lots of travels and farewells going on here. Had a friend over tonight for dinner who is going finish in the morning.
Today’s weather was very strange for here as it stayed cold and foggy all day. We normally only have that in the morning. As a result, two planes were unable to return and the pilots took them to another town. Prayers for flights scheduled tomorrow morning would be appreciated as folks leaving have other flights to connect with.
Saga with family conflict ongoing, with a lot of hurt feelings all around.
I don’t want to get into the exact nature of what happened, but here is a parallel situation: a family sees issues at the school where their children attend; one child has a teacher they see as serious trouble, and their children just can’t handle him. Relatives see the problem and understand it, but when their own teenage daughter asks to go to the same school because they have an excellent art program and no other school in town does, they figure that she is old enough to make such a decision and that she can handle the school, and they enroll her. They are not doing so to cause offense, and they are not “making light” of the situation with the first family. But they see no good reason why they must insist that their daughter “boycott” the school just because another family had problems with it, though they agree with the other family’s decision for their own family. The first family simply can’t say “You are being cruel to us by making this decision,” because the decision isn’t about them at all. Though the two families are making directly opposite decisions, they both have good, biblically supported reasons for their decisions, and the second family has been careful to say as much to the first family (saying clearly “we agree that you made the right decision for you, but here is why we made a different one”); the first family simply won’t accept the second family’s decision. So the second family has been accused of sin in making the decision and also of lack of compassion.
We don’t believe in situational ethics. Nor do we believe in causing needless offense. But it’s a little silly to say that no Christian family can own a TV if Bob’s family doesn’t want one, or even if Bob’s family doesn’t want one because the local TV show did a segment mocking his family business. That’s not a really good parallel, but the point is that Christians can in good conscience approach the same issue from different directions, and all be functioning correctly in their part of the body of Christ. Please pray that our relatives would come to more fully understand that, and that the young people won’t feel “caught in the middle” as they do now.
Cheryl, not all issues are the same. If the issue happened to involve serving or indulging in alcohol at a family gathering and alcoholism runs in a family and people do not want to expose their children to alcohol use, even when the alcohol is not abused, I would think it would be considerate to give in to not having drinks in the presence of such people. You would not be sinning to have one drink, but if you are setting someone else up to fall into sin, well, I think God speaks about that in His word. The issue of the school you presented is entirely different. In that case, you tell the people thanks for your heartfelt warning. We respect your choice, but we want to give this program a try and see how it goes. If we have a similar experience as you had then we will look at other options.
I have the situation of my brother not liking our decision to have a cat indoors. He may not visit for that reason. Oh, well. His loss if it means that much to him. He does not have allergies. That I could understand. But he wants to have his preference for what we do in our home to overide our preference. Sorry, brother, no can do.
Please help get Mike home to Mumsee. It’s a test of trust to be kept in limbo and wondering. Please, soon, let her hear good news from him like, “I’m home!”
Lord again I lift up those here like Cheryl who have difficulties with extended family preferences. Please help bring resolution, if possible, that will include honor, respect, peace and love prevailing. You know each situation that needs a softening of hearts that want to be controlling. May we all seek to do Your preference above all. In Jesus’ name, Amen
We had a similar experience to that one, Cheryl, years ago. Actually, we left a school and the other family stayed. They also were part of the church to which the school was attached. The other family members accused us of bringing down the school, because, when asked, we answered questions truthfully. When we left more than half the staff and students left. There were deep problems. However, that family could not see them. Eventually the school was shut down and the church. I doubt that family ever did see the problem. They were forced to move on. We stopped letting that be our problem long before.
Issues like this can certainly arise over homeschooling vs: public school. Neither is a sin, but some on either side tend to look down on those who make the different choice.
Yes–then there are those who only THINK someone is looking down on them. Human relationships are very complicated. Thank God for all those fruits of the Spirit, such as grace. love and forgiveness.
Okay, he has landed in Spokane and the children should be picking him up or already have. Little boy is back from the post ER checkup and is doing well with some additional meds to keep him stable. Thanks for praying.
Please pray!! The fog is socked in and no flights are coming or going. Only God Himself can lift this fog and allow our flights to return from yesterday and flight to leave today. I know that a crowd is out at aviation waiting and waiting. The friend I had over last night has a connecting flight to meet in Port Moresby.
Praise the Lord, I am hearing the flights leave!! Not sure if the others were able to return yet. Pray for gaps in the clouds so the flights can circle down under to return. I have done this on several of my flights as the pilots look for a gap to safely come home.
Praising Him that Mike made it, however he had to come.
Wandering Views 
lots of travels and farewells going on here. Had a friend over tonight for dinner who is going finish in the morning.
Today’s weather was very strange for here as it stayed cold and foggy all day. We normally only have that in the morning. As a result, two planes were unable to return and the pilots took them to another town. Prayers for flights scheduled tomorrow morning would be appreciated as folks leaving have other flights to connect with.
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Saga with family conflict ongoing, with a lot of hurt feelings all around.
I don’t want to get into the exact nature of what happened, but here is a parallel situation: a family sees issues at the school where their children attend; one child has a teacher they see as serious trouble, and their children just can’t handle him. Relatives see the problem and understand it, but when their own teenage daughter asks to go to the same school because they have an excellent art program and no other school in town does, they figure that she is old enough to make such a decision and that she can handle the school, and they enroll her. They are not doing so to cause offense, and they are not “making light” of the situation with the first family. But they see no good reason why they must insist that their daughter “boycott” the school just because another family had problems with it, though they agree with the other family’s decision for their own family. The first family simply can’t say “You are being cruel to us by making this decision,” because the decision isn’t about them at all. Though the two families are making directly opposite decisions, they both have good, biblically supported reasons for their decisions, and the second family has been careful to say as much to the first family (saying clearly “we agree that you made the right decision for you, but here is why we made a different one”); the first family simply won’t accept the second family’s decision. So the second family has been accused of sin in making the decision and also of lack of compassion.
We don’t believe in situational ethics. Nor do we believe in causing needless offense. But it’s a little silly to say that no Christian family can own a TV if Bob’s family doesn’t want one, or even if Bob’s family doesn’t want one because the local TV show did a segment mocking his family business. That’s not a really good parallel, but the point is that Christians can in good conscience approach the same issue from different directions, and all be functioning correctly in their part of the body of Christ. Please pray that our relatives would come to more fully understand that, and that the young people won’t feel “caught in the middle” as they do now.
LikeLike
Cheryl, not all issues are the same. If the issue happened to involve serving or indulging in alcohol at a family gathering and alcoholism runs in a family and people do not want to expose their children to alcohol use, even when the alcohol is not abused, I would think it would be considerate to give in to not having drinks in the presence of such people. You would not be sinning to have one drink, but if you are setting someone else up to fall into sin, well, I think God speaks about that in His word. The issue of the school you presented is entirely different. In that case, you tell the people thanks for your heartfelt warning. We respect your choice, but we want to give this program a try and see how it goes. If we have a similar experience as you had then we will look at other options.
I have the situation of my brother not liking our decision to have a cat indoors. He may not visit for that reason. Oh, well. His loss if it means that much to him. He does not have allergies. That I could understand. But he wants to have his preference for what we do in our home to overide our preference. Sorry, brother, no can do.
LikeLike
Heavenly Father,
Please help get Mike home to Mumsee. It’s a test of trust to be kept in limbo and wondering. Please, soon, let her hear good news from him like, “I’m home!”
Lord again I lift up those here like Cheryl who have difficulties with extended family preferences. Please help bring resolution, if possible, that will include honor, respect, peace and love prevailing. You know each situation that needs a softening of hearts that want to be controlling. May we all seek to do Your preference above all. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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We had a similar experience to that one, Cheryl, years ago. Actually, we left a school and the other family stayed. They also were part of the church to which the school was attached. The other family members accused us of bringing down the school, because, when asked, we answered questions truthfully. When we left more than half the staff and students left. There were deep problems. However, that family could not see them. Eventually the school was shut down and the church. I doubt that family ever did see the problem. They were forced to move on. We stopped letting that be our problem long before.
LikeLike
Issues like this can certainly arise over homeschooling vs: public school. Neither is a sin, but some on either side tend to look down on those who make the different choice.
LikeLike
Yes–then there are those who only THINK someone is looking down on them. Human relationships are very complicated. Thank God for all those fruits of the Spirit, such as grace. love and forgiveness.
LikeLike
Okay, he has landed in Spokane and the children should be picking him up or already have. Little boy is back from the post ER checkup and is doing well with some additional meds to keep him stable. Thanks for praying.
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Yay!!!!!! 🙂
Good news Mumsee. 🙂
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🙂
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Amen.
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Please pray!! The fog is socked in and no flights are coming or going. Only God Himself can lift this fog and allow our flights to return from yesterday and flight to leave today. I know that a crowd is out at aviation waiting and waiting. The friend I had over last night has a connecting flight to meet in Port Moresby.
LikeLike
Praise the Lord, I am hearing the flights leave!! Not sure if the others were able to return yet. Pray for gaps in the clouds so the flights can circle down under to return. I have done this on several of my flights as the pilots look for a gap to safely come home.
Praising Him that Mike made it, however he had to come.
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