TWO ISSUES ON COMPROMISE

I just want to throw this in there --- Yesterday I posted an entry on my blogger account, and it should have shown up here, but it never did! In any case, if you find it out of the kindness of your heart to visit my blog, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! --- sinigangnacuteisback.blogspot.com

FIRST ISSUE

Thanks to Bachi, I have recently decided on my favorite radio station - 98.7. This thing has been going on for a couple of weeks now, and I am now more religiously listening to the radio than I was before. And besides, now I can maximize my phone, which has one of this not-so-newer feature of having an fm radio. Anyway, about the station, they do throw in a lot of "cool" music, and even if they also do the nasty habit they do here in the U.S. of playing some songs over and over again, the songs they repeat the most are the better ones.

As I was going to work today, I was listening to that station as I've been doing these past few days, and they were having a conversation on "swinging." For those who innocently don't know what this means, for Pete's sake, don't even try to understand it. Being that who I am, this kind of lifestyle is not something that I approve of, nor endorse, nor even permit. But as I was listening to the conversation, a certain curiosity wanted me through stay with it through the remainder of the talk show - a certain curiosity brought about by the desire to be more knowledgeable - to know how people who live this way think, and why they even think that this is an acceptable and more appealing way to live.

In the Christian community, there is one school of thought that tells you that as you become more mature in your faith, you get to be strong enough for you to be ready to learn things that are outside of your faith - what is not acceptable, what is against it, what contradicts it - that you may be able to have more understanding of how things of the world operate, and having that knowledge, be able to defend your faith all the more - being subjected to these forces, you come to a realization that still, after all that you've seen and known, your faith is still right and still holds true, and your faith becomes stronger.

There is however, another school of thought, that strictly guards you against any area that can become a foothold of the enemy - and golly, their definition of footholds are very rigid.

As I was listening to the conversation, I was also thinking about these things --- Should I keep on listening, banking on the strength of my faith that listening to it won't sway me in a wrong direction, but it will only help me defend my faith (that I may hear out what they have to say and I can prepare for biblical answers as I encounter people of these sorts), or do I play it safe and completely shut out my mind from all these thoughts, considering that they might become footholds for me?

I am not a perfect person as everyone is not, we fall a lot of times and get trapped into the shimmerings of this world. And in my imperfection I couldn't tell which school of thought is right, or is it just relative (if you have a stronger faith then it's okay to expose yourself to these things). But today I decided to listen to crappier stations, and just go back to my favorite station when they're playing the music that made me like them in the first place.

"Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly, righteous, and holy." Ephesians 4:23-24 NLT

SECOND ISSUE

I am just so agreeable. I hate conflict and confrontations, and I have this constant weakness of not being able to say no. This is one of the areas in my life that the Lord is constantly working in me, preparing me for what we call the "real world," especially the real world we call corporate. There have been times that, by His grace, I have become successful and have stood my ground, and this is something that I'm continually trying to work hard at.

I just hate it when I have to go back to my agreeable self and just to avoid conflict, I'd have to give in to people's wiles and willies. And in fact, I have been in this situation for a couple of days now, and to some extent, I do condone myself for once again being agreeable.

But on the other hand, I also hate the people who capitalize on your weakness for their own gain. And for this reason I've been kinda under the water these past few days, irritated, confused, undecided, uncomfortable - because I hate the fact that I'm in this situation once again, and it was just a simple thing that blew out of proportions. Only if I had said no, that I wouldn't give in to other people's selfish desires, then this situation would have never come up in the first place.

Right now, a certain action is being required of me. Phone calls, emails, decisions - to settle the matter. But right now I'm just stomped - I don't know what to do. And so right now, as I have my breakfast with Jesus, I hope and pray that He gives me the wisdom to know what's the wisest thing to do now, and to give me the strength to be able to carry out whatever He asks of me to do.

I am continuously working on being firm and not to compromise myself. And so my friend, my relative, my acquaintance, my brother or sister in the faith, I ask of you to pray for me, that the Lord may continually "beef" me up in this area, and that this situation that I need to resolve immediately, may work out well, and be resolved the soonest possible time.

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil." Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

*and this other person is a devil...teehee :D