I am not sure if  the evangelical Church today has a strong theology on forgiveness. Strange to  insist that forgiveness needs the backing of a theology, or a doctrine, but without it I fear we  ourselves dictate the terms.  As I read my bible we are to forgive to the  extent that we have been forgiven.  In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus warns against  claiming to enjoy  a free forgiven-based relationship with  him, when at the same time there is unresolved  strained relationship with others.  I have been thinking a lot about this lately and have been burdened for those under my care who  live strained lives because of a poor theology on forgiveness. Just my thoughts. What are yours!  Click on my name above and let me know what you think.

This week is a big week at First Alliance Church. We areholding our annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) and are expecting perhaps up to400 children to attend. Over 100 adults are giving up their time to assist inthis mission of presenting Jesus to young, vulnerable hearts. We talk oftenaround here that we must reach these children before their hearts become hardenedto the gospel. It burdens us that when young people leave  town and home(and often, church) that over 80%  drift away. Certainly some do return,but many do not. This burdens us. We are aware that many children will"respond to the gospel" this week. We are not so naive to think thatfor some this will be a trigger response to a good story  but I amconvinced that  more is going than meets the eye. We are not satisfiedthat children raise their hands and they are now in, and we can wash our handof any further responsibilities. What Jesus began in these young hearts, hewill continue but he will do so in many ways by putting the responsibility onus, and, if the presence is there, on the shoulder of the parents. Prayer is a vital part of all this. Prayer fans the flame. It  invites the HolySpirit to enter in and  grow the child to deeper faith and understanding.I personally long that what begins in the heart of a young child will filterinto the home because that is where the foundation is built. 

The soaring price of gas really has our attention, doesn't it? It doesn't take long for us however to fall at ease when we begin to compare our situation with those of so many around the world. Not long ago I heard some one say that while Americans are concerned about filling their cars with gas, the rest of the world is wondering how they will fill their stomach with food. This morning a missionary from Guinea WestAfrica gave us a cost comparison of life where he serves from ours. The comparisons were stunning. In his West African country, average worker receives 21 cents an hour, while an average worker here in the USA received $12 an hour, yet fuel in his country costs over $6 a gallon compared to our $4. Other staple food items farsurpass what we pay here in our grocery store. I know the men who heard him speak gave silent gratitude to the Lord Jesus for the luxury of living in such a blessed country. We do have so much to be thankful for, but also, whenviewing the needs of others, so much to be praying for. Drop me a line and let me know what you are thinking on this issue. Click on my name above.

The soaring price of gas really has our attention, doesn't it? It doesn't take long for us however to fall at ease when we begin to compare our situation with those of so many around the world. Not long ago I heard some one say that while Americans are concernedabout filling their cars with gas, the rest of the world is wondering how theywill fill their stomach with food. This morning a missionary from Guinea WestAfrica gave us a cost comparison of life where he serves from ours. The comparisons were stunning. In his West African country, average worker receives 21 cents an hour, while an average worker here in the USA received $12 an hour, yet fuel in his country costs over $6 a gallon compared to our $4. Other staple food items farsurpass what we pay here in our grocery store. I know the men who heard him speak gave silent gratitude to the Lord Jesus for the luxury of living in such a blessed country. We do have so much to be thankful for, but also, whenviewing the needs of others, so much to be praying for. Drop me a line and let me know what you are thinking on this issue. Click on my name above.

The  soaring price of gas  really has ourattention, doesn't it?  It doesn't take long for us however to  fall at easewhen we begin to compare our situation with  those of so many around theworld. Not long ago I heard some one say that while Americans are concernedabout filling their cars with gas, the rest of the world is wondering how theywill fill their stomach with food. This morning a missionary from Guinea WestAfrica gave us a cost comparison  of life where he serves from ours. The comparisonswere stunning. In his West African country, average worker receives 21 cents anhour, while an average worker here in the USA received $12 an hour, yet fuelin his country costs over $6 a gallon compared to our $4.  Other staple food items farsurpass what we pay here in our grocery store.  I know the men who heardhim speak gave silent gratitude to the Lord Jesus for the luxury of living insuch a blessed country. We do have so much to be thankful for, but also, whenviewing the needs of others, so much to be praying for.  Drop me a line andlet me know what you are thinking on this issue. Click on my name above.