The Is Like A Rope Of Sand

If we forget about God’s part during reconciliation then reconciliation is lost. God gave us His Word to draw from for reconciliation. God shows us through His actions how we are supposed to act with reconciliation. We are supposed to be patient as God was with creation and we are supposed to be restful to remind ourselves that God is not letting us carry this out alone as He rested at the end of creation. God also gave us the church to learn about reconciliation and what the church itself should be: “…the church is called to be: a community on its knees, washing feet across divides” (Katongole and Rice 111). As a church community, we are all to some extent leaders and as leaders are expected to see across earthly boundaries and divides and serve those we are called to serve. Nevertheless, in order to serve those we are called to serve we must be able to see the gaps in the world. The gaps are those of “injustice and pain” (Katongole and Rice 125) and these gaps are yearning to be attended to. In the end, “…few see that the gap exists. Few are bothered. Still fewer respond” (Katongole and Rice 125).As Christian leaders we must be able to see the gaps in the world and appropriately respond. We need to have faith to step into the gap without knowing fully what we are getting ourselves into or what the future may hold. We must also be able to not be afraid of making sacrifices whether that be money, time or even our lives. We need to stay in the gap long enough to fully know the people that are in the gap and their culture and beliefs in order to resolve the gap. In this process of responding to the gap we can reach out to the church to look upon so we know how to properly view reconciliation and we can also reach out to family and friends for support and encouragement. Most of all, we can reach out to Abba, our Heavenly Father, as we should always be aware that the journey of

Initially, a Christian adherent’s understanding of Peace is informed through the sacred writings within the New Testament. Jesus, the prince of peace challenged people to live the essence of the law rather than just an outward show of religious observance. As stated in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”. Jesus’ use of Shalom, goes beyond the absence of war as it emphasises the need for harmony in relationships which result in God’s blessing. This idea is reinforced in Matthew 5:43-45 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous”. This teaching targets the challenge for many adherents in that Jesus stated people should not take revenge on others,to maintain outer and inner peace. Hence, the New Testament are an

Upon leaving the court house, I realized I’m in the state capital for the very first time in my life. Every time I revisit this city or see Austin, Texas I will forever be reminded of this tragic event of my cousin’s death. Since this has happened I take this tragedy and remind myself of the evil that is in this world and I have made a vow to never allow myself to be like my cousin. Looking at the situation my cousin put herself in (drugs, prostitution) it has given me a reason to hold on strong for my children. I learned that no matter how horrible your life can be as a child that you have to learn to love yourself and forgive those who didn’t love you enough or you will turn to the devil. That pain and frustration I have is still inside me I only use it for the greater of life than for the worst. I will always remember Stacy for so many reasons that one cannot put on paper. I think she would be proud to know that her life meant something even after

Throughout the years that I lived in, there has been many bad things happening to me. The only bad thing that I give thanks to were the time when my dad would spank me for very good reasons. At the time I would be crying and hoping he wouldn’t but they were well deserved. With every spank it hurt, I know that, but later on with every mark I had I knew that pain is temporary it may last for a minute or an hour or a day even a year but eventually it will subside and something else will take it’s place. While that something is getting back it’s time to come back stronger and better because of it and I’m showing that the world is not a happy and peaceful place no it’s a mean and nasty place and it will beat you on your knees if you let it. I have shown that it hasn’t beat’n me from all the hits it has given me, I was able to look up and get up from that situation because it’s not how hard you hit the world it’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward how much pressure you can take and keep moving forward.

If you truly think this shooting is just about 'merica vs is is and radical Islam you haven't been paying attention to the historical violence and discrimination facing the lgbt+ community in america

Jesus is regarded as the source of peace and Christians are encouraged to model his example. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, the notion of peace often accompanies the forgiveness of sin or an occasion of healing, such as Luke 7:50 and Luke 8:48. Examples such as these confirm the notion that peace is experienced in the presence of God and through God's saving activity. "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all" (Romans 12:18). In this extract, there is a clear understanding that Christians are expected to live in peace with others.

To fit the foreign terror narrative, crimes fall under different perspectives according to religious affiliations, social status, or race. When assigning legal accusations to members of American society, the charges against murderers translate into terrorism or hate crimes. In these cases, terrorism is more directly correlated to foreigners or those of the Muslim faith; in contrast, similar misconduct portrayed by caucasians pertains to the less stigmatized indictment of hate crime. In 2015, the news was flooded with horrific accounts of a mass killing in Charleston, South Carolina. According to CNN, “Roof, a white supremacist, said he killed the nine attendees of a Bible study at the church because he wanted to start a race war. He was convicted

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”

Since the early 13th century Missionaries have been traveling to foreign lands proclaiming the name of Jesus, but Persecution wasn’t activated immediately, “It wasn't until the 14th century that they began to be persecuted for their faith”, (Macevitt, 2015, p.5). The persecution many of them faced developed them into martyrs (one who dies in relation to their religious beliefs). The lack of protection offered to Missionaries, people who want to share the divine love of Jesus Christ, has gradually became a pressing issue over the duration of many years. “The correlation between religious persecution and national security threats is not just a 21st century phenomenon” (Inboden, 2012, p. 55).The persecution of Christians has been sustained by

Despite possible misrepresentation of religions, the facts do not change. People of Christian faith have been persecuted by them. In 2010, in Mosul, a 55-year-old Christian father was shot down in cold blood. In that same year, in Dyie, Nigeria, thirteen more Christian villagers were massacred by Muslim raiders in an overnight attack, including a mother and two children burned to death. Victims also had their tongues cut out. In the city of Dogo, Nigeria, Over five-hundred Christians, mostly women and children, were hacked to death by Muslim raiders with machetes in a night-time attack on their village. The killers yelled 'Allah Akbar,' as they chopped. In Lahore, Pakistan, a Christian family is terrorized in their home by a Muslim gang. One

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This phrase, originally spoken by Jesus Christ while hanging on the cross, is now a phrase being whispered and shouted by numerous Christians who are being persecuted. These persecutions, once only found sporadically throughout the Middle East, can now be found virtually anywhere in the world. Also, these sporadic persecutions in the Middle East have also turned into what seems like a mass execution of the religion. The persecution of Christians in the Middle East, a persecution much like the Holocaust, has become a problem in a world today as it is exploding into epidemic that is much like a genocide that is being blamed on the Christians

Christian persecution is a growing epidemic. People are killing Christians because of their religion. Christians need support from other Christians. Christians can help resolve this growing problem of Christian persecution by being informed and taking action. Worldwide Christian persecution is a growing problem causing Christians in more than 60 countries to face a hostile environment, simply for their belief in Christ.

The Bible tells us in 2Co 5:18 (KJV) “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” This is the

All over the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith. Whether they are being made fun of, put in jail, or even executed, it is making an impact on our society and violating the human right of freedom of religion. In North Korea, “between fifty thousand and seventy thousand Christians are being held in detention camps” which is haunting to know that innocent people are being tortured and are facing a great amount of suffering just because they are Christian (Christian Post). Christians are a highly targeted religious group for persecution and “approximately one hundred million…are persecuted worldwide, making them one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world” (Open Doors USA). Mainly Christians are being targeted today for persecution; how often is there a news report saying that a Hindu or Buddhist was

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was the greatest act of reconciliation, and to this day his death persists to reconcile humanity. Moreover, God calls His people to be “Christ’s ambassadors” and conduct ourselves “as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Thus, I am commanded to reflect the God’s reconciliation through my actions and remember that as Christ laid down his sinless life to redeem the lives of sinners, I should dedicate myself to repair the broken relationships amongst humans no matter where my vocation takes me. Additionally, I have to rid myself of the “messiah complex” as Dr. Moeschberger phrased it. I do not save people. Only God does so. If I inflate my ego to believe I am the source of reconciliation and that I bestow redemptive love on others, I will lose sight of the only true, unadulterated source of reconciliation- God. I would be no different than Moses arrogantly striking the rock with his staff, bursting forth a harsh flow of water. And like Moses, I would not be able to enter my Promised Land, restricted to the mountaintop peering down on God’s promise. It is by the power of God alone that this world is reconciled, and I am simply a vessel of God to assist bringing forth reconciliation for the damaged relationships in humanity.