In any part of the world right now, there is evidence of injustice, evil and destruction. Though it is painful to see it, knowing that this is not the way God intended Creation to be, we must face the truth of it, including our own guilt in it.
But that is not all. We must not get stuck in the pain and guilt. We must also look forward with hope, and put the efforts of our lives toward what should be, what will be. Righting wrongs, forgiving offenses, admitting when we are wrong, seeking forgiveness where we have offended... Healing wounds, helping the poor, giving back what has been taken, giving up our own "rights" for the good of others, rebuilding what has been torn down... These are the ways of the kingdom of God. And His kingdom is coming.
My heart echoes the prayer of this song:
Let your kingdom come and liberate
Every prisoner of greed and hate
Let it fill our hearts
With love for you
For our neighbors and
For our enemies too
Let your kingdom come and end all war
And the pain and grief of the oppressed and poor
Let all violence be finally put away
Let the streets find safety so the children can play
Let your kingdom come and let cool streams flow
Let your fields flourish clean wind blow
Let your children save instead of destroy
Let every creature thrive free in health and joy.
Let your kingdom come and every knee bow
To the king who was, will be and is now
And let justice roll, as the rivers run
And let death give way to resurrection!
(Brian McClaren and Tracy Howe)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
"The Israel Boycott is Biting" -- Good!
Some interesting news from the Jewish Peace News blog, speaking of the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement:
"The US protests are part of a growing global movement that has taken international law into its own hands because governments have not. And, especially since the attacks on Gaza, the boycotts have been biting. There are three reasons why."
The three reasons are:
1. "Ordinary citizens" -- people like you and me -- can get involved and actually make a difference.
2. Jewish groups are also participating, which shows that boycotting Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic. (Remember, Israel is a nation, with a governement that is obligated to follow international law as any other government is, so taking a stand against Israel is not the same as being anti-Jewish.)
3. This movement has its roots in the leadership of Palestinian people themselves:
"In 2005, over 170 Palestinian civil society coalitions, organizations, and unions, from the occupied territories,within Israel, and in exile issued a formal call for an international campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions(BDS) until Israel abides by international law."
For the rest of the article, or the JPN abstract, see http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com/2009/05/nadia-hijab-israel-boycott-is-biting.html
"The US protests are part of a growing global movement that has taken international law into its own hands because governments have not. And, especially since the attacks on Gaza, the boycotts have been biting. There are three reasons why."
The three reasons are:
1. "Ordinary citizens" -- people like you and me -- can get involved and actually make a difference.
2. Jewish groups are also participating, which shows that boycotting Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic. (Remember, Israel is a nation, with a governement that is obligated to follow international law as any other government is, so taking a stand against Israel is not the same as being anti-Jewish.)
3. This movement has its roots in the leadership of Palestinian people themselves:
"In 2005, over 170 Palestinian civil society coalitions, organizations, and unions, from the occupied territories,within Israel, and in exile issued a formal call for an international campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions(BDS) until Israel abides by international law."
For the rest of the article, or the JPN abstract, see http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com/2009/05/nadia-hijab-israel-boycott-is-biting.html
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