"Respect"

It seems that I may have provided the wrong impression concerning my "not feeling respected". This was not me simply being on an ego trip or being down on myself. No, this was something far different.

We read about ancient civilizations and how people sought to have honor for themselves and their family. To BE honorable people, to BE people worthy of respect. This is kind of the angle I am coming from. I guess where I was coming from is the belief that I am not yet one to be honored. I believe that there is within m,e the power and characteristics that are necessary to be one that is respectable, but I have just not yet stepped into the position, or I have not yet begun to use those skills in a way that it is noticeable.

Now, let me be clear. The goal I have is not to do things so that I will get noticed, but instead to live out such a life of honor and discipline that it is noticeable without my seeking to be noticed. You tracking?

Here are some of the questions that I've been asking of myself:

• "Do my words hold wisdom, or halfhearted babble?"
• "Are my words reliable? Can people listen to what I say and know for a fact that I am honest and sincere?"
• "Do I live out what I teach?"
• "How do I interact with people around me? Am I a good example to others?"
• "Is my lifestyle one that is honorable and reflective of my God and my love for Him?"

These are the questions I place before myself to filter and sum up myself for the purpose of improving myself and to become more disciplined. If you are reading this and you know me, or you have merely been reading my blog and think you have some insight into who I am, please feel free to comment, message, or email me (sgreen2049@gmail.com) and share your thoughts! Do you think I am a respectable person? Why or why not? What are so observations you might have about me to help me answer the questions above? 

Also, examine your life! Ask yourself these questions and see what you come up with!

Peace be with you!

Stephen

"Christian" Facebook

Recently I was talking to a friend over coffee that I greatly respect. I was sharing some things that were on my heart that was bothering me, and at one point we began talking about some of my blog posts and Facebook statuses; I found myself being humbled at my friends rebuke of a couple of immature and disrespectful posts. I had vented on one of my posts (removed the day of said conversation) in which I had been careful not to mention names, but had been ruthless and cold in other respects. People still knew who I was talking about in the post regardless of whether I put the names in there or not, and I had failed in my attempt to be "sensitive" in how I presented my thoughts. I failed to take my Christian beliefs and ethics and apply it to my everyday life. In addition to this I had done something similar with a Facebook status in which I did mention the name (also, now removed) that was even more rude and disrespectful. At this revelation I apologize to those I have disrespected and offended in my immaturity.

We have a responsibility to one another, even more so if one is a Christian, to be loving and respectful of others. We must seek to display maturity and professionalism when we display things for all the world to see. Facebook is dangerous in that we can be far to bold in our speaking, in a way that we wouldn't if the person was present. In fact it is almost cowardly to post on Facebook what one is unwilling to say to a persons face. Through Facebook there is a break down of privacy and intimacy, both of which are components of life that are extremely necessary to our growth and our stability as human beings. Emotional and mental health demand a certain level of intimacy and privacy.

My belief, my faith, my religion, and my God demand that I bring all of my life under the submission of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God almighty. This means reading my posts twice, and twice more, to make sure that I am displaying Christ-like character and love. What I did was not biblical by any means. I must continually check my heart and my attitude and seek the guidance and moving of the Holy Spirit within me. I must "become all things to all people" by tempering my soul with prayer and meditation so that I will have no malice and bitterness to be poured out into my writings. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."  So, therefore, I must change my heart, but more importantly I need to seek God to have my heart changed.

Lets all learn to do this, and maybe Facebook, Blogger, Google+, and all those other forms of social media can become a better tool for community and the Gospel and not something that utterly destroys them...