NOT YELLING

In James chapter 1, we read about some principles that can be helpful when we are encountering
opposition in our lives. First of all, let's take verses 5 and 6:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Now, let's drop down to verse 12:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Then, it's verses 19 and 20:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Three principles here: rely on Godly wisdom, not on our own.  We are blessed when we endure temptation.  And, we are to stand against anger.   They're related, you see:  if we are trusting in God's wisdom, I believe He will give us peace.  His peace - and His strength - are available to stand in temptation. Plus, we can adopt that posture in whatever circumstances, not reacting in anger, but responding in faith.

+++++

In John chapter 16, Jesus exhorts His disciples to take advantage of His resources when we face tribulation:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Once upon a time, before our weather was available on a multiplicity of sources and brought to us via the Internet, you would have your National Weather Service official forecast that would come over one machine with a printer.

The forecasts were delivered in a cold, hard format with ALL CAPITAL LETTERS - until recently.

According to a piece on The Stream website, the National Weather Service (NWS) has finally announced it will no longer be sending out weather reports using all capital letters — a feat that’s only taken the bureaucracy 20 years to complete. A NWS press release on the change in weather bulletins said, “Better late than never, but the slow change was not for lack of trying."

The change was announced in that press release that said, “FORECASTS WILL STOP YELLING AT YOU.” For decades, NWS weather reports were sent over the wire in only capital letters because the teleprinters they used only allowed bulletins to be written that way.

The article points out that in the Internet age, "something written in all capital letters is generally meant to convey anger or alarm. It’s the way you yell at someone over the Web, and NWS will finally change over all their old equipment so they can use lower-case letters. And it only took 20 years."

The press release says that, “The National Weather Service has proposed to use mixed-case letters several times since the 1990s, when widespread use of the Internet and email made teletype obsolete." It also states that, "Meteorologists will still be able to use all upper-case typeset for 'weather warnings to emphasize threats during extremely dangerous situations.'" Plus, "Certain forecast products with international implications, such as aviation and shipping, will continue to use upper case letters, per international agreements that standardize weather product formats across national borders,” according to the weather service.

What a relief!  No longer will the official forecasts be YELLING at us.  Now, I have to admit, I still will use caps in my subject lines, so if you get an e-mail from me, that will be part of the equation. But, one has to certainly be careful about tone when you are dealing with e-mail.

And, that is one of the first takeaways.  I am definitely an e-mail person - so if you want to contact me, that's generally the way to go.  But, it is difficult to convey tone sometimes in a written format.  I think that's where a smiley face or some other emoticon can soften the blow if you're dealing with information that could be taken the wrong way.  And, I will concede at times a personal conversation may be more effective in communicating in the way you would intend.

It's all about communicating effectively, and we recognize that we are representatives of the Kingdom of God, so message - and method - are important.  The right things said in the right way can make the right connection. But, if we are strident in our approach and even express ourselves with a tinge of frustration or outright anger, that short-circuits what we're trying to get across.

Culturally speaking, it's easy to become angry with the way things are these days.  The furtherance of secularism, the helpless feeling that our moral perspective is not being heard, the outright inability, it seems, of political leaders to get things done, can all produce a sense of anger and frustration.  We can be challenged as believers to offer a better approach - sure, we have a right to be concerned, but our Lord told His disciples that there would be tribulation, but to possess "good cheer."  That is not a flippant, uncaring attitude, but it is a sense of deep, fulfilling joy resulting from the hope that is within us.