Mark’s provocative title helped us to look at the topic of anger. Last night’s focus was on our anger; the next Bible study will be on God’s anger, with the homework to consider the question ‘What makes God angry?’

We live in an age of rage, where anger is visible all around us. By studying anger and its power, we can learn self-control so that we do not lose our temper when frustrated or annoyed. Anger can be defused at times by our understanding of circumstances and by our calm response; it can also be defused through love and forgiveness.

Different things cause us to be angry. James 1:19-20 TNIV advises us on how to avoid anger: by being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Our anger does not bring about the rightous life that God requires. Our anger usually escalates tense situations and makes things worse.

Eph 4:31-32 TNIV shows us the proper reaction we should have: being kind, compassionate, forgiving. Romans 12:19-21 TNIV takes it a step further, urging us not to take revenge but to show mercy to our enemeis. We are not to be overcome by evil (or by anger), but to overcome evil (and anger) with good.

Matthew 5:22 TNIV urges us not to be angry with our brothers and not to judge them. Anger so easily leads to sin, even though it may not be sinful in itself. Anger, if uncontrolled, can lead to foolish words (and even filthy language) – see Colossians 3:8 TNIV.

Ps 4:4 TNIV gives us good advice to cool down, to lie on our beds, search our hearts and take time out to reflect. Prov 22:24-25 TNIV also gives good advice, urging us to avoid spending too much time with hot-tempered people. Ps 37:8 TNIV also warns of the dangers of anxiety, for fretting often leads to anger and sin.

Christian ways to avoid anger include:
1) having gentle answers to defuse wrath (Prov 15:1 TNIV)
2) being patient (Prov 15:18 TNIV)
3) seeking calm and searching our own hearts first (Ps 4:4 TNIV) – often we need to identify what it is that is really eating away at us!
4) learning not to sin while we are angry (Eph 4:26-27TNIV).
5) learning the way of love, which is the perfect answer to anger (1 Cor 13:4-5 TNIV). If we have the love of God in us and working through us, it will be directed towards other.
6) worship and prayer (1 Tim 2:8 TNIV).

Here is a further update from Steve & Katuska Davies, about to go out to Mozambique:

“It’s proving to be a memorable summer. The Little Ice Age came to an end, spring rather hurried through and now the sun is gazing indulgently even on the west of Scotland! Some of us, meaning Steve and the boys, have been sleeping out in the tent just to keep cool. Strawberries and cream are everywhere, Murray won Wimbledon (to herald a new golden age in Anglo-Scottish relations) and the First Test at Trent Bridge is warming up. Surely any Brits in their right minds wouldn’t be thinking of going abroad just now?

And yet, there we’ll be in three weeks’ time: at the Emirates check-in desk, with our worldly goods condensed into five fat suitcases and a clutch of documents to prove it’s really happening. This will be the summer that we go to Mozambique.

The latest stages of the journey have gone well. We’ve managed to revisit many good friends; Burnside Blairbeth Church treated us to a moving farewell and commissioning service; the boys finished school with good reports; we’ve driven south to visit Steve’s family. Still to come is a trip to Belfast for our niece Astrid’s wedding and a week’s camp for the boys. Otherwise, packing.

Thank you so much for your prayers! Our God has been faithful, has kept us on track and confirmed his will for us. Please keep praying in two areas: first for the boys, because in the middle of all the packing they still need our attention, and if they don’t get it we only tend to find out later; and second for visas and other bureaucracy, because despite our best efforts we’re at the mercy of other people, and their computers.”

I recently read a prayer that I think is relevant to the church’s prayer topic of healing this month. This is the ‘Collect for St Luke the Evangelist’ which says:
“Almighty God, who called Luke the physician, whose praise is in the gospel, to be an evangelist and physician of the sould: may it please You, that by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed: through the merits of Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Here is another prayer on healing I have read recently:
“Lord of all power, I hurt. My body isn’t functioning as it needs to function. I am in pain. But You already know all that. I’m not coming to tell You what is wrong, but to ask You to do what is right and best for me. As it fits Your plans, heal me; mend my body and my mind and grant me days of better health and renewed strength. As I wait, give me an extra measure of endurance, patience, and perseverance. When my energy to press forward is lacking, pour Your power into me like a fresh mountain stream flowing into a beautiful lake. Lord, I know You are able to heal; I know it with the utmost confidence. Grant me now the wisdom to understand Your timing and the courage to accept Your healing. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Jeremiah 17:14 TNIV talks of the Lord as healer:

I think Mark would also agree with this sentiment!

“We have an unassailable future in the benevolent plans of God.” (Charlie Cleverly, ‘Epiphanies of the Ordinary’ P 130)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jer 29:11 TNIV)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31 TNIV)

It may be true that laughter is the best medicine, but it’s not always easy to laugh when illness or pain hit us. Pain concentrates the mind and it’s difficult to think of anything else. On Sunday night, Mark began the first of four sermons in July looking at the topic of healing.

We can need healing in different areas: physical, mental or spiritual. The good news is that Jesus is our healer. Matt 4:23-24 TNIV tells us ‘Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.’

Jesus’s first priority was to teach and to preach the gospel. He wanted men to know the salvation offered by God. Salvation is the gateway to our perfect healing. He healed people out of His love for them and was able to heal ‘every disease and sickness’. Nothing is too difficult for Him. He healed out of His love for people and out of a desire for God to get the glory in every situation.

One of the things which prevent us from receiving healing from God is a stiff-necked and stubborn attitude (see Acts 7:51 TNIV). A literal stiff neck is incredibly painful and does not allow us to move our heads freely; it narrows our vision and prevents us from having a whole view of GOd. God has, sadly, often found His people – the recipients of His blessing and grace – to be stiff-necked, stubborn, deaf (see Ex 32:9 TNIV.) It is a dangerous place to be when we resist God. All of us can be incredibly stubborn and can resist Him, but there is, as Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 TNIV reminds us, a time for everything, including a time to heal.

Mark concluded with three searching questions:
1) Do we believe God can heal?
2) Do we need healing?
3) What are we going to do about that?

The service ended with prayer for healing, as it will each Sunday night during July. It is too important a topic to ignore and we can pray not only for those in the meeting but also for our friends, families, neighbours and work colleagues who need to know that our God heals.

Alan and Janet hosted a quiz about fictional doctors for us. This was, quite obviously, the best quiz ever:

Winners with 23 points:

Alan and Janet showing prizes:

Active participation:

Other winners: