I was reading 1 Timothy 1 today, where Paul starts off by urging Timothy to stay where he is, in Ephesus. He's supposed to stay there for one reason:

so that you may command certain persons not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work—which is by faith.

My overarching goal with this blog has been a personal exercise in writing and a way to connect with a few friends online who also blog. I've blogged about all sorts of topics, from New Year's Resolutions to politics,  website technology, books I'm reading, theories about comic books, things I want to show my kids, and newspaper cartoons I thought were funny. Comments had never been moderated because so few people ever saw this blog, and even fewer left comments.

My goals have been to share things that were funny, news stories that caught my ear, thoughts as I read through the Bible, or just factual information.

My goal has never been to "promote controversial speculations." In February, anonymous comments were left on a blog post from a month earlier that turned the factual post into a place that promoted controversial speculation. The comments were removed quickly, and within hours I unpublished the post itself.


Paul continues in his letter to Timothy about the "command" Timothy should issue to those teaching false doctrines and getting caught up in myths (perhaps like our urban legends today?) and genealogies:

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.  They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

When we depart from solid teaching, or get caught up in myths, or promote controversies instead of promoting God's work, we do not have love. The most loving thing to do is to talk to someone if they're caught up in one of these things, even to command them, as Paul said, to stop what they are doing. If you love someone, you don't want them to be stuck in error.

Having had this troubling experience with this blog, I have learned. I have learned that the openness and anonymity of web communication has strong down-sides. Thanks to the clarity of hind-sight, I've turned off real-time comments. Comments are now moderated, requiring approval before they are published.

Any comments that "promote controversial speculations" will be deleted.

If you believe there is anything on this blog that does the same thing, please contact me and I will make appropriate corrections.

I have learned the value of clear and direct communication, and I'm seeking to communicate with people directly when I believe they are in error, as I would like others to do with me.

The goal of this blog remains the same, and firmer than ever. To promote love, to speak the truth, to be real and genuine, and to live life with others.

I blogged on some thoughts about Jesus' teaching on correction. The gist of my take on it is this:

Biblical correction comes from love. You correct someone out of your love and concern for someone's soul.

If you gossip about someone, you do not have love.

If you harbor un-forgiveness against someone, you do not have love.

What would the church look like if we had enough love to obey Jesus, and meet with and talk with our brothers and sisters when we have a problem with them?

I wish that anyone who had a problem with something I did would love Jesus, and love me enough to obey Jesus and talk to me about it. Don't you?

² Oh, that I had in the desert
       a lodging place for travelers,
       so that I might leave my people
       and go away from them;
       for they are all adulterers,
       a crowd of unfaithful people.
    ³ "They make ready their tongue
       like a bow, to shoot lies;

       it is not by truth
       that they triumph in the land.

       They go from one sin to another;
       they do not acknowledge me,"
       declares the LORD.
    ⁴ "Beware of your friends;
       do not trust any of your people.
       For every one of them is a deceiver,
       and every friend a slanderer.
    ⁵ Friend deceives friend,
       and no one speaks the truth.
       They have taught their tongues to lie;
       they weary themselves with sinning.
    ⁶ You live in the midst of deception;
       in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,"
       declares the LORD.
    ⁷ Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says:
       "See, I will refine and test them,
       for what else can I do
       because of the sin of my people?
    ⁸ Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
       it speaks deceitfully.

       With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors,
       but in their hearts they set traps for them. 

    ²⁰ Now, you women, hear the word of the LORD;
       open your ears to the words of his mouth.

       Teach your daughters how to wail;
       teach one another a lament. 

    ²³ This is what the LORD says:
       "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
       or the strong boast of their strength
       or the rich boast of their riches,

    ²⁴ but let those who boast boast about this:
       that they understand and know me,

       that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
       justice and righteousness on earth,
       for in these I delight,"
       declares the LORD.

The question isn't whether it's true
The question "is it working for you";
Marshmallow skies
And custardy pies
And nothing's too hard to do

They're five happy verses or so
They told me all I needed to know
Ignore all the rest
Trials and tests
And threats to my comfort zone

Well I've got no time to find out what's real
I stick with what I happen to feel
It feels grand
When you're livin' in a lala land

You can name a blessing yourself
Stake a claim on power and wealth
And strong healthy teeth
A spot at the beach
And romance that's really swell

All the saints and martyrs alike
Well they would have called a national strike
Demanded less pain
More personal gain
If only they'd known their rights

(Chorus:)
Well I take it very personally
Yeah, I got to know what's in it for me
Ain't it grand?
When you're livin' in a lala land

I've got my prayer cloth collection in a Jesus jar
I've got the Holy Ghost ridin' in the back of my car
Sometimes He gives a little tickle I go "hardee har har"
Ain't it grand, when you're livin' in a lala land

My Jesus decal does quite a trick
Right above my dashboard I stick it
A good luck charm
It keeps me from harm
And saves me from speeding tickets