By Ken Blue

Apologizing is not easy for any of us. The primary reason is our pride, and our confidence that we are right in our actions and words. However, it is humors to hear people make apologies, who either don’t know how, or they believe they haven’t really done anything wrong; rather, the apology becomes a defense.  

Here are some rules to follow when attempting an apology.

1. Don’t uses such words as: “if,” “I’m sorry you were offended,” “If I didn’t make myself clear.” “You misunderstood me.” “That’s just my personally that many can’t accept.” Or “If you were offended, I’m sorry.”

2. Don’t spend 2/3 of the time attacking the person you are apologizing to. When you do, you are mounting another attack, and justifying your position. Sometimes attempted apologies turn into a rehash of the same argument you wanted to amend. Be very careful not to re-argue any topics or open any old wounds.

3. Don’t remind the other person of how wrong they are; that is not an apology. Do not talk about how bad you feel. The apology is not about your guilt, your shame, your fear of rejection, your anxiety or your loneliness while waiting to be forgiven. It is about the other person – remember that, even if it seems to be taking them a long time to forgive you.

4. Don’t attempt to apologize unless you believe you were wrong, it only makes you appear more arrogant.

5. Take full responsibility for the offense, without sharing the blame with anyone else, and without presenting mitigating circumstances. Admit that you were wrong emphatically, unreservedly, and immediately. An incomplete apology often feels more like an insult. An apology with an excuse is simply not an apology. It may very well be that other people or circumstances contributed to the situation, but you cannot apologize for them; you can only apologize for yourself, so leave them out of it.

6. Avoid using the word “but.” (“I am sorry, but…” means “I am not sorry.”)

7. Don’t say “I’m sorry you feel that way” or “I’m sorry if you were offended.” Be sorry for what you did! “I’m sorry you feel that way” makes it seem like you are blaming the other person, and is not a real apology.

8. To be truly sorry is a feeling of grief for the wrong you did to another.

“Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd  covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:23-26.

Ken Blue

Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.

kenblueministries.com

Why Muslims are silent.

2 Teen Girls Executed by Somali Militant Group

Published October 28, 2010,  Associated Press AFP

“MOGADISHU, Somalia — An Islamic group that controls much of southern Somalia executed two girls by firing squad, and hundreds of residents of a town were forced to view the spectacle.

Sheik Mohamed Ibrahim on Wednesday sentenced the girls to death in the town of Belet Weyne for spying …The local al-Shabab administration appoints judges and the only needed qualifications are that the person must be a man who knows the Quran.

Al-Shabab is linked to Al Qaeda and has carried out several whippings, amputations and executions to enforce its own strict interpretation of Islam. This was the first public execution of girls in Belet Weyne, a western Somali town.

al-Shabab militiamen had walked through Belet Weyne’s streets, informing residents about the pending executions by loudspeaker and ordering everyone to attend.

Ayan Mohamed Jama, 18, and Huriyo Ibrahim, 15, were brought before hundreds of residents. Ten masked men opened fire Wednesday on the girls, who were blindfolded, soon after the sentencing. As the girls were shot, they shouted “There is no God but Allah,” said a witness who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

Ugas also warned residents against using their mobile phones or cameras to document the execution, saying violates of his rule risked amputation.”

Now you understand why no Muslim dare speak out.  You understand why Muslims are silent. He, or she, or a family member risk mutilation or execution. This is how a mafia lead dictatorship operates in a peace loving religion. To a Muslim, peace means the elimination or subjugation of all other religions.

Ken Blue

Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.

kenblueministries.com

Posted by Ken Blue

VA. Man Arrested For Plotting DC Attacks

October 27, 2010 – 1:33 PM | by: Mike Levine

A Virginia man has been arrested for allegedly trying to help Al Qaeda plan multiple bombings around the nation’s capital, according to U.S. officials.

Farooque Ahmed, 34, of Ashburn, Va., was arrested today by the FBI and charged with providing material support to terrorists and collecting information for a terrorist attack.

“It’s chilling that a man from Ashburn is accused of casing rail stations with the goal of killing as many Metro riders as possible through simultaneous bomb attacks,” said Neil MacBride, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Today’s arrest highlights … our ability to find those seeking to harm U.S. citizens and neutralize them before they can act.”

According to an indictment filed in U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, between April 2010 and Oct. 25, Ahmed repeatedly met with individuals he thought were affiliated with Al Qaeda to discuss “jihad.”

On May 15, in a hotel room in Sterling, Va., Ahmed told one individual that he might be ready to travel overseas to conduct jihad, but only after he completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in November, according to the indictment.

In addition, he agreed to watch and photograph Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station and a hotel in Washington, D.C., in order to obtain information about their security and busiest periods.

In fact, on July 7, he participated in surveillance and recording images of Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station. The next month, he allegedy participated in surveillance of the Courthouse, Pentagon City and Crystal City Metrorail stations outside Washington.

During a meeting at a hotel in Herndon, Va., on Sept. 28, he suggested that rolling suitcases be used instead of backpacks, and he said that he wanted to kill as many military personnel as possible, according to the indictment.

Officials say that at no time was the public in danger during this investigation. The FBI was aware of Ahmed’s activities from before the alleged attempt began and closely monitored his activities until his arrest, according to U.S. officials. Ahmed is set to make his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in Alexandria, Va.”

Ken Blue

Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.

kenblueministries.com