“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”- Jonah 2:8 In Chapter 4 (“The Age of Reckoning- Symptoms of a Deeper Problem”) of Finding God in the Ruins, Matt Bays notes that one phrase from Jonah 2:8 really impacts him- could be. Pastor Bays interprets the phrase to mean that something is […]
“And if we want life that isn’t driven by our past hurts, we must squeeze ourselves onto a tiny dirt road and trust that it will lead us somewhere good.”- Matt Bays “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”- Matthew 7:14 (NIV) In […]
“And so it seems that the very word redeemed needs its own personal redemption.”- Matt Bays As Matt Bays concludes Chapter 1 of Finding God in the Ruins, he expresses his belief that redemption has been misunderstood. Pastor Bays offers his own personal take on how modern Christianity has defined the term: Redemption (n). A […]
In Chapter 1 (“The Pen- Where is God?”) of Finding God in the Ruins, Matt Bays suggests the best approach to dealing with hurting people is simply being present. By simply being present, you are God’s hands to hurting people. You are willing to stand with them, even if they stop believing. Pastor Bays offers […]
“God, in real life, is nothing like the God we’ve been taught about in church.”- Matt Bays Matt Bays rivets your attention and at the same time sets the tone for Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain with the opening sentence of his preface: “God, in real life, is nothing like the […]
“But by forgiving . . . I had a change of heart- I got myself back.”- Raul June Hunt discusses the lasts four benefits experienced when we forgive as she concludes Chapter 13 of How to Forgive. 2. Forgiveness brings improved potential. Ms. Hunt states forgiveness has the power to set you free from the […]
“God created . . . each of us with three inner needs- needs for love, significance, and security.”- June Hunt In Chapter 13 (“The Power of the Empty Bag- Fringe Benefits of Forgiveness”) of How to Forgive, June Hunt writes that only God can completely satisfy our three inner needs. When we are able to […]
“Truth is your most powerful weapon. Pick it up and use it.”- June Hunt June Hunt concludes Chapter 12 of How to Forgive by discussing the final three letters of her acrostic (F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N) for dealing positively and effectively with guilt. Verify truth when Satan accuses. Ms. Hunt states you can count on Satan accusing you. […]
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”- Old adage June Hunt continues her discussion of the acrostic F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N in Chapter 12 of How to Forgive. Realize that God means what He says. Ms. Hunt states that “God’s grace is free- and enough.” But, she adds, that doesn’t mean God’s forgiveness is […]
In Chapter 12 (“Buried Under Rocks of Regret- When the Person You Need to Forgive is You”) of How to Forgive, June Hunt states that, surprisingly, forgiving ourselves is not always easy to do. It may even be more difficult than forgiving others. Ms. Hunt uses the powerful acrostic F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N to help you deal positively […]
As June Hunt concludes Chapter 11 of How to Forgive, she discusses the faith factor as it relates to dealing with suffering. Ms. Hunt states that whether we succeed in turning blame and bitterness into healing and hope “depends on our willingness to exercise our faith in God, to trust Him, even when we must […]
“Holding God responsible for our pain is as unproductive as it is unwise.”- June Hunt June Hunt begins Chapter 11 (“Blindsided by a God-sized Boulder: ‘Oh God, How Could You Do This?’ “) of How to Forgive by noting that the vast majority of wounded people don’t allow their bitterness to consume them. However, many […]