James 1

James 1:19 ¶ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

 20  for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Anybody can become angry-that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way-that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Proverbs 17:27 ¶ A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

 28  Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Seek first to understand then to be understood. - Steven Covey

Hurling humor like hand grenades is a popular sport. We think it's acceptable to pull the pin on our anger as long as we toss it in a casing of humor. The problem is it's still explosive, and someone ends up hurt.

   How many times have you heard or said, "I was only kidding?" If we have to defend our humor regularly, chances are we're not as funny as we think.

   A good humor rule is, if it hurts someone it isn't funny. Just because people are laughing doesn't mean what we said was appropriate.

   Don't use humor as a hideout from tender, honest relationships. A healthy sense of humor is a precious gift intended to promote good news, good health and goodwill.

n      Patsy Clairmont, adapted from Under His Wings. Marriage Partnership, Vol. 12, no.

For thirty years Jesus did nothing, then for three years He stormed every time He went down to Jerusalem.  Josephus says He tore through the Temple courts like a madman.  We hear nothing about that Jesus Christ today.  The meek and mild Being pictured today makes us lose altogether the meaning of the Cross.  We have to find out why Jesus was beside Himself with rage and indignation at the Pharisees and not with those given over to carnal sins. 

   Which state of society is going to stand a ripping and tearing Being like Jesus Christ Who drags to the ground the highest respected pillars of its civilized society, and shows that their respectability and religiosity is built on a much more abominable pride than the harlot's or the publican's?  The latter are disgusting and coarse, but these have the very pride of the devil in their hearts. 

n      Oswald Chambers in The Highest Good.  Christianity Today, Vol. 33, no. 1.