How to Defeat Harmful Habits (Counseling Through the Bible Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

symbol of pride of the Philippines” and that her impoverished people expected her to wear expensive jewelry, clothing, and shoes— lots of shoes . 22 The photos released in the late 1980s stunned the world—Imelda posing beside her shoe collection, a casual “Exhibit A” that supported allegations of gross corruption. The grand total tallied…2,700 pairs of shoes!

That’s when the calculations began: If Imelda wore a different pair of shoes every day, it would take over seven years to “see her store” of shoes. And if she changed shoes three times a day and never wore the same pair twice, it would take almost two-and-a-half years for her to stroll through her colossal collection. And because of her compulsive spending, Imelda most assuredly would continue to make many more additional purchases. Obviously, hundreds, if not thousands, of shoes would have never actually been worn. 23

Following the ouster and exile of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, subsequent Filipino governments accused the notorious pair of stealing $10 billion. 24 These governments tried to recover their losses, but to little avail. Despite hundreds upon hundreds of lawsuits and court cases, neither Ferdinand nor Imelda ever saw prison time. Ferdinand died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. Imelda—nicknamed the “Iron Butterfly”—was indicted and convicted, but her cases were either overturned or dismissed due to technicalities.

The alleged $10 billion theft by Ferdinand and Imelda bought a lot more than just shoes: two palaces, dozens of country homes, private and commercial real estate in New York, crates of gold and pesos, and plenty of reserves in bank accounts around the world. In 1978 at a price tag of $10 million, Imelda began building the Coconut Palace, a presidential guesthouse on Manila Bay that was constructed with chemically treated coconut lumber. All elements of the coconut tree were used to create the tropical palace, which was completed in 1981.

Imelda had hoped her first guest would be Pope John Paul II, for whom the Coconut Palace was actually commissioned. But the pope declined. Given the backdrop of a poverty-stricken nation, he perceived the idea of such a stay as ostentatious. 25

The spending habits of both Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos stand in stark contrast to the life of Christ and couldn’t be more contrary to the call of Scripture. Instead of compulsive buying, Jesus says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34).

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C. What Characterizes Those Controlled by Addictions?
    Alone in prison, Michael Vick began considering the vast weight of his wrongdoings…and the gracious God of his youth. He contemplated his high school years, when he’d given his life to Christ and first begun reading the Bible. Finally, his future became clear: “The only thing I could do in prison was fall back on God,” he said. “I wanted to do things right.” 26
    As Vick yielded to Christ, his life began a remarkable transformation. Tony Dungy, retired coach of the Indianapolis Colts, began mentoring the imprisoned athlete. After his release, Vick began working with The Humane Society, traveling the country, speaking at churches, schools, and community events, imploring would-be dog fighters and gamblers to shun the gruesome sport that ravaged his life.
    In 2009, Vick was reinstated into the NFL and went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. The following year, he became the Eagles’ starting quarterback. In 2010, he played in his fourth career Pro Bowl, was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year, and received the prestigious Ed Block Courage Award for steadfast commitment to sportsmanship and courage. 27
    Bad choices replaced by good ones led Vick to finally achieve what God had in mind for him