How Rude!

I'll admit I freely operate in the spiritual gift of sarcasm but I try very hard not to use it as a weapon against others. (Note; There is no spiritual gift of sarcasm)  Sadly, civility has become a counter culture value in our society. Have noticed how uncivil our culture has become?  People are just flat out rude today. They’re not polite to each other. They’re not civil with each other. Just log on to your Facebook or Twitter account and scroll down.

Today our nation is becoming more pluralized, we have more people coming in from different perspectives, different places and I think that can be a very good thing.

But we need civility in our culture so we can disagree without being disagreeable.

Why should we want that? Because Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Not the people who create conflict and division but the peacemakers, the bridge builders.

One of the most famous quotes of Jesus is found in Matthew 7:12: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”  It’s called the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The word for that is “civility.” The opposite of rude.

Civility is just treating other people the way you’d like to be treated, even if you disagree with them — even if they’re flat-out, dead wrong, which they usually are! (That's my joke)

Even if they’re fighting against you, you and I treat them the way we would like to be treated. That’s civility.

I am committing to be a peacemaker today and love people today, even if they disagree with me.       
How about you?

Give What They Need, Not What They Deserve

As I’ve worked with people over the years, I’ve seen a common problem: conflict. It exists between husbands and wives, generations, ethnic groups, religious groups, language groups, and nations. The greatest need in our world is reconciliation. Remember “peace on earth, good will toward men”?

I believe strongly that God shown you and I grace and acceptance and he wants us to show it to other people. Show the grace he has shown you. Be a peacemaker.
Jesus said it like this. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”

Be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker — at work, at home, or at school. Build people up, not tear them down. You can compliment more than you criticize. You can love people the way Jesus loves people.

Even if those people in our lives are bad drivers, rude shoppers, snarky co-workers, and selfish acting children - Christmas is the perfect time to show grace to other people, because we’re reminded of the grace God has shown us — that he gives us what we need, not what we deserve.

So let me ask you a very frank question. In the spirit of Christmas — “peace on earth, good will toward men” — with whom do you need to restore a broken relationship this Christmas? 
They might not be around next Christmas.