Finding the blog ... and forgiveness, Part II

Well, apparently I took so long finding forgiveness, that I lost my way back to this blog at some point as well.

Hope you'll forgive me!

When last I left whatever readers may be left out there, I was talking about expressions of forgiveness, particularly as it related to others.

To shift gears a bit here, lo these many months later, I think that it may be even more difficult to forgive ourselves.

See, when we forgive others, the job is made easier in knowing that it is they that are guilty of wrong doing.

But when it's us that is the transgressor -- dare I say more plainly sinner? -- things are different. We may ask God for forgiveness, we may ask others for forgiveness, but always lurking in the backs of our minds and the corners of our hearts, is that guilt. Guilt that tells us, 'Look what you did, look what you are capable of, look at what you might do again.'

So how do we get past that? How do we find the peace that sometimes eludes us when our head hits the pillow at night?

Let's look at the example of Peter. Simon Peter, the rock upon whom Christ built his church, likely had a far more difficult time forgiving himself after Jesus' death than anyone outside the home of Pontius Pilate. Denying someone three times will do that to you, you know?



But in John 21, we read how Jesus "reinstated" Peter, or you might say, how Jesus helped Peter forgive himself. Staring in verse 15 and continuing to verse 17:

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'
'Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.'

Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me?'
He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.'

The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep ...'"

So how did this episode help Peter transform himself from a disappointed fool to a faithful follower?

First, Jesus asked Peter to affirm his commitment, three times over. When you realize you're committed to something, it's hard to let past failures slow you down.

Second, Jesus gave Peter responsibility. Feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. There's no better way to get over what you didn't do than to focus on what you will do.

Third, Jesus never brought up the past. Psalm 103:12 says "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Peter was already forgiven in Jesus' eyes, he just needed to be reminded that if God was over it, then he could be too.

Think it over and come back soon. I won't wait another three months to post again!

Finding Forgiveness: Part I

So where to start with this forgiveness thing. Well, besides the parable I cited in the previous post, maybe the story of the adulterous woman in John 8 is as good as any.

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We tend to look at this story as a cautionary tale against judgment. But if that is all we were to learn, then once the others had all left, Jesus could have bashed this woman upside the head with a rock. For unlike those who walked away, Jesus was perfect and without sin.

But he extended her forgiveness ... the same forgiveness he extends to each one of us. For although we deserve death, he offers life.

We in turn -- created in his image and re-created in Christ -- should mirror that offer ourselves, offering forgiveness even when unwarranted.

Want an example? Stay tuned ...

An Introduction to Forgiveness

Remember last week when I said there was ideas rattling around my head?

Well, here's the start of those ideas, and it's on the subject of forgiveness. Some of my previous posts the last couple months have discussed the idea of mercy and grace, particularly as God gives his forgiveness to us.

But us giving forgiveness to others, now there's the rub. Because with all due respect to Tom Petty, forgiveness -- not waiting -- is the hardest part.

I guess this all started with a sermon on the Unmerciful Servant a couple months ago. Read it for yourself in Matthew 18.

Here's the short of it. This is the parable Jesus told after Peter asked how many times he should forgive those who sin against me. Peter suggested a generous seven times, but Jesus said, 'How 'bout 77' or 'How 'bout 70 times 7?' -- depending on what translation you read. Then Jesus told the story of a servant who begged his way out of a monstrous debt, then threw the man who owed him just a little in prison when he asked for the same mercy.

Just in the last few months, I've heard stories about a preacher in India who was beaten but kept responding with love until her converted his torturer, a lady whose husband was murdered visiting the murderer in prison and gave him her husband's Bible -- counseling him until he was converted or the Jewish girl who was experimented on in Auschwitz and finally met one of her captors then wrote him a letter granting forgiveness.

Spectacular displays of love all ... yet I can't get over my annoyance with the guy a few cubicles down, I refuse to speak to that person who was once my friend and I reserve my best biting sarcasm for that neighbor that rubs me the wrong way.

Heck, I hold grudges against restaurants where I got poor service, against the bag boy that doesn't know that a loaf of bread and canned goods don't mix ... and I certainly won't forget that time the cat or dog chewed up something that wasn't a toy.

We are astonishingly good at withholding forgiveness. Granting it? Not so much.

So in the coming days and weeks, I hope to explore some stories, movies, TV shows, life examples, etc. of forgiveness and how meaningful it can be. Stay tuned, there may be some hope for us yet.

Hello again ... Happy 4th!

Whooops! I just realized tonight that I managed to go a whole month without updating this blog. And that's really a shame, because I have some interesting thoughts rattling around this head that I shall share with you sooner or later. Looks like later at this point.

Anyway, just a short thought as the Fourth of July fades into the Fifth. The choir at church this morning sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, which has long been one of my favorite songs. I recall memorizing the lyrics out of the hymnal during a few select Sunday evening services, but now I'm just telling on myself.

But that song tends to make the chest swell and brings out both patriotic and Christian pride, though I'm not sure that's exactly a good thing.

Our pastor today did a nice job with his phrasing in one part of his message. He was talking about how God was neither liberal nor conservative, Republican or Democrat, American or any other nationality or race. And he added this, forgive my paraphrasing:

"We often ask whether God is on our side, when we should be asking, are we on God's side?"

Hmmm, now that's worth singing "Glory, glory, hallelujah. God's truth is marching on."

Heaven and Hell

Last week marked the death of legendary rock and roll singer Ronnie James Dio at age 67.

That typically would not be enough to make this blog, but it jogged a memory of an article I read about Dio, as he was simply known, some years ago.


A little background for those readers who never heard of Dio and don't feel like they're missing much. He sang for several rock bands in the 1970s and 80s, most famously replacing Ozzy Osbourne as the lead singer of Black Sabbath. Dio went on to a highly successful solo career as well. He is credited with originating the devil horns gesture (seen at right) and gained a fair bit of notoriety with the cover art on his Holy Diver album (below).


All that being said, the article I remembered was from HM magazine. They used to do a series of interviews with famous musicians that covered a lot of territory, but ultimately included their views on the Bible, Jesus and Christianity. Here's a link to the interview, if you're so inclined as to read it in its entirety.

But the part that I always remembered was his spiritual relativism, if you will. You see, Ronnie had what was probably the classic Italian Catholic upbringing. And he says the morals he learned were essential ... and by the way, by all accounts Dio was one of the nicest "stars" you might ever want to meet, at least with the fans.

But Dio is also very open about his religious feelings and says this, "My feelings are that the teachings were great, but in my mind, my religious beliefs are that you are God, and you are Jesus Christ, and you are the devil, and I am, and all the people I know around me are. But I don’t need to go to some place and listen to somebody else to tell me whether I’m good or bad, or whether I’m right or wrong. I am my shrine. You are your shrine. We are all Jesus Christ, and again, I have no problem with anyone thinking Jesus Christ is this deity, someone up there. It’s cool.”

I went back and looked at Dio's career and lyrics in light of that statement again this week. And the results are fascinating. One of his signature songs was the title track of his debut album with Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell. Here are the lyrics:

Sing me a song, you're a singer
Do me a wrong, you're a bringer of evil
The devil is never a maker
The less that you give, you're a taker
So it's on and on and on, it's heaven and hell, oh well

The lover of life's not a sinner
The ending is just a beginner
The closer you get to the meaning
The sooner you'll know that you're dreaming
So it's on and on and on, oh it's on and on and on
It goes on and on and on, heaven and hell
I can tell, fool, fool!

Well if it seems to be real, it's illusion
For every moment of truth, there's confusion in life
Love can be seen as the answer, but nobody bleeds for the dancer
And it's on and on, on and on and on....

They say that life's a carousel
Spinning fast, you've got to ride it well
The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
Its heaven and hell, oh well
And they'll tell you black is really white
The moon is just the sun at night
And when you walk in golden halls
You get to keep the gold that falls
Its heaven and hell, oh no!
Fool, fool!
You've got to bleed for the dancer!
Fool, fool!
Look for the answer!


Re-reading the interview and then listening to Dio sing these lyrics, I feel like maybe he wasn't as mysterious a rock and roll figure as many thought.

Ronnie had seen agents of heaven acting like agents of hell within the walls of his church growing up. And then he no doubt found fellow artists and musicians with reputations worthy of hell to be the most heavenly people he ever met. So life began to blur that line between heaven and hell, so much so, I'm not sure even Dio knew which side he was on anymore.

In the interview, he talks about the controversial Holy Diver album cover as well. He says this, "The question I was always asked about that album was, ‘Why do you have a monster, or a devil figure, killing a priest?’ And my reply has always been, as far as I’m concerned, it was a priest killing a monster. It’s all in what you’re told. I wanted to do it that way, because I wanted people to ask me that question, so I could say, ‘Why don’t you look inside the package?’ That was the whole point of it. Why couldn’t that devil look like he could be God. Why couldn’t he? Do we really know what God looks like? No, we don’t. We have no idea."

And the irony is not lost on me that even as I type this, Ronnie James Dio now knows, for better or worse, who is the devil and who is God, what is heaven and what is hell.

And my admonition to you and myself is simply this: Don't let the injustices and inequities of this world cloud your vision for right and wrong. The semantics will be debated from now until eternity, but in the end there does exist just one Heaven and just one Hell. And your allegiance, or lack thereof, commits you to one side or the other.

Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 12:30: "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Life less ordinary

I was scrolling through the program guide on the TV recently when my eyes lit upon a movie called A Life Less Ordinary.

So I got to thinking about this notion, and I realized that a less ordinary life might be the reason I like the Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Heroes, Lost and a million other sweeping dramas, books, sci-fi stories and the like. Because in each one of those cases, the characters are living anything but an ordinary life.

Meanwhile, we mope and meander, busy enough in our lives but feeling oh so ordinary. And then I caught a documentary on the National Geographic channel called Eye of the Leopard. It followed the cat from birth through the first three years of its life, while I and my daughter watched mesmerized as the leopard sought shelter from a storm, hunted for food, fought to preserve its territory, leaping up trees, down trees and generally doing things a wild cat does.


Truth be told, this cat was living a very ordinary leopard life. But ordinary to it seemed extraordinary to us.

Our lives are not so different. We go shopping, go to work, eat, play, mow the yard, talk to a neighbor and on and on. Ordinary things, but when done with the love of Christ and the power of God, they can take on extraordinary implications to those who are observing and being served.

Don't wish for a trip to outer space or to be reborn in a world of hobbits and trolls, simply find a way to live a life less ordinary in the three blocks to the end of the street, down the grocery store aisle or across the cubicle.

What you didn't do

This post will be fairly short, because I'm going to recommend you spend more time reading an outstanding article called Kermit's Song.

Read it all and come back, even if it takes a day.

OK, done? Wow, what a story. Have you ever been like Kermit Alexander, quick to proclaim, "Somebody should do something," but oh so hesitant to be that somebody? I know I have. I guess that's why the story is so powerful. You never know the impact on your life or on someone else's that just one person could have.

And then there's the guilt, the guilt that lies in each one of us for our sins, our mistakes, our things we didn't do. But just like Kermit, we all are offered a second chance. It is in every breath we take, every morning we wake up and every step we move. We have the chance to make a difference to somebody that day in the same way that one man made a difference for eternity with a crown of thorns sitting on his head.

We spend a lot of time in our society worrying about what we have to do, what's on our list, what's the schedule? But maybe the question shouldn't be what do we have to do, but what haven't we done?

And like Kermit, we can then pray, "Lord, don't let us miss someone."