I got this in my email today. Thought it was worth sharing and the first bulleted paragraph really spoke to me. *ouch* <P>The pain of any divorce can seem excruciating, but an unexpected or unwanted breakup can devastate those left behind. Often these hurting women and men feel bewildered, numb, and lost. They wonder where was God when their wedding vows went up in flames.<P>God grieves with you when an unfaithful spouse says, I just don't love you anymore, and He longs to bring comfort and healing to<BR>your broken heart.<P>For those devastated by unwelcome divorce:<P> * Adultery is evil, and God hates it. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (Heb. 13:4). When someone gets involved sexually with a person other than his or her spouse, it's not an affair or fooling around - it's adultery. Adultery cuts at the heart of what it means to be married. When a person is unfaithful, he or she violates a commitment designed to mirror the faithfulness of God Himself.<P> * Don't blame God. No one is forced to commit adultery. No one can say they didn't know it was wrong. God has given us the freedom to choose how we shall act. God cannot be blamed for the wicked choices of sinful people. The responsibility for sin belongs to the sinner alone.<P> * You must take responsibility for your own sin. Your sin is no one's fault but your own - not your parents for your upbringing, your spouse for neglect, or the sexual partner for entrapment. The tendency is to shift the blame for your sin.<P> * God can soothe the pain. Don't ever entertain the thought that God abandoned you at the same time your spouse did. God<BR>never walks out on you, although you may walk away from Him. In John 4 a woman - scarred, bitter, angry, and confused by five ugly divorces - met Jesus. He caused her to confront her failures and offered her forgiveness and hope. She left Him with vibrant enthusiasm and healing for her ravaged soul.<P> * God can heal broken relationships. Divorce is ugly and always leaves painful wounds, but Jesus is an expert at bringing reconciliation to warring parties. Even when the marriage cannot be saved or restored, personal reconciliation can take place.<P> * God can be your husband. When marriages cannot be restored, there is hope. For your Maker is your husband - the Lord Almighty is His name - the Holy of one of Israel is your Redeemer, He is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected (Is. 54:5-6). God longs to bring you the joy and contentment that your failed marriage could never deliver. He loves you and will never reject you. He asks only that you give Him your heart, as broken as it may be.<P> * Reject bitterness by forgiving the one who hurt you. The pain of divorce, left to itself, usually transforms itself into<BR>bitterness for the rejected spouse - and the children as well. You must forgive your ex-spouse. It isn't easy, and the spouse doesn't deserve it. But say out loud, I forgive him/her. It's in the past. Like God in Christ forgave me, I've forgiven him/her. Only then will you be free. By forgiving the one who hurt you, you release yourself from the prison of hate.<P>-----------<BR> Luis Palau is an international evangelist who speaks to people through radio and TV broadcasts in 104 countries, and face-to-face to 13 million more people in 68 nations. He is the author of several books, including God is Relevant. Luis and his wife, Patricia, have four grown sons and live in Portland, Ore.<P> From Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? by Luis Palau, copyright (c) 1999.

<BR>Last time I checked, God considered all sinners worthy of forgiveness. Also, God does not consider one person's sin to be better than another person's sin. All sin is the same in God's eyes. We have all sinned, and are all capable of receiving God's forgiveness, no matter what the offense.<P>

azhootie, thanks for sharing this.<P>TheStudent, where did you read that God didn't consider all sinners worthy of forgiveness in those passages? I read that He did. <P>I also believe an important message is here -- let go of the bitterness that can consume you and go forward. If you don't do this, you are putting your own life on hold indefinitely.

Conner,<P>quote:<BR>You must forgive your ex-spouse. It<BR>isn't easy, and the spouse doesn't deserve it.<P><p>[This message has been edited by TheStudent (edited March 17, 2000).]

Philosophical... moral... religious... thoughts are internally difficult... and very personal.<P>For introspection... for self...<P>Is forgiveness given to the unrepentant?...<BR>Or are graces given in the hope of repentance?<P>Are all sins really the same in God's eyes?... Are there not laws against nature(of God) that supercede laws that man might make?... killing?... stealing?... adultery?...<P>Is divorce the sin?... or adultery?<P>With or without forgiveness(from fellow man or from God)... are there not consequences all are forced to deal with?

For scriptural Christians...<P>Please... education of waywards is in most cases a <A HREF="http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi3400_lovebust.html" TARGET=_blank>Love Buster</A>.<BR>For the faithful spouse... reflection... forgiveness... and love... not vindication... is what should be sought.<P>---------------------------------------------<P>Fornication and adultery are <B>not</B> unforgivable sins, <B>if repented</B>...<BR>...<I>Matthew 21:31-32</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Which of the two was obeying his father? "They replied, "The first, of course. "Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.<P>For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>...<I>Titus 3:3-5</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.<P>But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love.<P>He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>...<I>Revelation 2:21</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>A. Some examples in scripture (in which God forgave the offense): <BR>1. <B>Rahab the harlot</B>... <I>Joshua 2:1; 6:17, cp. Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia. He instructed them, "Spy out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.<P>The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>2. <B>King David</B>... <I>2 Samuel 12:13, cp. 11:4</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."Nathan replied, "Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>3. <B>The prodigal son</B>... <I>Luke 15:30, 32</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.<P>We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>4. <B>The woman in the temple</B>... <I>John 8:3-11</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. Then the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord," she said.And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>5. <B>Early church believers</B>... <I>1 Corinthians 6:9-11</I> "such were (p.t.) some of you: but ye are washed..." <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God. Thee was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>B. However, we sometimes must face punishing consequences in this life (according to the law of sowing and reaping). <BR>...<I>2 Samuel 12:11-14</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"'Because of what you have done, I, the LORD, will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will do this to you openly in the sight of all Israel.'" Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."Nathan replied, "Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin. But you have given the enemies of the LORD great opportunity to despise and blaspheme him, so your child will die."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>C. Many will never repent of the offense and for them there can be no forgiveness. <BR>...<I>2 Corinthians 12:21</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>...<I>Revelation 9:21</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>1. "Being past feeling," and having a "seared conscience," they gave "them selves over unto lasciviousness (Lit., sensuality; erotic lust)." <BR>...<I>Ephesians 4:19</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>2. Therefore, "God gave them up" (they became reprobate). <BR>...<I>Romans 1:28-29, 32</I><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. <P>They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>---------------------------------------------<P>The above (and more) was found at <A HREF="http://members.xoom.com/DianeDew/adulforn.htm" TARGET=_blank>Adultery & Fornication</A>... by Diane S. Dew (copyrighted)<P>An interesting site I found when reasearching this a bit was <A HREF="http://www.probe.org/docs/adultery.html" TARGET=_blank>Adultery</A> by Kerby Anderson (with references to Harley and Pittman and Bonnie Eaker Weil)<p>[This message has been edited by NSR (edited March 19, 2000).]