Closed minds make the best chains

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:58

Disregard the theological implications of that statement for the time being.

Instead, look at the end of the statement. Their unbelief.

You can convert that word “unbelief” to rejection, disbelief, denial, refusal, denigration, derision, self-righteousness, or any other word which means to put someone down because you want to. It's not quite ignorance, because ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge. What I'm talking about is rejection.

A good way of looking at it is Close Minded.

Never mind what the person is capable of. Never mind the abilities. Never mind what the person can do.

All that is irrelevant because there is something about the person that just doesn’t fit.

Closed minds make the best chains.

Now.

How many people have you rejected because you simply didn’t like them?

How many times have you been rejected because people simply didn’t like you?

If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.
Matthew 10:14

Again, disregard the theology of the statement and concentrate on what it says.

If you go somewhere and the people will not accept you and let you contribute, find somewhere else to be.

As for me, I have set a firm deadline for a certain matter. Sept. 1.

Accept me. Allow me to do what I can or I will find somewhere else to be.

I will not be bound by the chains of your mind any more.

Planting confusion and harvesting nothing

Among the many other things which I do not understand is:

Someone gets mad when their business is not mentioned in the paper, but will not advertise because they say advertising does not work.

I ask why it’s important the business name appear in a news article.

“So people will know we’re here and what we do.”

Ain’t that the point of advertising? I ask.

“Advertising doesn’t work.”

Then why do you need the business name in the paper? I ask.

Then, the person looks at me as if I’m about the most stupid person walking the planet today.

If the advertising doesn’t work, then why should the person care if the business name is in the paper or not?

It either works or it doesn’t.

Ain’t that the truth about so many things in life? Either it works or it doesn’t.

I find the things that actually work and work well require effort on my part. The more effort I put forth, the better things work.

If I don’t do anything, then I can expect to get nothing back.

As a man sows, so shall he reap.