No, I'm not talking about the movie Hangover, nor am I suggesting that right now I'm experiencing one. Can you imagine the emails I'd get if that were the case? "Hey, everyone, I'm hungover this morning, sorry if the 'C is a little incoherent." I wonder who would call, email, or just show up to my house first? And would they talk to me or just give me the evil eye while shaking their head in shame? According to my friends in HS and college, the day I drink and swear is the day of the Apocalypse, so if I ever did send that email, perhaps you'd better worry about dragons attacking your house and the barrage of missiles destroying your town, instead of rebuking me. Now that this has gotten a bit bizarre, I think I'll move on.
For anyone that has ever experienced a hangover, or seen someone going through it, it can greatly affect a person's day. It can impede their ability to get things done, it can hinder their focus, and it can suck their ambition to do much of anything besides sleep, right out of them. It can affect their mood, how they interact with others, and how they're perceived by anyone who has never met them before, thinking this may be their usual demeanor. It can cause them physical discomfort and annoyances, and always comes with at least some regret, if for no other reason than the current throbbing, spinning, or nauseated feelings going through their body.
Can't sin do the same thing to our lives? From my experience, there can often be a period of time after sinning that feels a lot like a hangover. When we come to our senses, and all the emotions, guilt, and anguish set in, it can depress us, hinder our ambition to be a light to the world, destroy our belief that God can still use us, slow our desire to get back into His Word or come to Him, and dampen our spirits and demeanor so much that no one would ever guess we have salvation or the Spirit of God living in us. It annoys us, upsets us, and, if we're not careful and diligent in righting ourselves with God, it can prevent us from having an impact on a world in desperate need for Christians.
When sin rears its head, winking its eye at you and promising fun, excitement, enjoyment, or any of the many other tempting offers it claims, remember back to the last time you messed up. Remember your last hangover. Remember how it affected your relationship with God, how it messed up your day, how it hindered others in your life, and think about all the things you could have done, if only you weren't hungover.
EPHESIANS 2:1-2, 4-5, 10 - NIV (click to read)
THINGS TO NOTE: "Normal" Week
WINTER RETREAT NOTICE!- T minus 11 days and counting.
THIS WEEK:
Monday - MLK Day - No school for those in school. For the rest of us? We still have to work. How... fantastic.
Tuesday- Pray for those in Haiti. I believe there are now a confirmed 12 disciples dead, the church is destroyed, and lots of homes wiped out. Our brethren, the victims, survivors, and workers all need our prayers and support, but more so they need the faith, strength, and courage only God can give.
Wednesday – Normal 7:00 Midweek at the HFQ
Thursday – Pray for recognition of sin and to avoid hangovers
Friday- Normal 7:30 Bible Talk at Biggby's
Saturday – Practice walking uphill so you can tube down the hill more than once
Sunday - Normal 10:00 Sunday service at the MSC
Brett "Eating before and during sin won't keep you from getting a sin hangover" Hibbler
In response to "Brett "Eating before and during sin won't keep you from getting a sin hangover" Hibbler"
ReplyDeleteMe: but it might help you in fasting after the sin since you ate so much before and during it...
Brett: haha. true. so are you promoting sin then?
Me: well it [sin] is inevitable... but not necessarily...
perhaps I'm promoting being more spiritual after [the inevitable]...