Morning thoughts from Pastor Tim

Now concerning yesterday’s Foot-In-Mouth thought, it’s amazing how what is said is repeated over and over without mention of what is done about it.
In the case of Mr. MacRae, who originally wrote the letter of complaint, he issued an apology.

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force.
I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.
I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.
This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.
I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.
I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.
Please accept my heartfelt apologies.
Tom MacRae, Peoria

In my own case of something I said out of opinionated ignorance, it has been repeated several times by others (and may still be) who keep their own anger riled up by telling the story over and over.
What you may not know is that I also apologized twice on the air about the matter.
But just as in the case of Mr. MacRae, no one mentions that part. In fact, in the email I received there is no mention of his letter back to the paper at all.
I cannot find the word “apology” in the Bible.
Somehow I get the idea that it’s not so much for the offender to apologize as it is the offended to forgive.
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26
…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Col 3:13
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matt 18:21-22