Roger

How do you deal with anger?   Please don’t suppress it.   Allow me to illustrate why. Picture a small trash container.   See it slowly filling up.   From time to time, it gets pressed down, but no one takes the initiative to empty its contents.   Over time additional trash is added, until finally the container overflows and creates a mess.   It simply cannot contain any more debris!   That’s exactly what happens when we refuse to deal with anger.   We press it down, sometimes for years, when finally our lives become messy and solutions become difficult, if not impossible.   Tempers allowed to rage out of control usually culminate in failed relationships and even tragedy. Examples of this unfortunate reality can be found throughout the Bible, but perhaps none more poignant than the first homicide in human history.   Genesis 4:3-8 records the events surrounding the death of Abel at the hands of his jealous, rage-filled brother, Cain. “So i...

“A merry heart does good, like medicine…” (Proverbs 22:17) I like to laugh, so I’m always looking for funny stories.   The following obituary, although in circulation for several years, still brings a chuckle or two.   Enjoy! Pillsbury Dough Boy Dead at 71 Sad news today, so join me in remembering yet another great icon of the entertainment community.   The Pillsbury Dough Boy died yesterday of a yeast infection and traumatic complications from repeatedly being poked in his belly during his lifetime.   The veteran Pillsbury spokesman was 71.   Dough Boy is survived by his wife, Play Dough; three children, John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dill Dough; plus they also had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.   Services were held yesterday at 350 for about 20 minutes. Dough Boy (DB) was buried in a lightly greased coffin.   Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the Califo...

I came to faith in Christ when I was 14 years old.   And my life has never been the same.   The beloved hymn, Pass Me Not , still brings tears to my eyes, because it was the song of invitation when I “went forward.”   After my conversion, I ravenously and daily devoured God’s Word.   I remember lying across my bed weeping unashamedly because of the precious Holy Spirit’s tangible presence in my life.   Those were glorious days! I read scores of Christian books that fed my spirit, and I listened to gospel music by the hour.   Dallas Holm, the Imperials, Evie Tournquist, the Happy Goodman’s, the Gaithers, and others impacted my worship experiences.   I wept when I could not go to church.   I loved the pastors God sent into my life. They were God’s gifts and mentors to me! The television ministry of Rex and Maude Aimee Humbard from Akron’s Cathedral of Tomorrow became my weekly spiritual pick-me-up and staple.   I remember when Connie Smith sang...

All of us experience those days when we face multiple challenges at the same time.   For example, I remember the time in Elyria when the hot water heater started leaking, the washing machine stopped working on the rinse cycle; the garage door opener malfunctioned and an attack of vertigo put me into bed – all within 24 hours. When it rains, it pours!   Such experiences stress us out and push us to our limits.     The showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal recorded in 1 Kings 18 illustrates that God knew those times would come.   I love this wonderful story.    It provides a powerful object lesson of hope that’s ours to embrace during difficult days.   It’s somewhat lengthy, but well worth the read: “Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you.   Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.’   So they took the bull given them and prepared it. ...