A friend of mine has fallen victim to drugs and alcohol. Their once friendly – happy go lucky demeanor has dramatically changed to one of varying dark mood swings of one minute being on top of the world and the next down in the dumps.
The same things goes for this person’s appearance; pale, unkempt, and disheveled one day, and dressed to the hilt on the next. Counseling does no good because they are in a state of denial and refuse to even acknowledge that they might have a problem . . .
It is especially sad for me to see this happen. I know this person has read my book and knows where this behavior can lead, but some folks just think they are different than those of us who’ve gone down that road before them, and although we fell; they will not become a slave to alcohol and/or drugs.
What they don’t know is that they are already there. If you don’t believe it, ask them to stop drinking and/or drugging for six months, or one month, or even one weekend. They cannot do so . . .
And therein lays the insidious nature of one of satan’s most effective weapons; before one even realizes it, they are gut hooked.
I spoke with a lady just yesterday that has just graduated from spending one full year removing the bondage of alcoholism from her person in a Christian women’s home. She lost her self-respect, the respect of her family and friends, possessions, and career, because she could pick the whiskey, wine, and beer glasses up, but couldn’t put them back down ‘til they were empty.
She told me that she initially came from a Christian background and didn’t even drink, but after experiencing a tragedy in her life she started drinking wine occasionally to dull the pain. It continued to the point whereby it became the pain in her life and she drank anything she could get her hands on constantly.
Alcohol and drugs are not pain relievers. Alcohol is a depressant; the more you drink the more depressed you become. Drugs satisfy initially, but like alcohol it takes more and more to get less and less of a high until it reaches a point of trying to just get through the day . . .
I’ve tried it all; sex, drugs, alcohol, material things, power, fame, and big achievements and I can honestly tell you that it is all vain, (otiose, ineffective, futile, hopeless, useless) just like old King Solomon lamented in Ecclesiastes.
We all strive for peace, joy, and love in our lives but you can believe me, (someone who has been there and done that), it only comes from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. He can remove the pain and He will not leave you with a hangover.
This Sunday, January 12th we have Ken Mansfield at Honey Lake Church. He was good friends with and handled all of the Apple record sales in the United States for the Beatles during their glory years and many other artists as well. At one point he enjoyed enormous amounts of money, all of the sex one could imagine with the most beautiful girls in the world, drugs, alcohol, fame, achievements including winning a Grammy and a Dove award, but Ken fell victim to the same problem my friend is going through right now. He lost everything and then gained everything. He found his peace, joy, and love through Jesus Christ and that is what my friend needs and I’m praying that will happen and ask you to pray as well.
Please note that this Sunday will be the second of my Bible Study series and I will be discussing why we should believe the Bible, (a book written in ancient times) to guide our life today.
It is important to base our belief system in something tangible and not be a Catholic, Episcopalian, Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, or whatever because our parents made that decision, or base our belief system on our own logic, or what someone whom we respect tells us to believe. The Bible is an amazing gift from our Father who loves us and I will show you why you can trust it. The class begins promptly at 9:30 in the Gathering Hall . . . (And yes we will have some coffee available so you can stay awake during my class)
Have a great weekend and come to Honey Lake Church Sunday, (or go somewhere).
Eccl. 1:14
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind . . .
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
January 10, 2014 – Click here to listen