notes from lisa...

 We live in a world filled with extremism, in many forms. It isn't really a new factor, but as we draw closer to the end of the day, I tend to think we have more of them and they have strengthened. Many of them, perhaps even most of them are offensive--and insensitive, to someone that doesn't share the ideology. For instance, politically we now have the radically right Tea Party and their extreme, and I think even dangerous ideas, if enacted (for many). We have extreme groups such as the Taliban and the more radical Boko Haram who practices a harsher form of Sharia Law--I can't imagine Sharia harsher??!!! We see "Pro-Life Christians" who are so against abortion--the "murder" of unborn babies that they are willing to block abortion clinics, bomb abortion clinics and murder doctors who provide the legal service to desperate women. We also have "Christians" who feel justified protesting at the funeral services of non-heterosexual service men and

FORGIVENESS is not  an easy process--that was never a promise; however, we still must forgive AND ask for forgiveness. What makes forgiveness hard for both offenders and the offended is the same thing--PRIDE. Pride gets in the way of the process, and drags out what could heal and restore very simply if our ego's didn't get in the way.  The offender doesn't want anyone to know that he is guilty of the offense--in fact, he doesn't mind if God knows, but God forbid men find him out! The offended is wallowing in pride as well, whenever he holds on to his anger and resentment because of what was done to HIM. Yes, it's all pride. I don't need to go to them; I can confess it to God; and why should I let them off the hook after they offended me so deeply?  What's  so wrong with this thinking??? 1 AND [Jesus] said to His disciples, Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come, but woe to him by or through whom they come!     2