Why do you drink alcohol?

[tinytim]

I stay away from it because I used to like it toooo much...

When I was drinking, I would mix one ounce of OJ to 5 ounces of Vodka for my breakfast drink...

I loved the taste of Vodka.
I hated the taste of beer...
And I have never found a wine I like.

I intentionally stay away from it because I know I could be an alcoholic easily!...

 

[Matt Black]

I stay away from it because I used to like it toooo much...

When I was drinking, I would mix one ounce of OJ to 5 ounces of Vodka for my breakfast drink...

!!! You do well to steer clear of it in that case..."Run, Forrest, run!"

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

I took my last drink June 12, 1993. Over 15 years, wow, how did I get that old?

I think everyone here realizes that while the Bible condemns drunkenness it does not prohibit alcohol. What may not be a sin to others however had become a sin for me and I had to stop.

When I did drink I drank for multiple reasons. I did enjoy the taste. When it comes to Margaritas and Daiquiris you just can’t get them right without the alcohol. And you can’t get the frozen stuff cold enough. I make virgin frozen drinks now but without the alcohol you can’t get the same thing.

Mostly I drank because of how it made me feel. When I drank I often did drink to excess and when drunk I was happy. I could forget my problems and relax. Now when I sobered up my problems were all still there, drinking does not fix anything. But it did give me a break and sometimes that was what I needed, a break and a chance to relax and smile before waking up to the painful realities of life.

I think that is perfectly in keeping with what the Bible says in Proverbs 31

[4] It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
[5] Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
[6] Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
[7] Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

That was me, poor and with a heavy heart I just wanted to forget my misery for a season. Because it allowed me some happiness was one reason I became addicted to it.

Do you on the board think that a sin? I don’t know. I do know that there came a time when God showed me that I had to leave the bottle behind and deal with reality instead of running or hiding from it.

Today I don’t drink mainly out of fear. I know I could easily be a drunkard again. If I knew I could take one drink and stop I would, but I don’t trust myself that much.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Good post.

I'm sure I saw you at MJ Pippins while at Tech :laugh: .

[BTW, love your picture of the Jacket stinging the stupid dog.]

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

Yea I was there, probably walked by you somewhere between there and Grumpy's.

Cain's got to go down tomorrow.

 

[PJ]

Is that your church culture, or is it in terms of the culture of your region, both believers and non-believers?

My church's culture and my personal stance. I can't speak for other believers a/o non-believers in the region, but our local newspaper reports that our county is conservative in all areas (generally speaking). Still, there's plenty of booze available in our parts.

 

[Matt Black]

Thanks to all who've posted about their struggles with alcohol. I have to confess to overdoing it with the booze on occasions: at times of extreme stress in my life I have indulged in what we call over here 'binge drinking' ie: drinking to get loaded, normally on my own. But I also at such times 'binge eat' (pig out on McDonalds and KFC) and have in the past at such times 'binge smoked' (but I haven't touched a cigarette since 2000, praise God!), so these are very much symptoms rather than the disease in itself; were I not married, if my 'moral threshold' was lower and I could find willing accomplices, doubtless I would also 'binge sleep around'. The worst example of this was 10 years ago when I did go off the rails big-time after the break-up of my first marriage and did all of the above, with the result that the poor old Holy Spirit had a pretty torrid time of it in His temple, bless Him! But thanks be to God that He brought me back from that. At times like Lent and Advent, I give up alcohol and sometimes certain ways of eating, partly as a spiritual discipline in itself, but mainly in acknowledgement of the above and to say 'thank you' to God.

 

[Jim1999]

Matt, you have been down a tough road in your short lifetime. I expect you would be a marvellous counsellor to those in need.

I also understand how easy it would be to drink in England. I am exposed to it everytime I come home for visits, and see how easy it would be to Have a pint.

Cheers, and bless, mate,

Jim

 

[Marcia]

I appreciate the honest posts here, and that everyone is being gracious on the topic. :1_grouphug: Thank you!

 

[Matt Black]

Matt, you have been down a tough road in your short lifetime. I expect you would be a marvellous counsellor to those in need.

I also understand how easy it would be to drink in England. I am exposed to it everytime I come home for visits, and see how easy it would be to Have a pint.

Cheers, and bless, mate,

Jim

Thanks, mate! For me, the problem isn't the 'quiet pint', it's the 'six noisy ones' that follow! (But only in the bad times.)

 

[Jim1999]

There is the story about a bloke in England who beat the drink habit. He decided one day he was going into the pub to demonstrate his victory.

His friend said, "What will you do when the devil tempts you?"

"I'll tell him to get behind me as did the Lord."

"Yea, that's all you need is the devil behind you to give you the shove!"

Cheers,

Jim

 

[bobbyd]

I don't drink...but some Sundays, specifically business meeting Sundays, do cause me to consider it!:laugh:

 

[Matt Black]

Matt, you have been down a tough road in your short lifetime. I expect you would be a marvellous counsellor to those in need.

I also understand how easy it would be to drink in England. I am exposed to it everytime I come home for visits, and see how easy it would be to Have a pint.

Cheers, and bless, mate,

Jim

Thanks, Jim, and Marcia. I learned as a consequence of these experiences to treat my alcohol and 'bad food' consumption as something of a useful 'barometer' as to how I am psychologically and spiritually: when my alcohol consumption tends towards 30 units or more per week and/or when I'm regularly consuming packets of pork scratchings, then I know I'm badly stressed or something else is wrong with my life or my walk with God, so it acts as a bit of a wake-up call.

Into the second week of Advent, and my alcohol fast is going well; I have to confess however to just eating a pack of pork scratchings, so I'm evidently in need of prayer...!

 

[Jim1999]

Oh my, I haven't had a pork pie for years since English pork was banned in Canada. If I were back living in England, I fear I might be quite a pork addict. Between pork pies and trotters!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Matt Black]

Oh well, we just banned Irish pork!

Another useful 'barometer' for me is the amount of obsessive compulsive checking I do always rises when I'm stressed. All of these things - drinking too much, eating too much/ the wrong stuff, nail-biting, insomnia and OCD - are symptoms rather than 'diseases' in themselves, and point to something far deeper being wrong.

 

[EdSutton]

Observer: "Ed, I never knew you to drink! When did you start drinking?"

Ed: "The day my boss quit drinking!" :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

I don't drink...but some Sundays, specifically business meeting Sundays, do cause me to consider it!:laugh:

As our Church Moderator, I can and do fully appreciate the wry humor, here! :thumbs:

Ed

 

[PJ]

I'll drink to that! Hot cocoa, that is ... :laugh:

 

[EdSutton]

I'll drink to that! Hot cocoa, that is ... :laugh:

Spiked - 'er I mean spiced cocoa??

Ed

 

[webdog]

Spiked - 'er I mean spiced cocoa??

Ed

A little Kalua will do quite nicely!