Scripture says, "Let no root of bitterness grow up among Vou." Yet we often see it. Parishioner against pastor. Husband against wife. Church splits. Long-time grievances. Sometimes it seems the log-jam can never be broken, that the wounds are too deep.

But the Holy/ Spirit works beyond?/olZd ourselves. Jamie Buckingham, in his book, Coping with Criticism, relates a heartening, story, one that shows God at work, even in tile bitterness of decades.

Two years ago I was invited to lead an interdenominational conference for missionaries in Thailand. Sponsored by an ad hoc committee, it was the first time the various Protestant and evangelical missionaries had ever come together with the Roman Catholic priests and nuns for a teaching retreat. The first day was tense as some of the evangelicals were forced to interface with the Roman Catholics. However, by the end of the second day the atmosphere had cleared, and it seemed the groups were actually going to be able to flow together in some kind ...