True peace and love can only be achieved through forgiveness–
forgiveness of oneself and everyone else.

what is forgiveness?

To forgive means to express understanding for what happened —
what was done or not done to you. Forgiveness involves letting go of
the suffering and pain, the hurt and fear. It involves releasing the
other person from our hold on them and their hold on us.

We often think that by not forgiving people that we will teach
them a lesson, punishing them for their wicked ways. This is not
so. The only person who suffers is the one who holds the grudge and
allows the blame, shame, hatred, bitterness or revenge to fill them
up and poison the mind and body.

Continue reading “THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS”

I received many wonderful, beautiful and thoughtful Christmas Gifts this Christmas. But, I would like to share one very special gift I received from my son, Jon. It is crystal and a CROSS. My son purchased this in Prague and travelled with it in his hand Christmas Day for ten hours on a train ride. A day later he flew nine more hours with this crystal cross in hand across the Atlantic.

WOW, my cross made it without a break or even a crack. This was the first time ever Jon had not been home for Christmas. Things change, time shows how our children grow up. Time shows the wrinkles in our face and many other things that bring both joy and sorrow. But, one thing remains so steady and that is LOVE and The CROSS.

Why, because Jesus is Love and Jesus is The Cross. He is the Son of God and He is The Savior of The World. I have found a very special place in my home for my new crystal cross and you can be assured I will never forget this special Christmas and the love given to me by my son. I have also found a special place in my heart for Jesus who made the cross possible for you and me and all that choose to embrace His Cross.
Continue reading “The Crystal Cross”

I spent part of Christmas Day and Eve reading Josh McDowell’s The Last Christian Generation. “The Crisis is Real. The Responsibility is Ours.” This was a Christmas gift to Gary from Rena and family. I sure enjoyed the gift as Gary and I shared this important subject together.

Josh gives many studies that one only has to look around them or in their own homes to realize the studies are fact and as he says on the cover of his book, the responsibility is ours, the crisis is real. Let me give you a glimpse of some studies from the first few pages of this book. A survey from youth show:

• 65% want a close relationship with God
• 49% want to make a difference in the world
• 79% consider having close personal friends as a high-priority goal for their future

Yet, they just believe they have a different view than their parents or other generations. Here are a few for starters:

• 63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God
• 58% believe all faiths teach equally valid truths
• 51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead
• 68% don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity.

Continue reading “A Look Ahead”