Friend or foe?

I was just perusing some of the news websites on the Internet tonight, and like usual, I was really taken aback by the hostility of the stories we see on the news. The days of intelligent debate over issues is gone. It's a 15 to 30 second sound byte mentality and that's usually interspersed with vitriolic language used in the name of compassion and/or standing up for your fellow man. Either that or we're spoon-fed the latest prison abuse video or something like that that's supposed to pass nowadays for news.

In that very moment, I came to a conclusion.

I'm a bad, bad man.

Not like Shaft (watch your mouth!), but really like a bad man.

My Christian faith prevails, obviously. But that still doesn't change the fact that I'm a bad, bad man.

I will engage in self-depricating humor probably quicker than anyone on the planet - I figure I need to make fun of myself because 1) it loosens people up, 2) if you had this kind of ammo to work with 24/7, you'd make fun of yourself, too, and probably the most problematic reason, 3) I poke fun at so many others as well.

Is it good natured? I hope so. Do I cross the line occasionally? Absolutely. Do I know that? Yes. Am I ashamed at some of the lines that creep out of my mouth? Unfortunately, yes.

What really brought this to light was the other night on a phone call between Tammy, a mutual friend of ours, and me, I let slip a comment that wasn't necessarily untrue, but just didn't need to be said. Wasn't necessary, but it just popped out. That just fell into a long line of times I've said things and thought, "Wow, that was REALLY out of bounds and over the line." It really made me stop and think about my attitude, fun loving as it may be more times than not, it also can get the best of me.

It also made me think how patient Jesus is to work with a sinner like me. His love - quite obviously - has no bounds. I'm living proof.