Share the Peace

Over the years we have seen people like Yoko Ono and George Clooney promote peace in the World.  According to the United Nations website, “A committed human rights advocate, the United States actor George Clooney was designated as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in January 2008. Using his global appeal and wide ranging talents as an actor, producer, screen writer and director, Mr. Clooney has focused public attention on crucial international political and social issues while diligently working to mobilize political action against the violence in Darfur.”  Yoko Ono maintains a website called “Imagine Peace”.  On the site she has various projects to promote peace.  One project is the Imagine Peace Tower that she relit in Iceland in memory of her husband John Lennon.  Even with the efforts of George Clooney and Yoko Ono and many others the world is still not at peace.  There will come a time when a man will arise and bring peace to the Earth.  Everyone will worship him for doing such a great feat.  This will be a false peace.  We read about its deceptiveness in I Thessalonians 5: 2-3.

² For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

There really is a true and lasting peace that can be brought to the World.  Those of us who have already received Christ in to our hearts already know this.  It is up to us now to share the peace of God.  Ephesians 6:15 we are instructed to do this.

¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

We, as Christians, are to be ready to go and share the gospel of peace. Only Jesus in man’s heart can bring true peace to this World.  That is our main job while we are on Earth.  Thankfully, whether we do this job while we are here or not, Jesus will return and usher in His peace unto the entire World.  Read Micah 4:3-4.

³ He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. ⁴ But each man will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has promised this.

What a wonderful place this will be when Jesus brings His peace completely to the World.

The Christmas Town

I have spent most of my time in small towns.  I always hear people say things like, “There isn’t anything to do there” or “It is boring” or “Only hicks live there” or “I’ve got to get out of this place to a big town where life happens and big things are done”.  Yet, in each small town that I have lived in I have seen important inventions, people, and historical events be a part of their history.  The town I currently live in is no exception.  A man with a third grade education developed the “Baker Casing Shoe” that revolutionized the oil drilling industry.  Our town has also produced two NFL players and a famous musician.  Our small town is also known for being one of the few mining towns that actually survived when the mining ended.  The people who live here have been innovative in keeping the town alive through various industry changes over the years to keep the jobs here.  I have always appreciated small towns and the people in them.  I know God can do great things with anyone, at any time, in any location.

God must like small towns too.  He had His eye on the small town of Bethlehem for many, many years.  In Genesis we see the first family of Israel stopping there.  Jacob/Israel buried his wife in Bethlehem in Genesis 35:19.  In Judges we see several of the men who protected and led Israel as “judges” coming from Bethlehem.  Also, during the time of the judges we see the beautiful love story of Ruth and Boaz take place in the town of Bethlehem.  Boaz would become the great grandfather of King David.  As a result the royal family line that led to the birth of Jesus became tied to the small town of Bethlehem.  It was that family tie to Bethlehem that led Joseph and Mary back there to take part in the Roman Census.  All Israelites were called back to their home town.  Read Luke 2: 1 – 6.

¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. ² This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ⁵ to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

God knew this would happen and foretold it through his prophet Micah, which was recorded for us in Micah 5:2 –

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.

We can gain some good instructions from the town of Bethlehem and its people.  God doesn’t care where we come from or where we live.  He can use anyone from anywhere.  We don’t have to be a highly educated person or a person of money.  A person or family that loves God in a small town is just as valuable as anyone else in the world.  We are all equal in God’s eyes.  A servant of God in a small church in a small town can do great things for the Lord.  It all begins with our hearts.  We don’t have to have the right clothes, the right size church or the funding.  We just have to hear God’s voice and respond obediently.

Share the Peace

Over the years we have seen people like Yoko Ono and George Clooney promote peace in the World.  According to the United Nations website, “A committed human rights advocate, the United States actor George Clooney was designated as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in January 2008. Using his global appeal and wide ranging talents as an actor, producer, screen writer and director, Mr. Clooney has focused public attention on crucial international political and social issues while diligently working to mobilize political action against the violence in Darfur.”  Yoko Ono maintains a website called “Imagine Peace”.  On the site she has various projects to promote peace.  One project is the Imagine Peace Tower that she relit in Iceland in memory of her husband John Lennon.  Even with the efforts of George Clooney and Yoko Ono and many others the world is still not at peace.  There will come a time when a man will arise and bring peace to the Earth.  Everyone will worship him for doing such a great feat.  This will be a false peace.  We read about its deceptiveness in I Thessalonians 5: 2-3.

² For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

There really is a true and lasting peace that can be brought to the World.  Those of us who have already received Christ in to our hearts already know this.  It is up to us now to share the peace of God.  Ephesians 6:15 we are instructed to do this.

¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

We, as Christians, are to be ready to go and share the gospel of peace. Only Jesus in man’s heart can bring true peace to this World.  That is our main job while we are on Earth.  Thankfully, whether we do this job while we are here or not, Jesus will return and usher in His peace unto the entire World.  Read Micah 4:3-4.

³ He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. ⁴ But each man will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has promised this.

What a wonderful place this will be when Jesus brings His peace completely to the World.

The Christmas Town

I have spent most of my time in small towns.  I always hear people say things like, “There isn’t anything to do there” or “It is boring” or “Only hicks live there” or “I’ve got to get out of this place to a big town where life happens and big things are done”.  Yet, in each small town that I have lived in I have seen important inventions, people, and historical events be a part of their history.  The town I currently live in is no exception.  A man with a third grade education developed the “Baker Casing Shoe” that revolutionized the oil drilling industry.  Our town has also produced two NFL players and a famous musician.  Our small town is also known for being one of the few mining towns that actually survived when the mining ended.  The people who live here have been innovative in keeping the town alive through various industry changes over the years to keep the jobs here.  I have always appreciated small towns and the people in them.  I know God can do great things with anyone, at any time, in any location.

God must like small towns too.  He had His eye on the small town of Bethlehem for many, many years.  In Genesis we see the first family of Israel stopping there.  Jacob/Israel buried his wife in Bethlehem in Genesis 35:19.  In Judges we see several of the men who protected and led Israel as “judges” coming from Bethlehem.  Also, during the time of the judges we see the beautiful love story of Ruth and Boaz take place in the town of Bethlehem.  Boaz would become the great grandfather of King David.  As a result the royal family line that led to the birth of Jesus became tied to the small town of Bethlehem.  It was that family tie to Bethlehem that led Joseph and Mary back there to take part in the Roman Census.  All Israelites were called back to their home town.  Read Luke 2: 1 – 6.

¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. ² This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ⁵ to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

God knew this would happen and foretold it through his prophet Micah, which was recorded for us in Micah 5:2 –

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.

We can gain some good instructions from the town of Bethlehem and its people.  God doesn’t care where we come from or where we live.  He can use anyone from anywhere.  We don’t have to be a highly educated person or a person of money.  A person or family that loves God in a small town is just as valuable as anyone else in the world.  We are all equal in God’s eyes.  A servant of God in a small church in a small town can do great things for the Lord.  It all begins with our hearts.  We don’t have to have the right clothes, the right size church or the funding.  We just have to hear God’s voice and respond obediently.