I did not write this post to spark such a heated debate. If the Lord has spoken through these meager words of mine I am thankful but I pray they would be taken to heart for each individual rather than using them simply to justify one’s actions.

I have struggled with what to do concerning the comments. Having been in a situation before where there was conflict and comments were deleted it only resulted in showing an unfair bias to one party or the other. I do not in anyway want to do that. I think it would also remove any accountability for one’s words. If you are not prepared for others to see your words then perhaps they should not be typed. I do, however, ask that you not continue this discussion via my inbox. If you want to continue discussing on my blog just be gracious.

I am trying to be as fair as possible, offering a place of discussion and a simple reminder to graciously and mercifully apply your fingers to your keyboards when you post.

Since much has arisen from this thread I will however be closing this thread from further comments.

My hubby is addressing some of the issues he has seen in play throughout this thread. I encourage you to read it and join in the discussion with open hearts and kind words.
His posting is here, The Cyber “church” and Biblical Peacemaking.

I did not threat anyone. I was giving a kind and firm warning to the Dixons to let them know they need to be careful, because I love them. It amazes me when a house is on fire and the neighbors scream for them to get help, they see it as a threat. If someone cautioned me that I should change behavior or get a lawyer I’d listen.

I get a lot of letters every month asking me questions about situations that I am not involved with, but that are witnessed all over cyber space about these things. I don’t go looking for people to talk to. They come to me. Perhaps because Jacque and I worked together on GGM for over a year, I don’t know. But when I see people from all over the nation sending me emails asking about legal help I can’t help but to get a message to people I love to let them know to BE CAREFUL. I can’t hold back these people and what they are doing. And I don’t have anything to do with what they are deciding to do. But if people have a clear cut case in a court of law, then that’s their business. But I felt I could help by cautioning them to make changes so they can protect themselves from their own behavior.

Sometimes people don’t see how far they’ve gone until they get legal advice.

I write about experiences God has brought me through and how He has changed my heart through it. I cease from naming the people who were involved. I also write a lot about my own mistakes and how God showed me I was wrong. If my articles feel as though they are personalized towards an individual then they need to ask me about it. Many times they are not. Or it is an experience I had when I was younger or in my own town. Just as many many times I read Jocelyn’s blog, articles she wrote long before she ever knew me, and when I felt it was ‘about me’, it was Holy Spirit telling me it was about me. After all, Jocelyn had not even known me yet. :0)

The entire Bible is filled with stories about injustices that took place in the lives of the people. God shows his justice and grace through all of it. Had He never had men pen those words we would not have His written word today. When God leads any of us to write about our own journeys we should be able to in a discreet manner. I have indeed come across blogs that I felt were specifically about me and I came forward to make it right. I think that’s how we all learn to own up and help relationships take a step toward healing. We will never ‘arrive’ so as we walk this earth til the day of Jesus Christ, we will always be in need of making amends as the needs arise.

When someone tells us that a blog post that outright names them specifically says that they would like for it to be removed and be allowed to make amends, is denied that opportunity, then the person denying them that has closed God off from being able to help both people involved.

I have learned a lot over the years in cyber space and continue to learn more each day. I have learned that having communication with minors via GGM, Facebook, etc, that I need to make sure the parents have given me their permission to have communication with their children and I am sure to copy everything to them. Some children hide their online life from their parents, but that doesn’t make it acceptable for people to take advantage of that and send them messages that violate them mentally, spiritually, or otherwise. We are not to offend the children. Having disclaimers at the end of an email so the children can’t show the email to others puts them in a terribly confused place. We all need to be more careful on the internet. We never know when our statements are turned over to a child’s parent who may be a very powerful attorney.

I have an example to share. I have been recently writing about persecution. I’ve had many replies, but 3 serious responses to them. One is from an internet connection who thinks I’m writing about them in particular. One is from someone in my town who thinks about them in particular. And the third is from a reader in China who gets my subscription via Email. You see my blog was recently banned from China, but she can still get it in the email. She has thanked me for my messages and says how helpful they are to her as she faces more and more uncertainty in her country. She has asked that I keep writing about what God shows me.

How interesting eh? Two take offense, but one who seriously needed to read those articles is thankful to have read them.

I hope that helped clarify what I meant.
Sisterlisa´s last blog ..Balancing Act

You yourself said that you have posted about people, but you excused doing so because you do it without naming them. You make it sound like that is an ok thing to do – to write about people – to people – just because you didn’t name them.

That was what I questioned when I asked:
Does this mean that you are not in sin to write a post about someone because you do not name them? How is that? If you are writing a post with a judgmental attitude about someone, how are you excused from this sinful behaviour because you didn’t let everyone else know who you were sinning against? I would like to see some scripture for that.”

Thanks Kristine. Thanks for a place of great discussion. All of this really needs to stop.
Jacque´s last blog ..DIY Cleaning Products – Helping Cut Corners

Sometimes it’s thorns we see, not fruit. Thank you for allowing this to be open. Owning up is a step towards peace and to cut that opportunity off would be more hurtful. I appreciate you allowing this conversation to continue.

Jacque and Jocelyn,

If I have written anything on my blogs that describes someone’s inappropriate behavior and my words are not edifying nor seek to bring a change, then list the posts and quote the comments that reveal the truth.

I will own up where needed. Will you?
Sisterlisa´s last blog ..Balancing Act

I haven’t a clue what controversy has now erupted in blogland…but I think your post is excellent. I’ll end here…delete the rest as their is obviously something that I’m clueless about going on….but I’ve been shocked in the past, at the attitudes and lack of grace that can be shown by Christians on the web…..shocked. I agreed with your post….