“What Goes Around"-- Pastor Brown

Loving One Another

From Christian Perfection — John Wesley

1. The Danger of Pride

  • The first advice I would give to those who have been saved from sin by grace is to watch and pray continually against pride. For it is pride not only to ascribe what we have to ourselves, but also to think we have what we do not. One man, for instance, ascribed his knowledge to God and was therefore humble. But then he thought he had more than everyone else which is dangerous pride.

    We often think that we have no need of anyone else’s advice or reproof. Always remember, much grace does not imply much enlightenment. We may be wise but have little love, or we may have love with little wisdom. God has wisely joined us all together as the parts of a body so that we cannot say to another, ​“I have no need of you.”

    Even to imagine that those who are not saved cannot teach you is a very great and serious mistake. Dominion is not found in grace. Not observing this has led some into many mistakes and certainly into pride. Beware even the appearance of pride! Let there be in you that lowly mind which was in Christ Jesus. Be clothed with humility. Let modesty appear in all your words and actions.

    One way we do this is to own any fault we have. If you have at any time thought, spoken, or acted wrong, do not refrain from acknowledging it. Never dream that this will hurt the cause of God — in fact, it will further it. Be open and honest when you are rebuked and do not seek to evade it or disguise it. Rather, let it appear just as it is and you will thereby not hinder but adorn the gospel.

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“Some Be Attitudes"-- Pastor Brown

Drawing people into the life of the church

Here are several ideas for taking things a step further and helping the person get to know other people in the church besides you.

  • Now that you are learning a little about the person, introduce them to someone else in the church. Bring them over before or after the service. “Hey! I thought you might like to meet Dawn and Bill.” Perhaps introduce them to someone they share something in common with. If they are a empty nest couple, bring over another empty nest couple and introduce them. If the person’s occupation is a nurse, introduce them to another nurse who attends the church. Etc.

  • Give them a personal invite to a church activity. Offer to save a seat for them, or meet them at the door when they arrive for the activity, or even pick them up. (It can be intimidating to show up for an activity when you don’t know anyone!)

  • Invite them to your house for dinner or invite them to meet you for coffee at a local coffee house. You could do this one-on-one with them, but inviting another person/couple/family along can be a good idea as well. Of course, let them know you are inviting someone else so they are not surprised. This can be an ideal way for them to get to know you and another person/family from the church too. In the casual atmosphere of your home or meeting for coffee, it is easier to get to know someone. And the next Sunday at church, they will hopefully feel more at ease because they will recognize some people in the service instead of feeling so isolated.

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“Catching Any?" -- Pastor Brown

Drawing people into the life of the church

Practical ways to reach out to others within the church walls.

  • Pray for perception. Pray for spiritual eyesight to notice the people on the sidelines, the lonely, or those not “plugged in” to the life of the church for whatever reasons. Pray for the heart of a shepherd.

  • At church on Sunday, instead of making a beeline for your friends and remaining in a huddle talking with them – make an effort to look around the sanctuary. Be observant. If you’ve never done this, you may want to “observe” for 2 or 3 weeks. You’d be surprised at how much you can notice simply through observation! Not only will you begin to notice people who sit all alone or just look nervous, you’ll also notice how cliquey the sanctuary can appear – lots of people in groups talking.

  • Take some action. Approach some of the people that you’ve noticed on the sidelines. Just sit down next to them and say something like: “Hi! I don’t think we’ve met. My name is Laura. What is your name?”. You could do this on your own or with your spouse. Hopefully this will naturally get a conversation going. Make an effort to remember their name and any other details you learn about them. Yes, I know, remembering names can be hard! It is okay to write things down. After your conversation when you are back at your seat, jot down their name and any other details on a piece of paper.

  • Now…Be on the lookout for them the following week! Approach them again and address them by name, and ask them about something you’d learned about them the week before. “How’s your college class going?” or “Did you get through your tough week at work?” Etc.

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“Just a Hometown Boy"-- Pastor Brown

Methodist Prayer

Prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, our light and our salvation, to you be glory and praise forever. You gave your Christ as a light to the nations, and through the anointing of the Spirit you established us as a royal priesthood. As you call us into your marvelous light, may our lives bear witness to your truth and our lips never cease to proclaim your praise.

Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God forever.

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept. As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and forever.

Amen.

Image taken by Lee Kibler

Image taken by Lee Kibler

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""Goodness and Mercy" with testimony from Debbie Higgins"-- Pastor Brown

What are Methodists, Anyway? -- Craig L. Adams

Following in the tradition of John Wesley, the Methodist outlook on theology is thoroughly based on scripture, but also enlivened through tradition, experience, and reason.

Methodists believe that “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.” They believe that the written Word of God is the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice in life.

Methodists live in a vital faith relationship with God. They turn from sin, and turn to Christ in faith. It is faith in Christ alone that can reconcile us to God.

Methodists are people who have the love of God in their hearts. This is the gift of God’s Holy Spirit; and the same Spirit causes Methodists to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their mind, and with all their strength. Methodists believe that the power of God is greater than the power of human sin.

Methodists do good to all, neighbors, strangers, friends, and enemies. This includes every kind of good. Methodists provide food for the hungry and clothing for the naked. They visit people who are sick and in prison. Even more important, Methodists labor for the enrichment of the souls of all people.

Methodists believe that Christian faith relates to our social life in this world. They believe in the betterment of social conditions for all people. Methodists seek to deepen their faith by opening their hearts and minds to all the means of grace, including scripture, prayer, worship, the sacraments, and works of service.

Actually, Methodists are nothing more than Christians and do not wish to be distinguished from any other genuine believers who are living the life of faith and hope and love.

Image Courtesy of J.Martin

Image taken by Joannah Martin

Image taken by Joannah Martin

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"How About Lunch"-- Pastor Brown

John Wesley’s Sermon “The Means of Grace” -- Kevin M. Watson

By ‘means of grace’ I understand outward signs, words, or actions ordained of God, and appointed for this end – to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men preventing, justifying, and sanctifying grace….

The chief of these means are prayer, whether in secret or with the great congregation; searching the Scriptures (which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon) and receiving the Lord’s Supper, eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of him; and these we believe to be ordained of God as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men. [II.1] — John Wesley

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"The Valley of the Shadow"-- Pastor Brown

God in a Box -- Melanie DeSimone

Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not ‘So there’s no God after all,’ but ‘So this is what God’s really like. Deceive yourself no longer.”

C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

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"Adopted"-- Pastor Brown

A pathway for apprenticeship to Jesus Explore Resources

“Spiritual formation in the North American church is often truncated to this three-part formula: 

  1. Go to church.

  2. Read your Bible and pray.

  3. Give.” 

He writes that many people, doing these (very good and needed!) things, never experience the transformation that is possible in Christ, and the fallout in the Western church results in:

  • Churches full of people who are Christians but not apprentices of Jesus

  • A widespread cancer of hypocrisy that has infected the church, where the gap between Jesus' teachings and people's day-to-day lives (including those of many pastors) is too great to be explained away graciously

  • A generation of people disillusioned with the faith

  • Many who quietly ache for more of God and his transformation but feel stuck in their spiritual journeys and blocked in their growth.

John Mark Comer — excerpt from https://firebrandmag.com/articles/a-new-wesley-on-the-west-coast-john-mark-comers-call-to-become-apprentices-of-jesus


 

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"Moving on in the Name of Jesus"-- Pastor Brown

A pathway for apprenticeship to Jesus Explore Resources

“Spiritual formation in the North American church is often truncated to this three-part formula: 

  1. Go to church.

  2. Read your Bible and pray.

  3. Give.” 

He writes that many people, doing these (very good and needed!) things, never experience the transformation that is possible in Christ, and the fallout in the Western church results in:

  • Churches full of people who are Christians but not apprentices of Jesus

  • A widespread cancer of hypocrisy that has infected the church, where the gap between Jesus' teachings and people's day-to-day lives (including those of many pastors) is too great to be explained away graciously

  • A generation of people disillusioned with the faith

  • Many who quietly ache for more of God and his transformation but feel stuck in their spiritual journeys and blocked in their growth.

John Mark Comer — excerpt from https://firebrandmag.com/articles/a-new-wesley-on-the-west-coast-john-mark-comers-call-to-become-apprentices-of-jesus


 

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"Magnificat" -- Pastor Brown and Christmas Eve Bulletin

The Prayer Of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 
From this day all generations will call me blessed: 
the Almighty has done great things for me, 
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation. 
He has shown the strength of his arm, 
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, 
and has lifted up the lowly. 
He has filled the hungry with good things, 
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy, 
the promise he made to our fathers, 
to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1: 46-55)

Rise of the Messiah: Matthew 1-4 | Free Online Bible Study Course

Dr. Tim Mackie

Experience the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as Matthew illuminates how Jesus fulfills God’s promise of a chosen one to rescue his people.

bibleproject.com


 

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"Rejoice" -- Pastor Brown

“Grace is the source, faith the condition, of salvation.” — John Wesley

CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO OR READ ARTICLE

Rise of the Messiah: Matthew 1-4 | Free Online Bible Study Course

Dr. Tim Mackie

Experience the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as Matthew illuminates how Jesus fulfills God’s promise of a chosen one to rescue his people.

bibleproject.com


 

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"Coming and Going" -- Pastor Brown

“O Lamb of God, was ever pain, was ever love like thine? Look steadily upon him, till he looks on thee, and breaks thy hard heart.” — John Wesley

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ADVENT CALENDAR: The Amazing Prophecies Fulfilled by the Birth of Jesus Christ

Explore biblical prophecies and their fulfillment in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. This C.S. Lewis Institute advent devotional features daily reflections on passages from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament as well as insights from archaeology and biblical history.

Sign up to receive a daily devotional during Advent emailed to your inbox.

The 2024 digital devotional features...
-audio message featuring worship music
-a daily reflection on key passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament
-insights from archaeology and biblical history

Starting on November 28th and going through Christmas Day, you’ll be encouraged and strengthened in your faith with the good news of Christmas.

 

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"Something Wonderful Is Happening" -- Pastor Brown

“Press on, in the peace and joy of faith, to the renewal of thy whole soul in the image of Him that created thee!” — John Wesley

“[Pagans] could make an alternative to Christmas; they could not make a substitute for Thanksgiving Day. For half of them are pessimists who say they have nothing to be thankful for; and the other half are atheists who have nobody to thank.” G. K. Chesterton — Broadcast to the US, Dec 25, 1931

ADVENT CALENDAR: The Amazing Prophecies Fulfilled by the Birth of Jesus Christ

Explore biblical prophecies and their fulfillment in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. This C.S. Lewis Institute advent devotional features daily reflections on passages from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament as well as insights from archaeology and biblical history.

Sign up to receive a daily devotional during Advent emailed to your inbox.

The 2024 digital devotional features...
-audio message featuring worship music
-a daily reflection on key passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament
-insights from archaeology and biblical history

Starting on November 28th and going through Christmas Day, you’ll be encouraged and strengthened in your faith with the good news of Christmas.

 

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"Thank Who?" -- Pastor Brown

“Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions.” — Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

How To Be Conformed to the World

Conclusion of Article:

Worldliness is like gravity, always there, always pushing down on you, always exerting its influence on you. As a Christian you are charged with resisting it day by day. You must and you can. You must because your spiritual life and health depend on it. You can because you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit whose joy is to transform you by the Word of God into the image of the Son of God. Do not be conformed to this world!

 

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Lord, let me be fully awake. Wake me. Shake me.

“Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart...” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

"The greatest impediment to my own awakening is that I think I'm already awake."

- JD Walt

Now Peter & those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became FULLY AWAKE, they saw his glory - Luke 9:32 ESV

Lord, let me be fully awake. Wake me. Shake me.

 

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"R&R" -- Pastor Brown

50 Ways to Take Church to the Community

Churches can no longer open their doors and expect that people will come in. Effective congregations go into the world to encounter those in need of the gospel. These 50 Ways provide tips on reaching beyond the walls of your church with worship, community events, ministries, and service.

Embrace an expansive concept of community

  1. Learn to regard your community as an extension of your congregation. A church’s mission field goes beyond its membership to include all the people God calls it to serve. You are connected to individuals who never set foot in your building.

  2. Know that what’s happening within the church — preaching, worship, music, Bible study — is no longer enough to attract people in an age when church attendance is no longer a cultural expectation.

  3. Don’t sit in your church building waiting for people to come. Be prepared to meet people where they are.

Prepare spiritually

  1. Acknowledge the synergy between the Great Commandment in Matthew 22 (love your neighbor as yourself) and the Great Commission in Matthew 28 (go and make disciples). Evangelistic outreach expresses our love of others.

  2. Remember that Jesus primarily engaged people through everyday encounters, rather than in the Temple or synagogues. He fed people, met their everyday needs, and enjoyed the fellowship of others.

  3. Express love and compassion for your community in big and small ways. Avoid judgmentalism.

  4. Pray regularly for your neighbors and lift up community concerns.

  5. Attend to the faith formation of existing members. Willingness to share faith and reach out to others develops as one grows in faith and discipleship.

  6. Prepare spiritually for the transformation that creative, risk-taking outreach will bring.

Why Jesus Is Not Our Copilot?

By J.D. Walt

"We are broken in our inmost being from the beginning. We cannot educate ourselves out of this condition or we would have by now. I wish it were not so, and yet the gift of God is complete restoration, deep salvation, redemption, healing and not so much being taught to fly as being lifted up on eagles’ wings. By the Word of God we are given the perspective of faith and hope and love, endowed with the very Spirit of God and the mind of Christ, and come to bear the flourishing fruit of the kingdom. This is the stuff of attunement."

https://seedbed.com/why-jesus-is-not-our-copilot/

 

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Holy Communion November 2024

Seven touches 

Congregations that have guests leave worship feeling like they have made significant connections make an intentional effort to have those guests greeted multiple times as they approach the worship space. The general rule is “7 touches,” which does not mean actual physical contact but some expression of welcome by multiple persons. For example: 

  • Parking lot greeters

  • Front door greeters

  • Ushers

  • Hospitality hosts/hostesses

  • Greeting time

  • Connection cards

  • Pastor welcome

  • Hospitality Center with hosts/hostesses

  • Conversations initiated by regular participants 

There are, of course, many other possible connection points! 

Why Jesus Is Not Our Copilot?

By J.D. Walt

"We are broken in our inmost being from the beginning. We cannot educate ourselves out of this condition or we would have by now. I wish it were not so, and yet the gift of God is complete restoration, deep salvation, redemption, healing and not so much being taught to fly as being lifted up on eagles’ wings. By the Word of God we are given the perspective of faith and hope and love, endowed with the very Spirit of God and the mind of Christ, and come to bear the flourishing fruit of the kingdom. This is the stuff of attunement."

https://seedbed.com/why-jesus-is-not-our-copilot/

 

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"The Shepherd" – Pastor Brown

Will You Be Ready?

By Thomas A. Tarrants

"How do we make our own fresh start? Paul would tell us to start with prayer and sober self-examination. This is a crucial first step in being awakened to where we stand with God. From there, we can move into heartfelt repentance, confession of our sins, and return to God wherever we have strayed. That is, confessing any sins that God brings to our attention and asking His forgiveness, with a firm intention to forsake them, surrender ourselves fully to Him and walk in obedience to His will.

Paul would go on to remind us that when by God’s grace we were born of the Holy Spirit and united to Christ, the Spirit broke our enslavement to sin and freed us to obey God (Romans 6:1–11). “Never forget that,” he would say. “Reckon it true every day and live accordingly! You are no longer a slave to sin! You are able to obey God. Therefore . . .”

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:12–14)"

Will You Be Ready? By Thomas A. Tarrants

I’d like to believe, but…

Won’t you trust Him? Step out of the vortex.

https://lightenough.wordpress.com/id-like-to-believe-but/

Questions are good. A thinking and analytical mind can keep us from falling for falsehood. A skeptical approach can keep our minds sharp and protect us from deception. Yet the pursuit of truth can end up being more about the pursuit, than the truth. We can get pulled into a vortex of a never-ending search for answers. Will any answers satisfy us? We doubt any answers or explanations that are provided. Or, if we do accept an answer we immediately follow it with another question.

We are always one question away from believing!

Are we really in the pursuit of truth, or do we just want to stay in a perpetual state of uncertainty?

At some point in life, we all must exercise faith. Faith isn’t limited only to the realm of the spiritual or religious. In many areas of life, we carefully consider the options and evidence, and then we step forward – not based on absolute certainty, but based on adequate and sufficient reasons to do so. We still have unanswered questions, but faith propels us forward.

Christianity is faith-based, and there is no way around that. At some point, we must be willing to jump out of the vortex! Christianity makes the most sense of the world around me and gives me valid reasons to believe, but yes, there are still puzzling concerns. This should not hinder belief, and we must step out of the vortex onto solid ground.

 

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"Some Steps to Forgiving" – Pastor Brown

John Wesley— “ A Plain Account of Christian Perfection”

"Here is the sum of the perfect law, the circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. -- Other sacrifices from us he would not, but the living sacrifice of the heart hath he chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him; for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another; he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has Him for its ultimate object. This is the way wherein those children of God once walked, who being dead still speak to us: `Desire not to live but to praise his name; let all your thoughts, words, and works tend to his glory.' `Let your soul be filled with so entire a love to Him that you may love nothing but for his sake.' `Have a pure intention of heart, a steadfast regard to his glory in all you actions.' For then, and not till then, is that `mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus,' when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we `pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his plea sure;' when we too neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfil `our own will, but the will of Him that sent us;' when, `whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do,' we do it all `to the glory of God."' (Ibid., p. 211.)

a-plain-account-of-christian-perfection

The Gift of Forgiveness — Lucy Amina Chaves

https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/testimony-a-story-of-forgiveness/

One day I reached out to my former friend in an attempt to reconcile. Things didn’t go as I hoped - I didn’t get an apology, but one thing was different, I felt the Lord lifting the burden from me.

Even though I was disappointed, it seemed like the anger was fading away. I felt stronger and more in control of my emotions. I walked away that day, not with what I wanted but with what I needed. My friend didn’t apologize until years later but that day I felt like healing had begun, I felt We’re encouraged to show this kind of unconditional love as we settle our wrong-doings or trespasses with our brothers, friends, fellow workers, and neighbors. As we forgive one another the kingdom of God comes in our midst.

 

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"Father Forgive Them" – Pastor Brown

John Wesley on Forgiveness

“As we forgive them that trespass against us.” In these words our Lord clearly declares both on what condition, and in what degree or manner, we may look to be forgiven of God. All our trespasses and sins are forgiven us, if we forgive, and as we forgive, others. First, God forgives us if we forgive others. This is a point of the utmost importance. And our blessed Lord is so jealous lest at any time we should let it slip out of our thoughts, that he not only inserts it in the body of his prayer, but presently after repeats it twice over. “If,” saith he, “ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14, 15.) Secondly, God forgives us as we forgive others. So that if any malice or bitterness, if any taint of unkindness or anger remains, if we do not clearly, fully, and from the heart, forgive all men their trespasses, we far cut short the forgiveness of our own: God cannot clearly and fully forgive us: He may show us some degree of mercy; but we will not suffer him to blot out all our sins, and forgive all our iniquities.

In the mean time, while we do not from our hearts forgive our neighbor his trespasses, what manner of prayer are we offering to God whenever we utter these words? We are indeed setting God at open defiance: we are daring him to do his worst. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us!” That is, in plain terms, “Do not thou forgive us at all; we desire no favour at thy hands. We pray that thou wilt keep our sins in remembrance, and that thy wrath may abide upon us.” But can you seriously offer such a prayer to God? And hath he not yet cast you quick into hell? O tempt him no longer! Now, even now, by his grace, forgive as you would be forgiven! Now have compassion on thy fellow-servant, as God hath had and will have pity on thee!

—John Wesley’s “Thirteen Discourses on the Sermon on the Mount,”

As regards my own sins it is a safe bet (though not a certainty) that the excuses are not really so good as I think; as regards other men’s sins against me it is a safe bet (though not a certainty) that the excuses are better than I think. One must therefore begin by attending to everything which may show that the other man was not so much to blame as we thought. But even if he is absolutely fully to blame we still have to forgive him; and even if ninety-nine percent of his apparent guilt can be explained away by really good excuses, the problem of forgiveness begins with the one percent of guilt which is left over. To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life—to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son—how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.

— C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996), pp. 135-136.

 

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