Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion begun by Vic titled "Put Up Or Shut Up" -- Chick told me that she is considering becoming an atheist because of my Christian witness. And, I respond to her, "Chick, my dear Friend, that is the beauty of our God. If atheism is more to your taste than Jesus Christ -- you get to make that choice."
Now, Chick tells me, "First of all, Billy, if you are such a wonderful Christian, why aren't you in church on a Sunday night? Second, I am not your "dear friend" & I resent being referred to as such.
I'm sure your lady friend, IF she was your friend, left the forum, (it was) because you were ragging her about being New Age & (in) what you call a cult. You pray I make a good choice??? Another lie, Billy......you despise me as much as I do you -- because I see you for what you truly are."
Where to start? Let me see. First, I suppose I should address the church issue. For the past 25 years I have been in Filipino-American churches which most often uses the facilities of established morning churches. And, we typically have our services around 1:30 PM on Sunday. In virtually all those morning churches, that congregation uses the facility on Sunday evenings -- which means that we have to be out. But, we do, at times, have joint Sunday evening services with them.
And, this works nicely for me, since I am not a morning person -- I can sleep later and still enjoy worship service and fellowship in the afternoon. Love it!
You mention my "lady friend." Actually, she is OUR lady friend, our Religion Forum lady Friend who told us she is a "Wiccan Christian" -- and I told her that is an oxymoron. One cannot be Wiccan, which is a form of witch craft, and be a Christian at the same time. The two are mutually exclusive. And, Chick, since you were involved in our discussions about her New Age peccadilloes -- I would assume you know who I have in mind.
Now, this third one I must address head on. You write, "You pray I make a good choice?????? Another lie, Billy......you despise me as much as I do you -- because I see you for what you truly are."
No, Chick, I do not despise you, nor do I even dislike you. My heart hurts when I think of you turning your back on God; but, that is no reason for me to dislike you nor to hate you. Most likely, when one gets past the anger and hurt you are holding inside -- I imagine you are a rather nice person.
The last time I hated anyone was well over 25 years ago. I was Director of Sales for a California computer company. The man who founded the company 20 years earlier and was still president, was my friend. But, he liked to tilt a few drinks. He asked me to interview a person, and after the interview I told him that I would not hire the man. When he asked why, I told him it was because the man could not look me in the eye and answer a question. Just chatting, he would look me in the eye. But, when I asked a question -- he always looked at his shoes when answering.
In my mind that was indicative that he was not being truthful. Well, the man went out for a few drinks with the president -- and was hired anyway. Less than two years later, while I was in Alabama for a relative's funeral, there was a meeting of the Board of Directors. This man had worked himself into the confidences of the Chairman of the Board and used that connection to back stab the founder/president -- causing him to be forced out of the company he had founded. And, of course, when they fired him -- they fired all the other company officers who might be loyal to him. I lost a very nice job.
So, at that time, not yet being a Christian -- I hated that man. However, after I became a Christian and was reading the Bible, I found Job 42. Job's friends had been attacking him, telling him that God was punishing him for past sins. Job knew this was not true; but, it did cause him great concern and anguish.
In Job 42 we read:
Job 42:7-8, "It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.'"
Then, we read, in Job 42:10:
"The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."
Shortly after I became a Christian in 1987, I began to pray for the man who had wronged me and caused me to lose the job I had worked years to attain. And, guess what? When I began to pray for that man -- the hatred I had felt for him disappeared. We cannot carry hatred for a person when we are praying for that person. So, in praying for him -- I removed the burden of hatred I had been carrying.
And, my Friend, this I can assure you, beyond all doubt. When a person is carrying hatred for another -- the person who is hurt most is the person carrying the hatred. This can cause all kinds of physical and emotional illnesses -- ulcers being the least of them.
So, Chick, when I say you are my Friend -- in my heart, that is exactly what you are -- my Friend. An odd thing about having a Friend -- it does not have to be a two-way street. So, I will continue to consider you my Friend; and, you may consider me whatever -- but, I will not be the one with the ulcer.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill