Hi, I'm Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin. And I'm Arthur Nowlin. 00:00:01.06\00:00:03.52 And welcome to "Making it Work." 00:00:03.55\00:00:05.47 Today we're talking about the "Last Call." 00:00:37.61\00:00:40.47 Arthur, why the last call? 00:00:40.50\00:00:42.18 Well, there are some issues that exist with many of us 00:00:42.21\00:00:46.02 and today we have a special guest here, 00:00:46.05\00:00:48.87 basically dealing with substance abuse issues. 00:00:48.90\00:00:50.98 Well, why don't you introduce our special guest? 00:00:51.01\00:00:52.94 Well, today we have John Bordach. 00:00:52.97\00:00:56.08 And John, welcome to our show. 00:00:56.11\00:00:58.15 It's my honor to be here. It really is. 00:00:58.18\00:01:00.85 We're really pleased to have you here 00:01:00.88\00:01:02.50 and basically what I'm asking you to do right now 00:01:02.53\00:01:05.29 is just give us an insight about 00:01:05.32\00:01:07.16 what has happened to you last year and a half. 00:01:07.19\00:01:10.07 Last year and a half I've gone through a transformation 00:01:10.10\00:01:13.03 that probably most people would not believe 00:01:13.06\00:01:15.60 unless they witnessed it. 00:01:15.63\00:01:17.69 And I happened-- what happened to me was, 00:01:17.72\00:01:20.78 I was in such bad shape to alcohol abuse, 00:01:20.81\00:01:23.99 physically, psychologically, spiritually 00:01:24.02\00:01:27.65 that I was pretty much unrecognizable 00:01:27.68\00:01:29.83 as human being. 00:01:29.86\00:01:30.89 Really? Yeah. 00:01:30.92\00:01:32.19 And I was hospitalized into my subsequent recovery 00:01:32.22\00:01:35.92 and through the grace of God, I'm with you today. 00:01:35.95\00:01:39.91 So how has this experience changed your life? 00:01:39.94\00:01:43.41 About 180 degrees. 00:01:43.44\00:01:46.24 I'd been drinking for approximately 40 years. 00:01:46.27\00:01:48.65 Oh, my goodness. 00:01:48.68\00:01:49.71 And when the physical nature of the disease 00:01:49.74\00:01:53.76 finally, you know, took over and I was succumbing to that 00:01:53.79\00:01:58.80 and my family deemed it was time 00:01:58.83\00:02:00.79 to make a move into the hospital. 00:02:00.82\00:02:02.80 I went and under I want. Okay, wait a minute. 00:02:02.83\00:02:07.13 Explain to us what do you mean under. 00:02:07.16\00:02:08.91 I was basically on the list of he's not coming home. 00:02:08.94\00:02:12.32 Really? 00:02:12.35\00:02:13.38 I was in a coma, alcohol induced, pretty much. 00:02:13.41\00:02:17.15 My systems were failing, my liver was shutting down, 00:02:17.18\00:02:19.81 my kidneys had shut down, 00:02:19.84\00:02:22.82 my blood does basically an oil refinery 00:02:22.85\00:02:26.88 and this-- they worked very hard to get me to the point 00:02:26.91\00:02:30.43 where I could actually have a chance in surviving it. 00:02:30.46\00:02:34.93 Now up until that point you didn't really realize 00:02:34.96\00:02:38.26 that you were as bad as 00:02:38.29\00:02:40.77 where as just life-threatening for you? 00:02:40.80\00:02:43.18 No, and it add to my situation I think 00:02:43.21\00:02:47.68 comes the same agreement with themselves, 00:02:47.71\00:02:49.54 that it's not my fault, 00:02:49.57\00:02:50.86 I don't feel that bad, this is fine. 00:02:50.89\00:02:54.11 When in truth the opposite is what's going on 00:02:54.14\00:02:57.13 and one of the hard things about addiction 00:02:57.16\00:02:59.32 is to come to the fact of reality 00:02:59.35\00:03:02.10 that yeah, that is me and it is my fault. 00:03:02.13\00:03:05.44 Now how can I be helped? 00:03:05.47\00:03:08.45 And I turn to obviously the three things drive me 00:03:08.48\00:03:11.87 in my life is my faith in God, 00:03:11.90\00:03:14.33 I trust my doctors and I believe in myself. 00:03:14.36\00:03:17.84 And God puts the belief in ourselves right there 00:03:17.87\00:03:21.20 so that we can utilize that along with His grace 00:03:21.23\00:03:25.04 and His power to make us change to the fact 00:03:25.07\00:03:28.51 that its not just for today or tomorrow but permanency. 00:03:28.54\00:03:33.38 Now, it comes to a point like you say 00:03:33.41\00:03:35.75 you were drinking for 40 years. 00:03:35.78\00:03:37.62 Correct. 00:03:37.65\00:03:38.68 Had it come to a point where you, you say you believe in God 00:03:38.71\00:03:42.78 but you didn't have a relationship with God? 00:03:42.81\00:03:45.47 No I had a very nebulous understanding of God. 00:03:45.50\00:03:49.14 I knew there was this brain being out there, 00:03:49.17\00:03:53.01 I didn't give Him a name, I didn't expect help, 00:03:53.04\00:03:56.73 I didn't ask for anything. 00:03:56.76\00:03:58.95 I just sort of though blew the idea off 00:03:58.98\00:04:02.12 because, you know, I'm invincible. 00:04:02.15\00:04:04.98 You know, nobody can touch me until you find out your not. 00:04:05.01\00:04:09.20 And then when God steps and insists 00:04:09.23\00:04:11.64 yes, what can I do for you? 00:04:11.67\00:04:14.38 It's not glad that so much is what can I do for God? 00:04:14.41\00:04:19.31 How about your family, 00:04:19.34\00:04:20.37 how did they respond to what was happening? 00:04:20.40\00:04:23.04 They were stalwarts. 00:04:23.07\00:04:24.53 When they finally understood the depth, 00:04:24.56\00:04:26.26 my wife Beverly took over immediately 00:04:26.29\00:04:29.78 and my brother and sister, very supportive. 00:04:29.81\00:04:32.66 My parents have been gone long time. 00:04:32.69\00:04:34.95 I think one of the things that drove me 00:04:34.98\00:04:37.40 to addiction of alcohol abuse, family upbringing. 00:04:37.43\00:04:41.13 There was lot of alcohol around our neighborhood, 00:04:41.16\00:04:43.23 in our family and my mother passed away 00:04:43.26\00:04:45.49 when I was 16, her age 54. 00:04:45.52\00:04:49.10 And it was an alcohol related illness. 00:04:49.13\00:04:51.92 And I started in the restaurant field, 00:04:51.95\00:04:55.51 hospitality for 30 years 00:04:55.54\00:04:57.24 and that's a very easy place to get involved 00:04:57.27\00:04:59.70 in addictions of various types. 00:04:59.73\00:05:02.47 Now drugs, alcohol and things like that it's all around you. 00:05:02.50\00:05:05.08 Let me ask a question, what do you think 00:05:05.11\00:05:07.68 was the major influence for you to begin drinking? 00:05:07.71\00:05:12.70 Fun. It's for fun. 00:05:12.73\00:05:14.74 And it was a way of rebelling in somewhat, at a young age 00:05:14.77\00:05:19.67 and as a rebellion turned into you have to govern yourself. 00:05:19.70\00:05:22.91 As you get older that aspect 00:05:22.94\00:05:24.65 totally lost my life as far as control 00:05:24.68\00:05:27.21 and the alcohol had taken over by my mid 20s, early 30s 00:05:27.24\00:05:32.06 and I was succumbing every day. 00:05:32.09\00:05:35.46 And as time went by, my amount of, 00:05:35.49\00:05:39.37 you know, of drinking increased and to the point 00:05:39.40\00:05:43.88 where as--a year and half ago I was on death's door 00:05:43.91\00:05:49.12 and it was a gradient that didn't happen overnight 00:05:49.15\00:05:52.69 and you don't see it. 00:05:52.72\00:05:53.85 You don't see it. 00:05:53.88\00:05:54.91 That was another question I was thinking about 00:05:54.94\00:05:57.25 as you were talking. 00:05:57.28\00:05:59.23 Many times you really don't see what's going on. 00:05:59.26\00:06:02.23 You know, you don't get feel 00:06:02.26\00:06:04.72 that this type of circumstance can happen 00:06:04.75\00:06:08.16 after experiencing long addiction, 00:06:08.19\00:06:10.85 you know, such as what, 40 years of drinking. 00:06:10.88\00:06:13.29 Correct. 00:06:13.32\00:06:14.35 And then another thing 00:06:14.38\00:06:16.37 I'm piggybacking on what Kim was saying. 00:06:16.40\00:06:19.92 You had a family origin that was drinking, 00:06:19.95\00:06:23.18 you know, so this was acceptable lifestyle? 00:06:23.21\00:06:25.92 Yeah, blue collar and that there wasn't a lot to do. 00:06:25.95\00:06:28.92 You know, father worked afternoons 00:06:28.95\00:06:30.87 at Ford for 41 years, 00:06:30.90\00:06:33.87 my mom raised my siblings and myself. 00:06:33.90\00:06:36.88 My brother and sister were much old than I was, 00:06:36.91\00:06:39.18 so they waited 11 years to have perfection. 00:06:39.21\00:06:44.42 The influence is there in from when I was a small child. 00:06:44.45\00:06:47.70 The parties, every holiday, every backyard barbecue 00:06:47.73\00:06:50.41 there's just tons of alcohol involved. 00:06:50.44\00:06:53.38 All the neighbors, it's blue-collar, 00:06:53.41\00:06:55.56 certainly I don't want to blame them 00:06:55.59\00:06:57.23 that so much as it is just at time 00:06:57.26\00:07:00.19 the social moralities allowed that more 00:07:00.22\00:07:02.76 and people didn't understand what we understand now. 00:07:02.79\00:07:05.98 Now you went into a recovery process, 00:07:06.01\00:07:09.27 apparently you went into one addiction facilities or that? 00:07:09.30\00:07:12.44 Yeah, I went into an addiction facility 00:07:12.47\00:07:14.91 in Canton, Michigan, Oakdale and they're quite helpful. 00:07:14.94\00:07:20.09 They have a very difficult job 00:07:20.12\00:07:21.52 because you got 70 or so residents, 00:07:21.55\00:07:23.97 70 or so different personalities 00:07:24.00\00:07:25.72 and 70 or so different cases. 00:07:25.75\00:07:28.32 You can't put a blanket over it. 00:07:28.35\00:07:29.67 Every individual has their own type of addiction in the way 00:07:29.70\00:07:34.49 as far as level as far as want's done to them 00:07:34.52\00:07:37.86 and what's done to people around them. 00:07:37.89\00:07:40.47 And they focused a lot on God, 00:07:40.50\00:07:44.20 in getting a start in the right direction, 00:07:44.23\00:07:46.42 in with that as an anchor point. 00:07:46.45\00:07:49.06 Because they know that when they leave 00:07:49.09\00:07:50.81 but people go there is not gonna be 00:07:50.84\00:07:52.12 a hundred percent success. 00:07:52.15\00:07:53.99 There's a lot of recidivism 00:07:54.02\00:07:56.15 when you let people on the street 00:07:56.18\00:07:57.40 that have not come to the conclusion 00:07:57.43\00:07:59.61 that God is in charge. 00:07:59.64\00:08:02.38 And that you have to answer to yourself, to Him 00:08:02.41\00:08:05.99 and to people around you. 00:08:06.02\00:08:07.80 Had you had several relapses to this 00:08:07.83\00:08:10.10 when you said to yourself, 00:08:10.13\00:08:11.41 I'm gonna do this and then you went back out again? 00:08:11.44\00:08:14.61 Yeah, that was in October 2009, 00:08:14.64\00:08:17.73 I believe it was when I was first into rehab. 00:08:17.76\00:08:20.19 Well, it was that winter actually, 2009 00:08:20.22\00:08:23.73 and when I got out two weeks later 00:08:23.76\00:08:25.77 I said, boy, I beat this thing. 00:08:25.80\00:08:27.18 This is great, I'm fine. 00:08:27.21\00:08:28.78 That last until October, 00:08:28.81\00:08:30.91 I was up hunting by myself in the northern woods 00:08:30.94\00:08:33.79 and I said, well, do have party started, 00:08:33.82\00:08:35.88 just one is not going to hurt. 00:08:35.91\00:08:39.08 The 12 months, 13 months later I'm in Beaumont Hospital 00:08:39.11\00:08:44.02 and they're trying to unhook things. 00:08:44.05\00:08:47.13 So I-- you know I thought I gave it a good shot 00:08:47.16\00:08:50.32 but in the end I wasn't thinking of God at the time. 00:08:50.35\00:08:53.52 So you really believe that the Lord spared your life, 00:08:53.55\00:08:57.69 you know, for a purpose? 00:08:57.72\00:08:58.75 Absolutely, absolutely for purpose. 00:08:58.78\00:09:00.77 When I woke from my alcohol coma 00:09:00.80\00:09:04.82 and I looked around me, 00:09:04.85\00:09:06.45 the first crushing thought that I ahead of time 00:09:06.48\00:09:09.93 as I came was the four words, who can you help today? 00:09:09.96\00:09:15.46 That was intended for me to hear. 00:09:15.49\00:09:17.99 Yes. 00:09:18.02\00:09:19.05 Then I knew that God had given me 00:09:19.08\00:09:21.12 some kind of mission or ministry 00:09:21.15\00:09:22.73 that I would go out 00:09:22.76\00:09:24.24 and try to help people in my circumstance 00:09:24.27\00:09:26.67 before it is too late. 00:09:26.70\00:09:28.79 You know, I escaped by a hair, you know, there's many people 00:09:28.82\00:09:32.90 that are closed to that, so maybe not close, 00:09:32.93\00:09:35.64 it still need to know that the Lord is in charge. 00:09:35.67\00:09:39.70 And that is the key. 00:09:39.73\00:09:41.11 God is in charge, God is in control of our lives. 00:09:41.14\00:09:44.80 And the Bible says in Philippians 3:14 00:09:44.83\00:09:47.64 "I can do all things through Christ 00:09:47.67\00:09:49.26 which strengthens me." 00:09:49.29\00:09:50.32 Not some things, not little things, but all. 00:09:50.35\00:09:53.99 And at times we tend to want to tie God's hands. 00:09:54.02\00:09:56.92 Don't tie God's hand. 00:09:56.95\00:09:58.12 God can free us all from any addiction. 00:09:58.15\00:10:01.76 And now, how are you now, John? 00:10:01.79\00:10:03.83 You know, tells about what are you doing now? 00:10:03.86\00:10:06.08 Well, my church that I chose to join 00:10:06.11\00:10:08.51 is in Durban Heights area 00:10:08.54\00:10:10.72 and the family there has been absolutely sterling 00:10:10.75\00:10:14.95 in taking me in and teaching me 00:10:14.98\00:10:18.11 and whenever there is a little problem 00:10:18.14\00:10:20.85 or glitch in my system they're there. 00:10:20.88\00:10:23.82 And it's just been a glorious opportunity for me 00:10:23.85\00:10:27.56 not just to learn about the Lord 00:10:27.59\00:10:29.67 but to actually communicate through Him 00:10:29.70\00:10:34.02 what is the proper thing to do 00:10:34.05\00:10:35.46 because every morning there is a message. 00:10:35.49\00:10:39.04 And it's still the same one for me, who can you help today? 00:10:39.07\00:10:43.31 Do you have a favorite scripture 00:10:43.34\00:10:44.37 that you stand by or stand on? 00:10:44.40\00:10:46.54 Well, John 23 is always the number one. 00:10:46.57\00:10:50.11 Why? Because it's so profound. 00:10:50.14\00:10:52.41 It explains Jesus very succinctly 00:10:52.44\00:10:56.11 and I believe that the people, even that one scripture 00:10:56.14\00:11:00.39 and there are some in Matthew that I really do enjoy. 00:11:00.42\00:11:03.35 And as far as the Old Testament, 00:11:03.38\00:11:05.56 any story of Abraham is very well worth studying. 00:11:05.59\00:11:10.23 Amen. You like stories, don't you? 00:11:10.26\00:11:12.96 Yeah, I've been known to spin a tale. 00:11:12.99\00:11:16.13 I think your excellent storyteller, 00:11:16.16\00:11:18.30 and as a matter of fact, 00:11:18.33\00:11:20.39 one of things that I recognize when I first met you was that 00:11:20.42\00:11:24.55 you had exceptional skills in telling stories. 00:11:24.58\00:11:28.03 Some of them are even true. 00:11:28.06\00:11:30.11 I can believe that, you know, 00:11:30.14\00:11:31.77 because you're an author as well, is that correct? 00:11:31.80\00:11:34.59 Yes I penned my first book and you are instrumental 00:11:34.62\00:11:37.69 to get me to think in that direction 00:11:37.72\00:11:39.95 and I'm very happy to get that as a start to a lot of people 00:11:39.98\00:11:43.78 to understand what an addict's life is like. 00:11:43.81\00:11:47.08 And, you know, to some of it's humorous, 00:11:47.11\00:11:49.47 some of it's tragic but I just hope it affects 00:11:49.51\00:11:52.89 somebody out there, somewhere. 00:11:52.92\00:11:54.82 You have no problem telling your testimony, 00:11:54.85\00:11:57.94 being transparent, you know. 00:11:57.97\00:11:59.95 Why are you so open, you know, even to come here on 00:11:59.98\00:12:02.44 "Making it Work" to be able to tell your story? 00:12:02.47\00:12:04.95 And I understand, today well, who can I help today, 00:12:04.98\00:12:08.41 you know, because people tend not to want to be transparent. 00:12:08.44\00:12:11.01 They don't want to let people know 00:12:11.04\00:12:13.05 because we know secrets can kill. 00:12:13.08\00:12:14.81 They can destroy lives. Absolutely. 00:12:14.84\00:12:16.66 You know, but you saved your life to be so transparent. 00:12:16.69\00:12:20.25 Well, you can't help anybody if they don't see who you are. 00:12:20.28\00:12:23.86 Excellent. 00:12:23.89\00:12:24.92 You know, they are-- you have to be 00:12:24.95\00:12:26.79 able to put yourself out there as much as possible 00:12:26.82\00:12:30.02 and hide nothing. 00:12:30.05\00:12:31.68 To gain their trust number one, and number two, 00:12:31.71\00:12:34.48 from your own standpoint, from my own standpoint 00:12:34.51\00:12:37.08 if I don't explain who I am then I don't feel 00:12:37.11\00:12:40.33 I have all the tools available to me, 00:12:40.36\00:12:43.07 to be able to help anyone out. 00:12:43.10\00:12:44.99 Let me go back to family, you know, your wife, Beverly. 00:12:45.02\00:12:49.65 While you were going through this process, 00:12:49.68\00:12:52.09 you know, was it hard for her to see you in this condition 00:12:52.12\00:12:56.20 or had she come to the realization 00:12:56.23\00:12:59.23 that you are gonna leave her? 00:12:59.26\00:13:03.32 She had known for quite some time 00:13:03.35\00:13:05.19 and did her best to stop it. 00:13:05.22\00:13:08.38 When everything came to ahead, 00:13:08.41\00:13:12.72 she stuck by me and till this day 00:13:12.75\00:13:17.65 she's still my chauffeur until doctors say otherwise 00:13:17.68\00:13:21.03 and she's my physician at home 00:13:21.06\00:13:23.88 with keeping my prescriptions all normal 00:13:23.91\00:13:26.47 if I missing by half hour, I'm hearing about it. 00:13:26.50\00:13:29.45 Yes. 00:13:29.48\00:13:30.51 And her work with me has kept me on the path 00:13:30.54\00:13:34.28 that I am on now, which is forward. 00:13:34.31\00:13:38.24 And you know its typical marriage, 00:13:38.27\00:13:39.84 we always have a little ups and downs. 00:13:39.87\00:13:41.37 Who doesn't? 00:13:41.40\00:13:46.18 I want to tumble that with you. 00:13:46.21\00:13:48.32 Now you can't live with that too. 00:13:48.35\00:13:50.31 But, you know, it's instrumental. 00:13:50.34\00:13:51.90 You have the people around you 00:13:51.93\00:13:53.52 that are gonna be resources to you 00:13:53.55\00:13:56.39 and that having a faith in you and love you so much 00:13:56.42\00:14:00.29 that they will be able to sacrifice on their own. 00:14:00.32\00:14:02.48 That's amazing. 00:14:02.51\00:14:03.55 To be able to help you along and as it goes, 00:14:03.58\00:14:06.53 it goes very notice 00:14:06.56\00:14:08.00 she might not think it sometime. 00:14:08.03\00:14:10.13 Some things I do are still not quite right 00:14:10.16\00:14:13.02 but at the same time-- 00:14:13.05\00:14:14.35 But that's marriage too 00:14:14.38\00:14:15.41 I mean, you're working on relationships. 00:14:15.44\00:14:17.54 But at the same time I don't know 00:14:17.57\00:14:18.62 if anybody on this earth that I ever met 00:14:18.65\00:14:20.67 that will take on the job that she took on-- 00:14:20.70\00:14:22.95 That's amazing. That's amazing. 00:14:22.98\00:14:25.36 A loving wife. 00:14:25.39\00:14:26.71 Children, you have children and grandchildren? 00:14:26.74\00:14:28.46 Two adults and six grandchildren, 00:14:28.49\00:14:31.15 three greats, not bad for 106. 00:14:31.18\00:14:35.50 But they're all good solid family and, you know, 00:14:35.53\00:14:39.78 the holidays are always well noted. 00:14:39.81\00:14:42.42 So my checkbook notes it quite a bit. 00:14:42.45\00:14:45.47 And let me, let me-- just give some, Kim. 00:14:45.50\00:14:47.18 Let me ask this question okay, we talked about family, 00:14:47.21\00:14:50.40 what about friends? 00:14:50.43\00:14:51.47 Now, well, you know at 40 years you develop some friends 00:14:51.50\00:14:54.36 that are strictly drinking partners, you know. 00:14:54.39\00:14:56.80 So how was that, you know, the transition for you? 00:14:56.83\00:15:00.58 Well, that is one on the main cause of being an addict is 00:15:00.61\00:15:04.68 because you're accepted into a part of society 00:15:04.71\00:15:08.02 that has the same problem you have 00:15:08.05\00:15:09.72 and it's like, hey, look at us, aren't we great? 00:15:09.75\00:15:13.32 You know, I'm not against, 00:15:13.35\00:15:14.38 you know, going to a football game 00:15:14.41\00:15:16.03 and, you know, hoisting a couple 00:15:16.06\00:15:17.74 or something like that, that's fine. 00:15:17.77\00:15:20.03 It's just a matter of when it get's 00:15:20.06\00:15:21.58 to be an excess so I can out-drink you 00:15:21.61\00:15:23.95 and that's the kind of friends that I was with. 00:15:23.98\00:15:26.69 Now my friends are different. 00:15:26.72\00:15:27.80 Amazingly, lot of the people I mentioned in my book 00:15:27.83\00:15:29.85 are coming back into my life from 25, 30 years ago 00:15:29.88\00:15:33.99 and saying we wonder what happened to you. 00:15:34.02\00:15:35.76 As I was saying, the friends that I've made 00:15:35.79\00:15:38.97 and the ones that are coming back 00:15:39.00\00:15:40.26 are different than the ones I had before. 00:15:40.29\00:15:42.63 My new friends are very God driven, 00:15:42.66\00:15:47.45 family centered people. 00:15:47.48\00:15:50.68 The ones before were basically, what's in it for me 00:15:50.71\00:15:55.67 and I found that a lot in the chosen career I took. 00:15:55.70\00:15:59.98 You know the hospitality business 00:16:00.01\00:16:01.49 is very noble business 00:16:01.52\00:16:03.36 and I worked in some very fine places 00:16:03.39\00:16:06.71 and it's a learning experience about human beings in general 00:16:06.74\00:16:09.96 but the temptations of the alcohol on site 00:16:09.99\00:16:13.17 and I don't know how many wine tasting 00:16:13.20\00:16:15.12 and things like that are to 00:16:15.15\00:16:17.01 and after a while you think I'm a pro, 00:16:17.04\00:16:18.49 I can do this. 00:16:18.52\00:16:19.77 But in reality you're a rookie for your whole life at this. 00:16:19.80\00:16:24.32 You know, there's no learning in alcoholism. 00:16:24.35\00:16:27.29 It comes afterward when God says time for the lesson. 00:16:27.32\00:16:31.21 Have you learned it because I don't have talk 00:16:31.24\00:16:33.49 to you much anymore if you've learned it, 00:16:33.52\00:16:35.74 but I'll be here for you. 00:16:35.77\00:16:37.64 You know, our topic today is the "Last Call" 00:16:37.67\00:16:40.75 and in society or in the world in nightclubs and bars 00:16:40.78\00:16:46.35 and places where alcohol is served 1:30, 2 o'clock a.m. 00:16:46.38\00:16:50.71 the last call, the last round for drinks 00:16:50.74\00:16:53.68 but it is more significant to John 00:16:53.71\00:16:55.93 because the last call was his life 00:16:55.96\00:16:59.25 and the imprints of that and the forth-- 00:16:59.28\00:17:01.56 I mean, you woke up and you said you had the tubes 00:17:01.59\00:17:04.20 and you were connected to 00:17:04.23\00:17:05.88 all these wires in the hospital, 00:17:05.91\00:17:08.45 what-- that mindset did you think 00:17:08.48\00:17:10.55 I'm gonna die, this is it for me? 00:17:10.58\00:17:13.33 By that point when I was fully conscious, 00:17:13.36\00:17:16.13 I knew that God was there to help me. 00:17:16.16\00:17:19.00 And He wouldn't go me 00:17:19.03\00:17:20.07 that point to be hooked up ahead, 00:17:20.10\00:17:22.55 you know, fire hose, 00:17:22.58\00:17:23.94 putting blood into me and things like that. 00:17:23.97\00:17:26.32 He wouldn't allow me to that point 00:17:26.35\00:17:27.76 if there wasn't a purpose. 00:17:27.79\00:17:29.53 Right then I started seeing a little bit of a purpose. 00:17:29.56\00:17:31.98 It wasn't I had been listening very hard to come by 00:17:32.01\00:17:34.73 what it actually was but then as time went by 00:17:34.76\00:17:37.62 and I started gradually little better, 00:17:37.65\00:17:39.33 little better, little better than I saw it fully, 00:17:39.36\00:17:41.94 that God wants me on this earth to provide something. 00:17:41.97\00:17:45.36 Has been no relapse? You've been clean since when? 00:17:45.39\00:17:49.24 It'll be, let's see, 19 months me and 15 days. 00:17:49.27\00:17:55.15 That is wonderful. Congratulations. 00:17:55.18\00:17:56.54 Every day is a different day. Every day is a different day. 00:17:56.57\00:17:58.85 New one day at a time. One day at a time. 00:17:58.88\00:18:00.56 That's true. That is quite true. 00:18:00.59\00:18:02.13 A lot of people say, oh, I've got this licked. 00:18:02.16\00:18:04.69 No you don't. That's really powerful. 00:18:04.72\00:18:07.46 Now tell me about your motivation for life now. 00:18:07.49\00:18:12.69 You know, what does this whole ordeal mean to you 00:18:12.72\00:18:16.76 and what are some of the desires that you have? 00:18:16.79\00:18:19.07 Well, my motivation in life right now is number one, 00:18:19.10\00:18:21.99 God has given this opportunity to help people if I can, 00:18:22.02\00:18:25.97 whatever regard it takes to help 00:18:26.00\00:18:28.15 someone along even simplest thing. 00:18:28.18\00:18:31.51 Few weeks back, my wife and I were leaving church 00:18:31.54\00:18:33.47 and this very elderly lady standing outside 00:18:33.50\00:18:36.37 and she did not have a ride. 00:18:36.40\00:18:37.64 She walked all the way there, almost two miles 00:18:37.67\00:18:40.27 and we said, you know, and God put me in that position 00:18:40.30\00:18:43.66 at that time to open a door and see this lady there. 00:18:43.69\00:18:46.69 It's tiny, tiny things like that 00:18:46.72\00:18:48.95 that showed His presence or the larger things. 00:18:48.98\00:18:51.49 Well, actually can save a life by some be 00:18:51.52\00:18:54.29 you know, to paraphrase the baseball pitcher 00:18:54.32\00:18:57.58 and author Jim Bowden. 00:18:57.61\00:18:59.48 "You spend your whole life gripping a beer bottle 00:18:59.51\00:19:02.27 and in the end you turned to find out 00:19:02.30\00:19:03.94 it's the other way all around," 00:19:03.97\00:19:05.58 you know, the all time you know is the other way. 00:19:05.61\00:19:09.29 The beer bottles gripping-- 00:19:09.32\00:19:11.48 When you get to that point then you have a realization 00:19:11.51\00:19:16.43 and then when God gives you the message and says 00:19:16.46\00:19:19.05 it's time to do something then you do it. 00:19:19.08\00:19:21.96 And I've been fulfilled in that regard 00:19:21.99\00:19:23.66 because number one, my health has returned 00:19:23.69\00:19:25.46 a not a hundred percent 00:19:25.49\00:19:27.30 and she still got to be the pill person everyday 00:19:27.33\00:19:29.68 and make sure I'm on that regiment 00:19:29.71\00:19:31.80 but I've been able to get back into my beloved outdoors, 00:19:31.83\00:19:36.03 helping on a refuge down south Detroit to restore 00:19:36.06\00:19:39.11 the Wildlife Refuge down there, at Humbug Marsh. 00:19:39.14\00:19:42.53 I've been able to do my own gardening timely 00:19:42.56\00:19:44.69 and little things you know here and there, 00:19:44.72\00:19:47.52 I look forward to actually tromping through the woods 00:19:47.55\00:19:49.65 someday again on my own unencumbered. 00:19:49.68\00:19:53.66 But those are the things the blessings 00:19:53.69\00:19:55.39 that God is bringing back to me. 00:19:55.42\00:19:57.56 And my mind is cleared up 00:19:57.59\00:19:58.64 so I can actually read a book now. 00:19:58.67\00:20:00.33 I couldn't read a book before. Couldn't read a book. 00:20:00.36\00:20:02.56 Hey, and you're also concerned 00:20:02.59\00:20:03.97 to go back to college is that correct? 00:20:04.00\00:20:05.94 Yes, I've enrolled at Madonna University in Livonia 00:20:05.97\00:20:09.16 and I start my series, basically in addiction studies 00:20:09.19\00:20:15.38 and I hope to be certified in addiction studies 00:20:15.41\00:20:17.84 by the end of the second semester 00:20:17.87\00:20:20.34 and then my adviser looked at me 00:20:20.37\00:20:22.34 and said, John, I got your transcripts 00:20:22.37\00:20:23.97 from your old school 00:20:24.00\00:20:25.15 why don't you finish your bachelor in psych? 00:20:25.18\00:20:28.41 I said, well, as long as I can be like Arthur Nolin. 00:20:28.44\00:20:33.36 That's a lot of hard work there, John. 00:20:33.39\00:20:35.84 No, but I'm working forward to that 00:20:35.87\00:20:37.41 and that is a goal that God has given me. 00:20:37.44\00:20:39.77 Yes. Because He knows I can do it. 00:20:39.80\00:20:43.33 He's given me the strength and every day when I wake up 00:20:43.36\00:20:46.68 He is there help me to crack that computer code 00:20:46.71\00:20:49.73 to get on those sites and get ready to go. 00:20:49.76\00:20:52.97 And that's just now up to my brain to figure out 00:20:53.00\00:20:55.26 if I still have study habits and keep things retaining. 00:20:55.29\00:20:59.95 Well, I was gonna come back to you know, 00:20:59.98\00:21:01.26 what I think about what did you said, 00:21:01.29\00:21:03.03 I think about Hebrews 11:1 00:21:03.06\00:21:05.44 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 00:21:05.47\00:21:08.05 the evidence of things not seen." 00:21:08.08\00:21:10.09 You have a faith of a mustard seed, 00:21:10.12\00:21:12.24 God will give you desires of your heart. 00:21:12.27\00:21:13.66 Absolutely. 00:21:13.69\00:21:14.75 And He hears you John, He hears our prayers any 00:21:14.78\00:21:18.71 He wants us to flourish, He wants us to prosper. 00:21:18.74\00:21:21.78 He wants us to be all that we can be in good health 00:21:21.81\00:21:25.82 so that we can serve Him. 00:21:25.85\00:21:27.19 It's about service for God. 00:21:27.22\00:21:29.59 That's why we wake up every day 00:21:29.62\00:21:31.38 what can we do to serve others and God receives all the glory? 00:21:31.41\00:21:34.98 I like that what you said. 00:21:35.01\00:21:36.44 Another thing is one of the things 00:21:36.47\00:21:38.41 that I think about is that especially with the ordeal 00:21:38.44\00:21:42.04 that you are going through. 00:21:42.07\00:21:44.17 That you've hit a rock bottom, 00:21:44.20\00:21:47.02 that you're on your way out of here 00:21:47.05\00:21:49.88 that the Lord gave you an opportunity to make amends 00:21:49.91\00:21:54.31 because what's important is He wanted to use you. 00:21:54.34\00:21:57.54 He probably wants to use you a long time ago 00:21:57.57\00:22:00.54 but you were not ready. 00:22:00.57\00:22:02.91 You we're not at the point in which you could be used 00:22:02.94\00:22:06.40 and now the things that you're doing now is like phenomenal. 00:22:06.43\00:22:10.87 You look different than the first time 00:22:10.90\00:22:12.79 that I've saw you and you came in to see me. 00:22:12.82\00:22:15.66 Oh, yeah. I hope I do. 00:22:15.69\00:22:17.98 As you definitely look different, 00:22:18.01\00:22:19.72 I man, you look motivated and I know that 00:22:19.75\00:22:23.54 the relationship between you and your wife has, has improved 00:22:23.57\00:22:27.16 because you done a lot of positive things 00:22:27.19\00:22:29.02 to make it work. 00:22:29.05\00:22:30.60 And that was one of the things 00:22:30.63\00:22:31.67 that was a really concern for you. 00:22:31.70\00:22:33.25 so, you know, I encouraging you. 00:22:33.28\00:22:34.92 Well, it's almost like God has stopped watching 00:22:34.95\00:22:38.80 and He let me go on for 40 years of drinking 00:22:38.83\00:22:41.23 and finally went your race is over, 00:22:41.26\00:22:44.57 time to get to work. 00:22:44.60\00:22:46.92 Just as simple as that. 00:22:46.95\00:22:48.66 So ever since then every day I get up is a blessed day. 00:22:48.69\00:22:51.88 Yes 00:22:51.91\00:22:52.94 Everyday I look forward to doing something 00:22:52.97\00:22:54.94 whether just in my garden with the flowers 00:22:54.97\00:22:57.38 and thanks to my genius wife for the planting skills 00:22:57.41\00:23:00.98 and we're surrounded by that 00:23:01.01\00:23:02.56 and got a restful place to be to read, to study 00:23:02.59\00:23:05.91 and I've got two good wonderful parishes I attend, 00:23:05.94\00:23:10.06 St. Linus, Nearborn Heights and St. Anne's, 00:23:10.09\00:23:12.42 right down the road from me. 00:23:12.45\00:23:13.81 And again the families here are very, very loving and caring. 00:23:13.84\00:23:18.46 And that is all-- that's get's you off of your starting line 00:23:18.49\00:23:22.99 and helping to the finish. 00:23:23.02\00:23:24.15 I like that, say that again. 00:23:24.18\00:23:25.75 It could get's you from the starting line 00:23:25.78\00:23:27.06 to the finish basically. 00:23:27.09\00:23:28.41 That's beautiful. 00:23:28.44\00:23:30.19 You know Arthur, in today's society, 00:23:30.22\00:23:32.87 not just are teens 00:23:32.90\00:23:35.24 but a lot of adults are struggling 00:23:35.27\00:23:37.73 with substance abuse from adolescent years 00:23:37.76\00:23:40.58 into the adult life. 00:23:40.61\00:23:42.18 Yes, and teens just may get introduced to it. 00:23:42.21\00:23:47.81 Some-- one of the things that I'm concerned about 00:23:47.84\00:23:49.89 when you talked about teens, 00:23:49.92\00:23:51.09 you know, recently we did an article on K2. 00:23:51.12\00:23:54.91 K2 is the synthetic marijuana and the things 00:23:54.94\00:23:58.89 that its really doing in our community 00:23:58.92\00:24:02.15 and how a lot of our young people 00:24:02.18\00:24:04.53 are using this synthetic marijuana 00:24:04.56\00:24:07.08 is causing a lot of psychotic effects on their whole lives. 00:24:07.11\00:24:11.26 Wow. 00:24:11.29\00:24:12.32 You know, so substance abuse to me 00:24:12.35\00:24:14.85 is just really devastating. 00:24:14.88\00:24:17.94 But unfortunately what happens is you may start out 00:24:17.97\00:24:21.67 where you think you have control over it 00:24:21.70\00:24:23.90 or you can stop anytime you feel like you want to stop 00:24:23.93\00:24:27.52 and it just creeps into your lives 00:24:27.55\00:24:29.41 and before you know it becomes such a habit 00:24:29.44\00:24:31.54 that it becomes a life-threatening. 00:24:31.57\00:24:35.14 And you don't recognize yourself. 00:24:35.17\00:24:37.19 No, you know have time to do anything 00:24:37.22\00:24:39.45 about your parents or who you are 00:24:39.48\00:24:42.00 because the most important thing for you 00:24:42.03\00:24:44.29 that day is how do you intend to celebrate 00:24:44.32\00:24:48.01 that day with what drug or what, what alcohol. 00:24:48.04\00:24:52.48 That's the important thing. 00:24:52.51\00:24:53.58 For me it was is in 8 o'clock yet, is the store open yet. 00:24:53.61\00:24:56.46 Yes. 00:24:56.49\00:24:57.52 Eight AM in the morning? Yeah. 00:24:57.55\00:24:59.43 Starting at 8 AM in the morning. 00:24:59.46\00:25:00.49 That's the, that's the starting to for me. 00:25:00.52\00:25:02.31 My way of life. Yeah. 00:25:02.34\00:25:03.80 You know, we human is great, I'm sorry. 00:25:03.83\00:25:06.81 Of course, finding well, few things 00:25:06.84\00:25:08.01 here in our own house. 00:25:08.04\00:25:09.46 You weren't that type of person 00:25:09.49\00:25:10.79 to hang with bottle in the house. 00:25:10.82\00:25:13.81 Cases. 00:25:13.84\00:25:14.87 Cases? Seriously? 00:25:14.90\00:25:16.51 No, a lot. A lot than that cases. 00:25:16.54\00:25:18.59 By the way, it could have gone to that point you know. 00:25:18.62\00:25:21.71 Yeah. 00:25:21.74\00:25:22.77 That's one of the draws is being able to think 00:25:22.80\00:25:25.05 that you're getting away with something. 00:25:25.08\00:25:27.95 I'm sneaky, I'm good at this. 00:25:27.98\00:25:29.96 There was young lady I was in rehab 00:25:29.99\00:25:31.46 with they found her on the floor of her bathroom. 00:25:31.49\00:25:34.80 She is supposed to be wrapping Christmas presents 00:25:34.83\00:25:37.77 and she had a broken bottle tequila in one hand 00:25:37.80\00:25:40.23 and phone the other one laying past out in her bathroom 00:25:40.26\00:25:43.00 after probably went to bed 00:25:43.03\00:25:44.96 and when they checked her clothing 00:25:44.99\00:25:46.81 shared hundreds of dollars in her coats, 00:25:46.84\00:25:49.09 in her shirts, in her pants 00:25:49.12\00:25:50.73 just like she had money when she went to get tequila. 00:25:50.76\00:25:53.91 My, my, my. 00:25:53.94\00:25:54.98 That's why you think, you know, hey I'm-- 00:25:55.01\00:25:56.79 That's, that's true. 00:25:56.82\00:25:57.85 You know you get to a point 00:25:57.88\00:25:59.12 where you want to beat the system 00:25:59.15\00:26:00.71 or you know you want to show them 00:26:00.74\00:26:02.37 nobody could stop me. 00:26:02.40\00:26:03.76 Well, that's the order directing of selves, 00:26:03.79\00:26:06.31 you know, I'm better than you, I'm smarter than you, 00:26:06.34\00:26:10.44 you know, you can't stop me. 00:26:10.47\00:26:12.37 That's an addicts creed. Wow. 00:26:12.40\00:26:15.35 Well, listen we have about two minutes, 00:26:15.38\00:26:17.68 John as you look at that camera and I just want you to tell 00:26:17.71\00:26:20.38 somebody to hold on and they can-- 00:26:20.41\00:26:23.04 God can save their lives and your closing thoughts. 00:26:23.07\00:26:26.58 All I have to say is that God is here. 00:26:26.61\00:26:28.98 He is here for you, he is here for all of us 00:26:29.01\00:26:31.64 and He is 24/7 He never closes. 00:26:31.67\00:26:35.39 And when you are in deepest depths 00:26:35.42\00:26:37.23 and your darkness hour 00:26:37.26\00:26:39.52 lot of these please, look to Him. 00:26:39.55\00:26:43.37 Be faithful to God He will be more than faithful to you 00:26:43.40\00:26:47.18 and continue your life in a very positive 00:26:47.21\00:26:49.62 and loving manner so the you too can help people. 00:26:49.65\00:26:53.35 That's powerful. 00:26:53.38\00:26:54.41 Well, John, we really appreciate you 00:26:54.44\00:26:55.86 coming on "Making it Work." 00:26:55.89\00:26:57.17 Keep making it work. Yes. 00:26:57.20\00:26:59.68 Well, Arthur, another-- you want to say one last thing? 00:26:59.71\00:27:02.85 You have a wonderful program 00:27:02.88\00:27:04.40 and good luck with it continue this. 00:27:04.43\00:27:06.71 Thank you so much. 00:27:06.74\00:27:08.39 Basically I think we are at a point 00:27:08.42\00:27:10.37 now where we have to recognize that. 00:27:10.40\00:27:12.51 We have to make changes in our lives 00:27:12.54\00:27:14.52 that's gonna be beneficial. 00:27:14.55\00:27:16.09 Sometimes those changes are difficult, decisions 00:27:16.12\00:27:19.69 that we require to have a better life is there. 00:27:19.72\00:27:22.95 You just have to step out and have faith. 00:27:22.98\00:27:25.92 My wife Kim believe we go back and forth 00:27:25.95\00:27:28.94 because she always believed, she always has faith. 00:27:28.97\00:27:32.43 And sometimes when I get a little wary 00:27:32.46\00:27:34.52 she had just come out and said you need to have faith. 00:27:34.55\00:27:37.16 Faith is the substance of things hope for 00:27:37.19\00:27:39.84 and evidence of things not seen. 00:27:39.87\00:27:42.08 John had faith and he still has it. 00:27:42.11\00:27:44.79 So if are wary or have some difficult point in your life 00:27:44.82\00:27:48.48 where you had some trials and tribulations 00:27:48.51\00:27:51.44 don't give up, have faith. 00:27:51.47\00:27:54.69 Well, Arthur, this it was a wonderful opportunity 00:27:54.72\00:27:57.44 to hear more information about substance abuse. 00:27:57.47\00:28:00.10 Listen we want to thank you 00:28:00.13\00:28:01.65 for joining us on "Making it Work." 00:28:01.68\00:28:03.11 I'm Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin. I'm Arthur Nowlin. 00:28:03.14\00:28:05.98 And you need to continue to making it work. 00:28:06.01\00:28:08.78 God bless. 00:28:08.81\00:28:09.98