Ephesians obedience

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>         No one may remember the original note that I sent a couple weeks
> ago, about how we demonstrate our obedience to Pauls instruction to husbands
> and wives in Eph 5.

I remember it, and even thought it would make an excellent topic of
discussion.  Please remember, however, that there were already several
threads of discussion going on and your proposed topic just kind of
fell through the cracks.  Please don't feel bad or slighted about that
-- that's just the way things are in the world of discussion lists.
Over the past couple of years there have been numerous instances where
I've proposed something to talk about and it was totally ignored.  No
big deal.

Now that things have finally slowed down a bit, you did pick a good
time to re-introduce your topic of discussion.

> There were notes about christian rock music and
> hair and beards....

In the past, I've always kind of cringed when the topic of discussion
turned to standards of holiness and personal holiness.  People tend to
have some really strong feelings about these topics, yet because of the
international nature of the Internet we have people from all different
backgrounds here on the H-F list.  In the past we had a guy who
condemned men who wore watches and neckties.  I've heard that in some
areas of Europe, the Christians are astounded that American Christians
drink Coca-Cola.  There are different opinions on all aspects of this
topic.

This time, the discussion has been, in my opinion, good and balanced.
Nobody called anyone names (well, a couple of people came really
close).  Wonderful edifying posts, especially the ones from Bro Bassett
explaining how UPC church government the district boards operate, and
his more recent one on teaching standards of holiness in the church.

> Has anyone been deeply hurt by a saint of
> God? Someone that probably should have known better?

I'm the type of guy who generally just lets it slide off my back.  I
can generally count on (somebody else) to point out to me that I've
been gravely insulted, because I rarely notice myself.

I suppose I could look back and say "well, so-and-so should have done
this, or I can't believe so-and-so did that to me!"  BUT, I take the
attitude that there's only one person in the world that I can change,
and that's myself :-)

I also extend the grace that the reason someone might have done
something wrong to me might have been for a perfectly innocent reason
-- I don't look at the negative, I look at the positive.

I heard a sermon recently that I hard time relating to -- the preacher
preached on how people "always look at the negative."  One example he
gave:  the light to control traffic -- what do we call that?  He claims
everyone calls it a "stop light," even though it might say "go" as
often as it says "stop." I was puzzled for a moment, because I just
call it what it is -- a traffic light.  But then I realized, yeah, I
guess some people do call it a stop light.  It's kind of a profound
point if you think about it for minute.

For example, Bro Joe glances your way and twitches his mouth.  I *know*
of people who will think "Ahhhhh!!! Bro Joe twitched his mouth so he
thinks I'm unspeakably ugly!!!  He hates me!!!!  Well, I'll just won't
speak to him anymore, so there!"  BUT maybe Bro Joe twitched his mouth
because he was experiencing a minor stroke and needs prayer and
immediate medical attention.  I mean, c'mon people!  Show a little
mercy here.  And even if Bro Joe DOES think you're ugly, SO WHAT?

Or another, perhaps more real-world, situation: I receive up to 100
email messages each day.   Some of these are requests for information
of some type.  I'm a busy guy, so I often either fire off a form letter
of some type, or give a curt answer with little or no greetings or
pleasantries.  For a small number of these, I get a return note asking
why I was so rude to them, or asking what they did to offend me such
that they deserve such harsh treatment from me.

Lord bless you all.

Richard M.