Now and Then: The Greatest Christmas Gift.

It is early (5:30 am) Christmas morning.  The tree is lit, the fireplace is on, and the house is calm and quiet. Soon all that will change, but for this moment, I have and am enjoying my time alone with the one who made this day possible, the Lord Jesus.

Much has been said about His birth in Bethlehem's manger, and much needs to be said about the God-man. Why was He born?  Why did He leave Heaven's splendor to be born here on earth?  Why did he consent to the constraints of a human body and ultimately the torture that was His death?

His motive is clearly explained in the Scriptures.  The most famous verse of all reveals it.  John 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Jesus came because He loves us.  I don't know about you, but I am overwhelmed by the truth that the great creator of this universe, the God of gods, and the Lord of lords knows who I am and has chosen to love me. My heart sings today the Anna Barlett Warner classic Jesus loves me.  Yes Jesus loves me.  Yes Jesus loves me.  Yes Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so!  

He came because He loved us, but why did He come and why did He die?  He came for our salvation, He came so we could be eternally with Him in Heaven. Jesus stated this clearly:  Luke 19:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. This is the then.  Jesus came and died for our future.  He gave His life for ours.  2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

He also came for the now.  He came to give his children and mankind in general a better life.  The Scripture clearly teaches this:  John 10:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. This verse clearly summarizes the struggle between God and Satan.  Satan comes to rob and destroy us, but Jesus came to give an opportunity for all to have eternal life (then) and an abundant life (now).

Where the message of Jesus has gone, the way of life has been improved.  I know my life is filled and abundant because of Him.  It is improved. Soon it will be 38 years since Jesus came into my heart and gave me eternal life and an abundant life.  All I can say is thank you Jesus!  I have today in my daily walk written about many of the numerous blessings the Lord has given me, and it overflows my heart.

Now, abundance; then, eternal life!  Praise the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) ⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Luke 2:11 (KJV) ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Spirt Filled or Drug Filled? Part5: Spice, Synthetic Marijuana

Spirit Filled or Drug Filled – Part 5: Spice

Written by: Dr. George Crabb

Issue: November Blogs

I’ve enjoyed looking at these specific drug categories and how they affect an individual. Although the drugs are different the answer is the same – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today we are going to take a look at Spice, otherwise known as synthetic marijuana. The last two blogs will cover the following:
#6 Salvia
#7 MDMA (Ecstasy)
It is God’s desire that He completely sanctify every aspect of our lives – spirit, soul, and body – according to I Thessalonians 5:23. God desires to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions – this is called being “filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
As children of God, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:19). With this in mind we are to glorify God in our bodies because our bodies belong to Him (I Corinthians 6:20). A child of God dishonors God when they introduce into their body (which belongs to God) harmful substances. These substances are not only physically and soulically harmful, but they also diminish our sobriety which in turn decreases the Spirit’s ability to completely control our lives. When we partake of any of these substances, no matter how little it may be, we start the process of becoming filled with them and less filled with the Spirit.
I pray that all of us will attempt, by the grace of God, to live a Spirit filled life and that none of these substances will ever take away the power of God in our lives.

Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)

“Spice” refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana and that are marketed as “safe,” legal alternatives to that drug. Sold under many names including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others – and labeled “not for human consumption” – these products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects.
Note: Spice products do contain dried plant material, but chemical analyses show that their active ingredients are synthetic (or designer) cannabinoid compounds. The chemicals used in Spice have high potential for abuse and NO medical benefit.
Spice products are popular among young people; of the illicit drugs most used by high-school seniors, they are second only to marijuana. (They are more popular among boys than girls – in 2012, nearly twice as many male 12^th graders reported past-year use of synthetic marijuana as females in the same age group.) Easy access and the misperception that Spice products are “natural” and therefore harmless have likely contributed to their popularity. Another selling point is that the chemicals used in Spice are not easily detected in standard drug tests.

How is Spice Abused?

Some Spice products are sold as “incense,” but they more closely resemble potpourri. Like marijuana, Spice is abused mainly by smoking. Sometimes Spice is mixed with marijuana or is prepared as an herbal infusion for drinking.
Spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana – elevated mood, relaxation, and altered perception – and in some cases the effects are even stronger than those of marijuana. Some users report psychotic effects like extreme anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
The cannabinoid compounds found in Spice products act on the same cell receptors as THC, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana.

What Are the Other Health Effects of Spice?

Spice abusers who have been taken to Poison Control Centers report symptoms that include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations. Spice can also raise blood pressure,  cause reduced blood supply to the heart (myocardial ischemia), and in a few cases it has been associated with heart attacks. Regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms.
Another potential effect is that there may be harmful heavy metal residues in Spice. These heavy metal residues can cause a wide array of medical conditions that are dangerous to the body.
No matter how harmless or natural these drugs are supposed to be, they cause dangerous effects to the body and can lead a person into the bondage of addiction. May we continue to pursue holiness and purity in our lives allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us, not drugs.

Author: Dr. George Crabb

Dr. George T. Crabb (D.O., F.A.C.O.I.) is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internist. In addition to practicing Internal and Addiction Medicine in Naples, Florida, Dr. Crabb writes medical communications for Reformers Unanimous International. Dr. Crabb’s passion has always been to help others through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Quotes for the Week

Quotes for the Week

 

For those who do not follow me on twitter (@cshenenberger), here are the quotes tweeted in the last week or so.

 

 

Thank God that when Satan said in his arrogance, "I will ascend," Jesus in his humility and humanity said, "I will descend."

 

General Douglas MacArthur, "In war there is no substitute for victory."

 

God's will for his saints is not that we merely survive, but that we thrive in total victory.--Adrian Rogers

 

Living victoriously isn't your responsibility; it is rather your response to God's ability.

 

God's plan for us is not immunity from struggle but victory through struggle. Adrian Rogers

 

These hath God married and no man shall part: dust in the Bible and drought in the heart.

      

"Man has only three problems: sin, sorrow, and death." Adrian Rogers

 

America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great. ---Tocqueville (allegedly)

 

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" — Hudson Taylor

 

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." -Thomas a Kempis

 

Work becomes worship when done for the Lord.

 

Your Redeemer is bigger than your past.

Spirit Filled or Drug Filled – Part 4: Marijuana

Written by: Dr. George Crabb

Issue: November Blogs

I pray that the blogs regarding drugs of abuse have been educational. Today we are going to take a look at marijuana. The last three blogs will cover the following:
#1 Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
#2 Salvia
#3 MDMA (Ecstasy)
It is God’s desire that He completely sanctify every aspect of our lives – spirit, soul, and body – according to I Thessalonians 5:23. God desires to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions – this is called being “filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
As children of God, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:19). With this in mind we are to glorify God in our bodies because our bodies belong to Him (I Corinthians 6:20). A child of God dishonors God when they introduce into their body (which belongs to God) harmful substances. These substances are not only physically and soulically harmful, but they also diminish our sobriety which in turn decreases the Spirit’s ability to completely control our lives. When we partake of any of these substances, no matter how little it may be, we start the process of becoming filled with them and less filled with the Spirit.
I pray that all of us will attempt, by the grace of God, to live a Spirit filled life and that none of these substances will ever take away the power of God in our lives.

Marijuana

Marijuana is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. In a more concentrated, resinous form, it is called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana is delta – 9 – tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. After a period of decline in the last decade, its use has generally increased among young people since 2007, corresponding to a diminishing perception of the drug’s risks. More teenagers are now current (past month) smokers of marijuana than of cigarettes, according to annual survey data.

How is Marijuana Abused?

Marijuana is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in pipes (bongs). It is also smoked in blunts – cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of marijuana and tobacco. Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinct, usually sweet-and-sour, odor. Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as tea.

How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?

When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. It is absorbed more slowly when ingested in food or drink.
However it is ingested, THC acts upon specific molecular targets on brain cells, called cannabinoid receptors. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movements. Marijuana overactivates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.

Effects on Life

Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person’s existing problems worse. Marijuana use is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out from school. Several studies also associate workers’ marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover. Marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug wear off.  When marijuana use begins in adolescence, the effects may persist for many years. Research from different areas is converging on the fact that regular marijuana use by young people can have long-lasting negative impact on the structure and function of their brains.

What Are the Other Health Effects of Marijuana?

Marijuana use can have a variety of adverse short and long-term effects, especially on cardiopulmonary and mental health. Marijuana raises heart rate by 20-100% shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4.8 fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug.
Because it seriously impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana also contributes to accidents while driving. A recent analysis of data from several studies shows that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. Further, the combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment.
Marijuana smoke is an irritant to the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have many of the same respiratory problems experienced by tobacco smokers, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infection.
A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and mental illness. High doses of marijuana can produce a temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia).
Associations have also been found between marijuana use and other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities.
Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of neurobehavioral problems in babies. Consequences for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is addictive. Many of the nearly 7% of high school seniors who report smoking marijuana daily or almost daily are well on their way to addiction, if not already addicted.
Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent.
May we strive to stay sober for the Lord and not allow any of these substances into our lives. May we also help others find freedom in the Lord from these addictive substances.

Author: Dr. George Crabb

Dr. George T. Crabb (D.O., F.A.C.O.I.) is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internist. In addition to practicing Internal and Addiction Medicine in Naples, Florida, Dr. Crabb writes medical communications for Reformers Unanimous International. Dr. Crabb’s passion has always been to help others through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Commonly Abused RX Drugs

Spirit Filled or Drug Filled – Part 3: Commonly Abused RX Drugs

Written by: Dr. George Crabb

Issue: October Blogs

Good day in the Lord Jesus Christ! The last two weeks we discussed Bath Salts and Club Drugs. Today in our blog we are going to take a closer look at the abuse of prescription drugs. Over the course of the next four weeks we will look at:
#1 Marijuana
#2 Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
#3 Salvia
#4 MDMA (Ecstasy)
It is God’s desire that He completely sanctify every aspect of our lives – spirit, soul, and body – according to I Thessalonians 5:23. God desires to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions – this is called being “filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
As children of God, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:19). With this in mind we are to glorify God in our bodies because our bodies belong to Him (I Corinthians 6:20). A child of God dishonors God when they introduce into their body (which belongs to God) harmful substances. These substances are not only physically and soulically harmful, but they also diminish our sobriety which in turn decreases the Spirit’s ability to completely control our lives. When we partake of any of these substances, no matter how little it may be, we start the process of becoming filled with them and less filled with the Spirit.
I pray that all of us will attempt, by the grace of God, to live a Spirit filled life and that none of these substances will ever take away the power of God in our lives.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

Medications can be effective when they are used properly, but some can be addictive and dangerous when abused. The following list of prescribed medications has the potential for adverse medical consequences, including addiction.
Opiates:        Codiene – Tylenol #3, many cough suppressants.
Morphine – MS Contin, Roxanol, Duramorph.
Methadone – Dolophine
Fentanyl – Duragesic
Oxycodone – OxyContin, Percocet
Hydrocodone – Vicodin, Norco, Lortab
Hydromorphone – Dilaudid
Barbituates:  Fiorcet, Amytal, Phenobarbital
Benzodiazepines:  Ativan, Valium, Xanax, Klonopin
Sleeping Medications: Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
Stimulants:  Amphetamines – Adderall, Dexedrine
Methylphenidate – Concerta, Ritalin

In 2010, approximately 16 million Americans reported using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in the past year; 7 million in the past month.

How Are Prescription Drugs Abused?

Prescription drugs may be abused in one of the following ways:
#1 Taking a medication that has been prescribed for somebody else. Unaware of the dangers of sharing medications, people often unknowingly contribute to this form of abuse by sharing their unused pain relievers with their family members.
Note: Most teenagers who abuse prescription drugs are given them for free by a friend or relative.
#2 Taking a drug in higher quantity or in another manner than prescribed. Most prescription drugs are dispensed orally in tablets, but abusers sometimes crush the tablets and snort or inject the powder. This hastens the entry of the drug into the bloodstream and the brain and amplifies its effects.
#3 Taking a drug for another purpose than prescribed. All of the drug types mentioned can produce pleasurable effects at sufficient quantities, so taking them for the purpose of getting high is one of the main reasons people abuse them.
ADHD drugs like Adderall are also often abused by students seeking to improve their academic performance. However, although they boost alertness, there is little evidence they improve cognitive functioning for those without a medical condition.

How Do Prescription Drugs Affect the Brain?

Stimulants such as Ritalin achieve their effects by acting on the same neurotransmitter systems as cocaine. Opiod pain relievers such as OxyContin attach to the same cell receptors targeted by illegal Opiods like heroin. Prescription depressants produce sedating or calming effects in the same manner as the club drugs GHB and rohypnol.
When abused, all of these classes of drugs directly or indirectly cause a pleasurable increase in the amount of dopamine in the brain’s reward pathway. Repeatedly seeking to experience that feeling can lead to destruction.

What Are the Other Health Effects of Prescription Drugs?

Stimulants can have strong effects on the cardiovascular system. Taking high doses of a stimulant can dangerously raise body temperature and cause irregular heartbeat or even heart failure or seizures. Also, taking some stimulants in high doses or repeatedly can lead to hostility or feelings of paranoia.
Opiods can produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and – depending upon the amount taken – depress breathing. More people die from overdoses of prescription Opiods than from all other drugs combined, including heroin and cocaine.
CNS depressants slow down brain activity and can cause sleepliness and loss of coordination. Continued use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if discontinuing use.
Prescription drugs, when used appropriately and monitored carefully, can be of tremendous benefit. However, these potentially helpful medications can quickly turn to dangerous and destructive chemicals if abused. I pray that these medications will never control any portion of our lives but that our lives will be totally governed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Author: Dr. George Crabb

Dr. George T. Crabb (D.O., F.A.C.O.I.) is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internist. In addition to practicing Internal and Addiction Medicine in Naples, Florida, Dr. Crabb writes medical communications for Reformers Unanimous International. Dr. Crabb’s passion has always been to help others through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Spirit Filled or Drug Filled – Part 2: Club Drugs

Written by: Dr. George Crabb

Issue: October Blogs

Good Friday morning! Last week we discussed Bath Salts and their abuse. Today we will discuss Club drugs. In the weeks to follow we will look into the following substances:
#1 Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
#2 Marijuana
#3 Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
#4 Salvia
#5 MDMA (Ecstasy)
It is God’s desire that He completely sanctify every aspect of our lives – spirit, soul, and body according to I Thessalonians 5:23. God desires to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions – this is called being “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
As children of God, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:19). With this in mind, we are to glorify God in our bodies because our bodies belong to Him (I Corinthians 6:20). A child of God dishonors God when they introduce into their body (which belongs to God) harmful substances. These substances are not only physically and soulically harmful, but they also diminish our sobriety which in turn decreases the Spirit’s ability to completely control our lives. When we partake of any of these substances, no matter how little it may be, we start the process of becoming filled with them, and as a result we become less filled with the Spirit.
I pray that all of us will attempt, by the grace of God, to live a Spirit filled life and that none of these substances will ever take away the power of God in our lives.

Club Drugs (GHB, Ketamine, Ecstasy, and Rohypnol)

Club drugs are a pharmacologically heterogeneous group of psychoactive drugs that tend to be abused by teens and young adults at bars, nightclubs, concerts, and parties. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB),  Rohypnol, Ketamine, as well as MDMA (ecstasy) are some of the drugs included in this group.
GHB (Xyrem) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for use in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder).
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) use began gaining popularity in the United States in the early 1990s. It is a benzodiazepine (chemically similar to sedative-hypnotic drugs such as Valium or Xanax), but it is not approved for medical use in this country, and its importation is banned.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, mostly used in veterinary practice.
How Are Club Drugs Abused?
GHB and Rohypnol are available in odorless, colorless, and tasteless forms that are frequently combined with alcohol and other beverages. Both drugs have been used to commit sexual assaults (also known as “date rape,” “acquaintance rape,” or “drug assisted” assault) due to their ability to sedate and incapacitate unsuspecting victims, preventing them from resisting sexual assault.
GHB is usually ingested orally, either in liquid or powder form, while Rohypnol is typically taken orally in pill form. Recent reports, however, have shown that Rohypnol is being ground up and snorted.
Both GHB and Rohypnol are also abused for their intoxication effects, similar to other CNS depressants.
GHB also has anabolic effects (it stimulates protein synthesis) and has been used by body builders to aid in fat reduction and muscle building.
How Do Club Drugs Affect the Brain?
GHB’s sedative effects may result in sleep, coma, or death.
Rohypnol, like other benzodiazepines, acts at the GABA receptor. It can produce anterograde amnesia, in which individuals may not remember events while under the influence of the drug.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, so called because it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self. Low-dose intoxication results in impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. At higher doses, ketamine can cause dreamlike states and hallucinations; and at higher doses still, ketamine can cause delirium and amnesia.
Addictive Potential
Repeated use of GHB may lead to withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating. Severe withdrawal reactions have been reported among patients especially if other drugs or alcohol are involved.
Like other benzodiazepines, the use of Rohypnol can lead to addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms.
Ketamine use can produce significant cravings such as those found in individuals who use cocaine or amphetamines.
What Other Adverse Effects Do Club Drugs Have on Health?
Uncertainties about the sources, chemicals, and possible contaminants used to manufacture many club drugs make it extremely difficult to determine toxicity and associated medical consequences. Nonetheless, we do know that:
Coma and seizures can occur following use of GHB.
Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other CNS depressants.
Ketamine, at high doses, can cause impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory problems.
How Widespread Is Club Drug Abuse?
According to results of the 2009 MTF survey, 0.7% of 8^th grade and 1.1% of 12^th grade students reported past year use of GHB.
Past-year use of Ketamine was reported by 1% of 8^th graders, 1.3% of 10^th graders, and 1.7% of 12^th graders in 2009.
For Rohypnol, 0.4% of 8^th and 10^th graders, and 1% of 12^th graders reported past year use.
The use of Club drugs is a big problem amongst our young people. We need to educate them on the dangers of these drugs and how they can be devastating to their bodies which belong to God.

Author: Dr. George Crabb

Dr. George T. Crabb (D.O., F.A.C.O.I.) is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internist. In addition to practicing Internal and Addiction Medicine in Naples, Florida, Dr. Crabb writes medical communications for Reformers Unanimous International. Dr. Crabb’s passion has always been to help others through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Drug Use Drops for America's Youth, Rises in the Over 50 Crowd

Sept. 4, 2013

By MIKE LEVINE

Mike Levine

Drug use is down for young Americans but is on the rise among people over 50 according to a recent government survey.

Drug use among America's youth is dropping, but it's booming among people over 50, a U.S. government survey released Wednesday shows.

Last year, the rate of illicit drug use among children and teenagers 12 to 17 years old dropped to 9.5 percent, down from 11.6 percent a decade earlier, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) latest national survey.

Meanwhile, illicit drug use among adults 50 to 64 years old has increased in the past decade.

Specifically, illicit drug use among adults 50 to 54 has more than doubled since 2002, reaching 7.2 percent last year. For people 55 to 59, such drug use has more than tripled, reaching 6.6 percent last year.

Marijuana is by far the most-used illicit drug among both children and adults, according to SAMHSA, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services.

At a press conference Wednesday in Washington, officials expressed particular concern about use by those 12 to 17 years old.

"There's no question that marijuana is harmful to the developing brains of adolescents," said SAMHSA administrator Pamela Hyde, adding that marijuana use has been linked to "significant I.Q. declines."

As for young adults – those 18 to 25 years old – rates of illicit drug use have remained somewhat steady over recent years, with a slight increase in marijuana use, according to the survey.

Illicit drug use among children had remained steady at 10.1 percent from 2009 to 2011, which was a slight increase from years before. Overall, though, use for that age group has dropped in the past decade.

The data was released at the start of September to help kick off National Recovery Month, a government-sponsored promotion of preventing and treating substance abuse and mental health disorders.

"Recovery Month reminds us that the work we do to promote and support recovery has lasting, positive impact on so many individuals, families and communities," said H. Westley Clark, the director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. "It also reminds us that while we have made great strides, there is still much for us to do."

The press conference on Wednesday featured young men and women who shared their personal stories of addiction, mental health disorders and now continuing recovery.

They came from all different backgrounds.

Twenty-eight-year-old Daniel LaPointe grew up in suburban New Jersey with a "loving family" that stressed "educational excellence," he said.

In 1997, at age 12, he won a contest for writing an essay titled "Why I Won't Try Drugs." A month later, suffering from insecurities and depression, he started smoking marijuana, which ultimately led him to heroin and, as he put it, "the funerals of five good friends."

Juan Velez Court grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, suffering from multiple mental health disorders. He tried to commit suicide several times and started to mutilate himself.

"I was so tired of not knowing what to do, the only way was punishing myself until the physical pain overcame the emotional pain," he said, adding that whole-body "wellness" has helped him continue with recovery.

Jenna Bertino, also of New Jersey, was almost brought to tears while telling her story.

When she was 13, two days after Christmas, her father took his own life. Refusing to "face that reality," she started drinking beer and smoking marijuana, and she eventually moved on to pills, she recalled.

"Before I knew it, I had a $200-a-day Percocet habit, and I was robbing and lying and manipulating and doing whatever I needed to do to get one more," she said. "I had become a monster. My mom used to sleep with her purse under her pillow out of fear that I was going to come in and rob her."

Her drug use didn't stop there. Ultimately, she moved onto heroin, hanging out in neighborhoods she said she had "no business" visiting. Then she was arrested and thrown behind bars.

"From that jail cell I started to see hope. I had this moment of clarity, and in that moment I no longer wanted to die a using addict with a needle in my arm," she said. "I wanted to live."

Bertino entered a rehabilitation program, during which she learned about herself and how to cope with life's challenges, she said.

She finished the rehabilitation program in 2010. Since then, she graduated college, and now she is starting graduate school.

"It's amazing that I have a purpose," she said.

Bath Salts: Spirit Filled or Drug Filled?

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirit Filled or Drug Filled – pt. #01: Bath Salts

Written by: Dr. George Crabb

Issue: October Blogs

Over the course of the next several weeks I want to discuss certain drugs or chemicals that are abused by many in our society. Drugs and chemicals such as:

#1 Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinones)
#2 Club Drugs (GHB, Ketamine, & Rohypnol)
#3 Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
#4 Marijuana
#5 Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
#6 Salvia
#7 MDMA (Ecstasy)

It is God’s desire that He completely sanctify every aspect of our lives: spirit, soul, and body, according to I Thessalonians 5:23. God desires to direct our thoughts, our words, and our actions – this is called being “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

As children of God our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, as found in I Corinthians 6:19. With this in mind we are to glorify God in our bodies because our bodies belong to Him (I Corinthians 6:20). A child of God dishonors God when they introduce into their body (which belongs to God) harmful substances. These substances are not only physically and soulically harmful, but they also diminish our sobriety which in turn decreases the Spirit’s ability to completely control our lives. When we partake of any of these substances, no matter how little it may be, we start the process of becoming filled with them and less filled with the Spirit.

I pray that all of us will attempt, by the grace of God, to live a Spirit filled life and that none of these substances will ever take away the power of God in our lives.
Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinones)

The term “bath salts” refers to an emerging family of drugs containing one or more synthetic chemicals related to cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant found naturally in the Khat plant.

Reports of severe intoxication and dangerous health effects associated with use of bath salts have made these drugs a serious and growing public health and safety issue. Bath salts can produce euphoria and increased sociability and sex drive, but some users experience paranoia, agitation, and hallucinatory delirium; some even display psychotic and violent behavior, and deaths have been reported in several instances.

Bath salts typically take the form of a white or brown crystalline powder and some are sold in small plastic or foil packages labeled “not for human consumption”. Sometimes also marketed as “plant food” – or, more recently, as “jewelry cleaner” or “phone screen cleaner” – they are sold online and in drug paraphernalia stores under a variety of brand names, such as “Ivory Wave,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Lunar Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “White Lightning,” and “Scarface”.

Bath salts are typically taken orally, inhaled, or injected, with the worst outcomes being associated with snorting or needle injection.

Common synthetic cathiones found in bath salts include 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone (“Drone,” “Meph,” or “Meow Meow”), and methylone, but there are many others. Chemically, they are similar to amphetamines (such as methamphetamine) as well as to MDMA (ecstasy).

The energizing and often agitating effects reported in people who have taken bath salts are consistent with other drugs like amphetamines and cocaine that raise the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine in brain circuits regulating reward and movement. A surge in dopamine in these circuits causes feelings of euphoria and increased activity. Bath salt ingestion raises brain dopamine in the same manner as cocaine but is at least 10 times more potent.

The hallucinatory effects often reported in users of bath salts are consistent with other drugs such as MDMA or LSD that raise levels of another neurotransmitter, serotonin.

NOTE: After mephedrone was banned in the United Kingdom in 2010, for example, a chemical called naphyrone quickly replaced it, and is now being sold as “jewelry cleaner” under the brand name “Cosmic Blast”.

Common reactions reported for people who have needed medical attention after using bath salts include cardiac symptoms (such as racing heart, high blood pressure, and chest pains) and psychiatric symptoms including paranoia, hallucinations, and panic attacks.

Bath salts have a high abuse and addiction potential. Bath salts show escalation patterns nearly identical to methamphetamine. Bath salt users have reported that the drugs trigger intense cravings and that they are highly addictive. Bath salts are associated with strong withdrawal symptoms.

The dangers of bath salts are compounded by the fact that these products may contain other unknown ingredients that may have their own harmful effects.

Now that we have learned of the tremendous danger associated with the consumption of bath salts, may we by the grace of God never partake of this substance and may we encourage others to steer clear of this destructive drug. May we follow the admonition given by Paul to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:3, “…let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints…”


Author: Dr. George CrabbDr. George T. Crabb (D.O., F.A.C.O.I.) is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internist. In addition to practicing Internal and Addiction Medicine in Naples, Florida, Dr. Crabb writes medical communications for Reformers Unanimous International. Dr. Crabb’s passion has always been to help others through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Flesh-eating drug 'krokodil' emerges in USA

I have been told this drug has made its way onto the streets of Wilmington.  Please join me in praying for the recovery of the addicted.  God is able.

Arizona has reported the first U.S. cases involving a heroin-like IV drug called "krokodil," which rots the flesh and skin of users. / AP

Written by

Michael Winter

USA Today

 

A powerful heroin-like drug that rots flesh and bone has made its first reported appearance in the United States, an Arizona health official says.
Known on the street as "krokodil," the caustic homemade opiate is made from over-the-counter codeine-based headache pills mixed with iodine, gasoline, paint thinner or alcohol. When it's injected, the concoction destroys a user's tissue, turning the skin scaly and green like a crocodile. Festering sores, abscesses and blood poisoning are common.

Frank LoVecchio, the co-medical director at the Banner Good Samaritan Poison & Drug Information Center, told KPHO-TV that Arizona health officials have seen two cases during the past week.

"As far as I know, these are the first cases in the United States that are reported," he said. "So we're extremely frightened."

LoVecchio did not say where in the state the patients were located or provide details about their conditions.

The drug — chemically called desomorphine — emerged around 2002 in Siberia and the Russian Far East but has swept across the country in just the past three years, according to a Time magazine investigation.

Krokodil became popular in Russia because heroin can be difficult to obtain and is expensive. Krokodil costs three times less, and the high is similar to heroin though much shorter, usually 90 minutes.

The average life expectancy among krokodil addicts in Russia is two to three years, according to Time, which called the narcotic "the most horrible drug in the world." Gangrene and amputations are common, and the toxic mix dissolves jawbones and teeth, much like the methamphetamine that Walter White cooks in Breaking Bad.

As with all intravenous drug addicts, krokodil users are susceptible to HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases, and have compromised immune systems.

One recovering Russian krokodil addict, Irina Pavlova, told Time in 2011 that she injected the drug almost daily for six years. She has a speech impediment and impaired motor skills because of the resulting brain damage.

Her brother was among the dozen or so addicts she shot up with. "Practically all of them are dead now," she said. "For some, it led to pneumonia, some got blood poisoning, some had an artery burst in their heart, some got meningitis, others simply rot."

A Russian woman using krokodil in June 2011 told The Independent that a fellow junkie refused to go to the hospital.

"Her flesh is falling off and she can hardly move anymore," she said.

Benefits of Wisdom

Benefits of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:10-20 (KJV) ¹⁰ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; ¹¹ Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: ¹² To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; ¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; ¹⁴ Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; ¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: ¹⁶ To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; ¹⁷ Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. ¹⁸ For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. ¹⁹ None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. ²⁰ That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

In Proverbs 2:10-22   God gives us the benefits of wisdom.  Wisdom is defined as a divine gift from God giving skill to living life according to His Word.

1.  It makes knowledge pleasant to your soul. (10)

Wisdom will have the benefit of loving to learn.  Specifically, loving to learn about God and living life according to His will and way.

2.  It enables you to judge between right and wrong. (11)

Discretion (discerning between right and wrong) shall preserve (guard, protect) thee.

3.  It guards and protects you from evil. (11)

The word preserve means to guard and protect. Literally, it means a hedge of protection. (Job 1:10)

It is the discerning that wisdom gives that guards and protects.  When one is able to make decisions that are right, one is protected against that which is wrong.

 4.  It enables you to learn and know what is right and what is wrong. (11)

Understanding = knowing what is right and wrong.  Webster's 1828 says: The faculty of the human mind by which it apprehends the real state of things presented to it, or by which it receives or comprehends the ideas which others express and intend to communicate. The understanding is called also the intellectual faculty. It is the faculty by means of which we obtain a great part of our knowledge. Luke 24. Eph. 1.

5.  It prevents you from falling (11)

Keep = To preserve from falling or from danger; to protect; to guard or sustain.

 6.  It rescues you from the influence and lifestyle of evil men. (12-15)

Deliver = to rescue, to recover, to snatch away.  Wisdom, knowledge, discretion and understanding will rescue us from the thinking, the influence, and the lifestyle of the man whose heart is set on doing wrong.  To disable negative peer pressure, enable God's Word!

7.  It saves you from the immoral and promiscuous woman. (16-19)

Wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding will prevent you from relationships with immoral and promiscuous woman.  It should be well noted the danger and results of a relationship with this type of woman.

8.  It enables you to follow the steps of good men. (20)

9.  It enables you to stay on the path of righteousness. (20)

Consequences of Disobedience

Consequences of Disobedience

Judges 2:1-5 (KJV) ¹ And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. ² And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? ³ Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. ⁴ And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. ⁵ And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.


The Scolding of the Lord: Judges 2:1-2

Does our disobedience matter to the Lord?  Does He hold us responsible for our sin?  God is concerned, it does matter.  Here in Judges 2 we see the angel of the LORD (a Theophany, or OT appearance of Jesus) (1&4) appearing unto His people and rebuking (scolding) them for their disobedience.  He directly asks them in verse 2, why have ye done this? 

God holds us responsible and accountable for our sins, our disobedience to Him and His Word.  We cannot not excuse it or make excuses for it.  We cannot blame others or plead ignorance.  It is our responsiblity.

In what ways did Israel disobey the Lord?

1.  Incomplete Obedience:

They did not utterly drive out their enemies.  Remember, partial obedience is disobedience. 

2.   Ingratitude:

They failed to fully appreciate what God had done, was doing, and would do for them.  The Lord had delivered them out of Egypt, was giving them Canaan, and would have driven out all the inhabitants of Canaan for them.

3.  Compromise:

They were commanded not to make any deals with the Canaanites, but yet they did.  They entered contractually into relationships with the Canaanites ususally with the motive of financial gain.

4.  Idolatry:

They failed to throw down their altars and their gods shall be a snare unto you.  Disobedience and compromise lead to idolatry.  The Canaanite gods became the gods of the Israelites.  You either influence or are influenced. 

The Consequences of Compromise

The Consequences of Compromise

Judges 1:21-36 (KJV) ²¹ And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. ²² And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. ²³ And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) ²⁴ And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. ²⁵ And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. ²⁶ And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. ²⁷ Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. ²⁸ And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. ²⁹ Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. ³⁰ Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. ³¹ Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: ³² But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. ³³ Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. ³⁴ And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: ³⁵ But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. ³⁶ And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

 

God had clearly commanded His children to drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan.  He had clearly promised the victory. (Judges 1:1-2)

In Judges 1:21-36 we see the consequences of compromise.  We see the death of determination.  Israel's success is turned to failure. 

• The Benjamites fail.  There isn't any recorded attempts to drive out the enemy. (21)
• Manasseh fails.  They disobey God and enslaved the Canaanites.  Choosing the gold of Canaan led to embracing the gods of Canaan. (27)
• Ephraim fails.  Their failure led to idolatry.  Hosea 4:17—Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
• Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan all fail. (30-34)

The consequences of compromise are costly. They allow their enemies to remain using them for profit.  The love of money is the root of all evil!

• The Canaanites infiltrate Israel gaining more and more strength and influence.
• Compromise leads to defeat.  Israel is conquered by their enemies. When you give the devil an inch, he will take a mile!
• Israel intermarries with the Canaanites and become idolatrous (3:6-7).
• God is angered. (2:14-15)

The compromise of Israel led to its defeat.  It led to them turning their backs on God and losing His blessing.  They literally snatched defeat out of the jaw of victory!

When we as children of God start compromising on His truth and His commandments we too start down the road of defeat.



Faith or Fail

Faith or Fail

by Pastor Curt

Judges 1:19 (KJV)   And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Was the Lord still with Judah? Was the Lord able to defeat the Canaanites and their chariots? Judah had a great start, but lacked the determination to finish strong.  They became worried about the chariots of their enemies.

The Canaanite chariots had three people in them.  One was a driver, another was the shield bearer, and the other was the spear man.  The chariot’s axles had knives in them to cut down the soldiers as they passed by them.

If the Lord was with them what difference would this make? Why would failure be their only option? Peter experience a similar failure when he stepped out of the boat to walk on the water.  He had early success, but ultimately sank as he took his eyes off of the Lord.

Matthew 14:24-31 (KJV)  But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.²⁵  And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. ²⁶  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. ²⁷  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.²⁸  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. ²⁹  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.³⁰  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.³¹  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Judah failed for the same reason. They took their eyes off of the Lord. When faith is replaced with doubt or fear, failure follows.

We, as children of God, need each day to walk in faith.  We need to be guided by the promises of God remembering that God is with us!

Right as Determined by Me!

Right as Determined by Me!

by Pastor Curt on September 16, 2013

Proverbs 16:2 (KJV) ²  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

 The world bases right or wrong on its own conscience or the opinion of the majority.  If soceity says it is right, then it is right or if I do not violate my own conscience than it is OK.

However, behavior not in line with the Word of God or behavior not done being led by the Spirit of God is wrong.  Our final authority is God’s Word.

God’s Word gives an example of a people group who forsook God’s law for their own ideas.  It was Israel.  From Othniel to Samuel, the period of the judges was 41/2 centuries long, and they spent over 111 of those years in captivity to such as the Mesopotamians, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Amalekites, the Canaanites, the Midianites, and the Philistines.

The last 5 chapters of the book of Judges paint a picture of a land filled with moral depravity, spiritual wickedness, religious apostasy and political confusion.  Judges 21:25 summarizes this era.  In those days there was no King in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 
Does this not in some ways describe our country today, every man doing that which is right in his own eyes?  We have a deceived soceity that calls a mother murdering the unborn child in her womb a woman’s right and same sex relationships and marriage an alternative lifestyle. 

As a country we can call evil good and good evil, but it is the LORD that determines what is right and what is wrong.  He determines the consequences of our actions.

Psalm 1:6: The Ungodly Man

Psalm 1:6 (KJV) ⁶ For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
D.  He is Damned (6)

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:  

...the LORD:  Jehovah

...the way:    Course of action.

...the righteous:     just.  justified by the blood of Jesus. 

There are only two ways.  There is the way of the cross, and there is the way of the curse. Jesus said it clearly:

John 14:6 (KJV) ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is only one way to eternal life in Heaven, and that is through the blood shed on Calvary's cross by God's Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:12 (KJV) ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
All individuals can be classified into two categories; believers and unbelievers, or saved and lost, or righteous and ungodly.

...but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

...ungodly:   Morally wrong.  Condemned guilty.

...perish:      To be destroyed.  To come to nothing.

The closing word of the first Hebrew hymn is sobering.  It is perish.  God's Word is clear in this matter.  All who die without personal faith in Jesus Christ perish for all eternity. 

Mark 16:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:36 (KJV) ³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:16-18 (KJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
If you are reading this today, I urge you to turn to Jesus Christ.  I beseech you to believe in Him.  There is only one way to be saved and that is through the blood of Jesus.  Trust Him today!

Psalm 1:5: The Ungodly Man

The Ungodly Man: Psalm 1:5 Defined and Dissected

Psalm 1:5 (KJV) ⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

C.  He is Condemned (5)

...ungodly:   Morally wrong.  Condemned guilty.

...stand in the judgment:     The sinner will not be able to stand in the judgment.  He will be called to the great white throne of judgment only to find that the heaven, the earth, and all that he had or did is gone. Everything he had done and every investment of his time and talent will be gone.  He has no where to stand.  He has nothing that will stand.  He has built his house on the sinking sand.

Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV) ¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
...nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous:    The righteous are those whose sins have been washed by the blood of Jesus! Sinners are those who do not know Jesus.  They are responsible for their sins, as His blood has not been applied to their account.

In eternity, sinners will not be where the righteous are.  Frankly, let us be honest about this, Heaven would not be Heaven, if sin is present.  One of the attributes of Heaven that all the blood washed believers eagerly await is the absence of sin. 

Oh my friend, if you do not know Jesus as your Savior, repent and be saved.  If your sins are washed in His precious blood, rejoice!  He is ours, and we are His'. Someday we will walk the streets of glory and be with the one who loved us enough to die on Calvary's cross for our sins!

Psalm 1:4 The Ungodly Man

II.  The Ungodly Man

The ungodly man stands in stark contrast to the godly man whom has received God's blessing. 

A.  He is Different (4)

The godly man is blessed.  He is firmly rooted by the Lord and the Lord provides his needs.  He fills his life with purpose and prospers him.  He preserves him through the trials and storms of life.

• The ungodly are not so:  In the Hebrew this reads: Not so the ungodly, not so: It is a double negative and is used to emphasize the great difference between the godly man who has God's blessing and the ungodly man who does not.

B.  He is Wasting his Life.

• ...but are like the chaff:  the light waste product left over from harvesting grain.  In Scriptural terms it refers to those who do evil. The chaff was usually burned so it could not be carried by the wind back into the grain.

Isaiah 5:24 (KJV) ²⁴  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Matthew 3:12 (KJV) ¹²  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The ungodly are living a life that has no eternal value. 

• ...which the wind driveth away

Their life is without worth spiritually and they like the chaff will be burned with fire.  Death shall carry them into a fiery eternity. 

Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Psalm 1:3 The Blessed Man

Psalm 1:3 The Blessed Man

Dissected and Defined.

Please see the previous posts concerning The Blessed Man.



Psalm 1:3 (KJV) ³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
C.  The Results of Living Psalm 1:1-2

In verse 3 the results of living life seperated from the world, and living life delighting and meditating on God's Word are given.

     1.  The blessed man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

...like a tree:  Is a symbol of blessing. It indicates beauty, majesty, and strength.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. ⁸ For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

...planted:   Not one growing wild, but carefully planted. This tree is one carefully planted and secured from the last terrible uprooting. Matthew 15:13 (KJV) ¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

It indicates ownership.  The tree was bought and planted.

...the rivers of water:   Note it is multiple rivers, if one river dries up there are others. This is a reference to the Eastern method of irrigation.  Rivers of water are made to flow between the rows of trees and thus the trees receive a constant supply of water.

Spurgeon said; the rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace, the rivers of the promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are never-failing sources of supply.

2.  The blessed man is fruitful.

...bringeth forth his fruit in his season:   The promise of God is that the separated man who delights and meditates in God's Word will produce fruit. 

John 15:4-5 (KJV) ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The blessed man brings forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, and joy in the hour of prosperity.  Fruitfulness is the characteristic of the blessed man and his fruitfulness will be seasonable.

3.  The blessed man is consistent.

...his leaf also shall not wither:  There are two kinds of trees.  Decidious trees that annually loose their leaves and evergreen trees that have needles that remain green all year long. 

The blessed man is not affected by the season or the circumstances of life.  He is consistent, like the tree whose leaves do not wither. 

His faintest words shall be everlasting; his little deeds of love shall be had in rememberance.  Not simply shall his fruit be preserved, but his leaf also.  He shall neither lose his beauty nor his fruitfulness.  CH Spurgeon.

4.  The blessed man prospers.

...and whatsover he doeth shall propsper:  The word prosper means to push forward, to grow or increase. 

The blessed man is growing, increasing; spiritually alive and thriving.  He is producing much fruit to the glory of God.  His prosperity is of God and it contains no sorrow.  God's prosperity is in all areas of his life.

Wrestling with God

Genesis 32:26 (KJV) ²⁶  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Jacob would not let the angel go unless he blessed Jacob. Jacob prevailed.  He received a blessing.  He would no longer be called Jacob.  Jacob in the Hebrew means one who follows on another's heel or supplanter. A supplanter is one who undermines or overthrows.  It is certainly not a term of endearment.   It speaks of one who is corrupt.  However, God is able to change any life, and He changes this one.  Jacob would now be called Israel.  The name Israel means something much different.  It means prince of God; one who fights victoriously.  Jacob's wrestling with God resulted in victory.  He was on longer the undermining schemer, but one who is walking in victory!

Years ago I attended the funeral of the mother of a dear man who went to our church.  After the funeral he told me how his mother and step-father came to know Christ as their Savior in an old fashioned revival meeting in a little Pentecostal Holiness church in Rock Hall, MD. They both immediately fell under conviction concerning their addictive and sinful habit of smoking cigarettes.  They tried to quit many times, but failed.  One Sunday morning they walked the aisle of their little country church and told the Pastor they were giving up cigarettes.  They told him they had tried many times to quit and failed. The Pastor said, "meet me tonight at 11:00 at the church".  They thought it odd, but returned to the church at 11:00 that night.  The Pastor invited them to the altar and stated; "we are going to wrestle with God until God gives you the victory over smoking".  And they did.  They began praying and continued praying until in the wee hours of the morning, God granted the victory.  They never smoked again!

Do you need to hear from God?  May I suggest to do what Jacob did, get a hold of God and do not let him go until He blesses you!

Anger: Forgiveness

Anger: Forgiveness

Chapter 9

I.         What is Forgiveness?

Mark 11:25 (KJV) ²⁵  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

To forgive means the one offended cancels the debt, and releases the offender from any obligation to pay back or make restitution.

It is always welcome when the offender asks for forgiveness and offers to make restitution.

HOWEVER, FORGIVENESS IS NOT BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE OFFENDER, BUT THE HEART OF THE OFFENDED.

Ill:           Fishing and Forgiveness

The fisherman casts the line, the fish is hooked and its on!  The fish is offended and the fisherman is the offender.  The more the offended fish fights back at the offending fisherman, the more the hook is set and the easier time the fisherman has landing the fish.  However, as any fisherman will tell you, if the fish swims directly toward the fisherman the line will slacken and the hook will release itself.  The fish’s freedom is not gained by pulling but by slacking the line.  Forgiveness is slackening the line!

II.        The Results of not Forgiving?

1.            Your pain is compounded.

The pain you initially felt because of the offense is compounded when we choose not to forgive.

2.            Remaining angry at the offender brings torment to your own soul.

The torment takes shape as residual anger, resentment, and bitterness.  We think if we remain cold and distant from the person we are somehow punishing them for what they have done. We think that getting even with them will make us better. 

Romans 12:17-21 (KJV) ¹⁷  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

III.      Forgiveness Precedes Freedom

When you forgive it frees you, but it will not necessarily heal you emotionally.  You may still have emotional wounds and scars from the offense. 

Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) ¹ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Psalm 34:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Jesus promises to heal our hearts.  How long will it take?  It depends how deeply you were hurt and how long you harbored unforgiveness in your heart.

IV.       Why should I Forgive?

Why should I let the offender off the hook?  Because in reality it is you who is getting off of the hook.  Are there consequences for the offender?  Is the offender getting away with it?  The answer is NO!

Hebrews 10:31 (KJV) ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

V.        Not only should We Forgive, but We should Pray and ask Mercy for the     Offender.

Matthew 5:44 (KJV) ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 6:12-15 (KJV) 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 Here in Matthew 6 your eternal destiny is not affected.  Jesus died and forgave your sin on Calvary’s cross.  However, you will lose the victory and the daily blessing in your walk with God.  God’s working in your life is hindered by your unforgiveness.

VI.       Forgiveness does not mean Forgetting

Hebrews 10:17 (KJV) ¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

This is not saying God forgets.  It is saying that God will no longer hold our sins against us.  He forgives and treats us as forgiven. God could not forget, because God is omniscient.  He knows all!

The more you are hurt and the longer you have chosen to hang on to unforgiveness, the harder it may be. 

Ill:  Like Climbing a Mountain

The view at the top is worth the climb!

VII.     Forgiveness must be from the Heart.

Matthew 18:35 (KJV) ³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

To do this we must face the hurt and hate and ask the Lord to reveal all hurts and pain.  We must then agree with God and proclaim that we forgive the offender.  We must be emotionally honest.

VIII.   We all live with the Consequences of Other People’s Sins

We all live with the consequences of other’s sins.  Our choice is to live with the consequences of other’s sins in the bondage of bitterness and anger or in the freedom of forgiveness.

We are all living with the consequences of Adam’s sin. 

Jesus thru the cross removes the consequences of Adam’s sin and Jesus enables us to forgive removing the consequences of the offender’s sins.

Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV) ⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

IX.       Unforgiveness opens the door to Satan.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (KJV) ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷ Neither give place to the devil.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV) ¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Unforgiveness is a tool the devil uses to take advantage of us.  Unforgiveness is cancer to our soul.

X.        Forgiveness is Commanded

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) ³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.