><>...Alan you are a very very bitter person...><>
and I am truly sorry for you. I mean that sincerely.
I have no qualms with you, yet you insist on condemning and belittling me....even though I am, and have been for a very long time, minding my own business. (As you suggested in your most recent post; "so why don't you two just mind your own business."
For the record, if you gives you some satisfaction...and possible peace:
I have on numerous occasions, (as my good friend Jack witnessed to you) gone head to head with Emile. I have stood boldly, in many posts, against his misinformed and decrepit beliefs, and I did it long before you ever arrived here, and I did so even after your arrival!~!. I still do it Alan in real life, I deal with all kinds of misinformed people everyday. I say what must be said..... for the glory of God...,.. and go forward with the truth of God's word.
Look Alan, my family is still grieving over the recent death of my very young, and very loving brother-in-law who left a wonderful loving wife of 22 years, and four beautiful children behind, who are all looking for love and answers... to why is my daddy dead? My entire family is in the middle of the deepest sorrow it has ever experienced, and we are expending all of our energies on loving one another, supporting one another and holding one another up.
I am also still attending, with great diligence, to my business affairs, not to mention my all important ministry. This place is the least of my priorities!! Believe me Alan I don't have the time to scrutinize any posts, on any thread, the way you and others may do. My God and my family are just too important to me, to get so caught up in this place that I lose all perspective of what truly is the work of my Father!
Alan I also have no room for bitterness in my heart, and I couldn't make time for it even if I wanted to.!! God's love and grace in my life are so profound that I only want to serve Him.!!!
Alan bitterness and constant fighting will destroy you, please don't allow it to get between you and God. It also can, and does, destroy a mans witness to the love, grace, and forgiveness of our most loving Father. If not for your sake, then let it be for His sake, that you try find the peace and love that Jesus offers all of us. Reach out for that peace, let it get into your heart, and hold on to it for dear life.
Alan my friend, there will always be Emile's in this, not so perfect world. They were here long before you and I, and they will be here long after you and I....if.... Jesus doesn't return before our time here is ended.!!! And that is why I go forward. I have no idea how much time in the flesh that God will allow me, and I do not want to face my Almighty Father with lame excuses about why I didn't complete the plans He had for my life! God forbid!!!
So Alan if you plan to continue fighting and finding fault, even in some, where there is no fault, then so be it, but please leave me out of your battles. I am really battle weary. I have already fought enough useless battles to last me 3 lifetimes!!!
This is where our real battle resides!!
Ephesian 6:10-13
10.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11.Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
And Alan I will ask you this again. If I have ever offended you, then please accept my sincerest apology, I never intended to.
Now Alan I have some very pressing issues to take care of, so I will end by saying that my hope for you is that the bitterness that is within you is replaced with God's love and peace, and that you are able to go forward with His true message of the Gospel.
All for the glory of God.!
And I pray God that you as a Christian understand that this post was written in pure Christian love. My heart is very heavy Alan for my family right now, but I will keep you also in my prayers.
Have a most peaceful and blessed day, you and your family
Sincerely,
Shalom...><>
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For the edification of all
Goodness and Peace In Man
FIRST keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others. A peaceful man does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns even good to evil and is quick to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good himself, turns all things to good.
The man who is at perfect ease is never suspicious, but the disturbed and discontented spirit is upset by many a suspicion. He neither rests himself nor permits others to do so. He often says what ought not to be said and leaves undone what ought to be done.
He is concerned with the duties of others but neglects his own.
Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it upon those about you. You are well versed in coloring your own actions with excuses which you will not accept from others, though it would be more just to accuse yourself and excuse your brother. If you wish men to bear with you, you must bear with them. Behold, how far you are from true charity and humility which does not know how to be angry with anyone, or to be indignant save only against self!
It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able to live at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly thing.
Some people live at peace with themselves and with their fellow men, but others are never at peace with themselves nor do they bring it to anyone else. These latter are a burden to everyone, but they are more of a burden to themselves. A few, finally, live at peace with themselves and try to restore it to others.
Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.
Thomas A Kempis |
