A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
Regarding the soft answer, consider Jacob's approach to Esau in Genesis 32, .Gideon's flattery of Ephraim in Judges 8, and Abigail saving her family from David in 1 Samuel 25.
Regarding the harsh answer, consider Jephthah being too honest to Ephraim in Judges 12, David provoking Goliath to pride in 1 Samuel 17, and Yeshua's rebuke of the Pharisees in Luke 4.
There's a time for both.
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”
#genesis 32:7-8 #vayishlach
We struggle constantly to balance faith in God's plan with our own responsibility to act. God will preserve his people, no matter what we do, but he still expects us to maintain our roofs, prepare for winter, and even bear arms when necessary.
Like Abraham and Isaac before him, Jacob knew God's promises and believed them, but he didn't know exactly how they would be fulfilled. He acted with the best knowledge he had and God blessed him for it.
In the past young people had the chance to be exposed to the real world. Anyone who grew up on a farm understood how animals reproduce and how food is grown. The people who grew up in an urban environment would often learn about business and travel. Young people learn far more through experience than any other method so we should be very careful to what we expose them. Matthew 18:6, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
One who is slow to anger shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one exalts folly.
Proverbs 14:29 TLV
This is the same principle as "turn the other cheek". Take time to understand your opposition and you might discover that they aren't your opposition at all.
Morning Y’all ☕️
Finally got our snow ❄️ ☃️
Makes for a slower drive to work, but the kids are happy!
Negotiations with the Bank and the Future of TTN
This morning, I had an hour-long conversation with a bank advisor regarding the business debt. While I’ve been backed into a financial corner, there is a glimmer of hope—some loan relief has been offered for six months starting in January. This could provide a much-needed chance to catch my breath and work toward stabilizing things.
However, the current business bank account has been closed. I’ve applied for a new account and should have an update within the next 48 hours. While this situation is difficult, it might prove to be a blessing in disguise. But here’s the reality: I need to know that this community is willing to rally together to support TTN. Otherwise, all of this effort and pain may be in vain, and insolvency could become the only path forward.
The Role of the Community
For TTN to thrive, we need more than financial support—we need active participation. TTN was never meant to be just a static platform where people post and leave. It was designed to be a secure space where our community could engage in meaningful conversations about our shared faith. But this vision only becomes a reality when more members actively participate in discussions.
I could gamify the platform to encourage engagement and keep people “busy,” but is that truly what we need as a faith-based community? Or should we focus on fostering genuine, impactful dialogue?
Addressing Community Concerns
Ministries and members, I urge you to fully embrace TTN’s potential and use it as it was intended. If there’s anything in the Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) that you feel hinders participation or growth, let’s address it together as a community. For example, I know that the topic of polygamy has been raised as a contentious issue. If this or any other point is preventing our community from growing, let’s have an open discussion and decide as a majority how to move forward.
Shaping the Future Together
TTN can be shaped into a truly inclusive platform for our faith-based community, but it requires collaboration. Let’s work together to remove divisive barriers and build a space where everyone feels they belong.
Your engagement is vital, not only for the platform’s survival but for its transformation into something even greater. Let’s stand united and ensure TTN remains a valuable resource for all.
What are your thoughts? Let’s start this conversation now.
121224
WORD FOR TODAY “are you in union with HIM?”: Rom 6:23 For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
SPOKEN VERSE FOR TODAY: Pro 9:7 "He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted; reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish.
“Faith comes by hearing” positive frequencies spoken out loud hourly.
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