Tag Archives: forgiveness

Unbroken

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Douglas Abbott

“So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings.” -J.R.R. Tolkien Every once in a while, a book comes around that has it all ― adventure, romance, high suspense, life-and-death struggles, villains, heroes, redemption and panoramic scope. Unbroken, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Uncategorized | Tagged adventure, Christ, faith, fear, forgiveness, God, gratitude, Jesus, Laura Hillenbrand, Louie Zamperini, miracles, rage, redemption, salvation, Seabiscuit, triumph, unbroken | 2 Comments

Wheat Pennies

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Douglas Abbott

When I was 6 years old, I got good and mad at my mother. I don’t even remember what it was about, but I kept quiet ― either that or she was intransigent on the issue. I don’t remember, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Amends | Tagged amends, anger, caring, contrition, debts, family, forgiveness, relationships, restitution, snail mail, sorrow, wheat pennies | 2 Comments

A Pointed Reminder

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Douglas Abbott

I just got corrected by God. It wasn’t a harsh correction. To the contrary, my own conscience supplied all the bite. A member of my family came forward to apologize for hurtful things he has done and said. I admit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged anger, apology, blood promise, charity, commitment, contempt, contrition, faith, faithful, Father, forgiveness, gentleness, grace, grieve, Holy Spirit, hope, hostility, indifference, invalidation, kindness, love, patience, secure, tears | 2 Comments

Confession

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Douglas Abbott

Many of life’s most vital lessons come out of the blue. Conversely, few of them seem to come as a result of focused effort. When I try to apprehend them deliberately, it is as though God says, “That’s my job,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Confession | Tagged Catholic, Christ, confess, confession, cry out, embrace, forgiveness, God, lamb, lion, love, Protestant, redemption, repent, repentance, Savior, sin | 4 Comments

Doomsday Gospel

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

“Westboro Baptist Church targets Taylor Swift,” the headline read. The article had a flavor of outrage, and rightly so. Fred Phelps, WBC’s leader and tireless purveyor of damnation, is at it again. This time, as chronicled by Pop Spy’s Jennifer O’Dell, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity in Politics | Tagged condemnation, damnation, debauchery, decadence, evil, forgiveness, fornication, Fred Phelps, God, Gospel, grace, heathen, immorality, Jesus, kindness, love, lust, mercy, patience, politics, press, promiscuity, sexual immorality, sin, Westboro Baptist Church | 2 Comments

Easter in Ephesus

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

In planning a bit of light fare for this Muse, I got a wild hair and decided to paraphrase Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul may have been the most intense person that ever lived. His writings burst from the page in an … Continue reading →

Posted in The Apostle Paul | Tagged Apostle Paul, ardent, bursting, celebration, Christ, Easter, epistle, exuberance, exulting, forgiveness, God, grace, Jesus, leaping, Paul, redemption, salvation, Scripture, soaring, teaching, writings | 2 Comments

Relational Power Tools

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

I love it when someone commits an offense against me. I’m not being facetious. I was pedaling my Gary Fisher in the rain this morning when it hit me: interpersonal offenses are opportune moments in a relationship.

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Grace, Kindness, Love, Trust | Tagged altruism, connection, cynicism, distrust, forbearance, forgiveness, friends, friendship, goodwill, grace, human, humanity, kindness, love, mistrust, nobility, patience, relations, relationships, suspicion, trust | 2 Comments

Offensive Peacemaking

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Douglas Abbott

I had a personal experience years ago that taught me how much joy can be had in doing the work of a peacemaker. The life lesson came about by happenstance, and I still think of the whole incident as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness | Tagged forgiveness, harmony, making peace, patience, peacemakers, resilience | 1 Comment

Covenant

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Douglas Abbott

cov-e-nant 1 : a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : COMPACT 2 a : a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action. –Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

Posted in Eternal Security, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Trust | Tagged agreement, bond, covenant, eternal security, faith, forgiveness, grace, partnership, promises, redemption, salvation, trust | 4 Comments

Trading Places

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Douglas Abbott

In the 1983 film Trading Places, two rich old brothers get into an argument about heredity versus environment. Eager to resolve their disagreement, they decide to use their vast resources to take two human lives and switch them outright. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Eternal Security, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace | Tagged forgiveness, free, gift, grace, heavenly, love, lovingkindness, mercy, outpouring, riches, trading places, wealth | 2 Comments