for 23 SEP 06: PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH?
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)
Did you miss this year's International Day of Peace? It was Thursday - allowing some Muslims to rest up for Friday's day of rage against the Pope....
Northside Elementary School in Opelika marked the International Day of Peace by planting 300 pinwheels in the ground. At first this sounded strange to me, but then I saw it on TV. They were toy pinwheels -- not what some of us call pecan swirls.
A TV newscaster saw the "pinwheels for peace" and said in response, "If only it were that easy." Indeed. In this day and age, some grownups might get into an argument over which direction the pinwheels should be turning.
Let's consider some of the current tension points around the world. There's Muslim vs. Roman Catholic. The U.S. vs. Venezuela. Israel vs. Iran. And the biggest one in this country in the last 48 hours - "C.S.I." vs. "Grey's Anatomy."
Election years tend to bring out tension points at the local and state level as well. There's Democrat vs. Republican. Congress vs. the President. The folks in power vs. the outsiders. And I keep waiting to see an attack ad by the "Public Safety Officers for Truth Committee."
Is there a way to bring all these feuds to an end? Can we finally "all get along," as Rodney King put it 13 years ago? Can the day come when Jerry Springer only needs to appear on television during "Dancing with the Stars?"
I believe the answer is yes - but the answer involves something much bigger than One Columbus, the Carter Center or even the United Nations. It involves a ceremony I'm celebrating this weekend, which the Bible describes as a "Feast of Trumpets." It's on the Jewish calendar as Rosh Hashanah - although someday if Rush Limbaugh keeps it, he might change the first name....
The Feast of Trumpets marks a time when end-time trumpets will sound, marking the return of Jesus to Earth. He plans to intervene, to bring peace to this world - and the Bible indicates he'll enforce it with a sword. Let's face it: world leaders won't be scared into submission or surrender if He carries dozens of pinwheels.
Former President Ronald Reagan actually was right, when he talked about achieving "peace through strength." But in the end, our military strength won't achieve it. After all, the leader of Hezbollah bragged Friday about having 20,000 rockets - which in the eyes of Israel makes him the Hez-bully.
(Not to mention the spiritual leader of Iran - whom I've heard a few ministers call the Ayatollah Kha-meanie.)
Back on September 11th, I suggested you consider how the fight against terror finally will end. I'm persuaded it will end only when Jesus comes to MAKE it end. And even then, I doubt everyone will like it -- especially considering what happened to Him the first time He showed up on Earth.
If you're like the recent e-mailer to our blog who only recently started daily Bible readings, I suggest you check Zechariah 14, Matthew 24 and Revelation 19. Parts of those chapters speak about the dream of the Feast of Trumpets. You might be so comforted and pleased by what you read, you'll go out and celebrate - maybe by buying a big bag of Bugles.
COMING SUNDAY: Memories of a media pest.... and a new issue in the mayor's race....
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