The Brass Tacks

There is no avoiding it - I am going to offend someone. I mean, I was not created to be like you. I believe what I believe, think what I think, and if my intention here is to be honest and true then, well, you might not like what I have to say. In contemplating the content for my next blog post (which turns out to be this one), I kept getting hung up on how to share my life without really pissing someone off. This is impossible, and frankly.. stupid. I don't believe in holding my tongue so as not to offend. I mean - I do think there is decency and respect and consideration to be made, but if I soften what I say due to fear of disagreement or making someone mad, then what's the point?!!

So, let me just throw myself under the bus. For my conservative friends: I am not a teetotaler. I enjoy a nice hot or cold alcoholic drink once or twice a week - sometimes more, sometimes less. I use language that is appropriate for the situation or discussion at hand as inappropriate as you may think it is. I am not a republican, and I have not lost my salvation because of these things. For my typically liberal friends: I love Jesus - I believe he is the son of God and that there is only one God. I don't support abortion, and I don't believe people are born gay, rather I believe people are born sinners and being gay isn't any better or worse than my choosing laziness, comfort or control to serve my perceived  entitlement to "happiness", over the desires of Jesus for my heart and life.

I do believe in loving people, period.

And all this gets me thinking… What happened to having meaningful discussions about hard things that end in relationship rather than hate or secret disdain for one another? Can't we disagree and still love? You don’t have to go very far to see this hatred in proliferated action. Look at the stalemate in politics in America. It doesn’t take a genius to see there is no value placed on the human heart and soul behind the opinion one feels so vehement about. So, how do people grow and learn if discussion is not an option? And what does this say about us as a people? No one has it all figured out. What if you are wrong about something? What if I’m wrong about something? Shouldn’t we love, listen, come to agreement or disagreement, but LOVE first?

So although I will try to be sensitive, I do not promise not to offend. If you disagree with me, or if I have offended you then tell me about it. Let's talk. But let's love first.