Keeping the Peace

President Bush is gradually discovering that it costs more to preserve peace than to wage war. The rest of the world seems to have woken up to this fact earlier. Thousands of extra US troops have been committed to Iraq [bbc]. And the British troops already there will not be withdrawn any time soon.

It seems wrong that lives must be lost to keep peace. Surely peacekeepers should beat swords into ploughshares, as the UN motto (and the Bible before it) says so eloquently?

Peace on earth is so elusive to win, so delicate to maintain. If this is true on an international scale, then how much more so on an individual scale? Personal peace is what we desperately crave, yet find so hard to attain.

God promises us the peace we want and need so much. We can know "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ is God's peace broker. He obtained that peace "through the blood of His cross." The recurring theme - peace comes at the highest cost - rings true for God's peace as for man's. But there the similarity ends. Unlike our fragility, God's peace is unbreakable and eternal.

How can we find this peace? At the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ ... like the woman in Mark 5, come to him with all your problems, reach out for his help, trust in him and hear his voice "Go in peace, your faith has made you better."

Christmas in the slow lane

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46.10)

Horrendous traffic jams, train network maintenance and flight cancellations have caused headaches for most British travellers this Christmas. [bbc news] We are so used to living in the fast lane, zooming through experiences with little time for reflection and contemplation. The unwelcome delays have enforced a slower pace for many. Thinking time, perhaps?

The first Christmas was an unhurried experience for most. Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem with all the precaution required by a heavily pregnant mother-to-be. The wise men appear to have journeyed over many months after careful preparation. Only the shepherds ran to the manger that first Christmas night, with joyful enthusiasm and optimism. They encountered no delays – earnest seekers after God rarely get caught up in traffic jams along the way. But once they arrived at the place, hush replaced haste, awe replaced athletics, calm replaced curiosity. It should always be like this when we enter God’s presence.

So if you get held up this Christmas, make the most of it. Read the Christmas story slowly and thoughtfully. Take time out to consider the baby who had that unique name – Immanuel – God is with us.

What a fuss about nothing!

It is all biz at the moment. I am either trying to get my work up to date so that I can enjoy the Christmas break, I am going to Carol Concerts (more than one I must say), being taken out shopping or one of a hundred things that I am expected to do at this time of the year. Why all the pressure, why spend the money, what is this all about?

I actually quite enjoy Christmas, when I get everything done and have the time to relax. It is however easy to forget what Christmas is really about. It is not about the turkey, the telly or the trials of seeing Auntie Nel again. It is not about the pressies, the pounds or the problems of getting the family back together for one meal in the year.

IT IS ABOUT the fact that God sent his Son, Jesus to be the Saviour of the world. God created us but we made our choices and have disobeyed his instructions. This has brought untold harm on the human race. Disease, disaster, personal heartbreak, disappointment, death so the list goes on.

• The good news is that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (The Bible).
• The fact is that 'The Father (God) sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world' (The Bible).
• The question is ...What will you do with Jesus?

Have a very Happy Christmas.

antibullying week

Last week was anti-bullying week. It’s an annual event, since the problem never goes away. Different bullies, different victims, same old story each time…

Jesus Christ was a target for bullies. It is incredible to think that the man who the Bible portrays as the most powerful man in the universe was subjected to so much abuse – verbal, physical, psychological, personal, institutional. You name it, He suffered it. What was His attitude to the bullies He faced? It is summed up by His words from the cross. “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

He trusts in God

God will ultimately put right every wrong. This is the hope of all believers. Others may mock “Where is the God of justice?” but genuine faith leaves God the Judge to reward right and deal with wrong. What’s the best bullying support hotline? It’s a direct line to heaven – look up and call out to God.

He pities his attackers

This is sheer strength of character. The innocent man has been so cruelly treated. His face is beaten to a pulp. His body is bruised and torn. And what does He cry out for His abusers? Revenge? No! Forgiveness? Yes! He uncovers their deepest need. This need is shared with all humanity. We need God’s forgiveness, granted on the basis of that Man who died on the cross. We deserve hell – and God knows it! But He wants heaven for us. God accepts us if we accept God’s Son – the One who died to make forgiveness a reality.

He identifies the underlying problem

At the heart of it, bullies are ignorant. They feel insecure and insignificant. Violence is their unintelligent (indeed unimaginative!) response. They can’t see the consequence of their actions. To victimise others is, in a sense, to dehumanise oneself. Bullying is despising God and destroying my neighbour, whereas fulfilled humanity is loving God and loving my neighbour. But how can we ever achieve this morally Herculean goal? Come to the cross – not to lash out in abuse at the Son of God, but to learn from Him. First receive forgiveness. Then develop love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control – as the Spirit of Christ works in you.