"8 A gift is like a precious stone to its owner; Everywhere he turns, it brings him success. 9 Whoever forgives a transgression seeks love, But the one who keeps harping on a matter separates close friends. 10 A rebuke makes a deeper impression on one having understanding Than striking a stupid person a hundred times."

GIFT ADVANTAGE. Prove 17:8 This is Jehovah's word--perhaps a colorful cut gemstone can have a positive influence?! But how fine a useful gift from someone--let's be mindful of others and their needs, not just our own.

"9 Whoever forgives a transgression seeks love, But the one who keeps harping on a matter separates close friends."

AIMING TO FORGIVE. Prove 17:9 What insight! With love in our hearts, we don't wish for someone to suffer excessive sorrow over a minor mistake--rather, we're eager in love to forgive them, and try not to bring it up again and again. This does not mean every mistake must be forgiven readily as if no mistake ever took place--an individual should be repentant over a wrong if we're to trust them in a similar matter in the future. Still, we want to forgive them wherever we reasonably can. An unforgiving person, on the other hand, is dealing treacherously with relationships, is being disloyal to God and others by not seeking to resolve a matter in peace.

"10 A rebuke makes a deeper impression on one having understanding Than striking a stupid person a hundred times."

A LOVING REBUKE. Prove 17:10 Let's help our dear young ones to grow in understanding by answering their questions whenever possible, not telling them that they ask too many questions, but rather, realizing that this is how they grow in understanding of life. Perhaps just help them learn to be more choosy in the questions they ask. Encourage them to ask you, especially regarding things pertaining to divine knowledge of God and spirituality. Your loving corrections may well reach deeper in their hearts, reducing need of stronger discipline.

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CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTERS (CSL)

CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTER SELECTION

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THRICE WEEKLY GOLDEN APPLES (TWGA)

As mentioned previously, my recent font creations may be in the news currently, so I wish to detail and clarify a few things.

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COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER

Week 14: ISSUE BY ISSUE ADDRESSED BY GOD’S KINGDOM: Drunk Driving

ALCOHOL’S EFFECTS. While deaths caused by drunk driving may have been dropping a little over the past few years, most would agree that more needs to be done. Each year, in the United States, over 10,000 people lose their lives to an accident caused by at least one person driving drunk. It is well established that drinking alcohol lowers a person’s inhibitions, or restraints. In other words, alcohol allows the brain to relax, and to a degree, to let loose. This letting loose contributes to many temporarily becoming more outgoing, social. Wine is thus presented in God's word as a gift to man. Among other things provided by God, Psalm 104:15 then mentions "And wine that makes man's heart rejoice, Oil that makes the face shine, And bread that sustains the heart of mortal man." Yet as with many gifts, this one can also be abused. Upon such drinking, while people may thus say things they wouldn’t ordinarily say, their conduct can also be affected. If then attempting to drive, for instance, they may take risks they wouldn’t ordinarily take, and make poorer judgments. But that is not all—the more alcohol that is consumed, physical coordination and motor skills also decline. People become less able to handle the myriad decisions that are required to safely operate a motor vehicle. Their reaction time is dramatically affected, causing them to take longer, even much longer, to respond to sudden occurrences as happen often when driving a vehicle on public roadways. All the while, many of these persons somehow still believe they are just as capable of driving as they normally are without alcohol in their system. What a false sense of security!

BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVELS. While much research could be done into various sources of alcohol, and whether some drinks have more of an affect than others, the bottom line usually is found in the amount of alcohol that enters the bloodstream, which can be measured as a BAC level, standing for Blood-Alcohol-Concentration. For U.S. states, typically 0.08% BAC will result in a DUI, or Driving Under the Influence charge if suspected of drunk driving or involved in an accident. Federal law set this as a minimum to define drunk driving, and for commercial drivers the level is 0.04% that can result in a conviction. Most states also now have even stiffer penalties for exceeding higher limits, such as 0.15% BAC. Being able to recognize that it was a drunk driver that caused a serious accident is one thing, but now what can be done about this ongoing catastrophe? One person dies in the U.S. on average every 50 minutes from a motor vehicle incident involving a drunk driver. About 10% of these are pedestrians. And on a typical weekend night, alcohol is involved in some 50% of deaths involving motor vehicles! Many of us may be taking this matter a little too lightly--who of us would like to be responsible for such a tragedy??? While the resurrection will restore innocent life and people can be mercifully forgiven, God’s Kingdom will not allow this to continue! How can this be remedied? We might start by making sure we're educated about how blood-alcohol levels are affected by drinking.Those going out for drinks might consider finding a BAC Calculator app for their phone or other device, helping to gain understanding as to how various drinks affect these levels per gender and body weight. For example, if two servings give someone a BAC of 0.04%, which is a level that can cause "impaired driving," each hour this typically drops by 0.015%, so in two hours the level would be approximately 0.01%, much better for most driving. What else can be done?

DESIGNATED DRIVERS. One matter that could quickly be instituted, wherever this is not already practiced, is to require bar and restaurant attendants to request from a group of customers eager to consume alcoholic beverages to identify their “designated drivers.” These individuals may choose to refrain from any alcoholic beverage, or may be allowed a beverage or two, depending on body weight, and length of stay, be it a can of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of strong drink. These each deliver on average about the same amount of alcohol. Having identified these individuals, a waiter or waitress can keep an eye on them, to support their determination to remain capable of driving safely upon leaving. DD’s should take their responsibility seriously, knowing that authorities may be contacted if they violate their proper limits. These should be able to choose from a fine selection of non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy on this occasion. Some restaurants might even offer a discount on such beverages to these designated drivers, to encourage safe practices, but at least having these drinks made available demonstrates support for this arrangement.Where taxis are widely available, an outing may be planned both coming and going, so an entire group might share more freely in their alcohol consumption.

LICENSE INFORMATION. Another matter that can be addressed is that of information available on Driver’s Licenses. Are not drinkers carded to ensure proper age? While licenses typically have information used to positively identify someone, such as a face, eye color and height, one thing is often missing that can help someone to know how much alcohol can be consumed—a person’s weight! While there are a few factors involved, still we find typically that a larger, heavier person can handle a bit more alcohol than a smaller, lighter person. Also, it has come to my attention that there are some individuals on planet Earth that are able to handle alcohol much better than the average human--their BAC is not affected the same as others. Therefore, besides a weight indication on a person's license, there might also be shown an AAF--Alcohol Assimilation Factor--perhaps from between 1 and 3. A level of 3 would indicate the person can handle at least three times the amount of alcohol as the normal person. There can be some provision put in place for a person to have their BAC tested, perhaps at the local DMV, to indicate the proper factor on their license. In general, a person's weight can be a good guide. While weight can change over time, most people tend to remain within a certain range. An easy standard could be set at 10%. If your weight changes and is expected to remain at least 10% higher or lower than what would currently be on your license, then a new license could be obtained, reflecting the change. A person’s weight can easily be determined, in case the new license hasn’t been received yet, or if there is reason to believe it is substantially different than what is stated on the license. Generally, then, three or four different standards could be set, one for those weighing approximately 150 lbs, then 200 lbs, and 250 lbs. Then anyone 300 lbs or more could hold to a standard set for 300. Restaurants can look at the typical alcohol content of each of it’s beverages, and establish reasonable drinking limits based on body weight. They could then help their patrons avoid going beyond these reasonable limits, as the alcohol begins to impair the judgment of those consuming it. Also, if a group plans to spend considerable time on this occasion, could they be offered a pitcher of an inexpensive supplemental non-alcoholic beverage at a fair price, to potentially reduce the risk of heavy drinking?

LABELLING. And why couldn’t pre-packaged alcoholic beverages be labelled with recommended limits based on these weight guidelines? A beverage might say that anyone planning to drive limit themselves to a single beverage serving or two, depending on body weight, while recommending numbers such as 3-4-5 serving limits for instance, each for a 150lb, 200lb, and 250lb consumer. These could show amounts recommended over a certain period of time, long enough for the alcohol typically to be processed by the body and leave the system. If this was required by law on all alcoholic beverage products, according to clear guidelines, then no company would gain an unfair or unscrupulous economic advantage by ignoring such a life-promoting practice. Thus, with a little help, people can come to realize what it means in actual practice to drink responsibly.

MOTIVATION. How gratifying to everyone if statistics for drunk driving accidents could be compiled and made available to the public more quickly than 6 months after a year’s data is received! Let’s make ways to share and compile this data more quickly, perhaps state by state, so we can begin to monitor the success of these endeavors and make needed adjustments wherever necessary. To further protect innocent lives, we might also arrange for the government to subsidize the cost of a taxi ride for anyone who winds up in a situation in which they haven't the funds but refuse to drive home after having too much alcohol to drink, as well as the ride the next day if needed to obtain their vehicle. Restaurants and bars should gladly allow such a vehicle to remain in their lot overnight in such situations. Even if a parking ticket must be paid along a city street, this should in no way be considered equitable to the risk of innocent life.

CONCLUSION

WHAT DELIGHT! As we see the number of accidents and deaths drop dramatically, how delighted we will be to the praise of our loving Father, Jehovah! He hates to see the innocent suffer—why He even takes no delight in someone wicked having to die! As Ezekiel 18:23 says: “23 “‘Do I take any delight at all in the death of someone wicked,’ is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘[and] not in that he should turn back from his ways and actually keep living?’” May we be determined never to become guilty of risking the precious lives of others by getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after going beyond proper limits of an alcoholic beverage. And may we rejoice to see the day when God's word is fulfilled in saying, such as at Isaiah 25:8-9: " He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it. 9 In that day they will say:“Look! This is our God! We have hoped in him, And he will save us. This is Jehovah! We have hoped in him. Let us be joyful and rejoice in the salvation by him.”