Great post. Keep it up, my brutha!!!

Erik - I think you should hear the basic story of my uncle. It starts with Grandparent I've never met. My grandmother was hit and killed by a drunk driver in a VW Beatle when my dad was in high school. My grandfather than drank himself to death (wiskey, if it matters). While preparing for the funeral, this uncle got in a fight with my eldest uncle's wife about how they were going to split up the things. My uncle grabbed the 1/2 empty wiskey bottle off the top of the fridge and told her "this is all I need". That bottle still sits on his fridge, and he hasn't taken a drink since. I think I've heard the story 50 times. It holds me back every time I've had few and I'm thinking about a few more. It might be the reason I've never had a real problem with alcohol. I don't know if that will really help anything, but felt the need to share.

Thanks. I really appreciate your insights. Keep 'em coming.

God used the original post (in conjunction with a number of other things in my life recently) to get my attention. It is a good thing.

I relate to what you say about holding back for fear of what others will think. It's really hard to put myself - and my past - out there for others to see, because then they'll have the chance to judge me.

I struggle with telling my story of how I eventually became a believer for that very reason. But, on those occasions when I've taken a chance and shared the story I've been surprised that people don't judge me. They're more interested in what God has done rather than what I've done. He uses my failure - inspite of me.

Hope that all makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't.

I didn't intend for my words to hurt, just the opposite actually.

God loves me while I'm "making love to my tonic and gin." My realization of that is what makes me want to kick the booze.

It ends up being the choice between two lovers. One that takes and never gives, and One that gives while I'm taking (even if I never give back). But unless you realize the depth of His love and lack of judgment even while you're in the very act of cheating on Him, the other lovers tend to be more attractive (or as Yoda said about the dark side of the force…"quicker, easier, more seductive").

So just let Him love you and it will all work out. My 2 cents.

I teach 5th/6th grade Sunday School and will struggle talking about issue I've had in the past bacause I'm worried about what the kids and their parents might think of me. Specific issues I've not been open about are my disrespect for stupid people in authority, and the fact that my daughter's age > years of marriage to my wife. I know I have stories to share that will help these kids, but my fear of my own junk keeps me for doing what God has set before me.

Erik/Josh/Wayne - what does this mean to you?