What the World. . . Needs now. . .

. . . Is Love. . .Sweet Love. . .

Mel Wild wrote an exceptional, relevant—in light of our current climate of lawlessness—and just plain brilliant article using a similar refrain.

See his post at: In My Father’s House.

Here’s something I posted in 2013, which I thought about after reading Pastor Wild’s post. I share it again here:

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month was canceled. The song reached number 7 on the US charts in May of that year. (source: Wikipedea)

Twenty-eight years ago today, Jackie DeShannon released the song that cried out a prayer for love.

Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No, not just for some, oh, but just for every, every, everyone

While true for today as for the sixties, the call for love didn’t begin with Jakie DeShannon’s song. G-d commanded love, way back when:

“. . .you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Lev 19:18)

The Apostle Paul wrote quite a bit about love. Here are some sample quotes:

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
(Romans 13:8)
“For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Romans 13:9)
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

Isn’t it love that will counter lawlessness? Isn’t love that will bring peace and happiness? Perhaps. But before we can have love, before we can have peace, before we can have happiness, we must:

“. . .seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matthew 6:33)

Perhaps that’s the problem. We want love, we want peace, we want happiness, but we don’t seek the Lord while He can be found.

Something to think about.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Peace On Earth. . . (Repost)

Today I am reposting “Peace On Earth,” which was written and posted four years ago.

There’s a scene from some movie that just popped itself into my mind. There’s an angry man spouting off about something, and another man says to him, “Ah, does someone need a hug?” Anger isn’t exactly an emotion; rather it attempts to cover an emotion. And a hug from “Mom” can go a long way to rid one of anger, expose the underlying emotion, and sooth it. Unless, that is, that a person has a problem with Mom. Dr. Sigmund Freud was hung up on “Mom” and sex, and peoples Oedipus-like desires to have sex with their moms and kill there fathers. He thought that while we were still babies our fantasies centered around having Mom all to our selves and not letting Dad near her. It didn’t work too well, and some people never got over it all. They grow up to find other ways to get even with their moms and dads.

So with 300 million people living in America and a social media that puts everyone in everyone else’s face all the time, feathers are going to be ruffled as we play out our Oedipus fantasies on each other. People have their underlying emotions stirred, that then surge, and the result is that angry words spew forth. People discover there are other people that feel the same way, and they gather together to protest someone they feel has offended them. Lately it’s been presidential candidates who’ve modeled the use of verbal assault weapons, and become the object of protests. Conflict. And the television/internet media gets to watch, film, and report all of it to an eager audience, perpetuating the cycle of conflict.

Why can’t people just get along? Why isn’t there peace on Earth?

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [Jesus said]
— Matthew 10:34

Why? Why does it seem there needs to be conflict? In a writing class, I was once instructed on the use of conflict and resolution. In a story the author allows conflict to drive the story along. building a certain tension. At some point the author must allow the reader to feel resolution, too. There must be some form of resolution after conflict has built or the reader will feel let down.

Just as conflict drive an author’s story, so does it drive our lives. But conflict is only useful if we are able to find a resolution to the conflict. A solution. An answer. Conflict drives us to look for answers.

On the back of a Jeep was a bumper sticker that summed this issue up well. It read:

Jesus is the Answer. Now, What was the Question?

Our Portion of Life

Recently, a young man on his way home from work, picked up his two children from a day care/learning center as he had many times before. This man went home and dropped the two children off with his pregnant wife, and went out into the woods and killed himself.

Why? I tried to find news of it in the local paper. Nothing. I looked at the crime blotter for the county. Nothing. There are too many other “more important” events to report.

Continue reading “Our Portion of Life” →

Faith and Hope as Lifestyle

The other day, at Daily Tehillem, it was Psalm 23. While I’ve read the psalm many times, and various comentaries, the last two verses struck me as wonderful prayer:

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

A prayer not only for me, but to be directed toward others, on the behalf of others. For in this prayer I see first the victory G-d blesses us Continue reading “Faith and Hope as Lifestyle” →

Zombie Apocalypse Revisited

The latest zombie-laden season of Walking Dead is off to a violent and bloody start. One of my kids still watches it, and gave me the details of someone from the original cast, season one, that is now off the show—killed off. I don’t bother watching it anymore. I saved recorded episodes thinking I may want to catch up; there are thirty or so saved now and I still haven’t felt like going back to it.

If you’ve never watched “Walking Dead,” it’s definitely not an off-the-shelf Zombie show. It is a custom-tailored adventure show about a band of people simply trying to live another day, against all odds and a lot of zombies who would like to see them become zombies. There are some social lessons we can glean from “Walking Dead,” too. But at one time my real reason was to see all the “What-Not-To-Do” moments. Continue reading “Zombie Apocalypse Revisited” →

Peace On Earth. . .

Why can’t people just get along? Why isn’t there peace on Earth?

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [Jesus said]
— Matthew 10:34

On the back of a Jeep was a bumper sticker that summed this issue up well. It read:

Jesus is the Answer. Now, What was the Question?

Floods and Devistation in Malawi

Yesterday I received an email from Renewal Fellowship Ministries

From: Maranatha Churches in MALAWI:

THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN & WIND ALMOST FOR TWO WEEKS HERE IN MALAWI & AFTER IT SO MANY HOUSES FLOW DOWN ,CROPS DEVASTATED.

On 24th February, 2013 Pastors from different places visited the damaged home of their senior Pastor Peter Timothy Fungulani for prayers & discussing way forward to help the homeless Pastor.

Before everything the meeting was opened by a prayer given by Pastor Noah from Mozambique, then a 74years old Pastor Hassan from Nsanje give people word of God from the book of Genesis 12:1-3—-He tells the attendee that our present Abraham is Pastor Peter & if we show love /support/ bless him then the Lord will also help us in other ways in our critical situation.
-Due to heavy damage caused to the house all Pastors were deeply touched & agreed to discuss way forward to assist our dear Pastor , & A lot contributed this:

There are some men who are builders they volunteered to build the house of Man of God Pastor Peter without paid their heart is breeding to see the Pastor homeless.

Three Pastor in the meeting are timber/lumber makers they promised to give 10timbers/lumbers each & if the house needs more then they shall charge those new ordered half down to the actual price.

When these news was broke to the gathering at Tengani (a place where Pastor Peter normally based) almost 127strong Women (excluding Widows but they too promised to take part)promised to carry water from the borehole to the place where the house is intended to built freely.

Youth group promised to carry bricks from the old place to the newly allocated .
Pastor Peter is not a father to his family only he is also the father to Orphans ,Widows ,Pastors & even when Lord allows you to visit us you shall sleep in this house & we pray & intend to build a house to have enough rooms ,& with the damage caused to house some bricks are not in good shape we just need to buy 2000more bricks for the house.
The builder intend to build a strong building & they need 5 bags of Cement .

There is a need for tins / iron sheets for roofing the house.
..
With prayers & fasting ,
Pastor Hassan Chikalango——On behalf of all Pastors in Malawi.
Pastor Noah Dimmingoh—— On behalf of all Pastors in Mozambique

==========================================

Pastor Peter Timothy Fungulani and his lovely wife, Emily, are blessed with three children and is called by God as an evangelist. Pastor Peter and has a passion to win souls for Christ. He has been the Senior Pastor of Maranatha Pentecostal Churches since 2008. They have churches in Malawi and Mozambique.

===========================================

Lord Bless Pastor Peter and his family during this time of rebuilding. Lord Bless all those who have come to his assistance.

Lord Bless, Keep, and Shine upon you all.

Surprized at the Violence?

Things seemed to be going so well. The weather wasn’t perfect, but tolerable. People up in New York were starting to get clear of the destruction of their double whammy storms. The election is over. Whether we celebrate or mourn, at least we know now were we stand for the next four years. Here in Georgia it’s raining. And it’s about time, too. And on the XMRadio I’ve been listening to “Radio Hanukkah.”-eight days of music celebrating the Maccabees Victory and beginning again of worshiping G-d in The Temple. It celebrates the miracle of light, a light that stayed lite eight days when there was only enough oil for one.

Then a young man barely out of his teens shoots a bunch of kids and six adults. Defenseless kids. Defenseless adults. Law enforcement officers comb the man’s house, where he also murdered his mother, for clues to how and why. The murdered children and adults are mourned–by us all.

How long will we all remember, though? Certainly parents of slaughtered babies will not soon forget their anguish, their loss. But we move on, CNN moves on, the world moves on, live goes on. There may be superficial answers offered us to our questions of “Why?” We will be told that the boy played too many violent video games too often. We will be told the boy watched violent television. We will told the boy was brilliant, but somehow damaged goods.

Even after we move on “solutions” will be proposed. Advocates will cry out for our attention, trying to get our ears. The “solutions” will include taking away any implement that might be used to cause harm. Take away access to evil guns. Curb violence on television. Restrict video games.

This month Christians celebrate the birth of a Savior. Not just any savior. The Savior. This is the time we need more than ever to understand that controls upon our liberties lead only to tyranny and that solutions only lay in accepting the only true savior, the only true peace that there is–Y’shuaJesus.

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Micah and a Lasting Peace

Many promise peace. Probably most famous is British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, who promised “peace in our time.” He did this in defense of an appeasement agreement in Munich that allowed Germany to take part of Czechoslovakia. But this didn’t appease Germany. Poland was in its sights. When Poland fell to Germany, England entered what would become WWII. England suffered greatly during the war, with much destruction coming upon it.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1 Thes 5:3

Y’shuaJesus didn’t promise peace on Earth.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 10:34

He promised peace, though, through HIM.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

In the Book of Micah, we find a prophet itemizing the failures of his country–its iniquities. He cries out to his people regarding G-d’s requirements: justice and mercy, walking humbly with G-d. To Micah, proper worship of G-d is the prime ingredient for a proper relationship. Consequences follow when a people loses its relationship with G-d. Destruction. But Micah also promises redemption, salvation. He foretold of the Messiah. He also foretold that the Last Days would usher in a lasting peace with the Earthly reign of Messiah, Y’shuaJesus.

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:3

Bad times come. Bad times go. We ride the worldly roller coaster. Peace we have through all this that is brought into our hearts through our faith in Y’shuaJesus. He is the Only Way to Peace.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .