Peoria Times
July 15, 2021
RELIGION
13
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Managing yourself from the inside out Columnist
Lately, many people I meet are apprehensive about the future. I can’t blame them. We feel like we have never been this way before, and we know that the world and our country has never been this way before. There is a “whole lot of shaking going on” inside of people, weighing them down like a cement life jacket. The “what if” of the future is staring us in the face. We wonder if anyone knows what to do about it. Pressure and intimidation are always there. Add this to the disappointment of shattered dreams, and it can be overwhelming. Here is a story that catches how many people feel. As a sergeant in a parachute regiment, I took part in several nighttime exercises. Once, I was seated next to a lieutenant fresh from jump school. He was quiet and looked a bit pale, so I struck up a conversation.
8340 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305
Lutheran Church - ELCA
Sunday Bible Study 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Classes for all ages - 7:00 p.m.
Everyone Is Welcome!
11025 N. 111th Ave., Sun City/Youngtown
• Worship Saturday 4pm, Sunday 9:30am • Holy Communion both services • Pancake Breakfast 8-10am Last Saturday Every Month Drive-Thru Only • In-Person Bible Study Wed 6pm Handicap Bus - Call for pickup (24hrs in Advance) 623 340-8232
Pastor Phil Gustofson, Interim Pastor
623-933-1359 shepherdofthedesertelca.org
Email: sodsecretary@qwestoffice.net
SEE MANAGING PAGE 14
Harvest CHurCH
Shepherd of the Desert
10935 W. Olive Ave. Peoria 85345 Phone (623) 972-8479 office@westolive.com www.westolive.com
Are you worried? Corrie Ten Boom once said: “Worry is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength — carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due. Nigerian educator Babatunde Olatunji says, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. What is today? Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present!” You open the present in the present. The Bible states: “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn a life around.” Proverbs 13:12. Most folks look at the unrelenting disappointment part and miss the second part. The Hebrew wording says that a “sudden break will come.” Let’s not forget that God can make sudden breaks come and restore our hope and lives again. When you’re down to nothing, God’s up to something.
Information 623.334.9482
10250 N. 59th Ave. 623-937-9216 Sunday Services: Bible Study ....................................... 9:15 Morning Worship ............................ 10:30 Discipleship Training ........................ 4:45 Evening Worship .............................. 6:00
Dr. Ron G. Rockwell – Pastor
Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. am am pm pm
Wednesdays: TeamKid, Youth Worship Bible Study & Prayer........................6:00 pm Dr. Mark Mucklow, Pastor www.fsbcg.org
Nursery Provided
Wednesday: Family Night 7:00 p.m. www.hcaz.org
Harvest CHurCH 8340 W. Northern
Northern Ave. Glendale Ave.
83rd Ave.
Peoria Times
active with God than reactive without God. Whatever doesn’t kill us has the power to make us stronger. Many times, a crisis is a test. There are many kinds of tests. For example, there is the discouragement test, the purity test, the finding God and asking God to help test, the attitude test, the character test, the patience test and the trust test. You receive a promotion when you pass the test. Don’t walk out of the class. Don’t quit on God or yourself too soon. Promotion often comes after the most significant spiritual battles in life. Instead of thinking, “Why me?” think, “Why not me?” Sometimes we get apprehensive about what other people think of us. Sometimes decisions we made that contributed to our problems are embarrassing to us. Hint: Don’t worry about what other people think about you. What others think about you is none of your business. Most times, if we threw all our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would probably take ours back again. Some people would love to have your worst days.
91st ave.
Pastor Ed Delph
“Scared, lieutenant?” I asked. He replied, “No, just a bit apprehensive.” So, I asked, “What’s the difference?” He replied, “That means I’m scared, but with a university education.” As for the United States, some feel it’s the fall of the Roman Empire, and the only difference is that now we have Wi-Fi. Today, let’s explore the concept of managing ourselves from the inside out. Did you know the Chinese symbol or word for “crisis” is the word “opportunity”? The Chinese see a crisis as an opportunity. They see a crisis as a classroom, teaching us something about life to be learned. Adversity is a way to opportunity. I say it this way: When we miss God, we learn about God. God’s grace recognizes consequences but refuses abandonment. The person who has no inner life is the slave of his surroundings. Managing your inner thoughts is when we don’t get intimidated, stay calm, and uncompromisingly depend on God to make a way where there seems to be no way. Frankly, I would rather be pro-
Fre ewa y
CONNECTION
101
CHURCH-COMMUNITY
