IHS TOGETHER / EVANGELICAL CHURCH ALLIANCE INTL.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

Handling Criticism! Have you ever been made fun of or criticized for doing the right thing?  The Hebrew scriptures provide for us a story of doing the right thing and being criticized and made fun of for it.  The story is found in the Book of Nehemiah.  If you have gone through a time of opposition, Nehemiah offers some counseling in dealing with critics.  Please read the book of Nehemiah.  The destructive critics make their attacks personal.  They question your motives.  They spread rumors.  They run with other critics.  They resist change.  They are sarcastic.  They use intimidation.  They try to discourage those around you. How does one deal with destructive critics or criticisms?  The prophet Nehemiah used prayer.  When criticized, ask God if the criticism is just.  Pray for courage to change.  Pray for those who are doing the criticizing.  Pray for humility and the ability not to take things personal.  Pray for wisdom, strength, and discernment to keep doing what is right.  The prophet knew that the critics’ problems were not with him, but with God.  When you remind yourself God is in control, you recognize criticism for what it is and you do not allow it to dissuade you.  God was persistent in doing the right thing.  The best way at times to deal with critics is to outlast them, doing what you know God has called you to do. Many times the races that we have in life do not go to the swift, but to the one who perseveres.  If you are going through a time when it seems that everything you try is being met with opposition, if you feel like your critics are being destructive instead of constructive, recognize that when you step out on faith, follow God, and try to make a difference.  You will be criticized.  Expect it and deal with it through prayer, keeping the proper perspective, and being persistent. Blessings, CH K.

On a Friday evening several years ago, I attended a high school football game. I purchased a football program and noticed on the top of the first page the words, “Faith, Family, Football.” I must admit the words “Faith” and “Family” caught me off guard at a high school football game. I began to think about the words and the relationship they have with each other. A good description of faith can be found in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” It is a belief in something greater than yourself, to carry you through life, through both the good times and the bad times, and when you cannot see the way in front of you. An example of the importance of family can be seen in I Kings 5:13-14, which states in part, “King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel – thirty thousand men. He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home.” King Solomon, in building the temple, arranged the schedules of the workers so that the workers would not have to be away from their families for long periods of time because he saw the strength in family that was needed to complete the goal of building the temple. An example of a verse that can be applied to football is Ecclesiastes 9:11, which states, “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” There are many intangibles that happen in the game of football and in life. When the intangibles happen we feel our faith being tested. It is during those times of testing that we can draw strength and courage from our family and friends, and grow in our faith. Blessings to all, Chaplain Krupnik

On a Friday evening several years ago, I attended a high school football game. I purchased a football program and noticed on the top of the first page the words, “Faith, Family, Football.” I must admit the words “Faith” and “Family” caught me off guard at a high school football game. I began to think about the words and the relationship they have with each other. A good description of faith can be found in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” It is a belief in something greater than yourself, to carry you through life, through both the good times and the bad times, and when you cannot see the way in front of you. An example of the importance of family can be seen in I Kings 5:13-14, which states in part, “King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel – thirty thousand men. He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home.” King Solomon, in building the temple, arranged the schedules of the workers so that the workers would not have to be away from their families for long periods of time because he saw the strength in family that was needed to complete the goal of building the temple. An example of a verse that can be applied to football is Ecclesiastes 9:11, which states, “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” There are many intangibles that happen in the game of football and in life. When the intangibles happen we feel our faith being tested. It is during those times of testing that we can draw strength and courage from our family and friends, and grow in our faith. Blessings to all, Chaplain Krupnik