Post by WWJDthrume on Aug 11, 2004 23:13:41 GMT -5
When we decide to stand for Christ and do what is right we will often get tested on that decision. Life is full of challenges where the easy thing to do is to react with our flesh. I spoke about offering grace to people on message boards in my first column. The person I spoke of in that column sent me another bitter email a few days later. He was unaware of the column I had written here. We both post on another board. He was writing in reference to that.
His second email was much more bitter and hateful than the first. He was angry that I found some other poster's comments funny. The comments I posted as finding funny were not about him. He had a long list of accusations. I won't post his entire email just the opening shots.
Debi,
I have decided that I do not want to correspond with you any longer. You appear to have gotten in bed with people like N****, J*** (John) and M****_*****. As a result of your choice of bedfellows I have made my decision. Frankly, you have become pretty much as bad as they, but with people other than me. Sorry to have to say, I no longer respect you as I once did.
It was midnight and I was tired when I got his second email. He was seething with anger. He chose to express it with the words I had 'gotten into bed' with all these posters who didn't agree with him. The 'gotten into bed' comment was a nice line to send to a Pastor's wife. (His parents were evangelical Pastors). He knows I am a happily married woman who is faithful to her husband. The little hint of inuendo was not lost on me.
My first response was to hit the 'report spam' icon. Then I hit the 'This is not spam' icon. It was as welcome as Spam. I was angry now.
He was throwing wild accusations at me of how I chased all these good people off the board accusing them of being bashers. He was telling me if I was a Christian he was glad he is an atheist or an agnostic. He seemed to hold me personally responsible for everything except Global warming.
I started typing furiously and defending myself and accusing him. Even while I was doing that I knew I couldn't send it. Not unless I wanted to change my name to WWSD-thru-me? What would Satan do through me? I decided to read my column again. Grace. Offer Grace.
I tried again. I took out the accusations pointed at him. He was talking about everyone elses behavior and wanted me to be mad at them. Originally I had turned the tables and accused him of doing what he was mad at everyone else for. I knew I couldn't send that. I could talk about my behavior and let him know I can only be responsible for mine. It was better. I could maybe upgrade my name to WWFD-thru-me? What would my flesh do through me? It was merciful maybe, but it needed more grace.
It was really getting late now and I was very tired. We get up early at my house. I prayed and I thought WWJD? Through me? I decided to just write from the heart and tell the Grace filled truth.
Hi T****,
I was asked to write a column on another stock board. The column starts in the third paragraph. It is about you indirectly. I hadn't intended to contact you since it was obvious from your last emails that you were extremely angry and bitter towards me. I apologize for offending you in the past (or present) and it is your right to be angry with me for anything I have done to you or you feel I have done to you. But if I am kind to another poster or appreciate the articles that N*** or M**** P bring; that is my right and it shouldn't be considered an offense against you. I can't really see how that could be considered as an offense against you. My post telling J*** he was funny had to do with Star Wars memorabilia and collecting cans to buy CMKX stock. I don't think he was funny with most of his W****** comments. I know you read there and I requested for them to knock off the knocking W****** comments.
I won't say too much about your other comments but I find it curious that you would think I chased D****D** away. I consider him a friend. I don't trade his style but I have always appreciated him and his posts and told him so. I also know he is very bright and I have nothing but respect for him. As far as talking about how awful everyone else's language and behavior is, I will consider my own. Have I told them filthy or crude things? No, I never entered into any of those conversations. I try not to read them. They have nothing to do with stock and are nothing I care to read. If this offends you I am sorry but it is the truth. I wish for you the best. I wish you peace and it isn't likely to be found on that stock board. -Debi Then I copied the Grace Notes column here. At the end I added this note.
T**** -Jesus loves you. All the fighting against his love won't change that fact. The anger and rage you feel towards others could be melted away in one minute by him, if you give it to him. You can continue on the path you are on but as you know life is short. You are not enjoying your anger and hostility. It is pushing people away from you and that isn't what you really want. It is eating away at you and you cannot stop it. I don't hold anything against you. I am not angry with you and I love you. I wish you the best. If there is anything I can do for you let me know. T****, we all fall down and make mistakes, you were able to forgive your neighbor for his big mistakes. I do ask you to forgive me. I think you need to forgive every single person who has offended you in your whole life and I think you need to forgive yourself for dragging emotional garbage around all these years, when you could have given it to Jesus a long time ago. That line in the Our Father prayer, Father forgive us as we forgive others is like asking for a curse unless you forgive. The Bible says the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I am come that they might have life and have it to the full. You have been robbed by the thief, the devil, most of your life. Your Dad was robbed by that thief, and he was his agent in your life, instead of being God's agent. It is never too late to start over. God is a restorer. He can restore everything the thief took from you. All you need to do is ask. God Bless-It is late-I am heading off to bed. -Debi
We get to interact with many people on the message boards every day. When we offer them grace and they come back for more. Offer them more grace. -Debi
His second email was much more bitter and hateful than the first. He was angry that I found some other poster's comments funny. The comments I posted as finding funny were not about him. He had a long list of accusations. I won't post his entire email just the opening shots.
Debi,
I have decided that I do not want to correspond with you any longer. You appear to have gotten in bed with people like N****, J*** (John) and M****_*****. As a result of your choice of bedfellows I have made my decision. Frankly, you have become pretty much as bad as they, but with people other than me. Sorry to have to say, I no longer respect you as I once did.
It was midnight and I was tired when I got his second email. He was seething with anger. He chose to express it with the words I had 'gotten into bed' with all these posters who didn't agree with him. The 'gotten into bed' comment was a nice line to send to a Pastor's wife. (His parents were evangelical Pastors). He knows I am a happily married woman who is faithful to her husband. The little hint of inuendo was not lost on me.
My first response was to hit the 'report spam' icon. Then I hit the 'This is not spam' icon. It was as welcome as Spam. I was angry now.
He was throwing wild accusations at me of how I chased all these good people off the board accusing them of being bashers. He was telling me if I was a Christian he was glad he is an atheist or an agnostic. He seemed to hold me personally responsible for everything except Global warming.I started typing furiously and defending myself and accusing him. Even while I was doing that I knew I couldn't send it. Not unless I wanted to change my name to WWSD-thru-me? What would Satan do through me? I decided to read my column again. Grace. Offer Grace.
I tried again. I took out the accusations pointed at him. He was talking about everyone elses behavior and wanted me to be mad at them. Originally I had turned the tables and accused him of doing what he was mad at everyone else for. I knew I couldn't send that. I could talk about my behavior and let him know I can only be responsible for mine. It was better. I could maybe upgrade my name to WWFD-thru-me? What would my flesh do through me? It was merciful maybe, but it needed more grace.
It was really getting late now and I was very tired. We get up early at my house. I prayed and I thought WWJD? Through me? I decided to just write from the heart and tell the Grace filled truth.
Hi T****,
I was asked to write a column on another stock board. The column starts in the third paragraph. It is about you indirectly. I hadn't intended to contact you since it was obvious from your last emails that you were extremely angry and bitter towards me. I apologize for offending you in the past (or present) and it is your right to be angry with me for anything I have done to you or you feel I have done to you. But if I am kind to another poster or appreciate the articles that N*** or M**** P bring; that is my right and it shouldn't be considered an offense against you. I can't really see how that could be considered as an offense against you. My post telling J*** he was funny had to do with Star Wars memorabilia and collecting cans to buy CMKX stock. I don't think he was funny with most of his W****** comments. I know you read there and I requested for them to knock off the knocking W****** comments.
I won't say too much about your other comments but I find it curious that you would think I chased D****D** away. I consider him a friend. I don't trade his style but I have always appreciated him and his posts and told him so. I also know he is very bright and I have nothing but respect for him. As far as talking about how awful everyone else's language and behavior is, I will consider my own. Have I told them filthy or crude things? No, I never entered into any of those conversations. I try not to read them. They have nothing to do with stock and are nothing I care to read. If this offends you I am sorry but it is the truth. I wish for you the best. I wish you peace and it isn't likely to be found on that stock board. -Debi Then I copied the Grace Notes column here. At the end I added this note.
T**** -Jesus loves you. All the fighting against his love won't change that fact. The anger and rage you feel towards others could be melted away in one minute by him, if you give it to him. You can continue on the path you are on but as you know life is short. You are not enjoying your anger and hostility. It is pushing people away from you and that isn't what you really want. It is eating away at you and you cannot stop it. I don't hold anything against you. I am not angry with you and I love you. I wish you the best. If there is anything I can do for you let me know. T****, we all fall down and make mistakes, you were able to forgive your neighbor for his big mistakes. I do ask you to forgive me. I think you need to forgive every single person who has offended you in your whole life and I think you need to forgive yourself for dragging emotional garbage around all these years, when you could have given it to Jesus a long time ago. That line in the Our Father prayer, Father forgive us as we forgive others is like asking for a curse unless you forgive. The Bible says the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I am come that they might have life and have it to the full. You have been robbed by the thief, the devil, most of your life. Your Dad was robbed by that thief, and he was his agent in your life, instead of being God's agent. It is never too late to start over. God is a restorer. He can restore everything the thief took from you. All you need to do is ask. God Bless-It is late-I am heading off to bed. -Debi
We get to interact with many people on the message boards every day. When we offer them grace and they come back for more. Offer them more grace. -Debi
