<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Here is the email I talked about tonight. John and I worked things out. Please talk to me whoever asked John about meeting separately. I have some confessions to make.</div><div><br></div><div>------------</div><div><br></div><div>I'd be one of the first to call for transparency in the group. However, transparency is messy. Well, get ready for a mess. Here is more what it is like to live in my house. I am the first to admit that there is probably all kinds of sin wrapped up in my attitude about this, and I am ready to be called on it. That doesn't mean I'll think every evaluation is right, but I will seriously think about what you say. I have tried to work it out with Courtney, but she isn't feeling well. I have prayed about it, and HS doesn't seem to be giving any respite.</div><div><br></div><div>My first reaction to this email was intense internal anger. Here are some of the thoughts that went through my head:</div><ul class="MailOutline"><li>What kind of response is this to me reminding everyone of the schedule we had already established? </li><li>I've never been a big believer in democracies and their decision making skills.</li><li>I've already made a decision to not act on this suggestion when it was made to my wife. I think meeting in a mixed group is good.</li><li>Why don't people make suggestions like this to me? Shouldn't I be the first to ask?</li><li>I hate it when people do not follow proper protocol.</li></ul><div><br></div><div>A second wave of thoughts then interjected themselves:</div><div><ul class="MailOutline"><li>Didn't we already decide <i>as a group</i> that we would meet as guys on the first Monday and then split on another week? I know we haven't exactly done this, but still we did decide it.</li><li>Though I don't think it should matter, sex does, and it is good to meet in segregated groups at times.</li><li>Is there a reason to change the plan?</li><li>Did the suggestion come before or after my email?</li><li>Is this an alternate plan or just a singular event?</li><li>Are we changing the plan on purpose?</li></ul><div><br></div><div>I can tell from the intense emotion that something probably isn't right. Something is out of balance.</div><div><br></div><div>Courtney's suggestion was that I might be feeling like my authority is being usurped. I am somewhat uncertain as to what my authority is, but I tend to have this kind of reaction when any authority is usurped. Maybe it is a guy thing or just a Heath thing, but I have a strong (maybe too strong) of a belief in authority and following protocol whether I am on top or bottom. It usually bothers me like this when I see someone go around authorities even more than against them. I want to make excuses about why I think this should be upsetting, but when it comes down to it, I can tell there is something off about the degree of my offense. It is just out of proportion. It is typical for idolatry to look like righteous indignation. It is subtle because there really are good reasons to be upset. There just aren't good reasons to be <i>that </i> upset.</div><div><br></div><div>John, I am not angry with you. Other party, I am trying not to be angry with you. I can't say I haven't speculated as to whom it is. This is another thing that makes me think I am wrong here.</div><div><br></div><div>I want to move on, but I don't want this anger to be an occasion for sin to take root.</div></div><div><br></div><div>I hate to show the sinner that I am, but there it is. I guess my vote is go back to the plan or change it if we don't think it will work.</div><div><br></div><div>I am open to suggestions as to where my idolatry lies. I am pretty sure it will be obvious to someone.</div><div><br></div><div><div>On Feb 23, 2009, at 9:16 PM, <a href="mailto:asuecleaver@aol.com">asuecleaver@aol.com</a> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">My vote is to split Friday night into guys and gals, separate houses.<br> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: John and Jill MacLaughlin <<a href="mailto:jjmacl@att.net">jjmacl@att.net</a>><br> To: <a href="mailto:GospelChristianity@midnighthour.org">GospelChristianity@midnighthour.org</a>; Robinson B. Heath <<a href="mailto:heath@rsqrd.com">heath@rsqrd.com</a>><br> Sent: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 5:36 pm<br> Subject: Re: [Gospelchristianity] Guys and Gals<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_3_43821715-9864-40aa-a522-a06c0924849b"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div>It was mentioned to me that there was the request that the Guys meet on Friday at one persons house and the Gals meet at another house on Friday. </div> <div> </div> <div>So, we could meet on Friday and segregate or we could all meet together on Friday and the guys could meet here the following Monday.</div> <div> </div> <div>Majority rules!!<br> <br> --- On <b>Sun, 2/22/09, Robinson B. Heath <i><<a href="mailto:heath@rsqrd.com">heath@rsqrd.com</a>></i></b> wrote:<br> </div> <blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Robinson B. Heath <<a href="mailto:heath@rsqrd.com">heath@rsqrd.com</a>><br> Subject: [Gospelchristianity] Guys<br> To: <a href="mailto:GospelChristianity@midnighthour.org">GospelChristianity@midnighthour.org</a><br> Date: Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:41 PM<br> <br> <pre>I just thought I'd mention it early, but Monday March 2 would be the first
Monday of March, so the guys will be getting together at John's (If he
approves).
I enjoyed talking with Paul, John, and Aaron today at Salgado's. We split
by sexes as usual. Hey sexes is a palindrome.
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