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David Fletcherdavid

February 2
Woof. Woof. Woof. Conflict with Your Neighbors

Conflict comes in all sizes and shapes. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, there has been conflict in the world. A while back, I was teaching about conflict resolution and used one of my favorite illustrations. It is the case of the barking dog:

Your neighbor’s dog incessantly barks at night. You are losing sleep. One day you mentioned it to your neighbor, who just laughed it off. “Get some earplugs,” he said.

Of course, it wasn’t as easy as that. Earplugs didn’t work. Now what should you do? The next week, you mentioned it to your neighbor again, but with a pretty angry tone. The conversation soon became a heated exchange of words, and you made some threats that you shouldn’t have.

As I shared this, one man sat upright in his chair. His eyes were big and bulging. I finished the story and the man just had to say something. Here is what Tom said:

How did you know? That’s my story! My neighbor’s dog is barking from 2 to 4 o’clock every morning. I’ve tried shouting at the dog. Sometimes I yelled “Shut up” for five minutes! It didn’t work.

Then I saw my neighbor one afternoon. I told him about the dog and got just a little bit angry, not too much, really! But, he didn’t respond very well. I got angrier and the discussion got pretty heated. I made some threats that I’m not very proud of. He made threats back at me. But the problem was that the dog is still barking every night! Nothing changed!

Last week, I got so mad at the neighbor that I decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. When the dog woke me, I called the neighbor on the phone. Our houses are close and I could hear the phone ringing. I let that phone ring for 15 minutes, and my neighbor never answered it. I wonder if he even woke up!

All I was left with was that same old barking dog and my anger. I’m still so angry that I don’t know what to do.

Tom and his neighbor were living out my illustration! It was perfect timing to talk through the principles of biblical conflict resolution.

If you are having conflict in your life, now is the time to learn how to deal with it. Learn the Bible’s answers for dealing with conflict. If you aren’t dealing with conflict, then just wait a week or so. It will happen in your neighborhood, family or work!

Want some help?

Beginning next Thursday, there is help for you. Come to a 9-week course providing the biblical tools you need to bring peace and restoration into your relationships. The first session is Thursday, February 9, 6:30pm in Atrium Room 123 at the Green Campus. Contact Julie Davis at 330.315.5517.