Party by the Pond: 6:00 P.M. Sunday, August 29.
Ice cream, music and encouraging words! The 541 group and the XP band will be providing the music. We’ll be outside by the pond, the building will provide some nice shade, and hopefully it won’t rain! More info will be coming next week.
Value of the Month: Be Gracious with Criticism
James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
We’ll all face two types of criticism: one is valid criticism, one is not. This week let’s tackle the criticism that’s not valid. This type is often done flippantly and maliciously.
The simple fix is to dismiss it and not let it ruin your day. But in reality, it still hurts! The fix is not that easy. Those stinging words still linger in your memory, pestering you like poison ivy, or the dog that barked all night while you were trying to sleep.
My wife Jennifer brought home The Shack from the library yesterday, and I was reminded of that great story and one cool conversation at the end of the book that helped me with forgiveness about 2 years ago when I read “The Shack.” Here’s a quick synopsis of this fictional book to get you up to speed. According the dust jacket: “Mack Phillips’s youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep on the
In a conversation with God, Mack is asked to forgive the man who hurt his daughter. With great emotion Mack answers that he does not want to forgive, and doesn’t feel like he could anyway. The next quote in this fictional book is priceless. In this imaginary story, God says “Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver…to release you from something that will eat you alive; that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly” (225).
Mack later asks that if he forgives that man, does that mean that he can be trusted with his children? No. Forgiveness does not equal trust or a relationship. Nor does it mean that you forget about the wrong. According to The Shack: “Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own hear that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge or reconciliation. And sometimes—and this may by incomprehensible to you right now—that road may even take you to the miracle of fully restored trust” (226).
This book helped me so much 2 years ago with some forgiveness issues I had with another person that has long since been reconciled. It worked for me, I’m praying it will help you out too. One word of caution: The Shack is meant to be a fictional story. It’s not the Bible, so don’t read every line as absolute truth: it’s just a story. Read the Bible as God’s Word, the final authority. In short, the Bible says “forgive, as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
Feel free to call me in the office with any questions you may have about all of this. I’d love to chat with you if you want my help or just to share some stories.
Random Blog Thought
Goin’ to Moe’s tomorrow for lunch! Welcome to Moe’s!!!!
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