Quote by Claudia: "I hope you were only kidding, do you always act this way? LOL! :P

[]-------- BONK!! "

Hello Claudia

I meant to answer this question/comment eons ago; but we are frenetically racing about with preparations for moving this week.

Thankyou for the bonk! I need a good one once in a while! No. I am not always like that; but I was trying to add more dramatic emphasis to my point. I find it very helpful to do this. The only real tragedy here is that the shocking stories I told were very real, and true. So I am trying to emphasize why it is sometimes impossible to love all people in the same way. Enemies are no exception either though. You can't love all enemies in the same way either, can you?

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"We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone!" (Eph.2:20).

Your brother in Christ

David T. Battler

The other day, a friend of mine said that she "had a view things to talk to Eve about when we see her"! She was just joking around, but it kind of struck a cord in me. Many people blame Adam and Eve for the situation we are in, and for the sufferings that we endure (i.e. the pain of child birth, etc.) I believe that we need to forgive in order to love.

David asks tough questions, there are many people in this world that it is HARD to love. For example, the teenager in Calgary, the abusive spouse/father, the rude friend or relative, the list is continuous. Satan would love nothing more than to have us hate and/or treat badly those who treat us badly. We are entreated to forgive, so that we can be forgiven (The Lord's Prayer), if we cannot forgive, we cannot love. Once the forgiveness is in place, the love can follow.

We are studying James in our Bible Study Group, and James 3 is all about taming the tongue. James says that if we talk "perfectly" then our whole body will be perfect. Perhaps the trick in some situations would be to talk like we love someone, and eventually we will believe it and act like it. I'm just hypothecating here however.

Jesus gives us forgiveness when we find we have none in us. So does He give us love for our fellowman - whether friend or enemy.

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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*

That's interesting, Sarah, as I am now reading the book of James as part of my daily devotional reading. I just finished reading chapter 1 today.

The following two verses spoke to me and aptly fits our topic discussion here:

James 1:19 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

That is a mouth full in these two verses.

What do we convey to others in how we post in MSDAOL?

Do we cause anxiety and stife, either intentionally or unintentionally?

Do we use the word you in our posts in such a way that brings some kind of anxiety or strife to the reader of that post?

I know I have unintentionally been guilty of that in the past.

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

Leo Schreven quotes a teaching of Buddah in his "All Power Seminar."

Someone was cussing, cursing, and using the word "you" in the wrong manner to Buddah.

He stood there and calmly "took it."

Afterwards the hothead asked Buddah, "Aren't you listening to anything I'm saying?"

Buddah answered with: "If you give me a gift and I refuse it, who owns the gift?"

"The one who tried to give it" said the man.

"Well," said Buddah, "All these terrible things you've said about me--I refuse to accept them."

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Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Don't let yesterday's mistakes trouble you, nor tomorrow's fears spoil your day.

Pastor Andrew

[This message has been edited by Andrew Marttinen (edited November 29, 2000).]

How do we love our enemies?

Obey the sixth commandment.

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"We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone!" (Eph.2:20).

Your brother in Christ

David T. Battler