However, while I was simply going to send the envelopes, I did a 5 minute video to make it clear and it is attached. Three DVDs were put in the mail to Jim Cross: “George: Happy 20th Birthday” “Marriage Defined and a Commitment Beyond” “‘N’ Words ● “Nazi” and “…”” Nothing else is in the envelope. All three contain serious in depth theology. I contend that where I am wrong, it would be an act of love on your part to correct me from Scripture. If I am right, than you might consider it rebuke, which brings up an interesting question. Consider the following two verses from the ESV: 1Ti 5:1 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father…” 2Ti 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” There seems to be a conflict in you are to and not to rebuke. However, in 1Tim5 it is “epiplēssō” which is to strike upon, beat upon, to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid, rebuke. While in 2Ti4 it is “epitimaō” which is to show honor to, to raise the price of, to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty, to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely, to admonish or charge sharply. In my study it seems that we are called to rebuke, but to an older man to do so with additional temperance or respect. Perhaps than can be seen when I state you “tuck your Talmud between your legs and run” it is inappropriate in light of 1Ti5. For that I am sorry and will attempt to refrain from that statement in the future and similar ones. However, with 2Ti4 in mind, to challenge you that you pointed to a man who used the Talmud as a reference seems an appropriate rebuke. But then there is “encourage” in 1Ti5, and “exhort” in 2Ti4. They both come from the same Greek word “Parakaleō” or to call near. I went into some depth on this in “Foundation ● Parakaleō ► Encourage, To Call Near” (http://kozlowski.org/2020-04-26+1) which in many ways is one of my favorite and, no play on words, most encouraging. The only difference in the two uses is that in 1Tim5 it is in the present tense while 2Ti4 is in the aorist tense. Perhaps it is because the context of 1Ti5 is for now, as older men typically reach end of life before a younger man, while the command is 2Ti4 is continuous. That seems consistent as I have previously pointed out that “complete patience” is literally “all patience” as the word is “pas” the Greek for “all”. So, Mr. Cross, please accept my apologies for the “tuck your Talmud” statement, while being encouraged to draw near to God by reading the Scripture for what it says and then living in obedience to it. That is my attempt to admonish and encourage you. Then 3 DVDs were put into the mail for George. They are the same videos. However, his envelope also includes 4 birthday cards as described in the attached video. They are, of course, from Dadmark Cards. Plus a tie. This is the second time I have sent the exact same tie. The first time it went to the PO Box and was returned. This time it is going directly to the Seven Oaks address. I wonder what will happen. Will the barriers remain? Will there be an attempt to intercept the envelope and hide or discard the contents? Will George get the tie? Will any in my family, especially George, watch the video to him? Will someone finally find out that this dad is still striving to reconcile his family? If that is new information to some, what will they think and feel to know that the efforts to reconcile have been thwarted for so many years? The costs on this is going to be very high. But there are clearly two different paths. If it is years still of hiding my efforts from my family and one day someone finds out, it could be more than crushing. Growing up in the institutional church, assuming they still are, and then finding that there is no love in the institution and that Matthew 23:3, “For they preach, but do not practice”, is applicable to the leadership of today, might cause them to question the whole foundation of the institutional church. Well, I did question it myself and found that the instructional church has no foundation, but the Bible does, and so does obedience to Christ as seen in love. The other path is to open dialog in a serious way, knowing that mistakes will be made on both sides. But even with the mistakes, poorly spoken words, or inappropriate deeds, grace may still abound and that would be seen in “all patience”. It seems it would be good to start this by continuous, honest, and in depth emails. Consider this email #1. With a dialog started, we could move to phone calls as that is much easier for all parties. Then there is the face-to-face meeting. As documented several times my friend Chris Prince has offered to drive me to Lexington. We have been working on the plans for some time. Please join me in that. Another option is sending one of you to me. Well over a year ago I offered to host George and that offer remains. I ask for you to work with me on this plan and adjust as necessary. Otherwise, my plan B is to one day show up at the door at Seven Oaks and knock. That might be uncomfortable unless we are all planning for it with a mutual desire to reconcile. I have stated before that it seems 2021 will have numerous remarkable changes. If they are good or bad, I don’t know. However, there have been some significant ones already and others are in the pipeline beyond what is described in this email. It is my hope and prayer that with at least one of my family there is real reconciliation this year. Does anyone share that? If so, hit reply! I love you all! http://family.kozlowski.org/Email-2021-01-26+1 |
▲ Audio Player ▲ ● ● ● Download Audio ► ► ► 
