the sidewalk and through this...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 20, 2025 | Addiction Treatment, Substance Abuse, TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw with TAC TEAM God alone has the authority to categorize mankind because He alone created mankind. Yet God does not categorize anyone by his or her addiction but by each individual’s personal choices to seek repentance or not. You end up in 1...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 13, 2025 | Addiction Treatment, Substance Abuse, TAC Blog
Dr. Mark E. Shaw with TAC TEAM We are discussing the disease concept theory of mental illness and how degrading and stigmatizing it is to people made in the image of God to categorize them based on their behavioral choices. The way the addiction treatment world fell...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 7, 2025 | Addiction Treatment, TAC Blog
Dr. Mark E. Shaw with TAC TEAM I walked (or maybe crawled like a baby!) into the addiction treatment and rehabilitation world in 1991 when I worked part-time for an adolescent residential program. For the record, I totally bought into and believed the “disease...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 5, 2024 | Addiction, TAC Blog
Dr. Mark E. Shaw with TAC Team More research is revealing just some of the dangers of cannabis products. At the same time, using marijuana has been slowly being dismissed as not so problematic since the 1960s. INCREASED LEVEL OF CONCERN FOR MINORS WHO TRY...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 14, 2024 | Devotions, Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
There are several solid advent devotionals available, but none directed to those struggling with the heart desires rooted in addictive issues. Until now! With a biblical perspective that seeks to glorify God and keep Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of Christmas,...
by Mark Shaw | Oct 3, 2024 | podcast, TAC Blog
by Shaw, McMurry, and TAC Team “Well, she just hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. Let her go. She’s going to hit a rock bottom one of these days…” There are people who have false hope in that line of thinking. The “Hitting Rock Bottom” phrase is the idea that...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 5, 2024 | Current Events, podcast, TAC Blog, TRANSFORMED
By: Dr. Mark E. Shaw September has arrived again and during this #NationalRecoveryMonth you will be hearing lots of reminders about various pharmacological and therapeutic solutions. In today’s world, this is the main solution for the problematic...
by Mark Shaw | Aug 1, 2024 | Announcements, TAC Blog
How do I Help Someone I love Who is Using Drugs or Alcohol? Am I Enabling? Is an Intervention Needed? What do I need to know about Vaping, Fentanyl and Addiction? How do I help my loved one or my fellow church member in an addiction? Why is there such a stigma in the...
by Mark Shaw | Jul 15, 2024 | Posts by Mark, Proverb of the Day, TAC Blog
Diving into Proverbs 29:25 – Part 2 Dr. Mark E. Shaw (with TAC TEAM) If I trust in Jesus as a Christian, doesn’t God say He will protect me from harm? Doesn’t God always protect His Children? I trust in Him so why are bad things happening to me? Proverbs 29:25...
by Mark Shaw | Jul 8, 2024 | Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
Diving into Proverbs 29:25- part 1 By Dr. Mark E. Shaw (with TAC Team) Can I please God and make people happy, too? It’s not wrong to do good for others and want to please them, is it? I usually just want to do good things or say good things to make other people feel...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 23, 2024 | TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw with TAC Team For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV)[1] The “hypostatic...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 31, 2024 | podcast, TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw, with TAC TEAM The Addiction Connection released 35 podcasts in 2023. We started as a listener only podcast and now we have advanced to having videography at all our podcasts so you can listen and watch as I interact with guests. It’s a lot of fun!...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 1, 2024 | podcast, TAC Blog
by Shaw, McMurry, and TAC Team Whenever Jesus mentions drunkenness in the Bible, it’s important to take a good look at the context. Luke 21 is chocked full of warnings about the future, and this is one place Jesus brings up a warning about being drunk....
by Mark Shaw | Dec 19, 2023 | Addiction, podcast, TAC Blog
by Shaw, McMurry, and TAC Team Video Gaming! Is it a disease—a disorder? Is it compulsive? Can we use the word “addiction” for excessive video game playing? Dr. Mark E. Shaw and CJ McMurry recently discussed these prevalent issues on TAC’s podcast and discerned for us...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 28, 2023 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
Lou Priolo passed into glory today, as they say, and he could not be in a better place so I rejoice for his gain. I am confident that he is now with the Lord. “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor....
by Mark Shaw | Nov 8, 2023 | Addiction, TAC Blog
Photo by Matias North on Unsplash By Mark Shaw with TAC Team Alcoholism and addiction to substances: Is it a disease? A genetic pre-disposition? An allergy? What can you do about an addiction? Can self-improvement and self-esteem help? The hundred year old...
by Mark Shaw | Oct 25, 2023 | TAC Blog
By: TAC TEAM Dr. Kevin Carson recently sat down and took the pilot’s seat on The Addiction Connection Podcast turning the tables to ask Dr. Mark E. Shaw the frequently asked questions, apprehensions, and yes, even frustrations, that many local pastors have as they try...
by Mark Shaw | Oct 11, 2023 | Addiction, podcast, TAC Blog
By: TAC TEAM Transformed by Christ many years ago from a lifestyle of addictive behaviors, CJ McMurry quickly says he is not an expert on magic mushrooms. Being touted as the new cure for just about any mental or behavioral ailment, and now being sold and experimented...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 2, 2023 | Addiction, Church Life, Disciple-Making, Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
Dr. Mark E. Shaw was recently interviewed by “Community Bridge” on Family Radio. He joins us today to reflect on some of the topics covered in that conversation. An element of pinpointed discipleship. That’s what biblical counseling for addictions...
by Mark Shaw | Aug 31, 2023 | TAC Blog, Update
by TAC TEAM If you attended the 7th annual Summit of The Addiction Connection held on August 3-5, 2023, in Cincinnati, OH, you were blessed with a God-glorifying, Christ-exalting event with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ from around the U.S., Canada, and...
by Mark Shaw | Aug 13, 2023 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
Psychedelics? Like magic mushrooms and LSD of the 60’s – to “treat” people suffering from sadness that doesn’t get helped by current medicines? Are you serious? That was my first reaction when I read about the new “treatment” for human suffering and sadness....
by Mark Shaw | Jun 1, 2023 | Addiction Counselor Training, Disciple-Making, TAC Blog
By: Dr. Mark E. Shaw There is no need to follow the world’s example of counseling if you are a biblical counselor doing the strenuous work of addiction counseling. What do I mean? Traditional Counseling The world’s model of counseling pairs one counselor to work with...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 25, 2023 | Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
By TAC TEAM with Dr. Mark E. Shaw The death certificate from the coroner explains what physically happened – death occurred after this individual stopped breathing and cardiac arrest followed; fentanyl was found in his system, along with alcohol, and marijuana. But...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
Visit: https://discord.gg/mz3UwQhuwW
by Mark Shaw | Apr 20, 2023 | TAC Blog
You’re not alone in addiction ministry! We’ve always been about relationships — And this will only help foster those. Now, join The Addiction Connection Discord server and network with the real people in TAC! It is open to everyone now — click the...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 15, 2023 | Posts by Mark, TAC Blog, Vs. Psychology
By Dr. Mark E. Shaw, with assistance from TAC TEAM “Is Addiction a Disease?” is one of the most commonly asked questions. In Part 1, Cassie[1] was told that her son has a brain disease that caused him to stay in his addictive lifestyle. At first it made...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 1, 2023 | Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
Cassie[1] was told that her son has a brain disease that caused him to stay in his addictive lifestyle. At first it made her feel some relief that she was not the cause of her son’s behavior. After all, she could not control what he did no matter what she said or did....
by Mark Shaw | Mar 14, 2023 | TAC Blog, Teaching
By Dr. Howard Eyrich Featured image Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash I Samuel 7 Introduction Israel had become addicted to idolatry–foreign gods. Though “the word of Samuel came to all Israel” (4:1), (ESV*) they persisted in idolatry for the first twenty years...
by Shirley Crowder | Mar 1, 2023 | TAC Blog
Although some may find it surprising and unconventional to compare the Christian celebration of Easter to the Super Bowl, both hold enormous significance and provide unique opportunities for celebration and community-building among their respective audiences....
by Mark Shaw | Feb 5, 2023 | Posts by Mark, TAC Blog
-by Mark E. Shaw with T.A.C. Team LINK to full PODCAST #199 entitled “Wine is a Mocker” “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1, ESV) Human beings like to celebrate. We look for excuses to celebrate the...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 23, 2023 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
1. We Gathered What a blessing to gather with like-minded women and men at our 6th Annual TAC Leadership Summit to learn from, encourage, and connect with each other this year! To watch the sessions from past Summits, click here! SAVE THE DATE for next year:...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 12, 2022 | TAC Blog
Earlier this year on 2-22-2022, we posted 22 ways to pray for TAC. God answered these prayers and some of them are ongoing so we are asking you to end the year 2022 by praying again for them. Join us in praying for God to be glorified in and through T.A.C. in the...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 19, 2022 | TAC Blog
(written with the assistance of T.A.C. team) Our circumstances squeeze out what is already in our hearts. How are we dealing with stress in life? What do we do when life doesn’t go our way? Where do we go with our pain and suffering? Answers to these...
by Mark Shaw | Oct 18, 2022 | TAC Blog
For over 10 years, The Addiction Connection has been offering genuinely biblical resources. In celebration of a decade in ministry, we want to share 10 ways we continue to Connect the Hope of the Gospel with the Heart of Addiction: 1. Free podcasts on current...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 25, 2022 | TAC Blog
By TAC TEAM with Dr. Mark E. Shaw Our recent fictional scenarios explained that: John (age 36), Jake (age 15), and Donnie (age 21) are pursuing the best version of themselves today, but sadly, this could be their final day on earth. They may not be aware that fentanyl...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 24, 2022 | TAC Blog
By TAC TEAM with Dr. Mark E. Shaw Part 3 of 3 John, Jake, and Donnie are all in danger of dying in the fentanyl epidemic, but how will we pursue them and what message are we going to proclaim to them? Harm reduction methods say: “Be safe!” “Take care!” “Use with a...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 23, 2022 | TAC Blog
By TAC Team with Dr. Mark E. Shaw (Part 2 of 3) In our part 1 post, you read the fictional scenarios about: John (age 36) is seeking same high from his usual drug of choice from one of his usual dealers. Jake (age 15) is trying out a new vape for the first time...
by Mark Shaw | Sep 22, 2022 | TAC Blog
by TAC TEAM with Dr. Mark E. Shaw Part 1 (of 3) John (age 36) is seeking the same high from his usual drug of choice from one of his usual dealers. Jake (age 15) is experimenting with vaping for the first time. His friend at school gives it to him so he can “stay...
by Mark Shaw | Jul 20, 2022 | TAC Blog
This article was written with assistance from TAC team Why Does Relapse Occur? Someone with six years of sobriety said he returned to his addictive choices. There were no physical reasons like cravings or withdrawal for his return. Clearly, his physical body was clean...
by Mark Shaw | Jun 9, 2022 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor, Shirley Crowder, teaches about an eternal focus by encouraging us with this thought: “As Christ followers, we have the promise, and the hope, and the assurance that we will spend eternity in heaven with God the Father… and...
by Mark Shaw | May 23, 2022 | TAC Blog
By Dr. Mark Shaw Desperation.[1] That’s what seems to be driving the three persons who have submitted to a surgical brain procedure called DBS to potentially solve their cravings for illicit drugs. DBS stands for Deep Brain Stimulation: a nickel sized hole is cut into...
by Mark Shaw | May 2, 2022 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
By TAC Team Are you afraid of death? What about the fear of a loved one’s death? You are not alone. Fear is rampant through our country and our world. COVID-19 did not ease our troubled minds any. And if someone you care about is using a substance like...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 13, 2022 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
-by TAC TEAM The founder of The Addiction Connection, Dr. Mark E. Shaw, hosted Oliver Underwood of The Damascus House on TAC’s podcast entitled “Habakkuk and Addiction” (#149). Underwood leads a men’s residential program for addiction that is recommended by The...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 12, 2022 | TAC Blog, Uncategorized
Is there anything practical in the Bible to address addiction? What does God’s Word tell us about our modern world’s various modes of getting drunk (pills, fentanyl, weed, heroin, alcohol, etc)? Dr. Shaw hosted Oliver Underwood of The Damascus House on TAC’s podcast...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 24, 2021 | TAC Blog
It’s Christmas Eve and yet I cannot get over the fact that fentanyl is reportedly the #1 killer for people ages 18-45 according to the CDC. People seek their usual drug of choice only to discover too late that it was fentanyl laced—that’s what is killing...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 8, 2021 | Addiction, Missions, TAC Blog
Guest Post by Josh Brunk, Executive Director of Village Mercy Ministries “Addicts make the best evangelists.” This was my introduction to Dr. Mark Shaw when he visited The Mission House in Port Orchard, Washington. He spoke this to encourage those of us in the...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 8, 2021 | Current Events, Events, Ministry News, TAC Blog
Hey Friends, Wow! “Best Summit yet!” is what we heard often and we agree. Jesus was glorified, relationships were forged, and we renewed our enthusiasm for reaching the lost with the hope of the gospel. Long-time friends of TAC had the opportunity to meet...
by Mark Shaw | Feb 1, 2021 | Disciple-Making, podcast, TAC Blog
Pastor Steve Covington of Through the Gate, a women’s residential addiction program, joins Dr. Mark E. Shaw on The Addiction Connection’s first podcast of the year. (Listen now!) 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a...
by Mark Shaw | Aug 29, 2020 | TAC Blog
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31 For years Mark has been asked by countless people, “When are you going to do a group study for addiction that is consistent with the Bible?” He would always answer, “I’m...
