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The Power of Forgiveness
St. Matthew 6:12
There comes a time in our lives when we wish we could take back or change some of the things that we have said or done. In this world of ours it is easy to see that the major cause of conflict is as an unwillingness to extend forgiveness. The lack of forgiveness can cause so many problems to arise and even cause individuals to develop a hatred for one another, divorce, family problems, and violence. This brings us to the word forgiveness, which means “to send forth, to send away, to remit.”
Forgiveness is a form of realism and an aspect of humanity that allows us to see our lives as they really are. Forgiveness becomes a sign of positive self-esteem that allow us to put the past into proper perspective. We no longer identify ourselves by the past injustices and offenses committed against us. Yet, it does not deny, minimize, or justify what others have done to us, or the pain and suffering we have experienced from the offense. Each of us has been hurt at one time or another, and each of us has hurt others. Therefore, just as all of us must forgive, so all of us need to be forgiven. Without true forgiveness there can be no peace, no justice, and no unity. Forgiveness allows us to look squarely at old wounds and scars and see them for what they are. It is a way of releasing ourselves from the pain and suffering we have experienced at the hands of others. Forgiveness can heal individuals, families, marriages, communities, and even entire nations.
In the event of wrongdoing a relationship develops between the transgressors and the victim. This relationship always demands a resolution. Otherwise, forgiveness becomes the difficult and incomplete process which is our present experience; in this instance we have three options.
First option is restitution (payment); this is made the victim b the transgressor. Second option is retaliation; the victim avenges himself or herself against the transgressor. Third option is forgiveness; consequently it brings about clemency, mercy, compassion, and amnesty to the relationship. As merciful and compassionate as it sounds, for some forgiveness will not be an easy task to undertake. It is not going to be easy for the victim to gather the disposition to forgive. Even when finally done, the matter that was forgiven often finds a way to linger and evoke strong negative feelings. The transgressor on his or her part many times finds it difficult to accept forgiveness.
Jesus tells us in St. Matthew 6:12, 14-15 to pray saying; “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Those who come before the Father unwilling to forgive others cannot expect him to show them love and mercy. God will not show them mercy and love that they will not extend to others. If we can find it within ourselves to forgive others when they offend us then our heavenly Father will forgive us.
Jesus compares our sins (offenses) to debts. We have violated our obligation of being obedient to God, and this exposes us to the penalty that results from that violation. To teach us the lesson of forgiveness, God bases how he forgives us by the forgiveness we extend to others. In other words, we must have a ready heart and a willingness to forgive and forget the offenses. When we put Christ’s command into practice by forgiving, it creates a ripple effect that can touch thousands of lives and even affect the course of history.
To forgive is not just a command of Christ; it is the key o reconciling all that is broken in our lives and relationships. We must forgive even if the offender does not ask to be forgiven. The next statement may be difficult to accept, but we must treat the one who has injured or offended us with kindness, not harboring any grudges. Why should one act this way when it goes against human nature?
First o all it produces peace-peace with self, peace with fellow man, and most importantly peace with God. Secondly, it sets the example for the offending individual and for everyone else to understand what God considers right and proper. If you find that you are having a problem with forgiveness, it probably because you cannot find any other way to see the wrong differently. This remains true because it is the state in which most of us live in. To forgive is to set one free, to acknowledge that it does no good to hate or to hold grudges. Hate really destroys both the other person and yourself by bridging a gap between both parties. Whereas hate only multiplies hate, violence only multiplies violence, and toughness only multiplies toughness in a destructive manner. When we forgive we set ourselves free from the demon of bitterness and hatred. We also set loose the power of love in the world and throughout all of humanity.
The power to forgive lies within us; Jesus offered his disciples the “Keys to the kingdom.” We (humanity) hold that key of forgiveness in our hands and it’s up to us to choose whether or not to use it. Christ wants to use our hands, wounded as they may be, to extend his forgiveness to the world. Will they be closed or outstretched like his? So many of us fail to realize is that forgiveness is a doorway to peace and happiness, not that we are wrongdoing, but overcoming the evil inside us and in our world with love. Forgiveness then becomes a possibility and a reality in our lives and throughout mankind, but it’s going to take time and much hard work from both parties before it is finally achieved.
In St. John 23:34; we find Jesus hanging on the cross and bleeding from his wounds he had suffered from his transgressors. As he looked down from the cross at them who had crucified him, abandoned him, lied on him, betrayed him, beaten him, and those who had denied him he replied with words that have echoed throughout the centuries “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Living Counterfeit Lives
Romans 6:23
We all have sinned, living in sin, and are not living the lifestyle of a true Christian. We may not admit it or actually realize it but many of us are living counterfeit lives. A counterfeit is an imitation that is made usually with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. The word counterfeit most frequently describes forged currency or documents, but it can also describe a person’s lifestyle.
In Romans 6:23 it says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The Scripture is very plain as to the penalty of sin.
God is searching for real people who are committed to him and him alone. The wages of a sinful lifestyle or a counterfeit lifestyle ultimately pays off in death. The just payment for our sin is death. Death means eternal separation from God. When we are still in our sin, we have no life with God. We are alive physically but dead spiritually. If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life. If we continue in this sinful condition, we will be separated from God for all eternity.
We need God’s spirit to help us understand this meaning and know that Salvation and the true Christian life is a beautiful love affair. It is not by merely keeping the word of the God that will please God; we must keep the spirit of the two great commandments all through our lives. Remember that these two great principles are given to guide us in knowing just how God would have us apply the teachings of His Holy Word. Here are the two great commandments: Jesus said in St. Matt. 22:37-40, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
When we do not obey these two commandments we have broken God’s law and earned punishment. However, God offers a free gift that can only be found in Jesus Christ, it is the gift of eternal life. Since eternal life is a gift that means that it only has to be accepted by you. It also means that no one can ever take this gift of eternal life from you once you receive it.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God has given us a way to escape the penalty for our sin. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins, but He never became a sinner. His pure and perfect nature was untouched by sin. He was treated as though He was guilty of all the sins ever committed by mankind, even though He committed none. In exchange, God imputed the righteousness of Christ to believers and credited our accounts with His righteousness just as He credited our sins to His account. Once we confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. After we have taken off our old ways, God can clothe us with His righteous ways. We can love one another and be kind, courteous, obedient, helpful and loving. We can become more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day and live with him in heaven forever.
| JFK Redux! Déjà vu! Obama in Security Endangerment? Diary Entry by Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo |  |
Barak Obama's security seemingly comprimised? The event brought back a painful personal experience of my own when JFK was murdered. What forces were brought to play in the assassinations of two Kennedy's, MLK, and Senator Wellstone and perhaps Obama? ::::::::
Several months ago, I stated in an article that ala JFK; there may be an orchestrated attempt upon the life of Obama.
When JFK was assassinated, I said that the dupe (Oswald) charged with the crime would be assassinated and then his assassin (Ruby) would die in Prison the result of a toxic dose, which would bring on a heart attack. It did.
JFK was killed because Dallas police and the Secret Service did not occupy the roofs, did not deploy helicopters, did not properly search and occupy the buildings and in fact, were allegedly nowhere to be found above street level. Did war/weapon sales interests buy off the CIA?
At the time JFK was murdered because he refused to go into Viet Nam, refused to pay for and test a variety of weapons against millions of Vietnamese, refused to Napalm Jungles full of women, children and men, refused to do the mass murdering of millions of yellow people, just as Mr. Clinton got impeached because he refused to bribe the Taliban, as asked by the oil "interests," with a few measly billion to "Protect" the intended oil pipeline (which is now in place)
At the end of JFK's presidency, I said, that some of those who were responsible for his safety, were irresponsible. Were I his safety engineer, I would placed Federal Marshals, Secret Service Agents, Green Berets, Texas Rangers, me, my cousins, uncles and a good many members of the Mob, in every window of every building along his path. I would have had helicopters everywhere. JFK was warned not to go to Dallas, but he was not the kind of person to take the back door. He went, he was short-changed by those responsible for his "security," he was killed and the Military Medical Industrial Complex got its war, and we-those who believed we might have had another FDR in the making, got the shaft. America was "taken-in" by the avaristic super wealthy who, in the words of Edward G. Robinson's Rocco, in the film Key Largo, prompted by Bogart's Major Frank McCloud, when asked what he wanted, said "More!"
Jack Kennedy was killed by shots from the ROOF of the book depository and from the grassy knoll, as predicted. In addition, when it happened I sat home and cried. I was a kid. I had helped him and now he was gone. Dead. My dreams were dead with him. It would be twenty years before I got involved in politics again, and then still angry, but ready finally to do something about it, as campaign chair in a community which had a board of trustees, Republicans with a 7-1 advantage over Democrats. I became campaign chair was well paid and we (I solicited and got 160 campaign workers, turned the board around, 6-2 and won the mayoral seat as well.
Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK? Excuse me, but, as Woody Allen said so long ago, "I was quite busy working on the non-fiction version of the Warren report."
Indeed, my words were, The Military, Medical, Industrial Complex will do to Obama what they did to JFK and allegedly, through Prescott Bush, attempted to do to FDR.
I suggest that the Obama Campaign use some of those millions they have collected to hire expert security people for his protection. I do not know if Barak Obama is another FDR. I do not even know if he is another JFK. However, I do not want him to end up as JFK, RFK, MLK and Senator Wellstone and his wife and daughter.
FDR was a prophet, walking in the footsteps of another, Jesus, who spoke Archaic Aramaic. FDR seldom mentioned his devotion to God, unlike the hypocrites now in office.
I want to beseech the Obama Campaign to spend the money to protect him, please! Oh, and watch your backs and watch certain branches of Federal police, which may be the same as watching your backs, and watch the mercenaries, and unlike JFK, don't play hero, listen to those around you who might have a premonition about not going somewhere...please. Oh... and make certain you can trust the people charged with your safety. Do the sort of background checks; the gun sellers ought to have done on those who buy guns with which they later shoot college or high school kids.
Professor Bagnolo is a Renaissance man: Cultural Anthropologist, Architectural designer, painter, writer, novelist, theologian. As a child prodigy, abed with polio for almost two years, with an off the charts IQ, reading at the graduate level by 5th grade, offered an opportunity to skip three grades at age 8.
Later He was a recipient of an Art Institute scholarship at age 11, a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Anthropology and in Painting and a merit scholarship in art, and was appointed a Graduate Research Assistant position in college. He holds a triple bachelor's degree in Painting and Drawing, Anthropology, Architectural Design Advertising. MA's in Cultural Anthro, Painting and more.
After being tenured he taught; architecture, anthropology, Theology, advertising, painting and drawing, entrepreneuring and Creative Profit Making. He produced a star-studded Music festival, had a radio talk show in Chicago, and cable TV show. Now, retired from Teaching, he paints, writes, and pursues other ventures.
The above bio harvested from the comments of Deans, colleagues, students, clients and collector's.
The Terminators of Hope
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Christopher D. Handy and I am submitting a story regarding crime against our children. I was the Mentor Coordinator for the Monroe City Court Mentor Program located in Monroe, Louisiana for 6 years. I want to tell you a story of “The Terminators of Hope.” These Terminators of Hopes and Dreams I am referring to are the Administrative Judges and Clerk of Court for Monroe City Court in Monroe, Louisiana. For six years I operated a one on one mentoring programs for at-risk and troubled youths within the community of Monroe, Louisiana. My program had around 100 boys and girls from the ages of 7-17 years of age. Many of the youths that were in my program had never been outside of their community nor exposed to any cultural enrichment activities that my program provided. The youths were taken to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Ark., the Zoo in New Orleans, plays, social outings, and community service projects. 90% of the youths live below the poverty level or from an area of the city where there was no means of hope. If anyone was to dream it would take a miracle and a large amount of faith to accomplish that dream. The reason I know this is because I grew up in that area and why I have dedicated my life to helping the youths in this program and in this community.
My story began on November 16, 2007 with the suspension Monroe City Court Mentor Program suspended. On January 24, 2008 of this year my mentor program and I was terminated and I was escorted off the premises under guard. The reason the administrative Judges and the Clerk of Court gave was because we did not have the proper insurance to have the youths at the court house on weekends or no coverage to travel on field trips. This is where I conduct my monthly workshops for the youths and seminars for the parents. Since I took over the program in 2002 there has never been any incidents, only progress and more progress. During that time I have received numerous awards and citations for having the best mentoring program in the State. After careful review I discovered that the court did have the proper insurance to cover the youths and had the funds to purchase additional insurance if needed. They The Terminators of Hopes and Dreams chose to terminate the program and turn away over 100 youths who needed this program. There were never any improprieties with grant funds on my part because every expense had to be approved by the grantor before any expenditure was done.
I have dedicated my life to helping the at-risk and disadvantaged youths of this community through the Monroe City Court Mentor Program. I have given my time, sweat, tears, and even my own personal funds (when the program did not have the funds I used my own personal funds) to ensure that this program was successful. I have helped hundreds and hundreds of youths and their families in this community with no reward. I did this because this is where my heart lies and I believe that if we start with the youths we can change this world of ours. I have helped the youths in my program reach above and beyond their circumstances and believe in themselves and not become a victim of t their environment.
I am writing sharing my story and my pain because I need the help of this community to save these youths and to get my program started again but in the private sector. By spreading the word of this inhumane act and letting others know why our children are being left behind. Not because they want to be left behind but because of a corrupt heartless system. This is my story and I would like to share it with the world. Please help me to speak for the children. I look forward to hearing from all of you. I thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information. May God Bless and Keep you all in his care, and may God bless our Children.
In His Service,
Chris Handy
Contact Information:
Rev. Christopher D. Handy
P.O. Box 7514
Monroe, Louisiana 71211
(318-343-6297
Rev. Christopher D. Handy would like you to visit the following online campaign by signing the petition and passing it on to others: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/StopTheTerminatorsofhope Thank You and God Bless..
Rev. Handy
Learning From A Dreamer To Change The World
On the third Monday of every January across this nation and various parts of the world there will be countless celebrations honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For to long, King's holiday has become a traditional and routine day with no real value or substance, for many it's just another day off from work or school.
Clearly, Dr. King's dream does not center around a one-day annual celebration but a daily strive to make the world a better place for all to live as brothers in peace and perfect harmony. First of all, we have to acknowledge that the dream began with God, for without God there is no absolute transcendent truth on which to base a call to justice. Nor is there any other source by which we may draw strength to love, to serve, and to be compassionate. Dr. King's life exemplified this truth and therefore we must do more to honor his name other than parades, marches, speeches, and events.
History is composed of significant events which shape our future and outstanding leaders who influence our destiny. Dr. King's contributions to our history place him in this unparalleled position. In his short life, he was very instrumental in helping us realize and resolve those unspeakable flaws which tarnished this country.
The life and the courage of this special man cannot be underestimated nor taken for granted. He was a drum major for justice, an advocate for peace, and a believer in righteousness. He was a champion for the poor and the disenfranchised. He was a lone voice crying out in the wilderness of America for the equal rights of a forgotten people.
Within a span of 13 years from 1955 to his death in 1968, he was able to expound, expose, and rescue America from many wrongs. It is this cause that his memory and his dream will not die but continue to haunt our every existence. Dr. King, the dreamer whose dreams were mental images of a better world, was overwhelmed with strong convictions. His deep belief was that everybody is somebody. This symbolizes human worth and the destruction of suppression.
If we ask ourselves today what has become of Martin Luther King's Dream, what would your answer be?
Forgotten, shelved or stored away until the next third Monday in January when we come for another annual celebration. Yet 40 years after his death, we are still confronted with poverty, violence, racial discrimination, economic injustice, and war; all still dominate our society. His repeated plea was for mankind to enter into a personal relationship with God that would transcend that which could be seen and that, which was being experienced. The dream is about changing our world and having a voice in how we live and eventually how we die.
Dr. King's unselfish use of the word Love became dominant throughout his life and practiced in the many struggles he encountered. The love he often spoke of was biblical love which comes from God, which is agape Love. This love is unconditional, unselfish and seeks the absolute good of others. This kind of love is tough love, one that confronts wrong, injustices, discrimination, hatred, sexism, racism, and prejudices.
Dr. King showed us that no matter what challenges we face as a society, Love can conquer a multitude of sins. Dr. King showed us that it is better to build a better society rather than destroying it with hatred.
Today, we are challenged by Dr. King's dream to make America a great nation greater than we can ever envision or ever hope for. Dr. King provided this nation with a road map so that all people could follow and share in brotherly love together in the abundance of this great democracy. America can be that beacon of hope for the world by following the path Dr. King blazed for us. Now let us begin in our own communities to make the dream a reality by confronting those economic, political, and social issues that threaten our society. Dr. King often said "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools".
©By: Rev. Christopher D. Handy
Remember To Say A Prayer For Darfur
St. Matthew 5:4
The crisis in Darfur, in western
The conflict in
President Omar El Bashir's of the Sudanese government in
The Janjaweed, a ruthless band whose name means "devils on horseback", have murdered and forced millions of Darfuris to flee their homes for crowded refugee camps, where they continue to suffer extreme deprivation, disease and continued violent attacks.
Many refugee families are headed up by women with no form of income, as the men have been killed trying to defend their homes and villages. There are also many orphans who have lost or been separated from their parents during attacks. Large parts of
This conflict will not be solved quickly in
In the meantime what can you and I do to help? As Christians we should not just carelessly stand by and watch while innocent people continue to face inhuman suffering and death.
In the midst of all this suffering, Jesus is calling us to examine ourselves. He commands us to let His Spirit search our hearts and show us where we are wrong. We must be Christ like and envision a world in which the Christian community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. Our mission should be to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop the suffering. Our primary focus now is on the
The teachings of Jesus Christ are simple today as they were over 2,000 years ago, but are very much needed during this critical time in our society.
A Prayer For Peace
Send Thy peace O Lord, which is
perfect and everlasting,
that our souls may radiate peace.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we
may think, act and speak harmoniously.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we
may be contented and thankful for
Thy bountiful gifts.
Send Thy Peace O Lord, that we may be
able to do good towards our fellowman
and all of humanity in Love.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that amidst
our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we
may endure all, tolerate all, in the thought of
Thy grace and mercy.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that our lives
may become a Divine vision and in Thy light,
all darkness may vanish.
Send Thy Peace O Lord that all wars may come
to an end and harmony pass through the earth.
Send Thy peace O Lord, Our Father and All Mighty creator,
that we Thy children on Earth may all
unite in one family.
We ask all of this in the mighty and precious name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN
There is no poem that will stop this war
This is not the one. There is none. There is
nothing to be done. We are not anything but
the Hun the fierce images in old textbooks
the Mongol horsemen rape and pillage
villages burning and the laughter of old men.
The radio and television prepare us
for the Super Bowl. But already in
we are number one. All of us better
than all of the rest of the world. Admit it
it was the perfect game. Allah praise
And admit this all who listen to NPR
the president is smarter than you.
He is riding the armored car of history while you
look for a refuge some safe place for your children.
But there is no place to hide. We are the virus.
Everything that cannot be bought and sold
for a profit falls before us. He knows this
even if you believe he is a fool. He lives and breathes
Karl Marx while you hold up a sign that says
Peace is Patriotic. The laughter of old men.
There is no image to stop the war. No child
with burned blacked skin like barbecued chicken.
The children waste away from bad plumbing and no
medicine. We pass along to each other the chips
and organic carrots. Bottled water.
There is no poem as good as government ensured
bonds. We are wounded with so little interest. There
is no poem that will pay us ten percent and stop
this war. The Germans marched prematurely
through history never understanding the power
of the dollar never having heard of Lexus and SUV
never knowing anything about baseball never
knowing that the Yankees only lose enough
to make the game seem fair.
in the memory.
and Burger King. Bombs from 20,000 feet.
The first dictate of battle is to make sure
the enemy has no weapons to harm you.
Disable their best batter. Tonya Harding their best runner.
Then attack and wait for the parade. But dont wait
for the poem that will stop this war. There is none.
The history of the empire has just begun.
Joe Napora
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