Being Phlegmatic

 

My word of the week, this past, was phlegmatic; an adjective, which means unemotional, composed; sluggish. I thought for a moment as to whom this word might describe and a farmer or rancher seemed to fit the bill. Then I just happened across an article, “A Old Farmer’s Advice” I thought I’d share. * Life ain’t about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce. * Words that soak into your ear are whispered, not yelled. * Meanness don’t jest happen overnight. * Forgive your enemies. It messes up their head. * Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. * It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge. * You can’t unsay a cruel word. * Every path has a few puddles. * Don’t judge folks by their relatives. * Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time. * Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none. * The easiest way to eat cow is while it’s still warm, ‘cause the colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller. * If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’. * Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got. * The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably every have to deal with - watches you shave every mornin’. * Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. * Live simple. Love generously. Care deeply. Leave the rest to God. Oh, that we all had the mind of a phlegmatic.

[John 14:15-21] “I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't; than live as if there isn't, and die to find out that there is.” Albert Camus. There is a disinterest in spiritual matters within our country. People do not attach an importance to morality like they did in the past. Our nation is fading in its description of being a “Christian” nation as people were in the habit of naming it in days gone by. What can one do to help reestablish our “Christian Nation” status? First; God must remain in control. I know it often doesn’t seem like it. Sometimes it seems more like Satan is the one running the universe. But the Creator and Sustainer of the universe still reigns from heaven. Ultimately, he will be honored and glorified whereas sinful mankind will be rendered their due. God will have the final say. Second; Remember “…that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). This statement was true some two thousand years ago and it remains an accurate assessment for the world today. The very reason Jesus “…gave himself for our sins…” and died on the cross was to “…rescue us from the present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). When we hear about all the ungodliness going on in the society today we often say to ourselves, “Yep, it is just as God said it would be!” Third; God respects free, moral agency. By this I mean that God created humans as free with the ability to make choices, both good and bad. God will allow people to reject Him and live wicked lives if they so desire. God will not force anyone to serve and obey Him. That must be a voluntary decision on the part of all individuals. As a result the masses all too often chose to not follow the will of God. This is why evil exists in our society today. Fourth; The wicked will be held accountable. There will be a reckoning. All of the ungodliness that characterizes our society will be actions God condemns on the Day of Judgment. God is holy. He is just. We must reject evil (Colossians 3:5-9). Fifth; The godly must remain faithful and true no matter what happens. The message in the book of Revelation is “overcome” - to be victorious over Satan and his evil influences. “…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Nothing is impossible with God