All the RAve - the RAnts of RA

Fighting the alcoholic demon seems to be a national pasttime. Growing up in a house where men died in their 40's because of alcohol related illnesses, I can relate all too well with Mel Gibson's predicament. Battling alcohol isn't easy and few win the battle.

When an alcoholic opens their mouth before they engage their brain, anything is likely to fall out and often does. Even once the incident passes the memories of painful words and deeds can linger for years. My own father once tried to shoot my grandfather, while both were in a drunken rage. The memory of the incident has stuck with my mother for years. I'm thankful I was too young to recall the tense moment.

These were two men who under normal circumstances got along well. Just add liquor and stir.

My own battle with alcohol was pretty ugly. After hitting the bottle hard for two-years, barely coming up for air, I made a decision that I did not want to follow in my fathers footsteps. I managed to fight my way out of the bottle. No one knows why some people manage to clean themselves up and why others die trying.

As for Mel, my prayers are with him. His films have touched millions of people and I believe he still has a lot to offer the public, who believe in him and his ability to clean up his life and start walking on the straight and narrow path.

Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, Chuck Baldwin has generousely offered to provide a free copy of his alcoholic father's true-life story, on cassette tape to anyone who has a drinking problem. I hope that those who have a drinking problem will take Pastor Baldwin up on his offer. A life is a terrible thing to waste.