RIGHTEOUS ANGER

Jesus knew the temple in Jerusalem was the single dwelling dedicated for His Father’s presence. The Spirit of God was present within the temple as holy. The temple was set apart because of God’s holiness.

Holiness is not able to exist with impurity. Holiness drives out anything not pure. Jesus zealously embraced holiness to the point He gave His life for sinners who believe in what He did for them to live in righteousness before the Father.

Jesus was righteously angry about the den of robbers set up in the temple. After Jesus found the robbers in the temple, He made a “whip of cords” according to John 2:15.

If I get angry about impurity I should take the time and equip myself before reacting in rage. Most times I am angry I would be driving out unrighteousness in my own heart.

After Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers, Jesus “told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away.’” John 2:16. The next verse in Matthew’s account after other comments of Jesus explains “the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them” Matthew 21:14.

If I pause in my anger, equip myself, and perform what is necessary, the peace of Jesus beyond my human understanding will abide with me. The Holy Spirit empowers me as His temple to avoid the sin of rage and peacefully continue to encourage others with Jesus’ love.

ANGER

Anger is an emotion I have wrestled with, thought about, and discussed with other men. Anger is defined as “a strong feeling of displeasure.”

I believe there is righteous anger. I am not sure I have ever seen it. I have read about it played out in the Bible.

I am sure there is a God and I am not him so I do not remotely have to know much of anything for sure except Christ crucified and resurrected. One piece of knowledge though: I doubt I have ever practiced righteous anger or behaved without sin when acting out my anger.

Rage is defined as a “violent and uncontrolled anger.” I have experience guilt and shame after practicing rage.

I am currently thinking about whether when I act out anger against someone else am I really angry with myself for one or more of my own failings? Now when I feel a strong displeasure I ask myself, “I am angry about a weakness of mine?”

One habit of thinking I avoid of mine is settling on two extremes. For instance, I trust there are infinite possibilities between the extremes of righteous anger and sinful rage.

If there are infinite possibilities between these two extremes then I am never able to think through all of the possibilities similar to I am never, during my lifetime, able to work through all of my weaknesses. My inabilities in these two areas, as examples, make me conclude they are added to the stockpile of mysteries.

I simply trust in God to play mysteries out in my life. I obey, with the help of the Holy Spirit, not to worry. I bask in the grace of Jesus’ forgiveness.

My next entry I will write about how the John’s Gospel may provide insight on how Jesus behaved while angry. After all, He is the only true, perfect example.

FISHING

I enjoy fishing. This past Saturday I caught a walleye at Sylvan Lake near Rome City, Indiana. Any year when I catch a walleye this early in the year is a great fishing year.

The confidence of a fisherman is very significant. If a fisherman is confident he will stay alert. While alert the fisherman will set the hook upon the fish striking the bait. A good fisherman knows to set the hook firmly.

This time of year the water is chilly. Minnows are the best bait. The bigger the minnow the bigger the fish caught. The bigger the fish caught the longer the fisherman has to wait to catch the big fish.

After the walleye I caught a crappie using a minnow. The day before I caught a trout using a minnow. Two days before I caught a bass using a minnow.

Three days in a row the weather was warm. The wind was slight. I got sunburned while wearing shorts and a tee shirt.

I cannot beat warm weather, fishing, and catching. This year is a great fishing year.

TRUTH

At college I took a class entitled Modern Literature. The theme of the class was “Fiction mirrors reality.”

When practicing law, I hear many true stories. I use the phrase “Who needs fiction when you have reality.”

Recently I heard a quote from Mark Twain. He said, “Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.”

Last Sunday the speaker encouraged his listeners to dig for the truth. He explained resources of news are not enough to know the whole story.

Learning how to learn is so important. The skills I have developed for learning how to learn have proven invaluable.

Such skills strengthened me to read the One Year Bible many times. I was able to study God’s Word and learn His truth.

Such skills make me look into the background of all resources I use. I investigate the behavior and witness of resources’ authors.

I encourage others to choose carefully what they decide to put into their heads. You are what you think.

GENUINE CHARACTER

I hold in high personal regard people who are authentic. Authentic people are sincere, communicate directly, and are honest. Authentic people have genuine character.

The history for the term authentic also carries with it “one who does things himself.” Another word is self-sufficient: having the necessary resources to get along without help.

The more and more an entrepreneur maintains a consistent genuine character, the more likely the entrepreneur’s enterprise will have necessary resources. The necessary resources resulting from a genuine character are customers with whom the entrepreneur wants to work, an outstanding reputation, and trustworthy referral sources.

An entrepreneur with genuine character may boldly embrace sales. For an entrepreneur with genuine character sales is not a gimmick, puffing, or a canned presentation. Sales for an entrepreneur with genuine character can be performed with a conversation about what the entrepreneur is passionate about.

Before conducting sales an authentic entrepreneur already figured out what others need and how to best serve. With sincere and direct conversation about the enterprise’s purpose, the entrepreneur grows relationships then nourishes the relationships with timely follow through and by keeping his promises.

An entrepreneur striving for consistent genuine character makes an honest effort to understand fully his strengths and the opportunities of the enterprise. The entrepreneur can then confidently use his sales strengths and grab the opportunities available.

CYNICISM-INTELLECTUALISM-LEGALISM

Cynicism is about distrusting others’ sincerity. My cynical habit of thinking is fear based. The fears are looking dumb or being taken advantage of. Fear is the opposite of love. Unconditional love trusts always.

Cynicism breeds micromanaging. My micromanaging is all about lack of trusting and behaving as a domineering control freak. My pride comes into play. My cavalier micromanaging is an act of cowardice.

Intellectualism is about perceiving and reasoning without feeling. There is a saying: the longest trip is six inches long – from your head to your heart. God’s wisdom will reside in my heart because He promised upon my asking. God equips me to apply His wisdom wisely. “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Proverbs 4:7.

Legalism is about salvation through good works. Our Father in heaven did not set me up for failure but gave over Jesus to die for my sins. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Galatians 2:8-9.

The Word of God reveals grace for me. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25.

PROGRESSIVISM-PLURALISM-RELATIVISM

In the quest of learning how to learn better, I come across terms that carry with them an ideology. When I study a word I practice etymology: the tracing of a word’s origin and development.
While tracing the modern development of a word’s ideology I focus on how my habit of thinking about the word and the word’s ideology is incorrect. I ask myself where my mind needs renewed because my thinking is contrary to Holy Scripture.
I now apply three examples. Progressivism is about reform and individuality. Pluralism is about explaining truth in more than one way. Relativism is about truth differing according to each person.
My practice of progressive individuality is lonely. Despite any attempt of unilateral reform, I can never run away from my sinful self on my own terms. Fortunately Jesus came to me then blessed me with the Holy Spirit. Now I am transformed with a renewing of my mind so I can know the good and perfect will of my Father in heaven. Simply put, my Father wants me to love the only true, triune God with all my heart and mind. With the power of the Holy Spirit I also love others.
Loving others is pointing to Jesus. There is no way to explain truth other than pointing to Jesus. After all Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth.” Any thinking of mine which includes pluralism is contrary to the Bible. Jesus is the singular way.
Any thinking of mine which includes relativism is contrary to the Bible. I cannot create truth or debate truth. What is solely relative to salvation is stated in Romans 10:9 – “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Bible centered thinking keeps me in the faith given to me. Whatever thinking I come up with on my own or adopt from the world is sin. “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23. Praise Jesus for coming to me, a sinner.
With God on my side I do not have to conform to this world. In my next blog entry I will provide three more examples: cynicism, intellectualism, and legalism.

COACHING

A coach serves as a leader. A leader must communicate clearly. A coach must establish a code of honor all teammates abide by. I use the 345 Reward System.

The 3 in 345 is three rules. Each team member holds their tongue (is quiet) when a coach is talking. Each team member always hustles. Each team member is never negative. These three rules work great during practice. The team members know the authority outlined practice for continuous hustle and the team members should not complain.

The 4 in 345 is four requirements. Team members communicate to one another. Each team member is to concentrate constantly. Team members work hard. All team members compete. These four rules work great during time outs. When the game is going well, the team quickly reaffirms the team’s good play by committing to remain steady at the requirement the team is performing best. When the game is not going so well, the team can point to one requirement the team is doing worst at then commit they will immediately get better at the unsatisfactory requirement.

The 5 in 345 is five character building statements. The first is “Not Today” meaning there is no acceptable level of failure. The statement is a call to perform with excellence, not simply to make a mediocre effort.

The second is “It Doesn’t Matter.” No matter what the challenge there is no place for self pity. Team members do not use excuses or blame others.

The third is “Finish It.” Most sporting activities have half times. There is no success at half time. Whether referencing a set play or a shot for a goal, each team member must finish strong.

The fourth is “There is No Growth Without Failure.” No one grows through constant success. Team members cannot give up no matter how bad the circumstances.

The fifth is “There is no Strength Without Pain.” Most everyone has heard the phrase no pain, no gain. The bottom line: if you want to perform, you must work hard.

With these character statements coaches and teammates encourage each other. The greatest reward is when each team member fulfills his role and the team performs successfully. A coach should reward team members verbally with encouragement every opportunity the coach has.

TEAMS

For teams to work the members of the team must each agree to follow a code of honor. The leader must clearly communicate the code of honor in writing. The code of honor sets forth expectations for each and every combination of relationship between team members. Each team member agreeing to the expectations better prevents the relationships from failing.

Teams come in all shapes and sizes. A team I recently wrote a code of honor for was my wife, me, and my daughter who started college. We agreed to a code of honor for a point of reference or guideline for my daughter’s four years at college.

When a student decides to attend college the future is uncertain. For instance, the student and the parents are concerned how the student will fit in. As part of the leader communicating clearly, less is more.

The code of honor includes my daughter must stay busy. The busier a student is the more efficient the student remains. The student decreases mind clutter because the student does not have time to second guess. The student has less room to make errors with extra time if the student is busy enough the student by force learns how to use time wisely.

The code of honor requires a commitment to personal development. The most significant habit of personal development is eradicating offers or events for which the student does not have a passion. Part of the college experience is gathering experiences and exploring a variety of disciplines then discovering what the student does not like. The commitment will define the student’s vision and provide focused direction as the college years go on. The personal development of the student includes equipping the student with skills matching the student’s talents.

The student within the code of honor must contribute financially. No one has a sufficient stake in a commitment without some skin in the game. Education should address the two resources over which each student serves as a steward: time and money. When the student contributes financially, the student learns the relationship between time and money.

The student must ask for help. Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. The student healthily seeks independence but should know she is supported. As a good steward, the student will understand the benefit of asking for help before the resource of time, for example, is expended and there is no hope for recovery.

The student timely shares grades and report cards. Codes of honor essentially have methods to measure progress. Report cards with grades reflect whether the student is meeting the expectations of the professor who is the authority providing the measure.

I will write about another code of honor example tomorrow. Tomorrow’s entry will address coaching.