ENABLING AND DENIAL IN THE CHURCH!

ENABLING AND DENIAL IN THE CHURCH!

Enabling is often the root of addictions to drugs and alcohol. Having worked with alcoholics and addicts for years, I’ve seen how easy it is for kind, caring, and loving family members, friends, neighbors, employers, and even pastors can fall into the trap of enabling someone they care about, when that person needs someone who can show tough love and say no in situations where it’s needed. It’s especially difficult in the Christian community where we’ve been raised “to love one another.” It doesn’t feel like we’re showing much love when we need to close the door in someone’s face who’s begging us for “one more chance,” or one more loan or handout, or a place to stay, or to get their job back, etc., etc. And yet we must learn to do exactly that if we’re to show real genuine love rather than enabling our friend or loved one to continue in their addictions and even increase the seriousness of them. This has always been, and will continue to be a major area of concern and study and education in addiction recovery programs. There are no answers other than educating and informing those around the alcoholics and addicts of their responsibilities to their friends and loved ones.

Denial is another major root cause of addictions, and recovery will never begin until denial is recognized and overcome. People usually begin their addictions never thinking or realizing that it can quickly become a life threatening, even paralyzing nightmare that will not only ruin their lives, but all too often, actually take their lives! Until a person recognizes and admits to themselves that they know the seriousness of their predicament and the importance of making whatever changes are necessary to turn from their addictions and to permanently stay away from them, they will continue to suffer through one relapse after another.

Enabling and denial are both a major component in the world of addictions and addiction recovery. Just as they are a major part of the everyday lives of millions of alcoholics and addicts, they also play an equally major role in leading millions of people astray in our “new age” Churches today. Churches that are led by false teachers leading their flock down “the wide road to destruction.” Churches that in a variety of ways through false doctrine are teaching and “enabling” millions of lost souls to believe that they can “accept Christ,” and be saved, without forsaking the world! A “feel good, tickle my ears” message that has convinced millions of followers who are in complete “denial,” of The Truth, and believe that they can be saved without repenting and turning from their sin! The message of repentance has disappeared from today’s pulpit along with most of The Gospel Truth! There are millions of believers in Churches today who are “enabling” others by not denouncing false doctrine when and if they’re aware of it. Most however are in “denial” of the Truth, thus incapable of warning others. Whether “in denial” because a false teacher has mislead them, or because of their own ignorance and slothfulness and refusal to examine God’s Word and instructions for life, as commanded to do in Acts 17:11, there is no valid excuse to miss out on Salvation. Yet millions are going to according to Jesus’ own words in Matthew 7:13-15, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:, 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” If you’re still on the wide road to destruction, whether by your own means, or having been led there by listening to and believing a false teacher, there is still time to repent, (Acts 26:20), and turn to The One Savior, Jesus Christ, who God Sacrificed on The Cross for us, and who has Risen and is Alive and with those of us who Live for Him! God did not Sacrifice His Son, that we might continue to live our lives in sin as many false teachers would lead you to believe!                   

FALSE TEACHINGS IN OUR CHURCHES

FALSE TEACHINGS IN OUR CHURCHES,

LEADS TO FALSE TEACHINGS IN OUR

CHRISTIAN ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS!

ARE YOU LISTENING TO GOD, OR ONE OF

MANY OF THE DEVILS FALSE TEACHERS?

 John 8:47

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Matthew 11:29,

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The only way to understand God’s Word and His will for YOUR life, is to read it for YOURSelf! Pray and meditate over it daily and ask God for discernment until YOU understand it. Do NOT ask your neighbor, friend, relative, brother or sister in the pew next to you, not even your pastor or counselor who usually get paid the big bucks to confuse you all the way to hell! “IF” YOU’RE concerned about YOUR salvation, YOU need to make sure that it’s GOD that you’re listening to, and is teaching you, and not someone else who’s been the victim of false teaching, and living a lie of false doctrine! That’s why we read in Acts 17:11, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Just one of the many things He wants to teach you is patience, and you can rest assured that no matter how long you live, or how much you read and study His Word, when He calls you Home, you will not yet have learned it all. But if WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, you’ve listened to, and learned it from GOD, not man, while you resided here, you can also rest assured that Home will be Heaven and you’ll have ETERNITY with Him to sort out the unknown. We are not OF God, or IN God, or Saved, if we’re not following and obeying God through His Word! The Word IS God! John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If you’re a relatively new Christian and have recently started attending a church, it is absolutely detrimental that you follow the instructions in Acts 17:11! The odds of finding false teachers in today’s Churches are greater than any time in history and the consequences of putting your trust in the words of any mere man can be deadly! We all want to trust our friends, family, neighbors, and yes, even our pastors, and while it’s fine to trust others with a weather forecast, you better think twice about it with your Salvation! We only get one chance. While that one chance may be spread out over our lifetime, no one knows how long our lifetime will be.  

I think the biggest failure of mankind and Christianity began centuries ago when man began following other men instead of God! Even today in our country which was founded on the precept of “In God we Trust,” we’ve completely abandoned God beginning with the requests of a handful of the devils personal warriors, the atheists. And our Churches have let it happen, rather than defend the principal of “One nation under God,” and “tip over the tables of the atheists,” they chose to turn our country over to the devil by “love thy neighbor,” or “judge not,” rather than fight, 2 Corinthians 10:4, The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Consequently, both our country and our church is now in the hands and control of Satan!   

Today, with modern media now at our fingertips 24 hours a day, we have become far more vulnerable to the deception of the devil through the false teachings of thousands of false teachers! Many are in brick and mortar buildings that they call churches, and many more on the internet. As long as man insists on listening to, believing, and following the physco-babble of some false teacher’s rantings spiced with a few mis-quoted scriptures, used out of context, to clarify or defend his or her false doctrine with words like, “this is what “I” think Jesus or Paul or Peter meant in verse such and such,” we will never find the Truth! We don’t need to know what someone else thinks about God’s Word, we need to KNOW exactly what GOD wants us to KNOW! And the only way to do that is to LISTEN to GOD by READING His WORD and PRAYING for discernment. NOT watching TV, listening to a radio program, following someone on the internet, or spending one hour a week in a mega-church building made out of glass and gold, where the only message is give, give, give, work, work, work, me, me, me. Or many other false doctrines linked with a verse or two of Truth out of context to make it pleasing to tickle the ear.   

The biggest danger in listening to, and following a man, in our endeavor to understand God’s Truth, rather than relying on, and listening to God Himself, is the probability of hearing and believing lies and false doctrines. Most of these mega-church leaders become false-idols to the church members. There are so many false teachers teaching false doctrines that have overtaken the Church today, affecting millions of followers, that the chance of hearing the Truth is slim. Hence these important words of Jesus in,… Matthew 7:13-14, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Which in plain and simple English vernacular, means that only a few “Christians” are on the right path to Eternal life in Heaven, and most are on the wide road to hell! There is a need for more of this “BAD NEWS,” which in this case is The Truth, to be shared around the world! Millions have had the “GOOD NEWS” so distorted by false teachers and doctrines that we live on a planet where our consciences are seared beyond recognition of good and evil!

As Christians with addictions, recovery can be next to impossible unless they’re being taught God’s Truth. False teachings and doctrines will not only keep them struggling with their addictions, but may very well keep them from Salvation. While there are many false doctrines throughout the Church, one that does the most harm to Christians in addiction recovery is the false grace doctrine or movement.

The false grace movement or doctrine would have us believe we can be Saved without changing our ways or lifestyles! A.W. Tozer quoted years ago, “A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to “accept” Christ, without forsaking the world!” The new age false grace teaching church has the entire homosexual community convinced that repentance is a thing of the past! And the millions of “Drunkards” and drug addicts in the church have no reason to believe any different. Churches using AA type 12-step addiction recovery programs teach that their sin is an incurable disease and that they are powerless to do anything about it! Pure heresy in a Church, and when mixed with the false grace heresy, an alcoholic or addict is very unlikely to find recovery, or Salvation! They believe they’re Saved but don’t need to repent or obey God’s Word.  James 1:21,Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you 1 John 2:15-16, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

We’re no longer getting solid Biblical Truth in Sunday’s message. Instead, we’re besieged with “new age, pop culture, feel good” messages that take precedence over the Truth. “Sin is being tolerated, when repentance is not being preached.” “Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” (Isaiah 60:2) “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov. 29:18) There can be no vision in the dark! (Ps. 119:105) In “The Need of the Hour”, by Oswald J. Smith, he says “This is true today…people on every side are in almost total darkness, so far as Gods Salvation is concerned. Only here and there do we find a pulpit where the Gospel is preached, the new birth emphasized, Salvation made plain, and an invitation given.” I would add also, that the message of Repentance has been forgotten as well.

Many churches today teaching the false grace doctrine, suggest that since grace replaced the law and set us free, we no longer need to be burdened with repentance and the fear of condemnation. They seem to dismiss the fact that no matter how “born again” we are, we still reside here on earth with a sinful nature (Romans 7:18), engaged in spiritual warfare with the devil! (Ephesians 6:12,For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.) The false grace movement teaches that we no longer are responsible for “cleaning up our act,” and that “God demands nothing from us,” as someone recently told me. We can live our lives as we always have, and our “old” ways are perfectly acceptable, is what I was told! “If Christ lives IN us, we can sit back and wait for HIM to change our behavior.”

The lack of focus on the word “IF,” is a big problem in our Churches today. False teachers, pastors who lead many of our “new age mega-churches,” whose sole focus is filling seats and coffers, refuse to disclose the Truth that there are a number of “conditions” to our Salvation! The false grace doctrine was birthed on the lie that there are no conditions, that because of God’s Grace, one can accept Christ without forsaking their worldly behavior. They will use scripture like, Ephesians 2:8-10,  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.  They will avoid verse 10,  “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,”   knowing no one wants to “work” for their Salvation. False teachers will use John 8:31-32 to tell you that you can be “set free,” without ever mentioning or pointing out the significance of the “IF” in that scripture, where Jesus says,  31,"IF” ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  “continue in my word,” meaning to be obedient, which false teachers know will interfere with their plans to fill seats. There is almost zero mention of the importance of “repentance” in the new age mega-church! The new false-grace movement will have nothing to do with Acts 26:20, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”  Which in 4 simple words dispel the entire false grace doctrine, “repent and show it”! 

       

Over the past dozen years, teaching in various addiction recovery programs, I’ve witnessed hundreds of professing Christians suggesting that their sinful behavior was excusable because of two different scriptural contexts. One being Romans 7, leading to comments like; “If Paul struggled with sin, why shouldn’t I”? The other being, 1 John 1:8-10, leading to this much used excuse, “we’re all sinners, aren’t we”? I’ve had a number of professing Christian homosexuals defend their behavior using this scripture as an excuse, and linked to the false grace doctrine will ad, “God will forgive me.” Yes He will! When you repent and turn to Him! (Acts 26:20) Then you can be a born again, saved, and “set free” Christian, saved by Grace and not by works! Romans 11:6, And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.,  Ephesians 2:8, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—    

The false grace movement was started in the 60’s and 70’s by pastors who grew up on surfboards, and came out of the 60’s hippie culture. “Love, peace, freedom”! Add a little scripture, some pot and LSD and you have an instant “new age” church! False teachers are lead by satan the master deceiver. As they built their mega churches they realized that their messages and worship music needed to tickle their members ears if they were to fill their bank accounts! Hence, the birth of the new age false grace doctrine designed to convince people that they could “accept Christ” without forsaking the World! Jude1:3-4 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Today, as a result, we have millions of mislead, professing Christians who see no reason to turn from their sin. Millions of mislead, professing Christians struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol who can’t find a Church or a pastor or counselor who can lead them to the Truth, and then on to recovery, because the only recovery program that they’re familiar with is a secular 12-step program that teaches pure heresy!

Most of the brokenness we see in the world today, the millions of broken homes and families, the moral decline of our entire culture, the drug and alcohol epidemic, and the overall open sinfulness and evil darkness that’s over taken our society today, can all be attributed to the devils success in overtaking our Churches through the teachings of false doctrines! And just like in the addiction recovery programs around the world, the first obstacle to overcome is denial. For alcoholics and addicts, recovery can’t begin until denial is accepted and the truth of their condition is acknowledged. Christians who have been mislead by false teaching face the same dilemma, no one wants to admit that they've been duped by a pastor that they've come to adore, maybe even turned into a false idol, which happens all too often. Many will follow the lies all the way to hell! And no one will ever be able to convince them that they’re on the wrong road, and all they have to do to see for themselves is pick up their Bible and read it!

I’m not sure which is worse, addictions to drugs and alcohol, or to a church that teaches false doctrine! They will both lead to death without The Saving Grace and intervention of Jesus Christ to free those in bondage to either one or both. There can be nothing more devastating than alcoholics and addicts who have broken free from the bondage of denial, and are seeking recovery in a Church that’s teaching the false grace doctrine, and at the same time counseling its wounded members with a secular non-Biblical 12-step program that can only lead one further from The Truth! James 1:21-22, 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 5:19-20, 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

   As hopeless as this scenario appears to be, there is always Hope. Anyone who reads this and agrees that it indeed describes the condition of the Church today, and is, or has been affected by it, Jesus is always waiting with arms wide open to accept any lost child who will repent and turn back to Him, confess their sins and ask for forgiveness, promise to be obedient, and have the Faith of a mustard seed, and confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior! If you do this in sincerity and good faith, welcome back! Or if this is the first time you’ve surrendered your life to Christ, welcome aboard. Be prepared for change, because being born again is all about change and becoming a brand new creature! 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  

 No matter what your addiction might be, God’s Word, The Truth, is the only place to find the answers to resolving and overcoming it. It is your responsibility, if you’ve finally overcome denial and are ready for recovery, to make sure that you’re on the right road to recovery. There are many in recovery who are on the wrong road, a road that just keeps people going in circles of relapse. Christ’s return is near and it is up to us to be ready. Should He return later today or tomorrow are you ready?  

BOOKSTORE

BOOKSTORE

A must read book for Christian pastors, counselors, or any Christians still struggling with addictions. https://www.createspace.com/4180069?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

SAVED and SOBER

One Step Addiction Recovery,...John 3:3

Authored by

 Don Johnson

Edition: first

Saved and Sober is a must read book for anyone, or a loved one, or a friend of someone who struggles with the curse of addictions. Saved and Sober is a book that illustrates God's Truth as it applies to addiction recovery. It exposes the lies and faults of man's many failed attempts at conquering this world-wide plague that claims millions of lives, and destroys millions of families each year in this country. A must read for anyone caught in this epidemic, or anyone interested in helping others who are. Everyone is affected by addictions either directly or indirectly. From the subtle trickle-down consequences of addictions such as higher taxes, higher health care costs and insurance rates, the moral decline of an entire society, to the more obvious results such as homelessness, crime, DUI highway fatalities, broken families, etc., everyone is impacted in some way. The war on drugs and the efforts of secular recovery programs have been a complete failure. The problem has grown exponentially into an out of control epidemic, even in the Church. It would appear to be, and actually is, a hopeless situation for those who don't know the one true and living God, The Creator. This book, through His Truth, will reveal His purpose for us regarding our battles with addictions. If you believe God's Word is the Truth, and you're ready to start living your life according to it, this book will show you how to apply His Word and be SAVED and SOBER! 
https://www.createspace.com/4180069?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

INSECURITY

INSECURITY

Job 11:18

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 
Psalm 112:8 
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

                         

M

ost of us who have spent years of our lives imprisoned in the bondage of addictions, and the dysfunctional consequences that accompany such behavior, do so because we struggle with insecurity. In most cases it’s what led us into our addictions to begin with, and it’s what keeps us in our addictions! We are so insecure that we feel hopeless, and in most 12-step addiction recovery programs we’re told that we are powerless, hopeless, i.e.; “once a drunk or addict, always a drunk or addict,” and have an incurable disease, which only reinforces our insecurity. It’s our insecurity that keeps us paralyzed into believing that we can trust no one, not man or God! We’re told we should remain anonymous, which prevents us from facing or admitting our true identity. That we should hide behind a mask of false identity, rather than face the ugly reality of who we really are. Living in anonymity is like living in a closet and prevents us from facing the truth of who we really are and until we know who we are, we can never be set free. It’s like looking in a mirror and asking “who are you”? The only way to recovery is to know exactly who we are. We must remove the many masks of anonymity that we've acquired throughout our addictions, face the hard truth of who we really are, and step out of denial before we can begin recovery.

T

hen we can begin to work on our insecurity which can be a long painful process of discovering who we really are. Most of us have used our drugs and alcohol to bury and hide the painful past of our lives, and to unveil those memories without our usual “painkillers” can be excruciating. This is where many fall victim to relapse because they just can’t handle the truth! It is too painful. This is where the strong survive, and the weak fail. This is where we need God the most, and for those who refuse to seek His help at this juncture in recovery, the future is bleak. None of us can win this battle on our own. This is where many alcoholics and addicts fail, and relapse over and over again because they refuse to surrender their lives and wills to Almighty God. Perhaps because most addiction recovery programs fail to clearly exemplify exactly who the one true living Almighty God is! We cannot pray and ask help from a false idol or some undefined “higher power,” or “god as we understand him,” and expect The True Almighty God, our Creator, to hear our prayer or answer it! Our recovery and our security can only be found in a close personal relationship with God the Father, and His Son Jesus!        

M

any of us started our addictive behavior at an early age, as children, and as the result of growing up in a dysfunctional home, where drug and alcohol use and abuse was prevalent, resulting in the absence of love, affection, attention, encouragement, and guidance in our lives from our parents. Some of us were fortunate enough to have an older sibling or other family member, a neighbor or school teacher to take us under their wing, and provide us with those necessary fundamental life skills that are essential in our childhood development. For the rest of us however, without them, we fell victim to a vicious cycle of following in our parents footsteps.     

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arents who attempt to raise children while under the influence of drugs and alcohol are usually too involved in their own dysfunctions too adequately attend to their children’s needs. They are incapable of providing a child’s most basic needs. In simple reality, this leads to a form of abandonment and neglect, which is a form of child abuse! This is the beginning of our insecurity. Love, affection, attention, encouragement, and guidance are critical in building self-esteem in children, which is needed to overcome insecurity and build confidence. Without those characteristics instilled in a child’s life, they are likely to be influenced by others of similar backgrounds and characteristics, and will end up getting involved in drugs, alcohol, crime, and other dangerous behaviors, to fill the void created by their insecurity, to give them a sense of false security and self-esteem or self-worth and purpose.

A

s God fearing, born again children of god, all of the above information should be of insignificant value. While it explains some of the basic behavioral characteristics of children and alcoholics and addicts who don’t know Christ, as Christians we are commanded to turn from, and repent of our “drunkenness.” Acts 26:20, “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” We should be raising our children according to His Word, Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” and our security should rest solely on His purpose and will for our lives. Proverbs 14:26, “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.” 

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hy are so many Christians struggling with addictions in the Church today, when His Word tells us that He will set us free? There are many reasons to choose from, but the primary central one that feeds all the others can be traced to satan and his deception. To the fact that we’re in spiritual warfare, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) If we don’t focus on God’s Word, and become like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, and examine and study His Word daily to compare it with what we’re being told by others, and in many of our churches today, we will continue to be lost as we head down the “wide road to destruction.” Matthew 7:13-15, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:14, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." As long as we choose to trust our addiction recovery with any mortal man or program created by one, our future, welfare, security, as well as our sobriety is at risk!

A

s Christians, none of this should be news to you if you’re reading and studying God’s Word. As God-fearing, born again and saved Christians, and parents, we should recognize according to His Word, that drunkenness is forbidden and we must repent and turn from it. As Christians in addiction recovery we should understand that there is a difference between getting “drunk,” or “high,” and “drunkenness.” Getting drunk is a singular act, or a single sin, where “drunkenness” is a plural action or a form of behavior, or sinful behavior. This is where things get out of control. We’ve turned our backs on God and are living a worldly lifestyle, under satan’s control. 2 Peter 3:17, Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. God is perfectly clear that we cannot serve two masters! Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.   

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e lose all sense of security when living in sin. As Christians, our security is in our Salvation, which is in Christ, and Christ Crucified, not in the world or anything it has to offer. Hebrews 6:19, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. To gain a strong sense of security we must learn who we are in Christ. What His purpose in life is for us. Many Christians miss out on God’s blessings because they become “pew potatoes,” they fail to pick up their cross and follow and serve God. He has a special plan for each and every one of us, and until we discover and act upon it out of Faith, we will never know who we are in Him. Once we begin to discover who we are in him, we’ll start to feel secure in our Faith and believe His words in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Our confidence will grow, our blessings will multiply, our trials will diminish, and those trials that do appear will be easier to bear. Our addictions, and the pain and suffering that they inflicted, should become a distant memory. We should be able to look in the mirror and smile as we see a reflection of Jesus, and tell Him, “thank you Lord, for saving me and allowing me to be “SAVED and SOBER”!   

THE NARROW ROAD

Are you on the lonely narrow road to Heaven,

 or the crowded wide road to destruction?

Proverbs 3:5-6
 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Romans 12:2
  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Christians in addiction recovery must repent and change the road they’re on to experience victory over their addictions! We must get off the wide road to destruction, and pick up our cross and follow Christ on the narrow road to Eternal Life and freedom from addictions! 

The narrow road is only lonely because there are only a few others on it! There are no crowds as one might expect. The crowds are all on the wide road “that leadeth to destruction,” and headed over a cliff into eternal damnation! If we’re genuine, God fearing, Spirit-filled and guided, obedient, and born-again Christians, according to Jesus own words in Matthew 7:13-15, we’re supposed to be on a very lonely, deserted, and narrow road. (Matthew 7:13-15 KJV, 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.)  If we’re being obedient to God’s Word along our journey, it can get very dark, discouraging, and lonely along this road we call life as we navigate around satan’s many roadblocks and obstacles that he sets in our path to distract and discourage us from continuing. We must learn early along our journey not to forget who set us on this narrow road and why. We must remember God’s words to us in  Deuteronomy 8:11, Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: and take heed not to follow those wolves in sheep’s clothing, that are around every corner of our journey, that would lead us astray, into a ditch, or off the narrow road, and onto the wide one. Exodus 34:12, Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: We really shouldn’t expect to see a lot of traffic on this road as Jesus explains to us above in Matthew 7:14, “and few there be that find it.”  If you’re feeling uncomfortable Sunday in your overcrowded mega-church, as you sit in a traffic-jam in the parking lot filled with Mercedes Benz type luxury cars trying to get home to watch the football game on TV, it might be The Holy Spirit telling you that you’re on the wrong road!  “IF” you’re a spirit filled Christian, that will be Him, (The Holy Spirit), tugging on your conscience when you drift off the narrow road and onto the “broad” one that satan dresses up as a “shortcut” to someplace where God had no intension for you to be in the first place! It’s crucial that we learn very early in our Christian walk to recognize God’s voice and trust His every Word. The minute we question any of it, we’re allowing satan to deceive us with a lie. Living in a world where the Church has become overcome with false teachers, we must learn to be as the Bereans in Acts 17:11, and search the scripture daily to stay abreast of all that we are being told and taught about God’s Truth.  John 4:23, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. We are not to worship false idols! 1John 5:21,  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

       There are millions of professing Christians today who have been mislead into believing that they can travel the wide road to destruction by disobeying God, living a fast and reckless, sinful life, and that God will forgive them simply because of one verse that declares that we’re “all sinners,” taken out of context. They have no idea that forgiveness and Salvation are conditional promises that require repentance, Faith, surrender, and obedience. This leads us to the circumstances we find today in a world overcome with unimpeded immorality and an epidemic of unrestrained drug and alcohol use and abuse even within the walls of The New World Christian Church where sin is overlooked and tolerated for the sake of growing the attendance numbers and the bank accounts.

       In the past 10 years of ministry in numerous Christian addiction recovery groups, after writing volumes of material including a book regarding the false teachings, heresy, and blasphemy that transpire in groups within thousands of churches around the country, I think I can sum up the entire contents of my book as well as the ministry with this; it’s less about being sober, and more about being the above described Christian, or not!  If we’re performing the role of Christian as we’re expected too according to the Word of God, if we’re walking the road above as directed and obeying the rules set before us, (this having nothing to do with being “legalistic” or not, but living according to His Word),  if  we’ve picked up our cross, and are denying ourselves, (Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”), and are following Christ instead of satan and his worldly ways, we can be assured we will no longer be burdened with addictions! We will have no desire to spend another minute in such willful, sinful behavior. Why not, you ask? “Aren’t we all sinners”? Yes we are; each and every one of us will stumble from time to time, and will be forgiven when we admit that we’ve sinned, ask for forgiveness, and repent. That however is a far cry from being an alcoholic or an addict, or someone lost in their sins. As born again believers, we become ambassadors for Christ. It becomes our duty to represent Him and share His Good News with the rest of the World. We can’t serve God if we’re addicted to drugs and alcohol and other sin. Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” If we claim to be born again Christians and still struggle with addictions, we need to get on our knees, truly repent, and ask God to change our Hearts, and set us on the “narrow road that leads to eternal life with Him” Then we can be SAVED and SOBER!

       Many of us today in addiction recovery have succumbed to the misunderstanding of the passage in, 1 John 1:8-10, 8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  means that the fact that “we’re all sinners” is an excuse to sin! Nothing could be further from the Truth! There is no excuse to sin! The above passage simply explains that none of us are perfect and will all fall short of God’s Glory because of Adam and Eve’s failure in the Garden, and that Christians who confess their sin and repent can be forgiven. We must never use scripture like this to condone our sinful behavior.         

       While many of us, (myself included), focus on Christ Crucified, and His Work on the Cross, I all too often forget that "HE IS RISEN"! And sometimes I forget to invite Him to "come join me" in whatever daily function I may be involved in. As born again believers He is not only risen, but He dwells within us in the form of the Holy Spirit! (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV , Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?) Learning to accept His presence in us is part of the total and complete surrender process, part of the sanctification process that we are involved in if we are born again. We fall short of God’s Glory and often fail, when we fail to invite Him into the moment at hand! We fail, when we fail to recognize that HE empowers us to overcome sin. (Romans 12:21, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.) We fail and fall into sin when we take our eyes off of HIM even for a minute! It's our choice whether we fail or succeed. 
      We need to focus not only on HIS work on The Cross, but also on the fact that HE IS RISEN! That if you have accepted His invitation, and asked him into your heart, repented and turned from your sinful ways by being obedient according to His Word, and in Faith accepted him as your Lord and Savior; He will take up residence in your body, and be no further away from you than a gentle whisper. When we learn to seek His presence in every minute of our lives, our journey along this narrow road will become “a walk in the park”! And we won’t be lonely because we’ll be walking hand in hand with Jesus! We will learn to embrace the challenges that we’ll undoubtedly be faced with, with great optimism, knowing that we need them to grow and mature our Faith and wisdom, and knowing that not only will He provide us with the means to overcome and have victory over those challenges, but also that,… 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”       

A MESSAGE FOR ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS WITH CHILDREN!

A MESSAGE FOR ADDICTS 

AND ALCOHOLICS

 WITH CHILDREN!

Can you handle the Truth ?

Many can’t, and are paralyzed by it’s painful bite!

     They retreat into denial, often hiding so deep in some type of closet they’ve created to hide in, they’re never heard from again. The Truth can be so painful that millions of innocent victims will turn from it, hide from it, and run from it, mentally, spiritually, and physically, rather than face it. Many spend their entire lifetimes running, and hiding, building false identities and lives around ones that have been shattered by events or circumstances beyond their control. Some will run great distances to get away from God, family, or friends, or other circumstances, not realizing that they’ve brought their own baggage with them. Not realizing that the Truth isn’t going anywhere’s until it’s faced and dealt with.
     And still far too many others will turn to addictions to numb the pain, and hide from the reality of Truth. For many of these victims, this is how it all started. They’re children of adult addicts returning to a roost of their own to begin the cycle all over again. While this is a Truth, it’s not always the rule. There are many exceptions where the children grow up un-scathed, turning into model citizens and often far better off for the nightmares they were exposed to growing up in the homes of addicts. But this is rare, and most children growing up in the homes of addicts end up deeply scarred, spending the rest of their lives healing. If you’re an adult addict, you probably need to go no further than the nearest mirror for proof. Which takes us back to the title, “Can you handle the Truth”?
      If you’re an adult child of an addict, whether 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, generation, and a parent, whether finished, or still parenting, this information is for you, and was written to get your attention. It was written within a few days after the Black Friday of Dec. 14th , 2012, while the reality and pain of this tragedy against innocent children, by unspeakable evil and violence is still fresh in my mind, and before it vanishes into a distant memory, soon to be overshadowed by the next unspeakable tragic event.
     At this point there is no evidence that recreational drugs or alcohol played any meaningful or direct part in this tragic event, and the only reason I mention it, is that when I’m done writing this I will be sharing it on social media to reach as many of the millions of parents who struggle with addictions while the pain and sorrow is still wide spread around the country and fresh in many minds. So that it might open the eyes of a few who “Can handle the Truth,” and who might recognize the great tragedy of abuse to millions of innocent children everyday in this country, in the homes of addicted parents. A parent who “Can handle the Truth,” will recognize and admit that whenever they are drunk or high, their children are being abandoned, or neglected, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. You can’t conduct an intelligent conversation with your child when you’re stoned! You can’t teach them how to tie their shoes, or the alphabet, or how to read or write when you’re so drunk you can’t stand up! You can’t help them with their homework if you’re hanging out at the bar with your pals, and they’re home alone or with a babysitter glued to a TV.
     This, and so much more abusive behavior that we’ve tagged over the years as “dysfunctional,” is merely sugar-coating the “truth”, which is, that this is child abuse! Plain and simple! Abandoning and neglecting a child, leaving them home alone to raise themselves, forcing them to fend for themselves is child abuse. Depriving them of a normal childhood for the sake of ones selfishness is child abuse. Destroying their sense of self-respect, security, and dignity is child abuse. Refusing to believe this as the truth is denial. The same denial that leads millions of alcoholics and addicts to years of addictions and relapses, which will eventually drive their abused children away, and far too often create so much insecurity in them, it causes them to follow in their parents footsteps.
      I’m sure that many who just read this, who thought they could handle the truth, are retreating or cowering into the shadows, saying, “am I really guilty of “child abuse”? “Could my drunkenness or drug addictions be so grossly affecting my children? I’ve spoken to hundreds of alcoholics and addicts in recovery over the years who've admitted that their habits were so bad that they denied their children basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, medical attention, or medicine, toothpaste, etc., for the sake of another fix or a bottle of vodka! Stone cold child abuse! Plain and simple, no sugar-coating, nothing but the bitterly painful bite of the Truth! You can face it, accept it, change it, or deny it and suffer the consequences, and live with the guilt of knowing you’ve destroyed the life of your own child!
      I hope I have your attention, and that you can face and “handle the truth.” My prayer is that you’ll get up from reading this and go pour your drugs and or alcohol down the toilet, and never use them again! Then go give your child or children a big hug and tell them that you Love them, that you’re sorry for hurting them, and promise them that you’ll never use drugs or alcohol again. I can guarantee you that they will hold you to it! There is nothing in this world more precious than the innocence of a child! Depriving them of that is child abuse!

The trouble with the world today!

The trouble with the world today!

      Millions upon millions of folks have been talking about “the trouble with the world today,” for decades now. It’s the major topic of every other TV commentary and news report, radio talk shows, social media, and social circles are all focused on the trouble and problems of the world surrounding them. A typical half hour TV news report is first of all equally divided into fifteen minutes of news, and fifteen minutes of commercials. The news consists of fourteen minutes of negative stories about war, gun control, crime, poverty, either natural, or manmade disasters, political debauchery, and healthcare. If there’s enough time, and the news director is in a good mood, we may see a minute of a positive story. People everywhere are talking about it. The trouble and problems of the world, and in their neighborhood, or in their church, or workplace. You hear it on the sidewalks waiting for the light to change, in the market in the checkout lane, at the counter of your local starbucks, or at the table next to you as you’re eating out. At home, at work, at church, at play, you can't avoid it, and, each and every word is spoken negatively. If you listen closely and carefully, you can detect the pain, confusion, and anguish in the voices. Almost every conversation consists mostly of questions, such as, why are the politicians doing this or that, why is the economy so bad, why did that drunk driver or murderer get set free, why are children killing other children, why, why, why, why does God allow all this evil to take place? Rarely does anyone in the conversation try to provide an answer, instead interjecting with another question. The anger, frustration, and irritation in these conversations seems to just keep building to a crescendo that’s become deafening, and seems that it should have reached a climax by now. You can cut the tension in the air with a knife. The paranoia has grown to where there is no eye contact between anyone in public, people are glued to their I-phones to the point of walking into other people, light and sign poles, cars, and buildings! The only social contact is on the internet, where they have control over the truth as they see it. Society has retreated into their own secret little closets. Millions have turned to drugs and alcohol to escape from the reality of the truth. And the conversations go on and on, “why is the world such a mess”?  

       The truth is that there isn't a problem with the world today! Oh, it’s a mess alright, but according to Biblical Prophesy we are exactly where God predicted and promised we would be. Right on time according to His perfect will and plan for us. We can rest assured that we are in the end times, and His Son Jesus will be arriving soon!  If you believe that God is who He says He is, you should know this simple Truth, and your conversations should shift from whining and complaining about the condition the world is in, and why this and that is happening, to just one question,…am I ready for Jesus’ return? Am I Saved, and is my Salvation secure? Do I have the confidence and assurance from God, spoken to me personally through His Word, confirming my reservation in Heaven? Or, am I simply relying on a friends or family members, or a false teacher in a church somewhere or on TV, telling me what I need to do to be Saved and prepare for Christ’s imminent return? If your answer is the latter, you need to re-evaluate your situation, pick up your Bible, pray for wisdom and understanding, and start reading and studying it as if your life depended on it, because it does! Not everyone is going to Heaven. God tells us that only a few of us will. Jesus says in Matthew 7:14, “because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Or in Matthew 7:20-23, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” We don't know when Christ is returning, It could be before you finish reading this, His Word has been our warning, and there won't be another, that’s why it is so important to be ready, and absolutely sure that we are Born Again and truly Saved, so He doesn’t catch us “sleeping.” Mark 13:33-36, Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is., 34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Romans 13:11, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  Revelation 3:3, Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.  

If you weren't ready for His return when you started reading this, then yes, repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. In Faith, ask Him to reveal His Truth to you, that you might be Saved, and join Him in Eternal Life.   

FREEDOM!

FREEDOM!

      This year on July 4th, our Country will be celebrating its freedom. For me, I'm blessed to be celebrating personal freedom in 3 different, and very significant areas of my life. The freedom we all celebrate as Americans, my personal 27 years of freedom in Jesus Christ, and 29 years of freedom from the bondage of addictions. I could ad a fourth freedom, from being incarcerated, but for those of us who truly Love, Worship, Honor, and Serve Christ, being in jail or prison should be considered nothing more than a unique training exercise, a mission or an opportunity to Serve God sharing the Gospel with lost souls who need a message of Hope and encouragement. (Acts 16:25, Matthew 9:37, Luke 10:2) In America today there are millions of men and women locked up, separated from their families and children, and in many cases for little more than selling or using drugs, or other non violent crimes committed to support their drug or alcohol addictions, or crimes related to the consequences of addictions. These lost souls need 2 things far more than a prison sentence, they need rehabilitation and the Word of God! Most states offer very little of either.
       First, for me, like every American citizen, and the millions of visitors from across the world who will join us in our party of barbeques, brats, booze, and fireworks, (I would not hesitate to suggest that the booze might be at the head of the list for far too many), I, while not participating in any “partying,” will be very  grateful for the freedom this country has provided my family and I over the years.
       Going back to childhood memories of huge family gatherings at my grandparents farm, or at their cabin on an island off the coast of Marblehead, Ma., the memories are many, and will always be fond. In those days, and ever since 1776, on July 4th , our country celebrated peace and victories over wars that had actually threatened our freedom, and would have had unfathomable consequences had we lost them. Unlike our interventions of the past few decades, where the only purpose for sending millions of young men and women into harms way was over greed, corruption, and the pride and arrogance of a few evil leaders. In those days, television was a brand new technology, automobiles had no air conditioning or GPS, there were no men in space, or computers or cell phones. Everyone went to church on Sunday, and at least claimed to be a Christian, as preachers everywhere preached a fire and brimstone message of repentance, children knew about what happened on July 4th, 1776, they knew there was a God, they knew right from wrong, and that they needed to show respect to others. In those days gay marriage, child molestation, rape and murder would have led to a public lynching! Or at least an equal substitute. Justice was meant to deter one from committing such atrocities. Yes, times have changed! Drastically, and for the worse. In those days had the Supreme Court Justices voted to allow same sex marriage, it would have invoked a public outcry equal to “the shot that was heard around the world”! Today, it barely made the news! 
      This July 4th I will also spend time contemplating, and writing about, as I do every day, the moral decline I’ve witnessed over the past 68 years in this country, and around the world. As a Vietnam Veteran, I’ve watched this country mind everybody else’s business, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, in the name of an unfounded excuse of  “protecting our Country,” all the while paying no attention whatsoever to it’s own internal bleeding! During the past 50 years, since the decline of  “fire and brimstone” preaching, (Rev. 21:8),   this country has slipped into a moral cesspool unfit for human life! The only escape and comfort I can find is in the knowledge of Gods Truth, which reveals that we’re merely experiencing the fulfillment of Bible Prophesy! 
      As I wander to and froe these days, I see much pain and fear in the eyes of many men and women wherever I go, even many of the   children I see look unhappy and confused. Whether on the streets, or at a WalMart, the grocery store, or even the many churches where the Gospel is not clearly being preached, or in prisons, the world is filled with millions of lost souls who, because they know right from wrong, and recognize the disgusting condition that the world is in, are lost in deep, dark despair, confused, and concerned about their own future and security, as well as that of their families.    
      While many are at least seeking answers to this dilemma, many others, out of hopelessness, are simply seeking to escape through drugs and alcohol, or the pleasures of other sinful behavior, like living life in the fast lane, with attitudes of “life sucks, party hardy”! Even corporate America feeds this segment of the population with its advertising ploys, and the entertainment industry, including television feeds the sinful nature of anyone who’s not following the Truth of God closely enough to recognize the difference because of satan’s crafty deceit. (Proverbs 26:26) For years now television has become an escape for many millions of people who “can’t handle the truth”! Today when someone is forced to leave their TV for an hour to run an errand, they can only do so by plugging their ears with ear buds into some devise that will keep them from seeing or hearing the reality of the world in which they only “exist,” not “live”! There is no life for these lost souls. Life has become an illusion! 
       9/11 has paralyzed America! Until that fateful day we all felt safe and secure. We relied on our Government to protect us. Our soil had never been attacked by an enemy with such deadly force. Suddenly, within a split second as we all watched in shock and awe, as that second plane crashed into that magnificent tower of steel and glass, our security and peace of mind was incinerated along with the towers. Humpty Dumpty had had a great fall! And all the Kings men will never be able to put Humpty back together again. The mighty towers we’ve been building around this great country over the centuries, are no longer safe, and neither are we! Whether in our homes, at work, or at play, or out and about, we are no longer safe in our own strength. Our government can’t protect us, nor can our money, no matter how much we might have. The truth is, we never have been safe in our own strength. Even our government recognized this truth in 1776, when we declared, “In GOD we Trust”! Unfortunately, that truth has been lost, and now we as a country are lost. God has been rebuking us with warnings over and over again since 9/11 but we fail to acknowledge Him and just bury our heads deeper into the sand.            
       This brings me to the second freedom I’ll be celebrating this fourth of July. Twenty seven years of freedom in Christ! Twenty seven years since my Damascus road experience! (Acts 22:6) Almost literally, as God first spoke to me in a lightening storm when I was crying out to Him in despair, unable to rationalize why a wicked wretch like myself was still alive. God answered my cries by telling me that He had a special plan for me. He’s been revealing that plan little by little, one piece of the puzzle at a time, for 27 long, sometimes grueling years. Since day one, He’s always been Faithful in answering my prayers and questions, in His time, no matter how impatient I was. Teaching me that The Refiners fire is a prerequisite we must all endure to grow and mature our Faith and Trust in Him as well as in ourselves. Teaching me that His strength and power is the only security we need in life. That his plan is the only one we should seek, and that it will never fail. That His Word is the only Truth, and that anything man has to ad to it should be closely scrutinized with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  
       For anyone reading this who thinks that being Born Again is the beginning of a cakewalk, they have some lessons in reality still ahead of them. Many churches today in their enlistment campaigns to fill pews, would have potential “dues” paying members believe that being saved is the equivalent to having just won the lottery! While Salvation is the most important element of any persons life, it comes with a price. Not a price of money or works, or good deeds, but of self and sacrifice! Not just accepting and believing in Jesus, but surrendering to Him completely by putting Him first in all that we do. 
       Being truly born Again, not just a “professing Christian,” means denying ourselves and taking up our Cross and following Jesus in His footsteps. (Matthew 16:24) It means humbling oneself to be willing to wash your neighbors feet. To love your enemies, to feed the poor, and serve all who come before you. It means first and foremost repenting and proving it by your deeds. (Acts 26:20) It means waiting on God to reveal His plan for your life, rather than doing things your way out of impatience. Waiting patiently to discern and understand His voice and messages, rather than trusting mans words and philosophy, (Col. 2:8) which may lead you straight to hell!   
       Scripture is clear that there are only a few who can measure up to this great task. (Matthew 7:14, KJV,  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.) Christ promises us that if we decide to embark on this great, but challenging journey, that He will provide us a way, and be with us each step of the journey. (Mathew 28:18-20, 18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”) Those few who are chosen to make the journey, (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV,  21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”) those few, will know who they are. They will not be the doubters, (“Ye of little Faith”), the whiners, the prideful, or the self-righteous, who are seeking fame, fortune, and power. They will be the few who seek, out of pure humility, nothing more than to serve and follow Christ, and to hear His words at the gate, as in, Matthew 25:23, His lord said unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” The chosen few will be those who pick up their cross everyday and ask Christ, “what would you have me do for you today, Lord”? Not, ask the Lord for anything more than guidance and directions, knowing He will provide anything else you might need. May you be one of the few.
      Now for the third freedom I will be celebrating this fourth of July. Twenty nine years ago on July 4th  1984 I consumed my last alcoholic beverage! I remember the day and the surrounding circumstances as well and as clearly as if they happened just yesterday. That last can of beer was consumed at a holiday party and barbeque at Evergreen Lake. Anyone familiar with Denver,  Colorado probably has been there. I was there with my wife and children, but never, ever should have been. 
       My wife and I were both alcoholics and our marriage had been on the rocks for some time, and now was at the end of its rope! We had separated several times prior to this day, always sobering up during the separations, only to start drinking again shortly after we would get back together. The final separation was for a lengthy period of time that had included individual and combined counseling. We had just reunited a few days before the fourth and my wife insisted we go to the party of some friends. Over the previous couple of years I had become determined to quit drinking as I knew it was destroying myself, my marriage, and the welfare of our children. July fourth turned out to be the straw that broke this camel’s back! My wife became totally and embarrassingly wasted, and I decided that I had had enough. I knew the only way I could get, and stay sober was to leave her, as painful as it was. I never wanted my children to have to experience such an ordeal, but at the same time I sensed that it might be better for them. 
      It did turn out to be a very painful experience but a worthwhile one for my children. As my now ex-wife quickly remarried another alcoholic and continued to wallow in the same dysfunctional lifestyle, it gave my children, who would spend weekends and holidays with me, an opportunity to experience me living a clean and sober, productive, and positive lifestyle, compared to the dysfunctional environment at home with their mother. Seeing the difference between the two, eventually as they grew up they were able to determine which lifestyle they preferred, and Praise God, they've both grown up choosing to be clean and sober!   
      Initially, I gave myself all the credit for quitting drinking, believing that I was the power behind the miracle. At the time I had no idea who God was or if I even believed there was a God. It was 2 years later that one day while driving down a country road that I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw a lifetime of carnage that I had left behind me. It seemed that inspite of 2 years of sobriety, my life had really not changed much, if at all. I was still a miserable, unhappy, dysfunctional, empty, and lost soul who had no idea why I was alive. I was successful in the business world, but it ended there. Nothing else made sense. 
      Until one day at my office I met an individual named Lyn Sahr. Lyn shared an office in the same building I was in, and one day we struck up a conversation. I had been curious about the name on his office door which was, “1-800-BUMMED.” He explained that it was a ministry he had started to address an epidemic going on around Colorado of teenage suicides. It provided a toll-free phone number for teens to call for guidance and encouragement who were depressed and contemplating ending their lives. Lyn said he was led to starting this ministry by God and the fact that he had 3 teenage daughters who had witnessed a friend take their own life. He also shared with me that he Pastored a church not to far away, and invited me to visit. 
      At that time I'd not been inside a church since childhood, and had no intention of doing so then or ever, but I politely ended our conversation with a “maybe,” saying to myself, “fat chance”! Little did I know that God had a different plan, and that Lyn Sahr had planted a seed. One that took very little time to germinate. Soon afterwards I had my “Damascus Road” experience in a lightening storm. I was driving home in Colorado’s beautiful mountains one Sunday evening after dropping off my daughter at her mom’s home after having her for the weekend. I was at an all-time emotional low, and as I was gazing at the sunset and lightning flashing all around me, I cried out asking God, “God if you’re real, why am I still alive,” knowing I didn’t deserve to be. Much to my surprise, God answered me with the words, “because I have a special plan for you!” Psalm 145:19, He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The following Sunday I sat in the back pew in Lyn Sahrs little church in Lakewood, Colorado, weeping uncontrollably as I surrendered my life to Christ. Psalm 39:12,  KJV, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.” What Amazing Grace would save a wretch like me!
      That was the beginning of the greatest freedom of all. The beginning of a journey into Eternity. A journey where God’s plan is being worked out daily, one piece of the puzzle being revealed at a time. It was on that day 27 years ago that I realized it was not I two years earlier who had anything to do with getting sober, but that God had set me free from my drunkenness. That He knew that if I was to be able to hear His call, I needed to be sober. 
      Part of His plan as it turns out is for me to share the message of His freedom which is available to all addicts who will listen. There are only a few who will listen, but then His Word is perfectly clear that that is to be expected. Matthew 18:17, “If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Will you be one of the few who make it to the "narrow gate"? To be set free from the bondage of addictions and other sin, we must be obedient in our journey with Him. Then we will be SAVED and SOBER!