by Jason Joyner | Dec 14, 2010 | 2010, Blog, judgment, lessons, life
Last week was the first time I totally whiffed on a Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy blog tour, featuring The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers. I felt bad about it, but some things were going on that took away any spare attention I had (aside from work and family), and I hadn’t read the book. Anyway, I heard good things about it, and should perhaps check it out.
One thing that came out of the events of last week: I learned an important lesson, and it made me think about other lessons I’ve learned through the year. Sounds like fertile ground for a series of blog posts!
Lesson #1 – We are quick to judge
There is a local case of some young men being charged with some crimes. Normally, I would shake my head and condemn such hooligans, and move on with life. In this case, I knew one of the men well, and was sure that he wouldn’t be party to such things. Through the week news started to trickle out that brought a question to many of the charges, especially why the one young man was even included in this event.
The reaction from the community has been ugly. Most people are doing what *I* would have done, namely condemning the men and slandering them with nasty comments. The internet doesn’t help things, between people leaving comments on articles from local news sites to Facebook. On one news site I posted a comment regarding people being innocent until proven guilty. That…didn’t go over well. I reiterated the point, and another reader wrote, “your position is admirable but not practical in our society.”
Is that sad, or what?
In this instance, I believe I have inside information that makes me see the case opposite of many people. I have been disheartened by the responses, but I have to confess I would be making similar judgments if not for my familiarity with one of the accused and the case.
Certainly victims of crimes should be treated with respect and taken seriously. I worry though that our instant culture has produced instant judgment. The due process of our judicial system isn’t given a chance to work. No matter what comes out later on in this case, there will be a taint on these men.
It makes me realize that I should slow down, consider both sides, and realize a couple of things:
1. I don’t have all the information.
2. I am not the final arbiter. Ultimately God is. He knows the hearts of the accusers, the accused, and me as I judge them all.
There is a corollary to this lesson, and I’ll share that in the next blog post.
—
Lord, help me to judge not, lest I am judged. We are so quick with our opinion in this internet age, when it is easy to spread it out quickly and often without consequence as we hide behind “screen names.” Help me to see with Your perspective when I am presented with a judgment call, to know Your heart above all.
—
by Jason Joyner | Dec 14, 2010 | 2010, Blog, judgment, lessons, life
Last week was the first time I totally whiffed on a Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy blog tour, featuring The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers. I felt bad about it, but some things were going on that took away any spare attention I had (aside from work and family), and I hadn’t read the book. Anyway, I heard good things about it, and should perhaps check it out.
One thing that came out of the events of last week: I learned an important lesson, and it made me think about other lessons I’ve learned through the year. Sounds like fertile ground for a series of blog posts!
Lesson #1 – We are quick to judge
There is a local case of some young men being charged with some crimes. Normally, I would shake my head and condemn such hooligans, and move on with life. In this case, I knew one of the men well, and was sure that he wouldn’t be party to such things. Through the week news started to trickle out that brought a question to many of the charges, especially why the one young man was even included in this event.
The reaction from the community has been ugly. Most people are doing what *I* would have done, namely condemning the men and slandering them with nasty comments. The internet doesn’t help things, between people leaving comments on articles from local news sites to Facebook. On one news site I posted a comment regarding people being innocent until proven guilty. That…didn’t go over well. I reiterated the point, and another reader wrote, “your position is admirable but not practical in our society.”
Is that sad, or what?
In this instance, I believe I have inside information that makes me see the case opposite of many people. I have been disheartened by the responses, but I have to confess I would be making similar judgments if not for my familiarity with one of the accused and the case.
Certainly victims of crimes should be treated with respect and taken seriously. I worry though that our instant culture has produced instant judgment. The due process of our judicial system isn’t given a chance to work. No matter what comes out later on in this case, there will be a taint on these men.
It makes me realize that I should slow down, consider both sides, and realize a couple of things:
1. I don’t have all the information.
2. I am not the final arbiter. Ultimately God is. He knows the hearts of the accusers, the accused, and me as I judge them all.
There is a corollary to this lesson, and I’ll share that in the next blog post.
—
Lord, help me to judge not, lest I am judged. We are so quick with our opinion in this internet age, when it is easy to spread it out quickly and often without consequence as we hide behind “screen names.” Help me to see with Your perspective when I am presented with a judgment call, to know Your heart above all.
—
by Jason Joyner | Jun 3, 2009 | Blog, faith, life
We’re getting situated in the new house. It has been almost 2 weeks since we moved in. It is always going to be an adventure. The interesting thing about this house is that it was built 50 years ago by the family we bought it from. They have lived there for the whole time. There are all these little quirks that have been worked into the house over this time.
“Let’s see-to have the power on in this room the lights have to be on.”
“Operating the pump for irrigation-switch on, valve open, no water. Oh right, prime the pump with some water!” (I proceeded to open the chamber on the pump, put water in, and got drenched by the water that gushed out of the chamber I neglected to re-cover).
We certainly prayed about choosing a house, as we have been looking for 3 years before finally finding a place we liked. It is a wonderful house, but not one I would have necessarily chosen in the past. This year, however, it felt…right. Still, it required more know-how and work, and I am not a handyman by any means. To quote from Star Trek, “I’m a PA, not a plumber.”
As we were waiting to move in, I believe the Lord spoke to me about the new house. This house was about taking ownership. Basically: It’s time to grow up some more, son.
Our first house was very appealing because it had recently had major work done, with new floors, windows, siding, roof, etc. I didn’t have to do anything! We did do a little remodeling, but nothing too arduous. It was a good house, but we always knew it was a stop-over house.
The new house has been taken care of very well, but it is still 50 years old with some dated appliances, cupboards, and carpet. There’s more garden and things to take care of. I don’t want to live for a house, but I see how I need to step up and be a little more responsible, as a husband and father. We got comfortable and a little complacent in the old place. Time to step up.
(Don’t worry, some things won’t change, like my love of goofiness. This blog is pledged to stay away from being old and stodgy.)
Between getting the old house ready to sell and the new house established, I’ve learned more about home maintenance than the previous 5 years. I guess the training wheels are off. Hopefully this will spill over into other areas of life, like writing!
Here’s to ownership, and being a good steward. Thank you Lord, for how you bring me along as Your son.
—
by Jason Joyner | Jun 3, 2009 | Blog, faith, life
We’re getting situated in the new house. It has been almost 2 weeks since we moved in. It is always going to be an adventure. The interesting thing about this house is that it was built 50 years ago by the family we bought it from. They have lived there for the whole time. There are all these little quirks that have been worked into the house over this time.
“Let’s see-to have the power on in this room the lights have to be on.”
“Operating the pump for irrigation-switch on, valve open, no water. Oh right, prime the pump with some water!” (I proceeded to open the chamber on the pump, put water in, and got drenched by the water that gushed out of the chamber I neglected to re-cover).
We certainly prayed about choosing a house, as we have been looking for 3 years before finally finding a place we liked. It is a wonderful house, but not one I would have necessarily chosen in the past. This year, however, it felt…right. Still, it required more know-how and work, and I am not a handyman by any means. To quote from Star Trek, “I’m a PA, not a plumber.”
As we were waiting to move in, I believe the Lord spoke to me about the new house. This house was about taking ownership. Basically: It’s time to grow up some more, son.
Our first house was very appealing because it had recently had major work done, with new floors, windows, siding, roof, etc. I didn’t have to do anything! We did do a little remodeling, but nothing too arduous. It was a good house, but we always knew it was a stop-over house.
The new house has been taken care of very well, but it is still 50 years old with some dated appliances, cupboards, and carpet. There’s more garden and things to take care of. I don’t want to live for a house, but I see how I need to step up and be a little more responsible, as a husband and father. We got comfortable and a little complacent in the old place. Time to step up.
(Don’t worry, some things won’t change, like my love of goofiness. This blog is pledged to stay away from being old and stodgy.)
Between getting the old house ready to sell and the new house established, I’ve learned more about home maintenance than the previous 5 years. I guess the training wheels are off. Hopefully this will spill over into other areas of life, like writing!
Here’s to ownership, and being a good steward. Thank you Lord, for how you bring me along as Your son.
—
by Jason Joyner | May 12, 2009 | Blog, life, praise
My wife used the phrase “little graces” that God gives us the other day. He does that in so many ways. Sometimes they don’t seem to be initially.
You would think getting hit by a car wouldn’t be a grace. A couple of months ago someone came to the door and told my wife that she hit our car when pulling out of her friend’s driveway the night before. We didn’t even know it had been hit! It was small enough we probably wouldn’t have noticed for a while.
We really appreciated that this gal was truthful when she could have “gotten away” with it. It was turned into the insurance, and we waited for the adjuster to come and give us a quote. Instead of paying a body shop directly to give a quote, I guess they do it now, and they just send us the money they think it would take to fix it. It was a minor little bump and scrape on the front quadrant.
A minor bump that netted us almost $1000.
Since we’re moving, this money has been a real blessing. We used it for our closing costs, instead of repair a very minor thing on our oldest vehicle. It has freed up money to get things done on our old house and be ready for the new, instead of drastically stashing away every penny to have the closing costs covered.
It was a small thing, but it became big provision for us. God is good, all the time.
by Jason Joyner | May 12, 2009 | Blog, life, praise
My wife used the phrase “little graces” that God gives us the other day. He does that in so many ways. Sometimes they don’t seem to be initially.
You would think getting hit by a car wouldn’t be a grace. A couple of months ago someone came to the door and told my wife that she hit our car when pulling out of her friend’s driveway the night before. We didn’t even know it had been hit! It was small enough we probably wouldn’t have noticed for a while.
We really appreciated that this gal was truthful when she could have “gotten away” with it. It was turned into the insurance, and we waited for the adjuster to come and give us a quote. Instead of paying a body shop directly to give a quote, I guess they do it now, and they just send us the money they think it would take to fix it. It was a minor little bump and scrape on the front quadrant.
A minor bump that netted us almost $1000.
Since we’re moving, this money has been a real blessing. We used it for our closing costs, instead of repair a very minor thing on our oldest vehicle. It has freed up money to get things done on our old house and be ready for the new, instead of drastically stashing away every penny to have the closing costs covered.
It was a small thing, but it became big provision for us. God is good, all the time.
