ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

resurrection, the unbelieving Jews burned with jealousy when large crowds gathered on the Sabbath to hear Paul proclaim theWord of God to first century churches.The following fable offers further insight into this venomous emotion: The devil was crossing the Libyan desert and

came upon some frustrated junior devils who were tempting a saintly Desert Father. First they tempted him with lustful thoughts.That didn’t work.Then they tried to fill his mind with doubts and fears about his relationship with God, but that didn’t work either. Then they raised questions about the sincerity of his sacrificial lifestyle.Again they were unsuccessful. By this time the junior devils were getting discouraged, and so the devil himself stepped in. “Your methods are much too crude,” he said. “Permit me for a moment.” Approaching the Desert Father he said, “Have you heard the news?Your brother has just been made Bishop of Alexandria.”Almost immediately a scowl of jealousy broke across the saintly man’s face. 6

Candidly speaking, this is something I’ve struggled with in my three decades of serving as a pastor. It’s tough at times hearing about nearby churches reaching and baptizing huge numbers, well beyond those where I have served. Such feelings surface in my writing world as well.Although I’ve had numerous articles published over the years, I’ve yet to hit the NewYorkTimes bestseller list with one of my 11 books. In fact, I’ve yet to land a deal with a publishing house. It’s frustrating to know that it really isn’t the quality of writing that makes the dif- ference, but rather the significance of one’s brand and size of their platform. Of course, the proliferation of social media exasperates the dilemma, which is true not only in ministry, but every facet of life. A steady stream of Facebook posts showcasing burgeoning churches, wonderful spouses, over-achieving children, exotic vacations, and

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