Archive for October, 2009

Forgiveness- Story and Symbol

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

The past three weeks we have talked forgiveness – from God and one another.  Tonight is a very special night as we will be challenged by the story of a changed life.  We will conclude our service by gathering around “the Table” for communion – symbolically remembering the forgiving work of Christ on the cross.

Yes, we will still have food after the service, but the bread and the cup during the service is an event you won’t want to miss. 

See you at 7:30!

gary

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Forgivenss– Free

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

If you have wronged someone who is still very angry at you, full of resentment, and thinks nothing but bitter and vengeful thoughts at the mention of your name, I suggest you invite him or her to 97West tonight.

This may sound odd at first.  I mean, really now, why would you want to invite someone who hates you to sit next to you for an hour or so???  But think about it: tonight’s topic is all about the power of forgiving others.  The potential conviction and change in your embittered guest could lead to you being forgiven!!!  Wouldn’t that be nice!?

(At the end of the service, when the person you have sinned against asks if you knew this was going to be the topic of the evening, play dumb.  Better yet, add it to the list of things for which you want to be forgiven).

Whether you bring your seething, sinned-against, “former friend” with you or not, I look forward to seeing you tonight.  Maybe, just maybe, there is someone that you, too, may need to forgive.

See you tonight at 7:30,

Gary

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Forgiveness- Squiggly Red Lines

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

I thought it strange that while typing the word “Facebook” to someone’s Facebook wall that Facebook underlined the word Facebook in red – they didn’t approve of their own spelling!  Is it just me, or are you also distracted by the green or red squiggly lines that appear while typing?  Mispellings, fragments, poor grammar, incorrect punctuation… and on and on I could go (which is technically a run-on sentence – another error). 

My life isn’t perfect.  And your last roommate told me that yours isn’t either.  Red squiggly lines appear under our harsh, insensitive responses.  We look at things we shouldn’t, act out in greed, ignore out of selfishness.  We can go back and correct a grammatically incorrect email before sending it, but we can’t go back and change damaging things said and done in real life.  

So we seek forgiveness, right?  If God forgives, then why am I haunted by those squiggly lines, the nagging reminders of my less-than-perfect walk through life?

See you tonight at 7:30.  If you can tell us what word is mispelled in this email, we’ll let you in free-of-charge.

gary

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Forgiveness–Do Over

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

There was a lot of “forgiveness” displayed in grade school kickball.  Not sure if the runner was safe or out at first?  No problem… call “Do over!”  Was the pitch too bouncy to your liking?  It’s okay, call a “do over” and we’ll act like nothing ever happened.

Would you love to call some “do over’s” in life?  The thought of having a second chance may be just the break you need.  Can God forgive everything you have done, and would it include a Do Over?  If so, is it like nothing prior matters and our past erased?

Hey, in one way or another we each have made mistakes in relationships or work that resulted in getting thrown out while attempting to slide safely across home plate.  Tonight we are talking forgiveness.  Join us for the Big Do Over.

See you tonight at 7:30,

gary

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