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    God, I've Got A Problem
    God, I've Got A Problem
    God, I've Got A Problem
    Ebook150 pages5 hours

    God, I've Got A Problem

    By Ben Ferguson

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    About this ebook

    God has the answer to all of our problems. This book provides Scriptural ways to deal with forgiveness, guilt, loneliness, worry, disappointment, depression, temptation, boredom, pride, and death. Practical and easy-to-read, God, I've Got a Problem can be used a reference for dealing with a specific problem, or it can be read in its entirety as a guide to Christian living.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBen Ferguson
    Release dateJul 2, 2013
    ISBN9781301541041
    God, I've Got A Problem
    Author

    Ben Ferguson

    Ben Ferguson is the youngest nationally syndicated radio talk show host in the country and has been hosting talk radio programs since he was thirteen. He lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

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      Book preview

      God, I've Got A Problem - Ben Ferguson

      God, I’ve Got a Problem

      Ben Ferguson

      Published by:

      Ben Ferguson

      1244 Rosalia Avenue

      San Jose, CA 95117

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Scripture quotations in this publication are taken from:

      KJV—King James Version, Authorized King James Version.

      The Message—The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group

      NASB—New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

      NIV—The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

      NLT—Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

      First Edition Copyright 1974 and 1987 by Regal Books

      All rights returned to author March 2006

      New Edition Copyright 2013 by Ben Ferguson

      All rights reserved

      Any omission of credits or permissions is unintentional. The publisher and author request documentation for future printings.

      Ebook ISBN: 9781301541041

      DEDICATION

      Writing a book is a long, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. George Orwell

      When the struggle is over, writers will recognize the usual suspects who encouraged them in the endeavor—family, friends, and editors who intimate the book is destined to be a New York Times best seller.

      Orwell’s observation resonates with anyone who has ever written or rewritten a book. It takes more than encouraging words to block out the distractions and keep focused on the task—it takes inspiration. This rewrite is dedicated to a group of men and women who have been the source of daily inspiration:

      Military chaplains deployed to combat zones.

      It’s been an honor and privilege to serve hundreds of them in their walk through the valley of the shadow of death with their warriors. In my role of chaplain to the chaplains with the Adopt-a-Chaplain ministry, each day brings fresh inspiration when my inbox has emails from downrange—some upbeat with ministry stories, some with the news of one of theirs who has fallen in battle and the emotions they struggle with while ministering to the living, some needing a word of encouragement, and some just lonely and missing their family.

      This book was first published in 1974. Several years ago I began the process of rewriting and updating this book as a small token of appreciation to our chaplains who have deployed with our warriors. Their service and sacrifices provided the inspiration to see the project through to completion.

      Chaps, thank you for your ministry of presence to our warriors on the field of battle and your ministry of inspiration to me.

      Contents

      Preface

      1 – Forgiveness, It’s a God Thing

      Experience teaches us the most pressing need of humanity is that of forgiveness. Can we forgive someone who has wronged us? YES!

      2 – A Thief Named Guilt

      Like a handful of sand in a piece of delicate machinery, unresolved guilt will make a mess of our lives and restrict our usefulness.

      3 – God Where Are You When…?

      Disappointment can disable our effectiveness in life, but it is possible to overcome its debilitating effects.

      4 – I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up

      Depression is devastating, crippling a person’s life and drawing him into his own tiny world of introspection.

      5 – What, Me Worry?

      God does not promise to remove the pressures that cause worry. He does make it possible for us to face the pressures of life with inner peace.

      6 – Solitary Confinement

      We were created by God with a need for fellowship and feel isolated and alone when those we care about don’t include us in their plans.

      7 – The Devil Made Me Do It

      Ever since the first failure when Eve fell prey to the temptation and persuaded Adam to eat the fruit, temptations are an everyday part of life.

      8 – Same Song, Second Verse

      Boredom is one of the major problems infecting society today. It’s the emotional fatigue stemming from the sameness of daily life.

      9 – Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

      Pride has a way of making us think we’re pretty special, capable of operating independently of God.

      10 – This World Is Not My Home

      Most people, even Christians, express uneasiness at the thought of dying. How we feel about death can be a litmus test of what we profess to believe.

      Appendix

      A summary of how to deal with problems

      PREFACE

      God has promised us a safe landing but not a smooth journey. I don’t know who uttered those words, but they express a central truth of the Christian life—Christians aren’t immune from the problems associated with being human.

      Even a casual reading of the Bible reveals a lot of promises God has made, but nowhere does He promise to insulate us against the daily problems humans face or place us in a Witness Protection Program to keep us safe from the emotional dangers of living.

      Problems, like the rain, fall on the just as well as the unjust. At one time or another worry, guilt, doubt, loneliness, or depression will knock on our door and invite itself in. Unfortunately we can’t hit control, alt, delete and start over. We have to deal with them, but there’s good news. The Bible provides tools to help us overcome daily problems and God’s solutions to life’s problems are a lot less complicated than the experts would have us believe.

      Most of the problems we face do not stand alone. Each has relatives among the other problems; they overlap each other. As a result, some of the tools may appear to overlap as well. We’ll look at some of the problems we face and the tools God has made available so that being human does not break our spirit or rob us of the joy of being a child of God.

      As you read this book, I pray God will bring healing to your heart and mind, giving you renewed hope and joy to face each day.

      CHAPTER 1:

      FORGIVENESS: IT’S A GOD THING

      Two brothers were fighting with each other just before bedtime. When their mother put them to bed, she told them it wouldn’t be good to go to sleep holding a grudge because Jesus might come during the night. Reluctantly one of the brothers said, Okay I’ll forgive him, but if Jesus doesn’t come tonight I’m going to sock him in the nose in the morning.

      Conditional forgiveness, as the brothers illustrate, is more common than most admit. Have you ever said I’m sorry but didn’t really mean it? Welcome to the club! You did it for less than noble reasons and had your mental fingers crossed. We’ve all said I forgive you but revisit the hurt the next day, week, month, or even years later.

      Forgiveness, real forgiveness, nips a lot of problems in the bud. We have to ask ourselves: Why is it so hard to forgive? The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness. It says our humanity is a major roadblock to forgiveness.

      TO ERR IS HUMAN

      Finding forgiveness is a lot like encountering barricades while driving down the street. The barricades say you can’t get there from here. Our emotions and attitudes put up barricades, making it difficult, if not impossible, for us to travel the road to forgiveness.

      The first emotional roadblock is anger or wrath. Anger is an emotional outburst caused by an injury or injustice, accompanied by a desire for corrective action. Wrath is an extension of anger indicating fierce anger or deep indignation. Anger is to be mad; wrath is to be really, really mad. Both emotions are prompted by an event.

      John McEnroe, a great tennis player in his prime, demonstrated both anger and wrath. When the chair umpire made what McEnroe considered a bad call, he exploded, running to the umpire’s chair, complaining loudly about it. His protests usually became increasingly loud, occasionally punctuated by some not-nice words and throwing his racket. He was angry, and everyone knew it.

      Anger is normal, necessary, and not a new emotion. Moses spends forty days in fellowship with God receiving the Ten Commandments. When the last tablet is chiseled, God tells him to get down off the mountain for your people ... have corrupted themselves. (Exodus 32:7, NLT) Approaching the camp, he hears singing and sees the people dancing around a golden calf and his anger burns. He throws the tablets down, burns the golden calf, grinds it into powder, pours it on the water, and makes them drink it. (Exodus: 32:19-20)

      When Jesus sees the temple being corrupted He becomes angry and …made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables, (John 2:15, NASB) telling them they have made the temple a Robbers’ Den. (Luke 19:46, NASB)

      When the fuse of anger is lit, bystanders have little time to get out of the way before it explodes. Anger is the opposite of apathy. Paul tells us to Be angry… (Ephesians 4:26) Without anger, injustice and wrongs grow and prosper.

      However, uncontrolled anger produces problems. Get angry, but get over it; don’t let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26, NASB) Get rid of it so you don’t give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:27, NASB) Harboring anger, even overnight, is playing on the Devil’s turf, giving him home field advantage. It’s much easier for him to take you out of God’s game plan when you play the anger game on his turf. Get angry, but get over it quickly. Kiss and make up before you go to sleep. Deal with it, then let it go!

      The second emotional roadblock to forgiveness is an extension of the first. Allow anger to hang around and it becomes a grudge—a feeling of ill will or resentment for some real or imagined wrong. Unlike anger which is aimed at some event, a grudge looks for someone to blame.

      Sibling rivalry isn’t new. Abel was a rancher and Cain a farmer. In an effort to honor God, each brings an offering: Abel an animal from his flock and Cain some fruit

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