Confession: 'I Get Drunk'

They say, "Confession is good for the soul." So this article is my confession to the world about a personal thing that I do. This confession wouldn't matter so much if it were coming from someone else, but I am a licensed and ordained minister. I believe those I minister to should know about this confession. Also, I believe I would feel much better if people knew the confession I am about to confess.

I have been a licensed minister since 1995 and an ordained minister of Christian education since 1996. I am a Bible teacher and have taught thousands of people how to live the Christian life. I have facilitated hundreds of workshops and seminars.

I teach online courses but when I am overwhelmed and frustrated, I stop and get drunk to help me make it through the night. I post on Facebook throughout the day to over 3,000 friends and fans all over the world. I can do it easily by first getting drunk.

I own over 38 Bibles in various versions and have read the Bible more than 22 times. I teach the Bible over and over from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, I have designed and taught more than 30 courses in biblical and theological studies. I am honored to wear the clergy collar, but there is a confession I must make.

• I want my students whom I teach to know I get drunk.
• I want my congregation to know I get drunk.
• I want my listeners on Blog Talk Radio to know that when they hear me every Wednesday morning, it is after having been drunk on Tuesday night.
• I want my large family to know when I dismiss myself away from the table during special dinners, it is because I need to get drunk.
• I want my friends to know that I can't socialize with them whenever they want me to because I am somewhere else getting drunk.

Oh, yes even though it might just be nine o'clock in the morning, I get drunk because I am following the examples of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost when they were so filled with the Holy Spirit that they got drunk in the Spirit.

Yes, I get drunk often, but it is not because of new wine or any other alcoholic beverage. I get drunk on the anointing power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:15).

Those who see me praying might think I am drunk like Eli thought Hannah was drunk when she was moving her lips and no words were coming out. Hannah was praying for a male child. Like Hannah, I sometimes pray so fervently for something that one would think I was drunk (1 Samuel 1:12-16).

Sometimes my praise and worship lead me into a dance like David who danced before the Lord with such energy that his wife called him a fool and said his dance was vulgar (2 Samuel 6:14-20).

I sometimes go into a dancing frenzy just like David. Why? Because I am drunk. The power of God has overpowered me to the point that I can barely stand. I fall down on my knees and pray to the living God who has been so good to me.

I get drunk not to make my flesh feel good. I get drunk so that my spirit can be renewed, revived and restored. I get drunk because I want to experience the presence of God every chance I can.

There is absolutely no way I could do all I have been called to do in the Kingdom of God if I didn't get drunk because of the power of the Holy Spirit.

I've learned that the best way to get drunk is to be drunk with the Holy Spirit! Won't you join me in getting drunk the holy way?