Do Wine And Beer Make You Crazy?

I looked at the 7'o clock news tonight in shock. A drunken driver had crashed into a bar where some people were sitting, killing all of them. There were pictures of bodies under the vehicle. As is usually the case, the drunk man lived, only getting minor injuries in the accident. 

I can't judge this man, because once upon a time, I too used to be in company with people who did the same thing. But we were lucky! The drivers I rode with never crashed! My friends and I could have been in this man's shoes, in jail for causing someone's death.

So many times we take stupid chances, and congratulate ourselves that we are clever for getting away with it. Of course, I don't know why that driver was drinking; all I know that one fateful decision caused five families to lose a loved one. 

Alcohol kills!!! It can destroy lives as it did through that man and many other drunk drivers! But the effects of alcohol can hide in someone's body. It can surface years later as cirrhosis of the liver to kill its victim. But sooner or later, alcohol destroys lives!

How did I stop drinking? I was able to stop because Jesus took away the need to drink when I accepted Him as Savior. I'm not saying that if you accept Jesus as Savior that this will automatically happen.It may, as well as it may not!  It doesn't happen the same way for everybody. What I can tell you is that with Jesus as your Savior and with the Holy Spirit's help, and the support of friends, family and Alcoholics Anonymous, you will be able to stop drinking.

"Wine and beer makes people loud and uncontrolled. It is not wise to get drunk on them." Proverbs 20:1 (New Century Version)

Preparations After Death

The preparations done after someone dies usually takes a lot of time, energy and money. Those who are bereaved find it very overwhelming and draining. All they want to do is to curl into a fetal position and grieve. 

Senior citizens, are advised to plan for their final funeral expenses. They are told to  plan for things like the funeral service, burial composition of wills, and insurance policies. These matters are given careful thought. Astute persons who want to give peace of mind to those loved ones left behind give careful thought to these affairs.

But there is one very important issue that most folks do not prepare for while they are alive. And after death it is too late to do anything about it. That issue is one's salvation.

John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that he that believeth on Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God the Father sent His Son to save us from our sins. If we take advantage of this free gift, we will be accepted into heaven with God and the angels when we die. If we don't, we will be sent into hell and be separated forever from God. We only have time to do this before we die, so let's ask God the Son , the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior and to save us from our sins before that final day. DO IT SOON BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOUR LAST DAY WILL BE!!!

'It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrew 9:27 (KJV)

Life is like a "Johnny Walker" character...

Yesterday morning at 7.05 am the phone rang. My aunt answered it quickly.  Her bedroom is right next to mine, so when I heard her crying softy as she spoke I knew it was immediately. "THE" NEWS!

It was! One of my first cousins had called to let us know that her youngest brother had just died! I knew that THIS  Sunday and THIS week would be different.

Right now I feel as if a hand was pressing down on my diaphragm, not exactly crushing the breath out of me,  but I'm still finding it a little difficult to breathe. It's as if I am having a panic attack but my heart is not beating rapidly, but like I'm going to die. I'm alert but distracted, absentminded but attentive.

Life is a "Johnny Walker" figure standing before your mother as she gives birth to you. As soon as you draw your first breath, he grabs you up, tucks you under one arm and begins to stride determinedly on a God-ordained path towards an end that is far in the distance. When you are young and life is carefree and slow, you lie back with your hand behind your head; enjoying  the ride. You believe you have all the time in the world.

But then something happens to shatter that false thought - a beloved great aunt who just got a good medical report suddenly dies on the 21st December; a teacher you knew just dies;  parents who dies two months apart leaving their ten children to take care of themselves. When these things happens, the pleasant 'Johnny Walker " ride of life suddenly becomes ominous. You try to stop good ole Johnny, but like  the voiceless Terminator, he does not stop. Even if you kick and scream as hard as you can,  good ole Johnny still continues to walks. As the saying goes, "Life waits on no one!"

Then one day, good ole Johnny comes to a big clear but somehow murky pool. He throws you in. And out of nowhere, Mr. Jaws of Death grabs you and...it's over!

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die." Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 2a. (KJV)

Appropriate Behavior For Kids 101

Lately the talk in my country has been a lot about child abuse and domestic violence. We talk so much about teaching our children what is "appropriate touch" from "inappropriate touch." About what to do when this happens. 

But there's another part of the scenario that we may overlook. Sometimes we forget to teach our children who, how, when and where (place and anatomically) to touch someone, whether adult or child.

Children are trusting and open. Until they have reason to do otherwise, they tend to be loving and friendly. Recently I met a little girl who was like that. But she was so 'friendly' that it became annoying and somewhat uncomfortable to me. Especially because when I told her to stop, she continued this behavior. 

By nature, I am a very reserved person, not liking to be touched too much. But I know children can be demonstrative, but this little girl was a cause for concern.

I cannot conjecture anything out of her behavior. Maybe that's her personality. I know some adults who are very demonstrative tn this way. But not everyone appreciates or even likes being touched. And I believe that this little girl should be sat down and told in as simple words as possible the proper way to act around her peers and adults. She should be taught that not everybody is kind and friendly. That certain behaviors are only for family and trusted friends. That there are people out there who would construe her friendliness as a signal for ugliness and wickedness.

In all things we need be alert so that we can protect our children from harm.

"Train up a child in the way that he should go..."(Proverbs 22:6a KJV)

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school!"

The Christian radio station in my country is airing a commercial about bullying. 

In it, a little girl begs her mother not to send her to school.  The commercial advocates parents to action if their child is being bullied.

In a TV series last night was the scenario of a young cheerleader who refused to be manipulated by the so called "Queen Bee" cheerleader. This head cheerleader seemed to have almost complete control over the football coach, the football team, the cheer-leading squad and the whole school. When she defied the other's rule, she was held down and liquid meth poured down her throat. 

Bullying comes in many forms. The big boys at school bullying the little boys The thin teenage girls jeering at the rotund teenage girl in the corridors at lunchtime.  The pretty girl using an ugly friend as a foil for her good looks. All that comes under "bullying." 

God commands us to love one another. He made each one of us in His own image and likeness.       He wants us to love others even as we love ourselves. 

Adults, lets show the young ones that love starts with loving and respecting each other. Then there'll be less bullying in schools.

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12 (New American Standard Bible @1995)

Faith = Right Relationship

When Abraham came out out Ur of the Chaldees, God had promised him that his descendants would be as the sand on the seashore for number. Although the promise was long in coming, Abraham believed unwavering that God could do whatever He said.

Moreover, when Abraham believed God, he did not only receive the promised child - Isaac. He also became righteous (in right relationship) with God because of it. In effect, Abraham became a Old Testament "saint," a believer. 

For a person to become a New Testament "saint" or a believer, he must believe, have faith in, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for his sins. If he doesn't have that faith, he cannot be saved. And so he would not  be able to be in a right relationship with God.

So, even though God keeps His promises, we must have faith to receive God's promises.. 

"For what saith the scriptures? "Adam believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Romans 3:3 (KJV)

No Matter How Long It Takes, God ALWAYS keeps His Promises!

When Abraham came out of Mesopotamia at the LORD's command, the LORD promised him that he would beget a son out of his own loins. Abraham was about 65 years old when he got that word from the       LORD. 

Maybe at that time Abraham and Sarah's body still had the capacity to conceive children. But the years went by, and nothing happened. Only after 35 long years of waiting did the LORD keep His promise and give this childless couple a child. Abraham and Sarah were now very advanced in age, and  according to natural laws they were  totally incapable of having children. 

But notice how long this process took. These two persons may have wondered if the LORD had forgotten them. But the LORD had told Abraham that He would give him a son, and He kept His promise.

I am slowly learning a true but sometimes frustrating fact: Just because God gives us a promise now ( for example, promising a childless couple that they would have children), it does not mean that He's going to fulfil it right now. In those moments I realize  that I either have to trust God or backslide, turn away from Him and walk away. Or I could choose to be bitter and hateful,envying what others have, especially those who do not want to be saved  at all. 

But all the same, God keeps His promises.

"And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body being dead, when he was an hundred years old, yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not (did not waver) at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that, what he (GOD) had promised, he was able to perform." Romans 4{ 19 - 21  (KJV)  

Is This The Day Of New Beginnings?

Five years ago my life underwent a dramatic change. God moved me from the church that I was in, and early last year I returned to the church where I became a Christian. 

I got up one morning in August last year thinking of the four lepers in the Bible. In a time of famine, these four men stepped out in faith to get food from an enemy camp. I also made a big step of faith and submitted a small part of one of my manuscripts to be critiqued by a Christian writer's group that also teaches creative writing. In both instances, bold faith were rewarded.

Today I went to the hairdresser. Not the regular person.This new person was recommended by my 20something year old niece. I was so happy with the service that I got from this young hairdresser. AND MY HAIR LOOKS FABULOUS. Even my aunt (who was not happy with how my hair used to look) was pleased.

This October, I will be celebrating a very significant birthday (God willing). It's not just significant in the natural sense, but also highly significant spiritually. When my birthday comes around, I will talk about this! God willing!. I know that God has begun a new thing in my life. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, and there is a lot for God to do, in me and through me! So I'm looking forward to what God is doing and will do in my life.

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall springs forth; shall ye not know it?" Isaiah 43: 19b (KJV)

Being Afraid

I hate feeling and being afraid! 

When fear grips me, its as if Jaws or the spirit of Death is coming behind me to take me away. I fight to breathe as the world around me appears to be fading to blackness. I have to make a huge effort to stand still and calm down.

What do I fear the most? 

• Being rejected. 
• Being ridiculed and not being able to do or say anything about it.
• Growing old and being alone and homeless, with no family and friends around to love me and care for me
• Dying and facing God without being right with Him firs!

Children feel afraid, just like adults do. And they also fear some of the same things that grownup fear. 

Long time ago children would be afraid of

• the dark
• not being liked
• their parents forgetting their birthday

But now we can add to the list

• abuse and neglect of all kind
• bullying of a quality and intensity not known before
• even abortion of children before they are even born

Do you know that the Lord Jesus Christ said, "don't be afraid" 365 tims in the Bible? So everyday, when we feel afraid, (whether we are man or woman, boy or girl) we could gain comfort from the fact that TODAY, our Heavenly Father has already told us."don't be afraid!"

"Don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you with My right hand that saves you." Isaiah 41:19 (New Century Version)