Some time ago, I submitted a post in which I said the clergy should use some of their sermons tp relate our faith to situations here -     to. for example,  politics. I noticed that the response of clerics ranged from tepid to high Arctic. So let me try an example - using the very touchy issue of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The core of the sermon would be the meaning and importance of forgiving.

 We are coming to the end of a rather long saga in our Presbytery regarding the sale of our church camp.  I don't really know that is what is going to happen tomorrow but what has been announced in the press is that BC Conference of the United Church and the Regional District of Nanaimo will be making an announcement at 10 a.m tomorrow.  So I guess we can all do the math.  The entire process of this has in my mind been very poorly orchestrated by BC Conference.

I came aross a phrase that I have never seen before. What do you think it means?

"colder than Christian forgiveness"

This evening, on TV, I watched Russell Williams in the interrogation room as he talked about what he had done. I felt sickness and hopelessness and something much more terrible than disgust; and I felt an indescribable sadness.

How does a Christian react to this?

I've often wondered about the story of the returning son in Luke 15.  I realize it's a parable, not a historical event, but the question intrigues me:  What happened after that?  Did the two sons get along after that?  Did the older brother continually rub the younger brother's nose in the fact that he'd been less than the ideal son?  Did Dad do anything to reconcile them, or just sit back and watch?  How would Part II of the story turn out?

I  am a Christian and one of our biggest premises is forgiveness.So. I am confused. If someone asks for forgiveness and we aren't ready to give it, or can't or won't where does the burden lay? On the person who asks or on the person who gives or doesn't.

Jumping onto a thread and saying "I forgive you" to me is a false or empty gesture. It also belittles the action that has been asked forgiveness for., imo. Doesn't make sense but I hope you get what I am trying to say.

is forgiveness complete without forgetting the wrongdoing?  exactly what does forgetting mean?  i've tried the whole forgiving and forgetting thing, but when the wrongdoer keeps doing the wrongdoing, then what?  how does this apply to someone who abuses children?  how does this apply to a husband that hits his wife?  clarity please!  "what would jesus do?" only answers half this question for me right now.

This morning we got to view a cartoon. It focussed on the relationship one has with his/her God and his/her dog. The similarity hi-lighted was that a person can mistreat his/her dog but will always be greeted with a wagging tail when one returns and changes one's treatment of the dog. The similarity with our relationship with God is that all one has to do to restore the relationship with God is return to the fold. An example: the parrable of the wayward son.

This was on the news this morning. Should the man be forgiven and be allowed to pastor in this church?

Registered sex offender to be ordained by Louisville church, many concerned

06:22 PM EDT on Friday, September 4, 2009