A Word About Drinking, Drunks, and Those Who Rejoice in Their Sin

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Highly admirable ... I believe God honors our covenants .... I too do not drink and have personal feelings against its usage but cannot be theologically dishonest and act as if someone likes to drink recreationally they somehow are less spiritual.

I agree; I just can't do it and it's something that we have decided as a ministry to hold to through all of our churches. We do have members who drink, but they are not used in leadership. We don't treat them as second class citizens though. We just feel that people in leadership need to step up to a higher level of commitment.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by philjones

I am sure someone has already addressed this but Coop you are looking pretty pathetic in your attempt to make a non-existant distinction!

DUI, DWI... at least in Louisiana... is the same thing. Typically, DUI is used for those who are impaired but not obviously from drinking. DWI is used for the guy who gets out of the car and you could sell another "Buzzard" his slobber if you bottled it.

I wish I could open my heart here on this thread but I cannot. Just suffice it to say that no one ever set out to be an alcoholic but everyone of them started out with a single drink! So, go ahead and have your little sinless indulgences. I will pray that you do not lose your gamble or that someone else does not lose because of your gamble!

I live every day with the results of what started with a single drink!

RW, your flaunting of your liberties in this area are no different than your dancing threads or any of your other asinine threads that are intended to offend others and show how free you are! It really grosses me out and makes me wonder about more than your single drinks and your sloppy sambas!

It does get very old.

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Highly admirable ... I believe God honors our covenants .... I too do not drink and have personal feelings against its usage but cannot be theologically dishonest and act as if someone likes to drink recreationally they somehow are less spiritual.

Dan,

Perhaps they are not less spiritual but I assure they are less wise! Experience is speaking here.

Wine is a mocker... it doesn't say in what quantity and strong drink is raging... again no quantification... he that is deceived thereby is not Wise!

Who in the world or the church desires to sit in the seat of the scornful?

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

You gotta love this stuff .... PJ do you really get physically sick based on what people post here ... if so ... perhaps it's best ...

You know, Dan, it kind of does... it makes me heart sick. Their deception is so complete that they don't even have a hint and that makes me heart sick and of a heavy spirit.

If you ever love an alcoholic with all of your heart and you know that alcoholism is keeping them from a full relationship with Jesus Christ you might understand my feelings. Until then, I guess you will think I am strange. I simply see it as a natural response to a God given compassion!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by philjones

I am sure someone has already addressed this but Coop you are looking pretty pathetic in your attempt to make a non-existant distinction!

DUI, DWI... at least in Louisiana... is the same thing. Typically, DUI is used for those who are impaired but not obviously from drinking. DWI is used for the guy who gets out of the car and you could sell another "Buzzard" his slobber if you bottled it. ...

As I understand the laws in our state there is a difference between the DWI and DUI. As I recall, the "DUI" was added a few years after the newer DWI laws of several years ago.

The idea behind the DUI was to give Law Enforcement and the Courts an extra tool for some of the borderline cases that were being thrown out because of the "Zero Tolerance" of the DWI laws. It also gave the cops a recourse for pulling someone off the streets even if they weren't "drunk" but were under the influence of drugs that it would take days to identify.

There are "lesser" offenses and "worse" offenses. I nearly lost my entire family to a drunk many years ago. The loser didn't even do jail time. My wife was hospitalized and all of the kids were battered and bloodied. If I had done that to my family, as a father and a husband I would probably still be in jail- and rightfully so. But a total stranger gets a free pass because he did it with an automobile.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by philjones

Sherri,

Sorry to hear about the heart issues. You will be in my prayers daily! I anticipate the miraculous in your life!

Thank you, Phil. Four years ago the doctors said that I had a heart attack by my enzyme tests and they started me on nitroglycerin tabs immediately. My heart was acting like it is now, but worse. I had prayer going on all over the country that night; Eddie was preaching in NJ and couldn't get home. UPC camp meeting happened to be in Jackson that night and Scott (my brother) was preaching it. He had the entire camp meeting praying for me, as well as lots of people everywhere. The next day when they did the cath, the doctor came in and said that he couldn't explain it, but it appeared that there WAS NO heart attack after all. But the enzymes don't lie, and I had had about seven abnormal EKGs and then I had a perfectly normal one. It was just God; I know He healed me at that time. And I know He can do it again!

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by pelathais

As I understand the laws in our state there is a difference between the DWI and DUI. As I recall, the "DUI" was added a few years after the newer DWI laws of several years ago.

The idea behind the DUI was to give Law Enforcement and the Courts an extra tool for some of the borderline cases that were being thrown out because of the "Zero Tolerance" of the DWI laws. It also gave the cops a recourse for pulling someone off the streets even if they weren't "drunk" but were under the influence of drugs that it would take days to identify.

There are "lesser" offenses and "worse" offenses. I nearly lost my entire family to a drunk many years ago. The loser didn't even do jail time. My wife was hospitalized and all of the kids were battered and bloodied. If I had done that to my family, as a father and a husband I would probably still be in jail- and rightfully so. But a total stranger gets a free pass because he did it with an automobile.

My worst fear.

That's what bothers me about people treating this so casually.

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

My worst fear.

That's what bothers me about people treating this so casually.

It's like Russian roulette ... his gun ... my head!

Originally Posted by Sherri

Thank you, Phil. Four years ago the doctors said that I had a heart attack by my enzyme tests and they started me on nitroglycerin tabs immediately. My heart was acting like it is now, but worse. I had prayer going on all over the country that night; Eddie was preaching in NJ and couldn't get home. UPC camp meeting happened to be in Jackson that night and Scott (my brother) was preaching it. He had the entire camp meeting praying for me, as well as lots of people everywhere. The next day when they did the cath, the doctor came in and said that he couldn't explain it, but it appeared that there WAS NO heart attack after all. But the enzymes don't lie, and I had had about seven abnormal EKGs and then I had a perfectly normal one. It was just God; I know He healed me at that time. And I know He can do it again!

He absolutely can... I love to expect GREAT things from our God!