Our pastor preached today about forgiveness, reminding us that while we usually treat it like some ancillary part of what it means to follow Jesus, it is core and central to what it means to be Christian.  We receive grace, and we give grace freely.  Forgiveness doesn't mean we condone what was done against us, or that we automatically reconcile (which takes two), but that we refuse to keep passing the pain on to others and instead absorb it which is agony and indeed a kind of death - but a death that leads to resurrection and life instead of the living death of bitterness and hurt.

The great thing about this sermon is that it prompted Maya and I to talk about some issues between us that required forgiveness and to free ourselves to more effectively do ministry here.  There is something palpably life giving about forgiveness and especially in reconciliation if the Lord so blesses one to receive both.  I think that is why the Apostle Paul referred to the ministry of Christians as the 'ministry of reconciliation' - because we have already been freely given the forgiveness of God and we spend the rest of our lives on earth working out the results of that reconciliation with God - especially in terms of its impact on our relationships with other people - beginning with forgiveness.

As I am writing, most of you readers in the US will just be getting up and preparing to worship and be instructed from God's word.  May the living Word made flesh - Jesus Christ - bless you in worship and instruction, may you be able to 'do theology' in talking about how He is moving in your life and may this day dedicated to being served by the Lord and His word richly impact you.