Duck Dynasty: How Then Should We Christians Deal With This?

It has become almost a national fascination. In the first day I hear about it on HLN, I become outraged that an individual's right to free speech was supposedly being violated and censored. He had been suspended from his TV show? What? Over making a few comments? Without even being a fan of the show of the question or actually reading the offensive comments for myself, I made the supposed victim's picture my Facebook profile pic for a few hours. That evening, I saw a Facebook post that made it clear that many of us had "jumped the gun" and been duped by the media hype about this supposedly persecuted individual. After a quick Google search and reading the actual comments, I removed the Facebook profile pic. Still, some in my friends list still continue to champion "the cause" and several have continued to keep the said person's pic up.

What is Duck Dynasty all about?

First of all, I'm not a fan of the Duck Dynasty show or of any TV show, for that matter. There are news talk shows that I view when others in my household turn them on. The eve before that day, Duck Dynasty actually came to my attention in the form of a Facebook message inbox request to sign a Change.org petition for a person named Phil Robertson, who was still totally unfamiliar to me. Only when HLN covered him and his situation the next day did I sign the petition, and change my Facebook profile pic to Robertson. I did that because he had been suspended by A & E, according to HLN, over making controversial remarks about accepting Christ as one's Savior, and that homosexuality, like all other sins, will be judged by God in the form of sending the sinning persons to a place called hell. We in the Christian community are, today, must reckon with the GLBT issue, knowing that the family has been re-defined as anything we want it to be, whether between man and wife, unmarried people, or people of the same sex. Sadly, we in the Christian community are almost as divided about the GLBT issue as the general community. Thus this show is, according to my understanding, a now controversial reality show that focuses on "Christian right" views, and has support among those who pride themselves on holding "Conservative family values." I'm not aware of anyone in my family or among in our social circles, who have ever mentioned that they view this show or are its fans.

Why the Controversy Over This Show?

The controversy about Duck Dynasty as almost as divisive as the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case had been (and still is). The differences exist along party lines, and less so, among racial and class lines. Robertson had denounced, in no uncertain terms, homosexuality as a lifestyles, lumping it with other sins, including bestiality (sexual intercourse with animals). This offends GLBT persons as well as their allies. Also, Robertson made very hurtful slurs about Blacks, proceeding to opine that they were actually happier when they were segregated, and so-called entitlements did not exist for them "to depend on." This caused an uproar in the Black community and among their allies. Those slurs were un-Christlike, ungodly, and totally un-called for! Many of us in the Christian community, at least initially, took up the Duck Dynasty cause because of Robertson's stance against GLBT lifestyles. He remains seen as a hero by loyal supporters of "conservative religious right" views. It is all viewed as an illustration of "the culture war" between "liberal Democrats" and "conservative Republicans." We all know that the GLBT issue is a "hot button" controversy, hitting upon core beliefs of how we view love and the family. This holds as true among us in the Christian community as among those in the general community, as we are just as affected as we face our culture. We know that talk of racism is controversial and can be intense and seen as "race baiting" to merely address the race issue. Duck Dynasty is a symptom, not a cause, or our divided US.

What Does This Mean For Us As Christians?

We Christians need to realize that societal controversies, including Duck Dynasty, are just symptoms of what is wrong with us. We know that sin is the ultimate problem, though the world calls it other things. We may like to call it a "culture war," and denounce the moral decay that we see around us. But are we in a "culture war"? Are we actually in a spiritual war? Maybe instead of focusing on the moral ills that we oppose, we should focus on sharing, exalting, and shouting out the love, truth, glory, and awesomeness of the God Whom we love! Yes, we are to hate evil and to speak out against it in appropriate situations, as we sense God's guidance to do that. Those of you Christians who support GLBT rights and feel that "the Christian right" have gotten extremist and hateful do have a point! Too many GBLT people have ended their lives because they felt unloved, judged, and condemned by God and by Christians. Delivery of a hard-hitting message, such as the teaching of human sin and its consequences, must be delivered with compassion and great care! Failure to do this only turns off people, and they have every right to castigate us Christians as unloving and judgmental. But I kindly ask you who call yourself "Christian liberals" who support "GLBT equal rights" to read the Scriptures with an open mind about what God really says about GLBT lifestyles, in the New Testament book of Romans. But back to Duck Dynasty, we Christians should do our research about what Robertson actually said before hailing him as a hero or a persecuted victim.

How Then Should We Respond?

We ought to respect those who disagree with us about Duck Dynasty and about Robertson, As Christians bound by the Bible, we ought to search the Scriptures (like the NT book of Romans), to see what God says about GLBT lifestyles. We know that racism is a sin and we have to stop pretending that it is dead. We all believe in the right to free speech, and most people understand Duck Dynasty to be about this. But is it? Have we considered that we may be getting distracted from far more serious problems that actually affect us, unlike Duck Dynasty? Or do we actually, in a way, enjoy and derive entertainment from the controversy and the element of scandal in the whole matter? We in the US face the stark reality that our nation may deploy troops into South Sudan, one of the most dangerous spots in the world. Children and adults continue to go missing and many are killed daily, by a wide variety of means. Every day, three children die from child abuse. We Christians should face the sad fact that daily, hourly, and minute by minute, people die without Christ. I can go on and on. This is not to mention what goes on throughout the rest of the world! In light of this, maybe we should refocus, whatever our views of Duck Dynasty is, on the people and issues we love, instead of what we oppose. As I write, Robertson has been accepted back onto his show, which I know will not end the controversy. Many of us thrive on scandal or controversy. Is this not so?

What do you think?

The above photo of Phil Robertson is provided by his Facebook page, and can be found here.

Is the Christmas Holiday Truly Christian?

December 25 is, of course, the day that is widely observed or celebrated as Christmas Day. Yes, the day is officially over, but the holidays are still here and New Year's Day is almost upon us. That evening, on my Christ-centered Facebook page, I reposted a status update from another user, a poem depicting a professing Christian's anguish over being rejected by Christ on Christmas Eve, and that He had returned then. The imaginary professor of faith was aghast over being "left behind" because he had not been watching for Christ's return. I posted this on my Christian Facebook page; within minutes, users expressed anger at the post. After a barrage of angry comments, the original poster asked me to remove the post (as she had reposted it from yet someone else). So I did, posting a status update that confirmed that I did that. Over the past months, I have observed that there are sharp divisions amongst many brothers and sisters in Christ about whether this day ought even to be celebrated or observed. The passions run very strong about this in the Christian community, because it hits at core beliefs about God and what we believe the Bible says about holidays, tradition and Christian discipleship.

Why the Controversy About the Christmas Holiday Among Christians?

1). Pagan Origins. Research indicates that this day has roots having nothing to do with the Person of Christ.

2). Commercialism. It's self-evident that this time of the year incites greed, materialism and an excuse to indulge our lust to "lay up for ourselves" things, and to spend, spend, and spend on our families and ourselves. By showering many presents on our children, we teach them to think of themselves as consumers.

3). Hedonism. We use this time of the year as an excuse to "pig out" on food and alcohol. Is this not so? It isn't for nothing that we have coined the term "holiday food."

4). Traditions. We have practically made a religion of putting up lights, Christmas trees and organizing once-a-year family get-togethers among people we often see only at this time and may not even like. Those who offend by not adhering to this "religion" are often castigated as Scrooges. Never mind that they may not participate solely because of their own convictions.

5). The Santa Claus phenomenon. We parents tell children about this imaginary character, misleading them, and then wonder why, when we have to "break the news" that he is not real, that our children may struggle with believing that God and Christ are real.

6). Idolatry. We can't even pinpoint when God Incarnate was born into this world and nothing in the Bible indicates that we are called to celebrate Christ's birth. We ARE called to commemorate His death in the form of Holy Communion.

7). Causing unneeded stress because of unrealistic expectations. How many of us stress ourselves out trying to "find the perfect gifts" for loved ones? Hosting elaborate get-togethers? How many people, in pain to begin with over life situations, find their pain intensified at this time of the year?

How Then Should We As Christians Respond?

Those among our brothers and sisters in Christ who shun this holiday altogether have very valid reasons for their commitment and total abandonment to Christ. Even if we as Christians don't feel called to shun Christmas altogether, there are many lessons to learn where we can downsize our traditions and festivities, and greatly simplify this time of the year. We can still enjoy this time of the year, show our loved ones how much they mean to us, and please God. He does not want to be a "wet blanket" on our fun! Cut back on festivities. Lower expectations. Reduce spending. Simplify hosting preparations. Above all, respect our brothers and sisters in Christ who differ from us, and remember that it is all about the Person of Christ!

This is an unbiased article about the origin of this holiday.

This is an article, with links, outlining the actual origins of Christmas.

The photo at the top of this post is courtesy of MorgueFile.com and can be found here.

My Holiday Wish: A Little Bit of Your Time To Show Me Your Support

I know that this is the busiest time of the year, with all the stresses of this holiday season making so many of us feel pressured to do it all, so that our families and our children will "have a decent Christmas." Or, if you are one of those whose at a rough patch in your life, especially financially, you are afraid and depress, right? I have a holiday wish appeal, but it should not stress you out as I'm not asking you for a penny. I'm only asking for a little bit of your time, and it would mean a lot to me. I'm appealing for your support, brothers and sisters in Christ.

What Am I Asking You For?

I'm asking you to show me your support for this blog, or for materials that I have included here. I know that so many of you have shown your support in different ways, by signing my autism petition, and circulating this petition. Many of you have visited one or more of my Facebook pages and "liked" them. Many of you have hit one of the "Follow" or "Subscribe" options at this BlogSpot, and have become regular followers. My holiday wish is to see this BlogSpot continue to grow. I have set it up to help the general public, and with your ongoing support, I can help more people and help them more effectively than I am now. This particular BlogSpot is for you in the Christian community, but it's for any visitor who is interested in God, Christ, and spiritual things.

Simple Ways To Show Me Your Support & Help Spread the Love & Truth of God To More People

1). Hit the "Follow" button that floats at the top of your screen as you scroll down this page, to become a follower of this blog.

2). Hit one of the multiple "Subscribe" options on this blog, to get my updates in your email inbox or in a Feed reader. It's FREE!

3). If you have not done so yet, please sign my autism petition at Change.org. If you have signed it, please send invitations from the site, so that others can sign, too.
4). If you have not done so yet, please sign my autism petition at SignOn.org. If you have signed it, please send invitations from the site, so that others can sign, too!

5). You can visit my God-centered Facebook page, to "like" it and/or to circulate it. I'm looking to keep this page growing, reaching more people with the message of God's grace!

6). You can visit my static page on this BlogSpot, which houses all 7 of my Facebook pages with "like boxes." With just 7 clicks on each box, you can "like" all of the pages without visiting any of them. You can also find them on my homepage and do this same thing there.

7. You can visit my static page on this BlogSpot, which houses my autism petition on widgets from Change.org and SignOn.org; you can sign both of them there, and share them too. All that can be done without visiting either site.

8). You can visit my static page on this BlogSpot, which contains a brief survey where you can give me your honest feedback on how I'm doing here, and tell me what you would like to see. This would help me know what you need and want!

9). Comment on any post. I wish that Blogger had a better commenting system, and that you did not have to set up an account to post a comment on a Blogger blog. I have no control over this, but I hope to figure out how to change or improve this commenting system, if I can.

10). If you like any post or this BlogSpot, please share! I have set up many "share" options.

Mobile phone visitors, I have not forgotten you! I hope to find out ways to make this blog fit all screens. Blogger, unfortunately, does not make that easy. I hope to resolve things on my end, so you can enjoy this BlogSpot too. I plan to set up a website and hope to link it to this blog, and make changes that will make this BlogSpot better so I can help more people, and help them more effectively! Warm wishes to each of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, over this holiday season!

Sincerely, in Christ's Love & Grace,

Lisa DeSherlia

The first photo that is found at the top of this post is by "natbell" and it can be found here; the second photo at the top of this post is by "Alvimann" and it can be found here. Both these photos are courtesy of MorgueFile.com.

Christian Friends, You Can Show Autistic People A FREE Christmas Gift of Your Support!

What Am I Asking For?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Christmas is the time for giving. You know that. Actually, all year we are to give of ourselves and what we have. But we focus on this at this time of the year. I would like to see you show support for the autism community, and it will not cost you a cent, only a little of your time. I have set up an autism petition at Change.org over two years ago, and I had set it up at SignOn.org about a year ago. In it, I appeal to the US Congress and to the US President to send funds to all 50 states so states can set up affordable autism services for all those who want or need them.

Why Is This So Important?

Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder that affects the way a person sees himself, others, and the world. It affects how the autistic person relates to others. Levels of function range from the "high-functioning" Asperger's Syndrome to more severe forms of autism where an autistic person deals with cognitive and behavioral challenges. Every autistic person's autism is unique; autism cannot be stereotyped by the well-known "Rain Man" image in the Dustin Hoffmann film. Many autistic persons need no services, but far more, especially children, need affordable services. Without these services they cannot get officially diagnosed; without that diagnosis, it's legally impossible to access any form of autism support services. Hence, I have created a petition calling for those services for those who want but can't afford them.

Why Do We Christians Need To Be Concerned?

First of all, God loves and cares for all of us, and that includes autistic persons of all ages. He wants us to show His love to all people, as much as we can. Also, autistic adults and parents with autistic children have felt unwelcome in most Christian congregations, and I know that many still do. As the mom of a beautiful, precious daughter with diagnosed autism, and as a person who is suspected to have an ASD myself due to my past and present challenges, I have known this anguish of feeling unwelcome by a number of people in the Christian community. You take a small but important first step (depending on your connection with autism) by signing my autism petition, which I'm making available on widgets here, so you can more easily sign it and share it without leaving this blog to go to Change.org or to SignOn.org. Your support means a lot to us in the autism community!

Always in Christ,

Lisa DeSherlia

Please Sign This Petition Here

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Thank You For Sharing Your Support and God's Love!

Both images at the top are courtesy of MorgueFile.com. The first image is found here & the second image is found here.

Give A Child A Gift That Gives All Year Long

What Is the Problem With This Time of the Year?

It is that time of the year, the time when those of us parents, even we Christian parents, are hitting the stores to buy our children the gifts they may have wanted all year long. In this digital age, we parents are buying our children, at ever-younger ages, devices like iPods, iPads, cell phones, even Smartphones, tablets, even laptop computers. We want them to have all that their peers have! After all, our children may wail, "But Mom and Dad! All the other kids have one! Do you want me to be left out?" We don't want our children to be left out! Aside from the safety issues of getting these devices (aside from regular cell phones) in light of them running data that can make minors vulnerable to predators, there's the sheer material this all teachers our children. We Christians know that our Savior warns us not to "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth" and to "Beware of covetousness, for the abundance of life is not found in wealth." Yes, my spouse and I can relate to this cultural pressure as we are dealing with these same pressures to get "the best" for our daughter.

What Can We Do About This?

This past week, at our worship service, the sermon topic was titled, "It Isn't Your Birthday!" In other words, we behave as though this time of the year were our birthday (I'm not talking about those who DO have birthday at this time or on Christmas Day). It's reflected in how, with astounding frenzy, we hit the stores in search of the best deals. There's nothing wrong with wanting to show our love for family or close friends by giving them gifts. But don't we take it too far and get into materialism when we lavish our money on family or friends, giving our children toys or items they may enjoy today but be bored with tomorrow? By such behavior, we betray that we forget that we serve a God Whose nature is to give, give, give, all year long. There is nothing in His Word that commands us to get caught up in this yearly materialistic frenzy to celebrate all these festivities. We are told, though, to "Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." In last week's sermon, we were challenged, "What is on Jesus' wish list? What kind of gifts would make Him happy?" I do not think any of us who have even a casual knowledge of the Person of Christ or the Bible, would have trouble answering that question. In Scripture and in the life of Jesus, God reveals Himself as a giving God and that He wants us to give, every day of the year. At this time of the year, this means that He wants us to focus on what we can give, give, and give.

How Does Helping Fight World Poverty Figure In?

As many of us parents, guardians and others in in North America and Europe seek to lavish gifts on our children to give them what our culture has convinced us, is "a Christmas they must have," there are countless children throughout Asia, Africa and other parts of the world whose only thought is to survive. Many times, they don't have access to clean drinking water. This leaves people, especially children, vulnerable to deadly diseases of all kinds. So many of these people don't know if they will have anything to eat today, or if they can feed their children. Fathers often can't provide for their children, and can't send them to school. Women often can't read and can't get any pre-natal care during pregnancy. Celebrating on birthdays or holidays with festivities or gift-giving, is often unthinkable. Precious children start out with hopes and dreams, which their harsh circumstances soon cruelly crush to hopelessness. That is, if many even survive. Many children don't even live to see their 5th birthday. As most of us know but feel uncomfortable thinking about, many of these children die of starvation before them. God tells us, "If you have the world's goods but do not give to those in need, how does the love of God dwell in you?" Indeed, how can it?

How Can Child Sponsorship Combat World Poverty?

When we sponsor individual children, this allows relief workers to focus on a sponsored child's physical, social, emotional, and developmental needs. The child gets an education and is motivated and empowered to become a responsible and contributing member of his or her community and giving back far more than has been poured into them. Child sponsorship also helps the child's family and entire community as child sponsorship nonprofits serve their sponsored children's families and communities. When we sponsor a child, he or she is given hope, help and knows that they are cared for. This empowers them to much better development and their families are given hope in knowing that often tremendous struggles to provide for their own child are being assisted by others who also care. The family and community of the sponsored child also get help as an extension of the help being provided to the sponsored child. Reaching out in love to a child in this way is a wonderful way of showing a child and his or her family that someone truly cares.

What Is So Special About Compassion International Child Sponsorship?

We all know that there are many child sponsorship nonprofits, and you no doubt have seen many TV and Internet ads appealing to you to sponsor a child, with displays a pictures of individual children and contact information for the nonprofit. Aside from the sad fact that funds donated to too many of these nonprofits may be mismanaged and that many of them may not even reach those children, many seem to focus mostly on basic physical needs. That is better than no help for these suffering children. Compassion International is unsurpassed not only in their financial ethics and accountability, in my opinion, they focus on the complete development of their sponsored children: physical, social, material, emotional and spiritual. As Christians who want to see the world won for Christ, it's especially important that Compassion works hard to bring the truth and love of Christ to children, families, and communities. Compassion also serves the child's family and whole community. You can sponsor a child in Jesus' Name! If you feel moved to share your love with a child in need at this time of year and give a gift that gives all year long, I encourage you to consider Compassion child sponsorship. If you simply are curious about this or want to spread the word, visit here.

The above images are courtesy of Compassion International.

Gossip: A Sin We Christians Find It Hard To Resist

I'm sure that many of us Christians avoid gross sins like violent crimes and sexual immorality, though the news shows the alarming rate at which so many Christian leaders, not to mention "rank and file" believers, indulge in or are addicted to pornography or others sexual addictions. I can go on and on. But there is one sin that I think it's safe to say all of us Christians indulge in too often or feel tempted to indulge in. It is often not even recognized as a sin. I'm talking about gossip, and it's definition is much broader than simply telling lies about another person in malice. It's more than betraying confidences shared with us in trust. If gossip were simply not indulging in the above, many of us may be exempt from gossiper status. Ah, this just isn't the case! I'm targeting this post at myself as much as anyone, as gossip has been a lifelong temptation for me, a sin that I often indulged in in the past and no doubt still participate in. Why is gossip so damaging and such an evil? It destroys countless relationships, including marriages, and no doubt has spawned violent crimes. Gossip has probably destroyed much more trust between people and caused much more heartbreak than most of us have any idea of. It has ruined many reputations, even put innocent people behind bars for crimes they have never committed.

Gossip is not only spreading lies about people to ruin their reputations; it is so much more. It includes the habit so many of us have in simply passing rumors about others, whether true or not. We don't have any desire to ruin the person's good name and may not even realize this is going on. Examples in conversations? "Say, did you hear that so-and-so is divorcing her husband?" You are properly horrified and, without knowing whether this is even true, you repeat this to your close friend. "She found out that her teenage daughter is pregnant," a good friend tells you. "How awful!" you exclaim." Without going to the person to show your concern and verify this rumor, you repeat what you hear to your spouse. You hear an unconfirmed news report that a celebrity is having an affair and cheating on her spouse as you tune into a celebrity gossip show. "Hey, did you hear the latest on so-and so?" you gloat to a good friend. "She is cheating on her husband!" We, Christian and non-Christian, no doubt engage in this kind of idle talk than we care to realize. We Christians engage in this gossip business even when it comes to sharing others' prayer requests apart from their knowledge or permission. "I think we should pray for so-and so!" you exclaim to your Christian friends. "She is battling same-sex feelings!" or "Let's pray for him; he is indulging in porn. Imagine if his wife knew?" We don't realize that saying such things are plain wrong, unless it's pointed out to us. I'm pointing fingers at myself on this too, especially in my pre-Christian days.

We deal in the gossip business when we read magazines, other materials, and view talk shows that are set up mainly to cater to our sick "need" to hear bad things about others, especially celebrities, politicians, and crime cases. We indulge in gossip when we listen to our family members and close friends gossip about absent persons, and say nothing to challenge them. It is called listening to gossip and we, including I, engage in this much more than we probably care to know. It's so easy to do! We often don't recognize when we are hearing gossip, and may value keeping the friend's or family member's approval of us more than we feel the need to challenge them to stop saying things about absent parties who can't defend themselves. It is said, though, that "Whoever gossips TO you gossips or WILL gossip ABOUT you." I think many of us can vouch for this one, as we may remember so-called "friends" whose gossip we listened to, who are NOT talking TO us now and this means that they are likely talking ABOUT us. Listening to gossip may make us feel important, included or entertained, but it is an illusion and it doesn't deliver what it promises!

There's another form of gossip that we may use to handle our interpersonal conflicts or hurts, and it's been called "triangulation." Here's how it works: Someone hurts you by word or action, you are upset, hurt and angry and you "vent" or gripe to a third party. This is so much easier to do than courageously speaking the truth BUT in love, to the person who has hurt or upset you! I know this so well, as one who had, and still does, engage in "triangulation" far too much. We Christians know that we have the resource of going to God and "griping about" the offending person to Him. But we know that, not only is He invisible, but we will be challenged to go the person in caring confrontation. I'm sure that all of us, Christian and non-Christian, engage in "triangulation," because it's just "too hard" to courageously challenge the offending party in a spirit of Christian love. Besides, we may not even do it right, and the other person may not even listen to us. Many people, indeed, are convinced that they are right and will not listen to us. I know this for a fact! In Scripture, though, God rarely calls us to do the easy thing, and that holds true in our interpersonal conflicts. When we are hurt or have hurt someone else, we are called to go to the person and work it out with them first. Then, if that doesn't work, we can take others with us to try to resolve it. We are to keep conflicts between ourselves and other believers within the Church.

Gossip has gone high-tech also. How does gossip look in cyberspace? When people send us hurtful messages or texts and we post status updates or blogs that are viewable to our Facebook friends or even to the public, about the offending user, we are gossiping. This holds true especially if we use their name, even if just their first name or their initials. We may not even keep them anonymous, but is they can read our posts and recognize details that identify them, we may have crossed the line into sinful gossiping. We indulge in online gossip when we read gossiping blogs, posts or comments just to amuse ourselves or to relieve boredom. We deal in online gossip when we read bad things about others and spread these things, online or offline. As I know from bitter experience, so many lost Facebook friendships and even Facebook or other social media blockings, comes from users who gossip or who listen to this gossip without checking with the absent person. We Christians also indulge in online gossip if we post prayer requests without the knowledge or permission of the person who is need of prayers. The ONLY exception to the gossip rule concerning not violating confidences, involves when the other person is saying things that are can be interpreted as suicidal or homicidal. In this instance, saving lives trumps keeping things private. In my view, anything else is just gossip.

Why do we gossip? Several reasons have been suggested. The main reason, as I see it, is to minister to our need to "feel better about ourselves" by tearing others down, whether repeating gossip or listening to it. It is no fun to be wracked by feelings of self-doubt and even worthlessness. So, thinking we'll feel better about ourselves, we turn to gossip. We feel a sick pleasure in "knowing" that others are worse, or worse off, than ourselves. We Christians have the advantage of prayer and Scripture to find reassurance of our worth and our identities in Christ and His infinite love for us. Yet we find it too easy to forget. We need to get it in our heads that we can't build ourselves up by tearing others down! A huge reason, one that has fueled me all my life and even now, is that gossip, in the form of griping to third parties, is so easy to do! It's much easier then the Scriptural way of bravely going to the person in Christian love. Especially, if people have hurt you by cutting you out of their lives, gossip is very tempting and I know this! I have given in too often, even as I seek to please God. In the cases where we are unwelcome in the other person's life, we can still go to God and turn our hurt or our offense of the person, to Him. Another reason for gossip, whether engaging in it or listening to it, is just boredom. It entertains us.

So what's to be done here? As hard as it may be, stop buying tabloids or reading them, and stop listening to talk shows that are set up mainly to spread gossip about politicians, criminals, or celebrities. Would you want your misdeeds proclaimed for all the world to see and read? Stop spreading rumors about absent persons who can't defend themselves. Don't listen to gossip; challenge it or ignore it. Try to go to the person you've had a falling-out with, if possible. Christians, don't submit prayer requests unless we have someone's permission. The Bible warms us that we will be judged for EVERY idle word we say. Ouch! Are you feeling unsettled by that? I am!

The above photo is courtesy of MorgueFile.com, is by wallyir, and can be found here.