Matt wrote:
Those who abuse substance, when they know they can not handle are really
abusing the spirits of those around them.

Helen responds:
Matt, those words were spoken right out of the heart of God!



At 11:29 AM 1/6/04 -0600, you wrote:
>A subject line from another message on this list put this idea in my head so
>I am writing it as a general discussion message.
>Mainly because it is something I struggle with and also to have something to
>say.
>As for us, we are gathering up money where we can to try and absorb the hit
>of the new bike on top of the old.
>We haven't heard back on the new one yet.
>They are waiting on the paper work from the government to make it street
>legal.
>
>Now, the blessing and praying topic,
>
>I am pulling this from memory but I think it is scripture.  I don't know the
>chapter and vurse, or even the book.
>Jesus said, bless those who curse you, pray for those who spitefully abuse
>you.
>Now, who all has trouble with this one?
>I sure do but it's one of those things you have to work at when just
>starting to grasp christianity.
>Maybe it is a struggle for the rest of life.  I'm not sure.
>Hah, I just flashed on Paul in Trafic blessing those who curse him.
>I am lucky that I don't have a lot of people cursing me, but I have been
>used, spitefully or not.
>Felt pretty spiteful on the receiving end of things.
>My trust has been abused, and my since of self honor and of course this all
>leads to pain and abuse of the spirit.
>I am working on it though.
>It feels good to be getting along with my brother, the drug addict, but we
>still tip toe a bit as it is new.
>I currently have another brother who has backslid into drinking, which he
>know's he can not handle but he's back their again, by his own hand,
>literally.
>Hand picks up beverage you know.
>I am not dealing with him at all right now and I resist the compulsions to
>tell my family members not to give him my current phone number or address
>and also to call him up and tell him truely what I think or to call his
>girlfriend who is a friend of our's and tell her that I think she should go
>ahead and leave him and get on with her healthy life with someone deserving
>of her devotion.
>I guess this is where the pray for those who spitefully use you thing comes
>in.
>Those who abuse substance, when they know they can not handle are really
>abusing the spirits of those around them.
>Well, I'll forest Gump here by saying,
>And, that's all I have to say about that...
>
>Matt