Can there be Justice with Forgiveness?

With this case still going on and again being postponded once again for the hundredth time. With Him being arrogant and rude in the courtroom... Can there be justice and forgiveness? Can you forgive someone who isn't repentant; who blames others for their actions? Can there be repentance even though this was a awful crime?

I thought I had this matter resolved inside my soul. I have forgiven my rapist, my mother, my father, my family, my friends, and I thought I have forgiven this man who had hurt my friend. But after speaking to my Pastor after the revival two weeks ago. I realized that yes, in a way I have forgiven this man (and a woman who hurt me dearly) but, when I think of him I saw this sin. When I saw him I saw him as someone who has tainted the name of God. But this last week I went to court with my friend. It was very very very very hard to see this man. This man, we trusted, we looked up to, ask questions about God, and respected and He was rude in court to "us". He wasn't repentatnt, remorseful in any sense. I felt at first rage of anger come up, "People will turn away from God because of you and your actions" but, as soon as I said that God said to me, "Yes, what he did was wrong, and evil. But I call you to forgive him. Forgive Him as I forgave you." No, I never have done anything like this man did but, the Lord has forgiven me of much. I am to forgive this man not for his sake but, for my own soul. When I see this man and yes, I still feel angry that he has done this. Yes, I feel angry that he is acting this way. But do I see him as this sin? I believe I am on the way to truly forgiving this man. Not because he deserves it. NO! Because I don't want to hold this hatered and bitterness any longer. I see him as "broken". A man broken and that needs God. So can there be forgiveness and justice? I truly believe yes. Yes there can. I believe we can forgive him and him still be hold accountable for his actions. Now my next action to take is how do I show forgiveness to these people. How do I show forgiveness without letting them not take respondsiblity for their actions? This is a whole new chapter....

What happened to Justice?

I have been writing an impact statement letter to the judge of the case where my friend's daughter was taken advantage of by her teacher, faith adviser, and family friend. It has been two and half years and finally he plead guilty and they say that he won't get more than 12 months in jail or none at all. This is ridiculous! Utah is the worst state imaginable on this. A kid who gets caught with a bag of dope gets a lot more time than someone who is a child molester. This just makes me sick! Okay I got to leave it at that. I'm getting too wrapped up.