Question

[Karen Nathan]

Why is it that potentially interesting discussions on this newsgroup
wind up getting turned into, you should pardon the expression, pissing
contests? It gets discouraging after a while to keep wading through
these kind of posts.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

--Karen

[Steven N Colling]

reference point, please?

--
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, that which is will be no more, and
that which is not will be.
"Karen Nathan" <kna...@home.com> wrote in message
news:TlufB$#$$GA....@tweedledum.annex.com...

[fish]

You know, lately I don't even see those. I just see a wide bunch of
Christians hanging out, sometimes stepping on each other's toes, and then
saying, "oops, sorry". Maybe just the space I'm in.

fish

[Vic Hauk]

Karen,

It is because we all, (I am worse than any here,) our private view of
ourselves, and that view is in many ways held in our hearts as higher and
better than anyone else. It is the way people are, and seeing the glory of
God is the only proof against this. Even then, it takes time after time of
seeing His glory before we begin to loose this tendency to where it does not
automatically rule our thoughts and words. The passage from Paul about
seeing the glory of Jesus as in a mirror and being transformed into the same
image is the reality of this thought.

When Jesus said that we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow
Him to be His disciples, this is what He was talking about. Walking in our
own self worth leads to things like you mention. But when one denies them
self, they deny their self worth. When one takes up their cross, it is in
love for those around them, because they hate their life in this world, and
know the love of God for the world. When one follows Jesus, they empty
themselves to become vessels of God's love, that His love might be shed
abroad in this world.

We forget where we came from many times, I know that I do, and I react as
though every word spoken is an attack against me. This is ridiculous
because I have died with Christ. If the love of Christ controls us, then we
would not do these things.

His love,
vic