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Others may idle in a retrogressive groove without too much danger, but retrogression can spell death for us.
Samuel called the people together to Yahweh to Mizpah; and he said to the children of Israel, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you:' but you have this day rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, 'No! Set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes, and by your thousands." So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
My business came off well, I was pleased and knew my partners would be too.
However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane.
Moreover, if he be gone into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn't one small stone found there." Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
My wife Misunderstands and Pride -- Personal nags.
Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies.
Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.
Yahweh said to me, "Tell them, 'Don't go up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest you be struck before your enemies.'" So I spoke to you, and you didn't listen; but you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill country.
Business failure, insanity, fatal illness, suicide -these calamities in his immediate family embittered and depressed him.
In some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to get drunk, feeling ourselves justified by nervousness, anger, worry, depression, jealousy or the like.
Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, but none of them really makes sense in the light of the havoc an alcoholic's drinking bout creates.
He had that starry-eyed look.
Among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot: but Yahweh will give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul; and your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall fear night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life.
We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
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