A Prayer

Dear Lord, please comfort those who lost loved ones in the school shooting today.  Let them know that you are with them always.

Please Lord

I pray that somehow, you would find someway for Nicie and I to be together.  I love her so much, more then any other woman I’ve been attracted to.  I am not imagining my feelings towards her.

Being A Christian………

Doesn’t mean that life will be easy. As a matter of fact, it will be harder with all the stuff thrown in your path by Satan. But never forget, no matter what’s going  on, Jesus is always with you!

Sometimes.........

When I'm feeling down, I remember what all God has blessed me with:

A Good Family

Living in the greatest country in the world

The Best Best Friend In The Whole World

Good Friends

A Good Church And Church Family

And Life!

Getting Back

Lord, I think I'm starting to drift away from you, please help me get back!

I know I'm Not Supposed To..

Sometimes I feel embarrassed at being a Christian, with the faith being hijacked by extremists. It’s one thing to condemn someone for their beliefs/ lack thereof , or sexuality, but to say that those people should be killed?  That goes against every thing Jesus taught.  Did he say kill people of other religions, like some want done to Muslims? NO! Did he say kill gay people? AGAIN, NO! Did he say try to take over an elected government and replace it with a Theocracy? STLL NO!  Where are the moderates?  They probably don’t think I’m a Christian because of my political beliefs.  But  I don’t care, I know my relationship with Christ is solid!

Lord, I pray that people start coming back to my Sunday School Class.  I love teaching it, it's helped me start to get over my shyness. It will only keep going if it's your will...

Also Lord, I thank you that Lori has been calling us, and I pray that here treatments are successful.

Dear Lord, I am so glad that Vanessa's Brother has awoken from his coma!  I pray that he makes a full recovery and can resume his life. Also, I pray that Vanessa has a successful trip to rehab, and that she can kick her pill habit.

Some Prayer Requests:

For Vanessa, her Brother, and her their family

My Church that it continue to grow

For all of those who have lost loved ones this week

Lord, I thank you that Lori called us last week, and that she sounded pretty good.  I pray that you would heal her of her addictions and her health problems, and use my parents or myself to help her realize that she needs you.

Happy Easter! Let's not forget what it's all about, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus!

9 Things Forgiveness Is Not

The below is excerpted from "Taking Out the Trash," chapter 5 of Real Marriage and the sermon topic this week.

1. Forgiveness is not denying, approving, or diminishing sin that is committed against us.

We cannot say we are fine, that it was no big deal, or that, since it was in the past, we’ve just moved on. We must be honest about the reality of the sin if we want the forgiveness to be equally earnest. In forgiving, we are, in fact, saying they are wrong, we do not approve of their sin, and that it really is a big deal and not a trivial matter to us.

2. Forgiveness is not naïveté.

Naïve people are prone to live as if the world were not filled with depraved sinners capable of evil, and they often become naïve by not really looking at the sinfulness of sin, including their own. Such people are not forgiving sin as much as they are ignoring it.

3. Forgiveness is not enabling sin.

To forgive people is not to remain stuck in their cycle of sin, thus being complicit and enabling their continued transgression.

4. Forgiveness is not waiting for someone to acknowledge sin, apologize, and repent.

The sad truth is that some people will never fully repent, and others never at all. Others we will never see again, or they will die before we hear an apology. We forgive because it is what God requires and what we need, not because our offenders have apologized.

5. Forgiveness is not forgetting about sin committed against us.

It is actually impossible to completely forget such things. This is why when God says, “Their sin I will remember no more,” it does not mean that he has no memory, but rather that he continually chooses not to bring it up or keep it in the forefront of his thinking. Indeed, because God is all-knowing, it is, in fact, impossible for him to actually forget something.

6. Forgiveness is not dying emotionally and no longer feeling the pain of the transgression.

Rather, forgiveness allows us to feel the appropriate depth of grievous pain but choose by grace not to be continually paralyzed or defined by it.

7. Forgiveness is not a one-time event.

Those who have been sinned against commonly have seasons when they feel afresh the pain of past hurts and have to forgive their transgressors yet again.

8. Forgiveness is not reconciliation.

It takes one sinner to repent, and one victim to forgive, but it takes both to reconcile. Therefore, unless there is both repentance by the sinner and forgiveness by the victim, reconciliation cannot occur, which means the relationship remains continually broken until reconciliation does occur. Forgiveness is the beginning of potential reconciliation but is not in and of itself reconciliation. Forgiveness takes a moment. The trust that reconciliation requires is gained slowly and lost quickly.

9. Forgiveness is not neglecting justice.

In fact, if a crime has been committed, we can simultaneously forgive someone and call the police to arrest him or her. God will deal with every sin of every human being justly. For those who repent of sin and come to faith in Jesus Christ, justice came at the cross of Jesus, when our Savior suffered and died in our place for our sins. For those who do not repent of sin and come to faith in Jesus Christ, their justice will come in the punishment that is assigned to them in the conscious eternal torments of hell. By not seeking vengeance, we are not neglecting justice, but rather trusting God for perfect justice and getting ourselves out of the middle between the sinner and God. Romans 12:19 instructs precisely this: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

We know that we are not bitter when we actually want those who have sinned against us to be maturing Christians and, in addition to praying for them, we forgive them in hopes of showing them the gospel of grace.

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For more, check out the sermon "The Lord's Prayer," part 47 of the two-year-long sermon series on the Gospel of Luke.

Witnessing isn't always telling someone about Jesus. Living a Christ-like life and being a good example is also a witness, albeit a silent one. Sometimes, that's all it takes...

I am nothing without you Lord!