Restoring Someone Gently
****SPOILER**** Possible Inflamatory TOPIC****
Well you've been warned. With the Bible adage not to gossip firmly in everyone's minds, I'd like to ask for prayer for Mel Gibson. He brought us the movie "The Passion of the Christ." He also made an incredible movie in Braveheart. I enjoyed so many movies he's done. Now, he has come to a point where I believe we should pray hard for him.
The golden rule still applies here. How would I want to be treated if I was making mistakes? Should we be one of the ones with the stones in our hands, shouting ".. It is Wrong.. IT IS WRONG!!! " Or should we be prepared to describe grace. Aren't we all consumers of God's passionate commitment to humanity? I am very concerned when I see so many people jumping on the condemnation bandwagon. Is there no one who sees the man is in pain?
For those who have had experience or wisdom in how to reach someone who is struggling with their choices, can you offer some advice? Please remember, we're all sinners here saved by grace. I hope we can find agreement even on this hot topic. Thanks!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Haelie on -
Honestly, a great topic. And this could go for so many more that come to mind, both in the spotlight and not. Will be interesting to see what people here bring to this table you have set. :o)
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Permalink Reply by Desiree on -
Juline,
Your topic is one we all struggle with at times and that is giving forgiveness and grace to others willingly and freely. How quickly we forget how our Father lovingly provides mercy, forgiveness, and grace to us each and everyday even though as the Bible states :..."we all fall short of the glory of God..."
"To restore someone..." is such an appropriate statement you made because that is what our Father is doing within us restoring us and making us anew. So, why wouldn't we want to reach out and help guide someone to the Father.
As far as reaching out to someone who is struggling with their choices from my own experiences these are some of the things I have done.
Adhere to discernment- knowing when to be the ears when we need to be the ears or to speak when the time calls for it.
Give advice through love and respect built off the foundation of God's word.
Encourage and support- to get to the heart of the situation and/or circumstance.
Prayer- both for and with them.
"Letting go and letting God"- loving and praying for them from afar (if needed) to allow our Father to work within them...the seed has been laid and our Father is the gardener.
God bless!
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on -
I need a new exclamation of stunned glee! My old one is all used up.
Haelie, Desiree does not disappoint. And thank you for the compliment. I heard on the news that there is NO ONE except Whoopi that has made any kind of support for Mel. Hm...when you really have one person against the world, that is unfair no matter what the circumstances or how bad that one person messed up. Eveyrone should have at least one friend they can count on. I mean, think about the last ten years of [liberal] media? Even if I didn't know anything about the case, the media has consistently been anti-God, anti-Christian. I don't see that institution as my friend and truth decider AT ALL. I have an instant bias that we should slow down a bit and look at the matter more in depth.
Desiree, I'm learning here. Ok, I would like to ask you a question. If I gave you the address to Mel's location (interestingly enough only a couple of miles from my house .. Icon Production's office)... would you do it? I think that silence implies consent. I think just letting the mob render the verdict without some clarification and graceful-speaking-life-into-the-situation is not wise. I'll send you a note in your inbox :) I loved what you wrote! You totally nailed it!
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Permalink Reply by Tami on -
I have really felt for him through this. He was such a major figure in my life when I was younger - I mean, come on, Lethal Weapon?!? And I really wanted to see the one that came out last year about the father and his daughter. He has done some amazing work, and he has made some bad choices, just like the rest of us. Because he is a media figure, he gets more attention paid to the mistakes. I aplaud Whoopi, she said she doesn't agree with the mistakes, the choices, the words used, but she is standing by him as a friend.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Hi Tami,
I agree. If you throw in the fact that there is a bitter custody battle going on right now with the two of them due in court soon, it does create a lot more understanding. These are two people who are really locked in combat. Leo Tolstoy, the Russian author of the classic Anna Karenina, wrote "All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way"
My husband likes to listen to Enimem, it's in his IPOD hooked up to the car MP3 player. The lyrics from one of his songs really illustrated what it's like to have that kind of reaction. I don't think Mel's situation is the same as this. I do think the lyrics reveal a lot about unhappy relationships.
Wait
Where you going
I'm leaving you
No you ain't
Come back
We're running right back
Here we go again
It's so insane
Cause when it's going good
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind in his bag
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad
It's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who's that dude
I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength
The other line from that song that spoke to me is: "Maybe our relationship
Isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens
When a tornado meets a volcano"
Understand that I'm picking through.. leaving out the expletives that invariably find their way into an Eninem song... but the poetry I think is really important for people evaluating a relationship that has become love/hate. It did give me a reason to see why Mel could be in so much turmoil that he might snap.
What do you think?
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