Non-Violent Unarmed Peaceful Resistance

For example.

Ten Years After

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Repost of 2012 post~ Reference: School of Hard Knocks

 Repost of 2012 post~ Reference: School of Hard Knocks

 http://blueberrypeacefarm.blogspot.com/2012/10/welcome-home.html 

Please also see THREE WISHES: http://blueberrypeacefarm.blogspot.com/2010/12/homeless-3-wishes-denver.html 

(NOTE: The below paper was written for Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas) in 2001, 15 years ago, mentioning the Bureau of Land Management and "the injustice of the so-called Justice System".) 

WELCOME HOME!!!

Homelessness, an extra extra credit paper
(with a digression to the injustice of the Justice System)
William Carl McLean
Psychology 101
Summer Session 2, 2001
The year 2001
(America is consuming a disproportionate amount of the world's resources; one of the "Big 7"; "Gluttony". The Bureau of Land Management controls 250 million acres. See current National Geographic, 9-01. Every child born should have "birth rights". A system of disproportional wealth and privilege should be thoughtfully looked at and perhaps reevaluated).

SO YOU WANT TO HELP THE HOMELESS?..BUT THEY'RE NEVER HOME ("home is where you lay your head"- David Thoreau)

Lynn and I urban camped in Austin, Texas.

We had met "on the streets" in Houston. My friends and I had the bridge at Alabama and Main Street there. There was society and sub-culture with-in this setting. Most people had alcohol or drug usage, some didn't, and there were various degrees. Lonnie, who was a Montrose local legend/relic from the '60's, sold news papers at the corner of Westiemer and Montrose Blvd. He has shaggy white hair and a beard to match. After being on the corner in the morning, you could find him at "CAMP" (a term that you will hear frequently hear from the urban "homeless"); an overgrown vacant lot not far from "the work corner". There was Lonnie sitting on one of the two old couches salvaged ("keepers"/"scores") from a nearby apartment dumpster along with whoever else was "visiting", stopping in to drink a beer, smoke some herb, socialize or listen to Lonnie play his old beat up guitar. His on again/off again girlfriend/"sister" would sometimes be there harmonizing. Other people would bring an instrument or use a 5-gal. bucket (a must for the urban camper; suitcase, chair, dish/clothes wash tub, ice-chest, card table if sitting Indian-style on the ground, and musical instrument) as a drum or two sticks hit together (playing the bones). One of these people who was there usually was Danny, a Vietnam Vet, until one night, drunk, he walked in front of a car on Westiemer and was killed. Lonnie had been doing this since the '60's when Montrose was reputed as Bohemian/artsy/hippies. Pacifica radio station was on Lovett Blvd. and you would go to the Montrose to score some weed or see a concert or midnight movie. The head shops, antique and art stores were there.

(back to 1992) Just north on Montrose Blvd. from Lonnie's paper corner was another "homeless" person of a different nature. For years he stayed in the median of the road, hair in dreds, wearing old clothes. People would bring him food. (Lonnie was welcome at the back door of a number of restaurants as was I and there were other ways of getting food)) During the day he would sit cross-legged as if in meditation or pace in a 14-foot wide median. I guess he might still be there. He would more likely be labeled mentally ill. People on the streets slept at camps in vacant or pubic lands, vacant buildings, under bridges or other structures or where ever they ended up that night. Some worked at "day labor", some begged, some had small public assistance, some live just off of the fat/or garbage of the city, some survived solely through charity feeding programs, some "hustled" or thieved. There were also the prostitutes, "crack heads" and street kids.

As well as some of the above methods of survival, I knew people who worked at businesses or lived in the neighborhood. Papa Jim (died 3 yrs ago-heart attack) worked at the Chevron on Alabama and Montrose. Papa Jim lived rent-free in an old 2-story house on Marshall street. The house was gutted and had no electricity. He had arrangements with the owner. He lived simply ("LIVE SIMPLY THAT OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE") and gave away any extra money after minimal living costs to one of his adopted kids. This was his choice between him and "God". I spent many a night visiting with Jim as he cut up vegetables by the light of a kerosene oil lamp or candle. He had at one time a problem with alcohol but had not drank in years. He would feed whoever showed up. He always told me "Have some more, Son". I loved him for his integrity. (I tried often to bring him something he could use or needed) He was a friend, as was Lonnie and Danny (and many others). Garland was another friend in the neighborhood. He lived in an old 2 story as a long time bachelor/widower. In his house it was filled with boxes of things and memories of years past. He was a retired city councilman who had few friends besides the birds and the squirrels he would feed everyday. He would pay me $20 to do a little yard work (his yard was very overgrown and unkempt but homey) but mostly we would share company (he had lots of stories and memories) when I would stop by on my walks abouts. He was the only one who gave Lynn and I a card (a little cash inside) when we were married (1993, I think we still have it amazingly, it says "God cares for even the sparrows")

Our bridge could be quite the place of activity. It actually is the overpass for the entrance to downtown from highway 59. At one time we had 10 to 20 people, depending on the night. (with tents, mattresses and an American Flag) Other times it was me alone or just me and Bobby Clark who ended up there after his wife died. "Duke" Davis (also dead-hit by a speeding teenager while he was riding a bike to a store) was another friend/brother of the streets. He was the one that first introduced Lynn and I. He was like a kid that never grew up (last year when he was killed he was listening to "Kid Rock" and still living to "party"). He came from a rich family (Memorial) and made lots of money in the seventies selling computers. He had wrecked 7 corvettes by age 25. Whenever he had money he would impulsively spend it. His drink of choice was Thunderbird wine. After we were married (at Lakewood Church, got there by city bus and slept in a large vacant grass field under the stars our wedding night, free Doobie Brother's concert July 4th, Allen's Landing) we chose to move to Austin. Lynn's ex-boyfriend, "crying Brian" said he put a $1000 bounty on me. He was broke and "homeless" but there was still a possibility of conflict. Also my x, "bicycle Laura" (an old heroin user turned cocaine/speed user who used to deliver on a bicycle in the Montrose-also one of the most intellectually and musically gifted people that I've ever met) told Lynn she was going to kill her (she had killed before)(she was an "outlaw chick"), but it was though Plexiglas at the county jail, a drug charge. So for a new start we moved to Austin.

We got off the Greyhound in north Austin at the Highland Mall and that is the area (north Guadeloupe) in which we remained in the 3 years we lived there (before coming to Nacogdoches). Getting off the bus, I went and found a shopping cart. We had wheels. Our first "camp" there was in bushes and trees by some railroad tracks behind a convenience store with a outside water spigot. There was a phone, coffee, tobacco and beer available. We would wake up in the morning with birds and squirrels above us and around us. We were there about a month before we were asked to move by the police. We had found out that there is a large population of urban campers in Austin. Moving Day! (again!) Our next campsite was further down the railroad tracks. There was about 5 acres that belong(ed?) to the family of someone we had met and he gave us "permission". We set up a tent, a fire pit, clothes line and found a couch, some carpet and chairs.

There were some other "homeless" people camped there. There was a 24-hour poolroom nearby, the "Q Club". They live in "the tree house", a room made of pallets and plastic tarps with carpet, couches and mattresses. Their deal was cocaine and that costs money. They would bring in money, sometimes a lot but they would very quickly be broke without even a cigarette. They had scams such as shoplifting and returning merchandise or else working day labor all day just to briefly get high on coke(illegal=high cost). Christmas Day we got flour tortillas, chicken leg quarters and pork "country style" ribs and cooked for everyone (we had "company" visiting). The day after Christmas one of the "homeless" broke, mad at himself and the world, coming down off cocaine attacked us in our camp. This was a continuance from a incident earlier when he had asked us for money and when we refused he pulled a knife. Later that night he started to yell that he was going to burn us as we slept. He ran into our camp and I hit him right between the eyes and he got dizzy and went down. To keep him down, and in fear of personal injury, I did a Mexican hat dance on his face with my tennis shoes. He had swollen bruised eyes, swollen cut lip and a cut ear. He looked bad. An ambulance was called out and he went to the hospital where he had 3 stitches on his ear and was released. The police were also called out and I was arrested and taken to jail.

I thought for disturbing the peace or fighting in public, but I was very wrong. One of the other people "living in the woods", made a statement to the police that "It sounded like he hit him with a steel pipe". In spite of no other evidence in the physical injuries or any other and on the word "one of the vagrants", I was indited by a grand jury for felony aggravated assault. The indictment read that "I formed and fashion the said steel pipe with intent for serious bodily harm and or death and I did so used such weapon to inflict serious bodily harm on said victim, Kenneth?..". The victim "Ken" turned out to be wanted and left town two weeks later after an incident where he and his buddy got in a fight with someone at a nearby apartment and their neck was broke. He was arrested in Arizona for other crimes. I was stuck in jail facing time accused of something I did not do. It would be 4 months before I got out. Lynn was out in the woods in a city she didn't know and no family of her own to turn to and with my parents, not knowing them well yet, she didn't get help either (they would have done what ever they could but there was communication problems).

There are some big flaws in our justice system. Recent overturning of convictions by DNA evidence shows this. Prosecutors are rewarded and the "legal system" makes money whether there is a conviction or not, whether valid or false. Somebody makes money! Once the "ball is rolling" there is little incentive to say "Ops, we were wrong". Recent cases have proven false even with "signed confessions" show this. As in class, we learned that people will do what they think they would never do under certain circumstances (such as hours of "interrogation" and shady ways, i.e., taking polygraph and passing but being told that "you failed". Police do not have to play fair)(a easy partial solution: require video taping) I was caught in this system. I was assigned a "Public Defender" who recommended I get money from my parents to bail me out (10K bail). I refused this and made a complaint to the state bar, which they said was valid (soliciting moneys from my parents). I wrote letters to Government elected officials (up the line) asking that my case be investigated. After 4 months, they were all of a sudden in a hurry to "reduce charges" (they still didn't want to admit mistake) and immediately released me. This was because the right people made inquiry. (it could have gone different if I hadn't taken action)(Scary!!!)

This put Lynn in danger and our relatively new relationship in danger or at least serious strain. We had moved to Austin with hope of new start. Lynn was vulnerable to crime (things happened) while in the woods and I was mostly restricted and powerless to help in jail. A Church of Christ couple we had met tried to help by delivering mail and messages and brought Lynn to see me a few times in the county jail outside of the city. Also, J.T. ("the Gentle Giant"), a 6-foot plus black, country (caring and laid back) Vietnam Vet. helped out Lynn by letting her stay on the couch at his modest apartment the last month I was in jail (caged like an animal). Our first embrace when I got out was beyond words and will never be forgotten.

We found 17 acres of vacant land right at the interchange of 290 and I-35. There were a number of temporary agencies in the area and we got some work. I got a job transferring info. from topographical to computer mapping programs. We got a car from a used car lot and started making payments. It got hit by a college student, and replaced with a Murcur X4TI, a German/Ford Sports Coupe. There was a creek running though the property and our "camp" was under the large trees by the creek. I found a truck tarp that was 30 x 40 feet, which we hung from the tree branches. Under that we had individual dome tents. I could park the car under it. We had a large fire pit built with Austin limestone where we cooked. We had restaurants that would feed us regularly. One sandwich shop always left us bread to feed the family of raccoons that came daily to our camp. A nearby hotel got new pool furniture and we got the old stuff ("score");~10+ chairs and loungers. We had lots of company and friends that would come visit. A friend Cruz gave us a wolf that he couldn't keep at his house or farm (it killed his farm animals). We kept it on a 20 foot chained and warned people not to pet him. A few people didn't listen and got bit. Our camp was generally open to new people and what we had was shared. We especially tried to be hospitable to "travelers" (homeless on the road). We were there almost two years. Also staying out there was "Railroad". His birth given name was Luis Gardner. He was a Eastern Orthodox Monk. When living away from the monastery (located in the remote Hill country), which he called sabbatical, he lived in the woods where he could play guitar and sing old country music and drink beer. We took him back to the monastery to stay (at least for some time) and spent a weekend with the monks eating their homegrown vegetarian diet and being included in some of their prayer and study time.

Before, i met Lynn i had been married for 10 years. I was a Medic, Nurse and then Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the U.S. Army from 1981 to 1985. After getting out the Army, my "X" and i returned to Houston where i worked at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital. I worked the second shift and my "x" went the University of Houston. She joined the University Karate club, which met in the evenings when i was still working. Her instructor became more than that and she became pregnant by him and filed for divorce from me. That same year, i was hit in the head with a pistol while being robbed near the Houston Medical Center. My left eye was hanging by the optic nerve and i spent 3 weeks in Ben Taub Hospital for the Head Injury and having facial reconstruction and my eye being repaired. I lost my job at the Cancer Hospital and had concentration and memory problems that are often associated with Head Injuries. She (my "X") went on to have 3 children and married the person who she was pregnant by. They now are running a Karate School and she also got her Master's and taught for a while at U of H and now works for Baylor College of Medicine. I wish her and her family all the best and all of God's Blessings. Sometimes Life involves "hard chapters" which this was one for me.

Lynn also was divorced not of her choosing, after 15 years of marriage, raising two beautiful boys and being the primary income source working in the grocery business. He declared bankruptcy and their house was foreclosed and she was left wondering what happened.

There is a painting of two children holding hands crossing a dangerous bridge over rocks and swiftly running water. They seem unaware of their danger or of the safety of the Angel watching over them or the watchful eye (grace) of God (whoever/whatever that may be) on them. On a good day that is how I feel.

Homelessness is caused by people unable to, or refusing to run the rat race. There is a large variation in the details of these two cases. Drugs and alcohol may be a part of this, or hard circumstances, or illness, physical or mental, or in some cases a choice to be that way (the Buddha, Jesus, John the Baptist and many, many others) or just "giving up". The people living through and in these conditions have different perspectives and schemas than those of them that have not this experience. Sometimes, when you are homeless the world and God's Universe can become your home.

WELCOME HOME!!!

Founded by William & Lynn McLean

William McLean, President

Mid-Pinellas Homeless Outreach

2002-2005

Reference: School of Hard Knocks

STATEMENT FROM THE LAVOY FINICUM FAMILY 1-29-2016

  as he "laid down his life for his friends/others". This is a form of "Higher Magic">>>SEE
https://youtu.be/x4TsU2k6fW4 look @ 4 minutes to end~

clearly showing this man intentionally not harming "road block" and intentionally drawing off gun fire for the safety of the 18 year female passenger and other passenger. It was "his Responsibility" which became his destiny, as one might say.

His last action, as he put his arm toward his friends/family saying, I imagine "Get Down. I Love you. Goodbye."

How to Garden and Grow Food

Grow BioIntensive mini farming with John JEAVONS

``m``o``t``o``r``h``e``a``d``

"Ace Of Spades"

If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man,
You win some, lose some, all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades

Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil,
Going with the flow, it's all the game to me,
Seven or Eleven, snake eyes watching you,
Double up or quit, double stake or split,
The Ace Of Spades

You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby,
I don't wanna live for ever,
And don't forget the joker!

Pushing up the ante, I know you wanna see me,
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again,
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die,
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be,
The Ace Of Spades

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

1:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

2:12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

2:16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten.

And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

3:12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

4:3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4:4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

4:6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

4:7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

4:8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

4:14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

4:15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

4:16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

5:6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

5:9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

5:11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

5:13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

5:14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

5:15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

5:16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 5:17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

5:20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 6:2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

6:4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

6:5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

6:6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? 6:7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

6:8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

6:10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

6:11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

7:10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

7:11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 7:18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

7:21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 7:22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

7:23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

7:24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

7:27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 7:28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

8:1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

8:2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

8:3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.

8:6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

8:7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

8:9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

8:10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

8:14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

8:16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 8:17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

9:1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

9:12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

9:13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 9:14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 9:15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

9:16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

9:17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

10:2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

10:3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

10:5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge (Property Rights, border hedge), a serpent shall bite him.

10:9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt (Property Rights, border stones)

therewith; and he that cleaveth wood (Property Rights, border Fence)shall be endangered thereby.

10:10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

10:16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 10:17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

12:9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Master of the universe 1973

I am the center of this universe
The wind of time is blowing through me
And it's all moving relative to me

It's all a figment of my mind
In a world that I've designed
I'm charged with cosmic energy
Has the world gone mad or is it me?

I am the creator of this universe
And all that it was meant to be
So that we might learn to see

This foolishness that lives in us
And stupidity that we must suss
How to banish from our minds
If you call this living, I must be blind

Hawkwind - Space Ritual (1973) Full Album  https://youtu.be/HYAd0-ifNlM
 

BPF GardenCam 6

GardenCam 6 (and "tour") for the week ending 24 May 2015

BPF GardenCam 5

BPF GardenCam for week ending 17 May 15

. . . ; and, on addiction "to ...

Humboldt"

the Waterboys

Don't Bang The Drum, 2012 Oslo

and

- Sydney Opera House 2 April '15

 And A Bang On The Ear - Dublin 23rd December 2013

 

The WATERBOYS live San Diego 2015 3of4: Don't Bang the Drum, The Whole of the Moon 

 

Humboldt Slackers

LOUDEST ROCK N ROLL BAND EVER

If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
You win some, lose some, it's all the same to me
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The ace of spades, the ace of spades
Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil
Going with the flow, it's all a game to me
Seven or Eleven, snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit, double stake or split
The ace of spades, the ace of spades
You know I'm born to lose and gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby
I don't wanna live for ever
And don't forget the joker
Pushing up the ante, I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be
The ace of spades, the ace of spades
~~~~~~~~~~~

2010 (after 25th CD, living in L.A. now):

 Motörhead: Live Fast Die Old (Documentary)

 

"Guts and the Glory" 

 

... "Gettin By",,,1973 FLASHBACK~Austin

Austin, Texas is where We first live when We hooked up in 1993 (married July 2, 1993).
>>>
"Gettin By",,,1973 FLASHBACK~Austin

also, from 1973, an obscure recoding of NRPS with Jerry Garcia:

BPF GardenCam 4

for the week ending 3 May 15

Mustard Greens to the Right and Broccoli, Carrots and Onions to the Left.
(the 5' X 5' Blueberry seed bed is in the background, with wood plank sides)

BPF Garden Cam (#3)

Capture, Sunday, 26 Apr 15
Music by Goodwater C.M.E. Church Choir,
Magee, Mississippi
and
"Dear Prudence" cover by the JGB

(the snake is a common Garden
 snake for here in Valley~~~
 it was handled friendly,
 not harmed and "welcomed"
 in the Garden)

BPF Garden Cam (#2)

Capture, Sunday, 19 Apr 15
Music by Goodwater C.M.E. Church Choir,
Magee, Mississippi
& "River Song", Gov' Mule

BPF Garden Cam (#1)

BPF Garden-Cam (#1)
From the week ending 12 Apr 15:

( ! ! !~First of weekly "Garden-Cam" captures~! ! ! )

EasterAmazingGraceSafeLanding

Happy Easter. 
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and Life in wholeness and fullness.

We made a "safe landing" here in Northern California by Grace to a 1955 Redwood Cottage on the Van Duzen River(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Duzen_River).

We will be posting weekly "B.P.F. GardenCam" videos.

Here is a video Easter tour of the New Home.

It starts by the Van Duzen River and our private "SunTan Glen" swimming hole (and fishing, a neighbor in the video happens to be at the River with a fishing hole). The start of the video goes from the Community River area and up the Community trail to our lot which is fenced and "half moon" in shape. There are 3 gates to the private road and the home is surrounded by flower beds and other plants shown in this video.  We have half our Garden Beds dug and planted. The pole beans don't like the cool weather, so they have not started climbing. We have 2 Kiwi vines and 7 grape vines and are doing branch arbor trellises for them to grow on. There was a established apple, cherry, peach tree and a couple citrus trees. The cherry has bloomed and the apple is in bloom in this video. Besides the established fruit trees (that got a needed pruning) we have added 8 more fruit trees and 4 blueberry bushes and strawberry plants (along w/ the grapes). We have a 5 ft X 5 ft peat moss seed bed (w/ redwood sides) for the blueberry seeds which we brought from Mississippi. There are 200 seeds planted (evenly scattered) about 28 days ago. They should start germinating soon and we expect about 100 seeds to be germinated. Of those we will select, over the next 3 years, the best suited for N Cali and  the Pacific Northwest new varieties for "Mother Plants". We will take cuttings from these "Mother" Blueberry bushes to distribute by giving one year old plants away (or "trade" or farmers markets in Humboldt county http://www.humfarm.org/). We will, over the coming year, do a weekly GardenCam to show the vegetable beds (& a little "medicine"=it is Humboldt County...some Grateful Dead OG Kush (https://www.stickyguide.com/dispensaries/medicine-bowl-collective/products/deadhead-og--4) fruit trees and the Blueberry bush seedlings. This video shows the yard ("GARDEN"), the Guest house, and the road around our lot. There is narration (maybe hard to hear some of it) in the video. It ends with a walk back to the Van Duzan and our swimming hole with our 2 dogs, Christa and Stud.

Happy Easter Everywhere!

(please note our new phone #~707.777.1941~"land line")

Help on the Way

Main Cottage

 

Guest House

 

N Cali Swimming Holes

http://www.swimmingholes.org/ca.html

 

Humboldt County Camping

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z9ARag_shDks.kBhjomf46kyc&msa=0

 

 

 

“Correcting a brother”

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 219 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Galatians 6:1 ESV / 147 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Titus 3:10-11 ESV / 126 helpful votes

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 63 helpful votes

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:20 ESV / 59 helpful votes

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 43 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 16:17 ESV / 41 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Ezekiel 33:7-12 ESV / 32 helpful votes

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 28 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Acts 20:28 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 16 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Titus 3:10 ESV / 16 helpful votes

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

James 5:19 ESV / 13 helpful votes

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Titus 1:9 ESV / 13 helpful votes

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

2 Corinthians 2:7 ESV / 13 helpful votes

So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Proverbs 10:17 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 John 1:7-11 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

James 4:17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

1 Timothy 5:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

John 13:34-35 ESV / 9 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Revelation 2:1-29 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

2 Corinthians 2:6-11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Romans 6:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

1 Corinthians 5:4-11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Colossians 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Romans 14:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Romans 14:1-15:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 6:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

John 2:12-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

Ezekiel 8:1-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley. Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Matthew 16:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 13:1-58 ESV / 5 helpful votes

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

Revelation 2:12-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

2 Peter 2:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Titus 1:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

1 Timothy 3:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Luke 13:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Mark 8:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 10:8-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 5:1-42 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 15:1-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 12:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Matthew 16:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Ephesians 6:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

1 Corinthians 5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

Bottom of Form 1

Love and Forgiveness

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 321 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

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1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 271 helpful votes

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

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Colossians 3:13 ESV / 168 helpful votes

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

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1 John 4:18 ESV / 164 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

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Luke 6:37 ESV / 149 helpful votes

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

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Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 140 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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Romans 12:9 ESV / 106 helpful votes

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

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1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 90 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

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John 3:16 ESV / 88 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV / 87 helpful votes

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

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Romans 12:2 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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Matthew 11:29-30 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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Matthew 6:9-13 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

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Romans 5:8 ESV / 63 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Luke 6:35 ESV / 63 helpful votes

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

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1 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV / 62 helpful votes

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

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1 Peter 3:18-22 ESV / 51 helpful votes

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

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Hebrews 10:17 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

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Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 45 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

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John 20:19-24 ESV / 45 helpful votes

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

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John 15:13 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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John 14:23 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

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John 14:15 ESV / 41 helpful votes

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

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Matthew 9:6-8 ESV / 40 helpful votes

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

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Romans 13:8-10 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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John 13:34 ESV / 37 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

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Mark 11:25 ESV / 36 helpful votes

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

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Romans 5:5 ESV / 35 helpful votes

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

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Luke 6:32-36 ESV / 35 helpful votes

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

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Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

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1 John 3:1 ESV / 32 helpful votes

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

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Matthew 5:7 ESV / 32 helpful votes

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

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1 John 1:9 ESV / 30 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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1 John 3:16 ESV / 29 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

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John 14:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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John 8:12 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

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John 10:10 ESV / 26 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 25 helpful votes

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

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Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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Luke 23:34 ESV / 25 helpful votes

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

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Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

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Matthew 6:34 ESV / 24 helpful votes

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Daniel 9:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

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Psalm 13:2-4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

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1 John 3:19-20 ESV / 22 helpful votes

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

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Matthew 5:44-47 ESV / 22 helpful votes

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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1 Peter 3:8-9 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

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Romans 8:18 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

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Mark 14:1-72 ESV / 21 helpful votes

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

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Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 21 helpful votes

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

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John 3:16-17 ESV / 20 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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Mark 3:24 ESV / 20 helpful votes

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

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Psalm 18:1-2 ESV / 20 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

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2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 ESV / 19 helpful votes

To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

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Romans 8:1 ESV / 19 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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John 14:1-14 ESV / 19 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

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Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Micah 7:18-19 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

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John 13:35 ESV / 18 helpful votes

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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Mark 16:16 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

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Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 17 helpful votes

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

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Isaiah 43:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

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Psalm 121:1-8 ESV / 17 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

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Psalm 103:9-10 ESV / 17 helpful votes

He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

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2 Corinthians 2:5-8 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

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1 John 3:1-24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

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Colossians 3:12 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

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Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Matthew 18:33-35 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

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Psalm 18:3 ESV / 13 helpful votes

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

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Matthew 5:40-42 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

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Psalm 23:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.