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December 2003 Table of Contents
A View From The Front Lines
Forgiveness
By Kirk Lyons
 Merry Christmas! This wish may be early, but through this article I'll have the opportunity to say thank you to so many of you for allowing us to be a small part of your ministries around the world throughout this past year. Know that we will be faithful to pray for all of you during this busy time of preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As always, article time lines arrive too quickly and I find myself in a position of being the one piece of the puzzle that Gary needs in place to complete this issue of the Communicator. With time running out and no ideas for words to type, I have decided to share a recent God moment with you. Thank you in advance for allowing me to put these thoughts to print. They will serve as a reminder for me of how great our God is, and how incredible the depth of His unconditional love.
I have seen much discussion lately revolving around the different choices we have when it comes to conferences. Although I would be partial to our own when it comes to ministry through music, there are times that we need something different. As we moved from our busy summer season I felt a distinct need in my life for a time of nourishment and revitalization. We have worked with John Maxwell on several occasions through our conferences and he has always been a huge inspiration for me through his teachings on leadership. Each year in October, John teams up with Andy Stanley and other incredible leaders for a conference called Catalyst, held in Atlanta. I have wanted to attend this event for the last 2 years, and with Shanda's blessing, made my reservations. There is much I could tell you about this 2 day event, but with limited space I'll share just one.
The first speaker of the event was Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta. His topic for this day was "Four Habits of a Healthy Leader". This title could never have prepared me for what God was about to do in my life as Andy spoke. You see, for as long as I can remember I have been an angry person, with a very short fuse. Since becoming a Christian, husband and father, this condition has resided at the top of my prayer request list. This day in Atlanta, God would answer years of prayer for understanding and healing from this anger.
As Andy brought his session to a close, he looked out into the crowed arena and said, "You are angry because something has been taken from you, what was it and who do you need to forgive"? Immediately my mind raced to a small room where a young boy is looking out a window crying and cursing God at the top of his lungs. You see this little guy just found out his Grandfather had passed away. This man, however, was no ordinary Grandfather. To this little guy he was the greatest man in the world, a Super Man and his bestest friend. Now without the chance to even say goodbye, Super Man was gone, and in the mind of this 9 year old boy it was God's fault.
32 years later, the little boy inside a grown man is still angry with God for taking Super Man away. You see, I really don't remember being mad before that cold February afternoon. I remember being afraid but being reassured, sick, yet being comforted and laughing, always laughing.
"Kirk, I'm sorry for taking your Grandfather away while you were so young, but as you now know, our days on this earth are numbered and ultimately my plans for you are always good. I hope today that you can forgive me and never forget that I love you more than anything in this world." With that whisper from a still small voice an angry heart and a scared little boy who misses his Grandfather found peace. Now we begin the healing process and 32 years of anger has slowly begun to drain from my life.
We serve a big God, with really BIG shoulders that can carry any burden we throw upon them. He also is a patient God that will never leave us or forsake us, even if we stay mad at Him for a very long time.
In closing, I ask, "What has been taken from you that has made you angry, and who do you need to forgive?
Waiting on a cloud,
Kirk
Email Kirk
PS: We would love to have the opportunity to bring our product display, send advertised specials or giveaways to your state conventions and organizational meetings. Please contact me directly with your information.
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