A sad characteristic that follows some people is the need to be critical or in conflict. This 'way of relating' is often observed in 'independent churches' who have made an art form of it. However, conflict and criticism has also flowed over into how individuals from such backgrounds relate to other individuals in life in general.
A life principle I try to live by is to not burn bridges. You never know when you will need to cross them again. However, we often live life so pig-headedly that when we have a disagreement, we often go out in a blaze of glory, to accentuate our position. […]
It’s a funny thing about life. It’s easy to judge someone… until you know them. We were living in close quarters and he really got under my skin. He wasn’t likeable like the others were. He didn’t go with the flow. He wasn’t fun to be around. He had issues. […]
“You just don’t get it!” “You’d have to be blind not to see it!” “The fact that you can’t see your wrong is worse than the wrong itself!” These are the kinds of thoughts that sometimes go through my head as I interact with a person I believe has wronged […]
Written several years ago while watching a family interact in a busy airport terminal. Parental love is firm. It rebukes and confronts in spite of personal discomfort. It rebukes again. Parental love is patient. It explains that which should be obvious. And then it explains again. Parental love is gracious. […]
I was reading through Paul Tripp’s Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands earlier and was struck by his thoughts on confrontation. Our failure to confront one another biblically must be seen for what it is: something rooted in our tendency to run after god-replacements. We confront unbiblically (or not at all) […]
Why is it very hard to tell your brothers and sisters what they really need to hear? You watch them hurting themselves and others. Then you start the “last words” scenario in your mind and rehearse what needs to be said. By “last words” I mean the words that a […]
Proverbs 27:17- “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Recently, I’ve been convicted about the need to spend one-on-one time with people. Hanging out with a group of people is great and has its place but spending time with one or a few people can […]
