Phew... did we all make it thru yesterday still in tact?
There are times when I'm coaching a football game that even tho we may be up by a touchdown, I feel like we're behind by 2 scores... and even tho I'm no longer the one on the field, the sidelines can still be as stressful. Just less bruises and blood.
Thats how yesterday felt to me.
I just want to say a few things... a few observations... a few thoughts... maybe a few things to meditate on... maybe a few things to completely dismiss...
What makes this forum unique is it's people. Everyone here is different. I've never met one person here with whom I agreed with 100%, but at times this place is beautiful and colorful. Ever look at a bouquet of flowers? 12 dozen red roses is nice, but ya know what my wife likes? Bouquets that consist of many different flowers... all different colors and shapes... and in my eyes that is more beautiful. The diversity of it is astounding, and only God could mix things up like that and have it look absolutely stunning.
Thats how this forum is. People from all over the world. Different walks of life. Different callings. Different ways of looking at things.
Sometimes it's frustrating too, make no mistake about that. But I think when we begin to feel that frustrations, perhaps we need to look more at ourselves than at the other person. More or less, that was really what I was trying to get at yesterday, but that kinda got lost.
We need to learn to appreciate one another, and understand that that goes for me as well. I dont always appreciate each of you like I should. I know when I see my words getting misunderstood or twisted around, I dont feel like loving or appreciating that person. But the Word of God tells me that if I say I love Christ, yet hate my brother... I am a liar. 1 John chapter 2.
It's been said before, it bear repeating now... and again, this is more for myself than y'all... if we even have the slightest inkling that we may not understand what someone is saying, we should ask that brother and sister for clarification before we jump the gun. Lately I've seen a lot of misunderstandings going on, and I've been involved in some of them... and we really need to get control of ourselves and of the conversations before they get beyond the point of no return.
But here's the thing... we (myself included) need to learn to appreciate each other, and appreciate what each one of us has to add to this forum. My goodness, if we cant get along here, what are we gonna do in glory? What?? I have to spend eternity with this guy?? lol...
If someone comes on here and promotes a doctrine that you think is off base, challenge them on it. I will. But I think there is no need to blast a person and condemn them (as I know I have in the past). I know some topics will get heated, and I think thats healthy... but we need to be sure that things are done correctly.
At the same time, some of us can be too sensitive. And rebuke at all sends us over the edge. Thats not proper either. I've been painted lately as "not being able to take it", but folks, let me tell ya... I've taken some pretty sharp rebukes here. Some from Mike. Some from Ron.... etc. You just dont always know they happened. If someone justly rebukes me, I'll take it.
But sometimes, and I know I'm guilty of this too, we give a rebuke... but it's so dog-gone strong that it comes across as condemnation and judgmentalism. We should not expect that that type of "rebuke" will be accepted.
I guess what I am trying to say is that if we say we love the Lord, yet we hate our brother... we're a liar. What does it mean to hate? What does love look like?
Would I be willing to lay down my life for anyone on this forum? Thats a hard question to answer. Those of you who find it hard to stomache me sometimes, would you freely and willingly die so that I might live? Would I give up all that I have in this life in order to save your's?
If we say that we love one another, I think we would do those things for one another. So I ask again... do we love one another?
When we offer rebukes on this forum... do we have the other persons best interests in mind? Or are we more interested in telling someone off?
I know that there have been times in the past where my passions took over, and I wanted to tell that person off much more than I wanted to see them come to the truth of a matter. I wasnt loving that person, I was loving myself. Praise God I believe He has helped me to overcome a lot of that pride and arrogance, but I aint 100% yet.
When we begin to write that rebuke on this forum... we need to ask ourselves... whats my purpose? Why am I doing this? If it's for any other reason other than to see this person come a greater understanding of scripture... we should hold our peace.
And I want to come to a place where I exercise that kind of control all the time.
In the meantime tho, to those who feel that I havent done that... and may have caused you hurt, or caused you to have hatred in your heart toward me... I want to apologize right here and right now, and ask that you forgive me.
2 people called me out yesterday and felt I was slandering another forum memeber. While I disagree with that, I do want to say to Julian that if it was perceived that way by [b]him
Anyway... enough rambling. I'm sure some will understand this mess of a post, just as I am sure everything I wrote will be misunderstood too... lol. It's the nature of the beast around these parts.
But please know one thing, y'all... we are a family. As Charlie Daniels once sung:
"We may have done just a little bit of fighting amongst ourselves / But you outside people just best leave us alone..."
Much love
Krispy