12 BOCNEWS.com NOVEMBER 2018 Caldwell-Kirk Mortuary On Saturday October the 20th, Caldwell Kirk Mortuary held it's Quarterly Grief Seminar, at the Oleta Crain Enrichment Academy Community Center, located at 2102 Marion street, they invited the whole family, chil- dren included. There was a panel of specialists to facilitate discussions on Grief and how to cope with the problems associated with life after loss. The information that has been assembled was important in helping those that attended, Mr. Ron William that was one of the attendees said that he found it very directional, comforting," I learned new ways on how to heal", for more information on their next Grief Seminar call 303-861-4644 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of god; that no “root of bitter- ness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it 'may' become defiled! — Hebrews 12:15 Beloveds, it’s ‘no accident’ that god uses the image of “a weed” to describe ‘a particular sin’ that has a way of creeping into all of our hearts: “bitterness!”We need to take “bitter- ness” very seriously! “Bitterness” isn’t one of those big, flashy sins that you can see growing above the surface of our hearts! It may not show off like ‘anger’ or produce big ole’ hunks of ‘rotten fruit’ like ‘disobe- dience!’ “Bitterness” is a ‘sleeper’ sin! It grows ‘beneath the surface,’ down deep in the soil of our hearts! But the author’s warning in the book of Hebrews is clear: “that one day that ‘bitter root’ will sprout, and when it does, ‘many’ will become defiled!” In other words, if that ‘bitter root’ keeps growing, there will be a ‘harvest of pain’ for you and the people in your world! And because “bitterness” is a ‘weedy’ sin that burrows in our hearts first, we can’t just cut off the behaviors that “bitterness” causes! We need the lord’s help to “yank” that bad boy up by the root! You can’t ‘chop weeds!’ You must "rip weeds up by the roots!" Otherwise, they will just keep coming back up, and when they do, they’re bound to bring more and more of their ‘weedy’ friends! This is the pack that “bitterness” travels in: Ephesians 4:31 says, “let all ‘bit- terness’ and ‘wrath’ and ‘anger’ and ‘clamor’ and ‘slander’ be put away from you, along with all ‘malice’!” Paul is describing ‘a cluster’ of ‘emotions’ here that come along with “bitterness!” “Bitterness” almost always travels in a nasty pack! When “bitterness” is taking root in our hearts, usually “wrath” is, too! The same goes for “anger,” “clamor and slander,” and “malice!” Follow these emotions as they prog- ress: If we don't deal with “bitterness,” that “bitterness” will progress toward extreme “anger” (that's “wrath”)! If we don't deal with the “anger,” we will start to “clamor” or demand what we want!If that doesn't work, we will start to 'talk bad about' the object of our “bitterness” in the hopes of recruiting others to agree with and justify our feelings (that's “slander”). If that goes unchecked, we will eventually have a desire or intent to cause harm to the person we are “bitter” toward! (That’s “malice”) All along the way, people are ‘hurt,’ relationships are ‘derailed,’ joy is sto- len, and growth of the ‘fruit of the spirit’ is stunted! Four ways ‘to spot’ a “bitter root!”: With so much on the line, it is wise to ask ourselves very often (every day!), “Am i bitter?" And “be honest!”… Since "bitterness" is a “sleeper sin,” the answer ‘isn’t always obvious! Here are ‘four questions’ to help you “spot a bitter root!” 1. Am i replaying the cd’s? Do you find yourself constantly replaying the conversation you had with someone? When you interact with that person, do you spend days rehashing every word or body language cue? “Bitterness” flourishes in the soil of justification! When you ‘fixate’ on your interactions with a specific individual, you’re looking for justification for the anger or frustration you’re feeling in a relationship! If you find yourself ‘replaying’ the cds often, you should see it as ‘a red flag’ that “something is off in ‘your own’ heart!” 2. Is your mouth ‘out of control?’ Romans 3:14 says, “their mouth is full of curses and bitterness!” There’s a connection between 'the junk that comes out of our mouths' and the “bitterness” that tends to take root in our hearts! Do you find yourself 'los- ing your cool' often? Are you 'critical, snappy, rude?' Do you find you 'cuss more easily' following your interac- tions with someone who has hurt you? Maybe the sins you’re committing with ‘your mouth’ are simply an extension of the “bitterness” that you’ve allowed to 'grow in your heart!' If you’re trying to deal with the way you speak “and gaining no ground,” it's possible that you need to “dig deeper and yank out the root of the problem!” 3. Am i sick? Psychologist dr. Carsten Wrosch has studied “bitter- ness” for fifteen years. He says when harbored for a long time, “bitterness” may forecast patterns of biological dis- regulation (a physiological impairment that can affect metabolism, immune response or organ function) and phys- ical disease. Scientists have concluded that “bit- terness,” if left unchecked, interferes with the body's hormonal and immune systems! “Bitter people” tend to have 'higher blood pressure and heart rate' and are much more 'likely to die of heart disease' and other illnesses! Of course, the apostle paul didn't have access to this scientific data when he wrote much of the new testa- ment, but that didn't keep him from connecting the dots between “bitter- ness” and our bodies! In acts 8:23, paul describes the “gall of bitterness.” It's a bile, a “bitter” substance that can literally 'make us sick!' It has been testified to by some of those who regularly visit nursing homes to serve communion to the infirm, that on multiple occasions, they have walked into such settings and could readily identify “bitter men and women" simply by 'looking at them!' Their postures and expressions can’t help but betray the “bitterness” that has burrowed deep into their hearts! Certainly, not all physical ail- ments are the fruit of a ‘bitter root,’ but some are! Is it possible that the cells of ‘your body’ are wilting under the weight of unchecked “bitterness?” 4. Is my clan “bitter?” The “bitter root” in Hebrews 12:15 is first described in deuteronomy 29:18:"beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan (family) or tribe whose heart is turning By Sandra Powell Spotting Root of Bitterness in Your Heart! Sandra Powell Continued on Page 13 SERMON