Tag: diabetes

The Danger Of Uncontrolled Anger

Brent Pollard

Hans Bitmez, a 53-year-old member of Turkey’s Islamist Saadet Partisi, recently demonstrated situational irony. Situational irony occurs when a significant difference exists between the expected outcome and the actual unfolding of events. Bitmez delivered a passionate and intense 20-minute rant against Israel, culminating in a poem warning of impending divine retribution. After Bitmez spoke those words, he collapsed from a heart attack. He would die shortly after being taken to the hospital. 

While this situation may appear ironic, my intention is not to imply that it is divine retribution against a man who has expressed strong opposition to Israel. Within generic Christendom, a group of people believe that the modern nation-state of Israel, established in 1948, is the same as the ancient Israel mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. As a result, they invoke the Abrahamic covenant, which states that God blesses those who bless Abraham’s descendants. 

As a result, many people who identify as Christians believe that their country should currently assist the state of Israel. In light of the establishment of the New Testament, I would like to draw their attention to the apostle Paul’s teachings in Galatians 4 regarding the identity of God’s people today. The existence of the New Covenant, according to the author of Hebrews, implies that the Old Covenant is no longer valid (Hebrews 8.13). So, while we, as Christians of American earthy citizenship, may support Israel as a democratic nation and ally in a troubled region of the world, we are not obligated to them because of our faith in the Lord. 

To clarify, I’d like to go over why I chose Hans Bitmez as an illustrative example to examine. Hans Bitmez personifies the reasoning behind the Bible’s proscription against anger. God consistently prioritizes our best interests. God, as our creator, understands the adverse effects of anger on our health. Anger can cause hypertension, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, substance abuse, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, and diabetes. Concerning the causes of these conditions, one must consider the physiological changes that anger can cause, such as increased energy levels, elevated blood pressure, a surge in hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, increased body temperature, and heightened muscle tension.

God warned Cain about anger in this manner: “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4.6-7 NASB 1995). God personified anger in human form. Sin lurked, poised to ambush anyone who stepped out the door. Anger seeks to dominate us, but we must exert authority over it. 

However, it is important to note that God told Cain that his anger showed itself on his face. His demeanor had shifted. Some people may be surprised that others can detect their emotions through subtle cues such as a piercing gaze or a slight lip curl. Our feelings, however, manifest themselves even when we do not express them verbally. Elevated vocal tones, tightened fists, furrowed brows or scowls, a tightly clenched jaw, physical trembling, accelerated heart rate, excessive sweating, and excessive pacing are all signs of anger.

Most importantly, God understood that sin begins in the heart. He wanted Cain to be aware of his rage so he would not sin. Unfortunately, Cain ignores God’s warning and becomes an example for us. Cain demonstrates how anger leads to poor decision-making. Cain’s keen hatred for Abel, which stems from jealousy and resentment, clouds his judgment. This result exemplifies how anger can lead to rash and harmful decisions.

However, violent outbursts followed the unbridled fury. As the story progresses, Cain’s anger builds to a dangerous climax, and he commits the first murder in Biblical history. The fact that this could happen shows how fury can cause drastic, permanent changes. As a result, anger has adverse effects. After murdering Abel, Cain is subject to divine punishment, which includes being marked and banished. This scene from the story shows how damaging it is to let one’s anger fester uncontrollably.

We, too, would do well to listen to Jesus as He chastised the Pharisees for elevating their traditions over God’s word. Jesus says that not what a man ingests defiles him, but rather what comes out of his heart (Matthew 15.18–20). If you note, murder is one of those things Jesus says begins first in the heart. The heart, of course, refers to the seat of all our emotions, like anger.

To conclude, the Hans Bitmez story is a moving reminder of the profound wisdom in biblical teachings about anger and its effects. While not a direct act of divine retribution, his unfortunate demise following a vehement outburst against Israel highlights the physical and spiritual dangers of uncontrolled anger. This incident is reminiscent of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, in which unchecked rage resulted in tragic outcomes. It is a modern-day parallel that demonstrates the timeless relevance of Biblical principles. As Christians, Jesus calls us to exercise restraint and wisdom, understanding that our emotions, particularly anger, have the potential to lead us off the path of God. This story encourages us to heed the Biblical warning to master our anger, or it will master us. By doing so, we align ourselves with good health practices and a spiritual ethos that promotes peace, self-control, and the well-being of our souls.

Why Travel The Road Less Taken?

Neal Pollard

Gunnar Garfors is the youngest “hobby traveler” to have visited every country in the world. He’s written a book about it, entitled 198: How I Ran Out Of Countries. I have not read the book, but his website offers a very interesting article on The 25 Least Visited Countries in the Whole Wide World. Guess which one is least visited. He tells us, statistically, it is Nauru, a Pacific island country with no capital and no armed forces. It is 8.1 square miles in size, having only 10,000 inhabitants. They have the world’s highest level of type 2 diabetes and the highest obesity rate in the world (97% of men and 93% of women are overweight or obese). It has no seaport and no daily news publications. Perhaps some or all of these factors lead this country to be most frequently avoided by travelers, but somebody has to own that distinction (read more here: Independent UK, BBC, and Gunnar Garfors).  Perhaps none of these facts inspire you to work to help Nauru lose its notorious tourism distinction.

Robert Frost wrote his famous poem about the two roads which diverged in a yellow wood. He took the one less traveled by, and that made all the difference.  It appears he may have actually stood before such a fork, but he used the experience to speak metaphorically. We can all appreciate this figurative choice. We must choose a path in life, and the one we choose does make all the difference!

Jesus uses such a metaphor to describe the way of life we choose on this earth. He says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mat. 7:13-14). In this familiar passage, He gives us multiple reasons why we should take His way.

  • Its aim (“leads to life”).
  • Its alternative (“leads to destruction”).
  • Its autonomy (it is a road each one chooses to “enter through”; it is not arbitrarily chosen for us).
  • Its assumption (one must choose between these two, and no other, ways).
  • Its accessibility (it can be “entered” and “found”).
  • Its attainability (Jesus says “few” find it and not “none” find it).
  • Its associability (one is not absolutely alone, for there are “few” rather than “none”).

Jesus compares our brief time on this earth with a road trip. We are not fated to stay on the broad way, but we are not unconditionally guaranteed a spot on the narrow road. As Frost surveyed the two paths and made his choice, so must we. Jesus says we make this decision daily (cf. Lk. 9:23). And our choices determine which path we are traveling. Be deliberate and prepared for this arduous journey that terminates all too quickly. The right choice is the one less taken and most avoided, but take it anyway!

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That’s the whole country of Nauru

LIZARD SPIT

Neal Pollard
It is not an interjection or obscure, Cowboy euphemism. It is one of the latest weapons in the fight for weight loss. In fact, it was approved a few years ago by the FDA to be used in the treatment of especially type two diabetes. The drug, exenatide, contains a chemical that is found is the saliva of the poisonous Gila monster. There are chemical explanations for why the reptile’s oral emission is effective in weight loss, but the result is that a growing number are clamoring for it to be made available for use in the battle of the bulge. To curb enthusiasm, one might want to consider the long-term effects of exenatide as there have been several reports of pancreatitis among users of the drug (for more info on this, see http://www.wgal.com/health/).
It is human nature to look for shortcuts and substitutes. Often, this can be a good thing as we look to be more efficient, better time managers, or discoverers of that which contributes to better quality of life. However, it can also betray a tendency to look for the easy way out rather than choosing a path that leads to the best, long-term solution. Whether it is in matters relating to finance, weight-loss, work productivity, or spirituality, the quick fix or easy substitute is not usually the best choice. In fact, it can even prove counterproductive.
Lizard spit in shot form might be easier than diet and exercise, but it does not sound like a good first choice. Getting “our Bible” only from the preacher is not a viable substitute for personal study. Letting man tell us that some other way leads to salvation will not take the place of obeying what the Lord says in His word about how to be saved. Self-reliance is no stand-in for prayer. Instant gratification is not the same as self-denial, whatever excuse or rationalization we make. No matter if it’s the old proverbial peddler of “snake oil” or the new medical expert promoting lizard spit, it is much the same. Remember that the path of least resistance is the quickest way to erosion. Do not accept substitutes!