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Author: John Knox

Forgiveness is a Journey and Not An Event: Part II

Forgiveness is a Journey and Not An Event: Part II

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 Am I willing to even entertain the thought, as fleeting as it might be? Am I actually open to even thinking about forgiving someone who has hurt me deeply?  That is the first stage on the forgiveness journey that I identified in the Joseph narrative threaded in the final chapters of Genesis. The second stage involves taking some initiative. Am I Willing to Initiate Forgiveness and Reconciliation? Someone has to take the first step. Someone must call a truce or…

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Forgiveness is a Journey and not an Event: Part I

Forgiveness is a Journey and not an Event: Part I

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 I know I need to forgive him, but I just can’t… I will never forgive her for the things she has done. How many times have I heard such phases? Or more importantly, how many times have I muttered such things to myself? There are a few topics that I deal with in sermons that always seem to be relevant and near to people’s hearts. Forgiveness falls in that category. Relational brokenness unfortunately appears to be the rule instead of…

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An Uncultured Movie Critique

An Uncultured Movie Critique

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  I confess. I am uncultured. It is true. I just watched Gone with the Wind for the first time last week. That reveals the truth. I am just uncultured. I am in change mode this year in that regard. We are going to watch as many of the movies that were awarded with the Best Picture Oscar as we can this year. Gone with the Wind won the Best Picture award in 1939.  I was so impressed with the…

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I HATE Playing by the Rules!

I HATE Playing by the Rules!

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Good intentions are not sufficient. We can have the best of intentions, but if we choose not to play by the rules, it will get us in trouble. I have been following the story of the church group who attempted to transport a number of young earthquake refugees from Haiti across the border into the Dominican Republic. News reports indicate that the group could be charged with human trafficking. I am not there, so I don’t have all of the…

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Quick to Listen…

Quick to Listen…

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 I had the distinct opportunity of attending a seminar this weekend that focused on listening skills. It was very helpful. It was very interactive, so all of us were forced to practice the skills that we were being taught. The most significant things I learned over these past two days are not only related to the goal of critical listening. First of all, I was reminded that good people will do foolish things when they are under enough stress. The…

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Endless Connections…

Endless Connections…

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  I never cease to be amazed at the endless connections that exist between people from diverse backgrounds and life circumstances. What could a CEO of a major company possibly have in common with a teenager coming from a broken home? A teenager who is living in a household teetering on poverty…We see that child and dozens of others like him on a weekly basis. Every Wednesday we open the doors of the church and welcome well over 50 high…

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Thrilled with One Gift…

Thrilled with One Gift…

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  I know it seems really late in the game to be reflecting on the events surrounding Christmas of 2009, but I just received Gil Sanchez’s December Report from Casa De La Esperanza yesterday. Casa is a children’s home in Northern Mexico. Casa serves infants all the way to young adults who are 18 years old. It is a great place!I have been fortunate enough to coordinate several medical mission trips to Casa over the past several years. The following…

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Barbara’s Guardian Angel

Barbara’s Guardian Angel

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  It turns out that one of my co-workers is quite the detective. Barbara has been the treasurer at church for a number of years. She is very good at dealing with figures and understands the complexities of non-profit organizational finances. I didn’t know about her sleuthing abilities until recently. Barbara was injured in a car accident that took place in a neighboring city a few weeks ago. She was transported to the hospital and missed a few days of…

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Dad, I Met this Really Nice Girl…

Dad, I Met this Really Nice Girl…

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  Pride comes before a fall…That is a well known biblical principle! If it is really true, then I better brace myself for a skinned knee or worse. I have been gloating lately. Several of my male friends have given the bride away recently. I must confess. I grinned to myself as I observed all of the expense and trouble of a nice wedding. I have sons. I will flip a few burgers for the rehearsal dinner and consider my…

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I Got To Hold a Baby Today…

I Got To Hold a Baby Today…

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I have several essays that I have saved that were done before I started blogging in earnest. I thought that I should include some of them in this blog before they get lost in the shuffle.  Here is the first one: It was composed in 2005. I Got To Hold a Baby Today: A Reflection of 12 Hours of Ministry October, 2005 (Note: This series of ministry events began unfolding on a Friday morning, around 11:30, and were completed around…

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