Are there any Christians on this site anymore?

[baumgrenze]

koneill08,

Thank you for a thoughtful response. Perhaps we should be saying "forgive us our transgressions..."

It is hard to find anyone these days who doesn't want punishment, even violent, vengeful punishment for anyone who seriously wrongs them or someone they love. At the same time, they look to God for grace in response to their own transgressions. The net result is a growing prison population of individuals whose recidivism rate is skyrocketing, those who are eventually released, that is. We can't do anything to prepare them for reentry into the 'real world' because it costs too much and is 'soft on crime;' we need the whole budget for more guards, more prisons, you get the picture. Would that someone with a bully pulpit would begin to preach about being 'smart on crime.'

Your thoughtful reply reminds me that I posted the link below to this thread sometime last year. It might have escaped your notice. I think you will find it interesting reading:

http://www.sharktacos.com/God/cross_intro.shtml

God bless,

baumgrenze