Dear facebook friend,
I wish I knew you a great deal better than I do and wish that we could meet for coffee and talk about life. (Seriously, if anybody does want to meet for coffee – let me know!) I recognize that you are a beautiful, intriguing, and infinitely valuable person and I want to do a better job at recognizing and valuing that.
This letter is both an apology and an invitation.
THE APOLOGY:
First things first. I am sorry if I have offended you.
Someone has said, “If you have to ask, “Should I post this?” The answer is most definitely, “No!”” It has taken me a long time learn this. Sometimes I react to someone’s post when I should take some time and thoughtfully respond remembering there is a person on the other end of this. Forgive me for forgetting that you are a precious human being that God loves and for valuing “being right” more than loving you. I want to change. I want to grow. I want to learn to love well.
I’m ashamed to admit that I am a recovering self-righteous judgmental prick (I could think of worse adjectives, but, considering that children may be reading…). I recognize that some of you have had to endure many posts and updates as I work out my issues and grow as a person. Thank you for your patience, forgiveness, and grace!
I have scared myself sometimes about how thoughtless I can be and I sometimes think that people are better off without me. When I think this way I will often crawl into a cave and avoid the world for a while until some well meaning person comes along and encourages me to crawl out of my cave telling me I have something to contribute… and I am naive enough to believe them. So here I am again… on my best behavior.
THE INVITATION:
I enjoy dialogue! Especially about issues regarding faith in Jesus. I would enjoy it if you would interact with me on my posts and blogs.
I want to thank everyone who has engaged me in conversation and responded to my posts. I honestly do want to hear from you. ESPECIALLY if you disagree with me! Let’s pull up a chair, pour the proverbial cup of coffee, and dialogue about life’s most important issues. I want to hear where you’re coming from, and I want the opportunity to change if I am mistaken about an issue. Give me a chance! Don’t just judge me and walk away. I will do the same for you.
I will always consider opposing views… but, ultimately it comes down to what the Bible has to say on any issue.
I wish I could take you along the same journey I have been on that has led me to view God’s word as the ultimate authority on absolute truth. In short, it has everything to do with Jesus, his resurrection validating him as God and Savior, and his view and respect for the word of God. I love God’s word and of course I see it as the basis to determine what is true.
I want to make your life better, not any more difficult then it already is. I want to encourage you and bless you and be a good friend to you. Ultimately I want you to be grateful that you know me for a friend.
Thanks for listening,
Daniel
Daniel Lovett 
Awww Daniel I have never find your posts offensive. Disagreement and discussion on ideology shouldn’t be taken personally unless people are making personal attacks, which I have not seen you do. I have always found you to be thoughtful and open to dialogue. If people are offended because you hold a different opinion, then they have the problem. I would encourage you to keep posting!
Thank you Amy! SO very encouraging!
Awesome post Daniel! I’ve been thinking.. When is he going post a new one?! It’s funny how this really makes me think about my own reactions to others. To be honest, I feel that I have been in an extreme case of the cave crawling. I have been hiding from the whole Facebook world for the past two years. I just see some old friends (or people who were once in my life) and just think, “they have it all wrong.. How trivial.” Then I turn and ignore it all. Then I read what you say about having a part to play and that makes me think. Yeah I do have a say in these things. I want to love more than I judge. It’s not an easy thing to do, especially behind a computer screen. Anyway.. That’s what this blog struck up in me.