Friday, February 22, 2013
In Case You've Been Bitten
"My
childhood was miserable. I lived in
constant terror because my dad would come home drunk and beat me and my mom -
often he would sexually abuse me and then not even remember what happened." The story is all too familiar. It is a problem of epidemic proportion
throughout the world. Yet there are no
truth in advertising regulations requiring that the symptoms of intoxication be
listed on the label. Rather multi-billion
dollar corporations, who produce the poison, scrub their image by sponsoring
super bowl ads, building stadiums and theme parks, and courting lawmakers so
they can distract us from noticing that their products contribute to more
violence and death each year than do all of the mass murderers in America's history
put together.
Several years ago the World Health Organization issued this
warning: "Alcohol
causes nearly 4 percent of deaths worldwide, more than AIDS, tuberculosis or
violence... The harmful use of alcohol is a global problem which compromises
both individual and social development. It results in 2.5 million deaths each
year. Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for premature mortality,
disability and loss of health; it is the leading risk factor in the Western
Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe. Alcohol is
associated with many serious social and developmental issues, including
violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace. It also
causes harm far beyond the physical and psychological health of the drinker. It
harms the well-being and health of people around the drinker. An intoxicated
person can harm others or put them at risk of traffic accidents or violent
behaviour, or negatively affect co-workers, relatives, friends or strangers.
Thus, the impact of the harmful use of alcohol reaches deep into society."
(2011 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health)
This
is how the Bible describes people who are bound by alcohol. "Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is
always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who
has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who
spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in
the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say
crazy things. You will stagger like a
sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, 'They hit me, but I didn’t
feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I
can look for another drink?' ” (Proverbs 23:29-35 NLT)
WHO is a secular organization that warns of
the incredible social and financial devastation that results from alcohol
usage. Ministers, health care workers
and social workers see the emotional, social and spiritual fallout from alcohol
abuse on a daily basis. As a nation we
have attempted to tame this snake through prohibition. The truth is that people will continue to get
bitten by this viper until they are personally freed from its hold. You may have been bitten by dependency on
alcohol or by the abuse perpetrated by someone under the influence. Either way, there are solutions. Millions of people have learned how to let God
set them free. At first this viper seems
impossible to overcome, but there are many people who have been there and done
that who are happy to help others find a path to recovery or healing. Stop the hurting. Learn to avoid the snake bite. Call someone
today.
Friday, February 15, 2013
He Still Makes House Calls
Simon
Greenleaf, one of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School, originally
set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. He considered himself an agnostic and was convinced that an in depth examination of
the internal witness of the Gospels would dispel all the myths at the heart of
Christianity. So, as a legal scholar
came took God to task. In doing so he
came to the conclusion that the Gospel writers were in fact reliable witnesses ,
and that the resurrection did indeed take place.
"Norma
McCorvey better known by her legal pseudonym, Jane Roe was the plaintiff in the
landmark American lawsuit Roe v. Wade in 1973, which overturned individual
states' laws against abortion by ruling them unconstitutional. Despite asking
for an abortion in her original suit, McCorvey never had the procedure. She
gave birth to a girl, who was put up for adoption. In 1994, McCorvey converted
to Christianity and expressed remorse for her part in the Supreme Court
decision. In fact, she is now a leading spokesperson against abortion through
her Dallas, Texas ministry organization, Roe No More Ministries."
History
is full of such examples; people who considered themselves unbelievers but were
open-minded enough to give God an honest chance to convince them that He is
real. God is not fragile. Truth can withstand testing. What faith and truth cannot save us from is
our own pride, cynicism and close-minded resistance to a sovereign God who has
established His eternal truths in the universe.
I
am personally acquainted with many people who discovered God during a
particularly difficult time in their lives.
During a genuine crisis of faith they had some honest conversations with
God and did some sincere research of the Bible.
This is not dangerous when one's heart is right. God does not get angry at us for seeking
truth. When we seek Him sincerely He
will meet us where we are at - He makes house calls.
Give
it a shot. Approach God respectfully but
honestly. Find a private place and tell
Him all about your hurts, your doubts, and your questions. Many times He will respond in a dramatic
manner and allow you to feel His love and comfort. Often He will begin to connect you with
people and resources that will help you find solid answers to your
questions. If you are able to open your
heart up wide enough you may experience something like the disciples did and
God will overwhelm you with His Spirit. (See Acts 2)
The
trick is to remember that He can handle our questions, but He isn't bound to
give in to our demands. In other words,
like most of us, He has a lot to give
people who respect Him and sincerely seek truth. He doesn't have much time for the arrogant
soul who defies him and demands proof of His existence. Go ahead -- see for
yourself if God won't meet you where you are at. He still makes house calls.
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Poitician Runs Scared
He was a powerful man, known for his brutality. One had to be ruthless and devious in order to survive as a governor allied with the most powerful political leader on the planet. Besides, common knowledge testifies that politics is rarely done with pure motives or clean morals. Felix was a "successful" politician. To his credit, he had been tough on crime, making his region a much safer place to travel. To his discredit, his personal life was marred by adultery and whatever other self-serving things he needed to do to survive. The point being that Felix was not easily shaken; as a politician he was used to confrontation and dog-eat-dog maneuvering.
With this in mind, one is caught off guard at
the scene recounted by a doctor who is privy to a first century legal
proceeding between Felix, governor of Judea and Paul, a Christian missionary, who
had been arrested for politically-incorrect preaching. Governor Felix summoned the prisoner for questioning,
hoping that Paul would give him a bribe, thereby providing him an excuse to let
him go. Felix is no fool; he knows that
Paul is not a dangerous criminal, but that he is the victim of religious bigotry
and censorship. What is so striking
about this situation, however, is that during the course of conversation this
experienced politician became alarmed and terrified. What would scare such a man? Why did he get so rattled?
Here's how Dr. Luke recorded it: "But
as he continued to argue about uprightness, purity of life (the control of the
passions), and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and terrified
and said, Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will
send for you." (Acts 24:25 AMP) Felix was scared because, when confronted with
the truth, he recognized that one day he would be held accountable for his
actions. He knew that what he seemed to
be getting away with would catch up to him when he stood before God in
judgment.
Have you ever experienced moments of clarity such as that? Have you ever been confronted with God's
mandates regarding purity and uprightness and realized that your life is impacting
other lives, and that one day you would answer for every word and deed? Those can be key, life-changing moments. Those are the kind of moments God intends us
to have when we hear anointed preaching,
read the Bible or hear a God-inspired song. Unfortunately Felix cut his session short --
he missed his opportunity to make things right.
The Bible says, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV) That does not have to be a scary verse. The "Good News" is that those who
accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers can have their sins washed away and
then be given the power to live a life of purity and uprightness. (see Acts 2:38) They won't be perfect, but they will be
covered by God's grace. As a result,
when they die, they will be on good terms with their Creator. In other words,
obedient believers no longer have any need to fear! Meanwhile the upright and pure lives they
lead will give them and those around them a better life here and now. Righteousness and purity can raise the
standard of living at your house and you will have no need to run scared.
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