It seems to be a recurring problem in IC churches that those who present something which seems negative to others are often categorized as murmuring, grumbling or complain- ing. Apparently, it happens when HCers get together, too. At times I think those who point the finger and say, "You're just murmuring and grumbling," are the ones who are complaining because some dared to rain on their joyful parade a word of caution about dangers or potential dangers they observed.

When someone speaks out in what we perceive as a negative way about spiritual concerns, we should listen, evaluate, pray, and discern. We have basiclaly three choices. (1) If they are accurate, we should take the appropriate response -- wheterh that's full blown repentance or just an adjustment in the way we think or act. (2) If they are partially accurate, make the appropriate adjustments and blow off the extra stuff. (You know, we *all* get a "word from the Lord" from time to time and turn it into a paragraph. That doesn't mean the "word" is any less true. It does mean we shouldn't be too offended if people tend to ignore the *rest* of the paragraph.) (3) If the person sharing is totally off base, missed the Lord altogether, and didn't understand the situation accurately, thank them for their concern, their insights, the love for us and the Lord that compelled them to speak, but don't worry about what they said.

John Bunyan, in *Pilgrim's Progess* made this observation: "Some say the bass is the ground of music. And, for my part, I care not at all for that profession which begins not in heaviness of mind. The first string that the musician usually touches is the bass, whe he intends to put all in tune. [If you play guitar, you know this -- you tune the bass string first, and work your way up through the others] God also plays upon this string first wheh He sets the soul in tune for Himself."

Praise God for those among us who sound the "bass" string from time to time to help keep us all in tune!