Your Own Worst Enemy (Dirty Diamonds, 2005)

Dirty Diamonds is Alice Cooper’s 24th studio album and was released in 2005. The album is a “back to the basics” Rock album – it has no theme per se, but every song has its own story.

A good portion of the album also has a comedic feel and vibe about it.  It’s one of the more light-hearted in Cooper’s repertoire of albums, and every track is worth the listen.

“In all honesty, I could put every one of the songs (from Dirty Diamonds) in a hat, pick one out and say, that’s the single…(The album) is definitely eccentric and eclectic; as far as you can, almost take each song and pick an old Alice album and put it on that album. I think that’s great.” – Alice Cooper

“Your Own Worst Enemy” is a track that most likely speaks to us all on some level or another. To think about all the times when we hinder ourselves more than others do is a daunting but needed task.

Stop and ask yourself a couple of questions. First, what are some of the greatest mistakes we make in this life? Second, what is it that hinders us most? Probably one of the most recognized answers to both questions is doing things alone – refusing to ask for guidance and help.

That is also true as a Follower of Christ. One of the biggest mistakes, if not the greatest, we can make is trying to live our lives alone – believing we have all the answers and can carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.

God wants us to be in daily communion with Him – to walk step by step together with Him or most likely having Him carry us when needed. Life is a daily struggle – a day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute sort of ordeal. He wants nothing more than to be a part of that struggle – rejoicing with us during the highs and lifting us during the lows.

We must use our time together with Him to ask questions and search our hearts for His Will in our lives. True reflection is often hard to digest but almost always provides a way for adjustment and growth.

NOTE: I’ve found that even when the Lord has shown me His plans in a specific area or provided me with a particular calling, I’ve tried to make those things happen on their own without continuing to further ask for guidance and direction.

It’s easy to see the Lord open a door and automatically assume we’re supposed to go charging through. But we must stop for a moment, breathe and continue to search for Him and His Will.

Just because the Lord opens a door or plants a vision doesn’t always mean we’re going to be provided the means for those things to happen. Often, He wants to prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for whatever the next step may be.

Of course, this isn’t always the case. The only way to honestly know is by holding firm to the Word and by regularly communicating with Him in prayer. How many times have we kept ourselves from allowing God to move and take us more in-depth on our journey with Him? Simply because we act alone (without Him or His Blessing).

While there are many examples of men and women in the Bible self-destructing for various reasons, the one that almost automatically comes to mind is the story of Moses.

You get up every morning on the wrong side of the bed
You butter your hand instead of the bread
Drink enough coffee to wake the dead.

You’re doing 85, and the light is turning red
The judge took your license and forbid you to drive
And your heart is pumping bacon, and you’re barely alive

You’re your own worst enemy
You’re a walking catastrophe
You’re at war with yourself and nobody else
You’re a danger. You’re a danger

Of course, Alice’s song is meant to be satirical. The lyrics of the song don’t apply to the life of Moses. But there were a few times when Moses most definitely did mess things up for himself by using his own devices and methods instead of choosing to adhere to God’s command and authority.

Before diving into his story, stop and think about your own life. Are there areas where you aren’t listening? Other areas where you are listening, but instead chose your own path?

Let’s see where Moses went wrong in his journey with God. Below is a condensed version (which is honestly still pretty long). At some point, take the time to study each group of verses independently (along with the rest of Moses’s life).

NOTE: Before we even begin, it should be noted that God loved Moses and held him in high esteem. His love is unconditional and is not based on obedience, works, etc.

Even in Moses’s shortcomings, he still played a vital role in Judeo-Christian history and ultimately gave glory to God in the process.  But indeed, he was his ‘own worst enemy.’

It seems the best way to tell Moses’s story is through a timeline of sorts.  It will help paint the scenario and make sense at the end.

Exodus 2:1-10: The Pharaoh (at the time of Moses’s birth) decrees that all Hebrew baby boys should be killed in fear that one of the Israelites would one day rise against him. Moses is placed in a basket by his mother and sent up the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter intercepts the basket and raises Moses as her son.

Exodus 2:11-25, and chapter 3: Moses realizes his heritage and roots. After killing an Egyptian (who murdered an Israelite slave), Moses escapes as a fugitive and spends nearly 40 years in Midian as a shepherd. After creating a life for himself there, the Lord presents Himself as a Burning Bush and instructs Moses to return to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery.

Exodus 4-13: Moses pleads with the current Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. Pharaoh denies Moses multiple times resulting in numerous plagues upon Egypt with the last epidemic killing the firstborn sons and animals of Egypt – only the Israelites that marked their doors with sacrificed lamb’s blood were spared. Finally, after this plague, Pharaoh agrees to release the Israelites.

Exodus 14:  Moses and the Israelites exit Egypt but not without Pharaoh deciding to apprehend them as they depart. The Israelites become trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s Army. Moses lifts his staff and the sea parts allowing the Israelites to pass through. After crossing through, Moses raises his staff, and the waters close in on the Pharaoh’s advancing army.

Exodus 15-19:  Through a series of miracles and obedience to God, Moses and the Israelites are provided with manna, quail, and water for survival. Moses gives praise and glory to God for that which He gives them.

Exodus 20:  God summons Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai and delivers the Ten Commandments. God promises the Israelites that if they keep His commandments, He will go with them to the Promised Land.

God keeps His promise but not without the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, disobeying God, and questioning Him at every turn. How much easier could it have been for them had they not rebelled and been so disgruntled? Was God their enemy, or were they “their own worst enemy?“

They were given everything they needed to survive – just not to their liking. Going further, the Israelites and Moses all have their complaints about their situation.

Some things the Lord provides – such as food, leaders, and land, but the Israelites decide they don’t have the manpower to take on Canaan – even after seeing the Lord provide and protect them previously.

For not trusting Him, they are forced to wander 40 years in the wilderness.  However, even during those years, they wanted nothing. God STILL blessed them.

To this point, Moses had given God praise and glory for what the Israelites had and for their deliverance. At times, he questioned and even seemed perplexed by what it was that God was doing. But he always gave God praise.

“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. 10 Then, he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. – Numbers 20:8-11

After almost 38+ years wandering in the wildness, we find Moses and Aaron pushed by the community to summon water from the rocks. Angered by those around him, Moses strikes the rock twice, claiming, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” God provides the water, but Moses has taken the credit.

For this one action and hasty decision, God refuses Moses from entering the Promised Land (but keeps his promise by allowing Moses to see it). Can you imagine?

Moses had done his best to be obedient and search for God’s heart and will in everything, but then decided in a moment of rage to disobey and lose it all.

It seems harsh and severe, but the point is Moses’s actions kept him from entering the Promised Land.  Moses betrayed himself – he was his “own worst enemy.” He allowed others to sway Him from doing what He had been told to do by God then took credit when God provided.

A few things to consider before going any further:

• It’s easy to gain possessions on this earth and not want for anything like Pharaoh – looking out for no one except oneself.
• It’s also easy to follow the Pharaohs of this world wanting a piece of their pie or promised protection – choosing to follow them for possessions and wealth.
• The Israelites saw and witnessed miracles, but even that wasn’t enough for them – they needed more proof.
• Moses was willing to listen and obey regularly – he was blessed by God but still caved under pressure.

How does this story apply to our lives? Our walk? Our journey with God? An even bigger question, based on the above scriptures, who are we?

Are you the Pharaoh? A member of his army or a follower? Are you an Israelite? Are you Moses? What have we witnessed in this lifetime? Have we sought out the Lord? Giving Him the praise and glory He deserves for what we’ve been given and have?

Moses slipped up when he didn’t give God the glory (which may have happened more than a few times – we don’t know for sure), but his example is a tough act to follow. What remains evident is that at some point, due to the nature of sin, every person (excluding Christ) has been or will be their ‘own worst enemy.’

However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t blessed and loved by our Creator. When we make poor choices or give in to the pressures of this world, we only have ourselves to blame, but we are still redeemed, saved by His Grace, and shown Mercy by Him and His Spirit dwelling within.

Wrapping up this week’s post, we’ve become a society that loves to play the blame game. But tough love –God’s honest truth of it all – is that we are responsible for our own actions and consequences. We are sovereign beings.

At times, life isn’t fair – it’s true.  But our reactions, lack of communication with the Lord, and unwillingness to adhere to His Word are to blame. The list goes on – David, Solomon, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, you, me, everyone has the potential to be their ‘own worst enemy.’

Luckily, we’ve been given a ticket to ride to glory despite that fact.  The very person we are fighting with – ourselves – is the same person our Lord wants to call His own. Will we (and our pride) go down as a creation that eternally offended its Creator, or will we accept His hand and never walk alone?

In conclusion, it’s most likely evident that Alice from the ’90s to today is “Fridays With Alice’s” favored era for The Coop and his music. During that time, Dirty Diamonds and The Eyes of Alice Cooper, a double album of sorts, are two of our favorites.

Could it be the stripped-down production value, focusing closely on the songs’ music, lyrics, and tone? Or maybe Alice’s return to his roots? Better still, perhaps it’s the little nuggets of his faith laced within many of the tracks? Who knows, but these albums (and that time period) tend to get more play than most for us.

As we continue to walk together on this journey, may we learn to lean on one another and know that it’s okay to need each other – having a team-based mindset. Let us also know and realize that diversity is a blessing. We don’t have to see eye-to-eye to love. The greatest enemy that hinders us all is not ourselves or each other. It is HATE.

That’s it for this week. Be well and catch you next week.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ With Alice!