For much of my adult life, “Beirut” has been a synonym for “war zone.” It’s hard for me to imagine the grief there since 1975. Constant war between factious parties. Constant fear.
What makes that strip of land from Lebanon down to Israel so problematic? There are many answers, of course, but much of it has to do with sacred space. It continues to bother me that the history of war is to a large extent the history of people willing to kill because of the way they read their holy books. Christians have killed Christians, Muslims have killed Muslims, and Christians and Muslims have killed each other (to say nothing of all the bloodshed involving other religions).
The vision of Shalom seems faint at times, doesn’t it? Some of the popular versions of Christianity today almost relish the thought of war. Quite different from the biblical vision of new creation, actually.
In the meantime, we continue to pray for the children of southern Lebanon and the children of northern Israel.
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When I think of Waco, I think of these three things: David Koresh, Baylor, and little league baseball. (We’ve always dreamed of “going to Waco” — meaning going to the state tournament.) I’m sure the Waco Chamber of Commerce will be glad when the first one doesn’t come to mind.
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Highland Members - Today Dickie Porche is 50. You know what to do. 
I’d like to wish my good friend “happy birthday” — especially from all of us who are in our forties.
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For those who like golf (not me) or who like clever, humorous sports essays (me), don’t miss Grant Boone’s essays today through Sunday on PGA.com as he covers the British Open. Here’s today’s piece.
As the SeniorChoice coordinator at Cullman Regional Medical Center, I would like to make a pitch to Dickie and anyone else who is 50 or better… or anyone who will be 50 in the next few days…
There are a lot of benefits offered to senior citizens these days. The SeniorChoice programs is designed for those 50 and over - we offer educational seminars for those in their golden years… I guess I better stop now, huh?
Ahhh, sweet shalom…
Maranatha, Lord Jesus!
Violence begets violence, and retaliation begets more violence. It’s a vicious cycle in a world crying out for a new way. This is where Christ-followers could truly offer a voice that is not only counter-cultural, but refreshing. Unfortunately, more often than not, we go with the world on the issue of war, violence, retaliation.
“War is inevitable,” Christians say. They are right, especially when war’s your only option. Maybe we’re just not creative enough. I like what Shane Claiborne says about this issue in The Irresistible Revolution: “We need more of the prophetic imagination that can interrupt violence and oppression.”
I am becoming more and more a proponent of a Christian community that offers a refreshing voice to the patterns of this world but is slow to ascribe to any of its “inevitable” evils. Call that pasifism, non-involvement, or what-have-you, but when the “leading Christian voices” go right along with the government and “inevitable” things of this world 90% of the time, something’s wrong.
We need a remnant that is announcing a new way — that the kingdom of God has come near!
Steve, Jr., you are on target. Our voices need to be heard.
Mike, it is my understanding that the new Left Behind video game has a wonderfully entertaining sequence during which Christians join in the delight of “killing the infidels.” Maybe someone can confirm or refute this statement. I hope it is just a silly, ugly rumor.
Larry - I read some about this game on Greg Kendall-Ball’s blog and I am not sure that is quite as bad it seems but it certainly contains some violent aspects.
Steve Jr. - I call it the way of Christ. It is his words and example of turning the other cheek and that living by the sword equals dying by the sword that shape my theology of war.
Amen and amen Steve. The war between Lebanon and Israel doesn’t have to be. What makes me saddest are the words from fleeing refugee mothers who say that someday they will send their children back home to fight the enemy. Can we as the body of Christ declare that the kingdom of God has come?
We must never forget who the real enemy is.
Lord come quickly is my prayer.
As for the 50 something……if the Lord doesn’t come quickly……bring it on!
As an avid golf fan and mother to a golfer, Grant Boone’s piece is great! Mike thanks for sharing that link. (And Grant, most women think it’s a great movie, but they all, including Johnny Depp, needed to brush their teeth! ek!)
As per Grant’s article: The light in the eye of a amateur vs. the light in the eye of a paid professional reminds me of something else too.
Those who stand on the sidelines and complain about everything that is going on in the world (let’s call them the amateur) and then the serious look in the eyes of those who actually take the plunge (let’s call them the professional) and get into a career of actually trying to make a difference in the real world. It’s never as easy as it looks from the outside. Our world leaders need many,many, many deep heartfelt prayers right now. Shalom does look faint today. No one wants war. Lord come quickly.
I spent a few years in Waco (3rd - 5th grade) growing up at the Crestview Church of Christ. My memories of Waco were Jack and Jill dougnuts and hot chocolate before getting on the bus as a bus leader in the old bus ministry days. It was where I was baptized by the preacher then, Stan Bratcher at the ripe old age of 9. And it was where I played a lot of baseball. I loved Waco. Good luck there.
Totally unrelated - your bio page on Highland’s web site still has your old blogspot address. Just thought you might want to know. Peace!
In a heart-breaking world absent shalom where we have to hear daily updates on the brutal and senseless killing in the Middle East, it’s nice to hear Grant’s light-heartedness, even if he’s commenting on events of much less significance.
Thanks, Mike, for the heads-up on his article.
Sacred space certainly has a huge role in the current troubles in the Middle East. A factor I had overlooked until recently was the lingering impact of the Holocaust. Hitler’s genocide fueled the drive for a Jewish state in Palestine. Jews felt they deserved a homeland after so many were slaughtered. Non-Jews felt that creating a homeland for the Jews was the least they could do for people who had endured so much. Of course, that homeland was created by displacing thousands of Palestinians into refugee camps, a fact that continues to fuel much of the hostility. The world continues to suffer from the scourge of one evil man.
I don’t know about this game and it’s potential violence, but I can only ponder what Ann Coulter’s solution for this recent Middle East dilemma might be. “…blessed are the Peacemakers…”
I agree wholehearted with Steve…
David Lipscomb said, “When we say that God cares for us, protects us and leads us in the ways of safety and peace, and yet rely on human governments, human arms, death dealing human weapons for protection, our conduct seems to contradict our confession.”
What can the Lord do through us to bring peace to his creation?
grace and peace to all in the name of Jesus.
just wondering what everyone thinks…are we so sure that this war is inevitable? what about the prophecies in the holy Scriptures regarding the return of Jesus? do these events have anything to do with Him coming back? thanks and may the LORD bless us all.
One of the scariest things about some forms of Christian belief to me is the idea that some Christians would be not only not hating war and the horrors that it brings, but almost actively desiring some conflict because they see it as hastening Christ’s return. The Left Behind video game is an extreme example, but it may not be that much different from a lot of mainstream Christians’ views. Instead of working to promote peace through service (as the ethic of Jesus seems to entail), it seems that many Christians view a worldwide war of destruction as a preface to the second coming, and therefore desirable. At best, many non-premillenial Christians dismiss war as an inevitability and by consequence may not be as upset by war, as likely to desire its end, or as likely to vote against when given the option…
And Mark’s right. The Holocaust looms large in the collective memory of Europe, the USA, and Israel. And having been a country for 60 years, it’s hard any longer to imagine a Middle East with Israel removed, so any solution seems to involve coexistence. Having just watched Spielberg’s Munich last night, I’m reminded that fanatics are fanatics, and zealots are zealots. If one blindly believes that one’s side must win because God is on their side, or because one’s one nation must be supreme above the others (which describes both the religious and nationalist fervor of many Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans) the end will always justify the means. That is extremely frightening to me, and I celebrate the passivity brought to many parts of Israel and its neighbors through economic gain.
Happy Birthday, Dickie, from those of us still able to cling to our 30s.
You are a blessing.
I have learned it is easy to sit and talk but not so easy to stand and do.
We all need to call Dickie and leave a happy birthday on his recorder. After all he does it to every member every year. Happy birthday Dickie I wish I had read mikes blog before I saw you at lunch.
There are thousands of Lebanese exiles. They watch all of this in horror and try to clip the wings of hatred before more violence can fly. These are the people the world needs to understand, if they are to learn to love Lebanon and to strive to help her. This is not about Israel or Hezbollah, this is about Lebanon and her children, who cry for her.
A few examples of their posts showing their love: This too shall pass by Fouad Boulos, a Marionite expatriate doctor, working on his residency in Nashville, a picture of one of the most beautiful places in Lebanon, taken by Laila who was hiking with fellow bloggers who were blessed enough to be able to visit Lebanon together, and a recounting of today’s pain and unity, by The Perpetual Refugee, who was forced to leave his home long ago, but who’s heart is always there.
Dickie Porche is one of my heroes. Oh, that there were more men like him! Happy Birthday, Dickie.
smhsr
Just a tidbit of information here, for any one who might be interested. I happened to have known David Koresh (aka Vernon Sanders). At one time in my life, I made a very good living buying and selling firearms, especially ‘para military assault rifles and handguns’. Koresh appeared to me at the time to be a rather fanatical collector of these types of weapons as well as the ammo and magazines that fit these rifles. At this time in my life, I was really searching and I believe God was challenging and chasing. Thankfully, some radical Christian believers invited me to a bible study on Green Valley Rd here in Abilene, TX and became friends with a group of younger teachers and students from Abilene Christian University.
I thought Vernon Sanders was Jewish and always needed a bath and some good deodorant. Show you what I knew at the time.
This information plus hours more of details was given the many agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. My business dealings were completely above approach and legal in every way, just in case you may wonder.
Mike,
Please take care of the problem that the “care to comment” comes up after every entry in the comments with my name and address.
thank you!
me too
there they are again
Most Israeli’s I know (worked for a company based south of Tel Aviv) could give a shit about sacred space! They care about the bus not blowing up with their children in it!
Abilene, Portland or any other pace in the US have not had this as their day to day reality. We had it one day in September and look how we reacted. So everyone shouldn’t pretend to know what it’s like and how one should react to terror in one’s front yard.
If Hamas or Hezbollah killed my family (Lori, Bo, Jared, Lexa, Elise) on a bus or with a rocket, I would want them stopped before they killed my friend’s family.
Prayers to God are being said on behalf of this region, either He\She is not listening, doesn’t care or can’t do anything.
So forgive the Jew who loves his family enough to defend it while we pray over here and give advice.
Shalom.
I think how many times in the last 30 years the call for peace gets touted about in the mid-east. Every time the terrorists are getting routed out, they wave the white flag and then just come back stronger at a later date. Sorta like the boy who called wolf. I do not blame the Jews at all for what is happening now. I remember shells of buses with entire families blown to smitherens and nothing was done over and over. Wedding parties in hotels being blown up. Terrorists must be dealt with or they high five each other and look for something else horrible to do.
Well you could add “Stephanie, Rob and their three kids” to your list of things in Waco! AND YES we are really ready to shed the David Karesh thing…it actually didn’t happen IN Waco but 25 miles OUTSIDE of Waco in Mt Carmel …. but history is no respector of facts and so we deal with it. President Bush will also be here this weekend. (He’s another person who keeps Waco in the national spotlight!) You just might even get a glimpse of ole “W”…he is a die hard little league fan!
Leland and others, I agree about Israel. I’d want to get the bad guys too, but Israel has always claimed to have the best teams of assasins in the world, why would they murder hundreds of innocents when they have no real assurance of getting the actual culprits; especially when their actions just give birth to more possible terrorists who wanted peace only a few weeks ago? Also, how do the Lebanese feel when their families are killed because some terror organization was too strong for their government to disarm and they got blamed for the actions of this group?