I saw something on the news yesterday that really offended me. I couldn't hear the story because I was at the gym, but the protest signs were enough for me: "God hates you."

Apparently these people were protesting something, and they believe that they could somehow change these people's minds by threatening them with messages of hate.

Really, now. The only mission these people have accomplished is that they've succumbed to Groupthink. They'd much rather be right than show love and peace. You're never going to render someone's heart and mind if you spew hatred, particularly in the name of God.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain." Exodus 20:7

Many people use God's name to manipulate others or make them feel guilty. This is taking God's name in vain. It's using God's name to exert power over others or to guilt people into changing their minds. This isn't who God is.

God is love.

Therefore, the protest signs are somewhat of an oxymoron--like jumbo shrimp. God loves you, and all of his creation. Yes, he hates sin, but he loves the sinner. And for people to claim that "God hates you" is to say that this person has no chance of repentance.

We have to remember, "Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." We might believe this person or that person will never turn their lives around, but we're showing doubt in God's omnipotence. God has the power to bring any person to him--he can beckon any person in an instant.

Yes, there is free will, and each person has the right to choose God or choose evil, but when a person is at a crossroads in a choice and see a sign that says "God hates you," we're telling that person that he/she has no hope of repentance. We're interfering with God's work. We're not showing God's love, we're showing our desire to control others.

And we can't forget that Jesus chose to hang around with people whom society believed to be sinful. Jesus loved them, knew their hearts, and showed them love instead of hate. Therefore, Jesus' love for them opened their hearts, and they turned away from their transgressions. And they were never the same.

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you." John 15:12

Jesus says this several times throughout the Gospels, yet so many people then and now don't follow this commandment.

If we show love in the face of a transgression or even someone else's hate, we're acting Christ-like. It is when we love one another that a heart and mind can be inspired to change.

When I was a kid, I was told that it's rude to whisper something to someone in the presence of others. It's essentially saying that you don't want anyone else to know (aside from the person you're whispering to) what you are saying. It's also indicating to others that you're not paying attention to them.

Same goes with sending texts in front of others.

Florida Southern's Commuication Department recently adopted a new policy for its classes. In it, we state that a student is not allowed to send text messages during class. Why? Because we're noticing that when students send texts (or peruse Facebook) during class, it's a blatant sign that they aren't paying attention. (Students say they are multi-taskers--that they have to do several things at once--but research shows they suck at it) It's one thing when a student dozes off or doodles, but sending texts and checking their phone is a voluntary effort to NOT pay attention in class.

In other words, it indicates that what the person on the other side of that text message has to say is WAY more important than what you have to say.

I'm no Ms. Manners, but it's rude.

I see people even at the gym spend more time texting than they do actually working out. I'm rolling my eyes, thinking, "Put away your freaking phone and maybe you'll get done sooner!"

I had a boyfriend who would have text message "conversations" with his ex-girlfriend WHILE I WAS IN THE ROOM. Good golly, that's just disrespectful. He didn't think so. Obviously I'm no longer with someone who doesn't show manners or proper respect.

It's one thing when you receive a text, you laugh, then you share it with the person you're with. It's another to giggle, send another back, then look back at the person you're with and say, "Uh, you were saying?"

Some people think it's rude when you don't look at a person when he or she is speaking to you. Isn't checking your phone the same thing?

I'm adopting a new Bradford policy: If you check your cell phone in front of me and respond with a text, I'm walking away from you, because you're simply telling me that you'd much rather be interacting with him/her than with me.

It's interesting what happens when you get your heart broken.

Your ego goes either on the defensive or offensive. It never quite accepts what happened.

When it goes into the defensive mode, you sit there and ask yourself, "Why didn't [this person] choose me?" or "What does [she/he] have that I don't?" Then it progresses. "What's wrong with me?" or "No one will EVER love me." We feel so sorry for ourselves. We tear ourselves apart and convince ourselves we're not good enough.

The offensive mode is interesting as well. Our friends help us with this. "[He/she] doesn't deserve you," or "[He/she] isn't capable of having a normal relationship with anyone, let alone someone as wonderful and lovable as you." We tell ourselves that it's THAT person with the problem, not us. We tear the other person apart, demonize them in a way, to make ourselves feel better.

We even try to get status reports. We check the profile on MySpace and Facebook. We ask our friends if there's another person. If there is, we compare them to ourselves.

Then, of course, rather than deal with the pain, we just jump right into another relationship. Our ego seeks out someone who will pacify the insecurities if we're in the defensive mode, or to "one-up" the former lover if we're in offensive mode (this is the "I'll show HIM/HER that I'm better off with THIS person).

But what we ultimately have to do is accept our mistake and forgive ourselves for making it. We must realize that sometimes relationships don't last forever, and the chapter with this person is now over. However, there is MUCH more to this...

We made that choice with the state of consciousness we were in weeks, months, or even years ago. The experiences and circumstances brought you two together for a purpose--for the healing of the BOTH of you.

In this regard, it's not really a "mistake" as much as it is a choice that was made to heighten our awareness of something within ourselves that needed refinement or healing. The key is--we need to acknowledge and accept the suffering that resulted from this relationship, but know that there is a lesson to be learned.

This only can be done alone--with some introspection. Many people don't want to do this. They're so used to being with someone, that they fear the separation. They don't want to drop the attachment because it hurts too much. They don't want to be alone with the pain.

But the pain transforms you. You see, eventually and objectively, where you and the other person "missed the mark." You forgive that person for whatever pain they caused you, but you forgive yourself as well. You see the choices that you made, and see if you've made those choices in the past. You learn to work on those characteristics so you don't make that choice again. You shed a little more light into a dark side you might not have wanted to acknowledge in the past.

And ultimately, you'll see that the relationship did make you a better, stronger person. You rise to a new level of awareness so you don't make the choices that brought you pain ever again.