Skip to main content

Visiting the FARC

Image
By
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 assurance it was safe. I soon felt at peace and sensed they are just people like all of us. The FARC the main guerrilla group has surrendered all their weapons to the UN. This was a big concession. The former President Santos received the Nobel Peace for his 4 year peace effort. Pope Francis fully supported it. He made a special visit to Colombia to show his affirmation. The ex-FARC are in the process of integrating into Colombian society. Neighbors were very suspicious of them for a while. Fortunately they are beginning to trust each other. This is big step toward the reconciliation that needs to happen to create harmony in their society. They are helping the homeless in their neighborhood. God wants peace and justice too. Let us all join and do our part in this great work. Do pray. Jim

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hope in Iraq

By
Dear Friends, I have recently finished Peggy Gish’s book An Iraq Journey of Hope and Peace . It brought me to deep prayer at times, helping me to see US soldiers as human beings and breaking down some of my stereotypes of them. It also helped me experience the personal pain of Iraqis who are caught in the war as opposed to hearing statistics in the news. This was peacemaking taking place in my own heart and mind. Peggy’s honesty in sharing her own personal struggle and admitting her own mistakes is challenging to my own peacemaking. Another aspect of this book that was inspiring to me was that when CPTers in Iraq realized they were making a mistake in midst of sharing with Iraqis, they were able at times to change right then and there. This is clear evidence of the Spirit at work. It also gave me a sense of how God was able to use the seemingly small amount of people, just six or so, to make a significant difference for the good in this horrible situation. I am adding to this messag...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fear and the Corona Virus

By
Dear Friends,                                        Fear and the Corona Virus In some self-reflection I have come to see that I have been unconsciously enveloped in a fear over the coronavirus pandemic. I feel paralyzed and hopeless. I noticed I feel I just have to turn the radio on to keep up on what is happening. Each time I hear more figures on how it is getting worse everywhere in the world, it fills my mind, the focus of much of what I think about. When I came to see this was happening, I noticed I wanted to just turn on the radio, and it was and is hard to turn it off. Just about everything on the radio was related to the virus. In reflecting I realized this subconscious fear permeated me. This fear was not healthy. It was creating anxiousness and anxiety, and anything but peace and contentment. This fear was what I needed to get rid of. From a Dr. Bruce Lipton...
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 empe...
Post a Comment
Read more