21 Jul, 2006

Do What I Say, Not What I Do

Mr. Coors had one too many Coors!

Beer executive Pete Coors arrested on suspicion of DUI
DENVER (AP) — Do as Pete Coors says, not as he does.

The beer company executive, chief commercial pitcher and former Senate candidate confirmed Thursday he was cited in May for driving under the influence of alcohol.

“I made a mistake,” Coors said in a prepared statement. “I should have planned ahead for a ride. For years, I’ve advocated the responsible use of our company’s products. That’s still my message, and our company’s message, and it’s the right message. I am sorry that I didn’t follow it myself.”

Coors was driving a 2004 Jaguar after leaving a friend’s wedding celebration when he was stopped by a Colorado State Patrol trooper just before midnight May 29. He had rolled through a stop sign a block from his home and was stopped by the officer in his driveway.

Photo courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy cantonrep.com, 7/14/06

Proverbs 23:29-35

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
35 “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink.”
(ESV)

What is Solomon’s Godly wisdom on the use of alcohol?
It’s pretty clear isn’t it? (Well at least more clear than the head or eyes of the person that Solomon is describing!)

The bottom line is that with the use of alcohol comes risk and consequences. In fact, today’s passage lists seven consequences of drinking. Can you name three or four without going back and looking?

Alcohol may provide some taste and comfort for awhile…but then what? Anyone who tries to find relief from whatever is wrong with life may find out that there’s now more wrong with life.

In the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:18, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.”

How can you connect today’s part of God’s Story to your life?
Decide to listen to God’s Word rather than the media. Movies, TV, music and ads all promote drinking as the way to experience fun, excitement, better romance, more sex, more friends, and “hot” or “cool” nights, depending on your mood. God wants you to experience His ultimate adventure for you, which comes through the control of the Holy Spirit in you. (This is another way to remember what it means to abide in Christ!)
  • If you’ve been struggling with drinking, talk to your youth leader or pastor. If you don’t have one, ask someone who loves Jesus to help you find help.
  • Whenever you see a commercial or ad for drinking, pray for the courage to say no to alcohol abuse and pray for the courage to help someone who is struggling.
  • Pray right now. If you have been able to say no to the drinking scene, thank God for His strength. If you’ve been struggling with drinking, ask God for the strength and the courage to talk to someone to help you and hold you accountable.
How can you connect today’s God’s Story and your story to others?
Remember that Mr. Coors had too many of his Coors. Look again at his quote: “I’ve advocated the responsible use of our company’s products. That’s still my message, and our company’s message, and it’s the right message. I am sorry that I didn’t follow it myself.” If we’re going to be messengers of God’s Story to Their Stories, we must live out the message of Jesus, because He has changed our lives.
  • Make a list of friends and family who are messing with alcohol or are messed up already. Every day, pray for them to be able to say no and to get help and/or be held accountable. Maybe you’re the one to help and hold them accountable?
  • Use this Dailybide as a source for study in your youth group or small group. Some interesting questions to discuss would be: WHY DO Y0U THINK MOST TEENAGERS DRINK? DO YOU SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HABITS OF CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN FRIENDS WHEN IT COMES TO DRINKING? WHY? WHY NOT? HOW CAN WE BE LIKE JESUS IN THIS CHALLENGE?
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

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