In August 2014, Esquire magazine ran an article titled "Lance Armstrong in Purgatory." A year and a half earlier, a doping cheating scandal ended the career and the endorsements for the world's most successful cyclist. Esquire called Armstrong "the greatest cheater of all time" who "doped and bullied other bikers to dope and sued or harassed people for telling the truth about him."

Now Armstrong is trying to make amends. On Oprah, he publically admitted his cheating ways. He has also gone around the world to personally tell the people he bullied most that he's sorry. He flew to Rome to apologize to Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni, to Paris to apologize to French racer Christophe Bassons. Armstrong said, "[I told these people], 'I'm ashamed and embarrassed when I look back on that period. If I saw my son act that way, I'd be livid.'"

But despite his desire to earn redemption, Armstrong hasn't experienced the liberating power of forgiveness. The author of the article writes:

Today, [Armstrong] seems tired and trapped. "Don't we all, when our backs are against the wall, try to push back or fight or control certain things?" he says softly. "But this is so far gone, I don't know what's gonna happen. I can't control what's gonna happen. It's beyond my control."

Possible Preaching Angles: While it is commendable that Armstrong is seeking to apologize, according to this article, he seems like a man who is a long way from the peace of redemption and the gift of Christ's forgiveness. He knows he can't control things in his life, but he also can't find the freedom of trust and surrender.