Good News!

[constance]

There comes a point in every conflict where we each have to take a moment, step back, and look at things from a new perspective. In the heat of conflict it is too easy to blind ourselves to everything but our own immediate concerns and limited point of view. It is too easy to shirk off the responsibility each of us owns for our own choices and actions and to lay the blame at the feet of others.

“The devil made me do it.”

“He provoked me.”

Each of these is a copout. Sooner or later we each need to own what we have chosen. The devil cannot make anyone do anything. He may lead you and tempt you, but he cannot force you. An enemy may provoke you with their words - or their deeds - but you must choose how you will respond to that provocation. We each must choose to escalate or defuse the situation - to continue the problem or to seek a solution.

Christ gave us the example of one who sough solutions. When the woman caught in adultery was brought to him he found a solution to the problem. He defused rather than escalated. When the Pharisees tried to trip him up asking trick questions - he defused rather than escalated - even when he gave cutting answers - he did so in a way that defused rather than escalated.

Recently, several members here, after long and protracted conflict, have agreed to end the cycle of escalation, to take responsibility for their own actions, and seek reconciliation. Each has chosen to forgive, to ask forgiveness, to put aside old grievances, and to work together towards reconciliation. To that end they sought out the assistance of the Chaplaincy team.....and they've asked me to open this thread to let them talk about their newly discovered brotherly love. As you read their testimonials, please say a prayer for them, and search your heart to see if there is someone you need to forgive in a similar way.

God bless you all!

 

[dignitized]

X

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Br. Max and Netrips accepted my apology and returned theirs so we may have mutual and unconditional forgiveness. Christ forgives us all without finger pointing and that is what we are to do. Reconciliation is working together in mutual respect and loving each other even in moments of frustration. It is not about blame. Would also like to thank Constance and geocajun for their help. Thanks for reading and if the three of us can find peace together in Christ then there is hope for us all

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

I also need to admit i didnt realize how deeply the ongoing conflict was affecting me but after we found peace i felt a huge burden lifted and to me, that is the love of Christ. It was really cool how we all just let it all go and decided to work together and iam way too selfish to be able to do that on my own so all the glory goes to Christ Jesus.

 

[SunMessenger]

This thread makes the most sense of any thread I have ever read in these forums. This thread deserves a gold star. Well done Constance. This is a masterpiece.

Forgiveness of others is indeed our key to Heaven. Sometimes passions about something have a way of draining us. Even in victory there is no real peace without forgiveness. I feel so good seeing this thread that I don't have many words to describe it other than beautiful and the kind of thread that is way overdue.

God Bless Always...

SunMessenger

 

[GreenMunchkin]

Love, *love* this thread So encouraging. Thank you all so much!

 

[SunMessenger]

In The Name Of The Father, The Son And The Holy Spirit
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen​

~​

 

[dignitized]

x

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

That is very nice Max. Thanks also to SunM for posting that prayer. The Mark verse Max posted is quite profound. In our human selfish pride we have the power to prevent God from forgiving us. I like how it also says nothing about who is right or wrong as we should forgive regardless of such folly.

 

[NeTrips]

I also need to admit i didnt realize how deeply the ongoing conflict was affecting me but after we found peace i felt a huge burden lifted and to me, that is the love of Christ.

This is so true. As we exchanged PM's last week and worked toward reconciliation, the burden that I never even realized I was carrying was lifted. It was not our efforts and words, but Christ's grace and forgiveness that enabled this. It was through forgiveness and a commitment to lift each other up that peace was given to us.

1 Tim 6:4-5 testifies to the condition we found ourselves in when we intentioned to tear each other apart.

4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

Yet, when we acknowledged our faults and our tresspasses against one another, and asked for forgiveness, it was freely given.


I believe the following sums it all up well:

I Cannot Pray
(author unknown)​

I cannot pray "OUR",

if my faith has no room for others and their need.
I cannot pray "FATHER",
if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN",
if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.
I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME",
if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.
I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE",
if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot pray "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN",
unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD",
without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.
I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US",
if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION",
if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL",
if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM",
if I am unwilling to obey the King.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY",
if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
I cannot pray "FOREVER AND EVER",
if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
I cannot pray "AMEN",
unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done", so let it be.​

​

​

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Great stuff Trips!

 

[GreenMunchkin]

There's so much ugliness here, and this thread is such a nice place to come and hang out in when it gets a little overwhelming. Cheers bunches for that

 

[vatuck]

This is just AWESOME guys.

 

[dignitized]

x

 

[WalksWithChrist]

*blinks hard*

Wait...can it be?

*blinks again*

Yep, sure enough! The Great Reconciliation has finally happened!!!!

I'm so excited right now...I can't even say. Not even the revered Snoopy dance properly conveys the joy!


Coming from someone who's had to knock Max and Neverstop's skulls together a few times here and at UC, I can honestly say I this is a great day.


Props to NeTrips as well.


And massive props to any and all who helped the peace process!!

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

We had about the nastiest rivals going so there is no reason others in dischord cant accept Christ's gift of forgiveness. It was seriously nasty! Thank God for Grace! WWC saw me at my absolute worst so he knows the magnitude here

 

[WalksWithChrist]

We had about the nastiest rivals going so there is no reason others in dischord cant accept Christ's gift of forgiveness. It was seriously nasty! Thank God for Grace! WWC saw me at my absolute worst so he knows the magnitude here

Well, I've seen worse! lol But yeah...it got pretty bad there I must say.

But as bad as it got, let's see it be that GOOD!!

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

I think some people on both sides are having trouble understanding but that's to be expected. It's just amazing how the three of us were able to put it behind us and do our best to support each other in this even while are political views havent changed. Thanks again guys!

 

[SunMessenger]

I think some people on both sides are having trouble understanding but that's to be expected. It's just amazing how the three of us were able to put it behind us and do our best to support each other in this even while are political views havent changed. Thanks again guys!

The true victory in all disagreement is the ability to look past the issue into the soul. When all is said and done forgiveness is a true sign of the real victory for all of us. God Bless You ...

Sun

 

[TakeMyHand777]

This is so nice to see. I'm glad this thread is here. I'm even happier about what's going on. Friends coming together in a spirit of forgiveness and love. God bless you.