SIMPLE THOUGHTS ON LIFE

         These are 7 types of people I disregard.  I never waste my time on earth with people who cannot guide themselves and resort to the simple path of group think, virtue signaling, and identity philosophy. I was not created by God to be everyone’s savior—Jesus was.  God created me to develop my inner strength, hone and sharpen my mind, and live a life of virtue according to His perfect will.  Even if you are made to feel guilty and your heart struggles over someone else’s dilemma or situation—compel and control yourself not to intervene.

         #1—I avoid people who fail to accept responsibility.  No one can shape their character without owning up to their failures.  Today’s society plays the “blame game” or the easy role of “victim”—and it is accommodated and even regaled by society.  Any person who does NOT face consequences refuses to grow and develop. 

         #2—I avoid chronic complainers who live in negativity.  People’s souls become permanently dyed with the color of their thoughts.  These types of people complain about everything but do nothing about it—never taking action.  These people enjoy misery and misery is their identity.  Helping them is like trying to light a candle in a storm that they created.  God wants us to protect the integrity of His peace, our sanity, and our energy to serve Him.

         #3—I avoid takers who never give back.  In a healthy relationship there is a balance of giving and receiving.  I have learned in the ministry that I am NOT a vending machine.  No one, except a VERY tight circle checks on me, and I like it that way because they are those I can truly trust.  None of the takers actions builds connection, rather it builds the ugly characteristic and trait of entitlement.

         #4—I avoid people who create their own chaos.  The addiction to drama always fascinates me.  I have more people that want to drag me out into the tornado and storm with them taking away from my peace.  These kind of people willfully sabotage opportunities and create problems from thin air.  When this occurs, they will come at me for help not for a self-determined solution—they only want attention.  Choose clarity over chaos.  Some people thrive on disorder, but for me and my house, we thrive on peace and order. 

         #5—I avoid people who repeatedly disrespect me.  I am patient, but not stupid.  If someone disrespects me or my deep faith, I correct them once.  If they do it again, I distance myself from that type of evil.  After the third time I disappear and they are dead to me.  God demands that I shun evil.  Helping someone who repeatedly disrespects you is NOT kindness—it is self-betrayal.  I learned this from my beloved wife in that she guards her dignity like a warfighter guards their weapons and armor. 

         #6—I avoid any person that refuses to learn and change for the intellectual, physical, and spiritual better.  Let’s face it, not everyone is inclined to growth, rather they prefer to live in their excuses.  Excuses are an addictive security blanket for the spiritually weak.  In our walk of faith, people choose spiritual paralysis over repentance and transformation.  Why do I as a pastor want to destroy and exhaust my peace with anyone who doesn’t want to change—shake the dust off of your sandals as Jesus directed.

         #7—I avoid manipulators who use your Christian goodness against you.  These types of people I consider to be my personal greatest threat.  They don’t misunderstand my Christian kindness, rather, they weaponize it to be used against me.  They use this evil skills set using the weapon of guilt to amplify their own sense of victimization.  These people will twist your sincere empathy into a toxic empathy and eventually suicidal empathy leading not to their destruction but yours.  Christian virtues require Christian boundaries.  I have to remind myself to be compassionate from the pulpit, but never anyone’s emotional hostage for evil. 

         As Christians, we simply can’t lose ourselves while trying to save those who don’t want to put forth the effort.  Peace is sacred.  Wasted time can never be retrieved.  Energy must be expended on the worthy.  I give myself and my time to those who give me respect, who work diligently to grow and be better every day.  Lastly, I would like to say that God’s truth is pure poison to many people as they need their selfish delusions to just make it through the ineffective and inefficient days.  God’s truth is like sunlight and when we drag the slave into the light of God they and the rest of the herd will violently react to defend their own chains.