Saturday, April 24, 2010

Anger Management


I learned a hard lesson as a young man in Texas. When I get angry enough to be out of control I lash out with abandon and create havoc in the world around me. This havoc would often come back to haunt me and cause me grief. I decided that my anger needed to be managed.
 Bash
This was before the days of “Anger Management Seminars” so I was left to fend for myself in finding a solution to my fits of peak. My best example was my mother who had plenty to be angry about but always seemed calm. I sought her advice and she said to pray about it. Well that was her answer for everything as she is a lady of great faith. At that time prayer did not come easy for me because even though I could say the words I didn’t have a feeling for it and it was just words.
 Angel
Then I experienced a spiritual awaking and found the power of a daily prayer life. I read in Daniel 6:10 that Daniel prayed three times as day to put himself in the presence of God. When you put yourself in the presence of God you are doing more than just saying words. Now I am having a conversation and it put my anger at others in perspective. Prayer becomes my source for patience, gentleness, self control, and a sense of power. Now havoc no long rules. 
Cloud Nine

Friday, April 23, 2010

How To Start A Fight

A woman was standing in the bedroom looking in the mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment."
Bash
Her husband didn't even look up and said, "Well at least your eyesight is near prefect."Slap Head
Blink
And then the fight beganSad No

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day

Today is the 40th "Earth Day" and a time to remember that our stewardship of the earth today provides a better place for the next generation to live.
Cake
Here in Kentucky we are being reminded that because of Earth Day the Ohio river is being cleaned up. 20 years ago it was an open sewer and now it is coming back to life. It has a way to go but it is coming along.
Cloud Nine
Earth quakes and volcanoes also remind us that mother earth is still more powerful than we are. Chin

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Learning From History


This week in my Basic Bible Study I am teaching the Book of Judges and I have always been intrigued by the cycle of life presented there. When times were hard or threats of war were immanent God called out strong Judges to lead the people. Under strong Judges like Othniel, Ehud and Deborah Israel grew strong and prospered through forty years of peace. That should have been a time of spiritual growth and devotion to God.
 Angel
An interesting human fallibility occurred after the strong Judge died, Israel immediately returned to doing what was evil in the sight of God. Years of peace and prosperity did not foster spiritual growth but rather complacency and sin. The people of the covenant let down their guard and spiritual lethargy crept in and took over.
 Bash
This human condition prevails today when we forget that spiritual warfare is going on all the time. During the times of peace or when there is no visible crisis at hand we relax and the forces of the dark side creep in to take over. By the words of our mouth, such as debased language and hate talk, and by the actions we take such as doing harm to others we allow evil to take control. When that happens we are led down the path of ruin both as individual and as a people.
 Chin
Can we ever learn from history?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Maya Angelou


Tonight my darling and I went to hear Dr. Maya Angelou at Canaan Christian Church and were awed by her gift of words. She kept repeating a phrase from a black Roman poet and writer named Terentius, he lived from about 190 to about 160 B.C.

Latin citation: 
“Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto”
Arms 
In English, “I am a human being and nothing human is alien to me.”

I will be thinking about that idea for a long time.Chin

Purple Socks


I once had a pair of purple socks that did not match anything else I had to wear. It didn’t matter though and I was never embarrassed that other people would know. People would seldom question me about the odd color socks and when they did I had an opportunity to tell them that I am an alum of Texas ChristianUniversity.
 Chin
I am aware the Christians are sometimes like my purple socks and we wear our faith as though we might be embarrassed by off color socks. In my life there are moments when my Christian faith becomes visible for all the world to see. It happens when I speak by my choice of words and when I act by the love and kindness in my actions. Seldom do people question my faith but when they do I see an opportunity to share something of my faith with  them.
 Angel
I may get another pair of purple socks.Cloud Nine