Cunning, Baffling and Powerful

The Big Book of AA says in the How It Works section:

"Remember that we deal with alcohol--cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power--that One is God. May you find Him now!"

What do the words "cunning, baffling, powerful" really mean and how does this apply to alcohol? I looked the words up in the The Free Dictionary online and this is what I found.

cun·ning (knng)
adj.
1. Marked by or given to artful subtlety and deceptiveness.
2. Executed with or exhibiting ingenuity.
3. Delicately pleasing; pretty or cute: a cunning pet.
n.
1. Skill in deception; guile.
2. Skill or adeptness in execution or performance; dexterity.

baf·fle (bfl)
tr.v.baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles
1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie.
2. To impede the force or movement of.

pow·er·ful (pour-fl)
adj.
1. Having or capable of exerting power.
2. Effective or potent: a powerful drug.
3. Chiefly Upper Southern U.S. Great: "[Everybody had] a powerful lot to say about faith and good works and free grace and preforeordestination, and I don't know what all" (Mark Twain).

Alcohol is cunning because the power it holds over the alcoholic can be subtle and deceptive. Alcohol tricks the alcoholic into believing their life will be better if they just take that first drink--that all their problems will go away when actually the reverse is true. I know in my son's case, drinking just compounds his problems because he spends all his money and doesn't go to work. But alcohol tells him that life will be less boring and more exciting, if he will just drink it. Alcohol doesn't remind him that he will also be sick and hungover and broke.

Alcohol is baffling because the alcoholic can't figure out why they continue to drink something that in the end causes them so much pain and is ultimately destroying their life. My alcoholic son seems to feel that he doesn't deserve anything good to happen to him and continually sabatoges any good thing that comes into his life. If that is not baffling to him, it certainly is to me.

Alcohol is powerful because of the hold it exerts over the alcoholic's will. Because of alcohol's power, alcoholics will literally drink themselves to death. Alcohol is powerful in what it does to the body as well as what it does to the mind of the alcoholic.

But I must refer to the rest of the quote from the Big Book of AA. Alcohol may be cunning, baffling and powerful, but God is more powerful than alcohol. If the alcoholic will admit they have a problem, that they can't manage the problem themselves, and turn that problem over to almighty God, they will reduce the cunning, baffling and powerful effects of alcohol in their life.

135 Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Exercise, run, etc.
2. Put on fake tattoos
3. Draw on yourself with washable markers
4. Give yourself a facial
5. Write poetry
6. Cuddle with a stuffed animal
7. Be with other people
8. Watch a sitcom on TV
9. Post on web boards/reply to other posts
10. Paint your nails
11. Go to see a movie
12. Eat something you can't resist
13. Work on your car
14. Write a letter you don't intend to send
15. Invent silly hairdos
16. Call a friend and ask them to come hang out
17. Play a musical instrument; pots and spoons work, too
18. Sing a silly song
19. Pray
20. Look up at the sky and count clouds or stars
21. Make up your own list of THINGS TO DO INSTEAD
22. Punch a punching bag... with gloves, of course
23. Station yourself outside a public place and hold the door for everyone
24. Go to the zoo and rename all the animals
25. Let yourself cry
26. Sleep, only if you are tired
27. A hot/cold shower (changing the temperature will help to destress you)
28. Play with a pet
29. Smile at five people, at least
30. Reorganize your closets
31. Go out and perform one random act of kindness
32. Have a pillow fight with the wall
33. Knit or sew or cross-stitch or crochet
34. Read a good book
35. Text someone you love
36. Dress up very glamorous
37. Color your hair
38. Listen to uplifting music
39. Watch fish swim
40. Find someone who needs your help
41. Read the Bible
42. Call up an old friend
43. Work on a website or start a new one
44. Plan a fantasy vacation
45. Go to the park and watch children play
46. Bake desserts
47. Alphabetize your CDs or movies
48. Talk to God
49. Buy a henna tattoo kit
50. Paint or draw
51. Rip paper into itty bitty pieces
52. Hug someone, even yourself
53. Check email or send email
54. Call your sponsor
55. Hug a pillow
56. Go to the river
57. Finger paint
58. Scream as loud as your want
59. Dance
60. Make hot chocolate
61. Pop bubble wrap
62. Play with modeling clay or play dough
63. Count to 135
64. Build a fort in your living room
65. Pop balloons
66. Write an "I love you because" letter to yourself
67. Read something in a different language and try to figure out what it says
68. Go for a drive or a walk
69. Complete a task you've been putting off
70. Drink Kool-aid
71. Learn how to do Origami
72. Reorganize your kitchen
73. Prepare foods you love
74. Learn archery
75. Go rock climbing
76. Fine tune your car or house stereo's equalizer
77. Organize bille, receipts, coupons
78. Make a to-do list
79. Go out for ice cream
80. Buy a stuffed animal
81. Look at pretty things, like flowers or artwork
82. Create something
83. Throw socks against the wall
84. Make a list of blessings in your life
85. Go to a friend's house
86. Take up fencing
87. Watch old movies
88. Call your therapist or make an appointment with one
89. Talk to your pastor
90. Ride a bike
91. Polish silver or jewelry
92. Garden or water house plants
93. Rearrange a room
94. Feed the ducks, birds, or squirrels
95. Play with face paint
96. Color with crayons
97. Memorize a poem or song or a Bible verse
98. Roll down a hill
99. Catch butterflies or lightening bugs or June bugs
100. Sit by a creek and watch tadpoles
101. Think of alias' for yourself
102. Go to a public place and people watch
103. Make a CD of your favorite songs
104. Name all your stuffed animals
105. Go grocery shopping
106. Get into  your PJs and just veg
107. Give yourself a pedicure
108. Play the 15-minute game (you can't use your favorite bad thing for 15 mins)
109. Plan your fantasy wedding or honeymoon or second honeymoon
110. Listen for God
111. Alphabetize your books and magazines
112. Hunt for your perfect home online
113. Take up Tai Chi or Yoga
114. Make as many words as possible out of your full name
115. Count light fixtures or light bulbs
116. Go to a meeting
117. Search for ridiculous things on the web
118. Send e-cards
119. Color coordinate your wardrobe
120. Do a home tan
121. Clean out dressers
122. Buy yourself new toys and play like you're 8 years old
123. Ponder on where the socks in the dryer go
124. Scribble on people in magazines
125. Plan a dinner party
126. Start collecting something
127. Buy more stuffed animals
128. Hang upside down
129. Climb a tree
130. Buy a pet
131. Go through old clothes and give some away
132. Hunt for stuff on Ebay
133. Paint a mural on the wall
134. Pick addresses out of the phone book and send them anonymous cards
135. Read a book of tongue twisters out loud

What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol?

75 WARNINGS

There is more Scripture condemning the use of alcoholic beverages than will be found on the subjects of lying, adultery, swearing, cheating, hypocrisy, pride, or even blasphemy.

1) Genesis 9:20-26 – Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble.
2) Genesis 19:30-38 – Lot was so drunk he did not know what he was doing; this led to immorality
3) Leviticus 10:9-11 – God commanded priests not to drink so that they could tell the difference between the holy and the unholy.
4) Numbers 6:3 – The Nazarites were told to eat or drink nothing from the grape vine.
5) Deuteronomy 21:20 – A drunken son was stubborn and rebellious.
6) Deuteronomy 29:5-6 – God gave no grape juice to Israel nor did they have intoxicating drink in the wilderness.
7) Deuteronomy 32:33 – Intoxicating wine is like the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.
8) Judges 13:4, 7, 14 – Samson was to be a Nazarite for life. His mother was told not to drink wine or strong drink.
9) 1 Samuel 1:14-15 – Accused, Hannah said she drank no wine.
10) 1 Samuel 25:32-38 – Nabal died after a drunken spree.
11) 2 Samuel 11:13 – By getting Uriah drunk, David hoped to cover his sin.
12) 2 Samuel 13:28-29 – Amnon was drunk when he was killed.
13) 1 Kings 16:8-10 – The king was drinking himself into drunkenness when he was assassinated.
14) 1 Kings 20:12-21 – Ben-Hadad and 32 other kings were drinking when they were attacked and defeated by the Israelites.
15) Esther 1:5-12 – The king gave each one all the drink he wanted. The king was intoxicated when he commanded the queen to come.
16) Psalm 75:8 – The Lord’s anger is pictured as mixed wine poured out and drunk by the wicked.
17) Proverbs 4:17 – Alcoholic drink is called the wine of violence.
18) Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging.
19) Proverbs 23:19-20 – A wise person will not be among the drinkers of alcoholic beverages.
20) Proverbs 23:21 – Drunkenness causes poverty.
21) Proverbs 23:29-30 – Drinking causes woe, sorrow, fighting, babbling, wounds without cause and red eyes.
22) Proverbs 23:31 – God instructs not to look at intoxicating drinks.
23) Proverbs 23:32 – Alcoholic drinks bite like a serpent, sting like an adder.
24) Proverbs 23:33 – Alcohol causes the drinker to have strange and adulterous thoughts, produces willfulness, and prevents reformation.
25) Proverbs 23:34 – Alcohol makes the drinker unstable.
26) Proverbs 23:35 – Alcohol makes the drinker insensitive to pain so he does not perceive it as a warning. Alcohol is habit forming.
27) Proverb 31:4-5 – Kings, Princes, and others who rule and judge must not drink alcohol. Alcohol perverts good judgment.
28) Proverbs 31:6-7 – Strong drink could be given to those about to perish or those in pain. Better anesthetics are available today.
29) Ecclesiastes 2:3 – The king tried everything, including intoxicating drink, to see if it satisfied. It did not. (Ecclesiastes 12:8)
30) Ecclesiastes 10:17 – A land is blessed when its leaders do not drink.
31) Isaiah 5:11-12 – Woe to those who get up early to drink and stay up late at night to get drunk.
32) Isaiah 5:22 – Woe to “champion” drinkers and “experts” at mixing drinks.
33) Isaiah 19:14 – Drunken men stagger in their vomit.
34) Isaiah 22:12-13 – The Israelites choose to drink; their future looks hopeless to them.
35) Isaiah 24:9 – Drinkers cannot escape the consequences when God judges.
36) Isaiah 28:1 – God pronounces woe on the drunkards of Ephraim.
37) Isaiah 28:3 – Proud drunkards shall be trodden down.
38) Isaiah 28:7 – Priests and prophets stagger and reel from beer and wine, err in vision, and stumble in judgment.
39) Isaiah 28:8 – Drinkers’ tables are covered with vomit and filth.
40) Isaiah 56:9-12 – Drinkers seek their own gain and expect tomorrow to be just like today.
41) Jeremiah 35:2-14 – The Rechabites drank no grape juice or intoxicating wine and were blessed.
42) Ezekiel 44:21 – Again God instructed the priests not to drink wine.
43) Daniel 1:5-17 – Daniel refused the king’s intoxicating wine and was blessed for it along with his abstaining friends.
44) Daniel 5:1 – Belshazzar, ruler of Babylon; led his people in drinking.
45) Daniel 5:2-3 – The king, along with his nobles, wives, and concubines, drank from the goblets which had been taken from God’s temple.
46) Daniel 5:4 – Drinking wine was combined with praising false gods.
47) Daniel 5:23 – God sent word to Belshazzar that punishment would be swift for the evil he had committed.
48) Hosea 4:11 – Intoxicating wine takes away intelligence.
49) Hosea 7:5 – God reproves princes for drinking.
50) Joel 1:5 – Drunkards awake to see God’s judgment.
51) Joel 3:3 – The enemy is judged for selling girls for wine.
52) Amos 2:8 – Unrighteous acts of Israel included the drinking of wine which had been taken for the payment of fines.
53) Amos 2:12 – Israel is condemned for forcing Nazarites to drink wine.
54) Micah 2:11 – Israelites are eager to follow false teachers who prophesy plenty of intoxicating drinks.
55) Nahum 1:10 – The drunkards of Nineveh will be destroyed by God.
56) Habakkuk 2:5 – A man is betrayed by wine.
57) Habakkuk 2:15 – Woe to him that gives his neighbor drink.
58) Habakkuk 2:16 – Drinking leads to shame.
59) Matthew 24:48-51 – A drinking servant is unprepared for his Lord’s return.
60) Luke 1:15 – John the Baptist drank neither grape juice nor wine.
61) Luke 12:45 – Christ warned against drunkenness.
62) Luke 21:34 – Drunkenness will cause a person not to be ready for the Lord’s return.
63) Romans 13:13 – Do not walk in drunkenness or immorality.
64) Romans 14:21 – Do not do anything that will hurt your testimony as a believer.
65) 1 Corinthians 5:11 – If a Christian brother is a drinker, do not associate with him.
66) 1 Corinthians 6:10 – Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God.
67) Galatians 5:21 – Acts of the sinful nature, such as drunkenness, will prohibit a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.
68) Ephesians 5:18 – In contrast to being drunk with wine, the believer is to be filled with the Spirit.
69) 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 – Christians are to be alert and self-controlled, belonging to the day. Drunkards belong to the night and darkness.
70) 1 Timothy 3:2-3 – Bishops (elders) are to be temperate, sober, and not near any wine.
71) 1 Timothy 3:8 – Deacons are to be worthy of respect and not drinkers.
72) 1 Timothy 3:11 – Deacons’ wives are to be temperate and sober.
73) Titus 1:7-8 – An overseer is to be disciplined.
74) Titus 2:2-3 – The older men and older women of the church are to be temperate and not addicted to wine.

FACTS TO KNOW

1) The Bible does teach total abstinence from alcohol. Both the main Hebrew word for wine and the Greek word for wine can mean either fermented grape juice or intoxicating wine. The English word wine originally had two meanings also – unfermented juice or alcoholic drink.

2) In the Bible, verses to show God approves of wine are speaking about unfermented juice. Verses that expose the evils of wine are speaking about intoxicating wine.

3) The Bible says alcoholic drink is evil. It is not just the amount one drinks that makes drinking a sin. God condemns the drink itself. (Prov 20:1 KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

4) God does not lead us into evil; He delivers us from it. He does not teach us to practice evil in moderation. Jesus did not make, use, approve, commend, or tell us to use intoxicating wine.

5) God made man to have fellowship with Him. Alcohol goes directly to the brain, the communication center of the body. It interferes with God’s purpose for mankind.