Quote from Forum Archives on May 19, 2011, 11:37 am

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 7500 new subscribers since January 1, 2011!!
There were 4010 new subscribers during 2010!!
Classic from 2003

05.19.11

Who has Woe?

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who
has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at
the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when
it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at
the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will
see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will
be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at
the top of the mast, saying 'They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they
have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek
another drink?' - Proverbs 23:29-35.

In Modesto, California, a man had his head split open by a brick, and was
taken to the hospital. The police investigated, thinking that someone had
attacked the man. However, witnesses said that he was throwing a brick into
the air, trying to see how high he could throw it. But at 2:30 A.M. in the
dark it is hard to see a falling brick. The man lost track of the brick, and
it hit him in the head. Why would anyone do such a stupid thing? The police
department said that alcohol did appear to be involved in the incident.

We automatically understand when we are told that alcohol or drugs are
involved in some act of stupidity. We understand, because we know
intoxicated people often do irrational things. Here are some ugly facts just
for alcohol. Alcohol is a contributing factor in: 65% of drownings; 53% of
all highway deaths; 50% of spouse abuse cases; 38% of child abuse cases; 54%
of those in jail for violent crimes; and 49% of those convicted for murder,
or attempted murder were intoxicated when they committed the crimes. Of
course, alcohol abuse is very damaging to the physical body as well.

Then there are illegal substances such as methamphetamines, which can cause
heart palpitations, nausea, and damage to blood vessels in the brain,
shortness of breath, mental confusion, malnutrition, anorexia, severe
anxiety, and depression. A more severe manifestation of chronic toxicity is
a state of paranoia closely resembling paranoid schizophrenia. Psychotic
symptoms include visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and
delusions of parasites and bugs in the skin. Continued use may lead to
permanent damage to the brain or death. One former user of meth states: "It's
like selling your soul to the devil. When I was high, I felt alive for the
first time in my life. While I was using, I thought nothing could touch me.
I was beautiful and perfect in my meth world. In the real world, my body was
rotting from the inside out." (Methamphetamine information from the County
of San Diego Methamphetamine Strike Force website.)

Do you have woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints, wounds without cause, and
redness of eyes? Why not come out of the darkness and the self-inflicted
misery? Instead of worshipping alcohol and illegal substances do as the
apostle Paul urges: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2)."
Your mind and your very life can be transformed and renewed through the
turning from the things of this world, to the things of God. The formula for
relief is simple: Prayer, Bible, and Church add them up, and they will equal
the power of God to overcome whatever addiction you may have. It really
depends on you. Do you want help, and really want to change your life? If
you do, God has the power and it is available for free (Philippians 4:13;
Philippians 4:19).

Copyright © 2003-2011. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush
website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began
writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first
devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison
facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
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forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).

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Several videos of Clark's sermons can be found at his church website:
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