Letting Anger and bitterness go

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Bible Lessons
For Youth -
Rudy
Tomjanovich
Letting Anger and
bitterness go

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Rudy Tomjanovich, the
former basketball coach
of the Houston Rockets
and more recently the
Los Angeles Lakers
experienced an unusual
event in 1973. As a
robust twenty-five-year
old, Rudy was playing for
the Rockets.

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In the middle of a close
game, a fight broke out at
center court. Rudy rushed
over to the unfolding
conflict, running at full
speed, to try to break it
up. Just as he arrived, a
player whipped around
and without looking,
swung as hard as he
could.

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Unfortunately, the punch
landed right in Rudy’s face.
It was labeled the “punch
heard around the world”.
The blow fractured Rudy’s
skull, broke his nose and
cheekbones, and nearly
killed him. Although Rudy
was sidelined for months
following the devastating
punch, he eventually
recovered.

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One day after Rudy
recuperated, a reporter
asked him, “Rudy, have
you ever forgiven the
player who wounded you
so badly?” Without
hesitation, Rudy said
immediately, “Absolutely,
I’ve totally forgiven him.”

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The reporter shook as his
head as though he was
perplexed. “Come on,
Rudy, that guy nearly killed
you. He caused you all that
pain. He stole part of your
career. Do you mean to tell
me you don’t have any
anger, any hatred or
bitterness toward him?”

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Rudy smiled, “I don’t
have any at all.” The
reporter stared at him in
disbelief. He finally
asked, “Rudy, tell me,
how do you do it? How
could you possibly
forgive that man who
hurt you so badly?”

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Rudy replied, “I knew if I
wanted to move on with
my life, I had to let it go. I
didn’t do it for him. I did it
so I can be free.”
We often fail to consider
the residual effects of
unresolved conflict in our
lives.

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Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid
of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and
slander, along with every
form of malice”.

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Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
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purity (white background), spiritual growth
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Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
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This series is a great follow up for new
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