an enote from • Pastor Ron

March 4, 2010

 Dear First UMC Friends,

Yesterday we heard the news we didn't want to hear.  Chelsea King's body was apparently found in a shallow grave.  A convicted sex offender is the suspect charged with the crime.  And last night in our Lenten Small Group conversation the question arose about forgiveness.  How would Chelsea's family ever be able to forgive such a crime, such a person?  Of course, that raises the bigger question of forgiveness itself, at least from God's perspective.  In a few weeks we will be reminded that God's idea of forgiveness extends even to the ones who are pounding the nails into Jesus hands.  Is the King family able to do the same?  I don't know.  Can WE do the same?  I don't know about that either.  But I don know we're called to make the effort.  It's never easy to forgive those who have hurt us terribly.  But we must try, not for their sake (for often those who have hurt us don't think they have done anything wrong!) but FOR OURS.  

Ultimately the greatest act of love is forgiveness.

See you Sunday.

Grace and peace,

Ron

Pastor Ron