Jim's Peacemaking

Dear friends Visiting the FARC 3/21/19 Were you in the jungle and part of the fighting? I asked. Yes I was in the war since I was about 4.” answered the ex-FARC guerrilla soldier. “After 60 years we have come to see Christ was right; violence does not work to bring peace and justice. That is why we signed the peace agreement.” Here is the ex-FARC guerilla, Pilar and me when we had our hour long conversation. The paintings in the background FARC soldiers did. They are selling them to help sustain themselves. Surprising to me he referred to Christ. I must say I agreed with much of his analysis of the USA’s negative military doings in the world. He said, “We are really committed to working this out by being involved in the government even if Duque the new president fails in following the peace accords.” My very good friend Pilar has gotten to know this household of demobilize FARC. She took me there. I was a little anxious despite her …

Queridos amigos Visitando las FARC 21/03/19 ¿Estabas en la jungla y parte de la lucha? Yo pregunté. Sí, estuve en la guerra desde los 4 años ”, respondió el ex soldado guerrillero de las FARC. “Después de 60 años hemos venido a ver que Cristo tenía razón; La violencia no funciona para traer paz y justicia. Por eso firmamos el acuerdo de paz ". (Andy inserta la foto aquí, usa la foto cercana de la ex FARC, pilar y yo. Aquí está la leyenda) Aquí está la ex guerrillera de las FARC, Pilar y yo cuando tuvimos nuestra conversación de una hora. Las pinturas en el fondo de los soldados de las FARC lo hicieron. Los están vendiendo para ayudar a mantenerse a sí mismos. Sorprendiéndome, se refería a Cristo. Debo decir que estoy de acuerdo con gran parte de su análisis de las acciones militares negativas de los Estados Unidos en el mundo. Dijo: "Estamos realmente comprometidos a resolver esto al involucrarnos en el gobierno, incluso si Duque, el nuevo presid…

Dear friends: A Temper Tantrum On a shopping trip to Aldi’s I noticed a mother with a girl who was two and a boy who was one sitting together in her cart.. The boy was having a temper tantrum. I know how embarrassing that can be. Besides she was just beginning to shop. So I thought maybe I could help settle him down. So I went over and tried to talk to him. But he would have nothing to do with me. So I just started talking to his sister. “How old are you? What’s your name? How old is your brother? . “What is his name? She replied “Noah.” Hearing his name the boy started to quiet down and pay attention. After some more question and answers the kids and I shook hands and said goodbye. Then we both did our shopping. We passed each other several times. The kids would say “Hi” and wave each time we saw each other. Then as we went through the checkout the mother remarked, “Thank you so much, what is your name?” the kids waved saying “Goodby…

Dear Friends: The Koran and the Bible 8/12/18 Recently, I went to Aldi's to grocery shop, at the entrance there was a security guard. I had never noticed a security guard in an Aldi’s before. So I curiously ask him about it. He said “I am here to catch shoplifters. I have caught 5 or 6.” Unexpectedly he added, “People don’t read the Koran or the Bible these days. These books both tell us stealing and killing (as he swiped his finger across his throat) is wrong. These things do not bring peace or contentment only sadness, anger and hate. I noticed he had an obvious accent so I asked, “Where are you from?” Surprising me he said, “I’m from Nigeria.” I replied, “I am from the Church of the Brethren and the 200 girls that were kidnapped there were from the Nigerian Church of the Brethren. I met one of the girls who was kidnapped who had escaped. I visited with her in the home of some Brethren friends in North Manchester, Indiana.” He replied, “Where I liv…

Dear friends, Apartment Peacemaking I live in an apartment and above me live a couple with a girl about six. Often over the last weeks the girl has ridden her scooter back and forth for over an hour at time. Can you imagine the racket? Knowing how little ones can be, I mostly just lived with it. Except when I was trying to get to sleep, so one evening I knocked on their door patiently several times and talked to the mother. Then one time after doing this several times, she said, “You don’t have to come up each time, here’s my phone number. Just call me if we get too loud.” Each time the noise would stop. Then recently the other day the couple were hollering and obviously fighting. So I went up and knocked intermittingly several minutes. I wondered whether I would be able to understand them when they are so angry. They have bit of an accent. I was anxious and fearful not knowing what might happen. Finally the fellow opened the door. I said “are …

Dear Friends, Separations I attended a rally in Chicago where 60,000 gathered calling for keeping families together. I think of what if my Andy and Emily were forced to be separated from their children of 3years, 1 year, and 11 months old. Is there any law that would be right for that to happen? Dear Friends, Separations I attended a rally in Chicago where 60,000 gathered calling for keeping families together. I think of what if my Andy and Emily were forced to be separated from their children of 3years, 1 year, and 11 months old. Is there any law that would be right for that to happen? Can a believer justify family separation in light of the Bible? Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22 – “When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”…