February 13, 2021

Dear Road Church Friends,

This week I continue my thoughts on the subject of anger, and ask the question, “what made Jesus angry?” We don’t usually associate that problematic emotion with Jesus because Scripture says that “human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” Anger can be a slippery slope into sin, but Jesus’ righteous anger shows that is not necessarily the case. Jesus’ anger was directed at the right people, to the right degree, at the right time, and for the right purpose. His anger was tempered by compassion and intended to achieve a positive outcome. Jesus is a model of how to be angry and not sin.

Our scripture reading this Sunday is Mark 3:1-6, Sermon title: “Anger Management According to Jesus”    Jesus went to the synagogue again. This time there was a man there with a withered hand. A group of Pharisees was there to see if he would perform a healing on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. Knowing this, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

On this President’s Day weekend I give you this poem by the great American poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, Carl Sandberg.

THE FAITH OF LINCOLN

I believe the will of God prevails,

Without Him all human reliance is vain,

Without the assistance of that Divine Being I cannot succeed,

With that assistance I cannot fail.

I believe I am a humble instrument in the hands

Of our Heavenly Father,I desire that all my works and acts

Be according to His will,

And that it may be so that I give thanks to the Almighty

And seek His aid.

Blessings to all,

Pastor Norm

Sunday, February 14, 2021 Road Church service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iQw920YiJ7M