Total Forgiveness

Today's QT was about a Japanese war plane pilot Mitsuo Fuchida who led the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. He became curious about Christianity when he heard about a Christian young woman whose parents had been killed by the Japanese during the war who later decided to minister to Japanese prisoners. Impressed, Fuchida began reading the Bible.

As he read Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34), he understood how that woman could show kindness to her enemies. That day Fuchida gave his heart to Christ and became a lay preacher and evangelist.

This topic of forgiveness has really been put on my heart these past few months. I have been reading this book called Total Forgiveness and though I am only at the beginning it has really been speaking to me.





I am not a forgiving person. I hold a grudge like a son of a bitch and once I decide to let someone out of my life, it is forever.

The author of this book speaks from personal experience of pain and has seen many other people go through such personal betrayal that forgiveness is not even a considered option. He goes on to speak about how powerful of a testimony it is when people see someone who had a grievous wrong done to them forgive the transgressor. That type of forgiveness is unnatural and is in fact supernatural. It is beyond our own abilities to do.

There are several people in my life that I have not forgiven and don’t think I ever will. The author goes on to say that the spirit of God cannot rest within an unforgiving heart. You won't be able to fully experience all of God's blessings if you cannot forgive. The whole message of the gospel is forgiveness. God forgave us for our sins, why is it then so hard to forgive others?

Am I missing out on God’s presence in my life? Though he has given me much have I not experienced the whole measure of his goodness because of my unforgiving heart?

Though I am still chewing on this topic, I have tried to make a switch in trying to forgive people in my life for smaller transgressions. I have been trying to be less judgmental and critical. I am also doing my best not to verbalize my negative critical thoughts that I have about pretty much everybody. When I judge and criticize others, I am essentially saying I am better than these people and why can’t they be more like me. Perhaps taking these smaller steps will allow God to work in me to forgive the other people in my life.

The Neti Pot

I love this thing. My friend James recommended it to me as he suffers from allergies and nasal congestion too. I feel as I age my allergies are getting worse.

For instance a couple years ago I started to break out in hives every time I take Ibuprofen. The hives only last for a couple hours but still it looks pretty unsightly. The funny thing is when I went to the doctor to take an allergy test it, the test said I wasn’t allergic to anything.

Anyways I bought this Neti Pot yesterday, actually I didn't buy it I kinda stole it. The cashier at my local drug store didn't ring me up for it and I just walked out. I justified it by telling myself she wasn't doing her job properly or maybe she wanted me to have it. =) Okay so I stole it.

I got home jumped into the shower after mixing the solution, which is just water and salt, I poured the solution into each side of my nostril letting the water drain out the other nostril through the nasal cavity. I thought it was going to hurt, but it was actually very soothing and easy. Afterwards I felt like I could breathe so much better and my nose didn't feel as itchy.

Long story short, it's a great product and I wish I started using it earlier.

Psalm 46

Be still, and know that I am God.

How powerful is that statement right there?

How many times in our life do we scurry around and try to do what is best for us. We are like little tiny worker ants, always storing up food.

Times get tough, the waters get rough, but be still and know that God can silence the ocean with a command.

We can't do that very easily can we? No not silence the ocean, but be still. We think we know what is best for us and try with our best effort to make things happen for ourselves.

I am in a predicament at work where I don't want to be still. I don't want to give it up to the Lord, but rather try to use my force and will to make things happen.

But God is telling me to be still. What can I gain by worrying, by scurrying around like a chicken with his head cut off. Be patient, God wants the best for me.

My career is like a speck in his great and infinite plan. It's a piece of sand, yet the almighty God, the King of kings, still cares enough to come down to my level and desire the best for me.

How amazing is that, how indescribable in human words.

Be still, and know that I am God

The Strange Wedding

This is so pimp.

(Photo by Jonathan Yeo)

I used to drink because there was pain,

drinking doesn't have the same allure.

My Boys

Bird Infanticide

I'm a murderer.  A dove recently made her nest in between my shoes.  When I first noticed it, it scared the hell out of me.  I was reaching for my shoes and saw this thing in the corner of my eye moving around. 

Anyways we didn't know what to do with it, whether we should call animal control or what.  I called them but they are closed on the weekend.  So I decided to just dispose of it.  I shot the mommy bird with rubber pellet gun like 5 times but it didn't move.  So I shooed it away with a broom and inside of the nest was two little eggs.  

I felt very conflicted about just disposing of the nest so I tried to find a new home for it, but as I was moving it, the eggs fell out of the nest and dropped to the ground.  I wasn't really being very careful with it I had it in a dust pan and was just trying to leave it somewhere.  Yeah I suck.  The mommy bird hung around for awhile and kept coming back to the spot for a few days.  Poor bird.