| SHOUT BOX | The pastor of an inner-city church told his congregation: “Some people believe in ‘an eye for an eye.’ But in this neighborhood, it’s two eyes for an eye. You can never even the score; you can only raise the stakes.” The people nodded in solemn understanding of the reality they faced each day.
We’ve seen it happen on a school playground or in our own homes—a child bumps into another during a game. The one who was bumped pushes back, and the shoving quickly grows into a fight. It’s the process of retaliation and escalation in which each act of revenge exceeds the one that provoked it.
In Matthew 5, Jesus tackled a number of key relational issues by raising the standard to the one that pleases God: “You have heard that it was said . . . . But I tell you . . .” (vv.38-39). His words about turning the other cheek, going the second mile, and giving to those who ask may sound as radical and unrealistic to us as they did to those who first heard them (vv.38-42). Are we willing to ponder and pray about His teaching? Are we ready to apply it when we are wronged at home, at work, or at school?
The cycle of escalation can be broken when a courageous, faith-filled person refuses to strike back. —David C. McCasland
Lord, help me not retaliate
When someone wants to pick a fight;
Instead, give me the strength and faith
To show Your love and do what’s right. —Sper
To return good for good is natural; to return good for evil is supernatural. |
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| faithful_one | | 
"Let no one look down on your youth, but set the believers an example in
speech and conduct, in love, in faith, [and] in purity." |
| | View My: Blog | Pictures | Videos | Layouts |
| BIO | | PHYSICAL | | Race: | Caucasian | | Height: | 6'0" | | Body Type: | Slender | | SOCIAL | | Marital Status: | Divorced | | Children: | Proud parent (2) | | Sexual Orientation: | Straight | | Religion: | Christian | | Smoker: | Yes | | Drinker: | Occasionally | | EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION | | Education: | Some College | | Occupation: | Self Employed | | Income: | Less than $30,000 |
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| STUFF FAITHFUL_ONE LIKES | | Interests: | :) Relaxing with a nice hot cup of coffee and having fun :) | | Sports: | My favorite sport is football. I love watching the Lions, and I will admit it... I actually thought they might have a shot this year at the playoffs. Then they went right back to the Lions of the last 3 years. Loosing by less than a touchdown. *sighs and shakes his head* maybe next year. | | Music: | I enjoy a wide variety of music, everything from Classical and Jazz to Country and Blue Grass to Pop and Rock. I really enjoy the silence the most. ;) I can't stand any music that has to use vulger language to express their views. | | Movies: | My favorite movie of all time would have to be the Star Wars Series (ya can't really pick one of those over any of the others since it is an ongoing story line ;) )
The last movie I saw was Spiderman 3 when it first came out. I only went then because the first two were so good. | | TV: | I don't really watch a whole lot of TV. Although I do admit that I have to watch my NFL. I don't get overly involved in the games, so as long as the game is on and I can hear it in the background, I'm a happy camper!
I also like action shows, that new Terminator, Smallville, Supernatural, I want to see The Moment of Truth, and American Idol. | | Books: | My favorite book of all time is the Bible.
The last book I read was Dragon Rider by Cornellia Funke, which I just finished yesterday. Before that I read the Inkheart and Inkspell books by the same author. I can't wait for the movies to come out.
Books are one of my favorite topics, my favorite series of all time though would have to be the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. | | Heroes/Idols: | I consider each and every single man and woman wearing the United States Military Uniform a hero. They put their lives on the line every single day in some of the most hostile places in the world for my freedom, and I thank them for that! |
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