Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008

TWG - July 9, 2008

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TWG - July 9, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 39; Psalm 51; Acts 9:20-43

Today is July 9, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Yesterday was hot… today is supposed to be a scorcher! Susan and I spent the day tearing down the neighbor’s fence and putting up a new one. We had to tear out a few bushes and clear some brush. Fortunately the ground was nice and soft. We got our 5 poles in and the concrete poured. We also put the top bar on. Today we will put up the chain link fencing and we will be finished! Yay. But there is more yard work to be done! Last night we went to see the Indy film. It was fun as usual. And then I worked on my Johnny and the Bubble Gum book. I put a picture of the family saying goodbye to Zac after his visit with us on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out.

This week’s theme verse is James 1:19-20 “1 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Smoldering, tense, coiled like a cobra ready to strike, pent up like a volcano about to explode, hot as lava, deadly as poison… anger! Anyone here have an anger problem? Not me! Are you sure? If you don’t cut that out I’m going to rip your heart out and feed you to the piranhas! Whoa! YOU do have an anger problem! It is amazing how many folks struggle with anger! It’s in there! James tells us that we should be slow to anger. What does that mean? Does it mean slow as in traffic laws, “slow, construction ahead!” So I ease off on the anger gas pedal… I’m not quite as angry as I could be? My anger is only doing 45 instead of 75? I don’t think so… Does it mean slow as in count to 10? “Wait… I’m holding myself back! …8, 9, 10! NOW I can explode!” Not quite. None of the above. It means slow as in tardy or absent. “Sorry Teacher, but Nick Fury will not be coming to class today! He’s absent. He didn’t show up.” Slow to anger means that we keep our anger in the off position for a long period of time. We are slow to turn the key or flip the switch. It is “OFF.” So rather than being coiled like a cobra ready to strike, we are calm as a lake on a clear summer day. There is no storm brewing… yet. Slow to anger means that when the other guy ruffles our feathers we smooth them back, calm our spirit and say, “say what? Slow to anger means we choose a different response first. Like the kid at the candy machine we have choices. I can choose the Volcano bar but there are so many other options… like I can get the Whatchamacallit peanut flavored “what did you mean by that?” comeback, The Hershey kiss sweet reply, an almond joy happy response, or a Nutrageous laugh. We have choices. Start with the Whatchamacallit. If something doesn’t sit right with you, bounce it back to the other person in the form of a question. “What did you mean by that?” If it still isn’t good, there are other candy bars to enjoy. You can simply choose to be as sweet as a Hershey’s kiss. A sweet reply often diffuses the situation and brings reconciliation. If that doesn’t work, you still have another choice… be almond joyful. Would you rather be mad or glad? It’s your choice. Try a Nutrageous laugh and let it go. Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” That’s the whole idea. If you are slow to anger it means that you have the amazing ability to “rule your own spirit.” Are you in control of your emotions like a thermostat? Or are you at the mercy of everyone else like a thermometer. I know it’s mixing my metaphors, but the thermometer gets to eat a much more delectable choice of chocolate bars! Like the new one I’m marketing called the “slow to anger” bar.

Dear meek and mild Jesus. Help me to be like you, who when abused, turned your cheek to the smiter. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, you opened not your mouth. Help me to learn to rule over my spirit so I can choose my emotions rather than let others push my buttons. I want to be just like you!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
If you shoot me an email, I’ll send you a paper called “The Five Messages.” A five part way of expressing yourself more clearly and completely.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:38 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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