Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Alcohol Is Ugly


Mom helping Dad and her only brother Raymond work on a fishing net. I believe that is me behind my Mom. (Someone gave this photograph to my brother Don to give to me and he can't remember who it was.)
Thanks _______ - for the picture - :-)

For those of us that have lived with alcohol in our lives and have seen the wrecks, hopelessness, sickness and abuses that it causes can understand why I say, "I hate alcohol."

It has robbed me of a loving gentle Dad in my childhood.

It robbed my Mom of peace, rest, and love in her relationship with my Dad.

My Mom's sisters, and one dear brother lost all dignity when they would drink. My memories of them are all mostly drunken.

Sadly, the ugly spirit of alcohol has toyed with our own children. It's a heartache to be woken up when called in the middle of the night or early morning for help to get out of a hard situation. Then follows the aggravation of months of dealing with the aftermath of one "fun" time somewhere - drinking.

Alcohol is the ugly reason my Mom is ousted from her home and made to live in a new situation - with us; just people that time and neglect have made strangers. Year after year she's spent "helping" my alcoholic brother to walk with Jesus. The amount of time she's spent with him, is the same time that she's been oblivious to the rest of her family.

Alcohol robbed me of my own front teeth!

Alcohol was the inhibition-reducing reason for Dad's violent behavior towards his family and friends. When he was not drinking, he was a great Dad and friend.

Alcohol robs bank accounts. Thousands of dollars are wasted - not on things needed for a home, but for more, and more alcohol.

Alcohol makes people become just like it is - ugly.

I hate alcohol.
Who needs it?
...drunks and the weak.

"Now wine today is not like that. Wine today comes straight out of the fruit, particularly the grapes as most wine comes from that, and as it comes it is purposely fermented, that's the whole point of it, to make it somehow intoxicating to one level or another, and it is consumed that way." John MacArthur

Years ago I listened with great interest to a tape as John MacArthur spoke about wine and strong drink in relation to being a deacon or elder or older woman in the church. We are not supposed to drink alcohol. I found a transcript of his message here. I listened because I was told that "it is okay to take a little wine for your health's sake." So to hear the breakdown of what wine actually was in Bible times was awesome! Their wine was nothing like the wines and certainly not the strong drinks of today.

We do not need alcohol, we have other great things to drink and so much to keep and to gain in our lives as families and friends.

COMMENT NOTES:

Connie M. - I was never an alcoholic. My write may have given that impression but was not meant to say that I personally have struggled with alcohol abuse. Sorry for giving that false impression.

Connie BBF - I have wondered that myself. Why do American Natives struggle so much with alcohol abuse? I don't have a reply for you. When my Dad became a Christian, he didn't drink anymore. P'ing T L. I've heard so many say the same thing. I was reading about drinking this morning, and studying scriptures. I read that 1 out of every 10 persons that tries alcohol will become addicted to it. I don't know how so many of those 1's are in our towns and villages in Alaska! It is a wonderment. I can only guess that the evil one uses it - very successfully - to turning our People away from trusting in God, to trusting in a substance for comfort. Not a very good or lasting trade I might add. Perhaps that is the key to why alcoholics have become addicted - for the way it makes them feel: accepted, welcomed, comforted, numb, etc. etc.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Tanalian Bible Camp

I've been to this Tanalian Camp once a very long time ago when my husband was a student at what used to be called Arctic Bible Institute. I vaguely remember giving my testimony ---and CRYING!

I get to return to Port Alsworth's Tanalian Bible Camp (Site includes webcams.) with the Alaska Freedom Band today. (Lord willing!) I'm hoping to see my sister there! My younger sister, Bec. I have five sisters. Millie is my oldest, then there is my almost twin (we are the same age right now, I'm just almost a year riper) Kotya, and Ruth, and Becca and then our youngest sis is Rachel. Mom is visiting Rachel this weekend while I will be away.

Doug and the team went to the camp last year and they are invited back again this year, so that is a good thing! I am looking forward to spending time with the Christian's out in the Iliamna area. I am thankful that I get to tag along once again with the AFB! (Last time was to Togiak.) May Jesus Christ be praised all weekend and may we all become even readier for Christ's soon return!

To be together and worship Jesus Christ is a good thing. To worship Him in one Spirit, is a gift from God! Paul says "being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This is what Christ began! We are one. Is that not amazing? No more divisions. Many kinds of peoples coming together, becoming ONE through Christ, and praising Him. Ah, but the evil one comes around blindsiding (catching unawares, especially with harmful consequences) those overcome by the flesh who have lost sight of their salvation and been persuaded to cause divisions among God's people. Though sad when it happens, there is always forgiveness and restoration through Christ. Help us all to be aware of the evil ones tactics. Guard yourselves against his wily ways!!!! He is a destroyer, nothing good comes from him.

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Paul. (Ephesians 4: 1-6.)

Have a great weekend!

Big sad P.S.!!!!! I was setting up the Following thingy on the side, deleted all my regular bloggy visiting links and now I have to go to Dashboard everytime I want to see my regulars blogs! And sometimes I am in such a rush I don't go. I need to get you all using that following thingy like e-Mom, Faith and Joy... and ME!!! I accidently followed myself when I was trying to follow someone else and have not had time to figure out how to remove me from my own following list! arrrrrrrr! ... Follow me, hey hey.... I'm the pied piper... follow me!

Monday, April 13, 2009

My Strength My Redeemer

Today this verse has been busy in my mind.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Everything I say today, may it be filtered by that standard. For it's not my thoughts or my words that bring everlasting life, but it is those words sent from our God and our Lord that dig deep into the depths of our hearts and whisper, "This is the Truth" when it is read.

The singing at church yesterday was a blessing to me. I love the music filled with the truth of Christ's Resurrection. The triumph of Christ over death and sin's at Calvary is such a satisfying and relieving truth! The bright hope on Easter morning when I woke up with the everlasting truth beating in my heart - KRIS TOS WOS KRIS! WIES DE NOS KRIS! (written and pronounced as I remembered from childhood) Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

We should search for wisdom diligently and with hope! Just like my grandchildren did yesterday searching for eggs! They knew there were prizes and they scrambled for the hidden eggs. Some of the eggs I had numbered to match a small prize which they "fish for" after they found the eggs. What a happy time as I sat hidden behind the doorway tying on the matching prizes to the numbered eggs! They were tickled for every little gift! We had so much fun.

My daughters brought over so many goodies to share with the lamb and beef roasts I had in the oven to celebrate new spiritual life. After the fishing fun we all prayed and thanked God for the gift of His Son, willing to die to pay the price for our sin. All we have to do is choose to believe that this is the Truth, and repent for all that separates us from God, and that LIFE begins. Incredible!

To top off this beautiful day we watched our oldest grandson Tucker get asked two seriously important questions. "Tucker do you believe Jesus Christ is God's Son, that He came as a baby, He died, He rose again and He is sitting at the right side of our Father in Heaven, and that He is alive today?" Tucker said, "Yes." "Tucker, is Jesus Christ your Lord and your Savior?" Tucker said, "Yes." Tears came as we watched him submerged into the baptismal and come up completely wet.

The Truth goes on...and I am incredibly thankful.

With Christ beside me I am ready for death, are you?

But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me." Jesus (John 8:45)

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Facebook'n

I've been busy... elsewhere!

Do you Facebook? I would like to be in contact with those that come here regularly. I put a badge up in case you would like to add me to your friends list.

So how is everyone? I need to make the rounds here at the blogging world to catch up with you.

The volcano Mt. Redoubt and earthquakes have been part of our lives up here recently. Nothing like an earthquake to get your mind focused where it should have been the whole time, hah? Gets me every time! I always remember this guy that used to come and sing up here at our church - Dan Whittemore during a quake. He said something like earthquakes are just our God shaking things up a bit to remind us to always be ready because He will be returning soon! I never forgot that advice. When I am experiencing a quake, big or small, I always remember that. Thanks Dan, where ever in the world you are. Okay, I found a website for him. Cool! (d a n wh it t emo re . com) (4/13/09 - Removed hyperlink to get rid of pop-up???)

And here is the song he was introducing, he wrote it too. :

Trumpet Song

Lately when there's no one around,
it seems I hear this strange little sound,
it sounds like a distance trumpet softly blowing.
And everytime that trumpet blows,
my heart jumps for joy,
because the louder it gets
the closer I am to going home

At first it really obsurd,
until I started reading the Word,
and the message that it spoke it spoke so clearly.
Now everytime that trumpet blows,
my heart jumps for joy,
because the louder it gets the closer
I am to going home

Going home to see my savior,
going home to claim my crown,
oh when the trump of God starts calling
you know I won't be standing 'round.
So trumpets keep on blowin'
while my heart jumps for joy,
because the louder it gets the closer
I am to going home....

All the news just is kind of unnerving and then the earth shakes and the volcano erupts and settles ash all around, makes me think ever so much more that we may be meeting our Savior face to face in the near future. That is so exciting!

My sister Millie had a bout with a urinary tract infection that put her into intensive care this past week. She is on antibiotics and recovering. Her daughter said that she was more responsive in her new surroundings while in the emergency room and then in the Intensive Care Unit. She should be close to being ready to return to the Providence Extended Care Hospital.

UPDATE: I tried to alter the Dan Whittemore url link to see if I can get rid of the sparrows songs pop up. I have no idea how they are linking to this site with that. That's a bit agressive isn't it?

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

April Fool'd!

This day is always fun! As long as we don't take anything seriously it usually can be a day filled with laughter. I don't usually fall for the lies that can be freely told on April 1st, but I've been able to fool others pretty good a time or two! Not quite sure what that says about me either!

This audio was from 2006. A recording taken early in the morning BEFORE I've even had time to think! I'm always sure to remind everyone that I was not in my normally fully aware state of mind. The phone had been ringing repeatedly when I finally woke up and staggered over to answer it (it's not beside my bed!!!!). Because it took about five rings to even rouse me it had gone to the answer machine by the time I picked it up. So that is why we even have this recording! It was funny so I snagged the recording off of the phone recorder with my computer recorder. haha

Anyway! Go a head ---- have a laugh on me!

I had another fun, fun day! This is one of my favorite days - especially if I can fool someone!