The World's Peace and God's True Peace--by Linden Malki

"Peace" at its best is a gift of God.  Unfortunately, there are many people in today's world that believe that peace is for wimps, that it is impossible, it would be boring, that there are too many people out there that are out for whatever they think they are "owed".  In fact, the attitude of entitlement is one of the least peaceful ways to live.  Ironically, often those who think that they deserve everything they think they want,  put out the least effort and expect the most from everyone else. 

Historically, peace is less common than war, ambition, revenge,  greed, the idea that we know better than anybody how the world should be run.  Often what looks like "peace" is enforced by those who have subjected everybody under their control to submission, with people living in unexpressed fear or barely repressed anger.  Those in power usually think that they are answerable to no one, or in some cases, serving a false god. 

The God we serve offers Peace--but not always what we expect. Jesus taught about peace, when He was living in a culture that was under the power of the greatest empire of its day, and a local religious and political establishment  who were  on a tightrope between the power of Rome and their own ambition.  He wanted us to understand that the world's idea of "peace" was not God's plan, because it so often was just a layer of talk over a reality of political power.

Included in His final words to His disciples was " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:27)  This is our calling: to learn from Him what real Peace is; that we learn from Him how to look at life from His point of view and be willing to put aside whatever does not match His teachings and His values. 

For Love of Money--by Linden Malki

Money has been part of human social and political interaction since about 3000BC, in Mesopotamia.  We find it in the earliest Old Testament stories, as already an accepted part of trade and politics. And it was already being mentioned as a way of developing dominance of one kingdom or society over another--as Joseph used the market for  grain that had been stored against the predicted famine to acquire not only the livestock of Egypt but also money from not only the Egyptians but their neighbors as well.  Coins, as distinctive and specified units of money made from gold, silver and copper, appear in the very early Roman republic, around 650BC. The acquisition and holding "money" has been a preoccupation of most members of human societies  ever since.  The Roman Empire at its beginning in 44BC already a well developed "modern" economy based on standardized coinage. We also notice that there was also a range of poverty and wealth based on family influence and status. We also notice that it was not unknown for high-status families to have disabled or elderly members who were ignored.                     

We know the story--Jesus and his followers were at the Temple in Jerusalem, watching the parade of the most wealthy and snooty making a show out of the "generosity" in their offerings. He also notices a widow, dressed modestly or possibly threadbare, unobtrusively dropping two of the smallest possible coins into the offering box. He quietly mentions to his disciples that her offering, although minimal in the eyes of the world, was actually the most prized in the eyes of God, as it was everything she had and she was willing to offer it to God.  He had also made a public statement that the richest and most apparently pious of the religious had a tradition of claiming that what ought to have been used to take of their older relatives were classed as "dedicated to the Temple", and therefore retained in their custody.   In general, Jesus was scathing in his teaching about the grasping attitudes of the rich about money in contrast to those who were generous.



This reminds us of the story of Elijah, who met a woman during a famine that had only flour and oil for one last meal for her son and herself. Elijah asked her to make him one as well, and told her that God would see that the flour and oil would feed the three of them until the famine was over.  We see similar contrasts between the story of the rich young man, who refused to sell his wealth to follow Jesus, and the "Good Samaritan" who put out his own money to pay the expenses of the Jewish victim of theft and beating on the Jericho road.  Over and over we read of those who destroy themselves by their selfish attitude and greed, and those who generously give to others and even God. We read of Judas,who criticized the use of the expensive oil to anoint Jesus before His crucifixion, being concerned about the cost of the oil (and the possibility that he could skim some of it for himself). We live in a world with a inordinate attitude about money and how to get it, when Jesus' attitude was what it could do for God's people in our generous hands.

The Source of Strength--by Linden Malki

One of the first things we as followers of God need to realize that we, as human beings, created by God, are less strong than God Himself.  This would appear to be obvious, but we don't necessarily live as if we do understand this.  Many people do not believe this; most don't want to believe that they are not as strong as they think they are--as this would mean that they would have to recognize their own shortcomings.  Recognizing our own limitations is the first step to acquire the strength that we need to know that we need.  Dealing with people who think they can do whatever they want is scary.  This is part of the first mistake that our ancestors made: thinking that they could get away with whatever seemed to be a good idea at the time.

One of the first thing we notice about the inevitable problems that arise in life is that they do arise. This usually means ignoring the debris that piles up behind you.  One common answer is to blame someone else--or everybody else.  Another is to go charging ahead convinced that it will all work out in the end. We may find out that the baggage we allow to pile up despite evidence (and advice) is clogging up what we need to take care of.  It often leads us into places we shouldn't go, often with people who are not good influences.  One victim of this situation is often the most important: truth.  If what we are doing is based on false information, it means trouble. It may not seem like it at the time, but sooner or later it will crash down upon us, and often bring down others with us.  We are seeing a political situation not only in our own country, but that is spreading to other countries and causing immense amounts of pain. Over the last century or two we have seen too many radical political disasters, based on ambition, power politics, revenge, greed, as well as stupidity.

The basic cause of this situation, both as individuals and society, is not understanding that God is stronger and smarter than we are.  He allows us to make total fools (or worse) of ourselves if we insist. If we are willing to accept the challenge of opening our hearts, souls, and brains to the power and truth of God, He will give us not only the words but often a demonstration of His power to clean up our messes and put us on the right track. It does mean humility and maybe a "thorn in the flesh" to keep us patient.  He can do amazing things; even occasionally small things as reminders that He is in control.  If we allow Him full rein in our lives, it will not always be easy, but always possible even when it appears to be totally impossible.  He may close doors that we want to go through; but they often open other places and things that we never could have guessed or expected.