My best hope is that today was a good if not great day for you. Thursday usually seems to be a bit of a wake up call for me. Sunday is crashing in very soon so it is time to get ready. There was no exercise today. At my age it is a good thing to take a break every few days. It is my typical nature to push myself with exercise until something gives. Part of approaching 50 is that acceptance of the limits of the human body. That is by itself a good thing. Some of what I see happening now is not so good.

It is my opinion alone that civility between people is a lost cause. We lost the desire or the skills needed to simply get along. Tonight there was a news program on the television while my son and I laid down. The sound was off and the mute button was on. You could tell solely from facial expressions that two individuals were arguing. It was probably a political topic but both men were going full speed at the other. Being argumentative sells today in the news. No one can discuss something with civility and make money doing it. It isn't just in politics that this is true. Religion is full of the lack of civility we see on the news. It usually isn't a good business meeting unless a decent brawl breaks out. To be honest, far too many churches have the reputation as fighters more than lovers. Even worse is the idea that reputation doesn't seem to bother anyone.

We usually say we are taking a strong stand against some evil. We make light of another political party in church without noticing the failure of our own. We take our doctrinal battles to the mat for what we believe. My denomination is splintering on an almost daily basis on the less than essential tenets of the faith. We yell at the liberals. We paint the conservative in a controversial fashion. We blast those who do not sing the same songs we sing. We dismiss those who do not keep our agenda as nonspiritual or unclean. Most of the normal functions of a church organization divide people into categories so a few might feel good about their position. No doubt someone who stumbles onto this blog might be shocked, angry or even dismissive of my movie choice on Monday night. Just remember there is probably something in your life and habits that I would have disagreement with. At least the cycle of discord can continue that way.

We don't seem able to talk to each other anymore. We seem to cling to standards that separate rather than longing to grow together. What amazes me sometimes is how we end up feeling alone after we drive anyone but our few away from us. Is it any wonder some in our world of lost souls see no point in becoming like us? We don't even like some of us. How do we expect them to want to join us? Relationships are not easy, glib or simple. If we are content to live without them, we will. Maybe for some the idea of being "right" eases the pain of broken friendships. Somehow I cannot see brokeness ever being right regardless of the cause.

This is the world we have now. The various divisions in our country grow wider each day. We dig in our heels and determine we shall not be moved from our place. It sure is hard to hear each other over the shouting. This is not what I see our Lord desires for us. His words talk about acceptance, forgiveness, and grace. We tend to be so busy wanting to get things our way that we fail to see if we are doing it His. Without some God given miraculous moment there is little if any hope for change. We will slip off the face of history shouting at the enemy yet never realizing that he is us.

Bro. Trey