The actor Charlie Sheen, known for his sleazy womanizing character on Two and a Half Men, is broke and H.I.V. positive. On the Today Show, he told Matt Lauer that the diagnosis led to "a temporary yet abysmal descent into profound substance abuse and fathomless drinking" that he called "a suicide run." A few of his former female lovers are also blackmailing him. As blogger Brent L. White notes, "It was during this 'suicide run' that the producers of the hit show Two and a Half Men finally fired their leading man for his erratic behavior." At one point in the interview, Mr. Sheen told Matt Lauer, "I think that I release myself from this prison today."

Possible Preaching Angle:

On the one hand, there's some good theology here: facing the truth and confessing our sins does start to set us free. On the other hand, can anyone set himself free from his own prisons? Prison release has to come from the outside, which is why we need a deliverer, a redeemer. May Charlie Sheen and all of us find the merciful Redeemer this Christmas season.

Source:

Rev. Brent L. White Blog, “Church Council Homily 11-17-15: “Dead to Sin,” RevBrentLWhite.com (11-18-15)