Jim's Peacemaking

Hola, amigo, 6 de febrero 2012 Creación de la Paz En la Tierra en mi iglesia. Henry: Realmente aprecio la forma en que hace bienvenido a la gente aquí en la iglesia Agua Viva de la Comunidad Menonita. Su ejemplo y la práctica es una parte muy importante y bueno de nuestra iglesia. Hemos sido mejores amigos desde hace mucho tiempo. Henry continúa: Pero yo sólo quiero hacerte saber que cuando hablé con usted acerca de cambiar comidas de la iglesia a dos veces al mes me sentí realmente no me toman en serio. Me sentí despedido, y que realmente me ofende. He estado cociendo en esto desde que pasó más de 2 años. Creo que se ha roto la bondad de la estrecha relación que Dios nos había dado. Judy (parafraseando de nuevo): ¿De verdad se sintió herido cuando me habló sobre el cambio de las comidas. Usted sentía que se despidió y no te toman en serio. Usted ha sido guisar sobre esto durante años. Le duele perder nuestra cercanía. Lo siento mucho. Henry: Yo creo ...

Revenge and Forgiveness A Real Word of Hope Here's what Bud Welch said, whose daughter died in the Oklahoma City bombing ,made prior to the 2001 execution of Timothy McVeigh, the terrorist responsible for the bombing. “The first month after the bombing, I didn't even want Tim McVeigh and Terry McNichols to even have trials. I simply wanted them fried. And then I finally came to realize that the reason that [my daughter] and 167 others were dead is because of vengeance and rage. And when we take him out of his cage to kill him, it's going to be the same thing. We will keep the circle of violence going. Number 169 dead is not going to help the family members of the first 168.” If you look at the story of Bud Welch, you find he had a lot of help along the way. And if you look at the story very carefully, you can actually learn a lot about how the human mind evolved to forgive and what kind of conditions activate that instinct in human minds, There were events that he actually ...

Hello, Friend February 15, 2012 Creating On Earth Peace in my church. Henry: I really appreciate the way you reach out to people here at Living Water Mennonite Community church. Your example and practice is a very important and good part of our church. We have been best friends for a long time. Henry continuing: But I just want to let you know that when I talked to you about changing Pot Lucks to two times a month I really felt you didn’t take me seriously. I felt dismissed, and that really offended me. I’ve been stewing over this ever since that happened over 2 years ago. I feel it has broken the goodness of the close relationship that God had given us. Judy (paraphrasing back): You really felt hurt when you talked to me about changing the Pot Lucks. You felt I dismissed you and did not take you seriously. You have been stewing over this for years now. It hurt you to lose our closeness. I am really sorry. Henry: I think that sums it up prett...

Hello Friends, A Fresh Overview of Jim’s Peacemaking January 17, 2012 Before I get to the overview I would like to tell you a story: When I was in Colombia last year I shared with some farmers that were forced to leave their farms by paramilitaries who accused them of helping another paramilitary group. I told them a story of how another village responded to the paramilitaries when they were accused of supporting the guerrillas. They said, “We are not going to leave our farm as usually happens. We would rather die than kill guerrillas.” The leader in the audience responded, “Maybe we were cowards?” I feel this planted seeds for the farmers to consider standing up to bring peace to their village. This inspiring people to act for peace is one of the main purposes for my trips to Colombia. Now for the overview. My mission is to Grow Peace internationally and locally by Instilling Hope through: • Raising awareness of God’s actions for justice and peace through CPT. • ...

Hello Friends, A Fresh Overview of Jim’s Peacemaking January 17, 2012 Before I get to the overview I would like to tell you a story: When I was in Colombia last year I shared with some farmers that were forced to leave their farms by paramilitaries who accused them of helping another paramilitary group. I told them a story of how another village responded to the paramilitaries when they were accused of supporting the guerrillas. They said, “We are not going to leave our farm as usually happens. We would rather die than kill guerrillas.” The leader in the audience responded, “Maybe we were cowards?” I feel this planted seeds for the farmers to consider standing up to bring peace to their village. This inspiring people to act for peace is one of the main purposes for my trips to Colombia. Now for the overview. My mission is to Grow Peace internationally and locally by Instilling Hope through: • Raising awareness of God’s actions for justice and peace through CPT. • ...

Hello friends: Reading the Bible & Peace Advisory Board An Interesting survey how reading the Bible shape our opinions from "Christianity Today" , This is a magazine that has been one of the main voices for Evangelical Christians in the USA. Survey: Frequent Bible Reading Can Turn You Liberal What a surprising survey says about how reading the Bible frequently can turn you liberal (in some ways). Aaron B. Franzen | posted 10/12/2011 10:20AM Related articles and links | 1 of 2 ADVERTISEMENT A recent poll from LifeWay Research found that 89 percent of American households still own a Bible, with the average home having 4.1 Bibles. But owning a Bible is different from reading it—and pollsters might be surprised by what happens when many Americans do. Most polls, surveys, and studies that have examined the Bible's influence have looked at views of its inspiration and methods of interpretation. Gallup, for example, has fo...

Hello friends, Endangering the Troops November 30, 2011 “You should not cut the military budget that will endanger the troops; our military only responds in self defense, they will not a have a way to defend themselves." Shared a sister with much feeling who just got returned from the Special Forces in Iraq, I responded, “I didn't think of that. We should bring them home first that makes sense. I will have to change my flyer" She added, "Yes lets bring them home first, and in addition the private contractors make several times more pay than the soldiers, there has not been a cost of living increase for them for several years now. The politicians are the big problem.This is not right; the soldiers are risking their lives.” This conversation occurred at the end of my presentation at the Eugene Oregon, Quaker church. “Can you help me, said Pedro Avila in his broken English in Portland Amtrak Station; I responded do ...