Escaping the Bait of Offense

Well, I am officially enjoying rest and relaxation. I turned in all my grades for my ASU job this morning (at like 4:30am!) and I'm kind of out of it today. Still, the euphoria of being deadline-free at the moment is something I haven't felt in a long time. Yesterday, I had some friends over to my house to celebrate graduation and catch up from the many months that I've been a recluse. What a treat...I had a great time!

I am so excited to share something that I think will make a big impact for many people. It is a rare occasion that Thora Anderson, my senior pastor's wife, speaks at church. Last weekend she gave an amazing message that really impacted me. She is a wise woman with much clarity. Her message is called: Escaping the Bait of Offense. It's about the importance of maintaining relationships by avoiding taking offense. It really freed me from some past things that I have been struggling to resolve. I honestly think that you will feel the same way if you take the time to listen. It is really terrific life advice--whether or not you go to church! (And if you do listen, post comments to encourage other people to do the same!)

Click here: Escaping the Bait of Offense
Click Here for the Notes
(The audio file takes about 60 seconds to load)

Here's some of the big points that I took away (But take the time to listen for yourself!):
*It is impossible that the opportunity to be offended will not come in life--it's all about how we choose to respond.
*When people pick up offense, they themselves stumble and fall.
*Proverbs 10:18 "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable."
*Offense is like kryptonite to Superman: It drains us of our spiritual vitality.
*Offense causes us to miss the blessings of God in our life (especially relationships with others).

So, as Thora says: "Tis the season to have lots of opportunities to be offended." Take a minute to listen to this wise advice and consider how you will respond to others when given the opportunity to either get offended or respond in grace.

If you do not already have QuickTime, you may need to download it (free) HERE.