From Gary... To the point

I seek the truth; always have. I try to follow the Bible to the best of my ability- I make mistakes, I sin, I repent. Simple truth, I am NOT PERFECT! Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. I don't make excuses, I speak too bluntly sometimes, but unless I speak in a straight-forward, truthful manner- I would be a liar. If you have a problem with me, please, tell me about it and I will consider what you have to say.

If that sounds harsh to you, then I refer you to two things; the sign above and this passage from the book of John...

John, Chapter 8 (WEB)

 ³⁰  As he spoke these things, many believed in him.  ³¹ Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.   ³²  You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  (emp added GDR)

  ³³  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’ ?” 

  ³⁴  Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.   ³⁵  A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.   ³⁶  If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.   ³⁷  I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.   ³⁸  I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 

  ³⁹  They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.   ⁴⁰  But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. (emp added GDR)  ⁴¹  You do the works of your father.” 

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 

  ⁴²  Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.   ⁴³  Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.   ⁴⁴  You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.  (emp added GDR) ⁴⁵  But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.   ⁴⁶  Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?   ⁴⁷  He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.” 

  ⁴⁸  Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” 

  ⁴⁹  Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.   ⁵⁰  But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.   ⁵¹  Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” 

  ⁵²  Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say,‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’   ⁵³ Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” 

  ⁵⁴  Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.   ⁵⁵  You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.   ⁵⁶  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.” 

  ⁵⁷  The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 

  ⁵⁸  Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. ” 

  ⁵⁹  Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by. 

Telling the truth will make some people HATE YOU and others may even want to KILL YOU!!! On my part, I will be truthful, but will also try to incorporate the following as well...

Ephesians, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 ¹¹  He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;  ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  ¹⁴ that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;  ¹⁵ but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;  (emp added GDR) ¹⁶ from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. 

Please be kind enough to think about these things- if not, grab a donut (but try to get a plain one, too much sugar is not good for you!!!). After a donut adjustment, you just may change your mind...