100 Random Reflections about Forgiveness - Pastor Joseph Clark
"Forgiving is one of the most difficult things for a human being to do, but I think it means looking at some slight you feel, putting yourself in the position of the other person, and wiping away any sort of resentment and antagonism you feel toward them. Then let that other person know that everything is perfectly friendly and normal between you." ~ President Jimmy Carter
“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.”
~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
Serial killer Gary Leon Ridgway committed dozens of murders commencing in and around 1982. He was convicted of killing 48 women around Washington’s South King County (that number changed to 49 as part of a plea bargain), but it is likely that the number of his victims could be as high as 90 women in total. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in history, and he was given the nickname of “The Green River Killer” after five of his victims were found in the Washington River before his actual identity was revealed. Many of his victims were prostitutes and or runaways. He would bring them to his home, strangle them to death, then dump their bodies in far-off wooded areas. Frequently he returned to have intercourse with the bodies. To friends and neighbours, he was a married man of faith. After his arrest plead guilty to the murders in 2003. The families of the victims were allowed to make victim impact statements to him in the presence of the court. Many expressed their emotional distain at him. Expressing their hatred and pain for what he had done. However, this statement by the father of one of the victims, is truly remarkable.
“Mr. Ridgeway. There are people here who hate you. I am not one of them. You have made it difficult to live up to what I believe. And that is what God says to do. And that is, to forgive. You are forgiven, Sir.”
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
- Matthew 6:14-15
"Forgiving is one of the most difficult things for a human being to do, but I think it means looking at some slight you feel, putting yourself in the position of the other person, and wiping away any sort of resentment and antagonism you feel toward them. Then let that other person know that everything is perfectly friendly and normal between you." ~ President Jimmy Carter
“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.”
~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
Serial killer Gary Leon Ridgway committed dozens of murders commencing in and around 1982. He was convicted of killing 48 women around Washington’s South King County (that number changed to 49 as part of a plea bargain), but it is likely that the number of his victims could be as high as 90 women in total. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in history, and he was given the nickname of “The Green River Killer” after five of his victims were found in the Washington River before his actual identity was revealed. Many of his victims were prostitutes and or runaways. He would bring them to his home, strangle them to death, then dump their bodies in far-off wooded areas. Frequently he returned to have intercourse with the bodies. To friends and neighbours, he was a married man of faith. After his arrest plead guilty to the murders in 2003. The families of the victims were allowed to make victim impact statements to him in the presence of the court. Many expressed their emotional distain at him. Expressing their hatred and pain for what he had done. However, this statement by the father of one of the victims, is truly remarkable.
“Mr. Ridgeway. There are people here who hate you. I am not one of them. You have made it difficult to live up to what I believe. And that is what God says to do. And that is, to forgive. You are forgiven, Sir.”
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
- Matthew 6:14-15
100 Random Reflections about Forgiveness - Pastor Joseph Clark
"Forgiving is one of the most difficult things for a human being to do, but I think it means looking at some slight you feel, putting yourself in the position of the other person, and wiping away any sort of resentment and antagonism you feel toward them. Then let that other person know that everything is perfectly friendly and normal between you." ~ President Jimmy Carter
“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.”
~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
Serial killer Gary Leon Ridgway committed dozens of murders commencing in and around 1982. He was convicted of killing 48 women around Washington’s South King County (that number changed to 49 as part of a plea bargain), but it is likely that the number of his victims could be as high as 90 women in total. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in history, and he was given the nickname of “The Green River Killer” after five of his victims were found in the Washington River before his actual identity was revealed. Many of his victims were prostitutes and or runaways. He would bring them to his home, strangle them to death, then dump their bodies in far-off wooded areas. Frequently he returned to have intercourse with the bodies. To friends and neighbours, he was a married man of faith. After his arrest plead guilty to the murders in 2003. The families of the victims were allowed to make victim impact statements to him in the presence of the court. Many expressed their emotional distain at him. Expressing their hatred and pain for what he had done. However, this statement by the father of one of the victims, is truly remarkable.
“Mr. Ridgeway. There are people here who hate you. I am not one of them. You have made it difficult to live up to what I believe. And that is what God says to do. And that is, to forgive. You are forgiven, Sir.”
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
- Matthew 6:14-15
English
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
हिन्दी