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the
Crusader
Some time ago, Dave Hagler, who works as an umpire in a recreational b At the first game of the next baseball season, Dave was umpiring behind the plate, and guess who was the first batter up – the policeman! As the officer was about to step into the batter’s box, the two men recognized each other. The officer timidly asked, “So how did the thing with the ticket go?”
Hagler said, “You’d better swing at everything.”
“Tit for tat, sugar for fat. Our natural inclination is to get even. It seems like our right. Forgiving someone who has sinned against us is actually giving up our right to get even, and that seems like too great a sacrifice to make. When we don’t forgive, we wind up nursing grudges and bitterness, even striking back with unkind words or actions. Something like that must have been happening in a congregation in the early years of Christianity. Read these words of counsel Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). The people were bickering, so Paul pointed them to God in Christ. God gave up his right to get even with us by sending his Son to die upon the cross. Jesus took our punishment for sin upon himself. His death on the cross was the sacrifice for our forgiveness. Followers of Jesus Christ receive God’s forgiveness freely. In light of that gift, Paul seems to be saying that, as forgiven Christ-followers, we are to put away our need to get even, and instead exercise forgiveness. “But it’s so hard! I can’t do it,” we protest. Someone once said, “Forgiving the unforgivable is hard. But so was the cross: hard words, hard wood, and hard nails.” Yes, forgiveness is hard. But it’s also the God-loving, obedient choice. And remember this: In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit’s power. Yes, you can forgive – with God’s help. Rev. Steve Kramer
ON THE LIGHT SIDE
A
Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Tuesday – Ironing Day
Wednesday – Mending Day
Thursday – Dusting Day
Friday – Shopping Day
Saturday – Cooking Day
Sunday – The Lord’s Day
WELCOME, JAN! Jan brings a wide range of expertise from various office positions with her as well as a strong commitment to Christ. She is a great asset to this ministry. We are thrilled to have Janet Freed as a part of Christian Crusaders staff. Welcome, Jan!
A STORY
OF FORGIVENESS One of the DVDs in our video series, A Life Is Changed, touches on one of the most important needs of humankind – forgiveness. In this video you will hear the well-known story of Zacchaeus that many of us heard as a child. Rev. Larsen tells in his own words how the dishonest tax collector’s life was transformed when he met Jesus, and how we, too, can become new people when Jesus offers us the gift of forgiveness. We’ll be happy to send you a copy with any donation! Simply e-mail, drop us a line, or call us with your request. |
aseball
league in Colorado, was pulled over for driving too fast in the snow.
He tried to talk the officer out of giving him a ticket by telling him
how worried he was about his insurance rates rising, how he really was
a safe driver, and so on. The officer politely listened, then handed
him his ticket and said if he didn’t like receiving the ticket he
could take the matter to court. 
working August 2009 and is working two days each week as the
Financial/ Office assistant. Originally from Grundy Center, Iowa, Jan
and her husband Tom now reside in Parkersburg. They have two daughters, Sara and Lora (husband Mark; son Mark; two-year-old
grandson, Caleb; and another grandchild on the way.
