“No” is Not a Curse Word
Prepared for:
Harlem Park Elementary School
1401 Lafayette Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217
19 September 2012
Prepared by:
Elder William James Carter, The 1st
© The Christian Perspective
“No” is Not a Curse Word
All too often parents work tirelessly for their families and those that surround them. But that work comes a great cost. That cost is that parents are often stressed, worn out, tired, impatient, underfed and the like. With that bad health is often not only at the door but sitting in the easy chair. When this happens parents are not good for themselves or their children. They have said yes way too often to way too many people for all the wrong reasons.
Saying yes is proper and right but not always necessary. There is no need to say yes to everybody for everything because it will have a negative impact. One impact, as noted is stress. But what is stress? There are two forms of stress; one good and the other not so much. The first form of stress is eustress which is a positive stress that provides energy for us. It is the kind of stress that is useful for creativity as well as getting us out of dangerous situations. For instance, if we are cross the street and suddenly a car comes streaming down the road we are suddenly filled with certain adrenalin that allows us to run across the street to safety.
The second type of stress is called distress. Some synonyms for distress are:
This, however, is not the whole of negative stress. There is another term for negative stress which is hyperstress. Hyperstress is the compilation of a number of negative stressors which makes a person feel like there is no hope. Feelings of depression can seep in which makes the stress all the worse. Unchecked stress can:
Much of this stress can be alleviated if we simply learn to say “no”. Many seem to think that saying no is a curse word. That is many see denying others their services as being an obscenity or blasphemous. It is not. Not only is it OK to say no but often it is necessary to say no. For instance; if your child wants you to buy him $200.000 pair of tennis shoes but budget not only disallows it but he just received a new pair of tennis shoes at the start of the school year. It is OK to say no if only because there is no need for them.
And then there are the neighbors. They need this and they need that. Milk is needed for the baby but the store is two blocks away and she just came from the store. And then there are other needs of neighbors that really are not needs rather they are desires that have little to no necessity. But in the mind of the one seeking your help it is not only urgent but an emergency. But you just arrived home from work and dinner needs to be prepared. You are tired and the kids need help with their homework. Not only that you have to prepare for the next day’s work. It is OK to say no. This is a small part of the picture of the working parent because there are many other aspects to their lives. This is a list of things most of us are involved in or with:
With all this going on it is quite easy for a life to fall out of balance. In his book Margin Dr. Richard A. Swenson outlines steps to “restore balance.” Those steps are:
Above all say NO when you need to and when you want to. It is OK to pamper yourself. So,
Once again I find I must make this writing personal in order to clearly make my point. You see, I know what it means to be overlooked. I have experienced that most of my life. In fact, I was told on many occasions that I was no good and that I would never amount to anything. Yes, I have been overlooked on many occasions as well. Now, don’t misunderstand. This is not always the case; it is just when I go to some churches and certain other functions. For instance, in the company of my Bishop many choose to turn their backs toward me even if the Bishop and I are conversing. Yes, that is just one way in which I have been overlooked. Still, God has not turned his back on me and speaks to me face-to-face.
In spite of all the heartache and pain I have come to realize that I have not been overlooked. Sure, this brief article might sound like it is about me. It is not. I just want those who seem disenfranchised and who are downcast to know that there is hope. You are not walking alone and have not been forgotten. In fact, the converse is true. You have Jesus on your side as long as you are walking upright. After all God honours the upright heart. No, don’t you dare fret and you had better not give in. You have not been forgotten and you have not been overlooked. Be comforted in the fact that God will never leave you nor will He forsake you. You are the apple of His eye.
Even though I have been through some difficult times those times did not destroy me. I suspect the same is true of all that read this. Yes, there have been tears. There has been immeasurable pain. Some may have even considered suicide. Some may be considering suicide even now. Well, don’t you do it! Don’t you dare harm yourself! You are loved and you have not overlooked. God has a plan for your life and that plan includes good and not evil. So, as Charlotte the spider would say, chin up!
If truth be told I am not a nobody. I am somebody and have grown into and am continuing to grow into what God would have me to be. Neither are you a nobody. You are a child of the Most High. You are the head and not the tail. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and an heir of God and joint heir of Christ. You are somebody and have not been overlooked. You are somebody so I would encourage you to no longer walk in the yoke of bondage which seeks to cause you despair. Instead, walk in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free. You are somebody and have not been overlooked!
By Dan from Squirrel Hill
Posted on August 15, 2013. Updated on July 13, 2015.
As the author of this blog post, I place it into the public domain. Anyone may freely copy it in any part or in its entirely, without asking my permission, and without paying any money. I do ask you please cite a link to http://danfromsquirrelhill.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/obama-252/
I ask you to please show this list to as many people as possible – and especially, to please show it to as many Obama supporters as possible. Sunshine really is the best disinfectant. I can’t stop Obama from doing any of these horrible things, but I can tell people about what he is doing. So please share this list with others on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Thank you. The short link for this is http://tinyurl.com/ku9vxug
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In light of what is going on with Bill Cosby I thought I’d reblog this.
There is no big secret concerning the fact that I am not a fan of sports. In fact many that know me will quickly let you know that if I never saw another football, baseball, basketball or anything of the like my life would not be moved one way or the other. This is not to say that I am not concerned about some issues that surround sports and the athletes that make sports so popular. One thing that is ever present is the idea that sports figures serve as role models for much of the country. While there is little doubt that many of these athletes are wonderful and upstanding people I am not certain that I would hold any of them to the level of role model for me or those that I so care about.
I recall not long ago I was invited to an event in…
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Looking back at history it becomes extremely evident that many of our predecessors lived under the hand of certain slavery. While not all the slavery had to do with limitations imposed by man there was certainly slavery that limited mankind. Consider for a moment the bondage Adam found himself in. His decision to disobey God placed him in rather precarious situation. On one hand he was immediately inundated with a lot of knowledge but Adam became bound by that knowledge because the realization of sin became the centerpiece of his limited understanding.
It was always God’s desire that man be free of sin but disobedience caused man to be enslaved by sin. God would not be deterred by man’s rebellion but rather he put in place a plan that would free man from the destruction of sin. With that God used about forty men over the period of…
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The fact is that some things going on in this country are rather disheartening. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right. Those of us who stand for righteousness are called everything except the children of God. The ungodly are getting louder and louder as institutions such as the Supreme Court provide license to ventures that God has called an abomination. With the lawlessness of the Supreme Court and the will of some to tear at the fabric of this nation it seems to me that those choosing righteousness and holiness need not kowtow to the moral decadents of the day. It is my hope that many will stand with me because I am gonna keep on preaching the Word of the Most High God.
A couple years ago I was told that I rail too much against homosexuality. I was preaching against the abomination in writing and behind the pulpit. I could see the agenda manifesting itself to what is now an acceptance of this act by many. The problem is that this acceptance of wrong is nothing new. For instance, lies have been accepted by many because to some lies can be protective. Well, the protective nature of lies has yet to be determined. The fact is that God is not One who takes well to lies and has declared that all liars shall have their place in the lake that burns with fire (Revelation 21:8). The interesting thing is the text states that “all” liars will have their part in lake of fire. Hence, I am compelled to and I am gonna keep preaching on the danger of lying.
The matter of lies does not hold a lot of steam insofar as political correctness goes. It seems that all know it is wrong and many choose to live a life of lies. Consider, for instance, Bruce Jenner (I’m about to get in trouble now). Here is a man of renown deciding that he is no longer a male rather he is a female. There is little doubt by those with just a little discernment that this man has been troubled for a number of years. There is hurt and pain hidden well below the cloak of his transgender disguise. God made him a wonderful man yet he decided that he would be bold and come out of the “closet” as a woman. He has been hailed as brave and heroic for such revelation. Unfortunately his hurt and pain are still there. This is not to mention the fact that his gender “change” smacks God in the face. This, at the very root, is uncleanness to which God is not pleased.
Now, the Supreme Court must be highlighted again. This time a look at the Affordable Care Act (what a misnomer) was placed before the Court. The questions surrounding subsidies was at hand. The plain language of the law was apparent yet the members of the Court decided the law did not mean what was plainly written. As such, the Court essentially rewrote the law. Dare I say, and I am no lawyer, it is not the job of the Court to rewrite law rather it is purposed to interpret law in light of the Constitution. This did not happen in the opinion of the majority. Instead the Court decided what the intent was ignoring what was written. This is lawlessness at its core.
Now we have a country torn. There are some that have taken up arms against those with whom they disagree. Consider the murders most recently in South Carolina. There was no reason for this young man to kill except that his unfounded hatred began to control his actions. The problem is that he is not alone. Christians are targeted on many fronts and this seems ok in the eyes of some. However, if there is one word said against Islam all of a sudden the world is in turmoil. Well, I have not time to worry about the social nuances of the day. I have to uphold the Gospel no matter who is offended. While it is not my intention to offend anyone the Gospel is an offense to those who choose to live contrary to its standard. Yes, I’m gonna keep on preaching not just behind the pulpit but also in the life I live.
The word of God clearly says that homosexuality is wrong in both the Old and New Testaments. This does not matter to some though. After the Supreme Court’s opinion was made public there was some that took to dancing in the streets in celebration of this ungodly declaration. Well, another problem has arisen that many will not even touch. Well, I have no choice and I’m gonna keep on preaching. You see, Galatians 5:21 warns against revellings and things like unto it. Revelling is the drunken public celebrations of immorality. How many times have we seen homosexuals celebrate with little to no clothes on which would otherwise be counted as indecent? Well, enough is enough. I have had my fill of social issues of the day seeking to tell me what to preach and what not to preach.
I am gonna keep on preaching the Gospel no matter what is said. I have already had horrendous things said about me and all I have done is repeat the Scripture. Galatians goes on to show that those that celebrate a number of offenses will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Those are not my words rather the Word of the Holy Writ. I will not attempt to pacify nor will I seek to appease. I have been called to preach the Gospel without compromise and as such I’m gonna keep on preaching. Is there anybody preaching with me?
Thank you for standing firm on the teachings of the Most High!
preachercarter 