Pike School "mentor class"

Pike School is Bro Dwens alma mater

Dwen leading a lively chorus at Pike morning devotional

Pike School Mentor Class

Lesson 1

Abstain from shame

Merriam-Webster defines abstain as “to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice.” Gluttony the same as riotous overeating and drunkenness are examples of desires that we should abstain from versus their shame. Under the Mosaic Law serious consequences followed those who did not practice abstinence. The Jewish parents with unruly children (an idler) were brought before the local elders of the city to be judged. Deuteronomy 21: 20, 21 “And they shall say unto the elders of his city, this, our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” In days gone by, peoples’ lives were governed by the Bible and saw themselves held liable before their Creator for the life they lived. It was an age when “the fear of the Lord was the beginning of knowledge;” something divine you will not learn in college. As a Mentor teacher here at Pike, Dwen and I have been asked to instruct you “how to discipline yourselves” using God’s Word to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Th. 5:22).  Discipline is defined as the “training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.” This week’s lesson on “abstain versus shame” Dwen and I will be schooling you to think seriously about not fooling around with “strong drink” doing so you disobey the Eternal Father and walk on unstable ground. This week’s text will be taken from Pro 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” This scripture is self-explanatory. Contrary to what some people think it is sinful to drink; and get drunk. Only the wise will despise intoxicating substances and the fool will think “strong drink” is cool! Jamaica is famous for many things, Bauxite, Reggae, Rastafarianism, and tourism. It is an island paradise, a nice and spicy place to have fun in the sun. But the kind of fun spun in the sun in Jamaica is contrary to the Bible way of living. I have flown with many in the atmosphere above Jamaica coming here to party; overtaking or indulging in merrymaking in things the Bible teaches we would do well in forsaking. A Proverb is a word which Encarta Dictionary defines as “a short well-known saying that expresses an obvious truth and often offers advice.” An old Jamaican proverb “Duppy know who fi frighten" [Bullies pick on those who can defend themselves the least] the obvious truth in this old Jamaican adage is avoid the shame and abstain fully from being a bully. Bible proverbs are from God’s Holy word and they need to be practiced and not just heard.  Proverbs 23: 29-32 “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine; 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” (small venomous snake). These scriptures are relating to us an obvious truth that “strong drink” is raging and whosever, is deceived thereby, is not wise. What motivates people today to come and play on the emerald shores of Jamaica? Could it be Jamaica Rum and Red Stripe Beer? They are legendary “strong drinks” of Jamaica and motivate a behavior that places them outside the favor of their creator. Read with me an excerpt from Appleton Rum’s own historical report describing rum as “crude liquor” under the title “Kill Devil: ‘Ancestors of Rum: When cane juice is boiled under vacuum, sugar crystals are formed and separated from the residual molasses. Widely used as food for the poor and cattle feed by the rich, it was only a matter of time before the intoxicating properties of molasses were discovered. This sucrose-rich brown syrup mixed with water eventually ferments and becomes diluted alcohol. When distilled, this 'crude liquor' appeared to engender such loutishness by whoever drank it that it became known as 'Kill Devil.’ Under the title “How Rum Got His Name” the raw fiery alcohol, Kill Devil, was said to 'light a blaze' and provoke unruly rumbustious behavior. Although riot and mayhem are no longer part of the rum experience, the spirit's vibrant origins seem enshrined within the very name 'rum'. Experts fail to agree on the origin of the word. However, various romantics propose that the name 'rum' is derived from the rum bullion, rumpus and rumbustion that were essential parts of the drinking experience. The Appleton Rum report gives a perfect description of what happens to those who expose themselves to “wine mixed with water.” By the 17th Century, there were distilled spirits throughout the region and Jamaica gained the enviable reputation of being the source of the finest rum in the world. Appleton Rum became known as Bend Down or Ben Down. Back then it was not only a sin but illegal to sell rum of a certain proof in ordinary bars and shops and Appleton Rum was only sold in private clubs. But Appleton was so preferred by patrons they sold it anyway. It was not displayed, but kept under the counter. As it was not wise to ask loudly for Appleton Rum in the bar, the customer would whisper that he wanted a drink of Bend Down. (Psalms 90:8 “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance”) That which is forbidden by the Eternal Father can never be hidden - every sin is known unto Him. J. Wray and Nephew Ltd., a company with a rich tradition of producing fine rums and spirits has made Appleton Rum popular around the world. Nestled in Jamaica`s Nassau Valley in the centre of the island, the Appleton Estate covers over 11,000 acres of land. The magnificent rums that are produced on the Estate are of a unique style produced only in Jamaica and only at Appleton. These rums are a legacy of days past when our ancestors developed Jamaica. Let me and Dwen sum it up for you. Rum is a “strong drink” made famous around the world by J. Wray and Nephew forbidden by Jamaica’s Eternal Father (Proverbs 20:1) who recommends it be eschewed, a Bible word which means to abstain from the use thereof. Jamaica honors the Eternal Father in their anthem asking Him to bless their land. On the other hand Jamaica celebrates Appleton Rum and Red Stripe Beer advertising them as the drink of Jamaicans. An old preacher summed up Jamaica’s Appleton Rum this way “It deceives by its fragrance, intoxicates by its strength, and renders the intoxicated ridiculous.” I ask you do you really think your Eternal Father is pleased with the success of J Wray and Nephew and those they have deceived and made unwise from their popular “strong drink?” I had an Anglican priest at a hospital function in Spalding’s chuckle because I refused the “strong drink” they were serving and asked for a glass of water instead. He remarked shaking his head with a spark in his eye “some preachers are narrow-minded; but not I.” To the man sitting by me I whispered, “I beg to disagree, I’m scripturally-minded” quoting (Proverbs 20:1); “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Red Stripe (lager) Beer is 4.7% alcohol, another “strong drink.” Some think “they will have a bokkle of Red Stripe when they get to heaven.” The Bible is pretty clear you should abstain from “strong drinks” like Appleton Rum and Red Stripe Beer, no matter how popular they appear to Jamaica and the world.  Some misuse the word of God and claim there is no shame in drinking by quoting 1^st Ti 5:23 “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach sake and thine often infirmities.” The Apostle Paul was not talking about drinking strong drink for pleasure; but using a little wine for medicine.  The Apostle Paul in Eph 5:18 recommends to the church members and the unbeliever “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” To be filled with the Spirit is to be born from above. Think about it? If the Eternal Father warns us that “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosever, is deceived thereby is not wise” when the Lord reappears to retrieve Adam’s offspring and bring us all to Judgment, I would not want to be reveling in Jamaican Rum and Red Stripe beer at a local midnight abashment; for me I think abstinence from “strong drink” does make good-sense.  

My mentor class at Pike All-age school Pike PO Manchester
           

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