{"id":9919,"date":"2023-09-12T08:08:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T13:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=9919"},"modified":"2023-09-11T22:10:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T03:10:27","slug":"september-19-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"September 19, 2017&#8211;Forgiving Sins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Don Holmstrom, Blacksburg, VA<\/b><\/p>\n<h4><b>Warm-up Question<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>How would you define \u201cforgiveness\u201d if you could not use the word \u201cforgive?\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><b>Forgiving Sins<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>A middle-aged man named Charlie Ryder grew up in Ireland, the son of an alcoholic father.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>As a boy, his father verbally and emotionally abused him, leaving young Charlie with low self-esteem and deep depression.<\/p>\n<p>As a teenager, Charlie started his journey to find healing.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In college, he attended Alateen, a 12-step program for young people whose lives were affected by a family member\u2019s alcoholism.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAlateen,\u201d Charlie says, \u201cgave me a safe space to open up and share honestly about the shame and humiliation I\u2019d felt growing up.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He began to find peace.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5753 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>To completely heal, Charlie decided he would need to forgive his dad.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>But how?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He could easily list things \u201cthat he hated about his dad.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>But for what was he grateful?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He thought of ways his dad had shown his love, including giving his son \u201cpocket money,\u201d as well as money for Christmas and birthdays. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>But a more important realization for Charlie was discovering his father\u2019s history.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His father grew up in a family of alcoholism.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Both of his father\u2019s<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>parents were alcoholics.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His father, also, suffered from depression.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Upon learning this, Charlie, for the first time, felt compassion for his dad. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>A few years ago, Charlie and his sister visited his dad in the hospital.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His father was dying.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Near the end of their visit, Charlie\u2019s father took his children\u2019s hands and expressed regret for what he had done.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His final words to them were, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Charlie responded, \u201cWe love you, dad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At that moment, Charlie says, he knew he had truly forgiven his father \u201cfor harming me as a child.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>And then Charlie offers this insight, \u201cForgiveness is a very personal journey but it can be a wonderful act of self-love.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Can you remember a time you were forgiven for something you had done or failed to do?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>How about a time when you forgave someone else?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>What did forgiveness feel like? <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=560589154\">Genesis 50:15-21<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=560589404\">Romans 14:1-12<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=560589039\">Matthew 18:21-35<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Text links are to <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/\">Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elca.org\/Our-Work\/Congregations-and-Synods\/Worship\/Lectionary\/YearA\">Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.agnusday.org\/\">Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Gospel Reflection<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>This Matthew text starts with a famous question from Peter and an equally famous response from Jesus.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Then Jesus tells a parable illustrating forgiveness and judgment.<\/p>\n<p>Peter\u2019s question to Jesus might imply that the apostle is uneasy with the notion of forgiveness being unlimited.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s just get by with as little forgiveness of others as we can, Peter seems to say.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Jesus answers:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Not a handful of times should we forgive, but over and over and over again!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>(Note that \u201cseven\u201d is a \u201choly\u201d number in the scriptural world.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSeventy-seven\u201d indicates unlimitedness.)<\/p>\n<p>But the parable that Jesus tells also seems to imply a catch: repentance must come before forgiveness.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In fact, every time we pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer we evoke this idea of repentance before forgiveness: \u201cForgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Do you see such a connection between repentance and forgiveness? <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>On the cross, Jesus says, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Does this imply that repentance must come before forgiveness?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Or is forgiveness a free gift, no strings attached?<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Who is forgiveness for:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>the perpetrator, the victim, or both?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>How would Charlie Ryder answer this question?<\/li>\n<li>Where is God in the process of forgiveness?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Activity Suggestions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Write down the word FORGIVENESS on a sheet of paper or white board.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Using each letter of forgiveness, jot down a word that begins with that letter and is connected to forgiveness.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>(Ex.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cF\u201d is for \u201cfreeing.\u201d)<\/li>\n<li><b><\/b>Read aloud the Old Testament text assigned for today.<i><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>It\u2019s the conclusion of the long story of Jospeh and his brothers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ll recall that his brothers sold Joseph into slavery.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>But because of Joseph\u2019s perseverance and God\u2019s great love for him, he ends up becoming a revered leader in Egypt.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>What happens to Joseph and his family due to the power of forgiveness?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><i><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i> <i><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Closing Prayer<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Gracious God, through your great love and grace, you continually forgive our sins and bring us to new life.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Help us to receive forgiveness with grace and humility.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>And give us the strength and courage, O God, to forgive others as we have been forgiven.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Amen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Don Holmstrom, Blacksburg, VA Warm-up Question How would you define \u201cforgiveness\u201d if you could not use the word \u201cforgive?\u201d Forgiving Sins A middle-aged man named Charlie Ryder grew up in Ireland, the son of an alcoholic father.\u00a0 As a boy, his father verbally and emotionally abused him, leaving young Charlie with low self-esteem and deep [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Don Holmstrom, Blacksburg, VA Warm-up Question How would you define \u201cforgiveness\u201d if you could not use the word \u201cforgive?\u201d Forgiving Sins A middle-aged man named Charlie Ryder grew up in Ireland, the son of an alcoholic father.\u00a0 As a boy, his father verbally and emotionally abused him, leaving young Charlie with low self-esteem and deep [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"faithlens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"headline\":\"September 19, 2017&#8211;Forgiving Sins\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":777,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/02\\\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Post\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/\",\"name\":\"September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/02\\\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/02\\\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2016\\\/02\\\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/september-19-2017\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"September 19, 2017&#8211;Forgiving Sins\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/\",\"name\":\"Faith Lens\",\"description\":\"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7\",\"name\":\"faithlens\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"faithlens\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.elca.org\\\/faithlens\\\/author\\\/faithlens\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens","og_description":"Don Holmstrom, Blacksburg, VA Warm-up Question How would you define \u201cforgiveness\u201d if you could not use the word \u201cforgive?\u201d Forgiving Sins A middle-aged man named Charlie Ryder grew up in Ireland, the son of an alcoholic father.\u00a0 As a boy, his father verbally and emotionally abused him, leaving young Charlie with low self-esteem and deep [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/","og_site_name":"Faith Lens","article_published_time":"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"faithlens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"faithlens","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/"},"author":{"name":"faithlens","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"headline":"September 19, 2017&#8211;Forgiving Sins","datePublished":"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/"},"wordCount":777,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg","articleSection":["Post"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/","name":"September 19, 2017-Forgiving Sins - Faith Lens","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-12T13:08:25+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_293225366-300x200.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-19-2017\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"September 19, 2017&#8211;Forgiving Sins"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/","name":"Faith Lens","description":"Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/#\/schema\/person\/b8300066980f72581b618e79dbe972e7","name":"faithlens","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53db3b51717c7bec114a3e1dd0d536804a7c8cbd5a7682c824ec5b186fe5957b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"faithlens"},"url":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/author\/faithlens\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9919"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9942,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919\/revisions\/9942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}