{"version":"https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1","title":"My Blog","home_page_url":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page","feed_url":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page\/.json","description":"Downie Family Blog Feed","author":{"name":"Dennis"},"items":[{"title":"What to Say and When Not to Say It","date_published":"2021-06-13T16:00:00+00:00","id":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page\/what-to-say-and-when-not-to-say-it","url":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page\/what-to-say-and-when-not-to-say-it","content_html":"

In today's day and age, whatever you say seems to offend someone. Or for that matter even what you don't say. For some if you don't defend their opinion, you in some way must be hateful toward them. How did we as a society ever get so thin skinned and unforgiving \/ intolerant? And is the media really helping to lessen the divide by publishing their opinion, instead of just reporting the news?<\/p>\n

I've talk about the following at times with my kids ( and need to remember to do this myself ) That we have two eyes, two ears and only one mouth. We should use them appropriately!<\/p>\n

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'We have two ears<\/strong> and one mouth<\/strong> so that we<\/strong> can listen twice as much as we<\/strong> speak. ' This quote is attributed to Epictetus<\/strong>, a Greek philosopher who spent his youth as a slave in Rome before gaining freedom after the death of Nero, under whom he served until around 60 AD<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Listening<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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James 1:19<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Proverbs 18:13<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Luke 6:27-28<\/strong>\n
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27 <\/sup>“But to you who are willing to listen<\/span><\/strong>, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.<\/span><\/span> 28 <\/sup>Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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I would rather be known for what I stand for, than what I'm against.<\/p>\n— Dennis Downie (@drdownie) April 14, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote>","date_modified":"2026-09-17T10:22:29+00:00","image":"\/user\/pages\/04.my-blog-page\/id-rather-be-known-for\/3754.jpg"},{"title":"Sarcasm","date_published":"2010-12-10T11:00:00+00:00","id":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page\/sarcasm","url":"https:\/\/downie.us\/my-blog-page\/sarcasm","content_html":"

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Reminder to self: sarcasm is not a fruit of the Spirit.<\/p>\n— Dennis Downie (@drdownie) December 11, 2010<\/a><\/blockquote>\n

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**Sarcasm**<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Sarcasm is the use of words usually used to either mock or annoy someone, or for humorous purposes. Sarcasm may employ ambivalence, although it is not necessarily ironic. Most noticeable in spoken word, sarcasm is mainly distinguished by the inflection with which it is spoken and is largely context-dependent. **Wikipedia**<\/strong><\/p>\n

**A good Article on Sarcasm as a Christian**<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus and Sarcasm<\/a><\/p>","date_modified":"2026-09-17T10:23:21+00:00","image":"\/user\/pages\/04.my-blog-page\/sarcasm\/sarcasm.jpg"}]}