Page 76 - Issue 36
P. 76

from Pastor David









               I                                  The pattern I am seeing is this:  Being   and are so focused on themselves
                                                    Bear with me.  I am getting there.
                 have to say this ponder-
                                                                                   they truly do not see they are infecting
                 ing has been very tough
                                                  easily offended has become epidemic.
                                                                                   everyone in their circle.  We are that
                 for me to get on paper.
                Maybe because I am of-            It has obviously always been around   person when we broadcast our offense.
                                                  a long time but lately has become
                                                                                      It is easy to blame or judge
                fended that such a thing          a misery we can all choose to have.    someone who spews their poison,
                                                                                   especially when it gets on us, but not
                                                  Have we become so insecure that we
                exists... The act of being        as a people must fi lter every word we   so easy to see ourselves doing it.
                offended that is.                 say in fear of offending someone?   Has this ever happened to you?
                                                    Sometimes I think my son dreads   Right out of nowhere your spouse or
                Are we really so self-centered that we   going out in public with me because   someone who is very close to you says
                feel the world should come along side   my old Army Warrant Offi cer, bull in a   or does some heinous act that royally
                us in agreement on everything we hold   china cabinet, unsugar-coated direct   torques you off.  The fi rst thing that
                close?  From network news to social   approach to fi xing the situation might   happens is your fi ght mode switch
                media it seems everyone has a need,   inevitably break free of my mouth   gets fl ipped and it is on!  It “feels” right
                almost obsession, to broadcast how   and offend someone or worse a large   to fi ght because you think, you have
                they have been offended about one   group of someones.   Honestly part of   to protect yourself.  Well, it isn’t about
                thing or another.                 me sees this as a challenge.     you, buttercup.  What if God Almighty
                   This has been on my radar for    The Truth is hard trials and   sent you this person so that you could
                months.  There comes a time when a   temptations are bound to come.  They   be coworker with Him to bring them
                topic is just too loud to keep it inside   are inevitable.  The sad thing is, it will   back into the light?  To do this, we
                so I decided to begin the process of   be too bad for whoever brings them   must fi rst not be offended.
                writing something down.  The fi rst   on. In fact, it would be better for   When our core belief is all about
                thing I did was to ask God, “What is   this person to wear an engine block   ourselves, we can be offended by
                this trend?”  Next was the Bible.  It   chained around their neck and then   anything coming into our territory we
                turns out this is not a new problem.  In   take a swim than to give even one of   do not agree with.  But when our core
                fact, Jesus told His disciples that hard   His children a hard time!  is based on the love Jesus taught then
                trials and temptations such as these   Be alert. If you see your friend   we are more likely to focus on the
                are bound to come up.  In fact, they   doing wrong, correct them. If they   people around us.
                are inevitable.  Then I did searches   respond by saying they are sorry,   “Love the Lord your God with all
                to see what others had written and   forgive them even if it’s personal   your heart and with all your soul and
                said on the subject of being offended.    against you and repeated over and   with all your mind and with all your
                There is plenty.  Lastly, I was talking to   over again.  Forgive them.    strength. The second is this: ‘Love your
                a good friend about my quest and he   But wait, “David.  I thought you   neighbor as yourself.”
                suggested I listen to a podcast from   were talking about a person who is   Try to hear it like this:  Children.
                one of our mutual favorite pastors.  It   easily offended.”   Yes, I am still talking   Love (and trust) me with your all.  Love
                was as if she had spoken the same   about you and me.  I just cleverly   people around you like I love you.  Only
                thoughts I was getting.           turned it around so you can see how   then will you understand what this
                   You should have a smile on your   offending it is to be offended.    rich Love I am trying to teach you fully
                face by now.  Yep…. God is up to    Have you ever known that person   means and how desperately you need
                something.  Don’t you love it when   who comes to work when they are   each other.
                He sees us hurting and ever so gently   burning up with a fever or clearly sick   “God loves you so much that He
                steps in to pick us back up again?  He   with some sort of nasty contagious   cannot keep His eyes off of you.”
                spends a great deal of time doing that   sickness?   They think they are
                with me at least.                 absolutely essential for the workplace   RDavid@ MoulderMinistries.com



             76     RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-SIX



         76 Word.indd   76                                                                                    2/26/16   12:50 PM
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