Jim's Peacemaking

--> Off to Colombia : 2010 Annual Report April 10, 2010 Dear friends, I fly to Bogotá on April 20 th 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 ...

--> Dear Friends Revenge or Forgiveness May 19,2010 “If a man came walking down the street outside my business here and was about to beat me up or kill me, and I had a gun, I'd shoot him. As a human, that's natural and I couldn't do anything else. What would you do?” a good friend challenged me. I don't know what I'd do for sure. But I hope I'd respond in a nonviolent way. I would hope I would just start to pray to Jesus. For me, it is important to keep up my regular quiet time of praying and reading the Bible. Let me read from Zachariah 8:12-13 from The Message: "You've gotten a reputation as a bad-news people, you people of Judah and Israel , 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." Notice all the words that refer to God. It's not that we...

Dear Friends               Pastor’s Sharing 3/10/2019 Cali, Colombia “Can you tell us what your sharing’s are about?”   Ask my Nazarene church friend Juan and his mother Norha. “I focus my sharing on healing the deep divide that is in Colombia today. One side supports the peace accords and the other opposes them. My focus comes out the book “I’m Right and You’re an Idiot.” Both sides are thinking this of the other and not talking to each other. That is very similar to what is happening in the USA, for Trump and against Trump.” “I will begin by sharing my experience of trying to do this myself. Then I will ask the listeners to share their experience of conversation with the other side. I see this as a way of encouraging each other to talk across the wall separating them. And thus to plant seeds for a more kindly Colombian society.“ “That is a real challenge ...

¡Queridos amigos!                Pastores   Compartiendo 10/03/19 Cali, Colombia "Compartan su experiencia de conversación con la otra parte. Veo esto como una forma de alentarnos unos a otros" ¿Puedes decirnos de qué se trata tu compartir?" Pregúntale a mi amigo de la iglesia nazarena; Juan y a su madre Norha. Enfoco mi participación en sanar la profunda brecha que hay hoy en Colombia. Un lado apoya los acuerdos de paz y el otro se opone a ellos. Mi enfoque viene del libro: ‘Yo tengo razón y tú eres un idiota’. Ambas partes piensan esto el uno del otro y no se hablan. Esto es muy similar a lo que está sucediendo en los Estados Unidos hoy a favor de Trump y en contra de Trump. Comienzo compartiendo mi experiencia de tratar de hacer esto yo mismo. Luego pido a los oyentes que para hablar a través de la pared que nos separa. Y así plantar semillas para una socieda...