...and in this corner, weighing in at nealry 300 pounds, with a record of no wins of his own to spreak of,3 draws, and 100's of losses mostly by knockout, including one of the draws, called by most "Christmas", meaning "Slower than Christmas"...

soon as my hands quit hurtin,

my nose quits bleedin,

my head quits throbbin,

my face quits achin,

my tears dry up,

my heart quits quiverin,

Ima gonna grease your noggin to the floor!

Bub.

Well! I Never!

It makes me so angry when somebody thinks they have the right to tell me I should not get angry...who do they think they are. Then this guy Getz tells me it is ok to get angry but only if I am driving crooks, deceivers, and sellers of morality out of the church building. Or, at least, he says I should not be insulting, overbearing and threatening to others when I explain to them how and when they seem to be doing things which I am wondering why they are doing them without at least consulting me first.
I like the reference to James 1: 19-20

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Overcoming Self -Centeredness means becoming better centered

Some of these last sections I have already touched upon earlier, but I suppose it will not hurt (me) too much if I fly by them again. I have known people who were strong willed, always going about their business without a distraction. But if someone were to bring up a legitimate complaint about their focused behaviour in accomplishing what they were, many times these strong willed(accidently selfish) people will be taken aback enough to pause and consider their endeavour, and perhaps even to amend it so that others are not offended or slighted so much by what is happening about them. On the other hand some folks are just insecure enough to, if not ignore the complaint, direct blame for the complaint in some other direction than perhaps where it legitimately belongs with 'yours truly'. These type people are not strong willed but rather selfish by intent.
It seems unfair that strong willed people who were over-indulged(spoiled?) as youngsters now have the inside track on regaining their composure and correcting their ways while the one who was overly restricted must find some outside help to deal with the neuroses and deepseated foibles they have developed and glom onto no matter the obvious consequence. This chapter has ignited in myself some very trying prayers and introspection that can often lead me into deep research whereby, after sloshing through a cloud of confusion, I find that the best thing for me to do is hold fast to the faith which I have been given and let God work on the meanness and selfishness I have uncovered in myself. I start to ready a list of names that take on something of the characteristic of Earl's list of Thursday night TV fame. I begin to remember people I need to at least apologize to if not correct past misdeeds or slights I have thrown their way(or in their way).

mea culpa

My study of prayer through Baylor U's 'Christain Reflection' has converged
with my study of Getz'z 'The Measure of a Man' to uncover a flaw in my skin, surely not my heart. To wit: I find it easy to hide in the multitude of scriptures and avoid religion (personal application of the
living Word)...maybe scripture, rather than religion, is a word we need to revise its usage.

see what I mean?

so duplicity and contrivance become machinations of otherwise good and true habit and occupation lending themselves rather to self empowerment and self protection which stems, of course, from selfishness.

Lord I believe! help thou my unbelief! Mark 9:24b