RAISE UP A MAN

MATTHEW 5 - 9
Blessed are the peacemakers
For they shall be called sons of God.
NKJV

My prayer over the last few years has been that the Lord would raise up a man of integrity and honesty to lead this once proud christian country.    Sadly due to the fact that many people voted for UKIP along with considerable voting apathy (most considering labour were a paler shade of the same) the country has to endure another term of a conservative government.

"Tut, tut" said the local church elder "we are supposed to pray for our leaders"  she then went on to pontificate "we must pray God would guide them".    She obviously doesn't know her enemy and how very active the adversary is in this world.

My reply "Oh I do - I pray my God will dump them in the Middle East and let them live in the derelict cities hearing forever the weeping of the widows and orphans.  The innocents of any waring country.

Now I have to pray for the new labour leader hoping everything that has been said about him being an "honest man of integrity" is true.   Evil men in places of power are devious.   He should avoid lone walks near heavily wooded areas!!!   He will need divine protection regardless. 

There have been quite a few patronising and derogatory remarks from men who clearly show their lack of maturity and spiteful natures.    The British public recognise "mud slinging" and realise you can't believe anything you read in a press mostly controlled by threats from government.   The hysterical comment by a former labour leader was to say the least 'mind blowing' considering he was part of the unholy mob that gave us the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

Perhaps the effect of watching a televised report of a small child standing in the rubble of his home in Afganistan was inspiration enough and that year my Christmas cards pointed out the fact that there was little peace or goodwill to all men.   Nevertheless it was inspired comment on what was to come and happens when young people of any country are "hot wired" and used by evil men.   

The Enemy Within

War Lords arise,

politicians loudly proclaim the western world as civilized,

yet we produce and sell the weapons of mass destruction.

Megalomaniacs 'hot wire' the idealistic fervour of young men and women educated in the western world, take aim, and the innocent die in the mayhem.

Yet in our darkest hour there are heroes, those who regardless of personal risk die in an attempt to save others.

Men of power move quickly to the safety of their underground bunkers and worried citizens rush to buy gas masks and protective clothing in a frenzy of self-preservation as the world press reports retribution.

An innocent child stands in the broken shell of his home,  a single wall remains standing.

Christian aid has been withdrawn, cold and hungry he listens as his parents talk of the coming winter and threatened war.

The western child sits in a room crammed with the trappings of over indulgence, watching his television, proudly waving the national flag, cheering as the war machine rolls out.

There can be no winners here, only losers.

Father forgive us.

T.Hills

(comment on effects of war in Afganistan)

T.Hills.

1998

Matthew 5 - 43 - 44-45

"YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enem

BUT I SAY TO YOU, "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;

Regardless of any religious belief simple compassion for a fellow human being should speak against killing anyone.   What kind of beast enjoys murdering a baby?   Beheading a charity worker?

rejoicing at the sight of body parts littering the streets.   It's the ugly face of evil.   Even men following the authority and dictate of their commanders in the battlefield are mentally scared for the rest of their lives unless of course they are a paranoid schizophrenic or a drug crazed manic.   The buck rests with men at the top who lead, or incite that kind of behaviour.

Perhaps we could all learn from the documentary on R.T. showing an American service man returning to the killing fields in Vietnam.  He asks for forgiveness.

The Vietnamese man concerned said "it is not your fault, you were only carrying out orders" (paraphased because I can't remember the actual words).   A kind of absolution for the ex.soldier from a  man who had probably lost everything in a war that resulted in the loss of millions of his countrymen yet still he was able to forgive.

Research regarding the loss of life in Vietnam is freely available on the internet.   The Vietnamese government claimed that 400,000 people were killed or maimed by Agent Orange and that 500,000 children were born with birth defects.   One air force captain referring to the two napalm bombs dropped on an unsuspecting population said "it just fried everything that was left, women, children usually in their mother's arms and so many old people".  He is also quoted as saying "it was the epitome of immorality"

Perhaps the world needs to listen to the peacemakers 

because as sure as the sun will rise on a new day

mankind faces a volatile future,

until the Prince of Peace, Son of the living God returns.

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

SHALOM