Things that make me really angry...and why

I don’t get angry easily although I used to when I was a kid.  Then my issues were my insistence upon having my own way, my conviction that I was always right, and my competitive juices often spilled out on the basketball court.  I had an easily-aroused temper growing up.

Now that I am “grown up”, I would like to report that I never get angry.

Wrong.

Several times the Bible speaks of being angry, while not sinning (See Psalm 4:3,4; Ephesians 4:25-32).  It is most often how we react in our anger that displeases God.  For me I have that the difference between reacting and responding is TIME, and taking a deep breath and waiting helps me not act out in anger.

Still, I get angry.

I get angry at injustice, when people are wrongfully mistreated.

I get angry at abuse, when someone’s value is disregarded either verbally or physically.

That all sounds a little self-righteous, so I confess…

I get angry when I am ignored or disrespected.

I get angry when I don’t get my way…if it’s something I feel strongly about and have a sense of being right.

I get angry at myself, most often when I harbor feelings of bitterness and resentment.

I have even had moments when I was angry at God.  Maybe I couldn’t understand why things were happening the way they were, or why someone was suffering, or why I was not being appreciated for all my hard work.

As if God were to blame.

Feelings of anger may never disappear.  How we manage them and respond—instead of reacting—will be a  sign that we are “growing up” in Him.  Yes, there is hope for us in Christ when we submit to His discipline and love.

Dealing with Divisiveness

How can we process issues that are of importance that are often difficult to resolve?  Left unaddressed they potentially can lead to anger, alienation and anxiety in our relationships.  God's Word helps us with this simple admonition in Proverbs 12:18, "Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing".

We are invited in James 1:5 to come to God with this carte blanc promise, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God who gives generously without finding fault and it will given to him."  James 3 addresses the power of the tongue and concludes in 3:13-18 with these  principles.

1.  Our wisdom is reflected in our humility, 3:13.

2.  "Bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" produce a wisdom that is "earthly, unspiritual and of the     devil", 3:15.

3.  "Disorder"  (sometimes experienced as dis-unity) results from ignoring God's wisdom and embracing "worldly" wisdom", 3:16.

4.  God's wisdom is "pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere", 3:17.

5.  The product of endeavoring to "sow in peace" is a "harvest of righteousness", or, right living, 3:18.

Why not rewrite these verses in your own words?  From verse 17 make a list of all of the descriptive phrases for godly wisdom and use these as a way of defining how you will communicate when divisive issues are on the table.

And then say "grace"...because it's essential to the process of resolution.
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A tradition of repression...?

Two events occurred in the last week that may seem disconnected but are inextricably linked together. Brendon Iche, the recently installed CEO of Mazilla, resigned under pressure from the inside (board members) and the outside (liberal users) when it was revealed he had contributed to Proposition 8 in California, the initiative to preserve traditional marriage (which, lest we forget, passed  with 52% affirmation).  The second incident was the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case of the New Mexico woman's appeal to not provide services videotaping a same sex marriage ceremony for which she had been summarily fined by the state.

As we are aware, such issues continue to be debated in the public arena and before various levels of judicial government.  We are awaiting a summer verdict on Holly Lobby's refusal to provide insurance that includes abortion options because it violates their Christian belief system.  Other less well-publicized issues include a florist's concern about providing flowers for same sex marriages as well as a cake maker's refusal to provide its services for the same.  These all fall under the banner of first amendment's free speech protection, or, the freedom of religious expression.

We are still awaiting word about what action, if any, Congress will take against the IRS for its obvious targeting of conservative groups with regard to denying their tax exempt status or encumbering the process in acquiring it.  The Senate Committee has listened to a litany of frightening stories from those who felt the heavy hand of the IRS and who were, "coincidentally", individuals or corporations supporting conservative and often Christian causes.  The podcast, THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IT, a product of World Magazine, does an excellent job of reporting on these and other issues that often escape the national news media.

A central feature is the issue of preserving traditional marriage.  Marvin Olasky, a  frequent contributor to World Magazine, suggests that Christians have already lost the culture war and must now identify creative means of communicating our deep concerns so that we can discover anew how to be "salt" and "light" in a darkened world.  Admittedly, a  growing number of states are recognizing same sex marriages.  What this portends for our country is a redefinition of the family as we know it, and, as a result, we are already experiencing some of the painful repercussions of the emerging values of a dysfunctional social structure.

Sadly, what appears on the horizon--if not already on the scene--is a new tradition, a tradition of repressing free speech if it violates the current secular agenda, or, what are characterized as certain human rights issues.  The aggressive repression of the right to free expression and free speech for Christian organizations and businesses is married to the idea that anything contrary to the current social philosophy is hostile, discriminatory and, therefore, unacceptable.  We have fallen a long way from our forefathers who said, "Congress will make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or, prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

As I coach and counsel I am aware of the very fragile environment in which we live, and the hostility experienced by many Christian families seeking to live by their personal convictions while at the same time recognizing the freedom of others to live differently.  As Christians we are called to honor God's Word and to follow its teachings,  giving expression to our faith without repressing the rights and opinions of others. Will we be able to continue to do this in an environment of escalating repression in the marketplace, and, ultimately,  how much will it affect our freedom to worship, to raise and lead our children and to be fairly represented in the court of public opinion?

A Conundrum: How can one be wasting away and being renewed at the same time?

I know it's a long title but it summarizes a question I've had for a long time.  I observed  the answer firsthand this week.

The scripture presents this paradoxical parallel in II Corinthians 4:16-18.
"So we do not lose heart,  Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen,  For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal."

My dear friend, Ward, is 86 years old and has stage four prostate cancer that has metastasized into bone cancer. He is grappling with increasing pain and is, essentially, bound to his bed.  Cared for by his adoring daughter, son-in-law and grandson, he is in a totally-nurturing environment of sacrificial loving support. 

Ward worked with me for fifteen years in ministry, caring for the seniors of our church, visiting in the hospitals and rest homes, as well as teaching and sharing his life experiences form sixty-plus years as a pastor.  All of us who knew him were enriched by his humble spirit and his humor.  None of that had diminished when I visited him on Monday.

I was anxious to see Ward, but apprehensive.  I was uncertain about how he would look and from recent phone calls with his weakness becoming increasingly apparent, expected the worse.  But as I entered his room he was smiling, welcoming me with the familiar words, "How are you, Bishop?" He was sleepy--apologizing for his inability to keep his eyes   opened--but kept us laughing...and crying.  At one point he said, "I am only catching half of what you are saying so you'll need to stay twice as long..."

It was clear that Ward had waited for us to come.  My friends, Bob and Evelyn, and Beverly, my wife, had planned the visit in advance, hoping to catch Ward one more time before God called him home.  We reflected on times past, shared experiences at Grace Fellowship Church where we all had served together, and talked about people who were mutually important to us.  Ward's physical weakness was undeniable--he is no longer able to get out of bed--but there was an inner resilience and strength about him that was undeniable.  

How so?  How can one be in pain, facing his own mortality and, yet, at the same time be alive and vibrant with life and hope?  The paradox in the text from II Corinthians alludes to a differing perspective--a focus on things that are eternal, not transient, and an ability to separate the momentary pain and affliction from the ultimate eternal reward and victory.  As the physical body wears down and death becomes imminent, there is for the believer whose focus slowly changes--I call it a time of relinquishment--a renewing and strengthening of the hope he has before only verbalized but now embraces with accelerating clarity.

I saw that clarity in Ward.  He has fought hard to live but now, as the strength for the battle for life diminishes in the face of the reality of his weakening condition, there is a sharpened affirmation of the faith he has long proclaimed and practiced.  The inner man is being renewed in preparation for eternity.

It's a conundrum--an enigma we may not fully understand until our time comes.  For me it is heartening to know that God's promise of grace for every situation is certain and sure, and that His strength is truly made perfect and complete in our weakness.  Thanks, Ward, for providing the real life illustration of that scriptural passage for me. 

I walked to my car crying--we all were--because there is no denying the inevitability of death And the certainty of our own mortality. And our grief in losing--though only for a season--one we love so deeply.

But I was crying for myself--not for Ward. He is being renewed already...and a new body is on order for him, to replace this one he is shedding now.  Only God knows when.  We wait for His perfect timing.

cancellations

Cancellations last minute in the counseling world are painful because it is almost impossible to fill the spot.  For me it is difficult since each scheduled appointment is very important to me.  

Someone cancelled today--they had a good reason--and I found myself grumbling.  I asked myself as I walked on the beach instead, "Why is it that I handle change with such a combative spirit?"

Admittedly I am a creature of habit and I function best in an environment of order and regimen. You will know that if you walk into my office and look at my desk.  It's funny when I step back and evaluate "why?"", that it boils down to issues of predictability and control.  

And how much of that do I really have a handle on...?

I obviously cannot predict the actual events of any day.

I acknowledge as well that my clients had no control over what happened in their young lives today that prevented their coming for counseling. 

I want sameness in my work life.  I want to come and know that my office is in order and that my clients will be on time and that I can go home when I planned.  

As I walked at Pismo Beach I remembered Hebrews 13:8--"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever."  That is one certainty I can count on.  That will never change.

Maybe I am learning that.  Walks on the beach--today the product of a cancellation--put me in touch with what's going on inside of me.

Today I am remembering that in my uncertain--sometimes frustrating world--of last minute changes, Jesus is the same!

Yesterday, today, forever.

a fragile world

As I watched the news yesterday I was disheartened by the burgeoning crisis in the Ukraine, the launch of missiles in North Korea, the new proposal for "three-parented" children (a "not-so subtle" form of eugenics), the bill before the Arizona governor regarding businesses and their responsibilities to gays (it was vetoed, thankfully)...and an unending list of other critical issues threatening to discolor the landscape of our already fragile world.

Mostly, I thought about my twelve grandchildren.

They range in age from six years old--Brady had a birthday yesterday--through seventeen--Sage graduates from high school in 2015.  What kind of a world will they inherit?

I felt sad because in the midst of all of this social and global confusion, there are whispers that we are making progress.  In the name of tolerance and equality we are redefining traditional marriage; we are coercing participation in a noble but costly plan to provide health insurance for everyone; we are proposing to brutally slash the size of our armed forces in a volatile world climate under the guise of good economics and we are quietly looking the other way while our President--as others before him have done, acts with papal-like authority in executing policy.

Where will it all end?

It is a fragile world, seemingly held together by men--a few good, most not--well-intentioned and traqically flawed. They are in over their heads.

Above them is a sovereign God.

This is His world.  He is still in control.  And He will be when my grandchildren become adults.

Somehow, that gives me hope.

"Don't miss the grace of God..."

Hebrews 12:15 warns us, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (NIV)

I have been thinking about that verse a lot; I have often quoted the second part of the verse about bitterness but rarely remembered the first part--"Don't miss the grace of God!" (Barrett paraphrase).

I discover a high incidence of bitterness in marriage--unprocessed anger that leads to broken or abandoned communication and inevitable bitterness and resentment.  Neglecting the first part of this verse is to miss the scriptural antidote to the fertilization of the root of bitterness.

It is "the grace of God"?  How so?

1.  The "grace of God" is His unmerited favor towards me.

2.  God's grace is freely bestowed upon me as His child.

3.  I am not to "miss" this grace, or forget and ignore it.

4.  Remembering God's grace towards me becomes a springboard for me exercising grace to others.

5.  I remember that I am flawed and sinful and God's grace abounds towards me; cannot I extend His grace to my spouse? to my colleague at work? to a rebellious child?

I don;t want to be bitter; I have been and I remember how painful it was.  Truly it affected all of my life and the resultant defilement was far-reaching in to other unsuspecting relationships.

"Don't miss God's grace!"  The next time you're in conflict--angry, even wounded--remember the grace extended towards you--and extend it freely to another.  Bitterness and resentment cannot flourish in a life fertilized with God's grace!