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Friday, August 22, 2014

“What is Forgiveness?”

In his book, Lee: The Last Years, Charles Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery fire.  She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss.  After a brief silence, Lee said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.”

Robert E. Lee knew it is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain because when bitterness takes root it will poison the rest of one’s life. This Sunday I will continue my sermon series, “An Encounter with Jesus,” as we consider Peter’s conversation with Christ regarding the topic of forgiveness.  In order to be better focused for Sunday, please take the time to read the story from Matthew 18:21-35. Strengthened in Him, pastor jamie