If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him,
-2 Corinthians 2:10

I love to look at statistics, numbers, trends and figures. I always have. They reveal a story. Sometimes, that story is not as obvious as other times; but sometimes it is unbelievably clear.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
-Colossians 1:13

Dominion...such a powerful word. It comes complete with all sorts of connotation, mostly not at all too pleasant. The dictionary defines it as follows: The power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority.

October is pastor appreciation month (some call it clergy appreciation month). How about that? I didn't know that until this morning. I didn't know that there was such a thing. Apparently there is. That is pretty cool, actually.

But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.
Mark 14:31

Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."
Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
-Mark 3:1-4

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.
-Luke 2:48-51