Watching People Drive In to RC

Yesterday was great. It has been wonderful over the last several weeks to see so many new people coming to RC. We are doing our best to be faithful followers of Christ and to do and be about things that matter in our community. This has been the most fun that I have ever had in any church.We continued to look into forgiveness. This has been such a powerful series due to the fact that so many people have been hurt and deal with the bitterness that follows. We are encouraging people not to "drink the poison" of bitterness. Bitter people can not see their bitterness but only their hurt. Everyone else though can see the bitter person that this person has become. There is only one possible answer to keep from becoming bitter and that is to forgive.Forgiveness means that I fully release the offender from Any debt. It means fully cleaning Any record. It is a promise never to bring up the offense against The Person again (to God, to others, or to the offender)Does that mean that the person does not have to pay for what they have done? No! But it does mean that you are not the one to collect or put the person in your personal jail. We must turn over our hurts to God and let Him deal with it.Trusting in God is crucial and Entrusting hurts are vital in not becoming bitter.This is such a big topic and we will continue this Sunday to talk about Forgiven. I hope to see you there.