Dear Editor,
On April 2, 2023, I received a letter written by Ms. Stella Melton. She said, ‘Dear Mr. Staples. Just a note to say that I love your articles that I read for a long time in The Herald. Keep them coming because it will help this generation focused, and they really do want boundaries.”
If the Lord’s will be done, I will live to the rightful age of 81. I don’t feel a day over 40! I want to thank The Herald and Ms. Melton. I got discouraged for a couple of years and stopped writing. I started going to boards, city and county. That is where the spirit lead me. I ask and encourage you to buy a copy of the March 11, 2026. Put it in a safe place. A year from now, you will have a snapshot of how far we have come and who got us there. Ms. Melton, I pray your eyes will see the inspiration you gave me six years ago.
What does the Bible say about love and hate? The Bible commands believers to love God and neighbors, including enemies. While calling for the hatred of sin, evil and justice, love is defined by sacrificial actions, as shown my Jesus, and is inseparable from faith. Whereas hatred is condemned as murderous at heart. Love is sacrificial, active and patient with Jesus’ life being the ultimate example.
The primary commands are to love God with all your heart and soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. I ask the question? Who are your neighbors? Jesus instructed followers to love, pray for and do good to their enemies, not just friends. God is love and believers are instructed to follow His nature. I ask the question. How many of you look in the mirror and say, who am I, and who am I to others? What do others see when they see me? I personally do that every morning. I have a prayer my daughter sent me four years ago. I say it faithfully from memory. It reminds me of who I am. Do I like what I see? Hatred towards a brother or sister is equated with murder and an indicator of lack of eternal life. It is described as a lie for someone to claim they love God while hating each other. My next question? Who do you think is your brother and sister? Think about that. John 3:11, 14-20 NLT.
If we love our brothers and sisters, who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister, is really murderous at heart.
I love this community will all my heart and love. When I pass my exit home every morning, all I see if my journey is brothers and sisters, and when I enter that exit, I thank God for blessing me to have my brothers and sisters, and hope in some way I touched their hearts with a positive word or action that show love. 1 Corinthians say ‘so now with faith, hope and love abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.’
If anyone wants a copy of my everyday prayer, call me at 662-452-8259 and I will mail you a copy.
Sincerely,
Coach Johnny Staples
Focus on the Children
