Book - Thorns in the Heart - A Christian’s Guide to Dealing with Addiction is now available for purchase.

San Francisco, CA -- Thursday, January 27, 2011 – The much anticipated and revised edition of the inspirational and groundbreaking book Thorns in the Heart, A Christian’s Guide to Dealing with Addiction is now available on Smashwords.com

Thorns in the Heart is relevant to anyone who experiences addiction and pain. For most people they are easier to bury or ignore than deal with. Yet, it's only a matter of time before many of the things we run from must be faced.  But how?  In Thorns in the Heart, Dr. Steven Stiles cites actual cases to expose the physical, emotional and spiritual vulnerability of Christians when they avoid dealing with pain. But more than just case examples, this book provides those who suffer a path to recovery.  It offers steps to recognizing and dealing with pain through topics such as: Addiction, Compulsion and Pain; Pain, Emotions and the Body; Coping with Depression; Co-Dependency and Pain; Pain from God's Perspective; and Coping with Compulsive Behaviors. Dr. Stiles explains there are no easy answers, but through understanding pain, addiction, and how God wants His people to respond, Christians can begin a journey of new hope and purpose.

Readers can continue their journey of recovery through the Author’s website www.thornsintheheart.com absolutely free. The book is available now for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39974.

For more information about Thorns in the Heart or Dr. Steven Stiles, please visit www.thornsintheheart.com or contact Michael O’Brien.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Stiles, a pastor, is a faculty member at Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California, where he teaches addiction studies. He also teaches at Western Seminary in San Jose and has lectured internationally on addictions. He is the Clinical Director at New Life Community Services in Santa Cruz, California which provides emergency shelter and drug and alcohol treatment. He is a graduate of the American Baptist Seminary of the West (D.Min.) and maintains counselor certification through the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CADCII).

Thorns in the Heart - Online Community

I'm excited to announce that in addition to the release of Thorns in the Heart, a Christian's Guide to Dealing with Pain, on Amazon, Kindle and other distributors - something even more exciting is about to launch!

The Thorns in the Heart - Online Community Website. There is a temporary website up at www.thornsintheheart.com while the developers are finishing the final touches, but let me update you as to what this online community will involve.

The community website will allow readers to continue their journey through online discussion forums, an interactive chat room, sharing experiences and testimonies with each other, help others, and stay up-to-date on up coming events.

In addition, it will provide readers with opportunities to interact with me, ask questions, view web presentations and videos explaining concepts in the book and more!

I encourage you to monitor this blog and follow me on Twitter and Facebook so you'll know as soon as the new online community is launched! Tweet this blog post and place a link on your Facebook, let's spread the word.

Update on Journey (Greenie, Red Bird, & Big Blue)

Here is a little update on the manuscript Journey On The Hard Side Of Miracles. There has been a lot of revision, but you will still recognize the story of Greenie, Red Bird, and honorable mention to Big Blue.

Larry Holser and I have been meeting weekly getting the manuscript ready to go, but the next big hurdle has been getting the graphics work done. We have been waiting for the holidays and a visit from Daniel Chamberlain, son of Mike Chamberlin, and now he is already at work on the project!

Daniel who has been in Japan for the last year is an excellent graphic artist. Daniel was pretty young when he rode Red Bird, so it will be interesting to see what his art “remembers.”

We’ll keep you up to speed on our progress. A reminder – if you remember any other part of our story please send it in!

Steve

Release of Thorns in the Heart

Within the next few days, Thorns in the Heart, A Christian's guide to dealing with Pain, with minor revisions, will be available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.

For updates, please follow us on Twitter, the Thorns in the Heart Facebook page, or my personal Facebook page.

Thorns in the Heart, A Christian's Guide to Dealing with Addiction

Addiction and pain. For most people they are easier to bury or ignore than deal with. Yet, it's only a matter of time before many of the things we run from must be faced.  But how?  In Thorns in the Heart, Dr. Steven Stiles cites actual cases to expose the physical, emotional and spiritual vulnerability of Christians when they avoid dealing with pain. 

But more than just case examples, this book provides those who suffer a path to recovery.  It offers steps to recognizing and dealing with pain through topics such as: Addiction, Compulsion and Pain; Pain, Emotions and the Body; Coping with Depression; Co-Dependency and Pain; Pain from God's Perspective; and Coping with Compulsive Behaviors.

Dr. Stiles explains there are no easy answers, but through understanding pain, addiction, and how God wants His people to respond. Christians can begin a journey of new hope and purpose.