The Grudge

In 2004 a horror movie was released that was widely popular at the time. The name of this movie was “The Grudge”. I never saw this movie and I don’t know what it’s about, I’m not a big horror movie fan, but what I do know, is that for a horror movie, you couldn’t pick a better title. Grudges, it’s something that many people struggle with because face it, its human nature. When we feel we are wronged, we have a natural tendency to bottle up the emotion and carry a chip on our shoulder for many, many years. Some people go their whole lives harboring a deep seeded anger and hatred for something often completely insignificant.  I’m not saying don’t get angry, because due to human nature, people will upset you. It’s HOW you deal with this anger that determines whether or not you will be a slave to a grudge, or able to find an inner peace and forgiveness.

Anger, it is one of, if not the strongest and most dangerous human emotion. I saw a quote once that said, “Anger is one letter short of danger”. How true. Its anger that has led to many friendships lost many spouses and children abused, countless families torn apart, not to mention all the assaults and homicides throughout history. Anger can also lead to inner suffering, in Star Wars, Jedi Master Yoda said “Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering”. The Star Wars movies also teach that anger and hate are paths to “the dark side”. It makes perfect sense. When people let their anger take over them, you can almost see the dark cloud hanging over them. So how do we prevent this “dark cloud” from following us?

The first thing to do is not bottle it up. When we become angry, we need to take a deep breath and calmly explain to the person who wronged us what happened. A lot of the anger issues we face can simply be resolved by communication. Communication sometime seems like a lost art in society. Time goes by so fast and we stay so busy that when it becomes necessary to communicate, we never have the time. Secondly, and most importantly, we should give our anger to God. Pray and ask God for guidance. He will never lead you astray. When we talk to God, he listens.

In life, people are going to let us down. The presence of sin on the Earth will always be prevalent. Because of that, we are going to have moments where we are angry. What will you do with it? Will you control it? Or, will you live your life in a horror movie called “THE GRUDGE”? The choice is yours!

Life with two fathers

Today is one of the most important days of the year. Father’s day is special because we get to honor the men who, more than anyone else, shape and mold us into the people we become. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful father that has really meant a lot to me in my life. I also want to tell you about my OTHER father. I actually have not one, but two great, wonderful fathers. Just to be clear, I only have one earthly father, the other, is my HEAVENLY father, the Almighty God. Both my earthly biological father and my heavenly father have molded me and raised me to be who I am today and for that I am extremely grateful.

On May 25, 1990, Robert Shipman Jr, was given the gift and responsibility of raising me, his first born child. As I was his first child, I can only imagine the pressure that he now faced that day, charged by God to take this baby boy and love him and care for him, and to raise him to be a biblical man. Through the years as I grew up, I learned more and more that everything my dad did in terms of raising and discipline, were preparing me for life. Looking back when I think about how hard he was on me at times, he was in fact, preparing me for life, which is hard. Nobody is perfect, my dad made mistakes, everyone does, but when he made them, they were not really mistakes, they were lessons to me. From the mistakes of my father, I learn from his example for when someday, I too, become a father. My father is to this day, a great and Godly man that I can turn to when I have a problem. My heavenly father is the very first person I turn to in the storms of life, but rest assured, my next call, is to my dad.

In the fall of my senior year in high school, my parents got a divorce. It was the hardest time in my life. I could not have survived this period had it not been for my heavenly father. Even though he is my heavenly father, he is with me 24/7. God has brought me through so many rough times and trials in my life that are too numerous to count. Where my earthly father has a job and may not always be able to talk or help at a given moment, God is always a prayer away. There is no limit to what God can do for his children, he never gives them more then they can handle. If you need help, all you have to do is simply talk to him, read his word and have a relationship with him.

I have thoroughly enjoyed and will continue to enjoy my life with two fathers. Both are there for me for better or for worse, anytime, anywhere. Both have been such a blessing in my life that I would not be able to function without either one. My earthly father is someone I can go to for advice and opinions on anything I need and I know he will have my best interest in heart and always love and care for me. But he is only human. My heavenly father, is someone I can just go to. Here is the main differences between the two, my dad, can always listen, will help me when he can and give me the nest advice he can. God will always be there, he doesn’t grow old, he knows what I need BEFORE I need it and through his word, gives perfect advice because he is a perfect God. It takes both fathers to raise a Godly child, and I love them both. Happy fathers day!!!!!!!!!