A brief excerpt from my latest manuscript From Forgiven to Forgiveness

“Your sins are forgiven you.”

Such a simple a statement uttered by Jesus Christ many times throughout the New Testament. The key word is, of course, ‘forgiven.’ But what does this really mean? Forgiven of what and forgiven by whom? Are all my sins forgiven? Can it really be that all the bad stuff I’ve done is actually forgiven by God? Or is this simple statement an utterance of delusion, meant to mislead the hardened sinner or appease the angry mob? Is it a trick to keep the sinners sinning, thus heaping upon themselves a more brutal eternity? Or is it to appease masses wanting to cause harm but cease their threatening by being excused of their nefarious intent?

And, even if I do begin to comprehend God’s forgiveness of me, will I be able to in turn forgive myself? Will the tormenting self-accusations ever cease or will they continue tearing at the fringes of my consciousness like an ever-threatening migraine that never goes full-throttle but also never goes away? Will I be able to look myself in the eye each morning without deriding my very existence? Will I ever be free of the ‘what ifs’ and their accompanying yet equally defeating ‘if onlys?’

And if I am able to forgive myself, does that mean the guilt and shame, hanging over my soul like a cloud of smog, will finally dissipate? Will there be the clear skies of peace of mind and rest to my soul ahead if I can finally let go of the past and what I’ve done? Will I be able to finally lay aside the rage of what’s been done to me? Is that part of the “peace that passes understanding” that Paul is referring to in Philippians?

One can only hope. And pray.

But that’s not enough. What else does one do?

Jesus also commands us to forgive those who have wronged us. What?! If I can’t even forgive myself, how can I forgive you, or my neighbor, or my ex-wife?

--This is a very brief snapshot of what my next book is about. Basically, to really embrace forgiveness, we must first grasp the fact we are forgiven as we become a new creation in Christ.

Right now my second work is in progress and has the working title of From Forgiven to Forgiveness. Periodically I will post excerpts for comment once I figure out all the technical aspects of making that happen.

Stay tuned!

2 Timothy 3:17: So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The words "thoroughly equipped" are the Greek word: artios. This web site will hopefully begin listing useful resources to help a person be equipped, while keeping in mind that it is God, by way of Holy Spirit that is the ultimate "equipper."

The first resource I have to offer is my first book, From Cult to Christ. It can be ordered through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Target.com. It may also be available in some Christian bookstores, such as Bible Bookhouse in Salem, Oregon.

Here's a brief preview of the book: If cults are so off base, why do they have so many members? Why are they attractive and what causes otherwise intelligent people to be interested in them? Are people who join cults stupid or disillusioned? And how can we avoid being tricked ourselves or keep our family and friends from being tricked? From Cult to Christ answers these questions and more. It tracks one man’s journey from “discovering God” as a young child, to disillusionment with the organized church, to a cult. It tracks through the process of discovering truth through devastating loss, to exiting the cult and entering into the light of Christ’s love through the touch of a loving friend. It’s a real life journey with many twists and turns, triumphs and failures, and loss and restoration. And, finally, it guides the reader into understanding a little more about the new birth and how to know Jesus.