peace(1/3)
Conflict and trouble were central to the mission of Jesus
Conflict and trouble were central to the mission of Jesus. He disrupted the false peace all around him–in the lives of his disciples, the crowds, the religious leaders, the Romans, those buying and selling in the temple. He taught that true peacemaking disrupts false peace even in families: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.…
When we create a counterfeit reality we exclude God from our lives
When we leave reality for a mental creation of our own doing (hidden assumptions), we create a counterfeit world. When we do this, it can properly be said that we exclude God from our lives because God does not exist outside of reality and truth.
Per Pacem Ad Lucem
I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be A pleasant road; I do not ask that thou would'st take from me Aught of this load; I do not ask that flowers should always spring Beneath my feet; I know too well the poison and the sting Of things too sweet; For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead Lead me aright– Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed– Through peace to light.…
Find the peaceful people
There’s a subtle mantra that underlies sharing Jesus. It goes something like, “If you love someone, you won’t stop trying until they trust in Jesus.” Joy in Jesus is a gift worth sharing, and you’re love for others will produce sadness when they disregard the chance to share your joy. But more often this mantra bears guilt that you haven’t done enough. Enough sharing the gospel; “Do they understand my message?…