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Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
-Matthew 6:12

There it is again…the ice-pick-in-the-brain sound of your ringing phone. How many times has that been today? Three? Ten? Why do they keep calling? Let's see, you didn't answer the first time so what makes them think you will answer the next dozen times? Just who do they think they are anyway? You told them yesterday that you didn't have any money to give them and they said fine. So what's the deal?

Do they have any idea how horribly offensive their incessant calling is or how disruptive it is to your peace? Yet, there it is, the same number on your caller ID, over and over again. I bet you'd like just five minutes alone with the guy on the other end of that phone. You have circumstances. Don't they get it?

 

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Coming from a chef’s perspective, there’s just something about a painstakingly polished, antique silver punch bowl that warms the heart. You know the kind—lots of little details carefully carved into the silver—grapes, swirls and all manner of fanciful craftsmanship that provide dazzling layers of complexity, dimension and character.

Light dances brilliantly across the deep and deliberate channels made by a thoughtful artist’s chisel; an artist that could imagine his work polished and well cared for, fulfilling its role as a functional thing of unique beauty and purpose. Though he tends to every detail, the artist knows that his work will likely be neglected and unappreciated. If only the bowl had understanding of just how precious it really is--if only.