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The man who drinks a little, drinks too much !! You don't think so - well let us look at the sordid record of alcohol consumption across the world today.

Right here in Alberta, Canada, figures show that in 1983 we spent more money on booze than we took in for the sale of oil. Canada's 'Oil Province' will soon become known as the 'Booze Province'. And inebriation leaves scars that last for a long time - like infidelity, broken homes, divorced kids, lost jobs, murderous fights and highway homicides.

Someone said, "Alcohol gives you a red nose, a black eye, a green brain, brown breath and a blur outlook."

Many friendships are broken because of drinking alcoholic beverages than any other way. Many people drink to get their courage up .... others drink to get happy. You can't keep your spirits up, however, by swallowing down spirits.

Drunkenness in Russia, South Africa and lately in Canada with free sampling of 'Canadian Club' and open bars on Grey Cup Sunday speak of easy escapism from the realities of life.

Oppression and lack of freedom such as was experienced by 97% of the citizens of the former Soviet Union for 70 years, and the majority of blacks and coloreds in South Africa until recently, was the excuse given for excessive imbibing.

The hard drinking of Russians has paid off handsomely, producing a nation of drunks, broken homes and abject poverty. And the hardships suffered by a lot of Canadians - 10% unemployment - during this past decade and longer, has given rise to the same mental attitude .... endure hopelessness through alcohol consumption.

Social drinkers get hooked and eventually graduate to the class called alcoholics or drunkards. Judge Lewis Drecker of Cleveland, Ohio state: "The chronic alcoholic and excessive drinker is a graduate of the moderate drinker."

ALCOHOL IS THE SPOILER

Alcohol has been the ruination of many great men in every walk of life, and for thousands of years. Connie Mack stated, "All the umpires put together have not put as many ballplayers out of the game as 'old man booze'.

Friedemann Bach, the most gifted son of the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, went to pieces through drinking alcohol. Michael Hayden, younger brother of Joseph Hayden, and hardly less gifted, was also ruined by alcohol. Franz Schubert became an inveterate wine drinker and died in his early thirties.

ALCOHOL CAUSED ROBERT SCHUMANN'S NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

After the death of his wife, Rembrandt, then 36 years of age, became an alcoholic. "I call drink the greatest trap that life has put before the feet of genius.: - Upton Sinclair

J.C. Penny never drank anything stronger than ginger ale. When someone reported that he had indulged in cocktails, he said, "My reputation which I value has been damaged. From henceforth it will be plain water or tomato juice for me. "

Charles Lamb, English essayist, confessed that - because of booze - he was, "gliding into the abyss with open eyes and bound will, seeing his own destruction before him without having the strength of will to break away and with all good drained from his heart."

Vance Havner - well know Baptist minister and writer stated: "The alcoholic commits suicide on the installment plan. " Marjorie Black - chairman of the American Medical Committee on Alcoholism stated: "The requirement of our society that drinking is a social obligation to which one must conform is one of the major causes of alcoholism in our country."

Abraham Lincoln declared: "ALCOHOL IS THE GREATEST AND MOST BLIGHTING CURSE OF OUR MODERN CIVILIZATION. THE LIQUOR SELLER IS SIMPLY AND ONLY A PRIVILEGED MALEFACTOR - A CRIMINAL."

Irv Thomas - former Edmonton bureau chief for CHQU Radio - struggled with alcohol from the age of 19 years. 12 years of going to bed drunk every night, with the exception of 6 or 7 sober nights a year. On July 30, 1982, he beat booze when he decided that he'd had enough and called out to God for help. On the verge of losing everything, friends, health and job, Irv became a teetoler and is now a very happy man.

And by the help of the Holy Spirit, he is still free from alcohol. It can be done by faith in God, commitments to Christ and some old fashioned will power.

Marv Mohr was an alcoholic when he began attending Faith Cathedral, Edmonton in 1985. He had been hooked for 16 years, even though he could still hold good jobs because of his relative youth, talents and work ethics. His marriage had ended up 'on the rocks' and realizing his need for spiritual help he called upon the Name of Jesus for help.

Through Biblical counseling and prayer, we were able to help Marvin back to God and a new life in the Holy Spirit. Today he is a prosperous businessman on the West coast, with a heart for God and the work of missions.

Gerry Eppinga immigrated to Canada from Holland as a very young man. After about 5 years of hard work and prosperity - because of loneliness - he got involved with the wrong crowd and spent his time in the bar every weekend and soon each evening.

It wasn't long before Gerry became addicted to alcohol. He lost his desire to work and inched his way downward to a place where his health, money and ability to work was gone from him. He ended up running a nightclub in Prince Rupert and began supplying the Native Indians with illicit drugs with as many as 8 pushers. He was banned from every bar in that city.

Then, Gerry heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our crusade in the Islander Hall in 1975. He was gloriously converted and was delivered from his demon spirits. Gerry's Club 7 nightclub was situated on the main floor of the Islander Hall and we were conducting a gospel crusade in the large ballroom above.

When I heard loud rock and roll music, I inquired from whence it came. Someone said, "Thats from Gerry Eppinga's Club 7". I declared to the congregation "Let's close down that hell hole, in the Name of Jesus."

The next evening, Gerry attended the service and was converted. During the sinner's prayer and 'confession of faith', the evil spirits threw him in the air, screaming. I commanded them to leave in Jesus' all powerful Name and they had to go.

Gerry became a successful man, an ardent Christian and a witness of Jesus Christ. Finally, he sold his business, attended Bible College and spent a number of years as a missionary to the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands. At this time, Gerry ministers to the Dutch population of B.C.'s lower mainland and his former homeland of Holland. God has endowed him with a marvelous gift of preaching.

Don McInness of New Sarepta, Alberta, couldn't function as an engineer without his daily bottle of hard liquor - which he had consumed for many years - until he met Pastor Marvin Swanson of the New Sarepta Country Church. Pastor Swanson - formerly a heavy drinker - led Dan to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and he was delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is still free from alcohol and very active in the church.

Randy Huisman of Smithers, B.C. was hooked on booze from his late teenage years. After years of heavy drinking - whiskey on a regular basis - he thought of suicide, but God intervened and he received Jesus Christ into his life. Together with his wife Patti, Randy is a solid, sincere and motivated soul winner.

Russell Brass, formerly of Keys Reserve near Norquay, SK was brought to Faith Cathedral, Edmonton in 1985 by his nephew Rev. Allan O'Soupe.

Russell who had diligently consumed about a gallon of wine on a daily basis for almost 40 years was saved and set free from his horrible sin, as I prayed in the Almightly Name of Jesus Christ. Russell stopped drinking immediately and remained sober, free and full of God's joy for the next 8 years until his death - Hallelujah!

Don't forget my friend, Jesus came to set the captives free. Hear His words of truth and liberty. Believe them and be free. "The Spirit of the Lord in upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4: 18)

ALCOHOLISM: A Sinful Lifestyle causing heartbreak, violence & death

"Thou shalt not give thy neighbour strong drink." (Prov.) "No drunkard...adulterer...homosexual shall enter the kingdom of heaven." (Revelation)

They used to be called drunks - high class drunks, middle class drunks and skid-road drunks. Preachers used to call drunkenness a SIN and medical doctors warned about a deviant lifestyle that leads to sclerosis of the liver, heart disease and death.

Drunkards have really "come up in the world." They are now call alcoholics and excessive drinking is no longer considered sinful by many. They are victims of a terrible disease called alcoholism.

That alcoholism is a serious prolem in North America is an understatement. It is a major problem which will NOT go away.

A recent report from the North American Indian Counseling Services says, "Alcoholism is one of North America's top health problems, along with cancer, h eart disease and mental illness.

The report lists the harmful effects of alcoholism for `( the individaul) 2) Their failites and 3) the Economy. It warns that alcoholism ruins a person's life, causes loss of self respect, happiness and lovevity and effects heatlh and safety.

It warns that alcoholism ruins a person's life, causes loss of self repsect, hapiness and longevity and health and safety. "Nineteen our of 20 alcholics are intelligent men and women, not skid row types. The average alcohol has 4 others in the family. Loss of income and respect to greater problems.

The loss to the economy is staggering. Ten billion is lost annually in work hours to businesses, industry and civilian, government and miliatry occupations.

And 100 billion dollars is spent on health and welfare services for alcholics and their families. 30 billion dollars in propty damage, medical costs and the over head costs. This amounts to an average annual cost of $14 nationally. We all pay for this.

SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL

~~~ Loss of Control over alcohol intake
~~~ Develops a need to drink more and more to achieve the same effect
~~~ Painful withdrawl symptoms and hangovers
~~~ Uncontrollable reliance on alcohol to cope with problems

STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

~~~ It comes hard to differentiate between a heavy social drinker and an early stage alcoholic

EARLY STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

~~ Increased use of alcohol at social functions
~~ Drinks to relieve tension
~~ Drinks every day as a relaxant
~~ Getting drunk - when not intending to.

MIDDLE STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

~~ The subject develops a cycle drinking more and more
~~ Guilt and isolation drinking
~~ Discouragement at drinking
~~ Needs drink first thing in the morning
~~ Occasional blackouts
~~ Prefers lower class of companions to drink with

FINAL STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

~~ Is often lonely and depressed
~~ Lives to have the next drink
~~ Has severe personality swings

ROCK BOTTOM

~~ Death
~~ Prison
~~ Mental Institution
~~ Maritl Breakup
~~ Violencea

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