Tag: forgiveness

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An Small Bit of Encouragement

I am a little late of this one, but it’s still pretty powerful. Many of you football fans watched two Sundays ago when the 49er’s lost to the Giants.  The points that beat them all occurred immediately after two major punt catching snafus by a young 49er named Kyle Williams.  I remember thinking last Sunday night, how incredibly disappointed that player had to be.

Well, most of the 49er nation was as well, and many took to the old faithful death threat against the player who made the mistake.  So sad.

But Friday, I received an email about a 7 year old 49er fan, and his reaction to the fumble that effective cost the 49er’s a trip to the Super Bowl.  You can read more about it here ( and you should read it, as it has more background information that is, well pretty amazing. and a picture of the letter!). Essentially after some consultation with his father, he wrote this letter to Mr Williams.

Dear Mr. Williams:

We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be very proud, so I wanted to say thank you.

I am your #1 FAN!

Owen Shure
Los Angeles, CA

p.s. your awsome

I love it. I love seeing grace through the eyes of a 7 year old.

And then this was attached to the email I received  from a twenty-something friend of mine

Who am I? Who am I to cut someone off? Who am I to tell someone, ‘way to mess that one up…” Who am I to deny someone their redemption? Sometimes it takes the tiny tender heart of a child to make us see when we’re not being true to what we preach. Everybody messes up. Everybody makes mistakes. Those guys on that field are no different from you and me. I’ve seen the best of them make the dumbest mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone deserves a redemption song. I hope he gets his.

Hm, the power of grace. It’s so fun to watch others receive it. But are you willing to give it out today?

31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 The Message (MSG)

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The People of a Second Chance

Well, I missed it again!  Yesterday’s date was a palindrome – 11022011.  I can’t believe I didn’t see that before I posted yesterday.  I am sure today has some of significance if you take the hexadecimal version of it or something.  Well, at least I did get a second chance to tell you about it after the fact.

Speaking of second chances, I found this really cool website last week.   It’s call the People of The Second Chance, and its tag line is Overthrow Judgment, Liberate Love.  It’s a very interesting site that focuses on new beginnings and forgiveness.  I especially like their current campaign that’s asks the question ” Who would you give a second chance?” and shows this picture:

That’s a really great question, and one that unfortunately we all probably could answer like this –  “Everyone!, Except this person ______ (fill in the blank).”  But that is the challenge for us, isn’t it?  We all like second chances.  But sometimes, we don’t like to allow others to have them.

Take a moment to explore that site, and check out their blog – there is a lot of good content over there, but most importantly, stop and think about the way you dispense forgiveness, grace and mercy.

 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-23New International Version (NIV)

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Forgiveness

Wow, I am late getting of the gate today, yet I have been full of busyness since before the sun peeked its face over the eastern mountains.

I was a little unsure what bit of wisdom and morsel of goodness to pass on to you today, when I was reminded this morning of something I read last night.  This quote from C.S. Lewis is pretty thought-provoking.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. – C.S. Lewis

It comes from his “Essay on Forgiveness” that I found published here.  The whole thought that is wrapped up in that sentence is really pretty expansive. 

I mean really, just imagine if we could actually extend forgiveness and mercy in the same way God has extended it to us.  Hm, it sure seems we may drastically change our behaviors and they way we interact with others when we stop and remember the healthy dose of forgiveness that we take directly from the Creator each day.  The inexcusable excused.  It’s quite remarkable, really!

12 And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12  New International Version (NIV)
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Bin Laden and Lookie Lous

What a week of news and activity. My mind is swirling with toughts and emotion as the sight of bucket trucks and the sound of chain saws fills my head. My home is still without power which although is a minor inconvience, does make it hard for a blogger:)!

So just a few simple thoughts today, as my online time is a bit limited right now.

First of all there’s the bittersweet news from the war zone – Bin Laden has been killed. When I read that on Facebook on my tiresome Windows Mobile phone last night, I was surprised on my reaction last night – which was sort of “oh well”. I was a little more surprised by the  joyous celebrations of others. I am just not convinced that is the right reaction. Yes, its a good thing, but it is also a somber event.

   Saying 28

 17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them. (Proverbs 24:17-18, New International Version, ©2011)

I sort of like The Message on this one as well:

 17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
   don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
   and then take pity on his plight. (Proverbs 24:17-18, The Message)

And then there is this. After putting in our volunteer time at the Corn Bread Festival in South Pittsburg yesterday we decided to be “Lookie Lous” and come home through Trenton and Flinstone to see the damage. Let me just say that pictures do not do it justice. The devastation in those areas is enormous from just the little bit we were able to see. If you can help, in any way please do so. There are so many ways to help from money, to giving blood to moving debris, to cooking food.

Really, do all you can to be a light for those in these communities that have been hit so very hard with damage.

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version, ©2011)

And well The Message is pretty good here as well:

 12-13What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, The Message)

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Battle with the Worms

Sorry this is so late today.  Busy morning after the great radio show last night.

Those big nasty horn-worms have invaded my tomato plants.  Yes, the eat everything in sight.  I have already purged 7 or 8 and found the evidence of another one this morning.  So I will be spending the next few days tracking this guy down.

This is so much like our spiritual lives. Sometimes we get those bad habits, or continual sins eat away at our ability to produce fruit.  We need to continually use the power of the spirit to remove those sins from our lives – to remove those big nasty worms that disguise themselves as an important part of our lives, but led to destruction if we leave them alone.

So take a look today at your lives and see if you you need to cut off and destroy some worms.

 13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (New International Version)