| 2004 Church of God of Forrest City |
| Prayer Requests: gethsemane@ churchofgodforrestcity.com Repentance: repent_now@ churchofgodforrestcity.com |
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| ST. JOHN 8:11 |
| SMOKING |
| “…smoking causes diseases in nearly every organ of the body.” (U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, News Release, May 27, 2004)
What is carbon monoxide? “Carbon Monoxide poisons by entering the lungs via the normal breathing mechanism and displacing oxygen from the bloodstream. Interruption of the normal supply of oxygen puts at risk the functions of the heart, brain and other vital functions of the body.” (http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/coinformation.htm) It has no smell, taste, or color. What does carbon monoxide have to do with smoking (cigarettes)? According to public law (Title 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE; CHAPTER 36—CIGARETTE LABLING AND ADVERTISING; Sec. 1333. Labeling; requirements; conspicuous statement), “(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, package, or import for sale or distribution within the United States any cigarettes the package of which fails to bear, in accordance with the requirements of this section, one of the following labels: SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in ... Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.” The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has noted, “In addition to nicotine, cigarette smoke is primarily composed of a dozen gases (mainly carbon monoxide) and tar. The tar in a cigarette, which varies from about 15 mg for a regular cigarette to 7 mg in a low-tar cigarette, exposes the user to an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in the smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children and sudden infant death….Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. In 2002, 30 percent of the U.S. population 12 and older—71.5 million people—used tobacco at least once in the month prior to being interviewed. This figure includes 3.8 million young people age 12 to 17; 14 million people age 18 to 25; and 53.7 million age 26 and older.* Most of them smoked cigarettes. Cigarette smoking has been the most popular method of taking nicotine since the beginning of the 20th century. In 1989, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a report that concluded that cigarettes and other forms of tobacco, such as cigars, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco, are addictive and that nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction. The report also determined that smoking was a major cause of stroke and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct medical costs.” (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/tobacco.html) Simply stated, smoking is another form of drug addiction. (See “Drugs” link) Our bodies belong to God, and he does not want us to do anything to them or take anything within that will defile them. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 state, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” Nicotine, carbon monoxide, and the other gases contained in smoking DEFILE the body. The evidence cited in this article speaks for itself. Some people try smoking as a means to reduce stress or nervousness, or simply to try to fit with the crowd. True salvation will resolve all of these problems without any side effects that will destroy both the soul and the body. Jesus Christ gives love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Galatians 5:22-23) Are you bound by the spirit of cigarettes? Only the power of God can set you free from this filthy addiction. You are killing yourself, and the secondhand smoke that you produce is gradually killing others – innocent children and adults. REPENT now and let God deliver you from this destructive habit! God loves you! |
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