The Shocking Youth Message (Paul Washer)

Take the hour.
Set up the laptop while you are cooking (that's what I did!).
Or while you are doing some other job.
THEN send it to the young people in your house or other areas of life.

Random Ramblings.

Whew!

It is HOT around here.

Our AC is not working properly at the moment.  Everytime I think I'm just going to melt I go outside for 5 minutes and realize it isn't that bad inside.  It is all about perspective.

 

Our van died.

It needs a new transmission.

We decided to fix it, also on the advice of our mechanic, and then we'll look to upgrade when we find something.  Apparently Amish folk around are often looking for vans like ours, so we might be able to get a reasonable price for it.

 

Eric is busy getting in the hay.  Finding that window of 3 or 4 days to cut and let it dry is always the tricky part.  We're getting there. 

 I'm in charge of feeding the masses.

 

My sister and I had a couple of extended family photo sessions last month. 

This matriarch went out and purchased coordinating shirts for her family.  Each family unit is a different colour.  I think it turned out wonderful!  Bright and cheerful!

 

We have a wedding to do in August. Fun!

 

My brother and his family moved to Jordan, about 6 or 7 minutes down the road from us! 

We are very excited to have them close to us!

 

Jacob and Macayla are leaders at Agape Valley Bible Camp, and Justin, Kadin and Levi are campers this week.  Good times.

 

Well.  It is time to get Malachi up from his nap.

 

If there are many spelling/grammar errors in this post, it is from the melting brain syndrome.

 

Off to the pool.....

 

 



Repentance and Forgiveness.

Let me begin with the following two articles and an urgency to take the time to read them:

Go to this CCEF article (by clicking this sentence).
This is a long one, so you might want to print it, and sit down with a cuppa!  And keep it safe to re-read often.
This one is also great from Tim Challies (very practical). 
Click here.

I have also recently read the CCEF booklet (available in many of our churches, often for free) called "Forgiving Others: Joining Wisdom and Love" by Timothy Lane

There are a number of thoughts that I've come away with in these readings (in random order):

*  All three speak to the fact that apologizing and asking for forgiveness are NOT the same thing.

Here is a quote from Tim Lane:

 

"How we ask for forgiveness is critical.  If I accidentally spill a cup of hot coffee on you, I have not sinned again, so I do not need to ask for forgiveness.  But I should apologize for what I have done.  On the other hand, if I throw a cup of coffee in you face, I have sinned against you.  I must ask you to forgive me.  Is an apology the same as asking for forgiveness?  No.

You must first name the specific sin, and then explicitly ask the person for forgiveness:  'I was wrong to yell at you.  Will you forgive me?'  If I say, 'I am sorry for yelling at you,' and stop there, the typical response from the offended person is, 'Oh, that's okay.' What has happened?  First, the offender has not admitted his sin. And second, the offended person has lied by minimizing the sin!  It is not okay for someone to sin against another person! This false "forgiveness" is unbiblical.  And it can be very destructive to relationships over time."

 

John MacArthur's book on this topic answers it like this:

 

Q.  "What is the difference between true repentance and a mere apology?"

A.  "Genuine repentance always involves a confession of wrongdoing and a willingness to make things right.  An apology often takes the form of an excuse.

      The word apology comes from the Greek apologia, which literally means 'a speech in defence of.'  Apologies are often nothing more than self-defence:  "I'm sorry if you took offence, but …"

      Genuine repentance is properly expressed in an admission of wrongdoing and a plea for forgiveness:  "It was unthoughtful of me to say that.  Will you forgive me?"

      Be wary of using merely apologetic language in place of genuine repentance."

 

*Since true repentance frees the offender of guilt and the burden of sin, plus true forgiveness frees the offended of bitterness and thoughts of revenge....THIS ultimately leads to TRUE reconciliation.

 

This ties in with the differences between mere apologizes (especially when they include "but...." or "I still don't agree.....").   This can apply to all relationships in order to sincerely move forward (instead of "peace faking"- see HERE for more resources)and possibly even deepen the relationship more then it even was before.   This is ultimately about "having relationships" the way that God wants, regardless of upbringing or past ways of communicating.

 

*I can improve greatly on teaching and practising these ideas in my home in my parenting.

 

When I think specifically about helping resolve conflict between my children, it is so easy to accept the muttered "I'm sorry." and then they move on possibly with a hug (like a board) or the roll of an eye.   I think if the truth of stating the particular offence to a sibling, asking for forgiveness (as a question), and in turn expecting forgiveness to be given would perhaps be artificial at first.   However the concept in the long run I believe would only help them for their future as adults when the "messiness" of life is bigger than "he took my toy."  

 

THIS POINT IS NOT RANDOM AND I BELIEVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT......

 

*Only the working of the Holy Spirit can cause and enable a person to be heartfelt in repentance, and another to grant sincere forgiveness.

 

We need to remind ourselves (often) who is King and who is in control.   This is hard to do.  So very hard as it is easier to "listen" to ourselves and either make excuses for our sins or become bitter towards others.   This should bring us to our knees!

 

I could say much as these resources (articles) are so rich in truths, truths that expound on what God says in His Word.

 

Please read them. 

 

To Him be the Glory!