"As Time Goes By . . . "

It's the title to a very lovely, old Love Song, I know. . . with emphasis this moment on "old.    Mike just left, 8 P.M., after heeding my call for "help" re. getting all snagged-up between my blog, my #2 "Post," and getting it anchored into Facebook and sent-off to who knows where.  This was after spending mucho time with me last evening explaining very thoroughly how all this Blog-Facebook doo-doo meshes nicely and works together for the good ( of whom or what I really don't know )..  I did better with understanding the Greek N.T. and the ( Carl ) Rogerian method of therapy in seminary than I did after last night's and today's attempts at "Facebooking."

Why? Well, perhaps the "old factor" factors-in,  or maybe it just takes time . . .but how much "time" to learn and become skilled with all this does an old guy have?  I'm hoping with all my "stuff" that this makes it to the "f"  in just a few moments when I punch it and then go find out if it's truly on it's way somewhere.

As Lawrence Welk always said, "Until we meet again . . . Good Night. Sweet Dreams and . . ."  Bless you All!  Olde Hempy. 

I Just Can't Forgive Myself



Greetings!  If, by the title of this "Post," you're looking for a virtual, graphic, kneebone-to-kneebone devulging of my past antics, you're wrong.  I simply wish to share what I have found, over time, has become an effective, prayerful teaching and pastoralal encouragement for folks hurting with unresolved remorse - troubled spouses, persons in Recovery, inmates, ones at-fault in inaccidents -  each bound-up in the "titled" experience at some time in their life.

 

I have always been impressed with the frank, scriptural truth in Matthew's and Mark's Gospels when, after John the Baptist proclaims: "REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" . . . "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you from the wrath to come?" . . . Mark states, "So, with many other exhortations, he preached GOOD NEWS ( of Jesus, the Christ ) to the people." ( I can just hear some of the  'hearers' remark, " Man, I hope that John dude never gives us the Bad News! ).

 

Jesus follows on the heels of this, beginning His earthly ministry, with His call-to-life by teaching, "REPENT and believe in the Gospel ( Me, for I am that GOOD NEWS! )."  So, during these first days of Lent, an appropriate time I trust, I hope that what follows will "blog" what I truly believe, for us, is GOOD NEWS also.

 

   Our beloved Tiger cat Zacchary, now deceased and peacefully prowling every corner of heaven, once became infested with, but could not rid himself of "killer fleas."  We had to flea-bathe him, nuke him twice-over to save his life . . he could not do it to/for himself. Cleansing, healing love and help had to come from beyond himself.

 

The  above "teaching, pastoral advice" or GOOD NEWS, imho, is that  I do not believe a person can forgive him/herself. Forgiveness is such an all powerful, cleansing, healing Gift of/from God; also a Gift of freedom, healing, reconcilliation and renewal from one human being to another that I don't believe God ever intended to entrust it's working  into my or your  hands for ourselves to use.  Forgiveness is a need I have which I cannot fulfill for myself. Who needs God or you or me if genuine Forgivess lies within our own whims and power. So the need-fulfilled - here's the GOOD NEWS - comes from a turning-returning to God and "you" for relief, cleansed conscience and soul, and  renewed-righted relationships.

 

Some, maybe many of you disagree with me, a little or a lot.  It won't be the first time and I won't crumble if you do.  Ultimately, being true to my belief, if I am wrong, then, "Lord God, Forgive me!" and, "For giving you a false teaching, may you do the same."

 

You see, because I believe so firmly in the purpose and power of forgiveness , having experienced it from "Above and from others" for myself,  if I have the power, capacity, and freedom to forgive myself, I really don't need God's forgiveness or yours. Jesus' plea, freely prayed on our behalf to His Father, as He died on the Cross, was pretty much wasted breath.  Self-forgiveness would free me from "REPENTANCE," a turning, returning to the Father for His unconditional Love and Forgiveness;  AND from ever seeing or feeling either genuine remorse within myself or the neeed to "make amends" to you or y'all.

 

 Consider this:  I suspect that Jesus' parable of the "Prodigal-repentant son," or, "The Forgiving, unconditionally-loving Father" would never have occured to Him if genuine forgiveness of self was a reality.  The "son" would never have truly "come to himself , " regretted, repented or returned desiring the forgiveness, love and restored good-graces of his father.  And, regrettably, Rembrandt's powerful portrayal of the parable would never have been painted.  Neither would Henri Nouwen's, The Prodigal , have ever been written.  

 

Scripture indeed teaches us, graces us, yes commands that we must "love ourselves," but I have yet to find "forgive thyself."  Oh yeh, I daily find myself "Standin' in th' need of . . . " Forgiveness" through Jesus, the Cross, His Resurrection and mine and yours. AND, Praise God, it comes, freely-given, reaffirming the GOOD NEWS of God's "Grace." I Need Him and  You.  He Knows It! I pray you do too!

 

Though I am a "preacher" and a bringer of God's Good News, I do not mean, nor ever want to be "preachy."  Honest!  Jim

 

Romans 15:13; Numbers 6:24-26.

 

                                                                                                                                                    

 

                                   

 



 

 

At The Moment . . . But Just Keep Going

"78" is truly GREAT . . . so far.
'Tis being 39 again, twice-over - whatever 39 was like, I don't recall.

I've things about, and going on w/i me I'd never heard of . . . but they nevertheless rear-up and speak-up at "murphy's-moments," and I'm brought-up short, or at least slowed a bit.

"78" probably has nothing to do with it . . . they've been in me & with me for who knows how long.  But I'm not 'down,' done-with or done-in . . . this ole boy's got lots of livin' to do. . . writing, woodworking, a bit-of-jogging, speaking my mind, marrying-off grandchildren & maybe baptizing their wee-ones, learning to be more husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, even cleric than ever before . . . better in my 80's ahead, yet to celebrate. God willing, a goood bit past "78."    Hempy