For Lourdes E. Morales-Gudmundsson, Ph.D., professor of world languages at La Sierra University, forgiveness has been a focus of her teaching ministry for more than 25 years.

Now she's authored a new book, I forgive you, but..., that collects her research and insights into this important topic. Published by Pacific Press Publishing Association this summer, the book is aimed at Christians who believe that forgiveness is important to their spiritual journey, but who may not understand what forgiveness really is. It's for those who just can't seem to move on from a deep hurt.

Morales-Gudmundsson began making presentations on forgiveness in the 1980s. She developed her current forgiveness seminar in the early 1990s, and has presented this material to Adventist and other Christian groups in 15 states, South America, Iceland, Australia and Tahiti. The book is an outgrowth of those seminars, and offers answers to some of the frequent questions she's received from those who have attended her presentations.

"First we look at why a person needs to forgive," says Morales-Gudmundsson. "Thousands of well-designed studies have been done that connect holding grudges with increased rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Mental health issues are also very important when a person tends to hold on to grudges and won't forgive someone." The book's central section outlines 12 principles of biblical forgiveness — what it is, and what it isn't. Finally, she takes readers through the steps of how to forgive.

Morales-Gudmundsson first became interested in the forgiveness topic through a series of personally painful encounters with her father. She shares some of the details of her road to forgiving her father, and how those painful yet redeeming encounters would be the beginning of a long and still fruitful journey of self-discovery.

"Adventists believe we are living in the last days of earth's history. Our passion for evangelism grows out of this conviction," says Morales-Gudmundsson. " Yet it's also important for us to realize we are also called on to address the conflicts in homes and nations all around us with the saving principles of forgiveness that can help open the way for the gospel to be heard."

"Sometimes our own children are not interested in hearing the gospel because of our hard-heartedness that makes us so unforgiving," she adds. "Can our preaching of the gospel ignore the centrality of this fundamental Christian doctrine as it applies not only to reconciliation between sinners and their God, but between sinners themselves?"

Morales-Gudmundsson plans to develop a seminar guide based on this new book for use by Adventist churches as an evangelistic outreach tool. She is discussing this project with the General Conference Ministerial Department, and hopes to complete her development work during her next teaching sabbatical at La Sierra.

I forgive you, but... is available in both English and Spanish, and can be found at Adventist Book Centers and through adventistbookcenter.com.