|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 13, 2007 20:56:43 GMT
It is taken from Matthew Chapter 5 v 43-47 The Message Version
43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 14, 2007 8:11:07 GMT
It is taken from Matthew Chapter 5 v 43-47 The Message Version 43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. Strangely Mo (but perhaps not so strangely) I used this verse of Jesus for my children's address yesterday morning at Three Bridges Free Church, Sussex. I talked about the miracle that happened last Tuesday when Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness agreed to work together, having previously been enemies. It is easy to hate our enemies - but the only one who is harmed when we do that is oursleves. It is much, much harder, but more rewarding to show love (if you like, thoughtfulness and respect) to our enemies. Thank you for sharing that verse - and those thoughts. I pray that they will be a help to someone today.
|
|
|
Post by Beau Leggs on May 14, 2007 13:14:28 GMT
It is taken from Matthew Chapter 5 v 43-47 The Message Version 43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. I'm not wanting to be pedantic, but you started to quote, I assume verbatim, by using a ". Is the whole of the text a quote or is only some part and the rest commentary? It would be preferable, from my heathen ways, if you took a quote, then in the next paragraph explain either what it means or more importantly what it means to you.
|
|
|
Post by Mahatt Micoat on May 14, 2007 16:59:59 GMT
Can I add my "thought for the day"? It's not from The Bible but a quote from Mother Teresa that I really like.....
"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 14, 2007 17:44:57 GMT
It is taken from Matthew Chapter 5 v 43-47 The Message Version 43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. I'm not wanting to be pedantic, but you started to quote, I assume verbatim, by using a ". Is the whole of the text a quote or is only some part and the rest commentary? It would be preferable, from my heathen ways, if you took a quote, then in the next paragraph explain either what it means or more importantly what it means to you. Right I will do my best. This is a passage straight from the bible. The translation is a modern one and is called the message. I find it easier to understand especially the Old Testament. Now as to the verses they are simply saying that you must love your enemies not just people who are nice to you. We can harbour hateful thoughts against people who have been mean to us but all that can really do is give us an ulcer. I know it is not easy to love your enemies but God teaches us that loving everyone is the ideal that we should aim for. Sometimes it might be possible that by showing acts of kindness to people you do not particularly like could result in a change in you and them and there is a possibility that you could break down the enmity. I hope this has made it a bit clearer.
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 14, 2007 17:55:18 GMT
It is taken from Matthew Chapter 5 v 43-47 The Message Version 43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. Strangely Mo (but perhaps not so strangely) I used this verse of Jesus for my children's address yesterday morning at Three Bridges Free Church, Sussex. I talked about the miracle that happened last Tuesday when Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness agreed to work together, having previously been enemies. It is easy to hate our enemies - but the only one who is harmed when we do that is oursleves. It is much, much harder, but more rewarding to show love (if you like, thoughtfulness and respect) to our enemies. Thank you for sharing that verse - and those thoughts. I pray that they will be a help to someone today. The PMT and I often say 'well isn't that strange' when something like this happens but why should we be surprised after all God does work in mysterious ways. Thanks again for the encouragement.
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 14, 2007 17:58:08 GMT
Can I add my "thought for the day"? It's not from The Bible but a quote from Mother Teresa that I really like..... "People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."Mother Teresa was a very wise woman and a great Christian. She has put into everyday words what may be difficult to understand from the Bible.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 14, 2007 18:00:15 GMT
Can I add my "thought for the day"? It's not from The Bible but a quote from Mother Teresa that I really like..... "People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."Thanks MM (may I call you that?) That's very helpful and I haven't heard it before. I hope lots of people will add useful sayings here - or elsewhere.
|
|
|
Post by Mahatt Micoat on May 14, 2007 18:01:54 GMT
Can I add my "thought for the day"? It's not from The Bible but a quote from Mother Teresa that I really like..... "People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."Mother Teresa was a very wise woman and a great Christian. She has put into everyday words what may be difficult to understand from the Bible. That's one of the things I like about pause for thought on the wireless, they talk so anyone can understand the message.
|
|
|
Post by Mahatt Micoat on May 14, 2007 18:06:21 GMT
Can I add my "thought for the day"? It's not from The Bible but a quote from Mother Teresa that I really like..... "People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."Thanks MM (may I call you that?) That's very helpful and I haven't heard it before. I hope lots of people will add useful sayings here - or elsewhere. It's a great quote isn't it? I heard it once on P for T on the wake up Wogan breakfast show and had to go looking on the net find it. I have it printed out and hanging on the kitchen door.
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 14, 2007 18:06:35 GMT
Mother Teresa was a very wise woman and a great Christian. She has put into everyday words what may be difficult to understand from the Bible. That's one of the things I like about pause for thought on the wireless, they talk so anyone can understand the message. I think any Christian thought is good for the soul. We don't here enough in this day and age which is very sad.
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 14, 2007 18:10:04 GMT
Thanks MM (may I call you that?) That's very helpful and I haven't heard it before. I hope lots of people will add useful sayings here - or elsewhere. It's a great quote isn't it? I heard it once on P for T on the wake up Wogan breakfast show and had to go looking on the net find it. I have it printed out and hanging on the kitchen door. The one we have on the freezer door is:- God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 14, 2007 18:12:58 GMT
Mother Teresa was a very wise woman and a great Christian. She has put into everyday words what may be difficult to understand from the Bible. That's one of the things I like about pause for thought on the wireless, they talk so anyone can understand the message. I try to preach/teach like that. I remember reading that Martin Luther often had Dukes, Princes and other nobles and learned people in this congregation but he preached to the humble kitchen maids (who could neither read nor write) who sat at the bottom of the pupit stairs. He said, 'If they can understand it, then so can anyone.' I like to think that that is my motto too.
|
|
|
Post by adamzappel on May 14, 2007 20:17:56 GMT
It's a great quote isn't it? I heard it once on P for T on the wake up Wogan breakfast show and had to go looking on the net find it. I have it printed out and hanging on the kitchen door. The one we have on the freezer door is:- God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference. Thanks Mo. I have always loved the Serenity Prayer. Thanks to Mahatt too. Those words of Mother Teresa are very special and give quite an insight into the way she lived her life too, I think. She was an incredibly determined woman of great courage and humility.
|
|
|
Post by ivy noidea on May 14, 2007 22:14:56 GMT
That's one of the things I like about pause for thought on the wireless, they talk so anyone can understand the message. I think any Christian thought is good for the soul. We don't here enough in this day and age which is very sad. I disagree; I hear Christian values expressed during the course of every day. It may not be couched in Biblical language but the sentiment is clear.
Perhaps I am a naive optimist but I believe that people generally are basically good and decent.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 15, 2007 7:48:23 GMT
As no-one seems to be offering a thought for this day, may I suggest these words of Paul, near the end of his letter to the Philippians - a letter which is full of love and joy.
'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things' (Phil. 4:8).
|
|
|
Post by Mahatt Micoat on May 15, 2007 16:46:28 GMT
As no-one seems to be offering a thought for this day, may I suggest these words of Paul, near the end of his letter to the Philippians - a letter which is full of love and joy. 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things' (Phil. 4:8). A good thing to remember when you're having a bad day, thanks RM
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 15, 2007 17:02:26 GMT
As no-one seems to be offering a thought for this day, may I suggest these words of Paul, near the end of his letter to the Philippians - a letter which is full of love and joy. 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things' (Phil. 4:8). A good thing to remember when you're having a bad day, thanks RM Yes MM. It's so easy to dwell on those things that get us down. But there is always something for which we can count our blessings.
|
|
|
Post by Mo Termouth on May 15, 2007 18:16:57 GMT
As no-one seems to be offering a thought for this day, may I suggest these words of Paul, near the end of his letter to the Philippians - a letter which is full of love and joy. 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things' (Phil. 4:8). You are really scaring me now. That was going to be the next thing I posted. We have it all around the house as a reminder that no matter how nasty people you must always look for the good.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 15, 2007 18:19:55 GMT
As no-one seems to be offering a thought for this day, may I suggest these words of Paul, near the end of his letter to the Philippians - a letter which is full of love and joy. 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things' (Phil. 4:8). You are really scaring me now. That was going to be the next thing I posted. We have it all around the house as a reminder that no matter how nasty people you must always look for the good. Oh dear. I only posted this because there wasn't one this morning (I was going to post it yesterday, but you beat me to it then). I'll look forward to your thought tomorrow morning then Mo. I'll have one ready if you don't post one. It would be good to have a new thought each morning - perhaps posted late in the evening before because many togs seem to leave for work by 8ish.
|
|