Good Morning! We are 138 days into 2010…how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions?  One of the most popular resolutions is the promise to stop smoking. However, it is also the resolution that usually doesn’t last past January.  Why is it so hard to stop smoking?

Tobacco, with its drug nicotine, is probably the most widely abused chemical substance in the world. It is one of the most difficult addictions to conquer. It is difficult to conquer because there is not only a strong physical addiction to the nicotine which basically touches every part of the body but there is a significant psychological addiction to the activities associated with smoking. I have had some patients who struggled more with the psychological addiction than the physical, but both can be a formidable foe. Tobacco is dangerous and deadly and needs to be taken seriously.

Cigarettes are designed to addict. They are chemically engineered to deliver nicotine to your brain. Along with the nicotine there are numerous other dangerous substances in the cigarette smoke which cause devastating health issues. Some of these substances are acetone, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. These chemicals are added to the tobacco which makes the cigarette even more deadly. These added chemicals are given the general name “tar” and include everything in a cigarette but nicotine and water. The cigarette is manufactured with a deadly delivery system, designed to efficiently send high doses of nicotine to the brain. As you inhale the cigarette smoke, the tar infiltrates your lungs, and the nicotine “rides the tar” into the blood stream. As the cigarette smoke is inhaled there are over four thousand compounds present in that smoke to make that “rush” of nicotine faster and more enjoyable. Out of the over four thousand compounds present in cigarette smoke, at least sixty of them are known to be carcinogens (cancer-forming chemicals).

Tobacco is quite insidious with its consequences. Unlike cocaine, heroin, or other dangerous drugs, tobacco’s nicotine and poison can go undetected for many years. Tobacco can gradually create addiction to nicotine and gradually kill. Tobacco is legal and accessible, but it is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world, causing almost half a million deaths in the United States annually.

As people smoke cigarettes they are not only exposing themselves to the dangers of tobacco but also their loved ones and friends they smoke around. Second-hand smoke was once considered harmless but we now know better. Second-hand smoke is poisonous and it kills. It is estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke causes an estimated three thousand lung cancer deaths each year among non-smoking American adults.

Nicotine withdrawal is a very unpleasant process to go through. For you see, when you take nicotine away, your body craves it, and makes you feel like you need more nicotine or you will die or get sick. Your body will rebel with all kinds of symptoms such as: headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue, hunger, trouble sleeping, thirst, decreased attention span, agitation, irritability, anger, and frustration amongst many others. The above symptoms can occur in just a few short hours after your last cigarette. They will be at their worst two to three days later and can last for weeks. It is not only a physical withdrawal from nicotine that a smoker goes through. In quitting tobacco, there are physiological and emotional changes that occur. For you see, smokers just don’t depend on nicotine physically. They depend on it behaviorally and psychologically. Smoking is what they do when they get together with friends. And, in fact, it is a major means by which they blow off steam when they are feeling tense. It is what they do while drinking their morning coffee or relaxing after dinner. That is why breaking the bondage of nicotine addiction can be difficult and, in fact, be harder to quit in some instances than heroin or cocaine. A patient of mine that was involved in polysubstance abuse (including tobacco) stated to me, “It (tobacco) was the hardest to quit, and it was the last to leave.” He went on to say, “The thoughts of tobacco use still haunt me.” But, breaking the bondage to your nicotine addiction is of vital importance for you and those around you. Breaking this bondage is well worth the effort.

So, we see the significance of breaking the bondage to nicotine/tobacco addiction. It is so important from the physical side as well as the mental side, but also, and even more importantly, from the spiritual side. What you need to do instead of picking up your cigarette with your morning coffee, pick up your Bible and read it. Instead of lighting up a cigarette on your drive home, put in a preaching CD or a Joy Belle music CD. Instead of a cigarette after dinner, take a walk and meditate on the things of God.

Friend, regardless of where you may be in your struggle with nicotine addiction, the good news is that there is life after cigarettes. Please trade in your cigarettes for Christ Jesus and your nicotine for the name above all names – Jesus. Let Him, the Truth, make you free…finally.

If you failed to keep your New Year’s resolution, don’t wait until January 1, 2011 to try again!  You can start today!  Give God the glory for what He can do in you!  I Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Dr. George Crabb D.O.

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“Owe no man anything, but to love one another…” (Romans 13:8.)

Recently in my travels, I realized that everyone is not an expert traveler like I have become! All joking aside, I began to notice people trying to get through the TSA lines that were unaware of the rules and regulations.  However, I also began to notice how these novice travelers were being treated by those who had a “job” to do. As I proceeded through the major international airport of Chicago, the Holy Spirit made me aware of others who could use a “helping hand.”

One such instance was a gate change, which caused over 200+ people to move from a C gate to an E gate. Since I spend almost every weekend at O’Hare International Airport, I know that this is a 25 minute walk or there is a bus that will take you there in just a couple of minutes. However, no one seemed to care to give this information, and many were just puzzled on how to get to where they needed to go.

Another such instance happened on the airplane, where I was sitting in “bulkhead” (the first seats behind first class.)  A traveler, who does not normally sit in bulkhead, was attempting to keep a large backpack on the floor in front of her.  I knew that once the airline attendant came through to check, this lady would be required to gate-check her bag, causing her much inconvenience, as the bins overhead were filling up fast.

During both of these situations, I had a decision.  I could selfishly enjoy my “typical Saturday morning commute” and keep to myself or I could heed the Holy Spirit and pay the “debt” in His power with the fruit He produces called love.

That morning, I had read the verses Romans 13:8-14, which includes the verse in the heading. I began to contemplate how much the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loved Ben Burks – me! I believe every morning we ought to wake up and “take a bath in God’s love.” I think everyday we ought to try and feel loved by the Father. Every one of us needs a Resourcing of love. You can find this through God’s Word. From Genesis to Revelation is one enormous Book on the love of God. You can also be reminded of God’s love in a good song and hymn book from your church. One such song goes “Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan; oh, the grace that brought it down to man.” Or maybe even the little song, “I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.” Not only did I take a bath in God’s love that day, but I began to notice others to whom that love needed to be demonstrated.  Praise the Lord I heeded His leading and paid “love” to others in need of help.

It has been my observation that the biggest problem we have is the fact that love is lacking in the places where it is needed the most with the people who deserve it the least. There are many selfish reasons why we withhold love to those who need it the most and deserve it the least….but the truth is every one of us fall into this category as one of those people!

True love begins when nothing is looked for in return. To give and not expect anything in return is what lies at the heart of love. Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get…only what you’re expecting to give – which is everything. It’s easy in our world today to look around and see the appearance of chaos, difficulty, and strife; yet when we our hearts are open to His love, we can always see our opportunity to pay a debt of love.

P.S. Before you travel anywhere today – whether across the nation or across town or across your living room – take a bath in God’s love and share it along the way!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!

Benjamin R. Burks

Check out Bro. Burks’ great new book, “Recovery without Relapse“, available on ON SALE at the RU E-Store for $6.30, Normally $9.00

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Good morning! I pray that you have spent some time with your Savior already this morning and approach this blog with an open heart and mind. I believe God has a wonderful truth to share with us and then for us to apply to our lives today.

This past Friday I was driving from Rockford to a small city in northwestern Michigan called Wellston. I was asked by their pastor to come to their church and present the ministry of RU and preach the three services on Sunday. During the seven hour drive, I had a lot of time to think and meditate. During this time I found myself in the midst of a spiritual warfare, Satan was constantly bringing to my memory an event that transpired over 25 years ago in my life when I was yet a teenager and had made a bad choice which hurt my testimony and the cause of Christ. When this occurred in my life, I immediately went to my pastor (also my father) and confessed my sin and got things right with God.

For over 25 years I really have never thought that much about it until this trip to northern Michigan where I was going to share the awesome ministry of RU and preach the wonderful Word of God. Satan was buffeting my mind with the thought, “How can you stand in front of those people and represent RU and then preach the Bible to them?” He went on to say to me, “You should just turn around go back home, call the preacher and tell him something came up and you wouldn’t be able to make it.” I realized I was in a fight with the evil one. My immediate thought was that God was going to bless our meeting and much fruit would be gained for the kingdom of God. Obviously the devil did not want this to transpire – thus the attack.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, I would immediately cast them down and meditate on the Word of God. I prayed that God would give me guidance and comfort in this time of extreme spiritual warfare, which was not only going to affect me but the whole congregation at the church in Wellston.

When I arrived at Wellston, I checked into my hotel room and contacted the pastor that I had arrived. Then I immediately went to the Word of God. I had left off my Bible reading that morning with Ecclesiastes chapter 10. Therefore I began reading chapter eleven and, in verse three, God so graciously gave me my answer. It says “…and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.” The Holy Spirit told me that my past event was a tree that God and I had cut down together when I acknowledged my sin and confessed it to Him and He so faithfully forgave me. I realized this fallen tree had no life left in it thus it had no power over me anymore.

The Holy Spirit ministered unto me by telling me that, yes, this tree once was alive and powerful but by the grace of God it was cut down over 25 years ago and had no power or influence over my life. He went on to comfort me by telling me to stop looking at this dead tree, step over it by the power of God, get on with my life, present the RU ministry and preach the Word of God like I had never done before. This is exactly what I did and, my friends, God showed up in Wellston, Michigan this past weekend! Many hearts were touched and many decisions for God were made.

What about the fallen trees in your life? You may say, “There are things I can’t change!” OK, it happened…so what? Go on and serve God. So the tree fell. What are you going to do, make a memorial out of it? Are you going to talk about it the rest of your life? We cannot allow the fallen trees in our life keep us from doing what God wants us to do.

Step over that fallen tree and get on serving Him!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. George Crabb D.O.

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Good Monday Morning!  Let’s continue to look over this subject of mercy.  What exactly brings a person to realize their need to seek God’s mercy?  Last week, we discussed the motivation of the healthy fear of God; and the motivation of the Word of God.  What else can motivate us to seek God’s mercy?

Christians who seek God’s mercy are conscious of the presence of God.  Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” There is no clothing that can cover your nakedness from the Lord. He sees you the way you really are.  A Christian who is motivated and moved to come to God’s throne and say, “God, I need mercy” is inevitably a believer who has been confronted by the omnipresence of God. Do we personally understand that God is everywhere?  He is “personally” everywhere so much that he lives inside the believer.  That is what makes us a holy Temple unto the Lord; God living inside of us. When we lose consciousness of that, that He’s watching us (He knows us intimately), we lose sight of how much we need mercy. But, when I know He is looking at me and sees me just as I really am, it motivates me to go to His throne of grace and ask for His mercy because I know that what He sees is not always good.

Christians who seek God’s mercy are conscious that they need mercy first before they can extend mercy to others.  Hebrews 4:14 says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.” When we offer mercy to people who do not deserve it, there is a tendency for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves. There’s a tendency to get disgusted with them and say, “You know what, I’m just tired of this. I’ve given you mercy and given you mercy, and I’m tired. I don’t have any more to give.” You cannot buy mercy at Wal-Mart or the grocery store. The only place to get it is from God. When you go to God because you need mercy to give to other people, it reminds you of the fact that you really need mercy for you. When you run out of mercy for others, it is because you have lost sight of your need for mercy from God.

Finally, the person who seeks God’s mercy is conscious of the fact that without it they will “lose their grip.” Hebrews 4:14 says, “let us hold fast our profession.” The idea behind this is that of our losing grip on the rope that is keeping us moored from drifting away.  You can drift just imperceptibly. You do not notice it; it happens slowly. That is the analogy that is used here; that we can lose our grip on that which moors us.  Your profession is the testimony of your Christian life.  Our covenant we have made with God was when we confessed that we belong to Him.  Now, we are conscious of the fact that we are losing our grip on that testimony.  This motivates us to turn to the Lord Jesus and to seek His help.

Turn to God, my friend! Do you seek God’s mercy today?  It is available, my friend, for his mercies “are new every morning.” Next week, we will discover how to “obtain” this mercy from God.  May we all seek God’s mercy!

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Here are Ten warning signs of alcoholism. Understanding alcoholism signs can help you determine whether you or a loved one are experiencing alcohol addiction. You or your loved one may consider yourself “social drinkers” but as the amount of drinking per occasion or per week increases, one or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism will develop as a result.

Two alcoholism signs associated with dependency are tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the need for increasing amounts of alcohol consumption to become intoxicated. Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is reduced or discontinued. In the USA alone, as many as 14 million adults are alcoholics.

What are ten warning signs of alcoholism? Here are alcoholism signs listed (in no particular order):

1. Drinking Alone
2. Making Excuses, Finding Excuses to Drink
3. Daily or Frequent Drinking Needed to Function
4. Inability to Reduce or Stop Alcohol Intake
5. Violent Episodes Associated with Drinking
6. Drinking Secretly
7. Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking
8. Poorer Eating Habits
9. Failure to Care for Physical Appearance
10. Trembling in the Morning

Alcoholism signs can also include blackouts, the complete inability to remember the previous evenings events. Also grayouts the inability to remember portions of the events of the previous evening. Also feeling anxious in a social situation where alcohol is not available.

Does heavy chronic drinking have health consequences? Absolutely. Chronic heavy drinking can result in serious damage to the liver, heart, brain and other vital organs. Such severe physical damage may irreversible and result in serious illnesses and even early death.

If the above ten warning signs of alcoholism help create interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction and finding help for you or a loved one, the good news is that help is available. God loves you and wants you to be totally free from your addiction. Reformers Unanimous offers multiple tools for the alcoholic including our local addiction classes, residential addiction treatment, alcohol recovery books, and the Personal Recovery Kit.

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