Skip to main content

Is Justice and Peace com'n?

Image
By
Jim's Peacemaking Newsletter
View this email in your browser
Dear Friends,

“Do you really believe Justice and Peace are coming, in spite of all the wars, and as we titter on destroying all of creation with climate change?” questioned John Betten.

I answered, “Yes, I believe peace is coming. It is hard to imagine how it is possible. But Jesus told us to pray for the kingdom to come, and that means peace and justice. He wasn’t talking about pie in the sky.”

 “Another thing, what keeps you working for peace and justice?” questioned John. About all I can say is, it is the spirit at work. I just feel impelled: not sure what else to say. Doing it has been the richest time of my life.

“I think it is really important to pray.” As Daniel says, “We need to be praying especially for Colombia. There they are killing many human rights leaders. Such killing undermined the 1980’s peace agreement.”

John questioned, “Why don’t we hear more about Syria in the news? Lots of suffering from the war going on there.” I answered, “I think we are being duped by the media. They mainly talk about Trump and the outlandish things he says and does. That is what gets people’s interest and thus what keeps people watching the news. Even I have to turn off the news, because it keeps me from giving my concern to the important things.

“Something else that is pertinent for us is Zechariah 8:12 (Message bible), ‘You’ve gotten a reputation as a bad-news people, you people of Judah and Israel (America and Colombia) but I’m coming to save you. From now on, you’re the good-news people. Don’t be afraid. Keep a firm grip on what I’m doing.’  We need to keep our attention on what God is doing, the evidence that God is alive and at work: this plants seeds of hope in us. Too much we tend to pay attention to the negative,” I added.

 “Where do you get inspirations for your talks and letters?” probed John. I replied, “I notice it often comes during my quiet time. Like recently when it came to me how I could have a significant impact in Colombia sharing what I learned from Beyond Revenge , that I mentioned in my last letter.”
 
Here is Daniel Delapava on my right and John on my left in my living room.  We had lunch together.  John gave thanks in Hebrew. His dad grew up Jewish. Daniel is temporally staying with me in my studio apartment. He is a friend from Colombia. We all prayed for peace together to end our time. Daniel said, “This was an especially good and intense conversation. It was a special gift.” As a Christian I see it is a sign Jesus’ spirit lives.
On March 17 I go to St Louis, then to Iowa to do sharings. I am still in much need of donations for my coming two months in Colombia starting in June. Thank you again to those who have been supporting me with prayer and monetary gifts.
Shalom, Jim

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An Incredible Prime Minister

By
           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,”
Post a Comment
Read more

informe de salud

By
  Queridos amigos, Les escribo para informarles que hace unas semanas me diagnosticaron Parkinson vascular. Tenía problemas para mantener el equilibrio y caminar. Vi a un neurólogo y me hicieron una resonancia magnética de mi cerebro, y a partir de eso y de mi historial, me diagnosticaron Parkinson vascular. Me siento muy bien con mi doctora. Mi Parkinson Vascular es causado por mini accidentes cerebrovasculares que bloquean la sangre en la parte del cerebro que controla la marcha. El Parkinson vascular afecta principalmente a la parte inferior del cuerpo, y por lo tanto, afecta la marcha y el equilibrio y regularmente no suele provocar temblores. Es diferente del Parkinson clásico que es causado por la falta de dopamina. El tratamiento principal para el Parkinson vascular es tratar de detener los accidentes cerebrovasculares manteniendo bajo control factores como la presión arterial y el colesterol; esto puede evitar que la enfermedad progrese. Por lo tanto, no necesariamente empeorar
Post a Comment
Read more

"The Repairman's Mother In-law"

By
Dear Friends, "My mother in-law Nellie read that Peace Pilgrim booklet you gave me. She was very moved by it, and she would like to read more by Peace Pilgrim. Do you have any thing else? And she would like to talk to you too," our repairman excitedly said to me. I responded, "I don't have any thing else by Peace Pilgrim, but you can give her this book Restorative Justice by Howard Zehr." Later I got to talk to Nellie. Nellie then shared, "Oh yes, that was really inspiring. We have to build peace person by person and house by house by the way that we relate to and treat each other. What Peace Pilgrim has to say is very important. And I really like the book Restorative Justice that I am now reading. I especially like to read stuff like that." I responded, "When you get that one finished, I can loan you another book!" The political saga continues in Barranca. A prominent Catholic priest, Padre Francisco, a close consultant to the Mayor, who is
Post a Comment
Read more