I have been ordered by Dr. Freddie Gage to speak on the topic of bitterness and forgiveness. Now like most preachers, I don't like to be told what to preach, but in Freddie's case I gladly acquiesce because I knew if I didn't, Freddie would get bitter and never forgive me.

Now some people might think it strange to speak on a topic of bitterness to a bunch of Baptists. But bitterness is certainly no stranger to Baptist churches.

I heard about a Baptist businessman that was taking a business trip on an airplane when the plane crashed on a desert island, and he was the only survivor. He spent the next eight years of his life alone on that island, simply trying to survive.

After eight years he was finally discovered and rescued. As he was being led off of the island, one of his rescuers not…