From Pastor Bill

A Christian psychologist recently conducted an analysis on the effects of alcoholism within the family.  In his study, he traced the lives of two boys who were reared in an alcoholic home, but, at an early age, they had been separated by thousands of miles and were totally unaware of the life of the other.

As you might imagine, one had become like his father, an alcoholic, and his life had gone increasingly downward.  He had a family, but, being a carbon copy of his father, his alcoholism had destroyed his home.  His health was wrecked, and his life was now lived on skid row—walking the streets, begging for pocket change to buy another bottle.  Strangely enough, however, his brother was exactly the opposite!  When the psychologist found him, he was a corporate executive with a distinguished community life, and held values and convictions that were strong and deep.  A committed Christian, his home life was admired by all.

Studying these two case histories—both coming out of the same household and background—the psychologist asked each man the same question: “To what do you attribute your present condition?”  The two brothers gave exactly the same answer: “My father’s drunkenness!”  Did you get it?  Both were saying, “I attribute what has happened in my life to my background.” 

Now, what does this say to us?  Friend, our lives are not just determined by what happens to us, but how we react to the outward circumstances of life.  Each man had the same father, and the same familial circumstances.  But, while one said, “I am going to be a VICTIM of my circumstances,” the other said, “I am going to be a VICTOR over my circumstances by asking God to help me rise above them.”

Difficulty never keeps us where it finds us.  It will make us bitter or better, but difficulty never leaves us the same.  So please remember: Despite our battles, when we yield to the Lord, He is in the business of molding us into victors…not just victims.

Devotedly your pastor,

Bill Blanchard