My Official Status --- Old & Ornery...

... Well, it's apparently official --- I'm a low-down, mean-spirited, insensitive, hurtful, venom-spewing, nasty, good-for-nothing, unappreciative, ignorant, unteachable, sorry SOB --- who should get my miserable butt off of MySpace...
... Of course, if you're a friend, or have known me for any period of time, you quite probably already knew this --- but, it was a moment of enlightenment for about 52 0f 54 individuals this past week --- who weren't on my friends' list...
... I won't be naming any names here --- but a recently added friend, sent out a "Word of encouragement" from Proverbs 16:24 to her friends' list as a bulk mailing...
... Sadly, about every other word was mis-spelled OR copied incorrectly --- a matter of careless oversight, perhaps... My problem with this whole thing developed when my inbox was flooded with forwards of this butchered message from nearly everyone she sent her message to... They apparently just "replied" it back to all on her list --- several times over --- rather than forwarding it on to their own friends' lists... NO one made any effort to edit or make the appropriate spelling corrections, if they had read the message at all... So, I ended up with about 90 of these "messages" in my inbox from people I didn't know... I could have and likely SHOULD have reported the whole thing as "Spam" --- but, I didn't...
... Instead, I copied the original message (less graphic attachment), and wrote the following reply to the list of contacts provided:

[ How do YOU spell "SPAM" ?
... Forgive me if this sounds harsh --- but, there are times when I truly understand WHY the world hates us (who call ourselves by HIS Name) !!!
... In the past 24 hours, I have received NO LESS THAN 40 of these messages --- forwarded to me by (I'm SURE) well-meaning brothers & sisters in Christ... Some, multiple times from the same people... Of those forwarding to me --- no one was on my friends' list --- and no one was asking to be... So, seriously, why bother ?
... Apparently No-One read the original message carefully enough to correct spelling errors --- before flooding the inboxes of everyone on the list of recipients with additional copies of what amounted to "vain babbling / foolishness"...
... This does NOT glorify God, Who is worthy of only our BEST efforts !
... I, for one, consider "communications" to be a sacred trust and a gift of God for our species --- to be used with wisdom... Proverbs 16: 24, like ALL scripture --- is a great verse of inspired blessing, that WON'T return "void"...
... BTW: it's "are" NOT "ae" / "sweet" OR "sweeter" NOT "sweer" / "re-visit" NOT "revist" ("visit" would be more proper in the context of the sentence) / "license" NOT "licsene"... This is a matter of basic "stewardship" --- the world views us as "foolish" / too often we prove that notion with carelessness...
... Spell-checkers are easy to use ! We can appear MUCH wiser than we are --- IF we'll use the resources at our disposal...
... I don't DO chain letters or mass mailings --- if you get a message from me --- it's because I have something personal to say to YOU, as a friend or fellow child of God...
... Enough is enough ! Let's THINK before we act --- All things done decently and in order, with Love, for the edification of the Body & Bride of our dear Lord Jesus !
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: [XXXX-Deleted For Privacy-XXXX]
To: [XXXX-Deleted For Privacy-XXXX]
Date: Apr 14, 2009 8:58 AM
Subject: PLEASANT WORDS AE AS AN HONEYCOMB SWEER TO THE SOUL, AND HEALTH TO THE BONES. PROVERBS16:24
[Illustration: Awareness Ribbons Customized - ImageChef.com]
LUV YOU ALL IN CHRIST!
IN HIS SERVICE,
[XXXX-Deleted For Privacy-XXXX] {KINGDOM LIVING}!
PS. PLEASE REVIST THE PAGE AND SIGN THE GUESTBOOK LOCATED UNDER THE NJ LICSENE PLATE. SHALOM. ]
__________________________________________
... READ what I said !
... I even had my wife, Susie, read this --- and, as critical as she can be, she found nothing inappropriate or offensive in what I had to say (MIRACLE !) :-)...
... This was intended to be a brotherly encouragement toward "excellence" in the things we say and do within the Body of Christ !
... We HAVE tools at our disposal that make such things easy, and a responsibility to BE good stewards of the gifts, callings, and resources placed into our hands for convenience...
... I got ONE positive response from a fellow minister in California --- thanking me for the "word of wisdom & correction" and asking to be added to my friends' list...
... I got about a half dozen --- "We love you in Jesus, anyway, brother" notes --- and the rest encompassed all the above listed condemnations...
... A few thanked God they weren't members of my "congregation", having to listen to my "holier-than-thou", "self-righteous" legalisms... If they'd taken the time to check my profile page --- they'd have known that I don't have a congregation --- I'm NOT a "pastor"...
... One suggested that I open the settings file and "... block ALL scripture messages of encouragement from true believers"... [ NOT sure what network they were on ! ]
... My settings on ALL my sites are "open" to the public --- I won't change that...
... I'm here for ministry, and service to those seeking to find a saving faith and relationship, and wanting to grow in Christ Jesus...
... I handle approximately 50 - 75 serious letters of inquiry on spiritual matters every day across the sites I'm active on... I have nearly a thousand on-line friends and about three dozen forums I'm involved with... I don't have time for foolishness, "spam", or "flaming" --- especially from so-called "christians" who SHOULD know better, and have a greater measure of respect for BOTH themselves and others !
... Personally, I feel blessed by the quality of friends that God has given me in my on-line ventures, thus far --- again, none but the originator of the message were on MY friends' list when this started...
... If you, in all sincerity, don't share my burden for souls and my vision to present the Gospel with excellence and integrity --- let me know, and feel free to delete me --- no one is forcing you to stay or twisting your arm to do anything... I never have, and never will ask for anything but prayer... I have nothing to "sell"...
... I deem it an honor and privilege to serve the Lord of Lords & King of Kings !
... I will welcome with open arms and an open heart ANY who desire to walk with me... I'll walk the extra miles with you... I'll help carry your burdens, as I can... I'll willingly lay down my life for you & yours' along the way --- if & when necessary...
... I'm just committed & ornery like that !
... Blessings !