A fine book by Brian Welch (formerly of Korn)

I read the entire book by Brian "Head" Welch today, "Save Me From Myself." It's a great memoir and extremely moving. I can't say I'm surprised by his description of life as a heavy metal celebrity, since I know what goes on, but his candor is to be commended at the terrible price that is paid through addiction. His explanation that God can and does cure people of all addictions is truly inspiring and anyone who needs any encouragement ought to read this book. This book is a real gift and I'm grateful that he has given his witness and testimony, and I know that people who need help will receive it from reading this fine book. I feel like I know him and hope many good things for him going forward. I think as time goes on he will feel more discernment about how much God is really "hands on" directing his day to day, and settle down into a much more comfortable vibe that is not hypersensitive. God is always there, and the Holy Spirit dwells within, but he's not a micro manager *wink*. Talent and decision making comes from the person him or her self more that people who are newly given over to God realize. The difference is that they can make decisions and pursue their art from the firm foundation of love and grace by God. God is not making the decisions so much as he is providing the stage, the platform, to safely and sanely make decisions. I'm a laid back Catholic and I find the non denominational brothers and sisters are sometimes hyper sensitive to detailed communication with God *smile*. With time, like a loved spouse, one keeps company with God in lots of companionable silence and not the feeling that there must be tons of two way words and messages. God provides the space for decision making and living one's life, and is not so much a "Chinese or pizza?" kind of guy!

Reading the Bible and spending time in prayer keep the channels open and clear and allows the grace to flow. When the great saints had decisions to make (and there is great benefit in reading about the saints and their lives) they would pray, but rarely did they get explicit instructions from God. What they did receive was the openness to suggestion of the Holy Spirit, and the confidence that they could discern the good from the not so good. So when deciding, for example, where to build a monastery, the prayerful saints would let the Holy Spirit guide their feet, but not necessarily receive the road map and blueprint *wink*. God shows that there rarely is "only one answer" ... for example if a saint built a monastery in one location and it thrives, this does not mean that if he had chosen another location it would have failed. When one walks with God through the Holy Spirit one can discern and select on one's own among the many good choices and avoid the many bad choices. I love Brian's intensity and desire to communicate so frequently and in such detail with the Lord. I'm just saying that it is an extra pressure that not even the saints put upon themselves. For example, while speaking in tongues is a Biblical event it was a very rare event. Again, like I said, I'm a laid back life long Catholic and most of us see it more as that companionable silence highlighted by rich prayer life and scripture reading during the Mass. Anyway, if I was breaking bread with Brian, this is what I would counsel him if we were chatting. As it is, I highly recommend this book, both for one's own reading and also as a gift. It's an important book for being both inspirational and also cautionary of what many people face in the media machine... and how God is the answer and no addiction needs to be the final act... and despair does not need to live in anyone's heart, the Holy Spirit can push that despair and depression right out of anyone who lets the Spirit within.