Author Topic: Glad to be Sober (Read 7072 times)

hawkenman · « **on:** August 07, 2007, 03:35:53 PM »

The Good Lord came through again last May 2006, around 7:00 am one morning I was at the bus stop with my nine year old son. I was still shaking from the previous night of drinking and he said,"dad you need another beer, I'll get it for you". That night I went to D-tox,went through the DT's and been sober for over a year. I am amazed how I'm enjoying this new lifestyle. I hunt more,shoot more, and have build some beautiful Hawken rifles. Wish I could social drink like my buddies but I can't. But from one alcoholic to any alcoholics out there it does get better (not right away) being sober.

FourBee · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2007, 11:32:37 AM »

Hey hawkenman:
Thanks for the good report.
Once heard of a man who had a similar problem. Wealthy, popular, etc. He met a young evangilist who invited him to a revival. Realized he couldn't run from Jesus anymore. One of his best drinkin buddies tried to persuade him to party with the gang again. Couldn't understand how a man could just up and quit drinking and even quit his career because of this man called Jesus.

But he told him: "John; it's no secret what God can do." To which John replied something in the line of " why don't you write a song about that." He did. He sent it to the evangilist who prayed him through to salvation that glorious night, "Billy Graham", and Billy's friend George Beverely Shea would sing it over the radio. He named it " It is No Secret What God Can Do ". Thanks to a man he quit drinking and partying with, "John Wayne". That was back in 1949.

hawkenman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2007, 11:56:03 AM »

Thanks FourBee, I forgot to mention my alcohol tab was right at $ 500.00 a month. Being sober has rewarded me with 4 new rifles.

Gun Runner · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:59:42 PM »

As of today 8-8-07, I have been totally dry for 27 yrs.

Gun Runner

hawkenman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:15:10 PM »

Update, this May I'll have three years sobriety. The first two years were pure hell with mood swings and problems I had to face sober. But now I can hang out with my buddies, some of who still drink like I did and it's sad to see them miss the first morning of hunting season due to a hangover or what they say is the flu. ( I did that many times) I went turkey hunting this morning and got a osceola gobbler with a ten inch beard. I had to celebrate so I drank a Dr. Pepper.

Skunk · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:27:10 PM »

WTG hawkenman!!!

FourBee · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:42:38 AM »

Great report hawkenman. Way to celebrate!!!!!!

alright

.....

Sweetwater · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 07:33:44 PM »

Hang in there, Man!! Congrats!!!!

We could celebrate and party right here!!! Please pass the Sarsparilla......

Been 24 1/2 years, with a one night fall from the wagon 15 years ago.

Really, "it is no secret what God can do" - and we are walking testemonies of HIS power and grace - without HIM, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be sitting here sharing life with you guys!!

Regards,
Sweetwater

merkelerk · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2009, 01:22:24 PM »

13 years this past June.
No meetings, no 12 step (no will power).

God did this for me and I thank him for it often.

rex6666 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2009, 09:13:23 AM »

Good Job!
been since March 8 1998 for me, 7am on a Sunday mourning and something
told me needed to quit.

FourBee · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2009, 10:44:18 AM »

Man; rex6666 , merkelerk , and Sweetwater; I like your testamonies. It is refreshing to read this in the times we live. So many are not only running from God, they openly deny the only one who can save their souls.

hawkenman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2010, 12:33:18 PM »

After five years of sobriety I fell off the wagon about two months ago. I went to the convieniance store and and bought some energy drinks that had eight percent alcohol, after drinking them I felt on top of the world. The next day I went back and got some more. Thinking I did not a drinking problem I repeated the process every day until I realized I was going back to the same old drunk I had been in the past. I went from four to eight drinks a day. I went back to AA and got a white chip to start over again. I am not proud of what I done, but with the good Lord's grace I think I can do it. Hawkenman

FourBee · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2010, 04:35:11 PM »

Got sucker punched didn't-cha hawkenman. It happens to a lot of folks. But you hang in there and keep prayin. A man that falls, the good Lord wants him to get up and stay up, but He knows some may fall again and again before they can fully trust in the Lord to stand. The Bible says "Stand" therefore having on the whole Armor of God". Life is a battle. We must be prepared for the fight, and the Bible is our guide to preparation.
4B

Dee · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2010, 02:30:06 AM »

My wife's long ago ex husband was, and is a hard core alcoholic, and a millionaire retired farmer. His life long school mate and best friend was and is too. The school mate quit drinking, and the wife's ex told him: Your no fun sober. The school mate started drinkin again, and is now on his SECOND LIVER, and almost dead. That I suppose is what friends are for. To encourage one another.
On another note a Sunday school class mate, and a man I have known all my life was an alcoholic. He quit drinkin, got saved, and is one of the best men I know. I wrote a song about him and his mother. He's almost 70, and an example to all what a Christian is supposed to be.

zeke08 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2010, 04:30:36 AM »

Hawkenman just remember there was only 1 perfect person on this earth and they nailed that man to a dogwood tree. Its times when we fall that God will carry us an point us in the direction he wants us to go and maybe use it as a teaching tool. Keep your head up and know we are praying for you! Keep us posted!

hawkenman · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2010, 05:45:01 AM »

" THANKS MY FRIENDS FOR YOUR INPUT", Hawkenman

Dee · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2010, 08:59:38 AM »

Well they sure nailed him to a tree, but it wasn't a Dogwood. No one really knows what kind of wood it was. Dogwoods are only native to Europe, Asia, and America. But I think everyone gets your point. Just a bit of unimportant mythical trivia.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2010, 04:48:14 PM »

Hawkenman - the important thing is you recognized it and pulled the plug! Good Show!!
Many things are addictive. I'm addicted to coffee and ice cream. Not together. Doesn't leave me the hangover that booze did, but can give me a bellyache when I put a quart of it away! Went on a diet last summer, lost 15lbs, put most of it back on. Had the flu for the last couple weeks, dropped off 10lbs, so back to where I was at the end of the diet. Still need to pull of 50lbs, so have cut way back on the ice cream, like about a quart a week, and coffee is down to a cup or two a day. Some days I don't have any, and when we eat out, I have too much. My wife is addicted to her computer and shopping. The computer I can live with, but I've been out of work a year and the shopping is going to be my death, as I'm running out of ideas of how to cover expenses and don't want to sell any more guns. Vanity, it is all vanity..

Regards,
Sweetwater

vanguard · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2011, 06:40:07 PM »

I have drank for over 22 years, but in oct i made up my mind to stop, i have fallen 2 times since but i am set to stand frim this new year with Gods help.

hawkenman · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2011, 12:03:09 PM »

THANKS vanguard, Hawkenman

hawkenman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2011, 05:39:26 PM »

Hello my on line friends, well I fell off the wagon AGAIN two months ago. I went to an AA meeting and left before it started feeling embarrest that let my home meeting down. I called my sponsor and he said, " it happens to all alcoholics and do not complicate your feelings staying in a guilty frame of mind". Well I've been sober a month and time will tell. I come from a hard core Scottish family and when I was a kid an elder told me, " son, you do not have a soul, you are a soul and you need to take care of it". THANKS hawkenman

FourBee · « **Reply #21 on:** March 26, 2011, 06:27:20 AM »

Hang in there Hawkenman. Yes; you're gonna feel embarrassment, guilt, and weakness of character. Keep praying to God Almighty. Read your Bible. Hide His words in your heart. You're in a fight for your life, and the devil knows how to beat up those who are weak, but he can't stand against those who stand on God's word. The word says " resist the devil and he will flee from you".

When the victory comes, you'll feel it !, you'll know it, and you'll rejoice in it. I'm for you. I know you can win over this craving. I'm praying that even your thoughts, sight, and smell begins to detest with disgust the very idea of allowing the devil the pleasure of seeing you caving into his clutches.......

hawkenman · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2011, 12:48:54 PM »

Thank You FourBee for your advise, hawkenman

hawkenman · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2011, 09:22:02 AM »

Well still hanging in there, it came to me that my dad died from alcoholism when I was 14. I turned in to my dad and my son was going to turn in to me believing drinking from daybreak till dawn was o.k. I almost fell off the wagon again last hunting season when I killed my recored buck. I was sitting around a campfire at the hunting camp when a guy gave me a tall mix drink to celebrate. I told him, " man you know I can't drink" he said it one drink won't hurt you. I said you may not get hurt while fishing in an aluminum boat during a lighting storm, but I'm not taking that chance. A quick joke, three guys go in to a bar. One a wino, the other a social drinker, and the other an alcoholic. There were a lot of flys in the bar and a fly flew in to each guys drink. The wino dipped the fly out and continued to drink his drink. The socioal drinker said, bartender I need another drink, there is a fly in mine. The alcoholic grabbed the fly, started squeezing him and said spit it out you little S.O.B

no guns here · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2011, 09:33:13 AM »

Hawkenman/Vanguard,

Surround yourself with spiritual warriors, ask for prayer, get more involved at church, join christian men's groups. You will find that your life will fill and you won't have time or need for drink. Regularly invite church friends and leaders to your house for dinner. Start a mens bible study group in your house. Do anything and everything to keep busy and surrounded with christian men who will hold you accountable for your decisions. Above all confess in public and pray for strength.

NGH

FourBee · « **Reply #25 on:** June 08, 2011, 08:42:24 AM »

Hawkenman: Thanks for the up-date. I even got fired up after reading my March 26th post. Relying on God is the most assertive step one can take.

hawkenman · « **Reply #26 on:** June 08, 2011, 04:31:37 PM »

Thanks Four Bee, and no guns here. Just got back from AA and with me it's kinda like going to church when you really don't want to go, but you allways feel better when you come out.

hawkenman · « **Reply #27 on:** July 17, 2011, 02:05:51 PM »

I been having a feeling for a couple of years that my wife of sixteen years has had something on her mind. Well you guessed it, she wants a divorce. I didn't even ask why because I gave her my full devotion and love. My son who is fourteen told me he had exspected it. I told him that he had nothing to do with our problems and that I loved him soo much. I have really thought about a drink, but that would just make things worse. I'm going to do the best I can for my son, but I've noticed a power play for his attention, she showers him with gifts and affection. Things she has always done but not to this extreme. I've got a possible oppertunity to buy some land and I think I'll do it. The bottom line is going back to drinking would be a terrible mistake.

336SC · « **Reply #28 on:** July 17, 2011, 03:12:58 PM »

Today is 6 years, and 14 days since my last drink. I can't drink socially either. One drink turns into twenty-one or more. It is great to be
sober and not living in a fog. I'm enjoying my sobriety a lot.
336SC

hawkenman · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:23:32 PM »

Thanks 336C, prayer has helped me so much and if I'm optomistic things will work out.