Though govenor Arnold’s situation of infidelity is dishearting there is good that is in the midst of all the bad. Ten years ago when he was running for office and I am sure under pressure from several sources the knowledge of his affair bring with it a child would put one in his position in a difficult place. Not only did it put his marriage in jeopardy but potentially the child that was to be born. In the midst of his public running and attention a temptation to cover up his unfaithfulness and its consequences im sure reared its head. The possibility of aborting the child, especially in California, was an option and in my opinion Arnold made the right choice and chose to keep the child and even offered support over these tens years. Though i dont want to make light of a difficult situation, everyone seems to be throwing their stones without mentioning the good news in it all that a life was given when a big potential for it to be taken was possible. Many talk about men in positions of power falling into sexual unfaithfulness but this is not because of their position but because they are men and sinful men at that. There is no temptation that is not common to man. All sin is gross and genuine unfaithfulness to Gods law. It should point us all to our own inadequacy and our need for Christ. He who is without sin cast the first stone. Do you or will you rock? Be careful lest you too fall. Praise God that the child was born and not aborted.

Summary of Chapter 1 What is Total Forgiveness in Total Forgiveness by R. T. Kendall:

What Total Forgiveness Is Not.

1. Approval of what they did.

2. Excusing what They did.

3. Justifying What they did.

4. Pardoning what They did.

5. Reconciliation.

6. Denying What They did.

7. Blindness to what happened.

8. Forgetting.

9. Refusing to take the wrong seriously.

10. Pretending we are not hurt.

What Total forgiveness is:

1. Being aware of what someone has done and still forgiving them.

2. Choosing to keep no record of wrongs.

3. Refusing to punish.

4. Not telling what they did.

5. Being Merciful.

6. Graciousness.

7. It is an inner condition- total forgiveness must take place in the heart or it is worthless.

8. It is the absence of bitterness.

9. Forgiving God- all bitterness is ultimately traceable to a resentment of God.

10. Forgiving ourselves.

” The ultimate proof of total forgiveness takes place when we sincerely petition the Father to let those who have hurt us off the hook- even if they have hurt not only us, but also those close to us.”

It is my aim (pun intended) to address how one might be able to throw rocks; and in throwing rocks I mean at others! John 8:3-11 we glean several items of understanding in this lost art of rock throwing that I would like to expose and revisit for the sake of seeing if we can reignite this simple means of eliminating sinners.

First, we need to GO and FIND someone involved in sin. A really gross sin like incest, or murder, or something big like that that would be worthy enough to put in the paper (after all we need as many rock throwers as possible).

Second, once we have found them, we make funny of them a little so that we can ensure the people around us, who are dragging the sinner by the hair, that what the sinner has done is foreign to us and quite queer! Plus who doesn’t want a good laugh at others expense?!

Third, you must bring the sinner to someone who has authority so we can get permission to throw our rocks which we have picked up, polished, and treated like the latest version of modern weaponry as to destroy what is gross and unbecoming! I mean our rocks are the closes thing to having our own personal nuclear arsenal!

Fourth, expose and make public the details of the sin and how you can’t believe that anyone could ever do such a thing. This is where the fun gets interesting! No only have your cheeks began to pour forth saliva which aides to the drooling process due to the release of endorphins that your body is producing because you can’t wait to throw this perfectly chistled, kong-fu gripped piece of boulder which lies in your sweat palm; but you get to test your ability to belittle someone else so that the victory is that much sweeter. I mean if you can not only destroy the body but are able to destroy every shred of dignity then why not!!!

Fifth, before you rear back and let her fly be sure to search your own heart so that these actions are justified to prevent any later symptoms of regret or guilt. This is easy down and should only take a few seconds. After all you are not as bad as this guy and haven’t really done anything as big as this sinner!! right?!! If you have then you would be next but… shh what people don’t know won’t hurt them; and if you back out then you will most definitely will be next in line. Further comment on this step… some historical practices of throwing rocks (also referred to in early times as stoning) have not accepted this step and there has been debate over not even including it. So… skip to step 6 below.

Sixth, Throw the rock. Finally, the moment has come! Justice is being served and you get to carry it out! Lock the target in your sights, rear back and throw aiming at the sinners temple for maximum potential of delivering a deadly blow on contact! Be sure to cheer when the blood sprinkles and the sounds of crushing bone resounds and comes echoing through the public buildings. Be sure to have a second rock handy in case your throw was a little off and you missed the first time but I am sure you have had many years of practices and are able to throw your rock directly at the precise area you intended to hit, reminiscent of a Daniel La Ruso catching a fly with a pair of chop sticks.

Finally, rejoice and cheer! The task and art has been perfected! You are well on your way to becoming the greatest rock thrower ever known to man. Go home, feast, make love to your spouse, seize this moment! For tomorrow you start it all over again. Be sure to find time to teach your children the fine arts of rock throwing so that it doesn’t become a lost art!

Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin… be the first to throw a stone…”

Sadly, rocks continue to be thrown, and our savior died as a result. The only innocent man ever to walk the earth died by the hands of those who have perfected the art of rock throwing. The art is not so easily justified.

By: Bruce- a rock thrower.

I can’t help it. I dwell on my sin and my capability to sin way too much. I think back to all the sinful things I have committed and why I did what I have done all my life and how I continue to do the same things over and over. I dwell so much on my sin I almost become disheartened as to whether or not I am truly saved. Sin is so encompassing, and all-consuming. Even when we think we are not sinning we are sinning. When we think we would never “go down that road” we wake up to find that we just traveled down it. The flesh and its sinful desires are so ingrained in us that it is impossible to overcome it. Actually more than that we can’t even begin to get rid of it. Many who even appear to lead good moral lives are enriched with sin. They are in more danger than the one who appears to be immoral because sin has them deceived into believing they are good when their innermost thoughts and secret actions are cosmically offense to a perfectly sinless God. There seems like no way out of this plight called sin. No escape. It seems that we are forever committed to his affect within our hearts. Even as those who claim faith in Christ we continue to see sin in our heart and through our actions. Sin eats away at the believers assurance. I hate sin for what it does, yet I keep on giving in to it. what is great relief is that God has intervened and provided, by his grace, a power that “awakes” us to the reality of sin call conviction and the ability to overcome it called repentance. There is so much to say about sin and even more to say about this divine power we have to live out our faith through the Holy Spirit but the conversation needs to first begin with never underestimating our sinful nature and move toward constant repentance empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Journal 8/18

Many think I have a sexual problem but yet every man tells me that it is only by the grace of God that they are not sitting where I am. Many things make up my fall. Though I do not seek to excuse my actions I only desire to explain them and help others from suffering my consequences. 1) Now walking in the Lord and being apart from Christ ruins and losses the soul to the lying pleasures of this world. We were meant to seek pleasures and if not found in Christ it will be found and rest in the world- but the latter leads to destruction. 2) if not abiding in Christ then your home does not abide in Him either and a man who is not happy in his home will not be faithful to it either in time, attention, or with his partner. lastly, this prepares his way to destruction and since he is the figurehead of the family- they will fall with him and he brings difficulty to them as well. But there is hope for this man because God is a faithful God and those who repent will be forgiven and will find help in this time of great need. Help to be courageous to endure what consequences that come, help to restore, in Christ, what was lost, and redemption and a new heart to live by. God has a hold of a truly repentant man even though those close to him doubt. The fruit of repentance will be seen over time and much Glory will be given to God for his mighty work that He has done thorugh this wretched sinner.

The worst affect of my sin:

The greatest affect of my sin and the horrible condition that it causes is the disgust that it has bred in the broken image of the gospel which it has communicated to the public. I have tainted a poor view of Christianity this is the greatest offense and perpetration that I have allowed and caused- the gospel to be disgraced. This causes a deep hate for my sin. Though my wife, sweet and precious to me and gift from God, fades in comparison to the preciousness of the gospel. My gravest sin is the denial of the gospel and the spreading of false teaching with my actions. But the gates of hell will not prevail and no man can destroy the gospel. God, after I have been humbled, will honor himself in me once again.