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Volume 4
When Your Childhood Home Isn't Safe: Finding Sanctuary
Thursday, January 10, 2013
My Star of Hope By Caroline Fei–Yeng Kwok
Thursday, February 07, 2013
It's Time to Wake Up and Stop the Violence: A Response to the Newtown Tragedy By Oryx Cohen
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Recovery and Psychiatric Registrars By Anthony Stratford
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Recovery
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Integrating Recovery Into Nursing Practice By Jeffery Ramirez
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Contentment By Mitchell Klein
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Eating Out By Jason Jepson
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Center for Dignity, Recovery and Stigma Elimination By Eduardo Vega
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Living a Schism of Existence By Jenna Rai Miller
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Emotional CPR By Lauren Spiro
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Fighting the Good Fight By Kim Rosello
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Person-Centered Recovery Planning in an Inpatient Setting By Laurel E. Blackman
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Running for Recovery By Jen Banathy
Thursday, August 22, 2013
How to Access Information and Resources on Prescription Drug Abuse
Thursday, September 05, 2013
What a Difference a Day Makes By Keith Jamison
Thursday, September 19, 2013
I Stopped Weighting
Thursday, October 17, 2013
How You Can Help Prevent Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness By John M. Grohol
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Personal and Organizational Story of Transformation By Kathyann Corl
Thursday, December 05, 2013
My Recovery to Practice Journey By Donna Riemer
Thursday, December 19, 2013
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Book your room at Poli Hotel
Standard Twin RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
Standard Double RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
Triple RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
SuiteMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Quadruple RoomMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children)
Standard Single Room, 1 Single BedMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Double Room Single UseMax Occupancy: 1 guest
4-star hotel with a restaurant in San Vittore Olona (Fiera Milano Rho)
This hotel is located in San Vittore Olona (Fiera Milano Rho), close to Legnano Hospital, Castle Park Legnano, and Chiesa di Sant Ambrogio. Local attractions also include Basilica di San Magno and Parco del Roccolo.
Hotel Features
In addition to a restaurant, Poli Hotel features a bar/lounge. Other amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access and complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access.
Room Amenities
In addition to LCD televisions with satellite channels, guestrooms include complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms come with bathtubs or showers and designer toiletries.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
At your hotel
At your hotel
The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A complimentary breakfast is offered. High-speed wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary.
This 4-star property offers access to a business center and a meeting room. This business-friendly hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, multilingual staff, and a garden. Onsite valet parking is complimentary.
Poli Hotel has designated areas for smoking.
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Babysitting or childcare
- Concierge services
- Designated smoking areas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 56
- Number of floors - 4
- Bar/lounge
- Business center
- Free breakfast
- Elevator/lift
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Garden
- Airport transportation
- Luggage storage
- One meeting room
- Multilingual staff
- Free valet parking
- Restaurant
- Room service (limited hours)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Park your car
Free valet parking
In your room
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Bathtub or shower
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Pay movies
- Air conditioning
- Complimentary newspaper
- Phone
- Minibar
- Turndown service
- Designer toiletries
- Private bathroom
- Hair dryer
- Slippers
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Satellite TV service
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Soundproofed rooms
- Climate control
- First-run movies
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
Eat and drink
Guests are offered a complimentary buffet breakfast.
Poli Hotel has a restaurant on site.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Bicycle rentals on site
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- In-room accessibility
The fine print for Poli Hotel
When you arrive
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is noon
How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Your pets
Pets allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 999.99, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation. This property offers transfers from the airport. Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 6 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Full Trailer for 'The Master' Has Me Saying Only One Word...Wow!
The Weinstein Company has now officially released the first full trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's, The Master. As GTBP's unofficial cheerleader/man on the street reporter for all things Master related; I would like to offer up this simple yet elegant response to the what I've seen and what you are about to witness… "Holy s*** dude, this looks so awesome"! You may be thinking that I am just a fanboy run amok with excitement. I can't deny that, but honestly, this may end up being even better than There Will Be Blood.
I love the sort of mental and physical brutality that Anderson brings to his movies. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think we can put him at the head of the class when it comes to filmmakers in Hollywood. And the intensity found in the trailer, wow, for a movie that on paper looks to be a little tedious given the subject matter, again I think we can all safely assume that will not be the case.
What else do I love about what I've seen? Well, I love every bit of Philip Seymour Hoffman's dialogue. He has that calm yet controlling demeanor. I love that we get to see more of Amy Adam's character (she will be playing the wife of Hoffman's Lancaster Dodd), and I love what we see with the scenes in the prison. This movie has a very heavy Stanley Kubrick vibe and if anyone is going to take on the legacy he left behind, P.T is the man for the job.
Well, that's my super amped up fanboy opinion. This is the movie of the fall for me. The Master looks to convert us all into believers on Oct 12th.


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IMDB Rating :
Release Date :
10 January 2014 (USA)
Director :
Peter Berg
Stars :
Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Eric Bana, Jerry Ferrara, Alexander Ludwig
Writers :
Peter Berg, Marcus Luttrell (book)
Movie Plot :
Based on the unsuccessful July 28, 2005 objective "Operation Red Wings". Four associates of SEAL Group 10 were given the job of the objective to catch or destroy well known Taliban innovator Ahmad Shahd.
Tags :


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High-pressure woodgrain laminate worksurface helps resist damage from daily wear-and-tear. High-sided file drawer with full-extension triple-tied cradles and spring-loaded follower block; box drawer extends three-quarters on nylon rollers. Center drawer with HON® "One Key" core removable lock secures all desk drawers. Convenient wire management system. Conrtemporary arched drawer pulls. Legs ship unattached. Platinum metallic legs. Top Shape: Rectangular; Top Color/Finish: Natural Maple; Width: 66 in; Depth: 30 in.
Dimensions: 66" Wide x 30" Deep x 29 1/2" High
Shipping Weight: 162 lbs.


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7 Stocks for a Housing Rebound
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- Housing starts have been on a steady rise since February 2011 and have registered 700,000 or more since November 2011 (with a minor blip to 697,000 in December 2011).
- Building permits have to the most part followed the trend in housing starts.
- The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index has surged since September 2011to levels not seen since June 2007. The index gauges builder perception of single-family-home sales and sales expectations for the next six months.
- New-single-family-home sales bottomed in February 2011 and have risen to a level not seen since April 2010. However, the 2009-2010 single-family-home sales were bolstered by Federal tax credits, which no longer exist.
- The S&P/Case-Shiller Composite 20 City YOY Index of Home Prices, while still negative, has improved since April 2011
- Mortgage rates remain at historic low levels and should remain so for several years.
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It's a long way to the top 10.
A Facebook campaign to get AC/DC's 1979 single 'Highway To Hell' to the top of the British singles chart for Christmas has come surprisingly close to succeeding, with the song reaching No. 4.
It is the first time AC/DC has made it into the top 10 singles in Britain and comes a week before the 40th anniversary (on December 31) of the band's first gig.
The Facebook page devoted to the campaign, organised by the same group that rallied to push Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing in the Name Of' to No. 1 in 2009, has more than 170,000 'likes'.
The campaign was originally to prevent singles produced by reality show The X Factor reaching the top spot, after dominating the charts for the previous four years.
After the 2009 campaign, 'Killing in the Name Of' was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest selling digital track in Britain, following 502,672 downloads in the first week of the campaign. To celebrate and thank fans, Rage Against The Machine played a free concert to 40,000 people in London in 2010.
Other campaigns have tried to achieve similar success. In 2010, 'Surfin' Bird' by the Trashmen got to No. 3 and John Cage's experimental piece 4' 33", which is 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence, reached the 21st spot.
It is a remarkable achievement for AC/DC. When the track was released in 1979, it reached only the 40th spot on British charts - and 24th in Australia. Until now, their highest entry on the British charts was 1988's 'Heatseeker', which peaked at No. 12.
The winning track this year was a cover of Demi Lovato's 'Skyscraper', sung by X Factor UK winner Sam Bailey.
- Sydney Morning Herald
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Share your comments
The runaway friend : a Kirsten mystery
Kathleen Ernst
Children's Fiction American Girl mysteries
Kathleen Ernst
Children's Fiction American Girl mysteries
What other readers are saying about this title:
afrenz said:
Very cool.
posted Mar 28, 2009 at 4:42PM
Add a Comment
|Submission Guidelines
Find this title in the Library Catalog
Kirsten Larson
Swedish American
Needed Erik's help with the harvest and he owes Uncle Olav money; doesn't believe he ran away from his responsibilities, but that he is in trouble and tries to find him.
Erik Sandahl
Neighbor and friend of Kirsten; disappears from his house;.


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Woodworker's Journal
Chris Marshall: I use two different approaches for setting accurate bevel tilts, but both of my suggestions will probably require you a smallish tool purchase or two. The first is to use an adjustable bevel gauge (the classic type with a blade you can swivel and lock to any angle setting) and an angle-finding device such as Sutherland Tools's Bevel Boss. The Bevel Boss is simplicity itself: it's just a piece of stainless steel with long angle markings on it ranging from 0 to 50 degrees, in quarter-degree increments. I love this thing. Hold the bevel gauge body against the edge of the plate and swing the blade until it lines up with the angle you need. Lock the bevel gauge and use it as a reference for tilting your saw blade, just as you would with a triangle. You'll be spot on. (I believe there are similar devices to the Bevel Boss on the market now, too.) My second suggestion is to use a digital angle finder that clamps magnetically to your saw blade. Set the blade to 0 degrees, calibrate the angle finder to 0 degrees by pushing a button, then crank the blade over until the angle finder reads the angle you want. It's also perfectly simple to use. Wixey invented it, and now there are numerous knockoffs of the same device. I go with these two approaches because an ordinary "school" type protractor is too small to give me the degree of accuracy I want when setting blade angles with a bevel gauge.
Tim Inman: I'm not sure from your question whether you're wanting to build a barrel or a pie with your slats. (In other words, are the angles to be cut on the edges or the faces of the boards?) Either way, the angled cuts are set up using similar techniques. To set the appropriate device (saw blade, bevel jigor rip fence, etc.) at the 10 degree angle, you need a basic protractor and a bevel gauge. Use the protractor to set the bevel gauge to the 10 degree angle you have specified. Double check your angles. I'd recommend laying this out with scrap cardboard or something quick and easy to make sure you're right. Once the bevel gauge is set, and the angles confirmed, use the gauge to transfer the angle settings to your saw.
So much for geometry. Now for some practical shop technique: Setting the EXACT right angle, and then cutting the EXACT right angle is virtually impossible. So here's what I do. Set up the tooling as close as you can; be precise. Then, divide and conquer. Do partial glue-ups of sections. I'd suggest quarters or halves of your shape. Mate the angled edges or faces tightly and glue them up. Let the glue set for the required time, depending upon your glue product. After the sections are dried and hard, refit these sections together to make them join perfectly with their mates -- the other glued-up sections. In other words, recut the half-sections or the quarter-sections to make them fit EXACTLY -- even though the angle might be slightly compromised. It is much better to have the joints closely fitted and tight than to worry about precise geometry and angles. This is much easier to show than tell, but hopefully, my words will give you the idea. Read about segmented turning glue-up techniques if I'm not being clear enough or if you want to see how others have done this. The segmented turners have used this trick for years, and your problem parallels theirs.


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Delta Marker
Customer Feedback
For the scenario or woodsball player who wants realism, Battle Tested Paintball offers the Delta paintball gun. Based on the world's most recognizable sub-machine gun in the world, Empire BT has created a compact, accurate paintball marker that looks like it should be carried by SEALs. The Delta has a lightweight, balanced construction for all day play and an adjustable stock for a comfortable firing position.The clamping feed-neck will accept loaders without the need for tools, or upgrade to a Rip Clip™ for HALO™ powered force feed loading. It has a modular trigger, so taking it apart for cleaning is simple, and easily upgrades to the Double Trigger or the Electronic Grip Frame for increased firepower. The compact Delta is an accurate, reliable paintball gun with an authentic look that will help you and your team reign supreme on the battlefield.
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Warning: You must be 18 or older to order this product. By ordering you certify that that you are at least 18 years old and satisfy your jurisdiction's legal requirements to purchase this product. Empirepaintball.com relies on this representation in completing this sale.
This is not a toy. Misuse may cause serious injury or death. Eye protection designed specifically for paintball must be worn by the user and persons within range.
California Residents: This product may be mistaken for a firearm by law enforcement officers or others. Altering the color of the product or brandishing the product in public may be dangerous and may be considered a crime.
We cannot ship this product to addresses outside of the United States or to any address in New York City.


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In-View Free Standing Literature Display - 5 Pockets
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Key Features
- 5 clear acrylic compartments hold magazines, brochures, catalogs and more
- GREENGUARD certified
- Backed by a limited lifetime warranty
- Material: Steel base, aluminum frame, acrylic compartments
- Pockets: 5
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- Width: 12"
- Depth: 21 1/2"
- Height: 65 3/4"


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Sixty-six percent (66%) of American Adults say they prefer reading a printed version of the newspaper, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-eight percent (28%) like reading the online version of their preferred paper instead.
66% Prefer Reading Print Newspaper To Online Version - Rasmussen Reports™
Rasmussen Reports just released a new report looks into the way people prefer to consume their news. They have more information on their site, but there is a paywall. Via Poynter.


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© 2002 - 2014 DBolical Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 2522 modders.
Choose monster trucks from the founding era with original rivalry between BIGFOOT ® and USA-1, or trucks from the 80's, 90's and today. Can you perform a 'slap wheelie' or a 'flip' to earn maximum points in freestyle? Will you be able to knock-out a blistering time in drag? If not maybe you'll need to upgrade your truck so that it can be faster and go harder, but watch out if you go too hard your truck may break and cost you money to repair! Loads of fun for the casual gamer to the ultimate Monster Truck die-hard fan. GET IN, HOLD ON and LET IT RIP!


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Last month Life Flight Network made a new home at Butte's Bert Mooney Airport.
"We've been evaluating Butte for well over a year, and throughout my evaluation of the area, I think this is a very needed area for air ambulance services," said Dominic Pomponio.
Life Flight thought Butte to be a perfect location to expand its fleet that ranges throughout the northwest region of the country.
"Patients need to come from rural facilities to larger facilities where the hospitals can support greater specialties," said Flight Nurse, John Indrehus. "So that's why we are seeing air medical services going into business in communities like Butte."
"Everything you see inside this helicopter is basically what you would find in any emergency department or critical care unit," said Pomponio.
Air ambulance services have grown across the state, creating a competitive component in the industry.
In recent years, air medical services have started out of airports in Missoula, Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, and now Butte.
"We're reacting and responding to a very clear need," said Matthew Hobbs, a flight paramedic. "This area, the Butte area, has been on several service air providers radar for quite a while, and it's just been a matter of timing and putting things together."
Life Flight out of Butte will work in a 150 mile radius in southwestern Montana, and at times will compete with other services in the same region.
"Putting the aircraft in Butte will allow us to respond much quicker to areas such as Dillon, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Butte, the greater surrounding area like Helena and Bozeman," said Pomponio.


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EAST COLORADO SPRINGS - Flu-Like Syndrome
Dr. Brad Tewes with Colorado Springs Health Partners says, there's a flu-like syndrome making the rounds.
You get a fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, severe fatigue and often mild to moderate upper respiratory symptoms.
It sounds like influenza, but patients are coming up with a negative flu test.
The illness seems to last about 7 to 10 days with a prolonged recovery
There's no specific treatment, just supportive care.
You'll want to visit the doctor to see whether it's flu or not.
NORTH COLORADO SPRINGS - Viral Upper Respiratory/Gastrointestinal Illness
Dr. Thomas Bartlett with Mountain View Medical Group reports a lot of a viral upper respiratory/gastrointestinal illness.
It usually starts with a runny nose, congestion, headache and fever.
After about 24 to 48 hours, it progresses to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Over the counter medications can help reduce the fever and nausea until the illness passes.
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Disease Management
It's About Wellness can help you treat and prevent a wide range of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic problems, GI complaints like GERD, IBS, dyspepsia, and others, food allergies, cancer, and many more.
We bring together a range of lifestyle services, including nutrition, counseling, fitness, massage, physical therapy, and others to get you where you want to be. Your program is put together by one of our wellness coaches who takes the time to get to know you, your current situation, and your goals. We believe it is as important to define what you do not need as it is to tell you what you do. Your Wellness Coach will be your guide throughout the process.
Diet, exercise, along with appropriate coping skills and strategies to the pressures and stresses of life are often the most appropriate medical treatment for chronic disease. Your team brings a deep understanding and empathy with difficulties that we all have in making change with the ability to motivate and inspire you. You can confidently move forward with your plan knowing that you have an entire team of healthcare professionals working with you each step of the way.


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Real Estate in Cortland NY
Village Terrace Apartments
Holiday Drive, F161
Cortland, New York 13045
Contact: Brenda Bruner
Phone: (607) 753-9865
Fax: (607) 753-9866
Email: email@example.com
Web: www.dlhpropertiesinc.com
Newly remodeled luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Modern kitchens with dishwashers, designer baths, private balconies/patios, large closets. FREE HEAT & HOT WATER. Conveniently located close to shopping, restaurants, healthcare, universities and more.


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Categories > Celebrities > Fall Out Boy > Collateral Damage
Ch 1214 Reviews
I am SOOOOOO sorry it took so long. I tried to make up for it. :]
"Brailly?" Pete spoke softly, reaching out his hand to touch mine. And surprise, it didn't go through. "Are you ok?"
I nodded, but kept looking at the floor with a blank stare.
Pete moved closer, and the look of concern on his face made me cry harder. He was actually caring about me. I can't truthfully say a lot of people did that in my lifetime.
Suddenly I wanted to be solid more than anything I'd ever wanted. I wanted him to be able to touch me, hold me, protect me from the world that offers so much pain.
But I hardly ever got what I wanted, with no exception at the moment.
So, after a few more minutes of crying my eyes out, I finally regained control of my tears. When I stopped crying completely, Pete moved closer.
He let out a little smile before wrapping his arm around my waist. "I could feel the heat off of you." He explained as I raised an eyebrow. I smiled lightly and leaned my head on his shoulder.
"Feel better now?" He asked, kissing my forehead.
"I guess." I mumbled. The answer was a definite yes, because Pete made me feel better by just looking at him, but he didn't have to know that just yet.
"Good." He replied. I closed my eyes and enjoyed being solid and being there with him.
I could really get used to this.
When he leaned down and kissed my lips, I couldn't help but think how different he actually was compared to what I'd imagined. Sure, I'd always had dreams of him being the romantic type, but whenever I usually thought of him, I would never think of someone as sweet as he was being. But I'm glad he was that way.
He deepened the kiss and applied his tongue in my mouth, and we both forgot the situation as it was. He put his hand on the hem of my shirt, and slowly started to pull it up...
And Joe's question of what sex would be like with a ghost popped into my head.
"Pete..." I mumbled, moving his hand.
He opened his eyes and looked at me. "Yeah?"
"This could get majorly awkward, so I don't think we should... well.." I tried to explain, my cheeks flushing red.
"What?" He questioned, but then realization hit him. "Oh! Ha, yeah, you're right." He said with a smile, yet there was a red tint in his cheeks too.
So maybe it was awkward slightly talking about it, but I could only imagine what it would've been like if we would've kept going. Can you say WRONG?
Pete scratched his neck and looked at me. "Yeah. That would be weird..."
I started laughing. "Ok let's not think about that."
"I agree. Yeah... I'm glad you, um, brought that up." He stuttered, laughing as well.
After a few good solid minutes of pure awkwardness, Pete looked at me. "Brailly?"
"Yeah?" I replied, looking at him with a smile.
"Can I still kiss you?" He asked.
I nodded, and with that he leaned in and gave yet another sweet kiss to me. Again he applied his tongue, causing a shudder to go through my body and a moan to escape the back of my throat. My eyes fluttered closed, as did his.
I wanted it. Badly. And, from what my hand was feeling in the seat of his pants, I'm guessing he wanted it badly too. But what if it turned out horribly wrong? There were so many ways to get embarrassed. And it probably wouldn't be very nice for him... No. We couldn't go there.
But there was nothing wrong with enjoying the moment, right?
I placed my hand on his neck and rubbed it slowly, causing his own moan to escape.
"Brailly..." He hummed into the kiss. "God, I want you so bad."
See? I am a good guesser. :]
I wrapped my other arm around his neck and pulled him closer, making sure our bodies were as close as they could be. He laid me down on the bed, and rolled me over on top of him. I opened my eyes for a few seconds, and smiled when I saw his still closed, enjoying the sensation. I know I was. Maybe a little too much, in fact... why wasn't I stopping his hand?
For the second time in 5 minutes, his hand reached for the hem of my shirt. This time I didn't stop him as he slowly pulled the cloth up, revealing the skin on my stomach. As his fingers brazed skin, I actually whimpered. For a dead person, I was sure feeling all the sensations I'd felt during life...
He slipped my shirt over my head, and then looked me in the eyes. I smiled and bent down, slightly tugging on his lips, my sign for: ok, you can do more of that now!
He did. His hands trailed to the zipper on my pants, and he unzipped them in a swift motion.
I then placed my own hands on the hem of his shirt, and pulled it off as well. Pete trailed his kisses down my neck, slightly sucking on it every few minutes.
I placed my hand in his pants, snickering when I realized he'd chosen to go commando.
I massaged his manly parts, getting another pleasurable moan from his lips...
"That's right, bitch. You know you like it." He yelled.
He was sadly mistaken. My whimpering was because of the immense pain, not for the pleasure only felt by himself.
I tried to fight him off, but I couldn't. My 85 pound body couldn't take on his 220.
"Stop!" I pleaded once again.
"Shut up!" He yelled, pumping faster, making the old bed start to shake, and my screams to become louder....
"STOP!" I screamed, rolling over off of who I didn't know was Pete.
"Brailly?" He asked, sitting up suddenly.
I realized all of my clothes except my panties were off, and Pete was fully naked.
Then, of course, I realized it was Pete there, and not that son of a bitch Brian.
"You ok?" He asked, moving closer.
"Yeah... I just..." I stuttered. Why was this happening? The flashbacks were ruining everything.
"Just what?" He asked. "Is this too fast for you? Are you scared? I don't wanna hurt you..."
"No I just... had a flashback. And... I don't think we should do this, Pete" I replied.
He nodded. "I understand." He muttered simply before getting up and gathering up his clothes. I copied his actions, and when we were fully dressed I walked over and wrapped him in a hug.
"I'm sorry." I whispered.
"Don't be." He replied, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my forehead.
I smiled and put my head on his chest.
Then, you guessed it...
I slipped through. Fuck.
All the way through and on the floor.
Hey... how come I don't fall through the floor? I can go through doors, why not through hotel floors that were high up? Oh well. Death is one fucked up bitch.
I sighed and looked up at Pete with a smile. "Sorry."
He laughed again. "Don't be."


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The man charged with kidnapping and murdering an Anchorage barista attempted to flee Wednesday at a hearing in federal court.
U.S. marshals say 34-year-old Israel Keyes was quickly subdued.
Supervisory deputy Dave Long says handcuffs had been removed and Keyes broke leg restraints.
Long says Keyes tried to dash but was grabbed by a marshal. Long says Keyes either tried to leap over the bar separating the public from the defendant's table or his momentum carried him over it.
Other marshals descended on Keyes.
He's charged with abducting 18-year-old Samantha Koenig on Feb. 1 from the coffee stand where she worked. Her body was recovered April 2 from a lake north of the city.


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Throughout the year, events such as debates, speakers, and films will ask us to consider how the power structures
behind business and politics impact the processes of living and dying in such areas as health care, medical research,
and euthanasia.
For more resources related to the college theme, visit the library's
Living and Dying page.
Our aim is to engage the campus community (faculty, staff, and students) in an extended, academic dialogue focused around
one broad issue. Films, guest lecturers, panel discussions, teach-ins, Chautauqua, and artists help create rich learning
opportunities for deepening the understanding of our theme.
In addition to educating our campus community, we wish to encourage community members from the greater Spokane region to
attend, and in some cases participate, in all the events that will be publicized through a variety of venues throughout
the year.
The Common Reading Program is a way of creating a common experience for SFCC students and promoting discussion
across disciplines around important historical and current issues.
We choose a text that students will find engaging and accessible, that engages a timely or thought-provoking issue,
and that applies to a wide variety of courses, programs, and disciplines.
Once the text is selected, we choose our college theme for the year. This theme helps guide our programming of
co-curricular events—debates, lectures, films and discussions, college service-learning projects, and other events —
which expand and deepen our understanding of both the theme and the text.
Skloot tells the story of poor black tobacco farmer Henrietta, whose cells, taken without her knowledge or
permission, have become key to modern medicine and genetics.
Henrietta's story will frame our discussion of this year's theme—Of Living and Dying: Profit, Politics, and
Power—as we delve into the worlds of medical research and health care, and the politics and economics that power
these worlds.
For more resources related to the common reader, visit the library's
Henrietta Lacks page.
In keeping with the 2002-2003 Theme, "Responsibility", faculty and advisors
throughout the college engaged students in activities and assignments designed to
promote better understanding and encourage action on local, national, and global
This Student Showcase section highlights a few of those activities in
and Drama.
Art 188 Acrylic Painting, Megan Martens
Students chose a portrait from an Asian culture and morphed their own features into
the features of the portrait's subject. This blend of western and eastern stylistic
traits and technique teaches us about world cultures and our interconnectedness.
To read the complete essay, click on the link in the text next to the author information.
Students tell stories of "educational" experiences that have liberated
them, sometimes literally.
Winter quarter's drama production of Macbeth is a grim reminder for us that education
can be just as enslaving as it is liberating.
The witches' warning "Fair is foul and foul is fair" reminds us that not everything
is as it seems.
The witches' instruction to Macbeth as to his future kingship, though accurate,
was misleading and incomplete. This education perverted Macbeth's actions and led
to his downfall.
If we are to guard against committing the same sins as Macbeth, we must seek the
full truth at all times.
Heather Keast
(509) 533-3698


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Philemon 19-25
December 15, 1991
Listen using Pop-Up Player
If you will, open your Bible this morning to our final of four lessons in the wonderful little epistle of Philemon. We've entitled these four lessons, "Living lessons on forgiveness." For those of you who haven't been with us in the series, just a brief review.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter which is only one chapter, 25 verses long. He wrote it to a friend, a friend by the name of Philemon. He had led Philemon to Christ. Philemon had obviously grown in Christ. It is evident from this letter that he was a man of great Christian character and conviction. His wife is mentioned in verse 2, Apphia. And most likely his son also is identified as Archippus who also was involved in Christian ministry. Apparently Philemon was a man of some wealth, at least he was able to have the church at Colossae meet in his own house. And so he was well acquainted with many of the spiritual leaders and preachers and teachers of that time.
There was another member of the household of Philemon, a slave who is mentioned in verse 10 by the name of Onesimus. Onesimus had wanted his freedom. He was not a Christian and so he ran away. He was a fugitive runaway slave and when he left he must have taken money or something of value to support himself in the underground of the city of Rome where he went. By the providence of God this runaway slave in the city of Rome got in contact somehow with the Apostle Paul who was there in Rome a prisoner in a hired house, but still able to preach and teach the Word of God to people who came and went. Perhaps the distress of Onesimus' situation was so severe, perhaps the conviction of his son so great that he determined to find Paul about whom he must have known since he was so familiar to all of the people in Philemon's house and the church that met there. Whatever the circumstances were, he came into the hearing of Paul's preaching and was converted to Jesus Christ. This slave, Onesimus, then being a Christian became a very dear and treasured friend of Paul and a helper of Paul even in his time of imprisonment.
When Paul found out, however, that he was a runaway slave who had run from Paul's own friend Philemon, he knew he had to send him back. This letter then from Paul to Philemon has one major emphasis, it asks Philemon to forgive this runaway slave, Onesimus, who has now become a believer. And so we say it is a living lesson on forgiveness.
As we have already learned, forgiveness is a promise. That's really what it is. It's a promise. It's a promise never to take revenge. It is the opposite of a refusal to forgive which is a promise to seek revenge. If you want a simple definition then of forgiveness, think of it as a promise never to take revenge. It is a verbally declared promise. It is a statement of love that affirms "I hold no anger, I hold no hatred, I hold no bitterness against you." And it has a three- fold perspective. I won't ever bring it up to you, I won't ever bring it up to anybody else, I won't ever bring it up to myself. That's forgiveness. No matter what you have done to me, no matter how you have offended me, I make a promise never to seek revenge. I hold no anger, I hold no hatred, I hold no bitterness, I won't ever bring it up to you, I won't ever bring it up to anybody else and I won't ever bring it up to me. That's forgiveness.
Forgiveness, we have noted, is the most God-like and the most Christ-like act a Christian can do. Never are you more like God or Christ than when you forgive because that is what God does, that is what Christ does. Forgiveness is a magnificent virtue.
Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, after having been tried at Westminster and condemned to death without any just cause, spoke to his judges, these are his famous words, quote: "As St. Paul held the clothes of those who stoned Stephen to death and as they are both now saints in heaven and shall continue there friends forever, so I verily trust shall therefore most heartily pray that though your lordships have now here on earth been judges to my condemnation, we may nevertheless hereafter cheerfully meet in heaven in everlasting salvation," end quote.
Oh the beauty of forgiveness. The beauty of the forgiveness of Stephen of which Thomas More spoke who said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," while they crushed his life out with stones. The beauty of the forgiveness of Jesus who looked at His crucifiers and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Now this wonderful little letter without ever mentioning the word "forgiveness" teaches us a living lesson in forgiveness. It teaches us some very essential elements of forgiveness in most gentle, most practical and most subtle ways. Paul has already helped us to see and identify the kind of character one has to have to forgive. In verses 4-7 we indicated that if you are going to have the character of one who forgives you will have a concern for the Lord, a concern for people, a concern for fellowship, a concern for knowledge, a concern for Christ's glory and a concern for service. And all of that comes out of verses 4 to 7.
Then Paul also made us very aware not only of the character of one who forgives but of the action of one who forgives and we noted that there are three elements to that action. There is reception, then restoration, and then restitution. That's in verses 8 through 18.
And then we come now to the final verses of this letter, verses 19 through 25. And Paul opens to us insight into the motives for forgiveness... why forgive, what is the compelling driving internal motivation? Now again I remind you that all of these features that we've been looking at are subtle in this letter but they are present and they do give us a full description of one who forgives.
What motivates someone to forgive? Certainly forgiveness is bold. Certainly forgiveness is brave. Certainly forgiveness is heroic. But at the same time it should be normal for a humble Christian. So it is on the note of motives that Paul closes the letter with some gracious but pregnant words meant to excite the heart of Philemon to forgive Onesimus. And each one of his final remarks in those remaining verses carries in it the embryo of a truth that acts as motivation for us to forgive as well.
What then motivates a person to forgive? Number one, the recognition that I owe a debt I can't pay. The recognition that I owe a debt I can't pay. Notice verse 19, "I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will repay it." Stop at that point for a moment.
This is quite an interesting note. Paul's custom was to dictate his letters to an amanuenses or a secretary. Somebody who wrote them down. But it was also Paul's custom at the end of many of his letters to pick up the quill and to sign his own name. For example, at the end of the letter to the Colossians which would have been delivered at the same time Philemon was being delivered, you'll notice in chapter 4 verse 18 that epistle closes with this, "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, remember my imprisonment, grace be with you." Not unlike what you might do today were you to dictate a letter and have your secretary write it all down and then sign your name and add a PS in your own hand. It was common for the Apostle Paul to pick the pen and write something with his own hand.
Now you will notice that he has said something very significant in verse 18. He said, "If Onesimus has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account." This is the issue of restitution. Paul knows Onesimus has nothing. He can't repay what he stole. He can't repay the 500 denarii that Philemon had to spend to get someone to take Onesimus' place. He doesn't have that money. So Paul says instead of trying to get it out of him, he doesn't have it, just charge it to my account. And then most interestingly, Paul says, "I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it." And Paul picks up the pen and signs the IOU with his own name. That's what he's doing. I'm writing my own name with my own hand as a guarantee that if you'll put it on my account I'll pay it. And he keeps the pen in hand from verse 19 to the end. And so the last number of verses here come from the Apostle Paul himself. So we have here not only what is from his inspired mind but what is from his own hand, as well. He is signing his name and saying I will make restitution for Onesimus who has no money. Obviously Paul must have had some. You'll remember that he had received some gifts during his imprisonment. He notes them in Philippians chapter 2 verse 30 and chapter 4 verses 14 to 18 and says to the Philippian church, "Thank you for sending me some things, some money, some support in my imprisonment." So he had some resources, perhaps he had enough to pay the debt. Paul is willing to do that.
But then notice what he says in parenthesis. "Lest I should mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well." What is he saying here? He's saying, "By the way, I know Onesimus owes you a debt, but may I remind you that you owe me a greater debt than he owes you?" Here's Paul's plan. Put his debt on my account, then cancel it because you owe me so much. That's what he says.
Now there's a principle here. Philemon is not just a man who is owed the payment of a debt. Philemon is also a debtor who owes a far greater and unpayable debt to Paul. Onesimus owes Philemon a material debt. Philemon owes Paul a spiritual debt. Onesimus owes Philemon a temporal debt. Philemon owes Paul an eternal debt. Why? Paul had given him the gospel. Paul had led him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. How is he ever going to pay that back? So he says Onesimus' debt should be put on my account and then cancel because you owe me so much, because I was used by God to deliver you from death and hell.
Now the principle is just that simple. Somebody does something against you, offends you, owes you something, remember this, you owe such unpayable debts to others who have generously and graciously and faithfully and lovingly benefited you with the richest of spiritual blessings and they don't demand payment and neither could you pay it should they demand it, so can't you release the simple temporal financial debt or obligation of one who has only offended you in an earthly way? That's his point.
Let me personalize it. I'm in debt to many people. I'm so deeply in debt to so many people for so much that I could never ever come close to repaying it. I'm in debt to my godly parents. I'm in debt to my mother and father who led me to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I'm in debt to them for teaching me the scriptures. I'm in debt to them for leading me into ministry. I'm in debt to them for supporting me and supplying my needs and educating me. I'm in debt to them for holding me to a disciplined life and making me spiritually accountable for my behavior. I could never repay my debt to my parents.
I'm in debt to my wife for her friendship, for her love, for her support, for her wisdom, her input, her correction, her convictions. I'm in debt to her...I could never repay the spiritual debt that I owe Patricia. I'm in debt to my children for loving me even in my weaknesses. I'm in debt to my children for their kindness, for their concern, for their care for their father, for their dutiful response to the things I ask of them.
I'm in debt to friends. I'm in debt to a whole world of friends who have ministered to me graciously and beneficially. I am in debt to my teachers. I am in debt to men who have written books, books that have shaped my life and my thinking and my ministry. I'm in debt to my co-workers and co-pastors. I'm in debt to you as a congregation because you have so consistently given me your prayers and your wisdom and your fellowship. And you even paid my wages for many years. I am so deeply in debt to so many people for so much spiritual blessing that I could never repay...never. And I am so in debt to so many that only God can pay them back...only God. And God will have to repay them all by giving them an eternal reward for all that they have sacrificed for me because I can never pay them back.
Can I then who owe so much to so many not forgive someone who owes a simple earthly debt to me? See Paul's point? Since I have so many spiritual debts that I can never repay, can I not allow gladly some material debt to go unpaid and fully forgive the one who owes it? So Paul with his inspired genius seeks to motivate us to forgive by reminding us of how much we owe.
Second motivation. The recognition that I can become a blessing to others. If I forgive I can become a blessing to others, verse 20, "Yes, brother," and there's that endearing kind-heartedness of Paul, "Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ." And the words "me and my" are emphatic in the Greek. He's saying you have blessed so many, he already said that back in the first part of this wonderful book, verse 7, he says, "I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother." You have blessed so many people for so long, now it's my turn, Paul says. Brother, let me be blessed, let me profit, let me benefit, let me find spiritual usefulness. And this is a cognate of the very word Onesimus, so he's still using that play on words for the very name of Onesimus which means beneficial or useful. It's my turn, he says, if you'll forgive him you'll bless me, you'll benefit me in the Lord.
What does he mean by that? In the spiritual dimension...in the sphere of the spiritual. So let me benefit from you, from your action, from your act of forgiveness. Let me benefit from you receiving him, restoring him and cancelling his debt. That will benefit me. How is it going to benefit Paul? Oh, give him joy...give him joy. As John the Apostle said, he had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in love, Paul would say the same. I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in love toward each other. You remember to the Philippians in chapter 2 those very wonderful words, chapter 2 verse 2, "Make my joy complete?" How can we do that, Paul? How can we give you joy? "By being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose, not being selfish or conceited, but humble regarding others more important and looking on the things of others and not your own."
In other words, Philemon, if you will humble yourself and consider Onesimus more important than yourself and seek unity and love and fellowship and therefore forgive that man, you will bring me joy. And so he's saying you should be motivated by wanting to be a blessing to others. You should be motivated to forgive because it will rejoice the heart of another. So he says let me benefit from you in the Lord and then adds... refresh my heart in Christ, again in that spiritual sphere. Bless me, refresh me. You refreshed everybody else back in verse 7, now it's my turn.
The forgiveness of Onesimus by Philemon will bring spiritual joy and refreshment because Paul loves both those men. Paul wants them to be one. Paul loves the unity of the church. Paul wants Colossae as a church to see that forgiveness as a great example, an object lesson. If Philemon refuses to forgive Onesimus, it will burden the heart of Paul, it will sadden the heart of Paul, it will trouble the heart of Paul because he loves both those men and he loves that church and he loves the unity of the church. Any failure to forgive will injure that relationship, it will injure that church. It will mar its ministry and its effectiveness and it will misrepresent the power of the gospel to the unconverted world that's watching. So he simply says you've been willing to do so much refreshing for other people, would you just do this for me? Would you forgive this man and refresh me and bless me and give me joy?
Two good motives to forgive. You owe more than you can ever pay and if you forgive you'll bless the saints because you'll pursue unity.
Third motive, the recognition that I am called to be obedient to the Lord. Verse 21, Paul says, "Having confidence in your obedience I write to you since I know that you will do even more than what I say." Again with pen in hand Paul says, "Look, I have confidence in your obedience." And he touches that heart string again in Philemon that is plucked by the need to obey God. He's not talking about being obedient to Paul because back in the early part of the chapter you'll remember Paul said to him, verse 8, "I do have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you." So Paul never did command him. Paul is just saying I know you'll obey the Lord in this. Paul is confident that Philemon is a godly man. He laid out his characteristics in verses 4 to 7. He is confident that he will act in a right way to obey God's command to forgive.
Remember I told you that that theology of forgiveness is not in this letter, but we can assume Philemon knew it? We can assume Philemon was well acquainted with Matthew chapter 6, with the principle there that if you don't forgive your brother, God's not going to forgive you. He was very familiar with Matthew 18 principles, like you must forgive, you must forgive seventy times seven, or as Luke 17:3 and 4 tells us, you must forgive if need be seven times a day. He was well familiar with the Apostle Paul's conviction, 2 Corinthians 2:7, that forgiveness was essential. He certainly was sure of what Paul said in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13, though he hadn't read them, that he must forgive because he had been forgiven so much. Philemon knew that God commanded forgiveness. Paul is sure he knew it. That's why he doesn't bring it up. And Paul is even sure he'll do it. He says I'm confident of your obedience. I know you're going to do what God's commanded you to do, and God has commanded you to forgive.
And so you're motivated not only because you owe debts you can't pay, not only because of what he says in verse 20, you'll be a blessing and a joy to other believers, but because you know God expects you to obey. And then he even says this in verse 21, "I know you will do even more than what I say." Now some people have made the unnecessary assumption that this is some call to Philemon to emancipate Onesimus, to free him from his slavery all together. But that isn't indicated in the text. When he says I know you will do even more than what I say, it could be that he is meaning to say you will be more grand in your forgiveness than I've even asked, you will be more magnanimous in your love toward Onesimus than what I have even assumed. You will give to him maybe a prodigal son type of celebration, put on the ring and the robe and kill the fatted calf and call a celebration. Maybe that's the more that he will do. Or maybe the more that he will do is to take him back not only as a servant, and Paul does indicate that he's coming back as a servant in verse 16 when he says you'll not only have him in the flesh but in the Lord. In other words, he'll serve you in the flesh, he'll also serve you in the Lord. And maybe that is the more that he's thinking of here. Maybe the more is you're not only going to return him to menial service as a slave, but you're going to give him liberty to do ministry because of his spiritual capabilities. So you'll do more than just take him back and restore him to service, you'll give him opportunity to minister alongside of you.
Maybe the more might be that you'll not only forgive him but you'll forgive some other people you ought to forgive, and the more is a more magnanimous far-reaching and broad kind of forgiveness in which Philemon will even forgive those that Paul doesn't know he holds bitterness against. There are many possibilities for what the more might be. But he says I know your character, I'm confident in it, I know you'll obey and you'll even do more than I've even asked. Voluntarily, without coercion, not because of law, not because of fear but out of a righteous heart Philemon will obey God who commanded him to forgive.
There's a fourth compelling motive for forgiveness and that is the recognition that I am accountable... that I am accountable to godly leaders... the recognition that I am accountable to godly leaders. This is very refreshing, verse 22, and Paul says, "And at the same time, also, prepare me a lodging for I hope that through your prayers I will shall be given to you." You know what he's saying? You better do this because I'm coming to check on you...that's what he's saying. I'll be there, get the room ready. This is the least subtle of everything he says in the whole epistle. Oh by the way, I'm coming. When he wrote 1 Corinthians he was concerned enough about the Corinthians to warn them that he was coming. And you read 1 Corinthians 4:18 to 21 he says I'm coming. He was still concerned when he wrote 2 Corinthians and you'll find in 2 Corinthians 12:14 and 13:1 that he says I'm telling you again I'm coming. And all of the times that he says that, on those three occasions, he's really saying to them... you better get your act together because I'm coming. And here about as unsubtle as to the Corinthians he says get the room ready, I'm coming. And what that means to say is I'm going to be there so I will be able to see what you've done.
Paul is really exercising some spiritual authority here. I'm going to check on you. It's a gentle compulsion. It's really not a threat, it's a promise. He doesn't say what he said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 4:21 when he said, "If need be I'll come with a rod." He doesn't say that. He's simply saying I'm going to be there. This is optimistic, by the way, because he's still a prisoner in a rented house in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier. But he says... look at it again, verse 22... I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. This is wonderful. He knows that the sovereignty of God works its purposes but he also knows that the sovereignty of God works its purposes through prayer. Nobody can study prayer without studying that verse.
Paul says my hope is that I'll be given to you and that the means of my being given to you is through your prayers. As I've said in years past, prayers move God. Prayers are the nerves that move the muscles of omnipotence. Prayer is not just an exercise in futility because God's going to do what He's going to do, prayer is the means by which God does what He's going to do. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man does avail much, as James 5 tells us. Paul is very aware of the providential work of God, he referred to it back in verse 15 when he assumed that perhaps Onesimus had even run away in order that he might come back a Christian. He knew God was at work in all of this. And he says my hope is that God's going to let me come to you and the means of that will be through your prayers. And so what he does is he not only tells Philemon I'm coming but he tells Philemon in effect, start praying for my arrival. And I'll tell you what, if he knows he's coming and he's praying for Paul's arrival, that's going to effect the way he acts toward Onesimus, for sure. Because if he hasn't fully forgiven Onesimus, he's not about to have his prayer go something like, "O Lord God, please bring the Apostle Paul soon." No way, if he hasn't forgiven Onesimus.
So, Paul literally paints him into a corner. I'm coming and I'm expecting that what will free me is your prayers. That's a heavy burden. Now Philemon is saying to himself...I don't pray, he doesn't get out of prison...I don't want to be responsible for him being in prison, I've got to pray for his release, I'm praying for his release, I know where his first stop is...here, I've got to forgive him. That's spiritual accountability.
You're to be accountable to those who are over you in the Lord, who have a right as they watch for your souls to know the quality of your life. That's why we talk about church discipline. When we talk about shepherding the sheep, we're talking about making sure that the sheep are obedient, making sure they're doing what the shepherd...the great shepherd of their souls want them to do. You're accountable to those spiritual leaders who are over you, who have a right as they watch for your souls to hold you accountable for forgiveness.
There's a fifth motive, not only the fact that I owe more than I can pay and that I can bless the saints and I'm called to obey the Lord and I'm accountable to my spiritual leaders, but fifthly, another motive to forgiveness is the recognition that I am not alone but I am a part of a fellowship. I am not alone, I am a part of a fellowship. Verses 23 and 24, wonderful statement Paul makes here, again he's got the pen in his hand and he writes, "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke my fellow workers." He identifies Epaphras as a fellow prisoner. He identifies Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke as fellow workers. Five men, five men precious to Paul, five men precious to Philemon, five men Philemon knows, five men who know Philemon.
What's he saying? He's saying you can't act independently of the fellowship. You don't act alone. If you don't forgive, you will fracture the love bond that exists between these men and you. You will violate their expectations of you. You will set a bad example for them. You can't do just what you want to do as if you existed alone. You not only have a level of accountability to one who is your spiritual leader, but you have a level of responsibility to set the standard for those who are your spiritual friends. Five men, they send their greetings, Philemon. They have high expectations of you.
These men are also mentioned in Colossians 4. Look at Colossians 4 because the verses there in Colossians 4 will give us some insight into these five men. Obviously Tychicus who carried the letter to the Colossian church could give his own greetings. He also would be known to Philemon, most likely. But then the list starts with Epaphras in Philemon. Epaphras is mentioned down in Colossians 4:12. "Epaphras who is one of your number, a bond slave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God, for I bear him witness that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis."
Epaphras named first probably was converted under Paul. He is most likely the founder of the Colossian church. And the other two churches in the Lycus valley, there were three all together, namely Laodicea and Hierapolis. Probably Epaphras had founded those three churches. He was himself from Colossae, certainly well known to Philemon. He being described here as one of your number was still associated, of course, with the church meeting in the house of Philemon. He is a bond slave of Jesus Christ, which speaks of his deep commitment to service. He is a man of prayer, laboring earnestly, constantly praying for the perfection of the saints that they would be fully assured, that they are in the midst of the will of God. He carries a deep pastoral concern for the Colossian church, the Laodicean church, the church at Hierapolis. This is a remarkable and wonderful godly man.
In chapter 1 of Colossians and verse 7 he is called "our beloved fellow bond servant who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf and also informed us of your love in the spirit." Epaphras is a noble Christian. He's the best, godly, committed, prayerful, serving. And then in Philemon he is called "my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus." Now we don't know whether that means that he had become also a prisoner of Rome, or whether he had simply identified with Paul's imprisonment to the point that he took on a self-imposed imprisonment and stood alongside Paul in his chains. He was either a captive or he was a willing prisoner for Paul's sake.
The second name in the list is the name of Mark. He's mentioned in Colossians 4:10 as the cousin of Barnabas. And the Colossian church is told that if he comes they're to welcome him. Here we find out that he's the cousin of Barnabas which may explain something of the conflict in Acts 15. You remember when Paul and Barnabas were going on their journey, John Mark had come along only he was weak and didn't like the difficulty and you remember he wanted out and so Paul said that's enough of him, get rid of him. If he's not strong enough for the deal, get rid of him. Barnabas took up his defense and you remember there was a parting of the ways of Paul and Barnabas. This explains maybe why Barnabas had such an attachment to Mark, they were cousins. Mark, by the way, was much improved by this time. Through that strong discipline from Paul he was taught a great lesson. Probably under very strong influence from Peter, 1 Peter 5:13 may indicate that. And then under the tutelage of Barnabas himself, Mark had come full circle to spiritual strength. Mark became such a wonderful man that in 2 Timothy 4:11 when Paul was at the end of his life and wrote to Timothy, he said send me Mark because he's so useful. So here is a godly man, Mark.
The third one mentioned in Philemon is Aristarchus. He also is mentioned in Colossians 4:10. Here it says, "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner." He is not called a fellow prisoner in Philemon but a fellow worker. So it may be again that he was a fellow prisoner by choice, not by law, that he was simply willingly attached to the imprisonment of Paul to assist and help Paul. Aristarchus was associated with the city of Thessalonica, according to Acts 20 verse 14. He was with Paul at Ephesus during his third journey and his long stay of several years there. He was even captured by the Ephesian rioters in Acts 19:29 and he was with Paul in the voyage in Acts 27. Here he is with him, sharing this time of imprisonment, perhaps willingly putting himself in bondage to serve Paul. He is known and beloved by Paul and obviously known and beloved by Philemon.
The next name is that infamous name of Demas. Demas is also mentioned in Colossians chapter 4 verse 14, simply his name, Demas. We don't know much about Demas. The only thing we do know is sad. Second Timothy 4:10 Paul says, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." Sad. John said, "If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him." Demas most likely was a hypocrite. But here he was a part of the fellowship.He was involved in assisting Paul, known to Philemon.
The final name in the list in Philemon is Luke. Colossians 4:14 says, "Luke the beloved physician." That's how he's known. A Gentile Christian doctor, full of love, the author of the third gospel. Isn't it interesting out of these five two of them wrote gospels, Mark and Luke, and they were together with Paul. Luke was often Paul's traveling companion, Luke wrote the book of Acts. And you'll read through the book of Acts, chapter 16:20, 21, 27, 28 and the writer will say, "we... we... we... we" and that means Luke is along with whatever's going on, he's present for that. Some of it was given to him by the Holy Spirit, experiences he didn't have but much of it he did have. He was with Paul on his second journey at Troas and Philippi, according to Acts 20 verse 6, he went with him to Jerusalem, he was on the voyage recorded in Acts 27. He alone was with Paul in his final imprisonment, 2 Timothy 4:11.
So here are five very very well-known prominent people. They know Philemon. They're in fellowship with him. If he doesn't forgive, he'll destroy that bond with those men. You see, you don't do things in isolation. If you hold a grudge, you fracture your fellowship. Forgiveness then is compelling. It is compelling because I owe debts I can't pay, because I can bless the saints if I forgive because I am called to obey and God says to forgive, because I'm accountable to my spiritual leaders, and because I must remember that I'm a part of a fellowship that is interrupted by sin.
Finally, forgiveness is motivated by the recognition that I must be empowered by the grace of God... I must be empowered by the grace of God. Verse 25, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." That's Paul's final words and he puts the quill down and what he is saying is, "Philemon, I just want to remind you that in order to do this you're going to have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ." You can't do it on your own. Human nature couldn't forgive this offense. This familiar benediction is really a prayer and not very general here but very specific that divine grace may be granted to Philemon and all his family and the church at Colossae, all of you, so that you can forgive Onesimus.
Paul is asking what is not possible in the flesh because the flesh wants vengeance. What is not possible by the law because the law wants justice. But what is possible by grace, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, working with your spirit, your inner man. That's the same grace that allowed Christ to forgive. Paul says may you have that same grace to forgive that allowed Christ to forgive.
Those are the motives. You must forgive. Why you owe a debt you could never pay. You can bless the saints. You can obey God. You can fulfill your accountability to your spiritual leaders. You can keep the fellowship intact. And you can do it in the power of the grace of Christ who forgave you.
That's the end of the book, that's not the end of the story. How did it end? No doubt Philemon forgave Onesimus. Paul was released from that imprisonment. Made many trips. Surely one of them was to Colossae and to the house of Philemon. He did go east, even though originally he thought he wanted to go west. You remember about six years before he wrote this letter he wrote Romans and he said, "I'm coming and after I get there I'm going to leave you and go west to Spain," Romans 15:22 to 24. In the intervening years his plans had changed. He was in Rome, but he decided, "I'm not going to Spain, I'm not going to conquer new territory, I've got to go back and fix some old territory."
When he came out of that first imprisonment, he couldn't go west because he had to go and fix some of the churches because they had fallen into sin. And one of the places he must have gone was Colossae and one of the houses he must have visited, of course cause that's where the church met, was Philemon's. And so he must have found out.
Bible scholars will tell you it's not likely that this book would have found its way into the New Testament canon if Philemon hadn't forgiven Onesimus because it would have left Philemon to appear for all of human history as a godly virtuous wonderful man and if that were not the case then there would not have been the Spirit of God's purpose to leave this book in the text to give a false impression about that man. So the fact that God included this in the canon means also that God wonderfully moved to accomplish this in the life of Philemon and Onesimus.
The whole church must have known about the letter. I mean, the whole church, not just at Colossae. Because it was an inspired book and it got circulated everywhere. And it was one of the great stories of the apostolic age and we can be sure that there would be something somewhere to say it never happened if it never happened. But it stands as a testimony to forgiveness and must have been responded to.
Just as a footnote, history records that some time after this a man became the pastor of the church at Ephesus and his name was Onesimus. Could it be the same man? If so, we certainly know the wonderful power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is powerful, that's partly why that story is here. Forgiveness impacts people.
Let me update the story. We've just celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, 7:55 A.M. on a cloudless Sunday, the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor. In two hours 2,403 Americans were dead, 1,178 were wounded, 169 U.S. aircraft were totally destroyed, three massive ships sunk and 18 others damaged. This incredible attack was led by a 39-year-old Japanese top gun pilot, Commander Mitsuo Fochida whose life hero was Adolf Hitler. Fochida led 183 Japanese airplanes into the harbor at Honolulu and devastated thousands of men and a whole nation and triggered, as you know, the massive, massive death that came about through American atomic retaliation as well as conventional weaponry. Mitsuo Fochida, a name that you read over and over and over and over in anything you ever read about World War II. His plane was hit numerous times as he came and went from Pearl Harbor, but he survived.
After the war was over he was besieged with memories of death. He decided to become somewhat of a recluse and so he took up farming near Osaka. It gave him time to think. He focused increasingly on the problem of peace and he decided in the midst of his guilt and worry over all that had been done in the war to write a book. He determined that the title of the book would be No More Pearl Harbors. He would urge the world to devote itself to pursuing peace. Mitsuo Fochida struggled in vain, however, to find a principle by which peace could work. For years he tried to find the principle that would let him write the book... couldn't find it. He couldn't find anything in the religions of Japan, the philosophies of the world.
Then the story took a dramatic change. The story goes like this. The first report came from a friend, a lieutenant who had been captured by the Americans and incarcerated in a prisoner of war camp in America. Fochida saw his name in a newspaper on a list of POWs who were returning to Japan. He determined to visit him. When they met they spoke of many things. Then Fochida asked the question upper most in his mind: how did the Americans treat you in the POW camp? His friend said, "They were treated well." Then he told Fochida a story which he said made an immense impression upon him and on every prisoner in the American camp.
"Something happened at the camp where I was interred," he said, "which has made it possible for us who were in that camp to forego all our resentment and hatred and to return with a forgiving spirit and a feeling of light-heartedness instead." Fochida said, "What is that?" The former prisoner said to him, "There was a young American girl named Margaret "Peggy" Covell whom they judged to be about 20 years old who came to the camp on a regular basis doing all she could for the prisoners. She brought things to them they might enjoy, such as magazines and newspapers. She looked after their sick and she was constantly solicitous to help them in every way. They received an immense shock, however, when they asked her why she was so concerned to help these Japanese prisoners. She answered, 'Because my parents were killed by the Japanese army.'
"Such a statement might shock a person from any culture but it was incomprehensible to the Japanese, in their society no offense could be greater than the murder of one's parents. Peggy tried to explain her motives. She said her parents had been missionaries. When the Japanese invaded the islands, Philippines, her parents escaped to the mountains in north Luzon for safety. In due time, however, they were discovered. The Japanese charged them with being spies and told them they were to be put to death. They earnestly denied that they were spies but the Japanese would not be convinced and they were executed. Peggy didn't hear about her parents' fate until the end of the war. At first she was furious with grief and indignation, thoughts of her parents' last hours of life filled her with great sorrow. She envisioned them trapped, wholly at the mercy of their captors with no way out. She saw the merciless brutality of the soldiers, she saw them facing their Japanese executioners and falling lifeless to the ground on that far off Philippine mountain.
"Then Peggy began to consider her parents' selfless love for the Japanese people. Gradually she became convinced that they had forgiven the people God had called them to love and serve. Then it occurred to her that if her parents had died without bitterness or rancor toward their executioners, why should her attitude be any different? Should she be filled with hatred and vengeful feelings when they had been filled with love and forgiveness? Therefore Peggy chose the path of love and forgiveness. She decided to minister to the Japanese prisoners in the nearby POW camp as a proof of her sincerity.
"Fochida was touched by the story. But he was especially impressed with the possibility that it was exactly what he had been searching for, a principle sufficient to be a basis for peace, the principle was a forgiving love. Could that be the principle upon which the message of his projected book, No More Pearl Harbors could be based?
"Shortly after this Fochida was summoned by General Douglas MacArthur to Tokyo. As he got off the train at Shibuya station he was handed a pamphlet entitled, "I was a prisoner of Japan." It told about an American sergeant, Jacob DeShazer who had spent 40 months in a Japanese prison cell and who after the war had come back to Japan to love and serve the Japanese people by helping them to come to know Jesus Christ."
To make the story short, DeShazer told about how he was a bombardier on one of the 16 army B-25 airplanes under General Jimmy Doolittle, launched 18, April 1942 from the deck of the USS Hornet to bomb Tokyo. None of the planes were shot down but they did run out of fuel. DeShazer was captured and incarcerated for 40 months, the duration of the war. DeShazer noted that all the prisoners were treated badly. He said that at one point he almost went insane from the violent hatred by the Japanese guards. Then one day a guard brought them a Bible. They were in solitary confinement so they took turns reading it. When it was DeShazer's turn he had it for three weeks. He read it eagerly and intensely, Old and New Testament. Finally he writes, "The miracle of conversion took place June 8, 1944." DeShazer was converted.
He determined that if he lived until the war was over and if he were released, he would return to the U.S., study the Bible for a period of time, return to Japan to share the message of Christ with the Japanese people. And that's exactly what he did. Great crowds came to hear him. Many responded and were saved. Here was a second person who forgave the Japanese and came in forgiveness to show them the love of Christ.
Fochida was deeply impressed. He got a New Testament. He began to read the New Testament. In September of 1949, eight years after Pearl Harbor, he was reading Luke 23 and he heard Jesus say this, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And he bowed his knee and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Mitsuo Fochida, devotee of Adolf Hitler became a Christian. He wrote his book. You can look at it in the library today. The title of it, From Pearl Harbor to Golgotha.
You might also be interested to know that Fochida is in heaven now but before he went he spoke at Grace Community Church. The power of forgiveness to effect the world. The Holy Spirit knew it, God knew it, Paul knew it, Philemon needed to know it and that's why this book is here. And that's why this lesson is taught to you. Let's pray.
Thank You, Father, for the great joy that You give to us through Your Word, for the great reminder of the virtue of forgiveness. May we be faithful to forgive that we might enjoy blessing, fellowship and that we might have a powerful witness to the watching world. May the world that sees us see a forgiving people even as You have forgiven us, may we be like You and manifest You to those who watch by forgiving others. All for Christ's glory we ask. Amen.
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