­The God of heaven is called "The God of peace" (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Phi­lippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20), not because He is at peace with Himself, but because He is the author and source of peace for man. He gives us peace and teaches us how to live at peace with each other. In spite of the fact that He teaches us how to live in peace, there are some people who seem more dis­posed to strife and contention. You don't have to be around them long to see how they always stir up trouble.

It may seem strange to us that the Lord of peace, on the one hand, says, Think not that I am come to send peace but a sword..." (Matthew 10:34-36). The paradox can be ex­plained in this way: He wants men to be at peace with God and each other. While He is aware that His very offer creates enmity on the part of those who do not want it. Truly, a man's enemies may be those of his own house, when he takes a stand for truth.

However, the God of peace gives us peace, even in the midst of adversity. It is through prayer and supplications with thanksgiving that we conquer anxiety and experience the peace that passes understanding. "Peace that passes understanding" does not mean that we cannot fathom it. Rather it is the peace that the mind (Greek word "nous" means "mind" or "under­standing") cannot give by itself.

And, while He gives us peace, He also commands us to pursue peace (2 Timothy 2:22; Romans 14: 19; 1 Peter 3:8-11). Maintaining an harmonious relationship among God's people re­quires active behavior in pursuit of  peace. Peace has to be pursued - it requires thoughtfully doing things which create more harmony.

Pursuing peace requires understanding and compassion. It also means that we must love our brethren, for love is un­selfish -- "love does not seek her own..." (1 Corinthians 13:5). Furthermore, we must be conscious of the/ needs of our brethren (Hebrews 10:24). And, if we do that we will al­ways look for the good in others that we might build them up in the Lord (Romans 14:19). Jesus put it simply that whatever we would that men should do to us, we should do to them (Matthew 7:12). That kind of behavior promotes true peace and if you have ever experienced strife and contention, you can really appreciate a congrega­tion where there is peace and har­mony.

When James spoke of heavenly wis­dom, he did not ally put "pure" before "peaceable" (James 3:13-18). There is a reason that "pu­rity" precedes "peace," for purity of truth can never be sacrificed for peace. Peace that may come from compro­mising purity will never be God-given peace.

And, since God is the God of peace, we can understand why he s dis­cord -- "There are six things which Jehovah th; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him... A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among the brethren" (Proverbs 6: 16-19). We must also discord and, if we truly do, we will learn to avoid contentious men and those things which gender strife (Titus 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:23).

To a troubled, warring, halting, anx­ious world, Jesus offers peace. There are man-made forms of peace by which men learn, through the use of the mind, to experience a degree of peace but they are forms of hallucina­tion which do not last. Jesus is the only one who can give real peace. - Jim Everett

 

 

 

Well, "a petunia is a flower like a be­gonia. A begonia is a meat like a sau­sage. A sausage-and-battery is a crime. Monkeys crime trees. Tree's a crowd. A crow crowed in the morning and made a noise. A noise is on your face between your eyes. Eyes is oppo­site from nays. A colt nays. You go to bed with a colt, and wake up in the morning with a case of double petu­nia." - Applied Imagination, by Alex F. Osborn

Well, yeah... that's an amazing bit of logic, isn't it? Sounds a bit like your kids when you try to find our why they did what they did, or failed to do what they were supposed to do!

Elders hear this sort of thing from "big kids" all the time! They try to "watch for their souls," and in exhortation and warning try to point out where they are remiss. Usually some sort of ex­cuse is offered - some that make about as much sense as the above. Some folks just don't seem to realize elders are not interested in "meddling," but they are interested in saving the souls of members of the church who are not as faithful as they ought to be. If it were not so serious, lots of elders would just pass it off as just so much begonia!
- Bill Moseley