Sorting out "in house" family problems within God's big family..

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From memory, Jesus didn't say to go

and talk with any brother (have things out 

with him) "if he has sinned." (though James did know,

as did ol' Pete*, from life what love's about,

& said if someone's caught up in a sin, 

and somehow then a brother pulls him out,

it can cut off a legion of unclean,

unhelpful spirits, and hush things that shout.

"If he has sinned against you" - have things out.

I'd quote the passage in Matthew and say 

that this is what our Lord said he's about.

This can't be just machine'ry that we'd pay

for, or a company-policy type thing, 

but it's the style of Jesus' "little child-

ren", so I wouldn't use emails that ding

or texts that can be "evidence" though chilled 

(or maybe more like - "chillingly") - unless 

you had to. Try that old "knock on the door" -

to make a time that suits (not just to  test),

or else for the same reason, a phone-call,

handwritten letter/ card, is more the style 

of brothers/ sisters of our Lord Jesus.

And, once you've done it on your own (he smiled:

"well - just the two of you", and he sees us) 

then if your bro's won back, you've  really won!

- And if he's not won back, don't just repeat.

It seems he's for increasing stakes, for (fun,

and) likelihood of working on the street.

So when you have already gone & done

it, as your father Jesus said to do 

(that's with no back up) - if you have not won

you should "go with a brother", just you two…

Desired outcome or purpose is the same:

to win your brother back. And to my mind

important thing about the outcome/ aim

is don't let less-ers slither in to find

your purpose, or your aim/ desired outcome,

has been shrunk down to lesser hopes, for you

to "win a brother back" is God's hope, some-

thing he'd be glad to see you try to do!

Oh God, may your love fully motivate

all that is said, thought, done, by this-here man.

Enable love like yours to penetrate,

by washing feet, and serving as love can …

We know that only love would want to do

this kind of thing, that honours in offence.

All others see competitors, but you

love all your children person'ly, so hence,

you only want to gain your sons again

so all your pow'r is wielded under love.

Oh God my love's so small, please grow it then,

and now within this trial where we're "shoved".

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*  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19‭-‬20 NIVUK

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NIVUK

Jesus' "third" story about the celebrations when a lost something is found again: Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything. ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him. ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.” ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” ‘ “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” ’ Luke 15:11‭-‬32 NIVUK . The story of the lost son found, starts with these words ‘There was a man who had two sons.. from this start and the story's ending, it turns out that this story, could also be the story of the lost brother found. Although we pick up what the father's wish is…we never find out, in this version of Jesus' story, if that got to happen or not.. will it? We have to look to Luke's second book, Acts, from our chapter 29 and following, to find that out… 

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