Guilt ...blame ...name ...shame ...lame game

What is healthy??

And the man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."

And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

You see the obvious blame game ...but there is also competitiveness with the degree of effectiveness that we have in gathering sympathies.

Sherlock Holmes is often quoted as saying, "Elementary, my dear Watson!"  Many things may be elementary and simple, but some things are simply the wrong approach.

How often do elementary school kids have conversations like:

First child:  "I'm sad."

Second child:  "I'm sadder."

First child:  "Not as sad as me!"

It may seem humorous with grade school or elementary school kids, but what can make things worse is if they don't give up those childish ways and mature.  

Yet, we also hear this stuff coming from adults who are supposed to be raising the kids ...whether their own kids, or teachers of the kids of others.


We are often taught that we simply cannot tolerate those who hesitate or question the acceptability of something that any individual claims as their right.  Yet, there is an assumed exclusion that does not allow consideration for the rights of those who don't have as large of an emotionally charged backing.

This new form of intolerance charges those who don't agree ...as being closed-minded.  Though it is often those who are willing to discuss it ...who are charged with being intolerant.

There always seems to be a call for a need of discussion, yet when met with sincerity to discuss it ...the claim flips to calling the challenger, a hater.

Anyone who watches you fall into a trap, to me, is the uncaring ones.

Yet, there are those who don't just let you fall into a trap ...they bait you into the trap.

A word about words ...

Or maybe more than a word, that is, if you know me.  I like to make things clear.  And since I realize the wide range of thoughts and assumptions that people often surprise me with ...I like to clarify.

Words can heal, or they can damage.

The strongest thing there is ...is love.  That includes encouragement, and proper guidance ...we can do that to a degree without words, but most of it is done with words.

What is the greatest enemy??

Doubt.

Jesus died on the cross to give us the opportunity for salvation.  But, before He did that ...He gave us many words to give us the faith to know the truth, and showed us the courage to not say anything to defend Himself against those who had no part of seeking that salvation.

Jesus gave us what we need to dispel all doubt.

We should be able to stand strong in the faith ...and not be affected by the words of others.  We should be able to know who we are in Christ.  That is our greatest strength, in turning to Him.

But, we should not let the "you should know better" logic interfere with how we know we often succumb to our illogical weaknesses.  Though we may know God loves us, we often fail to act as if we believe it.  And that is because we can't possibly comprehend God's love ...and are constantly learning.

The problem is ...if we share our doubts, and begin to doubt more.  Then we participate in negative learning, riddled with doubt.

And once doubt gets a foothold, it replaces the doubt with a false confidence ...one rooted within our own reasoning, which has been first tainted with doubt before giving an entirely new coat of paint.  

We then believe what we presently see ...having painted over the truth.

Painting has many wonderful functions, and desirable outcomes ...but, though it can conceal things like rust and tarnish, it can also conceal authenticity.

The real picture is that we are all guilty of sin.  To deny guilt and sin, and that we are to dismiss that just allows us to fall further into sin.  But, the fact is Jesus does not want us to dismiss sin ...He wants us to recognize it along with the fact that He died for our sins.

Yes, words are very influential and powerful.  The most important is not just a word, or a group of words or sentences ...but an entire Book, called the Word of God.

Don't attempt to paint over it ...cherish the true value of it.