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Speaking From the Heart

Taking a time out to talk about my heart, and what I need to do differently to be understood better.

Puppy dogs, butterflies, little girls with pigtails.

There. That's my post for the day.

. It caused a little bit of a stir you could say. At last count it had some 84 comments which is by far the greatest number of comments I have ever recieved on a blog post on the Patch. It shocked me because on my 1-10 "Pot Stirring" scale I would have rated it a 5. I never would have guessed it would have garnered so much ire. It even got nasty for a little while, part of which was my fault for not being clearer with my thoughts and feelings.

So, while I really wanted to write more about the implications of a worldview that hold life to a low value/standard, I thought it best to take a moment to talk about me for a bit. To explain myself better. A reintroduction of sorts to (both of) my loyal readers. I normally try not to make it all about me, but for today you'll just have to bear with me.

Hi. My name is Kris. I enjoy blogging because I enjoy writing. I enjoy engaging people on various topics, some that are divisive. I enjoy having the opportunity to try and speak truth into the lives of those who read what I write. I tend to be passionate about that which I believe strongly about. The problem is that I can come across as arrogant when that happens. The problem with taking a stand on a moral issue is that it can come across as judgmental and self-righteous, especially when you (I) am especially passionate about that cause.

That's not my heart or my intentions. I'm passionately against things like abortion, and I'm a huge fan of all life, no matter how "perfect" or "normal" it may look. I will vigorously defend the rights of the unborn child (and the born ones too) to have a chance at life. But while doing so I need to do a better job with my thoughts towards those who have chosen to have an abortion. I took some heat on my last post for not doing that and I had someone go after me pretty hard because of that. So here it is for all of you to see, my thoughts/feelings for the ones who have aborted their baby, or even who don't value life the same way that I do: Grace and Mercy.

That's it. I don't think that I am any better than anyone else. I don't think that I am any "Holier than thou" or anything like that. I'm just a regular sorta fellow with all sorts of problems. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  I should have done a better job being clear with that on my last post, and for that, I'm sorry. If I offer anything less than grace and mercy towards those who don't agree with me, I am only setting myself up as "better" than them, and valuing their life as less than mine. (You see, the way we value life extends beyond just what we think on the issue of abortion, and I have a feeling this is a topic that we will return to very soon).

For me to be a "successful" blogger I have to be more clear with my thoughts and feelings. Successful not as in achieving a certain number of page views/hits, but successful in that I am understood. I often write on topics that come back to having a proper understanding of the Gospel. I try to live my life (including my writing) for the Glory of Christ. When I am able to do that, I am successful, both as a blogger, and as a person. But when I'm not, I'm presenting a skewed view of Christianity, of the individual, and ultimately of Christ.

That's why I felt it necessary to take a time-out of sorts and just write from my heart.

We'll get back to disagreeing with each other (hopefully in a nicer manner), but today it's all puppies and butterflies.

And Bacon.

Because who doesn't like Bacon?

Question:

Have there been times you haven't been as clear as you should have been about something?

What do you often get misunderstood about?

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Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
David Binder June 20, 2013 at 12:32 am
I have a coworker that wants your fridge. Please email me or leave a number where she can call youRead More & I'll hook y'all up.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:16 am
David, it's still there we are just in the process of working out the bug on uploading photos toRead More articles that we authored (ugh!). I just didn't want to promote it and have people try and upload photos unsuccessfully. Depending on how long it takes to address this issue, I may keep June open through part of July - I hope not. If you have any photos you want to add, email them to me and I will upload them for you in the meantime.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:19 am
That is the strawberry fields. I have a picture of the strawberry fields between the welcome toRead More Loganville and welcome to Grayson signs that I will get up soon.
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 18, 2013 at 09:49 pm
Rabies tag on dog leads to a disconnected owners number
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 06:11 pm
Yea, sorry David. We are still dealing with some "issues." It rejected Jason's blog, andRead More none of us, not even our top regional editor, is being given authority to release it. Poor Jason, I know he so hates being rejected! And we hate it happening to him. The people not being "bugged" by technical issues, however, are reporting that it is super easy to use.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:10 am
I wonder. Will Patch restore the reply button and add a responded to your comment notification?
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:21 am
Please keep these comments coming. We are forwarding all these issues to our production team. TheRead More ones that are most pressing are more likely to be addressed first. Once we have the initial roll out completed and working well, the tweaking will begin.
Dave June 19, 2013 at 07:28 pm
I'm just reporting the news, Skal. I don't know the reasons although I could speculate. Just keepRead More your head down and don't answer the door.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 07:43 pm
Okay Dave ;-) Whatever you say:-) :-)
Good Grief Y'all June 19, 2013 at 07:47 pm
Scawwy stuff.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Tom, I will see if I can find the connection.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Good news! Her name is Izzi and she has been reunited with her owners.
Tom Laverick June 18, 2013 at 09:42 pm
Great News!!!!
Good Grief Y'all June 20, 2013 at 07:39 am
"There's one in particular GGY." Skalawag, I doubt we're thinking of the same one.
Good Grief Y'all June 20, 2013 at 07:40 am
R+. there's only so much you can put on a Census questionnaire. The purpose of the Census, aRead More Constitutional mandate, is to count folks.
Dave June 20, 2013 at 08:23 am
Here is a solution: Teach your kids to reach down and grab their balls and quit being sissies. OnlyRead More Mama's boys get bullied. If we teach our kids self respect, they won't even consider suicide. If we teach them they are victims, then they will be victims.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 07:58 pm
So glad you have found your voice again Skalawag!
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:12 pm
Me too. Couldn't have done it without you and your great IT team. Thank you Sharon.
Good Grief Y'all June 20, 2013 at 07:42 am
Skalawag, that's a special memory. Brings to mind a similar one of my aunt serving coffee that way,Read More with lots of sugar.
Tammy Osier June 17, 2013 at 01:53 pm
DR, seems like an oxymoron doesn't it? I'd like to hear from someone who is actually from there toRead More find out their spin on why they even enter a contestant in the first place. It's my understanding that a woman that shows that much skin in public will be flogged or worse? Maybe democracy is taking ahold in some places, who knows?
Good Grief Y'all June 17, 2013 at 03:24 pm
I was wrong. Guys are interested pageants. You would no doubt be happy if the contestants justRead More wore the face shawl with their bikinis.
Karsten Torch June 17, 2013 at 04:30 pm
Couple of thoughts - One, why hold it in a land where there is going to be this kind of protest?Read More Just move it and don't worry about it. Other, I find it interesting how the Muslims want us to be understanding and inclusive of their beliefs, but don't even think they'll allow anything they don't agree with. Just a tad bit hypocritical...