Good Morning!
I can’t believe it’s the last day of April already.
On this day in 1789 George Washington took office as first elected U.S. president.
In 1803 the U.S. purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. On this day in 1812 Louisiana became the 18th state.
In 1900 Hawaii was organized as an official U.S. territory.
Also on this day in 1900 Casey Jones was killed while trying to save the runaway train “Cannonball Express.”
In 1939 Lou Gehrig played his last game with the New York Yankees. 😦
In 1945 Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide.
And in 1973 U.S. President Nixon announced the resignations of Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and other top aides.
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Quote of the Day
“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
George Washington
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Today is also Willie Nelson’s birthday. So here’s Willie with a friend…
If you liked that, the full 43 minute live show is here,
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Here’s a QoD for ya’s…… Several in fact……
Were you saved at an early age, or as an adult?
Do you notice a difference in attitudes between those saved at a young age, and those saved as adults?
Do you think those saved as adults seem to have more difficulty understanding and putting into practice certain biblical concepts due to their life experiences?
Or is it just me? 😦
The reason I ask is because I’ve been struggling with the concept of loving ones enemies. I understand the commands about loving my neighbors and family, but that’s the easy part. But I struggle mightily with putting that into practice with those I view as hostile to Christians, life, and traditional values. I sometimes feel as if there is a contradiction between the commands about loving your enemies and other passages where God’s people dealt and spoke harshly with the evil in their midst. I understand this contradiction is in my understanding of it, and that it really isn’t a contradiction. I just can’t seem to get my head around it. I’d appreciate your opinions on this. Here’s an example of what I mean.
Psalm 5:8-10
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
and
Matthew 5:43-45
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
And my last couple of questions is what scripture reading would you recommend to help me with this? And what helps you remember to be more like the person spoken of in Matthew, and less like the person who tends to want justice rather than mercy for his perceived enemies?
And do you think women, usually being the gentler sex, grasp this concept easier than men do?
Told ya’ I had a bunch. 🙂
Wandering Views 