when i was a hippie
in the ‘60s
and i protested the vietnam war
with other hippies
you said, “loveitorleaveit”
when i was a hippie
in the ‘60s
and i marched for civil rights
with hippies and other like-minded folks
you said, “loveitorleaveit”
when i mourned the deaths
in between 1964 and 1970
of james chaney, andrew goodman, michael schwerner, martin luther king jr, robert kennedy and the students at kent state
with other people who were seeing the dream shattered
you said, “loveitorleaveit”
when i went to work
in the 70s
and recognized I was paid 60% of what my male counterpart was paid, and put up with smarmy comments from male coworkers and my male boss and was told there was nothing i could do about it if i wanted to keep my job
you said, “loveitorleaveit”
this week the u.s. supreme court
said gay marriage is legal
and you are grieved and offended
and are certain satan has taken over the country
should i say, “loveitorleaveit”
Susan Irene Fox 
I love all of these comments! Above all else God is love and Jesus demonstrated that mixture of Love and power, Authority and friendship. Remember the story of the woman caught in adultery. She was thrown at Jesus’ feet and she was guilty against the law. The men he found her out had malice in their hearts but we’re lawfull. Jesus never looked at them or her. Just wrote on the ground. I wonder what He was thinking? I imagine He was sad that these men so lacked wisdom and felt sorry for the shame of the woman. He then rebukes them softly “he who is without sin cast the first stone”… oldest to youngest they left. If the story stopped here we’d think he condoned the behaviour bet He then says to her that He doesn’t condemn her. “Go and sin no more”. Our God is a restorer, resurrector and healer. We should be the same. Love on people no matter their actions, pray for them and once God works on them let Him tell them to go and sin no more. Thank you all for posting! I love seeing the love of Christians expressed publicly.
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Me, too, Nick. This is what it’s all about.
I’ve wondered what he wrote on the ground, too. Maybe a prayer. Maybe something only the woman could see. Whatever it was, it must have been encouragement for her.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment.
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things are getting ever worse, aren’t they?
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They are, and I must continue to pray for healing for all of us. We must understand who the real enemy is. He seeks to divide us with issues we cling to and make into wars.
Spiritual Warfare is real, and it’s about building the kingdom of God through love and compassion, one person at a time. As long as we focus on that, we stand firm in the faith.
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thank you, Susan!
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Oh, Heidi. You’re so welcome. Hugs to you.
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I left it.
😉
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😕
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Go ahead say it, you have freedom of speech. You and the hippies were right.
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It’s not about being right. It’s just about being certain we’re fighting this spiritual battle not as the world fights.
Too often, the world fights with bitter words and with accusation that turns people away. We need to “put on our feet, shoes of the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
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You are so brilliantly talented
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I was going to post another poem, but this just came to me and I began writing. Just couldn’t not post it.
Thank you, Melissa.
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It’s perfect
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🙂
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Amen.
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LOL, Susan! Exactly!
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Beth, I really should have added one more verse:
now that i follow jesus
i also follow his command
to love him, love each other
love my neighbors and my enemies
i pray that is not you
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For me I will stay.I fought for it and had friends and brothers for for it. I Jane eagles the streets looking for work and been in distitude many times not of my own hand.
Dear Susan. One thing remains. It never did make a difference what laws or rules man passes. When folks look at what man does they take their eyes off Jesus. God said for it’s to work our salvation out with great and trembling before him. That means Tom should just worry about Tom. You see God is still in control and will judge the world one day for our choices. I cannot celebrate with you for it is against what I believe. I can however rejoice that Jesus is on the throne and has set a work in motion no man can change. I truly desire and it will be my endevour to love and respect all of God’s creation. I will continue to pray to hear God’s voice and that his love for all mankind will prevail. I keep my eyes on he who is King of glory. I have grown to love and respect you dear friend and nothing man does will ever change that.
All my love Tom
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Dear Tom, what you said, “I truly desire and it will be my endevour to love and respect all of God’s creation. I will continue to pray to hear God’s voice and that his love for all mankind will prevail.” That is the point. Not celebrating, just meditating on exactly what you said here: love and respect for all God’s creation. Thank you for adding your voice. And thank you for bring my brother in Christ.
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Awwww Susan you are so precious.
Love you sister
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❤
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I applaud your reply Tom. The book of Jude…all two chapters…is about fighting for God’s truth, defending the faith, not falling for false teachings …it is those false teachings that lead many away from Christ because of the world’s perversion of the Truth. I pray our country will know God’s truth as expressed in His Word. Too many people quote only the verses that give them feel good goosebumps never caring that we are held to a higher standard as followers of Christ. It is not an easy undertaking. God tells us this. We will be known by the fruits we bear. Our natural inclination to sin is no way an excuse to trample His grace as Believers. We are told to “deny self”…Luke 9:23. With that comes a responsibility to holiness. My reply comes from my study of the book of Jude today. It just happens to coincide with the world’s perversion of ” love thy neighbor” any way you please. ~ dale
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Dale, I have to share something my pastor said this morning. We’ve been studying Ephesians, and today, quite appropriately, we landed in 6:10-17.
He said, “We must dress ourselves in God’s reality and ensure we don’t fight our battles against the people Jesus was trying to save.”
We have to remember our battle is against The Enemy, who is The Enemy of Jesus. We are not fighting flesh and blood. If we take on that battle, we are misdirected, for that is what The Enemy wants us to think our battle is.
When Jesus said, “Love your enemies, he did not refer to The Enemy; he referred to flesh and blood enemies. The best thing we can do is show the loving hands of Jesus to all those who God created, and let The Ultimate Judge do His job, sorting out the sheep from the goats.
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Susan, meanwhile we have a directive as to how we as Believers are to conduct our lives. It is not a judgment but a witness. I use scriptures to come to this conclusion. I do not judge but rather use the discernment that comes from gaining wisdom through the study of God’s Word and knowing Christ. Sadly, those two words, “judgment” and “discernment” are often confused. The “Ultimate Judgment” is indeed something we should all be concerned with when it comes to sparing unbelievers that final judgment. It is most definitely our place to share Jesus and His love for us.
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Dale, I absolutely agree the two words and concepts, “judgment” and “discernment” are often confused. I think you hit the nail on the head there.
I offer a simple prayer of unity for all believers: that we share Jesus and His love for all, and that we use discernment as we approach non-believers, and establish relationships, show compassion, and a heart open to possibilities.
Love you, sister.
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Absolutely. Love right backatcha 😇
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❤
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