Stephan Pastis' long-running comic strip, Pearls Before Swine, recently ran three panels that clearly pronounced a truth about forgiveness that I've spent several blog entries trying to make clear.
We begin with Rat's vengeful goal.
Then we see how Pig is affected by Rat's efforts.
Finally, Goat uses sarcasm to bring the point home.
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Truth is...when Jesus tells us to forgive one another and love our enemies and all that, it really is in our best interest, not just some highfalutin grasp at moral superiority.
I became aware of a grief-inducing statistic the other day.
Because of my years of speaking in high school health classes on behalf of Amnion Pregnancy Center, I am on a mailing list that gets sent the state's annual abortion report. In this year's report, there are plenty of tables and graphs that could start a person ranting and raving, but I want to share with you one that practically broke my heart.
For each of the abortions performed in Minnesota, a record is kept of how many previous abortions that person has gone through. The numbers surprised me...and maybe shocked would be a better word.
Just to make sure you're understanding this table, there were 6,015 first-time abortions performed in Minnesota during the 12 months being reported on. There were also 2,335 abortions performed where the woman had had one previous abortion.
That isn't the shocking part.
Go down further and let the realization hit you that for 88 women who had abortions last year, it was their sixth one. For 21 women, last year marked their tenth...or more.
Truth is...This doesn't make me want to jump on a soapbox or urge anyone to vote one way or another. This makes me want to wrap my arms around these women and pray for Yahweh to shower them with comfort and grace.
And now we come to the final tune(except for a short reprise of the title song) on Love Song's groundbreaking Jesus Music album, Love Song. It's a fitting conclusion as it gently tries to "seal the deal" by inviting the listener to experience all the benefits of faith the album has been singing about.
Save the sadness for another time
Save the words for a song that rhymes
Save the crying for the ones who've lied
Who've missed all the meaning
And their souls have died
Save the doubting for the morning sun
Bringing daylight where there once was none
Feel the warmth that each new day can bring
By believing, by receiving Him
Feel the love
Feel the love
Save the heartaches for the yesterdays
Now's the time to change our foolish ways
Feel the love the Son of God can bring
By believing, by receiving Him
Feel the love
Feel the love
(Chuck Girard)
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Truth is...Accepting Jesus as savior and lord isn't all rosebuds and lollipops, and yet the essence of it all really is as simple as receiving the truth that Yahweh loves you.
Four of the Psalms instruct those who love God to sing a new song. Isaiah 42:10 repeats the command. Two times in the book of Revelation, heavenly worshipers are said to be singing a new song.
The group, Love Song, took those Scriptures seriously...and literally.
Sing unto the heavens with a brand new song
The one that we've been hearing's been a hit too long
The lyrics sound confused as if they don't belong
So sing unto the Lord and sing with feeling
And sing a song of love
And sing a song of gladness
Much too long our music
Has been filled, filled with sadness
Sing unto the heavens with a brand new song
Sing unto the Lamb with voices clear and strong
Tell a world that's waited now for much too long
All the truths that God has been revealing
And sing a song of praise
And sing a song of gladness
Much too long our music
Has been filled, filled with sadness
(Chuck Girard - Fred Field)
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Truth is...Our world today could certainly use more love and gladness. May our lives be songs of praise that counteract the sadness and discord that permeates so much of the current culture.
The ninth song on the album, Love Song, is a slow, quiet testimony of Chuck Girard's baptism. He sings of what was happening around him and within him and through him as he committed his life to the Lordship of Jesus.
And the wind was low
And He brought me to the water
I felt His hand and joy began
And there was meaning
And the sky was blue
And He gave me His assurance
I then began to understand
The blessed meaning
Oh Creator, your perfect wisdom
And the wind grew still
And he touched me with the power
Then came the fire, the strong desire
To really serve Him
And the tears were joy
And He listened as I sang to Him
I bowed my head, He gently said
I was forgiven
Oh Creator, your perfect promise
(Chuck Girard)
* * * * * * *
Truth is...We don't have to be a preacher or a singer or a writer, but each of us is called to be a witness; to simply "go and tell what the Lord has done for you." (Luke 8:39)
One of the biggest barriers to non-believers becoming believers is when they look at Christians and see them in conflict with each other...often over things that really don't matter.
Our mutual acceptance by Yahweh because of Jesus, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit's presence and power in our lives, ought to draw us toward each other instead of being separated by our opinions on church structure or worship styles.
And yes, Love Song had a song about that.
Lord, don't let me strive against my brother
I'm so tired of it, don't want to do it no more
Lord, don't let us fight against each other
Let us be one in you
Lord, give us love for one another
In what we say, yes, in what we do
Lord, teach us to build up one another
Let us be one in you
For your sake let us learn to wait on the Spirit's move
We know that the hour is so late and you'll be coming soon
Let us be one in you
Let us be one
Lord, let us rest up in your Spirit
Knowing full well that we're in your hands
Oh, God, open up our hearts so we can hear it
Let us be one in you
Let us be one
(Tommy Coomes)
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Truth is...Jesus had a prayer about it, found in the 17th chapter of John: "My prayer is not for [these current disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Most people are pretty big fans of making their own decisions and running their own lives. We like to think we're in control and are capable of driving our own destinies.
But if we're following the roadmaps of our own selfishness, chances are high we are bound for some serious mishaps.
Chuck Girard and Tommy Coomes, of the band Love Song, had experienced plenty of navigational errors that were remedied when they committed their lives to the leadership of Jesus...something they sang about in the country tune, "Front Seat, Back Seat."
I was a-runnin' from my Master
And I tried out every new thing I could find
But my life turned into one disaster
Without the Lord, I almost blew my mind
I was sittin' in the front seat
Tryin' really hard to be the driver
Thinkin' I was makin' real good time
But always windin' up the late arriver
But now I been tryin' out the back seat
And I find it is a very great relief
Now I'm ridin' in the back seat
And I'm leavin' all the drivin' to the Chief
I went barrelin' out full speed ahead
I went a 'runnin' every stop sign that I'd see
Thinkin' I'd give the Lord a shortcut
But I found out He don't need no help from me
I was sittin' in the front seat
Tryin' really hard to be the driver
(But it sure didn't work)
Thinkin' I was makin' real good time
But always windin' up the late arriver
But now I been tryin' out the back seat
And I find it is a very great relief
Now I'm ridin' in the back seat
And I'm leavin' all the drivin' to the Chief
(Tommy Coomes - Chuck Girard)
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Truth is...Becoming a believer doesn't automatically solve all our problems. There's definitely a learning curve. But when we straighten out who's really the most qualified to be in charge, we start heading in the right direction.
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