Comments on: Testimony http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/ Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:38:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: morgana http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-33 morgana Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:43:13 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-33 most of the trouble caused by opiate narcotics (unlike crack, speed, etc. which makes a user insane and violent) is caused by the illegality of opiate narcotics. Most junkies are gentle peaceful people who only lose it when they can't afford their habit anymore, which makes perfect sense to me. If someone with bipolar disorder and was denied their lithium, or someone with diabetes was denied their insulin, or a dehydrating person was denied water, wouldn't they steal and lie their way to healing their agonized bodies? So too for the opiate addict. When I tried heroin I felt normal for the first time in my life. Of course, after months of enjoying feeling normal, when I experienced a shortage, I became agonizingly ill. I never mixed my heroin with other drugs, it was my medicine. I will never believe that heroin use is innately evil or innately wrong. It is our society that punishes people for their need to self-medicate, or demand that they stop when they can't, which leads them to lie to their loved ones out of fear of their disappointment. What makes matters worse is the fact that those who self-medicate are actually thrown in jail even if they have never stolen from another person or hurt another person in their life. I will never, ever believe that heroin is bad, no matter how many horror stories I read about it from people who have been indoctrinated into the twelve steps or who have been led by judges and cops and families to think they were a "bad person" when they did heroin and they are now a "good person" because they were off it. Once again, a diabetic, if denied insulin, would become a "bad person" pretty fast. I cannot say the same thing about uppers such as speed and crack. But our bodies make endorphins--the morphine within. Those who need heroin to feel "normal" have bodies that do not make enough endogenous endorphins. Jailing them for their heroin use is no different than making insulin illegal and then jailing diabetics whose pancreas doesn't produce insulin and who try to buy insulin on the black market. most of the trouble caused by opiate narcotics (unlike crack, speed, etc. which makes a user insane and violent) is caused by the illegality of opiate narcotics. Most junkies are gentle peaceful people who only lose it when they can’t afford their habit anymore, which makes perfect sense to me. If someone with bipolar disorder and was denied their lithium, or someone with diabetes was denied their insulin, or a dehydrating person was denied water, wouldn’t they steal and lie their way to healing their agonized bodies? So too for the opiate addict. When I tried heroin I felt normal for the first time in my life. Of course, after months of enjoying feeling normal, when I experienced a shortage, I became agonizingly ill. I never mixed my heroin with other drugs, it was my medicine. I will never believe that heroin use is innately evil or innately wrong. It is our society that punishes people for their need to self-medicate, or demand that they stop when they can’t, which leads them to lie to their loved ones out of fear of their disappointment. What makes matters worse is the fact that those who self-medicate are actually thrown in jail even if they have never stolen from another person or hurt another person in their life. I will never, ever believe that heroin is bad, no matter how many horror stories I read about it from people who have been indoctrinated into the twelve steps or who have been led by judges and cops and families to think they were a “bad person” when they did heroin and they are now a “good person” because they were off it. Once again, a diabetic, if denied insulin, would become a “bad person” pretty fast. I cannot say the same thing about uppers such as speed and crack. But our bodies make endorphins–the morphine within. Those who need heroin to feel “normal” have bodies that do not make enough endogenous endorphins. Jailing them for their heroin use is no different than making insulin illegal and then jailing diabetics whose pancreas doesn’t produce insulin and who try to buy insulin on the black market.

]]> By: Esther http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Esther Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:09:26 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-34 WOW, its very rare to hear a testimony quite like yours. It is very moving to hear that after all those struggles you managed to really pick yourself up.Im sure God loves you so much and he put you through all of that to build you into a stronger women of God.They say the more you go through the stronger you become and sometimes even in my experience I wish I can go through more struggles to become stronger so in a way I envy you.Thank you for sharing your testimony, Im pretty sure that you God will use you to help a lot of people and probably already have.Also, at the same time, Im sorry you went through all of those hardships.But HEY,I honestly think you are BLESSED to have gone through the pain and suffering! God bless WOW, its very rare to hear a testimony quite like yours. It is very moving to hear that after all those struggles you managed to really pick yourself up.Im sure God loves you so much and he put you through all of that to build you into a stronger women of God.They say the more you go through the stronger you become and sometimes even in my experience I wish I can go through more struggles to become stronger so in a way I envy you.Thank you for sharing your testimony, Im pretty sure that you God will use you to help a lot of people and probably already have.Also, at the same time, Im sorry you went through all of those hardships.But HEY,I honestly think you are BLESSED to have gone through the pain and suffering!
God bless

]]> By: Kendra http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Kendra Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:51:06 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-32 Laurie, George B. shared your site with me, and I have been blessed to watch our awesome Father walk with you through all of the testimony I read. And how it spoke to my heart His perfect Word;' "I will never leave you nor forsake you." If you have not already read Hannah Hunard's "Hinds Feet for High Places" Oh, may I encourage you to do so, It is by far my most favorite book outside of His Word. thank You for pressing in, for giving it your all and may I also say, please please no matter what our adversary throws at you, do not ever forsake your time in His Word. It is our shield and out fortress. Blessings sister, may we meet in Him! ~kendra Laurie,
George B. shared your site with me, and I have been blessed to watch our awesome Father walk with you through all of the testimony I read. And how it spoke to my heart His perfect Word;’ “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If you have not already read Hannah Hunard’s “Hinds Feet for High Places” Oh, may I encourage you to do so, It is by far my most favorite book outside of His Word.
thank You for pressing in, for giving it your all and may I also say, please please no matter what our adversary throws at you, do not ever forsake your time in His Word. It is our shield and out fortress.
Blessings sister, may we meet in Him!
~kendra

]]> By: laurie http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-31 laurie Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:36:30 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-31 Methadone SUCKS! I HATE that crap! Kicking Methadone is the WORST. Oh...I've had my times of kicking pain meds as well...Dilaudid, Vicodin and Soma (about 40 a day) Um.. it's all pretty bad. Hopefully, you can wean yourself off of the pain pills gradually... if you aren't an addict that may actually be possible. I hope so! I'll pray for you!!! Thankfully, I won't ever have to kick anything ever again - only by the grace of God! I'd rather be in pain than get addicted again! Thanks for your words of encouragement!<!-- X-spaminator-strike: whitelist, -3 --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> Methadone SUCKS! I HATE that crap! Kicking Methadone is the WORST. Oh…I’ve had my times of kicking pain meds as well…Dilaudid, Vicodin and Soma (about 40 a day) Um.. it’s all pretty bad. Hopefully, you can wean yourself off of the pain pills gradually… if you aren’t an addict that may actually be possible. I hope so! I’ll pray for you!!! Thankfully, I won’t ever have to kick anything ever again – only by the grace of God! I’d rather be in pain than get addicted again! Thanks for your words of encouragement!

]]> By: Sweetfightgirl http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Sweetfightgirl Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:44:50 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-30 Well my story isn't exactly like yours and more medical in nature. That and my calling is different than yours other than to help others...but I am proud of you, even though we are strangers. Leading a life you love and that others don't support is hard since so many do not have faith, spirituality, or religion...stick with what you love and that helps you lead a life you are proud of. I have a lot of brain and pituitary issues and so I thought I would drop you a line to say METHADONE sucked worse than quitting pains pills like oxy and tons of Valium cold turkey! You are so right! Anyway, keep up the good work. I noticed your post on DI which I also have so feel free to write to me about your medical issues as well...I'm starting a foundation to help people like us pay our medical bills and life bills because of chronic illness but don't let it stop us from helping others - even though our ways are diff I think we have a lot of end "results" in common. I came from probably a similar family and will not go into detail online but I can imagine since I was tempted to use drugs but only went so far and now am on chronic pain meds until my next brain surgery...they say it will be easier to quit once the pain and life is back in order...let's hope they are right and no METHADONE for me cuz it was hell! Anyway, I wish you luck with your work and message! Stay strong! Maybe one day when my foundation is up and running your positive spirit will get you a grant for helping others! :-) SFG<!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: url dashes, 1 --> Well my story isn’t exactly like yours and more medical in nature. That and my calling is different than yours other than to help others…but I am proud of you, even though we are strangers. Leading a life you love and that others don’t support is hard since so many do not have faith, spirituality, or religion…stick with what you love and that helps you lead a life you are proud of.

I have a lot of brain and pituitary issues and so I thought I would drop you a line to say METHADONE sucked worse than quitting pains pills like oxy and tons of Valium cold turkey! You are so right! Anyway, keep up the good work. I noticed your post on DI which I also have so feel free to write to me about your medical issues as well…I’m starting a foundation to help people like us pay our medical bills and life bills because of chronic illness but don’t let it stop us from helping others – even though our ways are diff I think we have a lot of end “results” in common. I came from probably a similar family and will not go into detail online but I can imagine since I was tempted to use drugs but only went so far and now am on chronic pain meds until my next brain surgery…they say it will be easier to quit once the pain and life is back in order…let’s hope they are right and no METHADONE for me cuz it was hell!

Anyway, I wish you luck with your work and message! Stay strong! Maybe one day when my foundation is up and running your positive spirit will get you a grant for helping others! :-)

SFG

]]> By: laurie http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-29 laurie Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:46:54 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-29 Hi Giacomo! Thanks for writing - it would be awesome if you could make it to my class on Sunday. I'd love to meet you - Lord willing, I'll see you there! God bless! ~Laurie<!-- X-spaminator-strike: whitelist, -3 --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> Hi Giacomo!

Thanks for writing – it would be awesome if you could make it to my class on Sunday. I’d love to meet you – Lord willing, I’ll see you there!

God bless!
~Laurie

]]> By: Giacomo http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Giacomo Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:40:04 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-28 Hey Laurie! I just happened to read your entire testimony today, and I have to say that I am awed! I struggle with an addiction of a different kind, and although I know Jesus, I feel powerless towards it. It is assuredly why I came to write the screenplay that I am currently working on, and why I found you on youtube! Hopefully I will be able to visit your class this weekend, and perhaps learn a few things about myself as well! Much love and God's blessings! G<!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author check --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: empty field - author url, 1 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> Hey Laurie!

I just happened to read your entire testimony today, and I have to say that I am awed! I struggle with an addiction of a different kind, and although I know Jesus, I feel powerless towards it. It is assuredly why I came to write the screenplay that I am currently working on, and why I found you on youtube! Hopefully I will be able to visit your class this weekend, and perhaps learn a few things about myself as well! Much love and God’s blessings!

G

]]> By: laurie http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-27 laurie Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:24:03 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-27 I'm just learning how to leave a comment on a different program or something - (I don't know the 'technical' terms) but I want to answer to both Susan and April... Susan - thank you - I'm so blessed to hear that you were moved by the interview...God is so good, isn't He? Thank you so much for your encouraging words and God BLESS you!!! April...I think I remember you - were you in a group with a young man named Blade? I'm going to e-mail you... Love, Laurie<!-- X-spaminator-strike: whitelist, -3 --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: empty field - author url, 1 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> I’m just learning how to leave a comment on a different program or something – (I don’t know the ‘technical’ terms) but I want to answer to both Susan and April…

Susan – thank you – I’m so blessed to hear that you were moved by the interview…God is so good, isn’t He? Thank you so much for your encouraging words and God BLESS you!!!

April…I think I remember you – were you in a group with a young man named Blade? I’m going to e-mail you…

Love,
Laurie

]]> By: April http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-26 April Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:29:43 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-26 Hi, Laurie. I am so blessed to see you on the 700 Club. I'm sure you have met so many people over the last few years at the Dream Center and I am one of them. In the Summer of 2003 my husband and I brought a group of young people from Atlanta, Georgia to the Dream Center for a mission trip. I believe we met you cleaning in the dorm area. I remember having lunch with you one day and hearing your testimony. Your life is such a testimony of God's saving grace. I just wanted to encourage you. You are in the palm of the Master's Hand!!! With much love from GA April Chapman<!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author check --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: empty field - author url, 1 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> Hi, Laurie. I am so blessed to see you on the 700 Club. I’m sure you have met so many people over the last few years at the Dream Center and I am one of them. In the Summer of 2003 my husband and I brought a group of young people from Atlanta, Georgia to the Dream Center for a mission trip. I believe we met you cleaning in the dorm area. I remember having lunch with you one day and hearing your testimony. Your life is such a testimony of God’s saving grace. I just wanted to encourage you. You are in the palm of the Master’s Hand!!!
With much love from GA
April Chapman

]]> By: susan http://www.laurieishii.com/2004/01/testimony/comment-page-1/#comment-25 susan Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:30:09 +0000 http://www.laurieishii.com/?p=7#comment-25 Your testiemony moved me .Are story is very simialer.Ive been to were youve been and sister and truely only by the grace of God could I have of survied.You are planting good seeds out there,shareing the message of forgiveness and hope.Im over here in S, washington outside portland I try to do what I can ,youve motvated me to try to do more,God bless you and keep you ,you will changes lives keep up His good work.The love of God is awesome.sister in Christ Susan<!-- X-spaminator-strike: bad referer - spambot?, 3 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: IP check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: email check --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author check --><!-- X-spaminator-strike: empty field - author url, 1 --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: author url --><!-- X-spaminator-passed: comment body --> Your testiemony moved me .Are story is very simialer.Ive been to were youve been and sister and truely only by the grace of God could I have of survied.You are planting good seeds out there,shareing the message of forgiveness and hope.Im over here in S, washington outside portland I try to do what I can ,youve motvated me to try to do more,God bless you and keep you ,you will changes lives keep up His good work.The love of God is awesome.sister in Christ Susan

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