An Apology From The Publisher
In so far as it lieth in you, live at peace with all men
Dear Friends (and Otherwise):
As I write this, on September 15th, 2004, the twentieth
anniversary of my Real new life in Christ is rapidly approaching.
For it was on January 15th, in the Year of our Lord 1985, that I put
aside my former manner of living, and took up the cross of Christ:
A light yoke, and an easy burden, I have always considered it, when
compared with the misery of my previous life, devoid of the com-
forting presence of His Holy Spirit.
In these nearly twenty years, there has been much that is
good; but there has been also much that is not so good; in fact, a great
deal too much, and some of it a very far cry from good. On the
lighter end - though not in the eyes of the Lord, to whom all dis-
obedience is grievous, and has consequences we might not fully
realize til "We all get to Heaven" - there was The Incident of the
Rose Bush: something like Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe and the
Story of the Prawns, still hidden in the unpublished memoirs of
Sir Galahad Threepwood. And on the weightier, just this morn-
I let my son down in an important matter; it will be okay, with
his forgiveness; but, my gosh, I ought to be so much more reli-
able than I am.
However, especially in my first few years of New
Life, there were other matters of great moment. There have
been people I've lost touch with, merely by the hurly-burly
of time; there have been others I've lost touch with because
of my own sheer sloth. To both groups, should any of their
members happen to stumble upon this page, I say: I've not
forgotten you; I still think of you, and pray for you as I think
of you. And to those total strangers I met at gas stations and
the like, and whom I promised to call and check up on, and
never got around to it, or did, but too late to find them at the
number given, please forgive me, and I pray I'll see you again
and get another shot at being a faithful friend.
Then there are those whom I might inadvertently
have offended by sheer effusiveness; whose toes I might
have trodden upon without at all meaning to: To them I
say, in all honesty, whatever you think I meant, was prob-
ably not what I did mean; because, in all truth, throughout
my Christian life I've been very careful with my words,
that they would be encouraging, courteous, and good for
the need of the moment. And I am not conscious of any-
thing said heedlessly. My actions have not always followed
those words; and I have been horribly remiss in always
doing what I've said I would do. But if I've somehow
carelessly given offense, I ask your forgiveness. And to
whomever fits into any of these categories, fore or aft, please
contact me, and I'll do my best to make it right.
There are others to whom I spoke sharply, when
I should have been patient, or whom I rebuked when I
should have encouraged. Of course, I have known more
mule-headed people almost than Moses did, so some of
this is not entirely my fault; and there are those who took
offense because I said what a friend had to say; neverthe-
less, to both of these I ask at least: Forgive me for any im-
patience I might have evidenced, in dealing with any prob-
lems you might have had. Over and over.
I have, far too often, let slide my commitments:
Let your yes be yes, and your no, no saith the Lord. For
crying out loud, I've still got some library books belonging
to my previous church. Checked out in...1989!
And then there are more serious matters. Jesus
says that, if you cause one of these little ones to stumble,
it would be better to have a mill stone hung around your
neck, and be pitched into the sea. People are precious,
every single one of them, and immeasurably valuable;
and, I am sad to say, in my earlier days, I did not always
attain to the standard set by the Bible, expected by the
Lord, and exampled by Jim Elliot or Sir Philip Sidney,
for purity in thought and deed, high honor, or obediance
regardless of my own stupid wishes. Most of the time, I
did; but on a couple of occasions, I did not, though I knew
better. And that is inexcusable. It is not my desire, nor my
place, to add more self-interest, compromise, and hurt -
in short, Sin - to this already sin plagued world; but I
have, and for that, may the Lord forgive me (He promises
to do so), and may those whom I have wronged forgive also.
I am happy to report that, for the last several
years, my biggest problem is that I have a tendency to
approach life and ministry in my own strength, rather
than in the power of, and submissive to, the Lord; and
that, rather than taking the quiet time to be with Him,
as He desires to be with me, for my own good and
comfort and pleasure, I charge ahead being busy.
Which is just really stupid. I do not pray as fervently
and as ceaselessly as I ought, which would be for my
own good and comfort and pleasure. Which is just
really stupid. And, I do not daily set aside time in
His precious Word, which would be for my own good
and comfort and pleasure. Which is just really stupid.
I write these things as I approach my twentieth
real birthday. This is The CommonPlace, after
all, and we should all be bound together by mutual love,
and the unity of believers Paul speaks of to the Corinth-
ians, another mule-headed lot if ever there was one.
May the next twenty be such, that I might not regret
a word I say, a deed I do, or (good luck), a thought I
think, if the Lord spares me, or tarries. May they be so
for you also, and those who have ought against me, I
beseech your forgiveness, and pray for your blessing.
Love,
David
P.S. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy
lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy
tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse
me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin
is ever before me.
Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done
what is evil in thy sight: so that Thou art justified
when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou
dost judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me.
Behold, Thou desirest truth in the innermost being,
and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know
wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which
Thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy
Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain
me with a willing spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners
shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou of my
salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy
righteousness.
O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew
forth Thy praise.
For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice; else would I
give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken
and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Signed,
David