lifeasmission

Standing for Those Who Choose Nonviolence

January 15, 2009 // 9263 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F01%2Fstanding-for-those-who-choose-nonviolence%2FStanding+for+Those+Who+Choose+Nonviolence2009-01-15+23%3A30%3A31JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D926

I am certainly no expert on Israeli-Palestinian relations or the fighting that has been going on between them for so long.  I do know that it has gotten worse recently and I am sure that the future holds only more of the same.  I also know that, as with all conflict, people tend to support one side over another based on whatever criteria they deem to be most important.  Whatever the case, it is an easy decision for me to support these folks, the Shiministim, Israeli’s (teenage) conscientious objectors who are being imprisoned for their refusal to serve in the military.  Check it out in more detail here and see if you feel compelled, as I was, to sign and send the letter to have them released.

Posted in justice, peace, war

Repentance and Peace

March 11, 2008 // 493No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F03%2Frepentance-and-peace%2FRepentance+and+Peace2008-03-11+15%3A48%3A45JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F03%2F11%2Frepentance-and-peace%2F

I got an email today from Sojourners Magazine. It was asking me to sign a “statement calling on the U.S. church to repent for the war and to commit ourselves to a new path toward peace.”

I couldn’t wait to do so and am throwing this out there in the hopes that others may want to do the same.

You can read the whole statement here, and sign at the bottom. Here’s the highlights…

Personally, I’d love this statement to make it all the way to the White House. True, repentance ought to begin with the people of God, but as Christians we believe that our government is ultimately accountable to the same authority as us, the Lord Jesus – and this is true whether they acknowledge it or not.  I’d love it if those of you who chose to sign it left a comment!!

Posted in church, peace

Violence and The Kingdom

December 12, 2007 // 467No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F12%2Fviolence-and-the-kingdom%2FViolence+and+The+Kingdom2007-12-12+18%3A48%3A16JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F467

On Sunday I went with some friends to see The Kingdom at our local dollar theater.  I thought so much of it, that I invited some other friends and went back to see it last night.

This was an awesome movie.  Not only shot, directed, and acted well, but an incredibly eye-opening (though certainly not meant to be a non-fiction) film regarding the conflict in the Middle East.  The 5-minute introduction alone, a brief history of the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia (The Kingdom) was worth the price of the movie.

As I walked out with my friends last night and we were talking about the movie, I lamented that so much of the fighting in this war has to do with 2 competing ideologies, both predicated on the notion that victory will come through the violent elimination of their enemies. 

But, to quote a contemporary prophetic voice, “Peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication.”  Violence ONLY EVER begets more violence.   I have no definitive answers to some of the very real problems and dilemmas that we face in this war, but I have put all my hope and have put all my trust in the way of Jesus, the way of non-violent resistance, prophetic action and speaking, and sacrificial living unto death. 

These are God’s means of peace in the world. 

As soon as you can check out this movie.  Here’s a trailer.

Posted in justice, kingdom, movies, peace, prophets

Car Wash for Peace

May 29, 2007 // 374No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F05%2Fcar-wash-for-peace%2FCar+Wash+for+Peace2007-05-29+15%3A52%3A11JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F374

Kinda funny, kinda cool, check it out…

Get the song on iTunes for a buck!

Posted in funny, peace, songs