The Red Feather Returns

By Dr. Tom Elliff
Former President Southern Baptist Convention
Former President International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared at Dr. Elliff’s personal blog and is used by permission.

There’s nothing more destructive to your life than unresolved bitterness. An unforgiving spirit makes as much sense as drinking poison and expecting someone else to fall over dead. Bitterness is like an acid that eats at a person from the inside out.  In fact, an unforgiving spirit is clearly labeled as sin by the Lord Himself.

Yet, at this season of the year as we celebrate the arrival of the One who makes divine forgiveness possible there are still many whose hearts have a stored up supply of hurts from out of their past. For those people, joy is only an illusion. They sing about it without ever experiencing it.

Finding forgiveness in Christ makes it possible for you to extend the same to others. In the process of doing so, you are set free! But how can you forgive after being wounded so deeply?

For years I have told a story of forgiveness. It is a story I personally witnessed, taking place in my own family. Over a decade ago, I published this true story under the title, The Red Feather. Imagine my surprise that now, years afterward, that small book has been used to touch the hearts of tens of thousands.

Now, CLC (Christian Literature Crusade) has released nationwide a new edition of The Red Feather. The response has been nothing short of amazing! Since this is a Christmas story at heart, I want to make it personally available to you. It is an excellent gift book for Christmas (I just spoke with a lady who has obtained a copy for each of her children).  Order your copies today from our bookstore.

AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION…AND A NEW BEGINNING

Those of you who have faithfully followed us on this site know of the passing of Jeannie, my dear wife of forty-nine years, in July, 2015. Since then, for an extended period of time, this Living in the Word site has been somewhat silent as I pondered God’s new direction for life and ministry.

June 2, 2017, marked a new beginning in my life as Diana Barber and I were wed in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Paige Patterson on the Southwestern Seminary Campus. Diana is the former wife of pastor and teacher Wayne Barber of Chattanooga, TN. Wayne passed away in 2016 after a lengthy battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Wayne and Diana were married for forty-seven years. Jeannie and I first met Wayne and Diana at a Bible Conference in Salzburg, Austria, in 1984. In a manner only God could have orchestrated, Diana and I were brought together and now eagerly anticipate the days of ministry ahead.  You’ll be meeting and hearing more about Diana, our marriage and the leadership of God in our lives, as you stay connected with us in the days ahead by means of this blog.

Both Diana and I pray for you the kind of joyous Christmas we are also experiencing.

Rejoice evermore!