BEWARE OF ANGER IN YOUR LIFE.

Beware of anger in your body. Control your body   and your anger  will be overcome.

Beware of anger in your speech. Control your speech and your anger will be overcome.

Beware of anger in your mind. Guard your mind carefully and overcome your anger with gentleness.

The wise man has control of body, tongue and mind. He is the true master.

Submitted by David YKK

REFLECTING WITH SCHULLER ON SELF-ESTEEM:PRIDE OF BEING A HUMAN BEING IS THE GREATEST EMOTIONAL NEED OF THE HUMAN RACE & THE VITAL KEY TO OUR VERY SURVIVAL.

WHEN ONE'S SELF-ESTEEM IS BADLY DEMOLISHED BY SHAME, THEN ONE WILL PERCEIVE THAT LIFE IS FULL OF INSOLUABLE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE CAPACITY FOR POSSIBILITY THINKING HAS BEEN SEVERELY DIMINISHED.

To gather some meaningful data for writing his book, `Self-Esteem’, Robert H. Schuller commissioned George Gallup Jr. of the Gallup organization to conduct a poll on the self-esteem of the American public more than two decades ago. From this feedback, Schuller distills the following psychological insights, “Now, the poll makes it clear that people who view God as a personal, loving, and forgiving Being, and relate to Him in such a personal way, do develop a strong sense of self-esteem that is exceptionally high and healthy! At the same time, the poll demonstrated that ritualistic attendance at typical church services and the formal recitation of prayers do not in themselves contribute to a positive self-esteem. The facts are clear. The church is failing at the deepest level to generate within human beings that quality of personality that can result in the kinds of persons that would make our world a safe and sane society.”

To reinforce the above insight, Rene Dubos, recognized as an eminent sociobiologist of the 20thC, makes the following perceptive observation, “The most distressing aspect of the modern world is not the gravity of its problems: There have been worse problems in the past. It is the dampening of the human spirit that causes many people, especially in the countries of Western civilization, to lose their pride in being human and to doubt that we will be able to cope with our problems and those of the future.”

Schuller enlightens us by phrasing it in another way- `if we lose our self-esteem, we will cease to be possibility thinkers… the human race faces problems today that finds itself on the edge of catastrophe… Self-esteem then, or “pride in being a human being,” is the single greatest need facing the human race today. Our very survival “as a species depends on hope. And without hope we will lose the faith that we can cope.” ‘

(Adapted from `Self-Esteem: The New Reformation’ by Robert H Schuller.)

Thoughts To Ponder

The basic weakness of the Middle-Eastern mainstream religions is that some of their religious leaders often see things in terms of black or white, or evil or good. There is too much of `self-righteousness’ in this kind of religious perception. The systemic crises that have erupted in these mainstream religions have been significantly aggravated by Western logical thinking that encourages people to downgrade creative thinking and dismiss the vast realm of gray area between the two extreme ends of the spectrum of life. Paradox and ambivalence are simply nonsensical to such religious leaders. Yet we all know that when Einstein propounded his theory of relativity, this rule does not confine itself to the realm of science; it also applies to many areas of human activities and life. Today in the midst of a serious spiritual crisis, it may be beneficial to ponder on the three great gifts of the Taoist philosophy to mankind: simplicity, patience and compassion for oneself. Let us remember that Jesus Christ’s Gospel of Love is predominantly about love- love of God for every human being, love of  human beings for  God & their needy neighbours, and love of every person for himself/herself in times of adversity. To love being human is beautiful in the eyes of God!

Submitted by David YKK

WOUNDED SELF-ESTEEM IS THE ROOT OF MOST FORMS OF SUFFERING OF HUMAN BEINGS IN OUR MODERN TIMES

 

EVEN THE BUGS CAN LOVE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

Robert H. Schuller, the eminent pastor and author of `Self-Esteem- The New Reformation’, is convinced that the deepest of all human needs is salvation from sin and hell. From Schuller’s perspectives, sin is the all-pervasive super-virus that has infected all human behavior and polluted the social institutions and systems at every level of humanity. In his own words, “I perceive the agony of human distance from God and helplessness to be more profound than articulated by classical churchmen. As a result, I see what Paul Tillich calls `The demonic pervading the structures of existence.’ “

Schuller defines sin as `any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity… Sin is that deep lack of trust that separates me from God and leaves me with a sense of shame and unworthiness. I could offer another complementary answer, `Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem.’

Schuller’s definition of `hell’ is “the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God- the ultimate and unfailing source of our soul’s sense of self-respect. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” was Christ’s encounter with hell. In that `hellish’ death, our Lord experienced the ultimate horror- humiliation, shame, and loss of pride as a human being. A person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem. Can you imagine any condition more tragic than to live life and eternity in shame?” 

Schuller enlightens us more on self-esteem which `is the human hunger for the divine dignity that God intended to be our emotional birthright as children created in his image.’

(Adapted from `Self-Esteem: The New Reformation’ by Robert H. Schuller)

Food To Ponder

A wounded self-esteem that is deeply embedded in shame will seriously undermine the religious faith of the victim. This wounded faith or lack of faith is really a profoundly deep sense of unworthiness that is reflected in a lack of trust, a projection of deep inner insecurity. In Schuller’s words, “So the `unsaved’ will be incapable of belief in `salvation by grace.’ The unsaved person cannot perceive himself as worthy of `divine grace’ and hence rejects it. So salvation or the acceptance of God’s forgiving grace will require a miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit.”

Why is the `unsaved’ soul so difficult to reach? The main obstacle lies in the toxic shame inflicted by others that often result in an extremely low self-worth which takes a lot of faith to love. Schuller explains further by saying that `non-self-loving persons do not dare to love. They are afraid they’ll be spurned and rejected…  And why do they fear rejection? Because rejection will only pour salt in the wounds, proving to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, as it further fuels and feeds their low self-esteem!’

Let us practise God’s unconditional love in our life by not judging and condemning others with gossips and shame; thus putting these victims beyond reach of God’s saving grace. Let us always remember Jesus Christ’s supreme commandment, `Love one another as I love you; by this will others know that you are my disciple.’

Submitted by David Alfonse

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