Nine year old Daniel Simmons was pouring gasoline into a hot lawn mower late one afternoon. A spark occurred which ignited the gasoline. Daniel panicked and spilled gasoline on his clothes. The flames from the mower ignited the clothing on Daniel's legs and stomach.

Daniel began to run. His brother Jamie, age 11, knocked Daniel to the ground to start the "STOP, DROP AND ROLL" technique he learned at his elementary school. Daniel again tried to get up but Jamie once again knocked him to the ground. He then grabbed the cover from a nearby gas grill and wrapped Daniel up in the cover, extinguishing the flames. Jamie then yelled for their father and they carried Daniel into the house, placed him under the shower and turned the water on him. He was treated at the hospital for burns on 21 percent of his body.

Without the use of the "STOP, DROP AND ROLL" technique, Daniel would have suffered far greater burns, probably fatal. (Captain Bud Gundersen, Los Angeles Fire Department) I am sure most of us are familiar with the life saving technique commonly referred to as Stop, Drop, and Roll.

The method involves 1) STOP immediately where you are.

There are tremendous spiritual lessons that can be learned from this life saving technique. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 22 we find the following statement My anger started a fire, a wildfire burning deep down in Sheol, Then shooting up and devouring the Earth and its crops, setting all the mountains, from bottom to top, on fire. (MSG) In this Song of Moses we find Gods people had walked away from living with God in favor of idols and were worthy to receive the Righteous anger and the Judgment of the Lord. Even in anger and Judgment the Lord is just and perfect. Anger is a dangerous emotion and only Almighty God is able to use it justly. However Romans 8:29 exhorts us to be conformed to the image of his Son,.

Mismanaged anger is behind many of the broken relationships between parents and teens today. I have had to employ the Stop, Drop, and Roll method many times in my life while raising my teenage children. I have lashed out many times at family members with anger which resulted in a fire, a wildfire burning deep and causing much more destruction then the initial problem.

Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 27 says An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire. Ambrose Bierce once said, Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. Unfortunately Ive made a few of those speeches in my life time. Words spoke in anger cannot be recovered.

Now when I feel the anger beginning to rise in me I STOP immediately where I am and STOP what Im saying. I DROP to my knees in prayer (if I am not in a place where I can physically go to my knees I do it in my spirit). I then ROLL covering your face and mouth with your hands (this will prevent the flames of anger from burning those around me). And I continue to ROLL over and over until the flames of anger are extinguished with the LOVE of God.

Gary Chapman in his book titled The Five Love Languages of Teenages says In the minds of most people love and anger are not antonymous they just don't seem to go together. In reality, they are opposite sides of the same coin. Love seeks the good of the other person and so does rightly directed anger.

Anger results when we are confronted with what we perceive to be wrong behavior on the part of others. Moms and Dads get angry with their children as a result. Children get angry with their parents when the parents behavior is considered to be unfair. Gods purpose in anger is to motivate us to take loving action; that is, to do something to try to turn the teenager or parent in the right direction.

Utilizing the STOP, DROP, and ROLL technique will help us learn this lesson in our lives.

Next time your teenage or spouse do not comply right away with your request, or correction designed to change their present course of actions, instead of responding with could, harsh commands like You do it or else, try employing the STOP, DROP, and ROLL technique in your life. Avoid the elevating the battle to another level. Remember the words of Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Anger or the mismanagement thereof is often passed down from one generation to the next generation. This generational anger must be broken. And the good news is With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things. Mark 10:27b (KJV)

You do not have to be slaves to anger! And such WERE some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV)