As a Christian church, we exist to honour God by helping local people worship God, grow spiritually, serve others, and reach their communities and the world with the message and love of Jesus Christ.

From Darrell's Desk

By Rev. Darrell Maguire

Rev. Darrell Maguire

I find that as I get older, I am starting to get a bit nostalgic. In particular, I am beginning to recover from my memory, events in my life I had thought I had long since forgotten. Sitting at my desk, I happened to look for the thousandth time at a little bobblehead figure of the Incredible Hulk. I wondered, “Why is this comic book character so connected to me?” As I reflected on this I went back many years to high school at North Park Collegiate and Vocational School in Brantford, Ontario.

My Hulk connection begins there, in a Phys Ed class. On one particularly warm dry day, our teacher decided that we were going to learn all about the sport of rugby. So out we went to the football field, in our gym clothes, to play a game none of us knew very well at all. With little to no instruction, we made the effort to play this game. It was in the midst of this that I became “The Hulk”.

It was school policy that in gym class, we were to wear a uniform of school colours: green and orange. So, all the guys in my class wore these orange t-shirts in class. I don't know who started it, but during the rugby game it became a thing to try and rip the shirts off of your opponents. In one rough play my shirt was torn pretty badly and hung in tatters. In another play, I attempted to tackle a classmate whilst wearing this raggedy shirt. I must have made a terrifying sight, because the fellow with the ball threw it away as I bore down on him. Later he claimed that I looked like the Incredible Hulk about to squash him. And the nickname stuck.

Years later, I retold that story to my children, who in turn started finding “Hulk” referenced trinkets, like the bobblehead on my desk. Its not such a bad nickname for me actually. Not that I turn green or triple in size, but anger is a really challenge for me. So much so that I actually did my senior seminar in seminary on that very topic.

Like so many people I am uncomfortable, afraid even, to express anger. I don't like observing it in others either. The problem is that rarely, but a few times over the years, my anger went unchecked for too long and I exploded in rage. Not physically, but certainly verbally.

Anger is a very important emotion if managed carefully. The Bible tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger. In other words, don't let it fester. Sometimes though, anger is the best emotion for the occasion. Such as when we observe or hear of a grave injustice perpetrated on someone. especially someone who is vulnerable.

Remember the story of Nathaniel the prophet coming to King David, and telling him the story of the rich man stealing the poor man's lamb. David was outraged, stating that surely this man should die. The twist however, comes when it is revealed that David is this man, for he stole Bathsheba from Uriah, and tried to cover it up by having Uriah killed.

Not all the time, but sometimes it's okay, and needed, for us to “hulk out”. But hulk out at the right things and for the right reasons. Can I quote the big guy? “You're making me angry. You won't like it when I am angry.”

The world doesn't like it when we get angry about the social problems surrounding us, but maybe it's time the world faced a little anger.

Rev. Maguire is available by phone for pastoral care. Call the church office.

Contents for March, 2023

First Baptist Church Annual Meeting
From Darrell's Desk
Campfire and Toboganning Scavenger Hunt
Steve's Trivia Game
Parenting for Faith
A Message from CBOQ
Youth Group Update
Money Talk
Another Spectator Event
Soup Recipe
Lessons in Greek
Great Canadian Bible Study 2023
Save the Date
Opportunities for Everyone
The Back Page

Previous Issues