A pastor opened his mail one day. Inside one envelope was a sheet of paper with just one word written on it – “FOOL.”
The next Sunday, the pastor took that sheet into the pulpit. He announced, “I have received a few letters over the years, in which the writer forgot to sign his name.” Then, holding up the paper, he said, “But this week, I got a letter from someone who signed their name, but forgot to write the letter.”
Here’s my view – every anonymous letter has a fool for its author. Jesus was clear. He said that if someone offends you, you are commanded to . . . (three words):
Talk
To
Him.
Look it up. It’s in Matthew 18:15-17. If you need to make amends, make things right, or share your heart in some other way, talk to him.
Recovery Step: Don’t let your refusal to talk to the other person stand in the way of your personal recovery.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
