Brotherly Relationships Begin

20 December - 14 Days No Alcohol, No Drugs & No Gambling

Amos 1:9  This is what the Lord says: "The people of Tyre have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it.  I will not let them go unpunished any longer!  They broke their treaty of BROTHERHOOD with Israel, selling whole villages as slaves to Edom.  So I will send down fire on the walls of Tyre, and all its fortresses will be destroyed." - NLT

Romans 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in BROTHERLY love. Honor one another above yourselves. - NIV

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-10 Now about BROTHERLY love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the BROTHERS throughout Macedonia.  Yet we urge you, BROTHERS, to do so more and more. - NIV

Hebrews 13:1  Keep on loving each other as brothers. - NIV

2 Peter 1:7 and to godliness, BROTHERLY kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. - NIV

Today was an easy day!  First Day without any real strong urges.  Some slight, but no desire to get high.

Last night was important.  First, I did what I thought I should do by walking to church since the snow took me off the Scooter.  Such a geek.  Pride hurts a bit.  Second, Jesus offered a new situation where I could choose to grow. 

Just want to state that I do respect the privacy of the people I encounter on this path.  I am going to write about experiences with people not using their names and not disclosing their side or their details.  Like with Meetings, what is said there stays there.  Not in a bad way like with "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" but with respect to privacy of good people trying to grow.  I will write about my side of the experience.  I think that is a respectful way to proceed. 

The addiction meeting was cancelled and I was lucky to be invited into a men's study group.  At the end we paired off to pray.  D and I prayed and he gave me a ride home.  Very cool.  Today I called D in the morning to thank him and let him know I was open to our assignment of praying together on the phone and would call him tomorrow night.

Tonight D called.  I have been isolated for a long time.  Occasionally I will talk to my mom or kid on the phone or text with my ex.  Other than that I don't talk on the phone.  My business is online so when it comes up I exchange emails with customers. 

I happened to be eating pizza, watching some tv and getting ready to pack orders for shipping tomorrow.  At first I hit mute on the TV.  After a few minutes I turned it off.  I really did try to remember my priorities.  Relationship with God, then relationships with others. We ended up talking and then praying for over 30 minutes.  I know people do that all the time, but I don't.  God is giving me an opportunity to change.  I am trying to take it.

That's why I looked up Brotherly in my concordance for these passages.  I want to see what the Bible says about Brotherly relationships. 

The one that catches my eye the most is the last.  2 Peter 1:7 and to godliness, BROTHERLY kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. - NIV  Brotherly kindness is just under love and past self-control.  Brotherly kindness is something that I need to develop.  It is important. 

The other one is Amos.  Not acting with brotherly kindness is bad.  These people of Tyre really got God angry with their treatment of Israel.  That is an extreme, but I think is important to remember.  Don't do the wrong thing.  Obvious if your trying to be good, but need to remember it.  When someone cuts me off or drives to fast when I'm walking or cruising on the Scooter I think about kicking their car.  Or after I read Hunter Thompson's book Hell's Angels though about chaining a car whose driver was being stupid.  On the cell phone and cutting me off.  So, I am trying to even catch my thoughts.

Reading more of The Relationship Principles of Jesus and it gets into changing how we think.  Change at the core!  So for addiction it isn't just in not doing the behavior.  For me giving up Alcohol, Weed and Gambling.  Core change involves how I think.  Hard.  Socially before I withdrew my activities were:  meet for drinks, go to casino to play poker, come over and lets get high.  Even after I withdrew the times I would emerge would be to go play poker, get drunk or get high.

Brotherly relationships should help build healthier thinking.  For me it will start by keeping my word.  If I say I'm going to call or do something I will do it.  I will think outside of myself.  I will pray for my new Brothers. 

Thank you Jesus for providing me with the tools I need to survive and opportunities to do the right thing.