GroshLink

A friend of mine has passed along some counsel regarding difficult relationships, in particular facing the realization that debates, whether verbal or written, don't seem like the right way to go.  Father, open our hearts and minds that we might embrace your love for us and by the power of your Holy Spirit center our identity in who you have created us to be in Christ Jesus as a reflection of your glorious creation in all our work, life, and relationships:

hard question... somehow love for him, and desire for him to know the truth, will have to go deeper ... thinking again about paul's attitude in first thessalonians (or second?)... like a nurse caring for children... a deep affection for them, so much that he says he not only shared the gospel with them, but himself... how does this all happen?  is it seeing ourselves as we are before God, and our desperate needs... so that we are humbled before Him...

Comment regarding a confrontational written communication:

too often it says, "YOU say this, YOU say that"... he's not likely to listen to what you're saying because of the debate atmosphere, and an attempt to do one-up on him... i'm not sure what it will take to change the mode of conversation... obviously he knows you care about him, but it must be hard for him and you to shift down into a conversation between friends, both of whom will eventually share personal hurts and needs with each other... in a way where you begin to support each other, even though you have major differences in worldviews...