Reality Check

[Christ's Free Servant]

I too have seen a lot of back biting and nail scratching and animosity, but I have also seen two people go head to head with name calling and judging and so on only to go into the next day lifting each other up.

We as people fall in the muck a lot, but God being God will come along and let his grace spill over into each and every one of us.

We do need to wake up and smell the coffee and hopefully we won't leave it til too late

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for responding, Gerioke!

While I agree with what you said, I again want to emphasize that this is NOT what my original post is talking about. I am not talking about Worthy members and their posts or the strife that can happen here occasionally.

I don't want this thread to turn into that. My point is that Christians everywhere seem to be more distracted by the world and it's treasures and worries than ever before. Sometimes even prophecy and end times events can get some Christians to lose their focus on what is really important..... Going about our Father's business of bringing the lost to Christ and fulfilling the call He's placed on our lives. We should be thinking towards our eternal life and it's rewards rather than spending so much time on our shorter futures here and trying to make our lives in this world really great. We need to beware of the distractions the enemy uses on Christians.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Keith,

Good job of turning the discussion back around to your original intent. I do find people get sidetracked easily and sometimes miss the point, so keep reminding us of what this is about, because we all need to hear it!

[Yahsway]

Wonderful and timely post Keith. Shalom

[Christ's Free Servant]

I too have seen a lot of back biting and nail scratching and animosity, but I have also seen two people go head to head with name calling and judging and so on only to go into the next day lifting each other up.

We as people fall in the muck a lot, but God being God will come along and let his grace spill over into each and every one of us.

We do need to wake up and smell the coffee and hopefully we won't leave it til too late

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know this is off the track of Keith's post, and I don't want to deter from his original intent, but I do feel the need to respond to this. What I see as a danger here is that so many people get into the habit here of arguing and having heated debates that it appears they assume that is what everyone is here for. So, when someone with a sincere heart for sharing something God is teaching him/her gets on here, he/she gets ground up. This should be a place for people to go for encouragement, counsel, sharing thoughts and ideas and sharing what God is teaching them w/o it turning into a 3-way circus. I have left several discussions because people just wanted to argue, and I don't enjoy arguing and cutting people down just because their point of view is different from mine. I think we should show one another respect, even if we disagree. And, there should never be name calling, which I see a lot. If I were not as strong as I am, I would not have stayed on here, because I don't do well in situations with arguing and fighting. I had enough of that growing up. I like peaceful discussions. Sometimes I do get a little defensive, I have to admit when I feel as though I am being attacked, but God is working on me there. We all have a long way to go!!

Ok, now back to the original discussion... sorry, Keith!

[Keith]

So how DO you want people to respond to your thread, Keith ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't have any expectations of how people can respond. People are very welcome to agree, disagree, ask questions, add to the line of thinking, etc..,

I apologize if my clarifications came across as bossy or even chastising. I just didn't want people to think I was talking about Worthy members and their posts specifically.

[Christ's Free Servant]

So how DO you want people to respond to your thread, Keith ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know I'm not Keith - kind of obvious, huh? But, what Keith said is so rich in truth and the truth of it is that we get so distracted by the world and by discussions that probably don't matter in the scheme of things and we miss the mark. We miss out on the relationship that Jesus Christ wants to have with each one of us. We get so wrapped up in ourselves and our desires and what we need or want or what is going on in our lives that we totally miss God's purpose for our lives which is to glorify him, to obey him in all we do and say and think and to be reaching other people for Jesus Christ for surely the time is short. Well, that's my opinion, anyway, for what it's worth.

[Christ's Free Servant]

So how DO you want people to respond to your thread, Keith ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't have any expectations of how people can respond. People are very welcome to agree, disagree, ask questions, add to the line of thinking, etc..,

I apologize if my clarifications came across as bossy or even chastising. I just didn't want people to think I was talking about Worthy members and their posts specifically.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Keith,

I appreciate your humility here, but really there is no need to apologize. I think you are communicating quite effectively and not bossy at all. And, I understand the desire for keeping the subject where it needs to be and not to get distracted, even though I did (sorry) participate in one of those side bar discussions.

[Guest Thomas I believe]

Keith , I have nothing to say about your thread except that its perfectly written. Thanks for the reminder my friend...

[Gerioke]

Sorry Keith, sometimes I just get worked up and spew

God bless your insight

[Keith]

Sorry Keith, sometimes I just get worked up and spew

God bless your insight  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Gerioke! I was praying you weren't offended because I happened to clarify my thoughts by replying to your thread! I'm glad you weren't!

[other one]

Keith, thanks for your reply. It did clear up some things in my mind. I do agree with what you are saying in this light. Lord knows 15 years ago for a time I was exactly that way for a time. I think we all go through a cycle of that during our walk with the Lord, and some don't come out of the cycle.

It is very hard to keep things on an even keel in this world today...... like that old joke says, it's hard to keep your mind on draining the swamp when your up to your whatever in aligators.

Thanks for the focus on things, it helps a lot.

se