News From Bible Teaching Resources

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ... A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel" (Prov. 15:1-18 NIV).

"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered" (Prov. 22:24 NIV).

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" (Eph. 4:26-27 NASB).

Adding to the Hatred Ledger- Genesis 37:5-11

by Don Anderson

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."

His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us? And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Do you know what a hatred ledger is? It's that private mental list we keep of everything we hold against another person. Husbands and wives are often guilty of keeping extremely long hatred ledgers on file. Mrs. Smith forgets to wash her husband's softball shirt, and there goes one mark in the hatred ledger. Next she dents the car while backing out of the garage, and there's mark number two. Later she burns the pot roast and mark three finds its place. Finally she neglects to pick up the dry cleaning...and look out! The journal entry on Mr. Smith's hatred ledger is filled, and he lashes out at Mrs. Smith. "What's wrong with you? Can't you do anything right? I can't depend on you for anything!" Fireworks exploding in her face would have done less damage to her self-image than her husband's tirade.

Joseph's brothers have been consistently adding to the blacklist of their own hatred ledger concerning him. So far we've seen that they have three reasons to resent their little brother:

1. Joseph has given a bad report about some of the brother's to their father.

2. Joseph is obviously loved more by Jacob than they are.

3. Joseph is clearly treated preferentially by their father when Jacob gives him the robe.

Now the brothers add still another entry into the mental ledger, because Joseph has some dreams that he cannot keep to himself.

(Taken from Joseph by Don Anderson)

Quotes for the Week

(Stress Points in Marriage by Bill and Deana Blackburn)

The leader of the seminar made a statement that really stuck with me. He commented, "How you handle a traffic jam is how you handle life." Do you fume and cuss or nervously fret as you keep glancing at your watch, or do you turn up the FM and enjoy the music while you do some mental planning of the week ahead?

p. 125

(Make Anger your Ally by Neil Clark Warren)

Explosions from the mouth, whether they are part of a hit-and-run action or a long, brutal beating with words, ought to be labeled for what they are: "Aggression--Dangerous to Any Important Relationship You May Have."

p. 43

(The Walk-on-Water Syndrome by Edward B. Bratcher)

An example of the stress situation that leads to anger is being "on call" seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The telephone rings. The familiar voice of a church member says, "I hate to call you at home and on your day off, but Mr. Jones has had a heart attack and is in intensive care. I thought you would want to know." What can a minister say? He is glad that someone has taken the initiative to call him, so he can't get angry at the person who called. He can't get angry at Mr. Jones for having a heart attack. But the minister is angry, and rightfully so. The stress of being called on his only day off makes him angry. But there is no one to whom he can vent his anger. So he keeps it bottled up and silently prays for help.

p. 29

(Feeling Free by Archibald D. Hart)

Forgiveness is the key to giving up your need to hurt back, and the genius of Christianity is in the fact that forgiveness of others is made possible through God's forgiveness of us. What is forgiveness? This I am often asked by Well-meaning Christians. In the context of the Scripture portions I have already cited, I would define forgiveness as follows: FORGIVENESS IS SURRENDERING MY RIGHT TO HURT YOU BACK IF YOU HURT ME.

p. 85

(The Hidden Link Between Adrenalin & Stress by Dr. Archibald D. Hart)

In summary, let me review the many causes of stress in our lives. Stress can result from anything that:

*annoys you

*threatens you

*prods you

*excites you

*scares you

*worries you

*hurries you

*angers you

*frustrates you

*challenges you

*criticizes you

*reduces your self-esteem.

Anything--pleasant or unpleasant--that arouses your adrenalin system and mobilizes your body for "fight or flight," then doesn't let up and allow time for recovery can predispose you to stress disease. Your body simply adapts to living in a constant state of emergency--and you feel no discomfort until damaging results occur.

p. 30

(William Barclay: A Spiritual Autobiography by William Barclay)

I do not know how Kate has put up with me for forty years. All I know is that I have been cared for and protected for all my days with a care and a protection which no man could deserve, and for which no thanks are adequate, and which I can only acknowledge. One of the greatest sins in life is to take things for granted. I said that Kate did not read my books. I hope that she will read this one, for I want her to know, and I want everyone to know, that without her life for me would be impossible.

p. 23

*****************************************************

"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it'" (Gen. 4:6-7 NIV).

Prayer Requests & Praises

1. Praise: Clyde Womack's son Bill came through very delicate surgery.

2. Pray: Pearl and I are in Alaska today teaching the book of Titus.

3. Praise: Summer Grapevine and AGWBD should be in your hands.

4. Pray: For an opportunity to preserve lecture and reading notes.

5. Pray: For opportunities for fall classes.

6. Praise: We are hearing from so many of you. Thanks!

7. Pray: For Trail West. We have a great crowd.

8. Pray: Philippines radio broadcasts and OnePlace.com messages.

Catch Don

OnePlace.com. See details in the Grapevine or online @ www.bibleteachingresources.org.

New! Tour videos: http://www.bibleteachingresources.org/resources/bible-study-resources

40th Anniversary celebration: Trail West (Colorado). See Grapevine or website for information.

We love you,

Donald & Pearl Anderson
Bible Teaching Resources

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (Jam. 1:19-20 NASB).

Join me in worship as we sing verses 1 and 2 of "It Is Well With My Soul": "When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.' Though Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, O, the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul."