+ At the heart, Jim Wallis of Sojourners suggests that rather than dump money and countless innocent lives into the dark pit of Afghanistan, why not bring the REAL development experts - Church World Service
and other hardworking NGOs - together for a conversation of supporting DEVELOPMENT rather than war?
+ Have you read Three Cups of Tea? Run, do not walk to your local bookstore or on-line shop and BUY IT NOW! It, too, lines out the BEST way - the most healing and hope-filled way - of making lasting change in that broken and wounded land. (Check out: www.threecupsoftea.com/
Make no mistake: this would not eliminate the need for armed forces and security. But it would also change the whole conversation - and outcome! Perhaps it is no coincidence that on this Sunday we will dedicate a Peace Pole at our church - AND - that it is the celebration of All Saints Day. Such a shift is something I would want to give my life to see come to pass. Such a change is at the heart of the message and mission of Jesus. And such a commitment would make such a difference in the world that my mind and heart is still spinning.
THIS is what reconciliation and atoning for the sins of my nations is all about!
An interesting point by Paul Zak, the world's leading nueroeconomist: correlation between trust and per capita income=.46. To give you a hint on how close this is, studies of identical twins raised apart is .49. The way to economic development is getting people in the nation back to a place where they can trust and that ain't through troops. Sounds like a job for Grace to me. You don't win a peace in the same way that you win a war.
ReplyDeletei think a letter to a congress person is in order!
ReplyDeleteand you're reading Three Cups AND Tribal Church. Rawk out man!