Happy New Year!! Everyone!

I know I have been letting the group go because I just don't know what to do or didn't have the time or the want. For this I do apologize but hopefully we can change this and make the group active again.

So, we'll be using ~leoliger's hard work. She has been copying sections out of this book she has for all of us to use and learn from. At present date she has been working on this for a 1 year and 6 months. I've always wanted them discussed but just wasn't ready for it. So, here is the topic: Caving into Pressure. You can read it from Leoliger's Journal book or in the 'spoiler' below. But please post all comments in the thread.

SPOILER (click to view)

People who have caved in to pressure are among some of the world's most despised villains.

Following World War II, several high-ranking Nazi officials were tried for war crimes at Nuremberg, Germany. Among those on trial were serveral who had been responsible for having Jews rounded up and executed in death camps. Many tried to defend themselves by saying they were simply following orders. They claimed those of higher rank, often Adolph Hitler himself, had issued their orders and they were bound to obey them. The court rejected their arguments, jailing some and executing others, according to the severity of thier crimes.

As notorious as Nazi death camp officals were, perhaps the most well-known case of someone caving it to pressure was at the trial of Jesus.

Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caeser. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar" (John 19:12)



Pilate caved in and is historically held in contempt. Jesus was executed, His death paying the penalty for all of the misdeeds of humanity, including those that happen when someone fails to stand up to pressure.

What kinds of pressure do you find hard to withstand?


What steps can you take to more effectively withstand this pressure?



Today's Thru-The-Bible Reading
Esther 1:1 to 2:23; John 19:1-18



Prayer Emphasis: Ask God to help you withstand pressure to do the wrong thing.

::Angel::

::Angel's Thoughts on the topic::

Well, it took me a while before I understood this topic. Starting out with the Nazi's and ending with Pilot. Threw me a bit but I think I get it now. Its saying that even though the Nazi's had there orders it didn't justify with holding the orders. They could have easily turned and said no. They wouldn't kill anymore but in doing that they probably would have lost there own life. So, they justified it and didn't do it. Falling back on 'I was told too.'
Same goes for Pilot. He was the only one who could of had Jesus put to death. Even though it was meant to happen. He could have still turned his cheek and said no but the pressure of losing his job and maybe his own life in the process. Wasn't a risk he was willing to take.
But I'll admit I'm not above even these men. I cave so much it isn't funny. When I could say something about God or Jesus it just doesn't happen. Doesn't come out my mouth. I want to. The thought is there. Even the sentence but then I think of the after math. What this person could think of me or not think of me. I know it shouldn't matter and not every time it does. But I also think that if I do this now. Maybe, I'll miss a better oppertunity later. When in all actuallity. I only have today. This moment because it could happen that I wont be there or this person wont and I was there last chance. Which makes me sad because it might have happened already.
Now, I'm not saying I'm the one who's going to get someone saved and converted. No. That's not my job. God is the one who works with their hearts because he knows it better then I do. But still, I know I can help.

::Questions from topic::

What kinds of pressure do you find hard to withstand?: For me the hardest pressure to withstand is that from someone who doesn't even know me. There's this older lady I work with and just about anything comes out of her mouth. Most times I should just keep quiet but there are times when I totally disagree and can't believe its coming out of her mouth. Like: 'I think its Okay that two people don't get married that are living with each other.' .ect
I personally, wanted to stand up and say: 'That is such a cop out. If your living together already what is getting married? Its not to much of a leap from the state your already in.'
But no... I just nodded with a look on my face. I will say that the person she was talking about was right there. Which made me even more close mouthed because I know I'd have to argue my point or something. v.v...


What steps can you take to more effectively withstand this pressure?: Hum, a solution for my issue? Well, lets see. I can study the word a bit more to get my strength from. I can have more confidence in myself. Does that count?


Now, who's going to comment next?
::Angel::

oh well...i don't really understand...since the vocabs are too hard to know...hmmm...sorry...wew...but...for me...i know God make us feels disagree with others sometimes...like me and my fathers...he's too cruel...he doesn't know JESUS...and he even said bad about Him..and sometimes i can't stand it anymore...
maybe i become a bad child...i always say a bad things about my fathers...and even something that not supposed to as a daughter to her father...i know i'm wrong...but i can't just close my eyes...or close my ears...pretend to not hear anything...no!!
i hate my father...but that feelings cannot take me too much...even so i hate him so much...but i know he's my father...and i sometimes feel sad for him...since he's not like a normal ppl...he's stroke...huh...i'm confused...should i just do nothing...or what?
i'm really confuse...sometimes...i don't care if i become a bad person...f***ing my father like that...but...arghh...could someone tell me what should i do?
i don't know anymore...

Oh, Dong, is okay. I can understand your frustration and your words do fit this topic.

This topic is about 'Caving into pressure' .. letting your temper get the best of you.

Even though you don't like your father. Never say you hate because there is only one we can hate because there is only one God/Jesus hates. And that's the devil. Alright.
Whatever happenes you need to not let your temper get the best of you. You need to love those you dis-like. Plus, you just may need to forgive him even if you don't want to. God/Jesus says that we all need to forgive because he forgives us everyday. Because we may believe but we are not perfect and fall short of God's glory. Its not easy to forgive. Believe me. I know but you need to. Plus caving in like that doesn't show God's love because you may be the only one to show your father the light. He can still be saved no matter how mean he is.

::Angel::

U think so??
that's all the people said to me...they said the same way...
and i think it's because they don't know how cruel he is...how hard to live with him...how hard my mom take care of him although my dad always do a bad things to my mom...how much my mom cried until now...but she still care of him although he's so mean to her...
he's CRAZY!!i wanna say a loud...HE'S "CRAZY"!!
Maybe he's the devil...he doesn't have any good sides...he just care of him self...we almost poor because of him...and my mom must work harder because of he always take all the money and buy what he want...don't care with us...he don't care with what he had done...!!
he wanna us to die with him!
he lies to others and take other's money...and my mom must pay for that!!
He's CRAZY i said...
SoO CRAZYYY...
Maybe someday...if he do anything bad again and again...maybe all of us must be jailed in the police office...maybe for the rest of our lives!!
can you imagine that??
he's a crime!
to me and my fam and to other ppl...He's a Big Criminal!
he's the devil..maybe he's atheist...cuz...he don't believe in GOD...i don't know if he can get better from his sick soon...but maybe never get better...cuz of what he had done to all of us who took care of him everyday in the hospital without went home...maybe went home just for sleeping in the morning cuz my sisters and me and my bro can took care of him in the noon...so my mom can rest for a while and then get back to the hospital to take care of him in the night without sleeping!!
and he still do bad to her?!That's enough he thread us like that!!
no more!!Never!!
even at home...he make us get angry every time and make us not comfortable near him...i hate to be near to him...

If things are bad as in: stealing, hitting your mom, you, or your siblings, then I'd say you do need to get out. If that's the case. You and your family need to get out.

But still in the end; God/Jesus/Holy Spirit still love your father even when he does bad things. It does suck to think of it that way but its true. Every time your dad does bad to you and your mom and your family. It breaks God's heart more then you could imagine. Seeing his own 'image' in your father doing such bad things because God loves you and your family and your father. And God wants you to love as well and forgive.
I'm not saying that this is going to happen over night and if the situation is as bad as I'm starting to see. Then you and your family need to get in a better situation for everyone. If thats away from your father or for your father to get some kind of help.
But like I said before God wants you to forgive not for the sake of your father but for your sake. Your holding all this pain and torment inside and get angry and cry and God just wants to take that pain away from you. And its all found in forgiveness because none of us are clean or free from sin. Jesus died for all of us. For the big and little things we did. I know the bible says something like 'we are to forgive 7x77 ... each day. Like He has forgiven us.' And when you forgive then it opens up a path way between you and God. So, God can come into your heart and your world and start making changes for the better but it has to start with forgiveness.
Just like when God couldn't be with us down here before Jesus came. The same thing is still true. God can't be with us down here if we don't 'forgive' thru Jesus. So, God can come down and help us out like he wants.

Its tuff to swallow I know but think about it. Push your anger for your Father aside and think of your Holy Father who is love. Then you'll start to understand.
::Angel::

What do you meant with i must get out??get out from where?
hmm...i i know the law...i know the right and the wrong...and i know which one we should do...and it's the right one...right?
but do it...it's not that easy as we said or know...
when we try to do it...it's hard you know...much harder than if we said about it...harder than if we think about it...and harder than if we learn about it...

I mean if things are abusive in your house. You and your family need to find a way out. If possible. No one deserves to be in that kind of situation. Yet, I could see how at times you can't exactly run away from something like that. I just want you and your family to be safe.

But on a Godly level forgiveness is the first step.

::Angel::