I was having lunch with two men who had opened their lives to Christ while they were in prison. The younger man had been discouraged by the fact that the family from whom he had stolen would not forgive him.
My crime was violent, the older man said. It continues to haunt and affect the family to this day. They have not forgiven me, . . . the pain is just too great. At first, I found myself paralyzed by this longing for their forgiveness. He continued his story: Then one day I realized I was adding selfishness to my brokenness. Its a lot to expect that the family forgive me. I was focused on what I felt I needed to heal from my past. It took some time to realize that their forgiveness of me was a matter between them and God.
How can you stand it? the younger man asked.
The older man explained that God did for him what he didnt deserve and what others simply cant do: He died for our sins, and He keeps His promise to move our sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12) and will not remember [our] sins (Isa. 43:25).
In the face of such great love, we honor Him by accepting His forgiveness as sufficient. We must forget what lies behind and keep pressing forward (Phil. 3:13-14).
later
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Shipping Up To Boston
Dropkick Murphys
Tales of brave Ulysses
Cream
Immigrant Song
Led Zeppelin
Sloop John B
Beach Boys
Ocean
Led Zeppelin
Take me to the River
Talking Heads
Castles made of Sand
James Marshall Hendrix
Hot Tuna
Water Song
Crosby Stills and Nash
Southern Cross
Grateful Dead
Black Muddy River
Cowsills
Indian Lake
Watching the a River Flow
Dylan...Bob
Cripple Creek
The Band
Atlantis
Donovan
Drowned
The Who
I am not a Parrothead