Pastor Rick Warren: The cost of misplaced anger

June 25, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The Cost of Misplaced Anger

By Rick Warren

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“I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing; make something of me. You [God] can do it; you’ve got what it takes” (Psalm 40:17 The Message).

Anger has a price tag. When you realize that truth, you’re more likely to control the anger in your life. The Bible tells us, “A hot-tempered man … gets into all kinds of trouble” (Proverbs 29:22 TLB). Most of us have seen someone do something really stupid because that person was angry.The Bible is very specific on the cost of anger. The Bible says:

  • It causes arguments (Proverbs 15:18).
  • It causes mistakes (Proverbs 14:29).
  • It causes foolish things (Proverbs 14:17).

You’ve probably seen all of these results from your own anger and the anger of others. The Bible is also clear on the ultimate conclusion of our inappropriately expressed anger. Proverbs 11:29 says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left.”

Think of the impact anger has on your family. As parents, we’re often tempted to use anger to motivate our children. It works in the short-term. When you get angry, you put the fear of God (or the fear of you) into your children. Your kids may give you short-term obedience, but you’ll lose in the long-term.

The end result of misplaced anger is alienation. You alienate the very people you love the most. Eventually, you’ll get more anger back and finally just apathy. No one wants to be around you.

The truth is, you always lose when you lose your temper. You may lose your reputation, your job, your children, or the love of your husband or wife when you don’t control your anger.

And it’s never worth that price tag.

Talk It Over

  • What are some examples of people you’ve seen become alienated from others because of their anger?
  • If you’ve sometimes exhibited misplaced anger, what were the costs in your life?
  • What is a practical way you can deal with your anger so that it does not cause pain for you or the people around you?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Think before you speak in anger

June 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

THINK Before You Speak in Anger

By Rick Warren

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“Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back” (Proverbs 29:11 GNT).

Anger confounds many people in our world today. We simply don’t know how to handle our anger like we have in the past. One of the Bible’s simplest yet most profound answers for our anger comes in Proverbs 29:11: “Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back” (GNT).

Think before you speak. Delay is a tremendous remedy for anger. You don’t need to delay indefinitely. If you’ve got an issue you need to deal with, you need to do so. Anger delayed indefinitely becomes bitterness. That’s worse than anger. Anger isn’t always a sin. Bitterness is.

If you respond impulsively, you tend to respond in anger. If you wait to talk about whatever conflict you’re dealing with, you’ll be more rational and reasonable when you do. The longer you hold your temper, the better your response will be. Give yourself time to think.

When conflict arises and you give yourself time to think, what should you think about? Consider these five questions:

T: Is it truthful? Is what I’m about to say the truth?

H: Is it helpful? Or will it simply harm the other person?

I: Is it inspirational? Does it build up or does it tear down?

N: Is it necessary? If it’s not necessary, why do I need to say it?

K: Is it kind?

THINK before you speak. Reflect before you react. It’ll slow down your anger every time.

Talk It Over

  • Think back through a recent argument. Would more time before you responded have helped the situation?
  • Which question in the THINK acronym is most likely to be helpful to you when you’re angry?
  • What’s the biggest challenge to giving yourself more time before responding when you’re angry?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

FCN Daily Bible Verse

June 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment
I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Psalm 143:6 (Read all of Psalm 143:6)
New International Version
Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Who controls your future?

June 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Who Controls Your Future?

By Rick Warren

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“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

One of the great fears we all face is the fear of the future. We fear for the futures of our families, our friends, our jobs, our communities — and everything else in between.

It’s natural. We’re not in control. But that realization should drive us to trust God more deeply.

We might not be in control of our future, but God is. He created the whole universe. If he wanted to, the Lord could just snap it out of existence in a moment. Yet he is working his plan in history. He is moving history to a climax, a destiny. One day Jesus Christ will come back to Earth. Nothing will stop that. Just as he is working in history to move events toward that day, he will work in your life for a purpose, too — if you’ll let him.

The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

God’s Word doesn’t say that everything is good. It also doesn’t say that God causes everything. He doesn’t cause war. He doesn’t cause cancer. He doesn’t cause rape, abortion, abuse, or molestation. He doesn’t cause evil. We do that. God gives us the freedom to choose. Evil is the price of that freedom.

But the Bible does say that God causes everything to work together for good. He can take the dumb, evil, and bad decisions I’ve made in my life and use them for good if I’ll trust him. Romans 8:28 isn’t a promise for everyone, though. It’s for “those who love God.” It’s for those who trust God and say, “Here, Lord, you take all the broken pieces of my life and put them together.”

This is why when I read the headlines each day, I don’t worry. Sure, there are a lot of problems in the world today, but God is still in control. God is still moving history to a climax. And God is still moving his people toward his best for them. One day God will work everything out for his purpose.

Because God is in control, we can trust him with everything — including the good, the bad, and the ugly of our lives.

Filed Under: Columns

A Word for Today: Courage for the Call

June 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

COURAGE FOR THE CALL

By Pastor Jimmy Russell

READ ESTHER 3:1 THROUGH 5:14; JOHN 19:19–42 

Trina was a US missionary in Romania when the refugees began pouring into Europe from war-torn countries. As Trina met some of these displaced people, her heart cried for them. As Trina visited refugee camps, she began to see the people as individuals, rather than just being part of a group. She traveled to dangerous places to help meet their spiritual and physical needs. 

Rather than focusing on the danger, Trina focused on the need. She fully realized that she could be hurt or killed, but she had the same attitude as Queen Esther, who also knew the danger and still decided to rescue her people. 

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, You may not call me to enter refugee camps or rescue a nation. But help me courageously answer no matter what You call me to do.

—

Filed Under: Columns

Tribune Editorial: Madigan relents, and hires an independent investigator

June 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

I got this, said House Speaker Michael Madigan after a fellow Democrat in the state Senate was accused of bad behavior. I won’t tolerate harassment and bullying in Illinois politics, Madigan insisted, after two of his operatives were accused of abuse. You can trust me to fix the culture, Madigan repeated after his deputy majority leader also faced allegations.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Columns

FCN Daily Bible Verse

June 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:7-9 (Read all of Galatians 6:7-9)
New International Version
Filed Under: Columns

Franklin County Farm Bureau News

June 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

FARM CITY DAYS 2018 and FARM SAFETY GRANT

 

By Gay Bowlin

This is the second year that we have made Farm City Days a reality. With a lot of planning and some amazing volunteers and sponsors the event was a huge success.

Ralph and Virginia Smith, lifelong Franklin County Farmers were parade marshals and with several entries the parade started the event off at 4pm.

One of biggest draws was the Inflatables in the Kids Area. We had 10 bounce houses/slides and/or games that we rented from Affordable Bounce Company LLC along with a “Corn Bin” with corn provided by Consolidated Grain and Barge for kids to play in. This year we added a little something special to one of the “corn bins” several times during the event we would hide quarters and the kids were then find as many quarters as they could and then they got to keep them all. Just like last year everything in the Kids Area was FREE .

Franklin County Farm Bureau’s tent was located on the square where we gave away 200 Official Farm City Days t-shirts and thanks in part from a grant provided by the Illinois Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial we had personal first aid kits, we provided sun screen, water, Share the Road Bumper Strips, U Text U Wreck Window Clings along with several other items that people could register for. There were several tractors on display and farmers spoke about safety on the roadways.

The Franklin County 4-H set up a kiddie tractor pull in the Kids Area.

Franklin County COUNTRY Financial Representatives Adrienne Mason and Mike Brachear were on hand with giveaways and to register for a gas grill. This was sponsored by all of the COUNTRY Reps including Krista Menckowski and Gavin Suver.

There were food vendors, craft vendors, the West City Smoke House along with many businesses who had set up for information and giveaways.

The Car and Motor Cycle Show added a new category with the addition of several Antique Tractors. Jack Russell Fish Co. set up a Bags Tournament in the street and played from 5-8.

Leffler Funeral Home had a toy train display set up in their building and everyone who went said they did an amazing job and really enjoyed it.

Prairie Farms representative Wayne Horstmann brought their newest ice milk snack product call “Milk Snack” it is a crème filled chcolate cake bar that needs refrigeration but not necessarily a freezer.

A special thank you to the committee and the volunteers who made this day possible and helped to make everything run smoothly.

Look for information for the 2019 Farm City Days.

 

 

Filed Under: Columns

Reflections on Higher Education: Culture and Energy

June 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Culture and Energy

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This series of six reflections on corporate culture was originally published in October and November 2013.  I am on summer break but I think these still have some value.  WVW.

Third in a series on Corporate Culture…

A culture is created and sustained by human energy expended to attain shared purpose.  Leadership sets the tone and pace of the development and expenditure of every member’s contribution to corporate energy flow.

Walter V. Wendler

“The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies and his life just to make sure that one note follows another… and leaves us with the feeling that something is right in the world.”

Leonard Bernstein

Bernstein’s energy expenditure principle applies to any work people undertake — from digging a ditch to conducting an orchestra, or teaching a student. Corporate energy is created by individuals working independently but motivated toward a common goal.

At Toyota, the Creating an Energetic Workplace initiative, introduced in 2006, was intended to develop strong relationships and a more energetic work environment. The world’s largest vehicle manufacturer believed energetic communication would lead to “employee happiness.”  Toyota wanted employees to have fun. This may sound like a truckload of naiveté on its way to OZ for a hard-boiled manager.  But, the principles of workplace satisfaction, a.k.a. “happiness,” lead to increased effectiveness, even if it sounds trite to a sophisticate.   As you might imagine, Toyota’s empirical measurement and positive trends substantiated the “bliss” brigade.  Effective leaders engage people in shared decision making.

Jeff Wolf, president of World Management Consultants, says simply that “people work for people, not companies or organizations.”  Energetic work environments are nurtured by people working towards shared goals.  A Gallup study, based on interviews with 12 million workers, at 7,000 companies, conducted over 25 years, found that, “…employee’s relationship with the manager/supervisor largely determines the length of an employee’s stay.”  Wages and benefits are important but down the list according to Gallup.

The Saratoga Institute conducted a survey of 12,000 people who had left their place of employment and it “revealed that the main reason people quit is the manager’s behavior.”

Wolf confirms the Corporate Leadership Council contention that, “a high quality leader is the single most significant factor in attracting and retaining key talent.” Effective leaders should convivially share values with staff, not for adoption, approval, or agreement but for transparency and insight… we have forgotten what honesty means.

In a blog piece dubbed “Alaka’I Managers are The New Energy Bunnies”, Rosa Say declares “Energy is what sustains a vital business, and a lack of energy is what will kill it.”  Human energy guided by a passion for excellence is the only thing that matters in an organization bent on a purposeful impact, says Say.

Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy reveal in “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time”, in the Harvard Business Review, that longer hours do not always lead to higher levels of productivity.  People may work 60 hours a week but attain only marginal effectiveness. These toiling souls get an “A” for effort, but sometimes a “C” for accomplishment. What’s more, taking a page from the Toyota experience, all that work with a lackluster return on investment may diminish “happiness.”  Exhaustion does not equal excellence, even for a rabid fan hard work.  Effective leaders should celebrate value in all positive contributions.

Schwartz and McCarthy suggest that “in order to get more out of people you have to put more into them.” This is not a technique for squeezing more juice from an orange, but rather giving the tree light and water, in turn producing oranges that have more juice.  I concur with Tony Schwartz’s chapter head in the ASTD Management Development Handbook: “The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working: More And More Less And Less.”  Schwartz’s assessment: Energy in the workplace creates a powerful corporate culture. He says, “We are guided by a fatal assumption that the best way to get more work done is to work longer and more continuously.”

The magic of energetic shared achievement rests on everyone’s shoulders.  A positive corporate culture resonates with teamwork.

Such a mindset might exist at Toyota, but it must permeate a university.  Distributed leadership and accomplishment at its zenith exists when human energy is expended to provide educational opportunity, by those who teach, to those who learn: ubiquitous and unbridled uniqueness.

Our universities should be fountains of human energy.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Can you really count on God?

June 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Can You Really Count on God?

By Rick Warren

“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV).

For most of us, the reason we don’t trust God fully with our lives is because we really don’t know him. We usually don’t trust people we don’t know.The same is true with God. That’s why God wants you to know the real him — not a fake version you’ve learned from popular culture. There are many popular myths about who God is that simply aren’t true.

For example, some believe he’s like:

A cosmic cop: He’s the big, bad policeman in the sky looking to catch us doing something wrong.

The celestial Santa Claus: He’s just there to give gifts. He smiles, nods, and never really pays attention to the naughty list.

The grand, old man: He’s the old, old god who isn’t that different from you. He has his own failures and faults. But he doesn’t have any of the answers.

The Force: Like in the popular science-fiction series “Star Wars,” God is an impersonal force that we can bend to our own will.

If I thought God was like any of those popular misconceptions, I wouldn’t trust him either. But he’s not. The Bible paints an entirely different picture of the character of God.

The truth is, God is infinitely worthy of your trust because no being in the universe is as capable to influence the world around you as he is. The Bible says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4 NIV).

God has the power (and the desire) to sustain and help you through whatever you’re going through. He wants to give you his best for your life — and he is uniquely able to help you get there. He is the creator of the universe. He literally has all the resources in the universe that he can mobilize on your behalf as you seek to follow him.

But the key is, you must trust him.

The Bible says, “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV). You can trust God with everything you are because he is able to help you succeed if you do. That doesn’t mean that God will give you all the money, fame, or power you want. But if you trust him, God will help you succeed in what he has called you to do and be.

Talk It Over

  • Which of the misconceptions about God do you think is the most common among your friends and family? How about society?
  • How would someone’s life change if they had a proper understanding of what God is like?
  • What is one area of your life where you need to begin to fully trust God?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns
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