_{by Trent - recently updated}

Long before there was Gracehead.com, I've lurked around discussion forums, and the like. In my web-wanderings I've faced the mirror on many occasions.

So, in this blog I present a link to some "cheers" and small sampling of "jeers." I won't comment on either list, except to say that they are both very informative - the cheers are informative of Christ in me ... the jeers are informative of me without Christ. (PLEASE ... this is NOT a solicitation for an ego boost. I will not accept replies to this thread that bolster my ego ... I am just giving the voice to critical hate mail that it deserves, and I don't mind the criticism, so feel free to send more stuff to add to the "jeers" list, and I'll be happy to update this blog.)

HERE are the "cheers."

Click "Read More" for the "jeers." (warning adult language)

[More:]

OOPS!!! ... a message and apology from Trent.
I had (in this section of the article) about 30 or so very colorful curses and criticisms of me, but I just erased them and replaced them with this little statement.

Why did I get rid of the Jeers, you might be asking?

Well the quick answer is "ripening" ... but the real reason goes back to why I posted the Jeers in the first place. ... So let me start at the beginning.

I had impure motives to posting the Jeers, especially the most recent update to the Jeers. My motive was partially mean, and no matter what other otherwise commendable reasons for the Jeers, the partial corruption made the whole list unsuitable to post. (now, I still have the list, if anyone can give me a good reason to share them, just email me with what you are thinking and we can talk about it, ok?)

By "mean" ... I am talking about the covert kind of meanness that would come natural to a passive aggressive personality, and I think I'll take the time, now, to explain all of that using Judo as an illustration.

Judo, meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that originated in Japan distinguished from other martial arts by the "soft method" of throwing an opponent. The soft method is characterized by the indirect application of force to defeat an opponent. More specifically, it is the principle of using one's opponent's strengths or aggression against him. For example, if the attacker was to push against his opponent he would find his opponent stepping to the side and allowing his momentum (often with the aid of a foot to trip him up) to throw him forwards or onto the ground.

Judo is a perfect picture of passive aggressiveness, which is one of my most prominent character flaws. My flesh tends toward the sin of passive aggressiveness often. This correction of this post is a rare example of me escaping my flesh tenancies by God's grace and according to His discipline.

"Why did you post this?" "Have you discovered your error, Trent?" "What are you trying to accomplish?" ... These three questions (and some other little thoughts) came to me after I updated and posted this article with 4-5 new Jeers added to the list. God was lovingly correcting me from my rhetorical Judo throw. Like the martial art, I was involved in attempting to use a brother's aggression against him.

In the introduction of this article, I wrote the words: "I am just giving the voice to critical hate mail that it deserves, and I don't mind the criticism, so feel free to send more stuff to add to the "jeers" list, and I'll be happy to update this blog." ... and I really need to take the time to unequivocally retract this statement. While there is just reason to confess our sins one with another and boast in our weakness ... that kind of sincerity should not be mingled with a passive-aggressive parry of an attack. We are called to "turn-the-other-cheek" ... not "indirect application of force to defeat" one another.

Suffice it to say, there really is alot of truth to the Jeers that I have erased from this article ... and in my flesh is no good thing. But to let others say that for me by quoting their insults or remarks is not a pure way to make the point. Giving the "voice to the critical hate-mail that it deserves" is better represented by my erasing and replacing the quotes. Those remarks that I quoted as "jeers" will be tested and approved by God alone as to their worthiness to remain ... and it is not for me to judge. I would do better to uplift Christ with the understanding that I have been given than to use rhetorical Judo to throw a brother off balance.

I am still ripening after all ... and perhaps this candid look behind the scenes will tell a better story about the depths of depravity in my flesh than all of those hateful remarks ever could.

amen.