Say No to Drug & Alcohol Abuse

The World Health Organization defines substance abuse as “the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs”. The term ‘substance abuse’ is also related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect (http:/issues.tigweb.org/substance).

The United Nations reports that around 185 million people globally over the age of 15 were consuming drugs by the end of the 20th century. The most commonly mentioned drugs were marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), opiates and volatile solvents. 1 in 5 teenagers report having abused a prescription medication and over 2500 teenagers a day experiment with prescription medications taken from the home. And earlier in 2002, the World health Organization estimated that around 140 million people were alcohol dependent and another 400 million suffered alcohol-related problems.

It is important to note that substance abuse is a problem that affects us all differently but that holds the same consequences of harm, withdrawal from the community, and even death, for all the lives it touches. Drug abuse including alcohol may lead to health problems, social problems, morbidity, injuries, unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies, violence, deaths, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, physical dependence or psychological addiction.

There is a high rate of suicide in alcoholics and drug abusers. The reasons believed to cause the increased risk of suicide include the long-term abuse of alcohol and drugs causing physiological distortion of brain chemistry as well as the social isolation. Drug abuse, including alcohol and prescription drugs can induce symptoms which resembles mental illness. This can occur both in the intoxicated state and also during the withdrawal state.

These days, drugs can be found everywhere, and it may seem like everyone's doing them. Lots of people are tempted by the excitement or escape that drugs seem to offer. But learning the facts about drugs can help you see the risks of chasing this excitement or escape. Many teens use drugs because they're depressed or think drugs will help them.

Marijuana, while being the least harmful of all of the illicit drugs, is still potentially lethal. Marijuana addicts believe that it is seemingly impossible to fatally overdose on weed by just smoking it. But this does diminish the potentially fatal risks of lung cancer, emphysema, and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by marijuana smoke. While marijuana can be ingested without smoking it, thereby eliminating these risks, there still remain negative physiological and psychological consequences including damage to the reproductive system, the immune system, and cognitive ability.

What happens to your brain when you abuse drugs?

Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Nearly all drugs, directly or indirectly, target the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over-stimulation of this system, which normally responds to natural behaviors that are linked to survival (eating, spending time with loved ones, etc), produces euphoric effects in response to the drugs. This reaction sets in motion a pattern that "teaches" people to repeat the behavior of abusing drugs.

As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. As a result, dopamine's impact on the reward circuit is lessened, reducing the abuser's ability to enjoy the drugs and the things that previously brought pleasure. This decrease compels those addicted to drugs to keep abusing drugs in order to attempt to bring their dopamine function back to normal. And, they may now require larger amounts of the drug than they first did to achieve the dopamine high - an effect known as tolerance.

Treatment for binge drinking and other forms of substance abuse is critical for many around the world. Behavioral interventions and medications exist that have helped many people reduce, or discontinue, their substance abuse.

§  What does the Bible say about doing drugs?

The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstacy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, cannabis, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behaviour.

To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 2 Peter 2:9-11). Heartfelt disdain for the law does not justify impunity towards it, as our Lord Himself made clear. He instructed His disciples to submit to the demands of d Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). Dutiful submission to authority and patient perseverance even through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness (1 Peter 2:18-23) is God’s high standard for us.

In many countries, it is against the law to consume psychoactive substances. In nearly all countries, it is against the law to sell alcohol and cigarettes to young people under the age of 18 years. Anything contrary is treated as a criminal case. That is why persons/businesses that contravene these laws are arrested, prosecuted, fined, and even shut down. The objective is to protect young people, especially teenagers, from harm.

Not only are we to submit to authority for submission’s sake, born-again Christians are further constrained by a mandate to live above reproach for the sake of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:3; Titus 2:1-8; 2 Peter 3:14). Needless to say, criminality is highly reproachable.

In addition, the Bible enjoins us to protect our body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body".

Did God give us human bodies to use and abuse as we like, or does He expect more? Our bodies were created in the image of God. They are a gift from Heavenly Father to allow us to experience mortality and continue to become more like Him.Our bodies are said to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to take care of and honor God's temple.  This knowledge influences the way we treat our bodies and how we feel about Heavenly Father and ourselves. When we treat our bodies as temples of God, we obtain physical, emotional, and spiritual blessings.

Quotes of the Week!

Ø    “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1)

Ø    "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last, it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things" (Prov. 23:31-33).

Acknowledgements:

1.  www.biblestudytools.com

2.  www.lds.org

3.  https://lifehopeandtruth.com

Say No to Violence

What do we mean by violence? 

Violence is the expression of physical force against one or more people; compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt. Worldwide, violence is used as a tool of manipulation and also is an area of concern for law and culture which take attempts to suppress and stop it. The word violence covers a broad spectrum. It can vary from between a physical altercation between two beings to war and genocide where millions may die as a result - Wikipedia.

What is/are d cause(s) of violent behaviour? 

The top 10 causes of violence in the order as cited by young people;

1.                  The Media

2.                  Substance Abuse

3.                  Gangs

4.                  Unemployment

5.                  War, weapons

6.                  Poverty

7.                  Peer Pressure

8.                  Broken Homes

9.                  Poor Family Environment / Bad Neighborhoods

10.             Intolerance / Ignorance

Factors like sex, race, family status, and economic position, force some teenagers towards violence. While all of these factors contribute to violence, children exposed to gun violence were two times more likely to become perpetrators of violence.

Violence can be in many forms like verbal harassment, verbal terrorization, blocking one’s access to escape and the physical like hitting, choking, biting, sexual abuse, use of a weapon, murder, and suicide. It may engage teens as victims or perpetrators as well as their families, school officials, strangers, or others. Homeless teens are more involved in violence, particularly those from minority backgrounds. -familyeducation.com

What does the Bible say about violence?

Ø    Gen. 6:11 says, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (KJV).

Ø    Ezekiel 45:9, "Thus saith the Lord God; Let it suffice you, O princess of Israel; remove violence and spoil, and execute judgement and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord God".

Ø    Prov. 3:31-32a says, "Do not envy the violent person, and choose none of his ways; for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord".

Instances of violence:

Ø    News Headline: Vocational School Teacher Shot by Student in Los Angeles!

Following an argument at a California vocational school, a student returned to the classroom armed with a gun and fatally shot a teacher several times, police said. LAPD officers took the suspect into custody as he left the school building. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Another student was injured and was in stable condition at a hospital. - Daily Independent newspaper, Friday February 25, 2011.

Ø    UK-Based Nigerian Pastor , Albert Odulele, Pleads Guilty To Sex Attack On Boy

The UK-based Nigerian priest, Pastor Albert Odulele, who heads the Glory House Church in East London has pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a 16-year old boy at the church premises in Kent. The 47-year old pastor admitted in court today that he indecently assaulted an underaged boy. Pastor Odulele was arrested last year and later charged by the Metropolitan Police's Major Child Abuse Investigation Unit with two offences - an indecent assault of an under 16 year old, and the sexual assault of another male teenager- according a Channel 4 news report.  He will be sentenced to prison at a yet-to-be-announced date.  -Sahara Reporters

Daily, we read, hear and even witness instances of violence committed by young people and young people make the highest statistics of victims. So, there goes wasted lives and wasted destinies; tears, sorrow and blood flowing in the land. Where do we go from here???????????????????????

Quote of the Week! 
“When I despair, I remember that all through history, the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it - always". - Mahatma Gandhi.

“We need to take a harder look at what’s really going on. Stop trying to treat the symptoms and treat the cause of the problem. Maybe we should try a little harder to help these kids before they feel so cornered that they turn into monsters.” ― Aaron B. Powell

“These kids spend a majority of their time in school, and if they’re not having a positive experience, they can become depressed. In some cases, they lash out, grabbing whatever weapon is available to them. It can be an assault rifle, a knife, a Molotov cocktail, poison, Indian burns or MMA. But if you take one weapon away, these kids are just going to grab the next thing available to them. Maybe they will use a gun with a smaller clip, limiting the amount of lives they can take. Or maybe they’ll get more creative, and think of something far more terrible. So taking a weapon away won’t really solve anything, and this is my point here.” ― Aaron B. Powell

Say No to Examination Malpractice

     

Examination malpractice is defined as a deliberate wrong doing contrary to official examination rules designed to place a candidate at an unfair advantage or disadvantage. It is any illegal act committed by a student single handedly or in collaboration with others before, during or after examination in order to obtain undeserved marks or grades. (Miss Wilayat, I.E.R University of Peshawar).

Malpractices commonly committed in examination range from leakage of question papers to copying, changing answer books, impersonation, allotment of choice examination centre and invigilating staff; leaking information about question papers; bribing/influencing/terrorising examination staff; possessing cheating material (written/printed/electronic device etc)/copying from such material; carrying offensive weapons, refusing/resisting the lawful orders of supervisory staff, creating disturbance, instigating other candidates, threatening or assaulting the invigilating staff, impeding the progress of examination, in or outside the examination; helping the candidates in viva voce, practical examination, etc.

How do parents contribute to examination malpractice? 

They approach teachers and invigilating staff and give them money and gifts in order to bribe them to provide unfair advantage to their child(ren)/ward(s) before and during examination.

What about d teachers, how do they encourage examination malpractice? 

There is gross inadequacy of qualified teachers in our schools; some of them lack devotion to their profession; some are unaware of effective teaching/learning objectives; some are not properly trained, and no capacity building; and some are not interested in providing moral training to students.

Why would a student whose future can be enhanced with a good education engage in examination malpractice?

a)     Inadequate preparation and desire to pass at all cost. Poor preparation promotes poor performance.

b)                 Affected by the previous experiences. Friends provide them encouragement.

c)                 Supported by society

d)                 Supported by parents

e)                 High parental expectations

The high rate of examination malpractice has caused the defeat of the core purpose of education which is the training of the mind and character for the acquisition of practical and theoretical skills, knowledge and functional ideas for development; and the search for truth and knowledge and the creation and communication of ideas (http://teensworldng.wordpress.com).

Examination malpractice has been sustained due to social factors which place undue emphasis on certificates for school and job placements, economic, political and personal reasons, low self-esteem, and poor parental-child relationship amongst others. 

Time management, ethics and integrity are the solution to all the examination ills. The 3P’s for academic excellence are—Praying, Planning and Persistent hard work—Praying to God for success without matching it with good study Plans and use of time and Persistent hard work will not lead to the achievement of the goal of academic excellence. 

Any Christian involved in examination malpractices lacks faith in God. The person has belittled God; he is trusting in bullets and microchips instead of placing his trust in God (Psalm 20:7).

The Bible says, "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, AKJV). This implies that the search for knowledge is worthwhile and studying diligently and for the right reasons too, is commendable. This rules out any excuse for ignorance, slothfulness, and fraud.

The devil has sent the word out that studying is tedious, and many who have been victims of a skewed value system where merit is sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity and nepotism may be completely discouraged but the word of God provides us the road map for our success in life and it cannot condone examination malpractice. 

Examination malpractice is fraud and nothing else and it erodes the credibility of the student, the institution, and ultimately, the nation.

Check out these facts: 

-Despite the malpractice in Nigeria in the last almost a decade, Nigeria remains the poorest in Mathematics and English language in WAEC amongst the other four West African Countries

-About seventy percent of Private and Government schools across the country indulge in examination fraud

-More than 75% of SSCE certificate holders in the last five years are brandishing results that are not their effort

-Many of these students today have A’s in English but can hardly construct flawless sentences in English or speak fluent well tensed English" 

(Victor Udoh: Exam Malpractice, Our Today and Tomorrow). 

The question remains, "What have we gained?"

The Scripture declares, "In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty" (Prov. 14:23, NKJV). 

All hard work pays off. Industrious people are generally thriving people, and where there is something done there is something to be had. The stirring hand gets a penny. 

“Whatever our hand finds to do to do, we should do it with all our might” (Eccl. 9:10). 

When we, as teenage students, spend time on unworthy endeavours instead of studying hard to acquire knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, we surrender to looming poverty, and ultimate destruction.

"Say No" Series - Part 1

Today, we will commence the first part in a series of messages specially adapted for teenagers and titled "SAY NO". Referencing copiously from the Scripture, the messages in this Series bring discuss contemporary issues that teenagers face daily and godly teenagers battle with.

How can they get around these issues and live their divinely-purposed destiny? Answers to these and more will occupy us in the coming weeks. Keep reading! Keep believing!! Jesus is Lord!!!

Part 1 - Say No to Profanity (Foul Language)

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, "profanity are words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, desecrating, or showing disrespect".

Other words that are commonly used to describe profane language or its use include: cursing, swearing, expletives, dirty words, cussing, blasphemy, and irreverent, obscene, foul, indecent, strong, pejorative, choice, or bad language.

Swearing and Foul Language

Hearing swear words coming from a child’s mouth can be upsetting. More astonishing may be that those first swear words he/she utters were learned in the home. Children are like sponges; they pick up all sorts of phrases if they hear them, which is why so many children use their first swear word when they’re still very young.

If your child does swear what should you do? Sometimes when a child is very young the temptation is to laugh – after all, it can seem quite precocious. However, laughing will only encourage the use of foul language. Punishment isn’t a great solution either. Just simply say ‘we don’t talk like that here’. But then parents must ensure that they don’t talk that way at all. Often parents lose sight of their own language and some of this is being modeled at home. It is this modeling that is probably the most important.

But young children parroting a parent is one thing; older children, especially teenagers, who use foul language are well aware of the meaning of the words and the impact they have. So how do you deal with a teenager who swears?

You can give them a gentle but firm scolding, making it very clear that you will not tolerate such language around you. Tell them that profane language is demeaning, disrespectful and unbecoming of a child who desires the conduct and comportment of a gentleman/lady. At this age, the days of grounding or washing a child’s mouth out with soap are gone and instead, the best insurance is to model good language as a lifestyle and to be clear about how you feel about inappropriate language.

The world around us is full of filthy language, and it’s easy to become indifferent to it all, but God wants us to take a different viewpoint toward the words that come out of our mouths - Robert Berendt

The Bible has many references regarding cursing and profanity. One very strong scripture is in Romans 3:9-18. Paul writes that both Jews and Greeks are under sin, and then defines that sin. In verse 14 he states that their “mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Verse 18 states, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Proverbs 30:11 states, “There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother.” Proverbs 30:17 tells us this displeases our Creator. The Fifth Commandment is broken in this case. This is all very serious to our Creator, so we need to give heed to this problem.

Swearing and cursing may be defined in different ways. From the mild epithet and expletive words to the downright filthy, the cursing of another and swear words have become part of daily speech. People who are under pressure or great fear sometimes slip into cursing without realizing what words are coming out of their mouths. Matthew 26:74 relates the story of Peter’s denial of Jesus Christ. Peter was shocked at the events he was witnessing, and he had reason to fear in the political and military climate of his time. He began to curse and swear as he stated he did not know Jesus. It is not easy to guard our mouths. The book of James has much to say about that. But that does not mean we cannot or should not fight for control. It is possible for us to learn to speak with words that edify and show respect to others.

How should we speak in an environment where filthy language is commonplace?

Proverbs 25:11 tells us that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Colossians 4:6 states: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Language is an art and speaking with grace and dignity takes effort and training. 

It also reflects character. It is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Sadly enough, many have not been trained to control their speech, and many greatly lack the abundance of heart that would result in an inner desire and wish to edify and add grace to a conversation or statement.  

We lose our effectiveness as disciples of Christ if we are not courteous in our speech. Just as we like to be respected, we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say. "Seasoned with salt" means that what we say should be "tasty" and encourage further dialogue. Our words should not be dull or tasteless, but lively and flavorful, spiced with skill and understanding. Salt stimulates thirst and Jesus is the living water that quenches thirst! That's the progression our conversations should take. The Bible says we are to know how to govern our communications with every person. There is no place for talk that is reflective of an unredeemed mouth! Questionable remarks should be strongly avoided.

Ephesians 5:4: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

The word "foul" is defined as: covered with matter that is injurious, noxious or offensive; filthy; dirty; full of impurity; not favorable or safe; not clean. In summary, it is anything opposed to purity. Teenagers, foul language of any magnitude does not honor God! Obscenity and coarse joking are so common these days that we begin to take them for granted and think them normal. Paul cautions us that improper language should have no place in the Christian's dialogue because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us. How can we praise God and remind others of His goodness when we are speaking inappropriately one with another?

1 Tim. 4:16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Consider the victims of your tongue today because your manner of speech influences others! Don't leave your tongue unexamined - your words are nails that fix ideas in people's minds... During the time of the verse above, Timothy was a young pastor. It would have been easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. Yet he had to earn the respect of his elders by setting an example in his speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Shameful conduct of all types has destroyed many of God's servants. Two indications of a person's character are what makes him laugh and what makes him weep. You say you are a Christian - does your life keep up with your profession?? Paul exhorted Timothy to take heed to himself first, thereby protecting others from the same plight. Who stands to suffer at the expense of your unguarded chit-chat?

Col. 3:8: But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Regardless of your age, dear teenager, God can use you! However, you must rid yourself of shameful behavior and shameful communications. The best words are in the hands of those who know how to combine them for good. Mark Twain put it perfectly; he said, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." When conduct and conversation are working together in your life, it makes for a powerful witness. Live so others can see and hear Christ in you!

If you your lips would keep from slips,

Five things observe with care;

Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,

And how and when and where...

1 Peter 3:15a: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man…

The Fruit of the Spirit – Part 2

Producing Good Fruit

The Bible shows that producing good fruit has other, more specific causes than God's calling and repentance. Romans 7:4-6 is a good place to begin:

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter”.

Let us add to this Romans 1:13, 15, where we need to remember that Paul addresses the congregation in Rome, one he had neither founded nor yet visited:

“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. . . . So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also”.

The fruit he wanted to see produced was not new conversions. Philippians 4:17, where Paul instructs a congregation to which he felt especially close, helps to explain what the apostle meant: "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account." In writing to an existing congregation of converted people, he wanted them to exhibit the fruit of righteousness by making use of faith in God's Word (the gospel). They could do this by yielding in obedience to God's instruction through the power and guidance of His Spirit in them.

As a shepherd or pastor, he claims the fruit would also be his, since it would accrue in them as a result of his teaching them the gospel in greater detail. The teaching in Romans exemplifies the detail of the messages he would have given orally had he been there. The good works that they produced by making use of God's Word would also accrue to him as the fruits of his labors for them. When students do well, their success is the fruit of a teacher's labors.

Conversely, Philippians 4:17 explains that Paul is not being self-centered in this. He yearns that they produce fruit through good works so they can receive the benefits. The fruit accrues to their accounts. Thus, producing good fruit requires sound instruction from a qualified teacher (Acts 8:30-31), the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, a believing and receptive mind and applying the instruction.

Are you producing good fruit?

The Fruit of the Spirit – Part 1

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”.

The Almighty God gives much of His instruction in similes, parables, allegories, metaphors, types, figures and symbols. This has been our experience with the Scriptures, with illustrations that virtually everyone, no matter what their background or station, can understand, teenagers included.

Alongside all of these, God adds true, real life examples drawn from the whole range of human and spirit life over vast expanses of time, making the Bible a fund of knowledge that is applicable and practical to believers at any time in human history.

A great deal of biblical instruction reflects the agricultural sector. God makes use of familiar aspects of agriculture like grapes, olives, apples, figs, oxen, mustard, pomegranates, wheat, corn, barley, flowers, farmers, plowing, sowing, planting, harvesting, fertilizing, rain in due season, weeds and seeds. He uses these ideas to illustrate practical moral and spiritual instruction for believers.

As a teaching medium, the general term "fruit" may be used more frequently than all other farming terms. In the physical realm, fruit is generally considered to be the seed-bearing product of a plant. Many of these are edible and very enjoyable and nourishing to eat. While the Bible agrees with this, it also frequently presents fruit as the product of effort or to provide a symbolical meaning.

Thus, we find phrases such as, "fruit of the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:2), "fruit of the ground" (Genesis 4:3), and "fruit of the womb" (Genesis 30:2). In the New Testament more than the Old, fruit is often understood symbolically as the product of either a good or evil life, or an obedient or disobedient life.

...Continues next week