Let me remind you that this is the Saturday night you’ll want to Spring – Forward. For some of you it will happen at 2:00 A.M., for others it will occur when your digital clocks automatically change time and for others you’ll forget until you show up for something fashionably late! Entering into the season of Lent we tend to look at ourselves in a self examination of how it is that we sin. What causes us to sin, what actions do we get ourselves into that make others look at us as sinners. Young people are amazing when given the chance. Recently , I was reading a paper written by a young person about the 10 commandments. Given the age of this person she felt that the only commandment she was in charge of (to this point in her life) was….Thou shall not sin. Her definition of sin was, doing all the things my parents tell me not to and then they go and do it themselves! Pretty thoughtful or observant of this youngster. Our children do watch us, they do listen to us. I had the joy of spending a few hours with some family and friends the other day. Our conversation was about the governing body of government in our hometown. We talked about a city council the fired the mayor and what circumstances created such action. We discussed school boards, past, present and future. Our third topic was the one that came into light about the commandments. Many years ago a citizen of the community has been falsely accused of inappropriate misconduct. There was a lengthy trial with many young people and parents called to the witness stand. The jury found the adult guilty and he served his time, claiming his innocence the entire time he was in prison. After serving his time he made the decision to return to the state in which he grew up in. I am reminded of another man who was falsely accused and who went and served his time on our behalf. BOTH of these men have forgiven their accusers. So why is it so hard for us to forgive one another? Why is it that we find the 10 Commandments hard to follow? This is the season to think about how God is leading us and how we need to forgive others for the wrongs they commit against us. In these words let us walk with Jesus to the cross and not hang there for eternity. Let us be the Christians we are called to be and offer forgiveness. That’s what God does and what Jesus taught. Ephesians 4:31-32 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.