Global Peace and Security

Were you aware of the Global Peace Index? It’s openly available from the Vision of Humanity organization in .PDF form. Their “About us” page begins:

Vision of Humanity - the home of peace.

Vision of Humanity is a guide to global peace and development for people who want to see change take place. We publish intelligent data-based insight, anchored in a broad worldview.
The crises currently engulfing the world are truly global in nature. Without peace we will be unable to achieve the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required to begin solving these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions needed to regulate them. Our coverage of these global crises is anchored by peace, conflict and development data and research created by the Institute of Economics & Peace.

This is connected to  Economists for Peace and Security, which describes itself as:

. . . an international network of economists, set up to establish economics of peace and security as a fundamental part of the academic discipline of economics. EPS has paved the way to the fulfillment of this aim by setting up academic chairs, a peer-reviewed academic journal and by promoting economic analysis on conflict and security. Our economists provide expertise for social scientists, citizens, journalists and policy-makers worldwide.

In some ways, the above sounded good –but I read Daniel this past week and highlighted:

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:23-25 KJV)

Many men have strategized and implemented plans to control the world. Some were fairly successful, as empires ebbed and flowed. Jesus explained to His disciples that this is going to continue:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6 KJV)

We have seen borders expand - and many contract - but not all have gone away. They have changed, but I cannot imagine what it will be like without borders anywhere. There have been religions since the beginning of mankind. While some things have changed, many have retained doctrine for thousands of years because people believe God exists. Mankind has had laws, too, and many of those originally written remain in effect today by citizen's votes.

Does it sound reasonable to do away with religion? Does it sound reasonable to do away with borders? There was a song writer who did imagine what it would be like:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

I cannot imagine giving up the ability to make choices to rely only on the hope that the "international institutions needed to regulate" "the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required" are able to provide peace. My mind tells me those same institutions are working for new rules, new enforcement.

It has been – and remains – my belief in God that allows me to understand that He provides peace:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

My Bible also tells me the bottom line of what my God requires:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)

Different Prayer Lists

The flash sure caught the upper right hand corner of this little photo album I use to hold “prayer cards.'’ Our church doesn’t have a central administration as denominations do. Each church is independent, though there are affiliations among pastors – a network, if you will – and that works for missionaries, too.

We don’t send money to a central denomination office, we send to missionaries. In order for them to get funding, they go to a number of congregations on “deputation.” Each congregations vote on whether or not they feel called to support the mission field.

The prospective missionaries prepare “prayer cards” and leave them with people who ask for them. Our understanding is that the 4x6” cards will serve as reminders as we specifically pray. Our church supports sixty missionaries, give or take a few as changes are made in their fields. No – we do not give sixty their total support. They get similar support from a number of other congregations.

The way we figure our support has changed over the years. Before we arrived, fifteen percent of the congregation’s total tithes each month was divided between the missionaries and their checks were mailed that month. Today, twenty-five percent of tithes, plus any specific donations to missions or specific missionaries, is mailed out each month. That has worked well for us.

And, over the years, I’ve gathered about fifty cards. Most of them I remember specific things when I think of them. One is a mission family who came home for some of my Beloved Husband’s jambalya and rice on a snowy winter day when we wondered if they would have to spend the night! Another was a missionary who was named for Corrie ten Boom, just spelled a bit different. Another spent weeks in our church’s mission department and we got to know very well. Another we supply with food stuff quarterly, and clothing, as he works locally with homeless. Another we can’t describe or mention by name because where he serves is dangerous.

Yet all of them are in danger daily – just as we are. Accidents happen everywhere in the world, and so do natural disasters. When I read of earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, I add prayers for safety for our mission on that island. I also add prayers for the small planes that ferry them in and out. I see on Facebook the medical needs of the people they serve, too.

See? Missions is personal for me. Prayer is active. I’ve seen the examples in Paul’s letters to the churches he established on his missionary journeys. Read a few of them. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles is a good one, but the individual letters, such as Philippians is outstanding. Read, too, the words Christ spoke in Revelation about the seven churches. There were more, but these messages are specific and applicable today, too.

I won’t give as many specific verses as I usually do – but there are a couple that give Jesus’ words following His resurrection:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)

That’s the instructions we’ve received, but we are all called to different jobs. Not everyone can be a missionary, a preacher, a teacher, but everyone (whosoever) can be a believer in Jesus and serve the same purposes in many different ways.

Oh, as I’m sitting here typing, my other reminder popped up. I have an Echo app on my iPhone for my short term prayer list. The first three on my Echo list are for missionaries in the field who shared specific prayers.  Two are in my card album, one is a family called from their home in Nigeria to a country foreign to them. We are not in the same “denomination”, but they are my brother and sister in Christ, standing in need of prayer. The third item on my Echo list is my “Salvation List.” These loved ones have mentioned to me specifically that they do not believe – in God, in souls, in what the Bible says – and I pray that their closed hearts would be opened to God’s message.

In closing – would you say a prayer for me? That my blogs really do encourage Bible reading and prayer? That people who drop by here will continue to seek time with our Lord?

Thank you.

Truth or Consequences

Yes, there is a town in New Mexico named Truth or Consequences – and there used to be a television show by that same name. We also live daily with truth – and the consequences of whether or not we believe it.

Politically, it makes a huge difference. With the advent of social media, the truth has been stretched to the breaking point more than once, and the consequences are being felt around the world.

Fact checking has become a big business. The linked Hill article lays it out early in the article:

Oxford Dictionaries' International Word of the Year for 2016 was "post-truth," defined as "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief."

For Christians, we’ve heard about truth all of our lives:

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18:38 KJV)

Non-Christians believe we are working on emotions and personal beliefs, not objective facts. That’s one reason I like the books written by Lee Strobel. “The Case for Christ” gives facts, though I doubt anyone can actually be objective. We all have reasons for our research, and Strobel’s goal was to disprove Christianity based on facts. Instead, he came to understand what prompted Pilate’s question:

Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:35-37 KJV)

We Christians believe the words Jesus spoke were written down by men who heard – and believed – what He said. We see the lives changed by His words. We read His words – and those in the Bible that were given to prophets centuries before, when His coming was promised.

Some people discuss Christianity with a believer, and make a determination as Felix did – not right now:

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:24-25 KJV)

Felix knew of the tremendous change in Paul’s life. Knew that at first he was putting Jesus’ followers in prison then one day that all changed and Paul went to prison for speaking of Jesus, for telling His story. Felix sent Paul back to prison. Festus left him there – until Agrippa came.  Read Acts 26 for the whole story, but finally Festus gave an answer that so many do today:

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (Acts 26:24-25 KJV)

Yes – some think we are crazy, but as Paul – we firmly believe we speak truth when we tell God’s good news. Then we have the third response, much as this from Agrippa:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:28-29 KJV)

Yes – so many are almost persuaded, and as Paul, we wish they were as we are today. No longer in bonds for being a Christian (well, in most places. Not so much in others), able to discuss our beliefs openly without derision, but with an open mind to study the words as the Bereans:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:10-11 KJV)

Spend time with Christians and the Bible. Be ready to determine the truth – whether those things were so. And, to understand the consequences.

All Things . . . For Good

Sunday’s class study was the final verses of Romans 8. They contain a couple of items that are a bit hard to understand. Let me begin with:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

I have seen that used so often as a stand alone verse, but you and I both know there have been tragedies that appeared to refute that verse. Just this summer, within a week’s time, there were three toddlers in the news because they had wandered just a bit, found water enticing, and drowned. That is certainly a part of “all things.” We cannot see that they “work together for good”, even when we know their parents and extended family loved God.

Unfortunately for all of us, humans die. We’ve come to accept the death of a person who has lived a “lifetime”, but humans die. From conception through a hundred-plus years, humans die. From incurable diseases to tragic accidents, with and without another human’s help, humans die.

Religion is thought to have sprung up from a desire to live again. As a Christian, I point to the Bible as my own belief that it is not a human desire, but a God-conceived and verbally given hope that does survive along with faith and love. So, we read this verse in context with the full message Paul wrote to the Romans. No verse in the Bible is worthy to stand alone, though many appear to.

The verses above this one is necessary to put it to practice, to know that even in sorrow and pain, that God has a plan in place. The second part of the verse points to others, too. One of those above I have used just this morning – a sister requesting an unspoken prayer for her brother; a pastor requesting prayer for a tiny baby with a young mother who lost their father/husband.

What can we say in the presence of such pain, when it appears nothing worked for good? Paul gives us that, too:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 KJV)

We needed it in 2011 when a lovely mother left a widower, three children and another baby when cancer took her life. Her husband taught us that hope went much further than human death when he wrote – and shared with us on this link – his pain and his faith.

Do you love God and have responded to His call to His purpose? That purpose is outlined in the single, most memorized, most used, verse in the Bible:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Accepting that God exists, loved His creation sufficiently to provide an eternal life, and we get to spend it with Him sounds too simple. But, it is the first step to learning so much more. None of it detrimental to our lives, all of it working together for good in God’s eternal plan. He promised. I believe He keeps promises:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,

Nor any form of earthly strife,

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,

Nothing from hell’s own bowers,

nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor far away, nor here at home,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,

Nor false God or wrong teacher,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39 KJV)

(and my own, poor, additions)

Just Thinking About What I’m Hearing

By Toffel - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

There are literally hundreds of channels on DirecTV. Most of them we are NOT interested in. We could drop all ESPN, direct sales, pay-for-view, and still be happy with what's left. By accident we discovered INSP. This morning there have been three shows on (no, I'm sewing, not watching - but I do hear them) and all three have dealt well with discrimination and how to accept diversity. These were shows from 1955-1975 - Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, Bonanza.

Now, I'm wondering why some people think this subject hasn't been addressed since 1861. Also wondering why these same ideas - without anger, cursing, sex - aren't being addressed in television shows today. Instead, we get the anger, cursing and sex, bad guy winning, no closure with justice. And it is reflected within society, social media, and media. Just running through my mind. As is the way to get this out of our lives:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)

Best part? You don't have to be a believer in God or Christ to follow this suggestion.

But – if you do honor the Bible, you might think about these verses, too:

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (Proverbs 23:6-7 KJV)

A lot of time the middle of that verse is quoted “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” out of context. We aren’t to allow a person not interested in our bests interest to determine our best interests. It is up to us to know what is best for our lives.

As Christians, we know that there are some things we are not to do, and there are plenty of people willing to help us do them. And, there are simple verses that tell us what God wants from us. Among my favorites are:

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:7-8 KJV)

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 KJV)

Do these definitions of what God requires sound like they would cause trouble and division? They shouldn’t if we treat everyone we meet with the same love God provides for us. Otherwise, Paul describes what happens:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV)

Charity, biblically, is love. Let’s do it and use it.

Johanan the son of Kareah

People carried away into captivity

By the time we leave the immediate descendants of David - moving into II Kings, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel – the untold half of Solomon’s wealth ceased to be, an inheritance and kingdom divided into Judah and Israel. Beset by Chaldeans, subject to destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.

When we read Daniel, we shouldn’t forget there were people who were not taken to Babylon. They remained in Jerusalem, under the care of a governor, Gedaliah, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar. You can read of him in Jeremiah 41, but I’d suggest reading YouVersion’s Chronological Bible readings to see how the books in the first paragraph mesh together in history. They will introduce you to the main characters in Jeremiah 42, where the leaders of Jerusalem come to Jeremiah, make a request, and a promise:

Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. (Jeremiah 42:1-3 KJV)

We’ve done that, too, haven’t we? Gone to pastor or friend, maybe more than one person with us, asking for advice and their help. When we were told there was help, there would be an answer, did we make a promise, as these people did:

Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 42:5-6 KJV)

Good or bad, we were ready to hear the answer and follow through with actions. We knew that Jesus ended His prayers with “thy will be done,” and we were prepared to hear, whether it be good or evil – we promised to obey. Then, when the word came – we didn’t. They didn’t either. What God answered comes down to “Trust me, do as I say and you will be fine. Deny me, do as you wish, and you will die in a foreign land.” Go to Jeremiah 42 and read it all. Did I misstate at all?

So, Jeremiah gave them God’s answer, and in spite of their promise, it was rejected:

Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: (Jeremiah 43:2 KJV)

I won’t ask if we’ve ever read God’s word, learned what He requires of us, and rejected it. The rejections that concern me the most are those who either 1) do not believe God exists; 2) do not believe John 3:16; and 3) do not think John 3:18 applies to them at any time in their lives.

There are people who do not believe Jesus included them in parables. They do not see themselves in Matthew 25:31–46, especially verse 46. They don’t see themselves as tares in Matthew 13:24-30, either. There’s another group that believes both of these parables mean good works will save you, whether you believe in God or Jesus (forgetting John 3:16 altogether) and ignore Paul’s explanation in Ephesians 2:8 – which must be considered with James 2:17-20.

I know that’s a lot of clicking on links, but it is necessary to get the full story as to why Johanan ended up dying in Egypt instead of living protected as promised by God in Jeremiah 42:11. They were not able to keep their promise because they did not have faith that God was able to keep His.

Ask yourself, “Do I believe in God? Do I believe He is able to keep His promises? What has He promised me? What have I promised Him? Am I keeping my promise to God?” We are the only ones who know the answers. No one else can answer for us. Are you able to share your answers with other people you love?