FATHER UBALD - A STORY OF FORGIVENESS by Paul Montgomery

No matter how great or small, forgiveness is a powerful tool when applied through the power of God. We can easily forgive the little matters in life when we want to push through adversity from a friend or loved one and move forward. But what about sincere forgiveness, Christ-like forgiveness for matters far worse than we can ever imagine or feel? Well, here's a story of just that kind of forgiveness and magnitude. You want to talk about freedom? You want to talk about the healing power of forgiveness? Just listen to this man's story........


The origins of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are complex and the ethnic divisions in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis are longstanding. Tribal polarization exploded after the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, who was a Hutu, and in a period of one hundred days, more than 800,000 people were systematically and violently murdered.

In the midst of this killing, Father Ubald Rugirangoga, a Catholic priest whose Tutsi father had been murdered in the 1962 overthrow of the Rwandan government and who had been himself threatened
by fellow seminarians in the 1980's, was forced to flee first to his bishop's residence and then to the Congo in return for a promise by the Hutus not to harm the people of his parish. As soon as he left, the Hutu members of his large parish betrayed this promise and brutally murdered approximately 45,000 Tutsi members of his parish. More than 80 members of his immediate and extended family, including his mother, were exterminated within the first two weeks of the massacre.

Before fleeing, Father Ubald promised his bishop that he would return to bring healing to his people. The massacre finally ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) regained power, but grief-stricken survivors were left bewildered by the intensity of the evil that had been unleashed in their country. Survivors of all ethnic groups experienced profound guilt: guilt for killing, guilt for surviving, guilt for not doing enough to prevent or mitigate the conflicts. Many sought revenge, but as has been said, "There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness."

Father Ubald spent many months in prayer and his tears filled a river before he made his way to Lourdes, France. It was there, as he meditated on the stations of the Cross, that he heard God tell him to release his sorrows and "pick up his cross." God filled his heart with a forgiveness that can only come from God. Subsequently, he met with and forgave the mayor of his town, who was the man who ordered the murder of Father Ubald's own mother. Father Ubald took responsibility for that man's children, treating them as his own and even paying for their schooling.

Father Ubald is a man who radiates the purity of God's grace and preached on forgiveness and reconciliation. He has built a center in Rwanda, called The Secret Of Peace which will minister to the people of Rwanda and the surrounding areas.

As Jesus called out for forgiveness for the people responsible for his death, this act of forgiveness from a man is a resemblance of the nature of God. Who can we not forgive?

 Paul Montgomery

A Time Of Innocence

It seems as though through the years we have become a bit more cynical than optimistic on people and circumstance. There was a time when trust and endearment were a bit more easier to come by. We all have been used and abused by people lacking empathy and justice. This is precisely where my faith and trust in Christ come in very handy. More so, a way of life. We should know and understand that God is in control of all things and that we are to have peace and refuge in the things we don't necessarily understand. People and circumstance outside of God's heavenly realm are going to achieve things their own way. Keeping on guard and being shrewd in adversity is always a good thing to perform regularly. However, sometimes we don't always know the intent of a person's action and therefore can unjustly judge the circumstance or true intent. I believe to remain loving and showing kindness will always trump the bitter thoughts of the unknown. When we were young, life seemed to have inflicted it's uncanny ability to blind us with a more false sense of sweetness and charm. Although there was plenty of real goodness in the world, we had a certain innocence to some unearthed behavior. This is great for a child. God's way of covering what needs to be learned and experienced. If we can just harness the innocence of that of a child and couple it with kindness, love and the understanding of indifference, that not all have given their lives over to saving grace, we can then begin to learn how to live at peace in an unjust world.

http://www.paulmontgomerymusic.com

Remembering 9/11

In honor of those that lost their lives and those fighting for our freedom, I needed to write down my peace and remembrance of this horrific event that still clings to the fabric of our spirit and our country's history. Every year since this senseless and evil act of violence, we see programs on TV showing everything about this tragic event. Now we can see much more of what lead up to it. It's really hard to understand that with all the intelligence that was received beforehand, that such an atrocity could be pulled off. Evil will though have it's way and it's day. It is especially hard to see people jumping from the buildings. We just can't imagine what it must have been like that the only alternative was to jump. I cry every time I see this. I know that we stand strong and are a resilient country that is proud of who we are. But we will never forget. We obviously spent too much time and money retaliating. The terrorists I'm sure love the fact that we went head first into a financial crisis that we are still trying to recover from. But we'll get back. Our message could have been said and spent in less than a year. Just my opinion. The real issue above all of this is something that has always been and won't end until Jesus returns with his mighty army. And that is hatred. This eternal choice ( which some don't even understand the meaning ), is so finite. If we could just go one day on this earth with no violence we would probably overwhelm God to send the kingdom now. If we know forgiveness we understand that we don't carry this along and relieve ourselves of internal hatred. We can forgive and let God have it all. He'll be best to sort it all out in the coming days. But as another year comes to pass, I want to remember the families, the hero's, the victims and the event that shook this great nation and will forever be in our hearts. God bless the USA!     www.paulmontgomerymusic.com

"There is no one to sponsor me"

Kanini, 13, herds cattle in exchange for food. Every couple of days, he receives a small amount of porridge — barely enough for one person, yet he always carries some home to share with his ailing grandmother.

"[She] cannot do anything to fend for herself," he explains.

Struggling to survive in southern Zambia, Kanini and his grandmother have few options. Both of Kanini’s parents are dead. His grandmother is well into her eighties and is too weak to work. Each worries about the well-being of the other.

"Even if I go for many days without food," says Kanini's grandmother, "it is all right, as long as my grandchild tells me that he ate something."

Their neighbor, Rose, offers to share her food, but there's little to go around. Rose is a widow caring for 10 children of her own.

As rising food prices push basic commodities like rice and cooking oil beyond reach, the community is fracturing. People used to share their food freely — especially with the elderly. Now it's more difficult to do so.

"The hunger situation here is dividing us," says Rose. "Very few people will harvest enough this year."

Still, Kanini dreams about the future. He desperately wants to attend school and take care of his grandmother. But he won't be able to do it alone.

"I don’t go to school," he says, "because there is no one to sponsor me."

For about $1 a day, you can help provide a child like Kanini with access to life’s most basic necessities — things like nutritious food, education, clean water, health care, and economic opportunities for their caregivers.

Change a life. Sponsor a child today. Visit  www.worldvision.org/helpachild.

Why Does God Allow Suffering

Why does God allow suffering?

This is a question asked around the world. Why would God allow people to suffer at the hands of enemies. From the beginning of time there has been countless sufferings and killings to mankind. Wars, tortures and senseless atrocities that have become staple to an evil way of life. This evil has caused many to fall from the belief that God exists or that he must be an unjust God. Why would he simply allow it? How can I follow God when these things happen around the world? These are questions that many ask to each other and to God himself. An explanation is at hand.

First, if God stopped every evil that is in the world then we would no longer have the right to choose. We would not be human as we know it. God understands evil because he created the very being that cursed this world with it. Would we all prefer to be robots controlled by a master puppet? Or do we enjoy the free will given us to make choices for ourselves? Do we make good choices and then God steps in and pulls out the bad ones? Yeah that's it. Just have God take away every bad thought, choice and circumstance from our life and go around with half a will. Right? That's not free will to me. It's our choices that make who we are. I must say I do enjoy being fully me with the character that I have created from God's template. (Although I could have made better choices along the way.) God will vindicate those that have been subject to choices made by evil. Sometimes even now. But a time will come when all stand before his throne to give account. This you can be assured. We must wait and be patient.

God did not allow suffering from a distance. He placed himself right in the midst of it here on earth. We not only believe in God, but we also believe he is the creator of all things and can do anything. He can certainly become any form he chooses. He chose to come into our dark world from his safety in heaven and become a man (Jesus). He suffered greatly at the hands of evil just like the rest of the world. We can certainly love and respect anyone who would stand up for us like that. The only difference of his suffering from the rest of us is that his was atoning for our sins.

In the bible God said we must suffer for a little while on earth. Originally the earth was made for us to enjoy and prosper. But man and all his foolishness ripped apart the very design God had intended. Evil took over. We must wait until we have reached the afterlife in eternity to discover what God had originally intended for us. If we can just look past what we alone have managed to mess up from God's creation, we can reach for him through Jesus Christ (which is how God says we must) and be taken away from evil forever.

Please leave your comments.

by Paul Montgomery
www.paulmontgomerymusic.com

ENTERING THE KINGDOM

by Paul Montgomery
www.paulmontgomerymusic.com


What about Lord, Lord. I call out to you? How about all the good things I have done?
Didn't I ask for forgiveness many times? I've never hurt or killed anyone. Didn't I tell other people about you. Did I not pray over some to even cast out the enemy?.........DO NOT be prepared for these questions when standing before Jesus.
He could still say "I never knew you". Wow! What a reality. To do these things and still not have a relationship with the Lord will be terrifying. Pray that whatever it takes, he would know us on that day and say "welcome my faithful servant." Let's obey him and not keep doing the things over and over that would hurt that relationship. Yes, we ask forgiveness for something. Let's not take advantage of it and keep pounding ourselves with constant sin. Repent and try hard to walk away and always ask for the strength in our weakness. Remember, we want a relationship with him, not a religious experience. I need Jesus to know me on that day. Whatever it takes, show us that way Lord! Tell us in your voice or through others. We are trusting you to never leave us. He also trusts us that we will seek after him with all our heart, mind and strength. Bring into our life compassion, mercy and grace towards all. Doesn't matter if we agree with a certain lifestyle. We must have tolerance, acceptance and love for all God's people. If we seek the kingdom, seek to really know him (through his word as well) and pray that he reveals to us what it takes for that to happen, then I believe that on that very day of standing before the Lord of the universe he will say "COME WITH ME!"

The Effective Witness

How To Be an Effective Witness
by Paul Montgomery
www.paulmontgomerymusic.com

Have you ever wondered how to tell someone that what you believe of the kingdom of God is true? You are not alone. Most believers are a bit timid when it comes to their witness. Rejection can almost always shut the door in an effective witness account. Most people will say they believe in God and Jesus, and being a good person should suffice to get to heaven. So how then do we tell our loved ones, friends or even strangers the good news of the coming kingdom of God without fear? Starting out telling people that Jesus loves you and wants to have a relationship with you and you must be saved in order to receive eternity with him is a fact and will usually put people on the defense. We want to be on the offense, but not offensive. First I can tell you as believers we are commanded to and must be prepared in and out of season with our witness testimony. Once a seed has been planted, God will do the rest. We must be willing to get a little dirty and get out of our comfort zone and dig some dirt. (sow some seed).

Well I have some good news! I have devised a short story that can not only be a great way to witness to anyone anytime, but will also keep you at a high degree of comfort that will continue to boost your confidence in your witness to come. We love Jesus and we want to tell people about him. That he is not religious, but relational. Unbelievers confuse this part. Religion has turned away the seeing heart. Jesus despised religion and called it out. So the next time someone says they don't need religion, you can tell them that they are right!

Here's what you say:
People love a good analogy. Jesus spoke in parables, so let's give people that very same teaching in the form of an analogy. So let's give them a current one. I like to tell people a story about purchasing something at the store. For me I use the big screen TV analogy. I start out by asking the question: If you went to the store and bought a brand new big screen TV and the cashier asked "do you want to purchase the warranty for this item"? Finding out it's a bit too much the customer replies " I think I'll pass, it's a bit too much." Then the store manager comes over and says, " today we're having a special and the warranty is free of charge." Well who wouldn't take it. Since the warranty was paid for already, the customer loved it and took it. Then I go on to say that God works the same way. He gave his paid warranty through the sacrifice of his son Jesus. This sacrifice is the warranty of a lifetime that is not only free, but guaranteed for ever! If we don't take the warranty, then like the TV we will be on our own if something happens. I go on to say that being inside a circle of a warranty is so much safer than outside of it. Outside the circle is like playing a hand at poker. A risk that is not guaranteed a winning hand. Is it worth the risk I would add? Telling them getting the warranty is easy and not religious. To be in the circle of the guarantee, all they have to do is tell God that they want it! Simple right? At least it gives the listener something to think about. You get to witness without being offensive and God can do what he does. Enjoy the journey! Please leave a comment on what you think.