Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” -John 20:21-23, NLT (emphasis mine) This authority Jesus … Continue reading “Forgiveness Power”
Category: Forgiveness
Speaking The Uncomfortable Truth
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in … Continue reading “Speaking The Uncomfortable Truth”
Acceptance And Forgiveness
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. -Genesis 37:25, NIV Much confusion surrounds the ideas of grief and forgiveness. I maintain that what is a … Continue reading “Acceptance And Forgiveness”
Book Review: THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
–A Book Review– The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church by (Pastor) David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen Much of my work on this blog is dealing with spiritual abuse surrounding infidelity discovery and its aftermath including divorce. The literature for Christian faithful spouses on … Continue reading “Book Review: THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen”
God Does Not Pursue Forever Either!
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels….’” – Matthew 25:41, NKJV Somehow evangelical theology has become so twisted as to promote a distorted picture of God. This picture states that God is always in pursuit … Continue reading “God Does Not Pursue Forever Either!”
Narrative From Pastors Needs Changing
“‘If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?’ says the Lord.” -Jeremiah 3:1, NLT “If another believer sins, rebuke … Continue reading “Narrative From Pastors Needs Changing”
Pastors, Why Not Treat Adultery As Abuse?
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? -I John 4:20, NKJV What bothers–and astounds–me is how typical infidelity or adultery is treated as a symptom or side-issue … Continue reading “Pastors, Why Not Treat Adultery As Abuse?”
The Broken Vase Parable
Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been … Continue reading “The Broken Vase Parable”
Is Telling Unforgiving?
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” -John 21:17, NIV Is it unforgiving to tell people that your marriage … Continue reading “Is Telling Unforgiving?”
That Which Shall Never Be Mentioned Again–AKA The Affair
“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.” … Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against … Continue reading “That Which Shall Never Be Mentioned Again–AKA The Affair”