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By Gordon Rumford, May 22, 2011

“I will come again” John 14:3 (KJV)

It is not important to know the time of Jesus’ return but it is supremely important to be ready and looking for it.

When I was a preschooler a cousin of mine developed spinal meningitis. He and his family lived in Nova Scotia and my mother travelled down there on the train to be with her sister and nephew at a critical time. Clyde was a strapping young fellow about 14 years old but 6 feet tall. Everyone loved him at school and in the neighbourhood. However back then penicillin had only recently been discovered and put into public use. Sadly it was too late for my cousin as the infection spread to his brain and after a number of weeks he went to be with Jesus.

During the time my mother was away from me I was put into the care of a family friend. She was a kindly lady with a young daughter and boyfriend who took me places and gave me lots of treats so I would not be too lonely. Occasionally my father would come to see me. I would look for his 1930 blue Buick to come down the lane and run out to meet my Dad. Each time, as soon as I saw him, I would ask him the same question. “When is Mom coming home?” My father was a self confident man but I am sure that constant question from his son put a dint in his ego. He never complained but patiently answered my question as far as he knew the details.

Continue reading 'When is Mom coming home?'»

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By Gordon Rumford, January 12, 2010

The Greek word for forgiveness is pronounced Ôapse a miÕ. The word means to send away, to dismiss, to depart.

To forgive is to send away that for which there was a breach in the relationship.

When a person confesses their sin to us, we are to remove the offense from the relationship and receive the person back into our society. Clearly then, only the one who was offended can extend forgiveness and reinstate the offender in the relationship.

The Bible makes it clear that forgiveness is a possibility and is to be extended when the party who has committed the offense has repented.

In 1 John1:9, it tells us that when we confess our sins the Lord will forgive us. We, in like manner are told to forgive those who sin against us when they repent.

Luke 17:3 says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” The sequence then is fourfold. 1. An offense is committed. 2. A rebuke is given by the offended party. 3. The offender repents. 4. The offended person extends forgiveness.

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