Louisville's NBC network channel 3 had a special segment on their news program called "Does a night of sleep mean you aren't 'Drunk at Dawn'."
Click here to read the article and watch video about this news segment. It is about the effects of 'social drinking' on an individual.
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Friday, May 16, 2008
C.I. Scofield & Alcohol
Many years ago in St. Louis, a lawyer visited a Christian to transact some business. Before the two parted, his client said to him, "I've often wanted to ask you a question, but I've been afraid to do so."
"What do you want to know?" asked the lawyer.
The man replied, "I've wondered why you're not a Christian."
The man hung his head, "I know enough about the Bible to realize that it says no drunkard can enter the kingdom of God; and you know my weakness!"
"You're avoiding my question," continued the believer. "Well, truthfully, I can't recall anyone ever explaining how to become a Christian." Picking up a Bible, the client read some passages showing that all are under condemnation, but that Christ came to save the lost by dying on the cross for their sins.
"By receiving Him as your Substitute and Redeemer," he said, "you can be forgiven. If you're willing to receive Jesus, let's pray together."
The lawyer agreed, and when it was his turn he exclaimed, "O Jesus, I am a slave to drink. One of your servants has shown me how to be saved. O God, forgive my sins and help me overcome the power of this terrible habit in my life."
Right there he was converted. That lawyer was C.I. Scofield, who later edited the reference Bible that bears his name.
P. Meier, Christian Child Rearing, Baker, 1977, p. 49ff.
"What do you want to know?" asked the lawyer.
The man replied, "I've wondered why you're not a Christian."
The man hung his head, "I know enough about the Bible to realize that it says no drunkard can enter the kingdom of God; and you know my weakness!"
"You're avoiding my question," continued the believer. "Well, truthfully, I can't recall anyone ever explaining how to become a Christian." Picking up a Bible, the client read some passages showing that all are under condemnation, but that Christ came to save the lost by dying on the cross for their sins.
"By receiving Him as your Substitute and Redeemer," he said, "you can be forgiven. If you're willing to receive Jesus, let's pray together."
The lawyer agreed, and when it was his turn he exclaimed, "O Jesus, I am a slave to drink. One of your servants has shown me how to be saved. O God, forgive my sins and help me overcome the power of this terrible habit in my life."
Right there he was converted. That lawyer was C.I. Scofield, who later edited the reference Bible that bears his name.
P. Meier, Christian Child Rearing, Baker, 1977, p. 49ff.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A Christian Response to Alcohol (2 of 2)
Let's return to a debate that has recently been revived and much discussed: What do Christians do with alcohol?
Let's ask ourselves what the proponents of alcohol use as he basis for promoting alcohol sales in Greensburg: money. The only, and I do stress only, benefit that they claim there will be for Greensburg is money. (They may describe it in many other ways... economic development, jobs, money, etc.)
No Christian is against economic development. And all Christians believe people should have some kind of job! 2 Thessalonians 3:10
But Christians believe that a human soul is far more valuable than all the money in the world.
Therefore, if only one individual gets drunk because of this vote and dies (or causes someone else to die) it will forfeit all the monetary gain that could possible be.
Will we pursue getting rich at the cost of human life? If so, how much?
A Christian answer to the question of money or human life will always be life!
"But Jesus turned water into wine." "But the Bible does not say you cannot drink, it just says you cannot get drunk."
Ask yourself these questions about drinking alcohol:
(1) Do I have to have alcohol to survive?
(2) Is it necessary for me, my family, or my community?
(3) Does any amount of alcohol glorify God in anyway?
What concept do beer companies most often use in their promotions and advertisements? (Sex, lust, etc.) They use concepts that are opposite that of Christians!
I'm tired of hearing only about one story in the Bible that refers to wine. To have a Biblical discussion on alcohol you need to talk about all the stories and all the verses that talk about 'strong drink.'
In closing I think we need to deal with these two questions:
(1) Why do proponents of alcohol try so hard to convince everyone they are "Christian"?
(2) Why has no pastor or local church publicly in favor of selling alcohol in Green County?
Maybe the Christian response to the sale of alcohol is to vote NO to the sale of alcohol!
Let's ask ourselves what the proponents of alcohol use as he basis for promoting alcohol sales in Greensburg: money. The only, and I do stress only, benefit that they claim there will be for Greensburg is money. (They may describe it in many other ways... economic development, jobs, money, etc.)
No Christian is against economic development. And all Christians believe people should have some kind of job! 2 Thessalonians 3:10
But Christians believe that a human soul is far more valuable than all the money in the world.
Therefore, if only one individual gets drunk because of this vote and dies (or causes someone else to die) it will forfeit all the monetary gain that could possible be.
Will we pursue getting rich at the cost of human life? If so, how much?
A Christian answer to the question of money or human life will always be life!
"But Jesus turned water into wine." "But the Bible does not say you cannot drink, it just says you cannot get drunk."
Ask yourself these questions about drinking alcohol:
(1) Do I have to have alcohol to survive?
(2) Is it necessary for me, my family, or my community?
(3) Does any amount of alcohol glorify God in anyway?
What concept do beer companies most often use in their promotions and advertisements? (Sex, lust, etc.) They use concepts that are opposite that of Christians!
I'm tired of hearing only about one story in the Bible that refers to wine. To have a Biblical discussion on alcohol you need to talk about all the stories and all the verses that talk about 'strong drink.'
In closing I think we need to deal with these two questions:
(1) Why do proponents of alcohol try so hard to convince everyone they are "Christian"?
(2) Why has no pastor or local church publicly in favor of selling alcohol in Green County?
Maybe the Christian response to the sale of alcohol is to vote NO to the sale of alcohol!
Friday, May 9, 2008
A Christian Response to Alcohol (1 of 2)
How should a Christian respond to the issue we are now presented with in our community? How would a Christian vote?
First, let's look at some of the official statements from some of the denominations that have churches in our community...
Southern Baptist Association passed a resolution in June of 2006 that you can read by clicking here. They promote "total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages..."
Church of the Nazarene states in it's manual, in part: "In light of the Holy Scriptures and human experience concerning the ruinous consequences of the use of alcohol as a beverage, and in light of the findings of medical science regarding the detrimental effect of alcohol to the body and mind, as a community of faith committed to the pursuit of a holy life, our position and practice is abstinence rather than moderation. Holy Scripture teaches that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. With loving regard for ourselves and others, we call our people to total abstinence from all intoxicants. Furthermore, our Christian social responsibility calls us to use any legitimate and legal means to minimize the availability of beverage alcohol to others. The widespread incidence of alcohol abuse in our world demands that we embody a position that stands as a witness to others." The rest of the manual can be found in pdf format at the following link.
United Methodist Church statement on Alcohol and Other Drugs can be read by clicking here. It says in part: "We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for persons."
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) statement on the use of alcohol is weaker than other denominations. You can read the entire statement by clicking here. It says in part: "The General Assembly encourages and supports a personal decision to abstain from alcohol." (Note that they do not require it of those who unite with them in membership.)
The Roman Catholic church even warns a number of times in the catechism of the Roman Catholic Church about the abuse of alcohol! You can read here, where it says: "2290- The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air."
Many local churches have passed resolutions of their own in opposition to the sale of alcohol in our community.
If anyone has any links to find the stance of the Separate Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian Church, other denominations in Green County that might be omitted, or any of the 'non-denominational' churches of Green County be sure to post them.
Important Note: No church or pastor in Green County has supported the sale of alcohol in our community.
First, let's look at some of the official statements from some of the denominations that have churches in our community...
Southern Baptist Association passed a resolution in June of 2006 that you can read by clicking here. They promote "total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages..."
Church of the Nazarene states in it's manual, in part: "In light of the Holy Scriptures and human experience concerning the ruinous consequences of the use of alcohol as a beverage, and in light of the findings of medical science regarding the detrimental effect of alcohol to the body and mind, as a community of faith committed to the pursuit of a holy life, our position and practice is abstinence rather than moderation. Holy Scripture teaches that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. With loving regard for ourselves and others, we call our people to total abstinence from all intoxicants. Furthermore, our Christian social responsibility calls us to use any legitimate and legal means to minimize the availability of beverage alcohol to others. The widespread incidence of alcohol abuse in our world demands that we embody a position that stands as a witness to others." The rest of the manual can be found in pdf format at the following link.
United Methodist Church statement on Alcohol and Other Drugs can be read by clicking here. It says in part: "We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for persons."
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) statement on the use of alcohol is weaker than other denominations. You can read the entire statement by clicking here. It says in part: "The General Assembly encourages and supports a personal decision to abstain from alcohol." (Note that they do not require it of those who unite with them in membership.)
The Roman Catholic church even warns a number of times in the catechism of the Roman Catholic Church about the abuse of alcohol! You can read here, where it says: "2290- The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air."
Many local churches have passed resolutions of their own in opposition to the sale of alcohol in our community.
If anyone has any links to find the stance of the Separate Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian Church, other denominations in Green County that might be omitted, or any of the 'non-denominational' churches of Green County be sure to post them.
Important Note: No church or pastor in Green County has supported the sale of alcohol in our community.
Alcohol and Our Youth
Why do teens drink?
66% cited stress and boredom, 25% said they drink to get high, and 31 percent said they drink alone.
In 1989 3000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 died in alcohol-related auto accidents.
The favored drink among teenagers is wine coolers, but many choose beer because it is cheaper and easier to get. Students annually consume 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the U.S. or 31 million gallons. They also consume 1.1 billion cans of beer, or 102 million gallons.
from:
Spokesman Review, December 30, 1991, p. B1.
66% cited stress and boredom, 25% said they drink to get high, and 31 percent said they drink alone.
In 1989 3000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 died in alcohol-related auto accidents.
The favored drink among teenagers is wine coolers, but many choose beer because it is cheaper and easier to get. Students annually consume 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the U.S. or 31 million gallons. They also consume 1.1 billion cans of beer, or 102 million gallons.
from:
Spokesman Review, December 30, 1991, p. B1.
Dear Ann Landers...
A member of Alcoholics Anonymous once sent columnist Ann Landers the following:
We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for sophistication and became obnoxious.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank "medicinally" and acquired health problems.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for bravery and became afraid.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank to make conversation easier and slurred our speech.
We drank to feel heavenly and ended up feeling like hell.
We drank to forget and were forever haunted.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.
We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for sophistication and became obnoxious.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank "medicinally" and acquired health problems.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for bravery and became afraid.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank to make conversation easier and slurred our speech.
We drank to feel heavenly and ended up feeling like hell.
We drank to forget and were forever haunted.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Special Community Worship Service
All the churches of Green County are invited to participate in the community worship & prayer service over the vote on May 18, 2008.
The service will be held at Greensburg Baptist Church and will begin at 6:00pm CT.
We also encourage all the churches of Green County to have a special prayer time at 11:00am CT on the Sunday morning of May 18th over the vote on alcohol.
For more information you can call Rev. Jared Henry at 932-5152
The service will be held at Greensburg Baptist Church and will begin at 6:00pm CT.
We also encourage all the churches of Green County to have a special prayer time at 11:00am CT on the Sunday morning of May 18th over the vote on alcohol.
For more information you can call Rev. Jared Henry at 932-5152
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