Dear Brother,
I am both blessed and humbled. Thank you for all this, to clear the air and bring forth some clarification ... So much could be said, but will concentrate on the ones that stood out;
Goodness, might that always be far from us. How else to grow, to learn, to consider and
[i]re-consider[/i]. Just as well, the notions that can be crafted by an assumption ... darn contradictions! The very thing that I often exhort so much about,
[i]not[/i] making assumptions, I fall right into ... even if but partially. Forgive me.
Brother, you are very correct about the misgivings granted in this form of communication, know it very, very well. It can be a peculiar paradox as it results in a challenge of sorts .. Will we make our assumptions the rule or go on to ask, correct and clarify? I think this was the sentiment expressed elsewhere by Diane I believe with the [i]I will not let you go[/i], a willingness to get to the bottom of things and not give up due to a mis-communication. Having said that, there will also be that which you spoke of;
Ah yes, this is very much an issue. One of the best treatments I have ever heard is from T. Austin Sparks, even the title alone is telling: "Blessedness of the Unoffended". Have listened to untold times over the years and it is peculiar in how one can take in something like this, getting even more than the original intention from it. But to get back on track for a moment. You are still absolutely correct. There will always be 'offenses' which can be telling of many things, not the least of a lack of security when the perception is
[i]personal[/i], are we not yet dead to ourselves? It is a wrong perception indeed that there be no challenges to our opinions and more so, our rightly dividing the word of truth, honesty demands it. There is no egg shell walking, nor pretense, nor fear necessary.
Almost missed something there, 'nominal', you might have something there in that question. Would like to think that most that partake in these things here are beyond the nominal or at least are fed up with a nominal standing and are pressing in to a deeper truth. But to raise the point again, keeping very much in mind the variousness of where each of us are in this walk. That balance in our dealings with each other.
Patience is more than a virtue here, it is very much a requirement, something almost overlooked that you yourself have pleaded for explicitly if not by association. How interesting is it to overlook that because the burr has gotten into the saddle, skewering the perspective ... My apologies and forgiveness sought.
Brother, my forgiveness is given without the asking if that doesn't sound presumptuous. Hard to put it the right way without it sounding the wrong way, but ... [i]I[/i] am rarely offended, would like to say, never offended, but it would prove me a liar. More offended that the things that are offensive in His sight, the grieving of the Holy Spirit, the misrepresentation of our Lord ... our own planks and logs, [i]our[/i] offensiveness to Him can often times be the [i]last[/i] thing we are concerned about ... [i]that's[/i] offensive. It can be beyond uncanny how soon we can lose sight of all our misgivings and great offensives that were put on our Lord ... and we are offended? Goodness!
Well, it is a blessing to me as well brother. The further I go along the demands of considering and reconsidering are becoming more and more astute. I fully recognize how much still is in error and needs correction. The willingness is there, it is welcomed, the lack of a reconsidering is a puzzlement to me often times here. The rarity of "I was wrong" or "I had not thought of that", "I have changed my mind" ... To get honest with ourselves and honest before the Lord ... how does one escape it? More so, why would one want to? It's quite absurd, not unlike Adam attempting to hide from God .. to where does one think he might go?
[s] of me. And lets not forget, I need prayer just like everyone else.
It does, it has and you have and have had my prayers brother. Please, please do pray for this one, it may be a mark of a lack of humility that I do not often ask for prayers for myself. I need them more than I know.
It is my own lack of praying before speaking here that is always the downfall, usually will recognize it after the fact, re-reading and regretting. Forgive my assumptions and earlier ... try as I might, motivations aside, they were accusations, they were wrong and I was wrong to put them out there. I did not pray, the one thing I ought to be doing at all times and especially before speaking here.
Thank you brother, thank you very much.
