Jordan and his Master's Thesis

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (New International Version)

He who doesn’t forgive but keeps record of wrongs, abandons the human and holds on to the evil; love however abandons the evil and holds on to the human. (Friedrich Lang)

A couple of minutes ago I returned from my dentist’s appointment. The funny thing is that I remembered something I read some days ago while sitting in that comfy dentist’s chair.

When was the last time you had an argument with somebody? If you get offended by someone are you looking for a way to pay him/her back? Or do you keep calm and stay under control? If you are treated unfairly do you react with anger? If that’s the case, you are spreading poison instead of medicine!

Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment or grief. You don’t get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows out of our own selfishness, foolishness, or evil motives.

Patience, however, makes us wise. It doesn’t rush to judgement but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgement.
(S. Kendrick & A. Kendrick)

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
Proverbs 14:29 (New Living Translation)

Patience is, where love meets wisdom. And every relationship needs that combination to stay healthy. (S. Kendrick & A. Kendrick)

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (New Living Translation)

Demonstrate patience! Say nothing negative to others even if they hurt you! If you get tempted, choose not to say anything. It is better to keep quiet than to say something you might regret!

I had to think about this while sitting in the dentist’s chair. She had to do a dental imprint of my mandible (for adjusting my braces) so I was forced to enter the state of silence
Perhaps the next time I’m in a dispute with somebody I can remember to put on a lockjaw again