ENEMIES : LOVE THEM

March 19, 2021
Good afternoon,
” An estimated 30 percent of the bombs dropped on Laos failed to explode upon impact, and in the years since the bombing ended, 20,000 people have been killed or maimed by the estimated 80 million bombs left behind. In 2016, President Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos.”—–   from Wikipedia
From 1962 to 1971, the U.S. Air Force sprayed nearly 19 million gallons of herbicides in Vietnam, of which at least 11 million gallons was Agent Orange, in a military project called Operation Ranch Hand.” ——— from Wikipedia
” Love your enemies”   Matthew 5:44There is a scuffle between world leaders. Putin, Biden and Xi. They are calling each other names. If this happened in the Milverton school yard, the three little boys would be taken to the principal. What is it about being a leader of a superpower that makes you want to be the tough guy. Who are you trying to impress ? And they all have nuclear weapons.


When Jesus said in the sermon to love one’s enemies, who was he talking about ? The Greek neighbours who ate pork ? The people of the synagogue who did not believe the stuff Jesus and his disciples were saying ? The Emperor ?  The Philosophers of the Greek Gods ? Who were Jesus’ enemies ?


And who are our enemies ? Some of our family ? The neighbour’s dog or cat ? The people who do not take the Virus seriously ? The politicians, right or left or center ? Or the United States of America for not taking responsibility for the death and destruction in Laos and Vietnam ( do you detect some hatred in me ) ? Oh, I forgot Agent Orange was manufactured in small town Elmira. How do we love our enemies ?

Paul said this:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head
.”’ Romans 12:20


Grace, and more grace to love unconditionally. 
Fred

Soaring like Vultures

lifted up by unseen HandsTrust

, silent enters my fears     Monica Pieper Landoni 2021

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