This was excellent Rhonda. It is so very true. Thank you for sharing.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 1, 2017, at 3:26 PM, Rhonda Partain <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> A recent conversation with a friend sparked these thoughts. What do you all
> think?
> No Wonder They Don't Believe
>    Recently a friend of mine told me of a conversation she had with an
> acquaintance. This person was telling her all about what she saw as the
> faults of a local pastor. She was spreading gossip using her words to tare
> another down. How is this different from a person who doesn't believe in
> God? Is it any wonder people don't believe?  Christians are often very
> judgmental and are quick to tell of the weaknesses or faults of another. I
> didn't join in the conversation about this local pastor. I didn't add to the
> words spoken. I was just saddened. To know that others are talking about
> someone I care for. I wanted somehow to keep this one who has encouraged me
> and others from hearing of this; I wanted somehow to defend this one who has
> experienced so much personal hurt. How thoughtless of another to just so
> casually quietly try to destroy the character and reputation of someone with
> her words. None of us is perfect, we don't know the whole story. We only see
> or hear parts. What if we decided to pray for others, concentrate on what is
> good, what if we loved them anyway? The gift of words is awesome; I just
> wish we would learn how to use them for good. I am not perfect. I wouldn't
> want people talking about me, making judgments about how I am living my
> life.  The Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens, but who would want
> to share their problems and struggles if they feared others would tell their
> story? We keep our problems to ourselves depriving ourselves of the
> encouragement and prayers of others Maybe someone else has been through the
> problem we are now having; perhaps they could identify with our hurt. We
> will never know. God never meant us to do life alone. Until we learn to live
> out the things we say we believe an unbelieving world will not change. Why
> should they? There seems to be very little difference. I guess we have
> forgotten that the one without sin is the only one who can throw stones.