Snapshots and Synapses

I discovered some years ago that being “nice” was not the same as being “loving”. We can be nice: avoiding arguments, telling people what they want to hear and being generally pleasant. Or, we can be loving: willing to confront, telling people what they need to hear without fear of any lash back. Sometimes, I believe, it’s impossible to avoid conflict and still show love. I personally believe that “nice” is overrated, but still, it has its place. Just because “nice” isn’t always loving, doesn’t mean that “loving” can’t try to be nice. In the past, I have at times been far too willing to confront. Now, I have never entered into confrontation easily, but I rationalized that any confrontation was okay so long as it brought out the truth. After all, when we know the truth, we are set free, right? (See John 8:32) So I don’t doubt the motivation of people who, like my younger self, are willing to walk into the fire for the sake of someone else. However, I’ve discovered that an action m...

Somewhere between my birth and the present day (a LOOONNNNGGGGGG time if you ask my kids), churches started to adopt marketing disciplines. Now, I have nothing against applying wisdom and truth to church administration, and I believe that all truth is God’s truth, whether it’s written in scripture or discerned through scientific method. Finally, to be completely honest, I tend to like marketing. It’s a powerful instrument, but like any tool: it can be misused; it can be applied to promote good; and it can be used for bad purposes. So having a little bit of knowledge, I’ve observed a few things over the years and have developed some opinions about what happens when churches apply marketing principals. Now any organization that has not matured in its marketing practices tends to be internally focused, and when it’s a congregation, it can be rather cliquish. However, as an organization starts to understand marketing, it becomes “market driven”. The organization promotes activities and p...

Right is wrong and Wrong is right    and all throughout the land is night. The sweet-sick words of lying mouths-    have taken hold of wandering moths So off into the fire they fly;    determined creatures, they flit to die. My children, beloved, how far you have strayed,    thus now as a Harlot, I cast you away! Away with your stupid, your foolish delights!    Away with you, creatures, and out to the night! But yet to My Remnant do I still proclaim:    Right is still right, and day is still day. In you, My last Remnant, do I still delight.    Continue to search Me and bathe in My Light. copyright ©2011 Mitchell Malloy ( http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/ )

In Sympathy for the children who cry, with tantrums and screams and yelling out, "Why?" I simply shrug an indifferent shoulder and allow my fires of warmth to smolder. With empathy for the people who dream while mothers with bloodied children scream, I rationalize: "This has always been." But realize my own great sin. In anger against indulgence and waste, which seems to penetrate the human race, I urge the sluggish to quickly make haste and sometimes wonder at my own disgrace. My passion for the dignity of man and my belief in God's majestic plan Sometimes falls prey to that which's despised and perceptions of Truth mingle with Lies. I pray for my soul in this storm -- stand strong, and my faith in the Light everlasting long, and that compassion and passion, like tides in a day, evolve into currents which never change. copyright ©2011 Mitchell Malloy ( http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/ )