Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe

...at church we are right in the middle of an amazing series...this week was about FORGIVENESS... "forgiving means forgetting" ...obviously one of the dumb things smart christians believe...

...if you've been hurt...I mean really hurt by someone than you know that you can never forget that...it doesn't make you a bad person...it just makes you human...{forgivness} is something that I have been dealing with for quite a few years...I have been thinking that I will never be able to completely {forgive} those in my life that have hurt me or my family. How many of you think that geniune forgiveness means that you have to forget what has happened in the past? I have ALWAYS thought that there is NO WAY that I will EVER be able to FORGET this stuff...EVER...which means I will never be able to forgive those who have hurt me or my family...well geniune forgiveness DOESN'T mean you have to forget all of that...

...put in a way that makes a bit more sense today at church (...thanks Brent)
Forgiving means:
* You need to stop keeping score...life is NOT a competition when you get that figured out you will be so much better off...
* Get a good mirror...take a good look at yourself...self-evaluate...don't worry about everyone else...and take care of you!
* Express your disapproval towards someone because of their behavior or actions when wronged, forgive when asked...
*Let God be God

...another very important thing that some people just can't seem to understand...and this holds true not only to my family but to many of you as well is that TRUST, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS and FORGIVENESS are not necessarily related...trust must be earned and we don't owe either to anyone...I guess I have always known that but it wasn't until this morning that it was validated...for those of you...like me who continue to struggle with {forgiveness}...know...that...

Forgiveness is NOT an option...it is a sacred duty...
Forgiveness is NOT pretending nothing happened...
Forgiveness is NOT a never-ending series of second chances...
Forgiveness is NOT a fresh start with a clean slate...

...when we offer forgiveness to those who have no-excuse and for the things most of the world consider unforgivable we become more like Jesus.

This is a great one for those that can {forgive} ...remember...forgiveness is for YOU...remember it is not something we do for others...we do it for ourselves...to stay healthy and to be able to continue moving forward...