I am dissappointed in myself, allowing myself to actually get upset about what someone posts on here. I apologize for any response that I have given, private or public, that has offended anyone. Most of all, I apologize to our Maker.

When we think horizontally, instead of vertically, we get it screwed up, don't we?

I used to experience road rage. When someone did not abide by what I thought most people perceived to be common courtesy and decorum, I would be so easily offended. Pretty dumb, but hey, I've learned that I am no-where near as smart as I thought, mostly when it comes to disciplining myself to care about only what God cares about.

It is typical of men to experience "road rage" on a forum such as this. And if a person has never experienced "road rage," A TYPICAL RESPONSE is to view the person demonstrating as a complete nut. If you do not fit into someone's box, they are often not willing to step outside their own box to see where you are coming from. Likewise, we often are unwilling to "look into their box." So, we all just kick each other out of the box.

The theme here is that I might typically REACT, because I have MADE the situation ABOUT ME, instead of RESPONDING in a manner that is more than pleasing to God, but is conducted in such a way that praising God has become the focus of the event.

God has created us to be sentient, intelligent creatures. When our actions are stimulated by emotion, rather than Biblically driven and supported intelligence, we fail ourselves. And oh what an example we set for our children, and for those around us. And while we have the head knowledge to understand that we can't change a single soul, no matter how lucid the arguement, we proceed in a manner that appears we want to force someone to accept our way of thinking.

We are so changeable, sometimes from minute to minute. God's Word is not so. And His word says not to lean to our own understanding. So when a brother on this forum shares something or "preaches" at me, it would behoove me to step out of my box, or my frame of experience, test what he has said against the framework of God's Word, and then consider it. Perhaps it is good, solid counsel. Perhaps it is counsel like that from the friends of Job. Or perhaps it may appear to have a form of godliness, but is tainted with worldly wisdom, arrogance, or the lacking of certain elements of common sense. But when I begin to lash out at the person sharing, when I exhibit road rage, even if it is in the carfully camoflouged guise of scripture, I demean myself, and I demean God.

I would like every man on here to think I was wise and witty and filled with Godly counsel. But even if I was, it would not matter. Only God's Word matters. Only the understanding that we were made to pleasure Him matters. Communing with Him through this assembly can be uplifting, educational, rewarding, and the achieving of giving glory to Him. But only if I am unselfish, and do not submit to those selfish desires that make this all about me. Road Rage on the Family Man Forum just ain't cool. No matter how we dress it up.

And now, I think I shall enjoy a piece of water melon.

Real story.....

Explained to daughter that it's also attitude of the heart and not just action that is important. Used Jesus' teaching about murder. Yes the Scripture says you are not to murder, but if you say 'you fool' to your brother you are guilty of murder (abridged version here). Explained that every day many people in our area were guilty of murder on the road due to comments, frustrations, etc from dealing with traffic. Picked her up that day. Driving somewhere and the person in front of me did something that set me off. I let loose with a couple of noncomplimentary words questioning their sanity, heritage, etc. She turned to me and said "well you killed that one, didn't you?"

Really made me think about how what I say impacts others, and of course the words said come from the heart. We know it's not what goes in that defiles you but what proceeds forth.

So, the point is, we should all stop and consider before posting. We dont' want to water down and secularize what we want to share from the Word of God, but being antogonistic and bombastic doesn't work either. If you know/expect/anticipate your posts will garner vitriol and lead to outbursts and arguments, perhaps you shouldn't post or should use the whisper function.

I'd like to see this place be pleasent, helpful, insightful, and at times humerous. There is a way to speak the truth in love without being overly pious and holier than thou. Those pharisaical attitudes lead to the road rage "blog rage?"

Let's encourage and esteeem others better than ourselves, admonish and rebuke in love where necessary, not be a stumbling block (which we can do when we are too preachy), and help to bear one another's burdens. If we work at this, perhaps we can be more Christ-like to each other.

Blessings to all..