Impossible Joy--The Good News for Lust and Sex Addicts and Other Sinners [Paperback]

Ron J. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0961483113 | ISBN-13: 978-0961483111

Impossible Joy chronicles the author's journey through sex addiction and 23 years of 12 Step recovery. From a religious "believism," which did not work, to a personal encounter with the One who really does loose from the power of lust and cleanse. Gives readers a Scripturally sound basis for making their own saving Connection. What emerges is a real Jesus for "For Sinners Only," a new view of the humanity of the Son of man put in practical terms, promising not only sobriety but joyous recovery and freedom.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Breaking the lust barrier has proven to be the great obstacle in recovery from sex addiction. IMPOSSIBLE JOY is a breakthrough book for sex-addicted and other Christians in or out of the church or 12 Step recovery movement. It is the long- missing link between religious belief and a recovery that works. Ron J. has given us the incredible story of his encounter with the humanly-tempted, suffering, saving Son of man who was lost to him and many others in the religious System. Not for the faint- hearted, JOY promises fulfillment of what the Steps prepare the way for, finding what our lust was really looking for.

From the Author

Back from that "pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization" of sex on the streets, and now several years sexually sober, I was nevertheless down for the count. That impossible temptation in the Post Office had me on the ropes, with no defense against the "drink" that would reignite the hellish obsession. That's when I started crying out, "I don't have it, Lord! Sobriety is not enough! I've got to know who you are for me!" And for the first time ever, in that spiritual conflict only the lust- addicted will understand, I felt the loving, liberating Presence of the saving One.

That was the beginning of a sea change in my recovery, which for years had been driven by fear. But now, there was joyous victory in "the expulsive power of a new affection." Later, in an isolated cabin in the high Sierras, pouring over Jesus' life in the Gospels, struck with his utter humanity and seeing the Son of man being made sin for me, I began to discover the One I had supposedly believed in all my life, but had never known. The One who was actually saving me from my lust--in my lust--one temptation at a time. That's where this book got started. He is my impossible joy today, the One I wish everyone could discover.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Libera Publishing (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961483113
• ISBN-13: 978-0961483111
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,554,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Victory over Temptation, November 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Impossible Joy--The Good News for Lust and Sex Addicts and Other Sinners (Paperback)

Having recently finished reading Impossible Joy, I feel compelled to respond to some of the statements made in the previous review.

First, Ron's premise that we addicts are "sinners" is completely consistent with the 12 step movement. Our illness compels us to perpetrate moral crimes. The fact that it is truly an illness explains why we can't stop on our own, but does not absolve us of the responsibility for, or consequence of our "sins". Ron's analysis of scripture clearly articulates how Jesus, the true "higher power," not only saved us from the ultimate consequence of our sins, but can also provide ongoing victory over all of our temptations, one temptation at a time.

The previous reviewer's assertion that the original 12 steps formulated by Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't have Jesus in it, is laughable. Bill Wilson based the steps on the spiritual principles of the Oxford Group, a nondenominational Christian movement founded by Frank Buchman, a Lutheran minister. It is true that Bill and Dr. Bob removed references to Christ, sin, the Holy Spirit, etc, from the 12 steps in order not to alienate alcoholics of other faiths, or no faith, because AA's primary goal was sobriety, not salvation. However, the Road of Happy Destiny, mapped out in these steps, leads directly to our savior. In Impossible Joy, Ron describes how Jesus, walking with us, can bear our temptations and help us live - not free from temptation, but free from the obsession of our particular weakness and the compulsion to act on our temptation.

Certainly people who reject God's laws and his son are forced to reject this book. Recovery from addiction requires admission of our powerlessness to do right, repentance, and absolute surrender to God (Steps 1 - 3). Impossible Joy is advanced recovery, a valuable resource for us addicts who want to move beyond sobriety to true recovery.

In fairness, since this book forces us to look at our powerlessness and our desperate need for God, it will not appeal to those who can't face the truth. In fact, it could cause them to resort to politically-correct-sounding attacks and name calling.

"No God, no peace. Know God, know peace."

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unspeakably Grateful, March 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Impossible Joy--The Good News for Lust and Sex Addicts and Other Sinners (Paperback)

Hi, my name is Brian. I am a grateful recovering sexaholic. I am so unspeakable grateful for what I am reading in this book, that words fail me. Despite having been involved in 12-Step of several years, having worked the Steps diligently, I knew I was missing something. There was, for some reason, still a spiritual misconnection. Now, through this book, I am learning why. More importantly, I am discovering the Complete Solution. Thank you SO MUCH Ron, for having the courage to write this book, and the perseverance to get it published.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unspeakably Grateful, March 7, 2000

By 

Brian P - See all my reviews

This review is from: Impossible Joy--The Good News for Lust and Sex Addicts and Other Sinners (Paperback)

Hi, my name is Brian. I am a grateful recovering sexaholic. I am so unspeakable grateful for what I am reading in this book, that words fail me. Despite having been involved in 12-Step of several years, having worked the Steps diligently, I knew I was missing something. There was, for some reason, still a spiritual misconnection. Now, through this book, I am learning why. More importantly, I am discovering the Complete Solution. Thank you SO MUCH Ron, for having the courage to write this book, and the perseverance to get it published.