tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post2254826672860375869..comments2023-07-05T03:57:00.890-05:00Comments on From My Overly Cluttered Desk: Weighing in on Christians and Alcohol - Part 1Matt Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426306913232885681noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-36896202079809793312008-02-02T09:44:00.000-06:002008-02-02T09:44:00.000-06:00I too know the affects alcohol can have on a famil...I too know the affects alcohol can have on a family. As Matt's bro I saw alot of the same things he did. I saw how it affected my mom and dad's marriage and they will both tell you to this day, that without his battle with alcohol, that they would still be married today. <BR/><BR/>I also saw it tear up another marriage of a good friend of mine. He had 3 beautiful daughters and now he is not a big part of their life because of it. <BR/><BR/>I choose not to drink because I see NO POSITIVES in it at all. I may get drunk and have a "so-called good time". But what do you really have? You have a bunch of idiots gathered together showing their butts and then they get in a vehicle, where they can endanger their life and the lives of the innocent on the roads. And they get to vomit all night and wake up with a headache?<BR/><BR/>What exactly is good about that?Haineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03945108798836861244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-1383879484047691952008-01-29T21:52:00.000-06:002008-01-29T21:52:00.000-06:00The last comment was by far the best words of wisd...The last comment was by far the best words of wisdom i have heard on this subject. Fellas, there's your experienced veteran! Learn from it.Calebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916457710910702895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-8337261776651122212008-01-27T20:55:00.000-06:002008-01-27T20:55:00.000-06:00Matt, thanks for your insights. As one whose life...Matt, thanks for your insights. As one whose life has been deeply touched by alcohol I share your opinions. My life was changed at the age of 6 by alcohol and I have never been the same since. <BR/>I know the youth of today are looking for "freedom", but this freedom has chains of bondage they know not of, and their children and children's children may well suffer the consequences. My prayers are for your young friends and their blindness to Satan's attempt to lead them away from God's best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-55427571698789369302008-01-27T15:13:00.000-06:002008-01-27T15:13:00.000-06:00my apologies John, I was misinformed on that point...my apologies John, I was misinformed on that point.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08463618306480692062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-40203551222184648802008-01-27T14:15:00.000-06:002008-01-27T14:15:00.000-06:00I like it Matt.Not drinking alcohol was a huge wit...I like it Matt.<BR/>Not drinking alcohol was a huge witness to me in England. I can't tell you how many opportunities it gave me to explain "why don't you drink?" and how many people I talked to who honestly wished they could do the same. I have always seen it as an unwise activity but that never stopped me from going down to the local pub with friends and enjoying myself.<BR/><BR/>On a somewhat different note, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, drunken driving, and alcohol abuse in general has absolutely skyrocketed in England over the past decade. Claiming that they are "better with drink because they started sooner and learned to respect it." Is completely and utterly false. If anyone wants statistics or even anecdotes then I will be sure to provide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-22036901843371230412008-01-26T17:07:00.000-06:002008-01-26T17:07:00.000-06:00again. these are only opinions, but opinions I be...again. these are only opinions, but opinions I believe heavily. <BR/><BR/>I would be very careful if the only way that I could enter into conversations is because I become more like them. I am not sure about the whole relevance issue is what it's cracked up to be. I am not sure that what Paul meant by "being all things to all people." I know you didn't say that. I just think it's a slippery slope to say that I will use alcohol to create ministry opportunities. I would rather leave that up to the Holy Spirit.<BR/><BR/>I deeply respect your opinion and your mother's if she shares that opinion. It's a debatable issue of Christian liberty. I have learned not to lead out with this issue because it is so controversial with so many people. <BR/><BR/>If you can say with integrity that Christ has led you to this decision through deep prayer and the personal counsel of Scripture, then so be it. That will suffice to me. However, be careful of the implications it will cause and be willing to live with whatever the consequences may be.<BR/><BR/>To me, the cost of this liberty is just too high with too much at stake.<BR/><BR/>Again, I did not say you or your parents are wrong. There is not right or wrong on this one. Believe me.Matt Haineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11426306913232885681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663224059478482102.post-71660373140166906692008-01-26T16:12:00.000-06:002008-01-26T16:12:00.000-06:00man, you gotta be kidding me :)i'm sure i'll talk ...man, you gotta be kidding me :)<BR/><BR/>i'm sure i'll talk to you soon about this. and I'm sure that we will agree to disagree. i think that i can use alcohol with wisdom. it already helps me with people who i know drink that won't even enter into conversations with you because of you're "hatred" of alcohol 9/and you're a minister, but thats beside the point.<BR/><BR/>and, believe it or not, i came to this opinion with the council of my parents, my mother specifically, whom i have great respect for. that along with MUCH prayer has brought me to the conclusions i now hold to be true.<BR/><BR/>but you know me, just like a good debate :-)Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08463618306480692062noreply@blogger.com