Date: 6/3/2008
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: Thou Shalt Forgive
<br><br>Some of you will know exactly what I’m talking about.  You understand all too well the feelings of violation and infringement.  You have experienced that sick feeling that suddenly appears in the pit of your stomach from out of nowhere.  You find yourself not sure whether you should take the time to call 911 or just turn and run as quickly as possible.  Such was the case a couple of weeks ago here at Fairfield.  As usual, Gary Basford arrived at the building early on Sunday morning to go through his normal paces of unlocking doors, turning on lights and getting the building ready for worship.  Upon my arrival shortly thereafter, Gary asked if I knew if anyone had been in the building earlier for any reason.  He had found several desk drawers open in the educational office along with some other opened doors that generally stay closed.  We both surmised that it was probably the doings of some children who may have been in the building the day before.  But alas, we quickly found out that we were badly mistaken.<br><br>We soon discovered that the door to the main offices had been kicked in and that a laptop computer and a check had been stolen.  After an extensive search through the rest of the building, it was determined that nothing else had been taken, although it was very evident that most every room had been quickly surveyed for other valuables by our uninvited visitors before they left.  We later learned that the Fairfield Baptist Church across the highway discovered their building in the same shape….no doubt having been visited by the same individuals.  I would imagine that there are some of you who are reading this right now who have had the un-pleasure of finding vehicles, homes or businesses in the very same way.  Certainly an intrusion anywhere is unsettling, but the breaking in of a church building seems almost blasphemous.  Though it’s just made up of brick and mortar, a house of worship does emit a certain feeling of safety and security from the rest of the world.  You would think that it would be off limits to even the most hardened of criminals, but I suppose to some, nothing is sacred.<br><br>In his prayer Sunday morning, Wayne Baker, one of our Shepards, petitioned God to forgive those unnamed thieves and bless them with all the necessities of life so that they would not feel the need to prey upon anyone else.  The non-Christian side of us does not scream for such kind-hearted leniency.  In other parts of the world, if these lawbreakers were caught, their hand would be promptly removed from the end of their arm in the most painful way possible.  The Old Testament called for full restitution to be made or the thief had to be sold into slavery to pay for his sticky fingers.  Other cultures simply forgo all the pleasantries and just stone thieves to death.  Whoever our intruders were, they had better be glad they don’t live in one of those places.<br><br>If you remember, Christ had two thieves as cross mates on Golgotha.  One was a harsh speaking, hard hearted law breaker till the very end.  But the other thief expressed feelings of sorrow and repentance for the life he had lived.  Perhaps he grew up in a bad home environment where there were no rules…no punishment…no love.  Maybe this poor man never had a chance at a good life….until the very end when he encountered the Son of God hanging right beside him.  Jesus told him that he was forgiven of his past and that he would soon cross over into paradise….where he would have a good after-life. <br><br>Wayne’s prayer was the epitome of what a Christian’s attitude should be to those around them….especially those who have done them harm in some way.  We as a Church don’t wish any ill will on those who broke into the building.  As one of our leaders said so very well, we want them to receive blessings from God.  Computers can be replaced…..souls can not.     <br><br><br>Forgive the extra mile - Devin<br>