Making excuses for other’s bad behavior, especially repeated, can be harmful to both the person making the excuses and the one whose behavior is excused. It can enable negative patterns, damage relationships, and hinder personal growth.

While empathy and understanding can be helpful, constantly excusing harmful actions can lead to enabling bad behavior and even allow for abuse to continue. After a while they get so good at it they are able to get the enabler to sway others to feel the same way about them.

I have heard time and time again, “I know they are terrible, but someone has to stick up for them.” It usually comes from a mother or father, who believes that they have failed them, and this is their way of compensating them. They view the villain as an underdog.

An underdog is someone or something that is expected to lose or is at a disadvantage in a competition or situation. This term is often used in sports, politics, and other competitive arenas, where an underdog is pitted against a more favored opponent.

A key characteristic of an underdog is their potential to surprise and achieve victory despite the odds being stacked against them. Enablers help them in many ways. They do not usually have as much to lose. They are benefitting in some way. Even when it hurts them they keep making excuses for them.

A lack of empathy for others, prevents some people from putting checks on those who inflict pain on others. “Hurting people have a tendency to hurt others.” This is why it is so important to help those who have been hurt to seek counseling to address their hurts and find healing.

I have a friend whom I have learned so much. When it comes to life experiences he has done or seen it all. Not many have been blessed to survive. One would think that he had a death wish. He credits his mother and all of those who prayed for his change. Most everyone applauds.

I have watched him over the years change from a person bent on destruction to a person who values life as if it is a must. He used to dump salt on everything, and if he was cautioned about the dangers, he would dump even more. He has high blood pressure but takes his meds as if it was a religion. He values life.

When I was going thorough seminary, he was my go-to person. Not that I thought he was the biggest sinner in the world, but rather because I trusted that he would be truthful about what he said. He understood both sides of life. Today, I can listen to him talk for hours. Non-judgmental.

He once told me that at one time he was very much in love with someone who betrayed his trust. He never told me what she had done and I did not push him for an answer. That was the agreement that we had. I would never push him for explanations.

As a new believer of forgiveness, I asked him if he believed she had changed, and if so, could he forgive her. He said it does not matter. He said he never revived a relationship. And he quoted a scripture that he had based it on. I was impressed with his answer. This is what it said:

No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles (Mark 2:22). I didn’t dare tell him that he was taking the scripture out of context. I understood what he meant.

Here of late it seems that people are out of control. When you see or hear the worse, later that becomes even worse. People used to try to hide it, but not anymore. Then I thought about what one of my sixth-grade students said, “Don’t you know that people are basically evil?”

The Bible acknowledges our inherent wretchedness, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our shortcomings and seeking God’s grace and healing. However, overcoming sin and embracing spiritual renewal is a journey that requires both humility and perseverance.

Yes, the Bible does indicate that we are naturally wretched. The term “wretched” is used throughout the Bible to describe a state of deep distress or moral depravity, often associated with sin and separation from God.

When God first created Adam and Eve, humanity’s condition was ideal, a utopian environment, an innocent nature, and intimate fellowship with our Creator. After Adam’s disobedience of God, the human condition changed.  

Ever since then, the human condition is lost, blind, sinful, guilty, morally ruined, and dying. Thanks to the grace of God and the salvation Christ provides, we can look forward to the human condition being restored to its original state.

For instance, in Romans 7:24, the Apostle Paul expresses his struggle with sin, saying, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” This reflects the universal human experience of feeling trapped in sin and the need for divine intervention.

As you navigate this path, remember that acknowledging your shortcomings is the first step toward transformation. Dive into prayer and scripture, allowing God’s Word to illuminate your heart and guide your actions. One step further helps.

You cannot be a Christian by yourself. Surround yourself with a supportive community of fellow believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable. I do not believe you can obtain that serving online totally. Even online colleges require some face-to-face experience.

It’s essential to cultivate a mindset of grace, understanding that while we may stumble, God’s love and forgiveness are always available to us. Embrace the practice of repentance. Not as a burden, but as a wonderful opportunity to realign your life with God’s purpose.

Finally, as you seek to renew your spirit, let the Holy Spirit work within you, transforming your hopes and leading you toward a life that reflects Christ’s love and light. Remember, this is not a race, but a lifelong marathon, and every step you take in faith should bring you closer to the heart of God.

When we think about leadership we usually think about one person offering ideas, suggestions or directions to many others. We tend to think of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, or some other larger than life figure that you have never met, or even know anyone who has met them.

I have been fortunate enough to have been taught and trained by someone equally important. He is in the person of the Rev. Dr. William E. Flippin Sr., the senior pastor of the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, at 1879 Glennwood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316.

The simplist structure in which leadership plays a role is the encounter between two people. In this one-to-one relationship we are involved in leading one another from point to point, from view to view. Groups of people require more.

When I first attended this church I had given up on attending church services. I had found that I enjoyed the community instead. For the first time in my life I could not fix my brokenness. This is a question a lot of people have tried to figure out and have struggled to answer. They are not always successful.

I had not given up on God. Which is a grave thing to do. Rather I had lost touch with how to serve Him. Remember, we are not fit to go to Him; He draws us to Him. The church as we know it is a hospital and they are not created equal.

Some are not a fit for everyone. Some patients need care out of the realm of possibility that they can provide. It takes a special leader.