The Write Angle - Impressions on Paper

April 2024

Hello John,

Last month, I likened highway rumble strips to anxiety, realizing we’re to avoid rumble strips, but recognize them as a gift that can rescue us from great harm. It became obvious to me that, “Anxiety is the rumble strip of life!” The response from you was not only overwhelming, but encouraging as well, for which I’m most grateful. Obviously, the topic touched many of you in a positive way. I’ve thus decided to spend more time on the topic in this month’s newsletter.

We’re admonished in Philippians 4:4-6 to avoid anxiety, but who of us never deals with this powerful (and debilitating) emotion? I’m not sure about you, but I am able to find reasons to struggle with it daily, even though I know it’s never availed me in a positive way. I’m comforted, however, when I review the notes I’ve placed in the margins of my Bible regarding this beguiling emotion. Let me share some of them with you:

“Sometimes the Lord calms the storm; more often He lets the storm rage and calms His child.  Now, relax in the Lord!” Alice Banzhof, former member of Congregation of the Messiah, Albuquerque, NM

“Worry is like a rocking chair – there’s a lot of activity, but you’ll never get anywhere.” Bob Crosby, former pastor of Burlington Christian Center, 11/15/98 re: Philippians 4:6-9

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4. Margin note: “through, not around”

“Anxiety is a craving for the presence of God.” Steve Fry, Christian musician

Anxiety is what happens when we attempt to control that which we know we have no control over. The way to deal with anxiety is not to deal with it but, instead, surrender it (to Him who’ll replace it with peace and joy)!  Received From the Lord (FTL) during my quiet time, 9/7/13 re: Philippians 4:6-9

Fear looks at giants and says, “look how big they are compared to me.”  Faith says, “look how small they are compared to God.”  Fear says, “I can’t.”  Faith says, “He can.” FTL re: Numbers 14

The penitentiary is a place, but prison is a state of mind. FTL, 9/25/11

“God uses tight spots to release His purposes in our lives.”  Bob Crosby, 8/3/1997

1. Alas, not much time at the mountain RV due to lots of snow (a neighbor reported 39” in a recent snowstorm). And as much as I’d like to be productive at home, it doesn’t always seem

to work out due to distractions. The photo on the right is Obee in my home study chair–he managed to drape himself with no help from me. At the mountain location, there is no internet, cell phone, or land line coverage, so it’s just me, God, and Obee–a perfect setting for silence, solitude, and Sabbath. Thankfully the weather is warming up, so we should be spending more time there.         

I’ve made good progress on a difficult series of articles entitled Spiritual Musings from the Headlines of a Newspaper: A Spiritual Toolbox for Christians Navigating a Culture of Lies. Completed thus far are chapters on gender identity, sanctity of life, skin color, evolution, eco activism, homosexuality, animal activism, illegal immigration, and most recently, entitlement mentality. I was finally able to make it up to the RV the first weekend this month, 

and finished the first draft of the epilogue, which I’ve entitled, The Bottom Line: A Wake-Up Call to the Church. In it, I remind the Church that we must not only be well-grounded in the truth of the Scriptures that has endured for centuries, but also be careful to reject current heretical teaching that encourages compromise. After several draft reviews, the book should be ready to submit for publication, unless you think of additional hot-button topics that should be included–please let me know, of course, if you do.

1. Please send your comments, questions, and opinions to me via the contact page tab. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

2. Many of you have shared with me how important these newsletters have been to you. If that’s you, please share them with those who’d enjoy keeping up with me by referring them to my website, johnrabins.com, where they too can sign up for this newsletter. And remember, we recently added a Newsletter Archives tab for ease in reading any you may have missed.



3. Continue to pray for me, that I might hear clearly from God about what I am (and should be) writing.

I know I’ve been rough on the English language, as much as I love it, but wouldn’t you agree that it’s quite difficult to master, with all its exceptions and nuances? Here’s a short article I discovered years ago that hopefully you’ll find interesting:



“Let’s face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn’t a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And finally, why doesn't ‘buick’ rhyme with ‘quick’?”

― Richard Lederer, American Linguist and Author           

And I might add these three words that should rhyme, but don’t: comb, tomb, bomb–crazy, huh?

As I wrap up this update, know that I continue to pray for, and thank God, for you. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

I’d mentioned previously that Philippians 4:6-7 is my favorite Scripture passage. You’ll note that, in this newsletter, I’ve added the two verses that follow, for a very good reason that is easily seen in the bolded phrases in each. When we make our requests known to God, He promises the peace of God. When we elevate our thinking to that which is excellent or praiseworthy, then the God of peace will be with us; sounds even better to have the God of Peace, rather than the Peace of God, doesn’t it? I believe the Lord showed me this distinction, which is why verses 8-9 are becoming as important to me as 6-7–perhaps more important.

Obee's brother Aries enjoying the eclipse.