I have often expressed that Yahweh has not directed me to host a discussion forum. I see many dangers and failings in the discussion forum format. With few exceptions, I will not post comments that are anonymous as I believe Christians should own up to their words. Anonymity leads to carnality in communication.

Although I welcome sincere criticism, or disagreement, it is my belief that comment fields are not the best place to air them. My e-mail address is listed on the blog, and private communication is a much better choice for these types of exchanges.

If I sense a person is merely on a rant, and is not seeking any sincere interchange, I often delete their comments rather than posting them. People who flame others are close-minded, and discussion will not profit them.

In some instances, however, such as the above exchange with Kevin, I post the comments and my replies as I sense the person may be open to a patient discussion. I still believe e-mail would be a better forum for such communications to take place. When a person gives only a first name, and no e-mail address, my only options are to answer them through the comment field, or delete their comment, leaving them wondering why it did not get posted.

Some would be offended that I did not post their comment, or answer them when they express sincere objections or criticism, so it is a judgment call whether I should do so.

I invite the readers of this blog to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, knowing we must give an account of every idle word we speak. Consider whether it might be the will of Christ to address a matter privately with a brother when you are offering criticism, for it is just as easy to send an e-mail as it is to post a comment.

a couple days ago i got very emotional about a related matter, involving the torture of a little boy — an increasingly common event in modern, fatherless america

so, that was it for the rest of THAT day

i interact with such issues frequently, so if i got emotional and grief-stricken each time, i'd never accomplish any works, or even begin them

joseph is on the front lines of a war, it's very real and will get much worse

joseph's heart is between himself and God, he and others must have discretion to report in their own ways WHY our God permitted this (or any other event) to happen

given joseph's experiences at the hands of babylon, his demeanor is admirable

kevin, like joseph i hope that in these dark times you are about Father's business, if so be assured that He will restore your son to you, God is not a thief of his own people, he knows about fatherhood and loss

fear no bomb, there is plenty of comfort to be had in these last hours, for those who will have it

Mariel

Thank you for your humble response. I appreciate that you explained why you are sensitive to this issue of showing compassion to those who suffer the assaults of others. You are able to go beyond sympathy, to actually empathize with those who have lost loved ones to violence. Yahweh uses the suffering we have experienced to equip us to comfort others in their afflictions.

II Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Yahweh has used my experiences to make me sensitive to groups of people that you are perhaps not as sensitive to, and vice versa. Because I have twice been put in jail, I can empathize with the difficult conditions faced by men who spend their days confined, surrounded by ungodliness, separated from family and friends, while suffering loneliness. I have seen firsthand that there are a remnant in prison who are hungering for spiritual truth. These same ones rarely encounter any Bible teaching beyond the elementary things Paul described as milk.

Because I was afflicted in the same way, I am likely to be more sensitive to this type of suffering than a Christian who has not experienced it. The Spirit has put a yearning within me to minister to those in prison. I have spent hundreds of hours putting together a series of newsletters that contain meat for the spiritually hungry. Dozens of men in prison receive these newsletters every week. Even at this rate, it will take a man a year and a half to go through all the teachings I have put together. I receive correspondence from prisoners telling me how much they look forward to receiving the newsletters, and how their spirit is being fed.

It would be wrong for me to suggest that every other believer should put as much time and effort into comforting men in prison as I do. Let every saint be led of the Spirit and they will find opportunities where they are to minister the comfort and life of Christ to others. Some go to the hospitals, some to nursing homes, some raise foster children or adopt the orphaned. I have friends who daily minister to the homeless, the drug addicts, alcoholics, and prostitutes. It would be wrong for them to condemn me for not laboring among the population they serve, even as it would be wrong for me to condemn them for not attending as much to the needs of prisoners as I have been led to do.

I ask for your patience as I explain something about the ministry of writing the Father has called me to. I have always been a topical writer. I address an issue with a specific goal in mind. I do not try to address every subject related to an event, or to a passage of Scripture. I have found that the most effective writing is that which is constrained to a specific teaching goal. When I wrote about the Boston Marathon bombing, I did not seek to cover every issue related to what occurred. Having compassion for the victims is one of a great many topics that arise out of this event.

Because I am a topical writer, when I write about compassion for those suffering, I am likely to devote an entire writing to the subject, not mixing it in with any other thought or idea, for that would lessen the impact of the message. We can be so broad in our approach that readers lose focus. It is my personal conviction that writings are most effective when they are tightly focused on a specific goal.

I will fall short of other people’s expectations if it is their conviction that every writing that mentions calamity, tragedy, or human suffering, must contain a certain percentage of space expressing sadness and remorse for those affected. It is very difficult to write effectively when one is burdened with an imposed need to be politically, socially, or religiously correct.

May Yahweh minister abundant comfort to you, for He too knows the pain and anguish of losing a son to violent men.

Joseph Herrin

Satan counts on blind emotion to cloud thinking. You can care and still tell the truth.

One of the things I noticed was the defiant attitude quoted in the media. "you can't stop us", "we will come back". , The defiant singing of God bless America. Like that will stop the crazies. No stories of prayer or asking God or thanking God for keeping people alive and safe.

There was a story on NPR about a chapel where people have gone. The "pastor" said people come for the grey stones and the stained glass to find relief. What?. How can stones help anyone, maybe they went to pray. Psalm 115. Stones can't save. This pastor was very careful not to mention prayer or God.

It is too eerie how the thread of defiance runs through Boston and west Texas. The mayor of west Texas said "we will rebuild". Shades of the Harbinger, Isaiah 9:11

I'm sad, not glad to see this all happen. I hate that hearts are harden and that people are murdered. I mourn for what will happen because of our collective sin.

I pray everyday for grace and mercy for us all.

M.L.