Mark_18

Man, we judge so much when we don't even realize it. The following example isn't nearly as subtle as it gets.

Let's all work on judging ourselves, and really lowering ourselves to serve others.

On Sunday April 20th. (420 or "weed day" here) I was working and this guy came to buy some pizza. He's a big guy with a REALLY deep voice. I've seen him a few times now and he's always very happy. So On this day of April, he comes to buy some pizza from me and he's got dark sunglasses on, smiling and calling me brother. "Thank you brother ".

I remember thinking that he (for some reason) looks like an athiest. And also thought he was probably one of the guys out getting high for 420 and was baked there, hence the sunglasses, smiling, kindness, "brother" talk, and general big "tough guy -athiest" look.

I saw him today and it occured to me that I only see him on Sundays after church would have let out... and he's calling me brother...

Next time I see him I'm asking him the obvious question.

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Luke 15:31 - And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Joel 2:28 - I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Matthew 7:7 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

JOKE POLICE

Dusty

Good Idea , Mark.

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Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Mark_18

I forgot to mention the long hair. XD. Very important. :P

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Luke 15:31 - And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Joel 2:28 - I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Matthew 7:7 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

JOKE POLICE

Boanerges

Not one of them thar long haired fellas? When I was young I had hair down the middle of my back . Nowadays it seems to be going north for the winter.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

Christian Commando

Yes, sometimes it seems outward appearances can be decieving or repelling. I was around a good sized city for 5 years, where a good number of homeless lived. I would be supprised many the time when out with Church groups after Church for coffee and they'd kinda slowly back off as some of the homeless came in for coffee and a sandwich or something in our line.

God trains us at times to "break the mold" of how to interprete things, that we won't continue to ward off those who are saved but different than us, to avoiding sharing the Gospel with those lost who are different than us.

Thats why I like God's "refresher" courses every now and then hehe.

God Bless!!

Dusty

That's right C.C. We tend to judge people by their looks. That is why we must remember where Jesus went during His time on earth. He was not with the rich. He was with the sinner, the poor and the unlovely.

Even when we have some one who we think is not presentable come into church, I see many who turn their backs and shun away. Wait a moment here. Is this what the church is supposed to do ?

For example , we had a gentleman come in, very poor , shabily dressed, with alcohol on his breath. Amny people just passed him by but there were other men in church who took the time to mentor this man and today he is a great helper and always willing to do things around the church. That is just one example of many . So we do not know who we entertain. It goes back to the old saying " You can't judge a book by it's cover."

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Dusty

I just read this and will pass it on .

Before you judge me.... take a walk in my shoes.

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Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Jon-Marc

I've been guilty of misjudging someone by the way they looked. I remember doing that in the 5th grade (late 50's). We had a boy who wore his coat collar up and had that "tough guy look". I assumed he was trouble. Was I ever wrong! He turned out to be really nice and friendly. I still tend to judge a person's personality by the way they carry themselves and by the look on their face, and I still tend to be wrong. I'm a slow learner.

Theophilus

I believe one of the hardest things I have had to learn in my walk with Christ is to not to lock in to the first impression of a person or situation.
First impressions are valuable but only as starting point. We must be willing accept it only as a starting point and look for direction of the person or situation from there to correctly discern and respond.

We have to get to know them and let them get to know us in order to truely correctly discern another.
One of the greatest gifts God has given man is the ability to change.

With out the ability to change not a one could be saved.
So why is it we look at others and see them as they are at that moment and don't see that they can and probibly will be differant the next.

See. . . It's not what we are at a given moment that defines us (or at least it shouldn't be) nor the change that is constant in every one, but the direction that we each are headed that should matter.

Look beyond what and where they are at this point in time to the direction they are headed if you want to know them.


I'm reminded of a story I heard some time back. ..
A misionary was visiting a remote village of one time canabals. His purpose was to evaluate the progress of the missonary who had first went there some 20 years earlier.
He was appauled at their living conditions. Much of ther culture still remained intact, some of their customs and rituals still being practiced. Unable to contain his disapointment at how little incluence the prvious missionary had on them and how little of the christian faith was evident, he spoke out at the evening meal with the tribal leaders.
However his complaints were soon and permantly stopped when an wise man from the tribe politely informed him that had the misionary before not been successful in bringing about a great change they would most likely be having him for dinner instead of discusion with him over dinner.


For Him
Cliff

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2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

BCheezy

Is all judging bad though? I mean.. when you're making a selection of girls to get closer to, it's ok to be picky then.. or when knowing who to trust when you're making new friends somewhere.. I'm certainly not going to trust the people who wear their hair in different colors and wear all black with chains.

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