Attract and Attack?

Yes you are in!  Did you get attacked this week?  Welcome to the club.  For we are guilty of both.  Why?  You know we are in the Hope and Encouragement business.  Part of Hope is learning and understanding flaws yours and mine.  Here is your Play of the Day...

Thank you Pastor Rick Warren for another mic drop.  We don't have an official count yet I believe you are our mic drop leader.  Lots of wisdom in Daily Hope.  What a teacher.  God has blessed you for an extended season of wisdom.

Opening hook, Best Life by Marcus Rogers.

Okay, how about you?  Does that make sense?  Avid listener you know I play the Rom 3:23 card pretty much every week.  Why?  Because we are ALL flawed.  Ok, some more than others yet that verse explains a LOT!  

Most of us attract people with our best behavior.  Then, over time, our flaws get exposed.  Flaws = friction.  

The best relationships you know don't avoid friction.  They just navigate friction very well.  Whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not, your relationships will not last without implementing his teachings.  Matt 7: 24-27 is one of my favorites.  Jesus' words...

What are Jesus' teachings, fruits of the Spirit:  Grace, Forgiveness, Serving one another, Love, Choosing to Love.

Blessed are the peacemakers.  Doesn't mean you are supposed to be besties with everyone.  Some people you are best to keep your distance.  As for those that you took an oath in marriage in front of God or your children or best friends, you will navigate friction well by following Jesus' teachings.  Lori and I have been married for 30+ years now.  Jesus is the reason and why we have navigated some very hard times/storms.  Share what works.  

Confession, My worst holes dug and I have dug some biggies have come when leaning on my own understanding and pride.  

Tough Love is part of love.  Jesus gave tough love. If you listen to the rest of that Daily Hope, "What Destroys Relationships and What Builds Them Up, Part 3", published on 7 March 2025, Pastor Rick gets into it.  As the saying goes, friends tell you what you want to hear.  True friends will lovingly tell you what you need to hear.  Confession, I have lost friends over this.  Not everyone wants to hear what they should hear.  For the record, I will welcome them back with open arms.  I will also keep telling them what they need to hear.  Their choice to stick around.  

How do you know if you are sharing great advice?  Crucial question.  Let the Owner's Manual for Life be your guide.  Then let those that know the Owner's Manual for Life best also be your quality control.  

James 5:19-20 says, "My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins

Proverbs 12:1
New International Version
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Matthew 18:15-17
New International Version
Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

When in doubt, Matt 22: 36-40