You may not agree with what I am sharing today.

You might not appreciate my thoughts and personal convictions.
But thanks for allowing me to share with you from my heart.

“Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness” (Habakkuk 2:15).

In our present English, Habakkuk is literally saying, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness.”

Go ahead. Call me old fashioned, but I still believe drunkenness and even social drinking is sinful. As a foster parent, police chaplain, marriage counselor, and pastor, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation of alcohol. I love the alcoholic, but I hate what the alcohol has done to that person. Though it has caused a stir at times, I warned – clearly warned – the churches in which I candidated and then became pastor, that I would not marry anyone if there was going to be drinking at the reception. Why? Because it seemed unthinkable to me to ask God’s blessing upon the couple who in thirty minutes would turn to one of the greatest dangers of the home and family. Drinking has caused such heartache and regret. No wonder Habakkuk proclaims “woe” to those who not only drink but who give it to their neighbor. Yes, you can call me old fashioned, but I still choose to believe the Word of God. How about you?

Thank you: Choosing to avoid something that can ruin my life, ruin my testimony, and cause others to stumble just seems wise to me. Thanks for allowing me to share with you from my heart.