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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 10:50 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] SermonB<br>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear Friends,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “‘Anger’ + ‘D’= ‘DANGER!’” or “Please Engage Brain before Putting Mouth into Gear” and deals with the epistle (Ephesians 4:25-5:2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is:</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Did you hear Paul’s instructions about anger in his letter to the Ephesian church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote, “Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let love be your guide.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who does he think we are...Superman or Wonder Woman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like us to look at the hard topic of anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it always a sin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you do about those powerful feelings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here to tell you that anger is one of the devil’s most valuable tools to destroy us, those we love, along with our enemies.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">IS ANGER ALWAYS A SIN?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, remember- Jesus was sinless, yet we heard of a time in Holy Scripture when he was angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember when it was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure- when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ anger in the temple porch was righteous anger because travelers were being misused- charged outrageous prices for exchanging money and then charged outrageous prices again for purchasing defective animals to sacrifice in the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, they were doing all this buying and selling in the porch of the Gentiles- the only place the Gentiles could worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ anger was because of injustice, and his actions afterward didn’t hurt anyone- just solved the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you notice Paul says, “Don’t get so angry that you sin?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, it’s not the anger that is the sin- it’s what you do with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not how I feel- it’s what I say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not my inner emotion- it’s what I do, my action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t usually control how we feel, but we most certainly can control what we say and do, and it’s important that we do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spell the word “danger.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now spell it again, but skip the first letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What word did you spell?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure- “anger” because anger is just one letter away from “danger!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you’ve heard people say- “I can’t help it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the excuse my schoolchildren tried to use when I was still teaching. “Mrs. Boli, he made me do it” didn’t hold water with me then and it doesn’t hold water when we try to tell God (or ourselves) now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">That’s easy to say, but hard to actually accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Stanley Sims used to quote an old saying by Molefi Asante, “There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control--your mind and your mouth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin starts in our minds (and bodies) with a strong emotion; it goes from there to our mouths and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has high standards for us about how we deal with anger- no damage (physically or emotionally).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fix the problem if you can, but don’t damage the person who is acting like your enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said, “LOVE (want what’s best for) your enemy and pray for them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you keep from sinning when someone has angered you?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">FIRST- STOP!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t do anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get away from the situation so you can calm down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes a clear mind to figure out how to solve anger-producing problems, and you can’t do it while you’re boiling with fury inside, while all your fight-or flight hormones are coursing through your blood vessels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Example: Mike Fuller, who was a safety and punt-return specialist for the San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s, spoke about anger this way- “The wide receivers are continually trying to make us angry each time they come into our area, because they know if they can upset us emotionally, they can fool us on the next play.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how do you clear your mind and body of the poisonous effects of anger?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go for a walk, listen to some music or get involved with a really good TV program or video game, exercise, cook, clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DON’T sit and brood and DON’T try to dull your anger with alcohol or another substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re trying to clear your head, not muddle it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you’ve calmed down, remember this fact- the person who angers you, controls you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the thought for the week: “Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That person can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him or her” (Epictetus).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">SECOND- While you’re at it, be sure your data is correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an old poem that goes: </font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I'm always careful of the words I speak, I keep them soft and sweet,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I never know from day to day which ones I'll have to eat!</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 6.0in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">NEXT- FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember what Paul said, “Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance,” in other words- don’t nurse your anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t allow yourself to become bitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get on the phone and enjoy telling your friends how shamefully someone has treated you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do choose to discuss the situation, work on how to solve the problem. Then solve the problem if you can.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">FINALLY- DON’T LET YOUR ENEMY BRING YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear the story of the elderly woman on her death bed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her pastor came to visit and asked if she had forgiven all her enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All but one,” she answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I really haven’t been able to forgive my sister.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You have to forgive her,” the pastor replied, “or God won’t forgive you, and you don’t have that much time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All right,” she said, “bring my sister here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When her sister walked into the hospital room, the woman looked daggers at her and said, “I forgive you, BUT IF I GET BETTER, IT DOESN’T COUNT!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be that way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at Paul’s advice: “Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let love be your guide.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because you allowed God to lose this round and the devil to win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your enemy has become your master and forced you to do or say things you knew better than to do or say as God’s precious child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear the prayer someone prayed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dear God, so far today I've done all right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven't gossiped; I haven't lost my temper; I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm very thankful for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve got all the help you need- just don’t think you can do this on your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your walk with the Lord strong; receive your Holy Communion at least once a week; say your prayers; and think before you speak or act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God bless us all as by God’s grace we stay in control of our minds and therefore our mouths and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; tab-stops: .25in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> .</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed preaching,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy Boli</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw, Michigan</font></div>
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