The Citizen, 2019-09-19, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019. PAGE 23.
By Ernest Dow, Exec. Pastor,
Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn ON
“He really doesn’t drink that
much.”
“Paul drinks more than I do.”
“Look honey, I have a tough job; I
work hard. I need a few drinks to
relax. It doesn’t mean that I have a
problem.”
Do any of these statements sound
familiar to you? Chances are you
may be dealing with someone who
has an addiction. Consuming
substances obsessively can be an
attempt to cover over pain that needs
to be dealt with, resorting in un-
truths and cover-ups.
Perhaps you encounter denial in
areas other than substance abuse.
What might that sound like?
“Billy, if we don’t talk about it, it
will go away.”
“It really doesn’t hurt when he
does that; I’m fine!”
“I eat because you make me so
mad!”
“I’m not hurting anyone but
myself.”
Behavioral addictions may not
involve drugs or alcohol, but can be
equally life-damaging. Our mental
health can be affected, potentially
resulting in depression, chronic
anger or even suicide. As Jesus
Christ observed about the devil,
“The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)
Addictions drive us to consume or
react in ways that we suppose will
numb the pain – but that can have
devastating effects.
Consider the havoc wreaked just
by substance abuse.
AddictionCenter.com points out the
following Canadian facts:
• In 2012, it was estimated that
21.6 per cent of Canada’s population
met the criteria for a substance use
disorder. That’s close to 8 million
people suffering from addiction in
Canada.
• Alcohol, by a wide margin, is the
most abused substance in Canada.
• More people were hospitalized in
2015 through 2016 for alcohol-
related harm than heart attacks.
(Think of it as hospital beds that
were taken from 77,000 other people
who may have needed them.)
• According to the United Nations,
Canada is the world’s largest
producer of ecstasy and
methamphetamines. There aren’t
any prescription options to substitute
for meth, and the side effects of the
drug makes users trying to recover
violent and unpredictable. “[Meth]
eventually gets you, and when it
takes you down, it takes you down
and you lose absolutely everything.”
• Approximately four people in
Canada are killed each day in car
crashes involving a driver under the
influence of drugs, alcohol or both
(1,451 in 2013).
We can see that the addiction of
substance abuse alone takes a
considerable toll on the well-being
of Canadian society. The cost of
avoiding recovering is considerable!
The Bible offers several instances
warning that overconsumption of
alcohol can become problematic.
Noah survived a cataclysmic
environmental disaster only to
become inebriated and undress
himself in embarrassing fashion.
(Genesis 9:21ff) The daughters of
Lot (Abraham’s nephew) employed
alcohol in order to induce their
father into a state where he was
vulnerable to involuntary incest
(Gen. 19:31). Later, King Belshazzar
of Babylon was drinking wine when
he praised gods of gold and silver
and brought God’s indictment upon
himself for his rebellion, idolatry
and irreverence (Daniel 5:2,4,23)
Addictions drive us into
behaviours that are damaging in the
long-term to ourselves and to others
near us. So the Bible advises us to
guard ourselves from the slavery of
intoxication. “Do not join those who
drink too much wine or gorge
themselves on meat, for drunkards
and gluttons become poor, and
drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
(Prov. 23:20) And in the New
Testament, the Apostle Paul warns,
“The acts of the sinful nature are
obvious: ... drunkenness, orgies, and
the like. I warn you, as I did before,
that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.”
(Galatians 5:19ff) And – “Do not get
drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
There is a better alternative, as
Paul says: being filled with God’s
Spirit. Celebrate Recovery is a
program beginning locally Sept. 24
which is based on Christian
principles derived from Jesus’
teaching. For example, the first
half of the eight principles are
as follows:
• Realize I’m not God; I admit that
I am powerless to control my
tendency to do the wrong thing and
that my life is unmanageable.
• Earnestly believe that God exists,
that I matter to Him and that He has
the power to help me recover.
• Consciously choose to commit
all my life and will to Christ’s care
and control.
• Openly examine and confess my
faults to myself, to God, and to
someone I trust.
Recovery is not easy. It is seldom
quick. There are often setbacks and
re-starts. But those who stick with
the program discover God’s help for
their temptations – their hurts,
habits, and hang-ups. Finding a
supportive small group and
accountability partner are key. Just
opening up to admit one’s failings is
a big start. There we learn to be
humble, to walk alongside others
who are also in the journey, and to
discover God’s healing power for
those who look to Him – before it’s
too late.
The scope of the design for the
water and sewer systems for the
Hutton Heights development raised
some questions from North Huron
Township Council members during
a recent meeting.
Hutton Heights, a municipally-
owned development site, just south
of Wingham in East Wawanosh, has
been the focus of the current session
of council, which hopes to
encourage residential construction
on the site through preparing it for
developers.
The next step in that process is to
design water and sewer systems,
extending service from Wingham.
The design of the systems was
expected to cost $94,000, but that
was before council decided it
wanted to try and offer water
services to other residential
properties in the area, adding more
lines and complexity to the systems.
“I want to make sure we design it
so that existing development could
be served,” Deputy-Reeve Trevor
Seip said.
Chief Administrative Officer
Dwayne Evans said that could be
accomplished, but it would change
the scope of the work. He reminded
council that the $94,000 job was just
to get sewer and water to the edge of
the development, so a similar
arrangement could be made for
existing residential developments.
Council approved a motion to go
ahead with the design of the system.
After that is complete, the
municipality will next take on
environmental and archeological
studies for the new infrastructure
and development.
Hutton
Heights
design
approved
huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com
519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn
Evangelical Missionary Church
Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 p.m. – YOUTH GROUP (Gr. 7-12)
Tues. Sept. 24 7-9 p.m. CELEBRATE RECOVERY!
9:30 a.m. Sunday School,
10:30 a.m. Worship
Pastor Phil Delsaut -
“Following Jesus: Temptation”
(Matt. 4:1-17)
Sunday, September 22
Office Hours:
Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Guest Speaker:
David Kai
Accessible
Sunday, September 22
Worship Service at 9:30 am
Blyth United Church
Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Worship & Sunday School - 11:00 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
We invite you to join our church family in:
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, September 22
at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
The Regional Ministry of Hope
BLYTH BRUSSELS
Trinity St. John’s
9:15 am 11:15 am
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector
519-357-7781
email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
The‐Regional‐Ministry‐of‐ Hope
St. Paul’s Trinity
WINGHAM 11:15 am
These Anglican Churches
Welcome You
BRUSSELS
United Church
Sunday, September 22
Worship Service 11:00 am
Worship Leader
David Kai
All are Welcome
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
From the Minister’s Study
The high cost of avoiding recovery: Dow
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
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