Search Results: i like him but he lives far away

As many of you know, for the past year, I've been drinking like a fish, a whole bottle of rum every day for much of the year and sometimes more. I did this because I felt depressed and stuck, unable to move, and wanted an escape. Many of you tried to help me, to which I didn't listen. However, I hit rock bottom when my liver function test was done on May 19, 2025. My ALT levels were 373, and AST was 319. Both of these are more than 6 times the acceptable levels of 50 or less. Indicating very severe liver damage. This explained why I managed to drink so much, yet not feel drunk, my liver was doing a death rattle, and I would be, soon, if I didn't stop. For the first time in a while, i felt scared to lose my life, I looked back and saw what a coward I'd been. I felt a deep sense of regret, all the people I pushed away, all the problems I avoided, and now it might be too late. I bought a bottle of rum, 1 liter. I poured out 700ml of it and drank the rest. That was 80 days ago, and I haven't had one single drop since. My doctors had given up, not even bothering to schedule an appointment as they knew my cowardly behavior would simply cancel, so I didn't have to face them. After 38 days of absolute sobriety, I messaged my doctor informing her that i took her advice to heart and have removed alcohol from my life, I wanted to come in and get bloodwork done. On July 14th, it came back. ALT levels are 64, AST is 42. My liver healed faster than I ever thought possible, crushing my foolish excuse from before that I was too far gone to heal. With this, I was able to go back on Trikafta, improving my lung function greatly. I got another liver function test done on August 13th, ALT levels are 49, AST is 25. My liver is now healthier than it was a year before I started drinking. I wasn't sure I believed in God, but I prayed for my life to be spared, and I do believe he listened. I'm not sure how I want to celebrate, but you can bet it will involve a lot of family and no alcohol

Gift article - no paywall

https://wapo.st/460F7O0

IRS says churches should be allowed to make political endorsements

The IRS said in a new court filing that clergy and houses of worship should be allowed to make political endorsements, a potential move away from a 71-year-old tax policy that curtailed the fusing of religion and politics.

Banning tax-exempt nonprofits — including congregations — from participating in political campaigns violates the First Amendment’s protection of the right to the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech, IRS Commissioner Billy Long said in a court filing Monday in a Texas federal court case.

Nonprofits should be allowed to make political endorsements and not lose their tax exemptions, the IRS said in the court filing. Religious congregations, the filing said, are like families, and their internal communications should not be deemed “participation” in a campaign.

“When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither ‘participate[s]’ nor ‘intervene[s]’ in a ‘political campaign,’” according to the filing.

“First Amendment rights don’t end when a pastor, church member or even a political candidate steps on the platform of a church,”.

Others said changing the policy would further pollute U. S. politics.

“Permitting synagogues and other houses of worship to endorse or oppose candidates undercuts the integrity and unity of these religious institutions, turning them into an extension of political candidates or parties,”

“This decision fails to recognize the realities of modern spiritual life and could expose clergy, including rabbis and cantors, to unjust scrutiny as they fulfill their sacred duty to teach, guide, and inspire,” the statement said.