Jim's Peacemaking

Dear Friends,             A  New Knee & Making Peace       3/5/20
On January 22 I got a new knee and I’m now recovering. Lyn
was here for my surgery and has been supporting me
enormously in my recovery. She made lots of phone calls and
suggestions to make sure the recovery went easier and faster
for me.
I spent 4 weeks in rehab. There I ate my meals with 4 Jewish
patients and a Presbyterian. It was a surprisingly good
opportunity to share about working for peace, including sharing
a talk and photos on Colombia and El Salvador and having lots
of good conversations.

One Jewish brother remarked, “We all want peace but you are
doing something about it.” Irwin, another Jew, read my peace
pamphlets and took the names of all the books I use for quiet
time so he could get them and read them.

I showed Irwin a map of Israel/Palestine and how the
Palestinians controlled about 95% of the land in 1947 and only
10% today. He showed this map to Mart who is Jewish. Mart
responded, “Oh that’s jus…

An Incredible Prime Minister Dear Friends, a hopeful happening, Two years ago, Ethiopia was a basket case. The government seemed to be losing control The majority Oromo people were restive under a rule that seemed to rob them of their place. The traditionally powerful Amhara rioted. A state of emergency brought silence on the surface, but underneath the nation seethed. Civil war threatened. A foreigner was killed. Tourism waned. Finally, the prime minister resigned. The church prayed earnestly. Then, unexpectedly, eight months ago, the relatively unknown Abiy Ahmad was elected prime minister. What followed was equally unanticipated. In a bold, courageous acceptance speech; Ahmad announced a policy of peace, love and unity for the nation and its relationships with the rest of the world. He made sweeping promises and, to the surprise of a world cynical of political promises, kept them. “We need friction but not hatred, argument but not insult,” he tells his people. “To give forgiveness to …

Tidbits12/6/2019 Dear Friends: The New Testament book of Revelation gives us one of the moststunning, creative and beautiful pictures of Jesus and his kingdom in the entire Bible.  “Revelation” is written specially for Christians living as citizens in a superpower. Thegospel of Jesus in “Revelation” is more political than anyone imagines, and in a way no one guesses. John of Patmos‘s Revelation is intended somewhat to comfort but  mostly to warn the Christians who were too cozy with the Roman Empire…..don’t get comfortable with Empire! Remember it’s a beast!  “Revelation” is a prophetic interpretation of those tumultuous and significant happenings that Jesus, not Julius Cesar or any President is the world’s true emperor and Savior.  “Revelation” is a creative picture of the clash between the beastly empire of Rome and the peaceable reign of the Lamb of God. It shows the world finally conquered by a little Lamb they killed who lives again. “Revelation” isn’t about the violent end of the world…

-->Off to Colombia: 2010 Annual Report April 10, 2010 Dear friends, I fly to Bogotá on April 20th for two months where I will set up interviews for Paul Alexander for his book on Christians that are working for peace and justice. I will also be sharing with Mennonite Brethren congregations in Colombia to encourage them in their peacemaking in the midst of the war. This year I began sharing on a subway platform. I give out 20 - 30 pieces of literature an hour. I encourage people to pray and let their government representatives know their concerns about war. I tell them how we’ve reduced suffering in Colombia by reducing U.S. military aid. With youth, I share important questions to think about before they enlist in the military. I plan to continue this sharing when I’m home in Chicago. See my live video subway sharing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lgdHD_zz0 on my website.
-->‘‘That Jim is able to make a commitment to witnessing in the subway for peace an…