Text Box: This past weekend it was reported that singer, Amy Winehouse, died of a drug overdose at the age of 27. While I only know a little about her life, her life does tragically illustrate the effects of sin and addiction. I have no intention of offending those who are fans of her music, nor am I debating whether or not she had good qualities as a person. I take time this month to discuss issues of addiction and the devil’s hand in the destruction of many lives. While Amy Winehouse’s life was played out in the celebrity news media, the truth is that many in our culture share her tragic story. Amy Winehouse was most famous for singing a song called Rehab, which includes the line, “They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no.'“ Sadly, her life was cut short because she lived out the words of that song. Addiction is a huge issue in our culture. It ruins lives, destroys families and leads to plenty of brokenness. Jesus came to save us from the pain of sin’s effects and heal our brokenness. Jesus said of himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is 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) To begin with, demonically influenced marketers present alcohol and drinking as a road to the good life. Commercials invite you to drink their beer and you will be surrounded by desirable and beautiful people. One brand makes idiotic statements about the ’most interesting man alive’ who happens to drink their brand of beer. Fortunes are made on Text Box: enticing the American public to drink more than they need to. Proverbs 23:29-32 says, Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. This passage about wine is not the only way alcohol is described in the Bible. Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding and wine was used in religious feasts. Paul even told Timothy to drink a little wine for his health. At issue is the abuse of alcohol and drunkenness. I understand that the 12 step movement was started by a couple of Christians who developed the steps from the Bible. Our church is host to a 12 step men’s group and I am thankful for how God has used recovery support groups in the spiritual journey of a number in our congregation. While many in recovery have yet to come to faith in Jesus, we celebrate their road to health which may one day lead to spiritual health. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Satan continues to steal, kill and destroy, often using drugs and alcohol as his tools. The gospel message is a message of life and fullness. May we live its truth and share the good news of life in Jesus Christ with the world around us. God bless! Text Box: A Life Cut Short

Fort Lee Gospel Church

1625 Palisade Ave.      Fort Lee, NJ 07024           (201)947-1465   

Pastor:                        Rev. Rick Spenst                       

Web site: www.fortleegospel.org

E-mail:                     fortleegospel@juno.com

Gospel News
Text Box: August 2011

Missions Trip

2

Men’s Retreat

2

Faith & Reason

2

August Events

3

9/11 Memorial

3

Gospel4FortLee

3

Our Health

4