Alcohol Embargo!*

I remember it like it was yesterday. My Dad was visiting for my fraternity's "Dad's Weekend" in 1998 and we were both returning home from the bars, no doubt stumbling a bit. Then, in all seriousness, and my Dad can be scary serious, he said to me, "Brett, you're grandfather was an alcoholic. That's why your grandma divorced him. And I'm an alcoholic. You need to be very careful with this booze so it doesn't happen to you." Granted, he had just spent the night buying me drinks.

Fast-forward several years and I had not taken his warning to heart. I drank multiple nights a week, trying to fill up some loneliness, trying to fit in, trying to get myself to that fun-loving drinker personality. Ugh. It didn't work.

So when I received a DUI in November of 2003, I felt really thankful to God, even though my relationship with Him wasn't that great. Seemingly non-existent is a better way to describe it. Yet, I feel like he was watching over me, and I was grateful my traffic incident was a simple traffic stop, not a mangled car crash, driving the wrong way on a highway or anything that put me, or more importantly, others in danger.

The next step was to go to church, because I felt guilty for being gone since my teen years. Also, I need to do some cleansing prior to my court date. That was my old way of thinking. Everything turned out fine...suspended license for a bit, some fines and a 3-day weekend program that had the worst food I've ever eaten.

That spring, I hadn't fully changed my ways. No more driving if I drank, but I still drank. My buddy Bryan and I were in a bar one Thursday night, and we both spoke about feeling "a need to be in church" for some reason or another. He mentioned hearing good things about this church in Oakley. I remembered it being an HQ and was always mystified by it.

We went that Sunday, and both of us have been going ever since. He had to pick me up those first few weeks, and when he couldn't go, I drove myself with that suspended license. "God wanted me there" I surmised...I'm still not sure about that. God probably would have been better with a bus or walking.

My drinking still existed, but it was becoming less and less a part of me. Less bars. More understanding and reflection on the emotions I would have about drinking. Definitely more self awareness.

So in the December classes when I learned about how the enemy passes curses down generations, I felt an immediate prompting from God in that room.

Alcohol.

You need to stamp it out.

You do NOT want to risk passing this on.

Do I have to? I mean, I have it under control.

Come on Brett. Is it that big of a sacrifice?

I guess not.

I sat in quiet time with it for a few days, and then just kind of launched it at my wife without prepping her. She provided some interesting and seemingly valid counterpoints to my revelation. Thought I was overreacting. Started providing situations where it would be weird and awkward if I didn't drink (something I had done a few years ago to myself).

You don't want your non-believing friends to think you have to stop drinking to follow Jesus, do you?

Well, no.

And I dropped it.

(To be fair to Kelly, she hasn't ever seen me drunk, and alcohol hasn't been a big factor in your family history.)

So when, after Wednesday night's meeting, I stood with guys praying and laying hands on Bryan (yes that Bryan) because he felt the Lord calling him to give up drinking, well, that wasn't a random coincidence.

I told my wife what Bryan told me was going on in his life, how he felt prompted supernaturally. I asked if she remembered when I talked about it. She remembered. I didn't blame or accuse her, but I DID let her know I was on a drinking embargo until further notice. I could really feel her support for my decision.

So...I'm finally heeding the warnings of my earthly father and my Heavenly Father on this one.

*Originally posted on another blog