Differences Between Teenage/Adult Drinking
6/2/2008 11:21:31 AM
alessandra
297 Posts
A lot of kids think the point of drinking is getting drunk. But if you're a parent, it's important to show your kids that simply isn't the case and that you can drink responsibly. The effects of alcohol on teenagers and adults is different though... which is probably the cause of the many misinterpretations. Alcohol has less of an affect on teen's motor skills and coordination, which probably helps them to think it's okay to drive while drinking. Because certain regions of their brains aren't fully mature, normal teenagers are inherently more suseptible to the thrill of risk taking, have stronger emotions, and are more heavily influenced by friends and adults. When you add alcohol to the mix, all of these tendancies are exaggerated. Also, while alcohol has a sedative affect on adults, it doesn't appear to have that affect on teens, meaning they stay awake longer and consume more.
The safest thing is to protect the developing brain from alcohol. I always felt like I would've turned out different if I hadn't started drinking. There's no denying that teenage brains can't handle the affects of alcohol, that's why the drinking age is 21, not 16. The parts of the brain that govern judgement, insight, decision making, emotional control, planning, reasoning, learning and memory-- the last to develop, are being transformed for adulthood... it doesn't make sense to go through all of these stages drunk... you'll miss out on making decisions about college, careers, dealing with demands at school and work, getting behind the wheel for the first time, and seeking social and romantic relationships with peers as never before.
RE: Life by the Spirit
6/26/2008 3:04:48 PM
alessandra
297 Posts
I'm sorry you've had to deal with a lot of hypocrits during your walk with God. I've met a lot of people like how your're describing, I was even one myself. Now I try on a daily basis to not go back down the same paths that I have before. I know now that I've hurt way too many people, and especially God. I think in that verse though, God was talking to unsaved people. He's saying yes, be children of God and clearly stating that you cannot get to heaven on your own free will. We have to be saved and after we've asked God into our hearts, we can never lose our salvation. In John 6:37, Jesus says he will not "cast out" anyone who comes to Him for salvation. It is impossible for a believer to keep the entire law, that is why we need a Savior. In Romans 8:38-39, God explains how nothing can seperrate us from God's love. We should be confident that we have eternal life. Just because we can never lose our salvation, it doesn't mean that we sholdn't strive to be perfect in his eyes. He knows we are sinners and knows that we are going to sin on a daily basis, but it doesn't affect his love for us. Living in win will affect our walk with him, and we won't be as close to him, which in turn, we won't be able to do as many works for God, but God won't turn his back on us if we are asking for forgiveness and making an effort to rid the sin in our life.