"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
I like how this addresses some of the problems that we have building community. We are all interconnected, and because of that, we need to help each other succeed. Sometimes that means listening to people around us who give us feedback about our behavior or attitudes. Sometimes that means giving other people feedback as well. And, of course that means in a very nice way, not as superiors, but as equals... being very aware of possible beams in our own eyes. The goal is to get someone to think about what we say, not get defensive. And that is an art form, not something you should just hurl at someone. :) I love the part about none rendering evil for evil. ... Now, I don't mean to set a bad example, but I frequently watch television with my brother, and when something happens to the bad guy I cheer "Yeah... you totally *deserved* it, you jerk!" or something remarkably similar. And, you know, it probably isn't all that bad with fictional characters... but that attitude, once learned, can carry over into other areas of my life... of our lives, if you guys ever do that too. :) If anyone really deserves anything bad, that is for God to decide, and to work out. For us, if someone hands us evil, we return good as change. That is the *only* way to change the world for the better. We can't walk around doing any evil at all, no matter how much we think anyone deserves it. Doing good (and only good) is the way to make a difference. The negative cycles have to stop somewhere, right? So, let's stop them cold wherever we are... something bad comes along, and we mix it up... extract the bad, add in a few lumps of good, bake at 375 for 5 minutes, and serve. ... Not saying it is easy. But, hey... worth a shot today, right? Let's see if we can make the world a better place, one reaction at a time.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
I like how this addresses some of the problems that we have building community. We are all interconnected, and because of that, we need to help each other succeed. Sometimes that means listening to people around us who give us feedback about our behavior or attitudes. Sometimes that means giving other people feedback as well. And, of course that means in a very nice way, not as superiors, but as equals... being very aware of possible beams in our own eyes. The goal is to get someone to think about what we say, not get defensive. And that is an art form, not something you should just hurl at someone. :) I love the part about none rendering evil for evil. ... Now, I don't mean to set a bad example, but I frequently watch television with my brother, and when something happens to the bad guy I cheer "Yeah... you totally *deserved* it, you jerk!" or something remarkably similar. And, you know, it probably isn't all that bad with fictional characters... but that attitude, once learned, can carry over into other areas of my life... of our lives, if you guys ever do that too. :) If anyone really deserves anything bad, that is for God to decide, and to work out. For us, if someone hands us evil, we return good as change. That is the *only* way to change the world for the better. We can't walk around doing any evil at all, no matter how much we think anyone deserves it. Doing good (and only good) is the way to make a difference. The negative cycles have to stop somewhere, right? So, let's stop them cold wherever we are... something bad comes along, and we mix it up... extract the bad, add in a few lumps of good, bake at 375 for 5 minutes, and serve. ... Not saying it is easy. But, hey... worth a shot today, right? Let's see if we can make the world a better place, one reaction at a time.
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