The Citizen, 2017-03-09, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017. PAGE 13.
From the Minister's Study
Conquer anger to live in honour and peace: Dow
By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship (EMC), Blyth
Anger corrodes relationships. And
it eats away at the person who
harbours anger. It's been said:
"Anger is an acid that can do more
harm to the vessel in which it is
stored than to anything on which it is
poured"
The team of Gilbert and Sullivan
is well-known in the music world.
From 1871-96 they collaborated to
produce 14 operettas together -
Gilbert's words meshed with
Sullivan's music, to audiences'
delight. You'd think, "What a
team!", right? Wrong - the two men
detested each other.
It all started when Sullivan
ordered some carpet for the theatre
they'd bought; when Gilbert saw the
bill, he hit the roof. Neither man
could control his temper, so they
found themselves battling it out in
court. They never spoke to one
another again as long as they lived.
This then is how they collaborated:
when Sullivan wrote the music for a
new production, he mailed it to
Gilbert; after Gilbert had written the
words, he mailed it back to Sullivan.
Once they were forced to be together
during a curtain call, but they stood
on opposite sides of the stage and
bowed in different directions so they
wouldn't see each other!
How sad. They knew how to make
beautiful music, but lost the key to
true harmony.
In the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5-7), Jesus warns us that
murderous intentions start in the
heart, but can be overcome if we
recognize the importance of self-
control, reconciliation and keeping
short accounts. Jesus said, "I tell you
that anyone who is angry with his
brother will be subject to judgment.
Again, anyone who says to his
brother, `Rata,' is answerable to the
Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the
fire of hell." (Matthew 5:21)
We see here various degrees of
expression of a common disposition.
"Anyone who is angry with his
brother..." Next, "Anyone who says
to his brother, `Raca"' - literally
`empty', or we might say
`numbskull', `blockhead'. Third,
"anyone who says, 'You fool!"' -
Greek moros like in our word
`moron'. Commentator F.F. Bruce
notes the term `Raca' shows
contempt for the person's head as in
calling them `stupid', whereas the
moros term shows contempt for their
heart and character as in saying,
"You scoundrel!" There's a slam to
their morality, not just their
intelligence.
Jesus emphasizes that, regardless
of degree of contempt, all three
impulses warrant judgment. The
Water
Mar. 12, 2nd in Lent: Mk. 6:31-44
Daring Faith #2:
"How to Get Ready for a Miracle"
Evangelical Missionary Church
Small Group (1)• Mon. 8:00pm at J&R Uyl's, 180 North, Blyth
Small Group (2) • Tues. 7:30 pm at G&M Lisle's, Wingham
Coffee Break Women's Bible Study • Wed. 10 am at Blyth CRC
Youth Group • Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
10:30 a.m. — Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
+ getlivingwater.org
16,1
first, mere anger, makes one `subject
to judgment'. The second "is
answerable to the Sanhedrin" - the
Jewish equivalent of our Supreme
Court. The third expression of
contempt, "You fool!", puts one "in
danger of the fire of hell" - at risk of
eternal consequences.
Popular wisdom today is all in
favour of maximum self-expression,
articulating your emotions, getting it
off your chest. You may think you're
better off when you tell someone off;
but research compiled by
psychologist Gary Emery suggests
you're actually not. In his book
Rapid Relief from Emotional
Distress he reports, "Although a
whole school of thought
recommends that you verbally
express your hostility, a great deal of
recent research has found the
opposite to be the case. Researchers
have found that freely venting your
anger corrodes relationships and
breeds more anger, not less. In one
recent study...only one out of 300
happily married couples reported
that they yell at each other."
The New Testament writers call us
to resist the temptation to express
angry reactions. Paul writes: "But
now you must rid yourselves of all
such things as these: anger, rage,
malice, slander and filthy language
from your lips." And, "Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form
of malice." (Colossians 3:8;
Ephesians 4:31)
Anger is a very `natural' response
in some situations. But God's Spirit
helps believers have the fruit of
patience (long-fusedness),
gentleness and self-control. For
parents, anger is never to become
rage energizing punishment and
discipline. For spouses, anger is
never to be allowed to be expressed
in words as sharp as daggers or looks
that could kill or doors that slam,
communicating volumes even if we
don't say a word.
So, what do you do when you feel
?,oto re join ,1n 2C%ors�it
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
', BRUSSELS
* United Church
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
(5-
Everyone welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. -- 226-963-1175
—
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 11 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
6.
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m.
/Ilkw - Sunday, March 12
"The Table Is Set
t Bringa Friend"
f.
MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. 6, OFFICE: 519-523-4224
anger rising up within? How do you
stop it from spilling out into words
like `blockhead' and `moron'?
Part of it is taking a deep breath
and remembering God is God and
you are not. Let go of the sceptre of
divine eternal judgment which does
not belong in your hands.
Thomas Jefferson advised: "When
angry, count 10 before you speak; if
very angry, 100." Fulton Oursler
wrote a classic book on the life of
Christ, The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Oursler's wife once said she used to
count to 10 when becoming
provoked. But one day she thought
of the first 10 words of the Lord's
Prayer. Now instead of counting to
10, she slowly says: "Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be
Thy name."
The core of the Bible's good news
is that Jesus gave His life to shield us
from a Holy God's legitimate wrath
by bearing the punishment for our
sins. We can have peace with God
through receiving Christ as Saviour.
Being forgiven and experiencing
that great grace, we become able
through new birth in His Holy Spirit
to forgive others who anger us, and
Continued on page 15
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
(S. 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
ComE WORSHIP
Emmett). elotatItattv 'Edle eitaftee
You're Znvitec(
to come worsht p
with us
Sunday, March 12
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Probably the best
compliment I have
ever received....
"Always A Place For You"
Huron Chapel
Every Sunday in Auburn @ 10:30am
huornchapel.com
ft) ;dor Imo' aro
Lo,40 , jer5 tA5
off'yot,t111
Fro 14474
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph's
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.