Outline from my weekend message

Hostage 4 “ANGER”

ARE YOU GIVING THE DEVIL A PLACE?

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

topos (top'-os); opportunity, location, place, room.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7

WRONG WAYS WE HANDLE ANGER

1) SPEW IT.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:11

A quick-tempered man does foolish things. Proverbs 14:17

2) STEW IT.
The older brother became angry and refused to go in… Luke 15:28

WHAT DO I DO ABOUT MY ANGER?

LET LOVE CONTROL IT.
Love… is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Cor. 13:5

REFUSE TO HAVE FIGHTS.
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Proverbs 17:14

… Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20

ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH SELF-CONROL.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

WITH GOD’S HELPI CAN CHOOSE TO CONTROL MY ANGER

Love controlled anger

Love is self-control and a good temper. Having self-control and a good temper is easier said than done, especially for those individuals who are more prone to irritability for various reasons. Even so, have a temper that is either good or bad is ALWAYS a matter of choice. We can all learn to gain greater control over our tempers and how we react under pressure. Irritations will never cease, nor does our love need to when they come.

Reflection:
What makes me most irritable?
What do I do when I am under more pressure than I feel I can handle?
How do I treat others when I am irritated? Do I get mad when things don't go my way?
Do I have to have the last word? Why?
On a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being severe and 0 being nonexistent, how would I rate my temper?
How would those closest to me rate my temper?

Review the previous blog of how self-control communicates love. Which one(s) do I do often? Which one(s) do I need more work on?

I can accept responsibility for my temper and exercise self-control. I do not need to feel Hostage to a bad temper.

Anger

This week in our Hostage series we look at how Anger can imprison us. Many say anger is just love disappointed. There is good anger and bad anger. For the next several days I will share thoughts on this subject. How you handle your anger is of utmost importance. An uncontrolled outburst of anger can completely alter or even totally destroy someone's life.

Some become easily angered at others, sometimes at the slightest provocation. We might even become hostile and behave in ways we will later regret. Gaining control over our thoughts, feelings and actions when irritated and angry is the best way to keep from acting out in unloving ways.

Controlling our anger is an expression of love. Love is not easily angered. Love can be seen whenever we:

• Take responsibility for our reactions to others


• Do not accuse or blame others for the way we feel


• Treat others graciously although they irritate us


• Keep from saying something hurtful and unnecessary


• Do not take our anger out on those around us


• Think before we speak


• Allow ourselves a time-out to gather ourselves together


• Do not expect more from others than we should

All human failures are the result of a lack of love.~Alfred Adler
We may not be able to control stressors and pressures in our lives, but how we respond to them is up to us.

Enjoying the holiday after a wildly succesful men's retreat

About 75 men went to Zion, Utah this weekend for the "Warrior" men's gathering. Men strengthened existing alliances and made new ones. The gained a hightened awareness of the ultimate battle for the hearts and souls of men. They made key choices about how they will be engaging that battle. I am encouraged today concerning our men. Pray for them as we plan to continue challenging them in the days and weeks ahead.

Ironman metting 6:30pm this Wednesday.

Warrior Men's Retreat

Meet @ NCC Building Fri. @ 5PM
& Return Sun 11:30AM

$80 per man (Age 16 & up)


Activities: Gun Range, ATV's, horseback riding, Repelling, video games, card tournament, gun range, IMAX theater, and more.

This weekend Men will be challenged to Engage the Ultimate Battle for the hearts and souls of men. They will be inspired to develop courage to lead others & they will experience the revolutionary Spirit that sets the world ablaze! AND we spend all day Saturday playing too!

Registered men should be at NCC building @ 5:00 pm sharp on Friday ready to have a blast!

Not registered? Call my assistant today-688-1990

We Lodge @ Best Western Zion Inn
1215 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale, UT 84767

Dance to the time warp again

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself... Matthew 6:34

Most people do not live in the now. Today is missed. Many either live in regret of things yesterday or live in anxiety about things tomorrow thus today is missed and simply becomes another day regreted.

When we worry, we use our imagination to create a negative future in our mind. We predict a bad tomorrow. Often our worry takes part in making the "imagined" bad tomorrow a reality. We tend to move toward our dominant thought. Worry can be a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy.

It is much better to focus on living today in a healthy and productive way. Today is a good day. It has many good possibilities. Take advantage of the moments to love and know the people around you. If you must allow your thoughts to drift to tomorrow, then imagine it being a good one. I think I'm going to go tickle my son now.

Imagine

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Do you meditate? If you worry you do. Worry is simply negative meditation. It is using the power of the mind-the power of imagination to run scenarios where bad things happen.

For the believer, worry is the sin of taking the most powerful gift God has ever given anyone-thier own mind, and using it to dispute His promises and negate His character. It is unbelief.

Why not use the gift of imagination to picture God coming through for you. Why not envision Him being a loving, caring, Father who makes promises and keeps them. He invites me to trust Him and experience His faithfulness. Imagine that.