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Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

When a group recites the Lord’s prayer together, the group leader may say, “Let’s use ‘trespasses” or “Let’s use ‘debts,” as in “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Both words work, but in Matthew’s account of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus used the word “debts.” “Debts” reminds us that we owed God obedience and He didn’t get it. We abandoned His path and struck out on our own. Maybe it’s easier to understand this principle if we think about someone whose actions or words wounded deeply. They “owe” us. They have taken ...

Be honest with God, He knows

By Mark Wilmoth A little boy prepared his letter to Santa. “I’ve been good for 6 months,” he wrote, but then, after a moment’s reflection, the boy crossed out “six” and wrote, “three.” After another pause, he crossed that out and wrote “two weeks.” He soon crossed that ...

Let’s recover the art of hospitality

By Mark Wilmoth One reason for the lack of civility in American discourse is that Americans have forgotten the courtesies of personal conversation. One commentator noted that, in a generation, we have gone from sitting on the front porch and visiting with neighbors to sitting on the back deck surrounded by a privacy fence. In many instances, interpersonal communication occurs mostly through email, texting or social media, leading to messages that are misunderstood or perhaps worded more strongly than intended. It’s much easier to recognize the impact of one’s words when speaking ...

Onward Christian soldiers

If you’re a veteran, you likely remember these words quite well. This oath, sworn as you began your service to your country, shaped at least a period of your life and may impact your thinking and actions long after your service has concluded. “I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to ...