June Hunt - The Answer to Anger: Practical Steps to Temper Fiery Emotions

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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Some of the names and details in this book have been changed to protect the anonymity and privacy of the individuals who shared their stories.

Formerly titled Keeping Your CoolWhen Your Anger Is Hot!

THE ANSWER TO ANGER

Copyright 2009, 2013 by Hope for the Heart, Inc.

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-4930-9 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-4931-6 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hunt, June.

[Keeping your coolwhen your anger is hot!]

The answer to anger / June Hunt.

pages cm

Originally published: Keeping your coolwhen your anger is hot! 2009.

Includes bibliographical references (pages).

ISBN 978-0-7369-4930-9 (pbk.)

1. AngerReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4627.A5H87 2013

241'.3dc23

2012041905

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

With deep respect I dedicate this book to my sister, Swanee Hunt, who has long been channeling her indignation over social injustice into action . Although we have teased about cancelling each others votes, we are always in each others corneremphaticallyconcerning abuse, injustice, and proactive compassion.

Swanee allowed her justifiable anger regarding the worldwide epidemic of sex trafficking to fuel her efforts to combat this horrendous atrocity. Her righteous indignation helped energize the movement, involving world leaders and heads of state, to rescue young women and girls who are victims of inhumane, evil sex traffickers.

Previously as ambassador from the United States to Austria, Swanee saw firsthand the aftermath of brutal savagery from the Bosnian warthe wholesale genocide of almost the entire male population in the town of Srebrenica, all fathers, sons, husbandsmurdered. As a result, she assisted in the mobilization of women around the globe to take action, to become leaders, to make their world a far more civil place.

With a vision of what could be, Swanee has empowered the weak to become strong, the timid to become bold, the victim to become victorious. Indeed, she has helped the voiceless find a voice.

Swanee has refused to sit behind her mahogany desk at Harvard University and merely teach about injustices. Rather, she has rolled up her sleeves, marshaled her assets, garnered her allies, neutralized her opponents, focused her intellect, and thrown her energy into making a significant difference in the lives of those who have been disenfranchised. Swanees anger propelled her to actionand as a result, she is changing the world.

If I were deprived of the opportunity to express in print my deepest appreciation to the dedicated team that helped make this book possible, I might be tempted to becomeangry! Therefore, with heartfelt gratitude I joyfully acknowledge

The firefighters of Dallas Fire Station #21, Love Field Airport: Who provided significant insights into the essential skills of firefighting.

Barbara Spruill: Whose vivid recollections of my early struggles with anger surpassed even my own memoriesshe lovingly sparked personal recollections of my failures and victories, which are candidly revealed throughout these pages.

Lillian Spruill: Whom I affectionately refer to as the Mother of the World, for keeping the home fires burning.

Keith Wall: Whose invaluable organization of the first draft fueled our creativity.

Angie White, Bea Garner, Carolyn White, Elizabeth Cunningham, Jill Prohaska, Karen Williams, Phillip Bleecker, Laura Lyn Benoit, Steve Miller , and Titus OBryant for

keying and re-keying

editing and re-editing

proofing and reproofing

researching and re-researching

They not only performed with the utmost diligence but also fanned the flame of loving support. (You are my editorial Dream Team.)

Kay Yates: Who, as my personal assistant, juggled calendars and single-handedly snuffed out brush firesenabling the rest of our team to keep going on all four burners.

I am genuinely blessed by God to have each of you in my life.

June

Contents

I BECAME AWARE of the extraordinary number of people struggling with anger when I was in Arizona in the mid-1990s at Prescott Pines Conference Center. I had been asked to be the general session speaker for a series of four back-to-basics conferences. This was the first time I had ever brought all of our Biblical Counseling Keys from our ministry100 practical resources that address lifes toughest problems.

For more than two weeks, I kept calling back to our office in Dallas, Texas, asking staff to send us hundreds more of our Biblical Counseling Keys . And by far the resource on anger was in greatest demand, and I didnt even speak on that topic!

After returning from Arizona, I checked to see how our ministry was meeting this need to help people with their anger, and I was surprised at the results. People have been requesting more of our Biblical Counseling Keys on Anger than any other topic, just like at the conferences. Clearly, people continue to seek real answers for their real problems . Fortunately, this book has real solutions !

Anger is perhaps the most mystifying and powerful emotion we experienceand potentially the most volatile. There is much confusion about anger. We often become conflicted over the should nots and oughts like good people should not have any anger and you ought to get rid of all angerimmediately.

Typically we dont want to acknowledge any anger within us, sowe stuff it, disguise it, medicate it, rename it, anesthetize itbut that only adds fuel to the fire burning deep within.

In truth, anger is like a red light on the dashboard of your cara warning light that indicates something is wrong and needs your attention. Gods design for anger is to caution us, not to control usand to ultimately cause us to think about options that will bring about positive change.

As uncomfortable as it is, I dont know of any other way to write this book on angerwith total integritywithout being candid about my own struggle with itespecially in my younger years. This means I need to speak about personal events and painful people from my past. Therefore, when I do so, it isnt to be dramatic, but rather to be authentic. My intent is not to hurt, but rather to help. That is my sincere prayer.