Here is something you may not have known.

com·plain  (km-pln)
intr.v. com·plained, com·plain·ing, com·plains
1. To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
2. To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

I am critical. As a matter of fact I may be the most critical person you have ever met .....or maybe not met. I guarantee you I can walk into any situation and tell you what is wrong with it and how to do it better.  Which is weird because I'm also an optimist. I tend to err on the side that people are doing the best they can and things will turn out ok. Most people that know me may say I'm not critical and thats because I have them fooled... In my life most of the time criticism rears its ugly head as complaining.  I just talk about what's wrong in a negative fashion or with resentment because I'm frustrated. (I try not to gossip though.. I'll tell you to your face most of the time)

the bible says...
    •    For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21-22).

Basically it starts in our hearts develops in our heads and out it comes... scientists say that it takes about 21 days to break a habit... so I'm going on some 21 day journeys over the next year to see if I can break some destructive heart/mental habits. The first one is complaining.

Again the bible says   
    •    Do everything without complaining or arguing (Ph. 2:14)

So for the next 21 days instead of complaining I'm going to try to offer positive solutions to things. If I can't do that I'm not adding value so I'm just going to pray about it because maybe after all it isn't really an issue for anyone but me . If I screw it up and complain then I have to start over. The plan would be that after 21 days it will take hold as a habit and off I go to the next thing.

Feel free to slap me in the face if you hear me complain! Ready.Set.Go.

Comments

[Tim]

"I guarantee you I can walk into any situation and tell you what is wrong with it and how to do it better. Which is weird because I'm also an optimist. I tend to err on the side that people are doing the best they can and things will turn out ok."

Wow, that's me too. Just ask Lissa, I am always telling her that I just want to be a "consultant" for multiple businesses and go live in their world for a short time and tell them how they can make it better, more efficient, and more enjoyable. I too tend to talk with resentment because to me, it seems like the solution to many issues that I see are soooooo easy and I struggle to understand why the issue that I see isn't already taken care of by those who have the power/authority to do so.

I too Pete am going to venture on the 21 day trip of not speaking with resentment. Hopefully we can get this done in just 21 days and not take longer (although I know for me it'll probably take longer)

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[Peter Bishop]

Very cool. Just so you know that trait is one of the things I most admire about you.

[Mike]

I was going to say Ph. 2:14

when I was reading that.
Now that I am really getting into the word I see how it applies to my life.

[inWorship]

Thanks for this Pete. I'm with you here, I tend to walk into things being negative and wanting to "fix" whatever is going on.

You've challenged yourself and me as well. Thanks!