peace???

on the way back to school from a quick run to burger king i heard that "Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is clinging to life after a massive stroke that is likely to create a huge vacuum in Israeli politics and the Middle East peace process." this caused me to pause and think... how is it that this man has such a big influence on a "peace process"... is this peace that is being sought so fragile that the life of this one human endangers it?... the answer of course is yes, the "peace" between these warring peoples is fragile because there is so much distrust and hatred... a far cry from Real peace...

then I thought about one of the paper topics my students are choosing from: "The Concept of Peace in Romans" and the Real, lasting peace that God offers...

my buddy JR's blog yesterday talked about this a bit ... check him out at the link to the right but I think the NIV Study Bible has a good synopsis in its note on Rom. 5:1, it says... "peace with God. Not merely a subjective feeling (peace of mind) but primarily an objective status, a new relationship with God: Once we were his enemies, but now we are his friends..." My pal Mark really likes to emphasize this friendship with God aspect in his life and work, his blog is on the right too. This friendship is a result of PEACE... peace with God, a major emphasis in Paul's letters...

Paul the Jew knew what it meant to be at war with God, looing to satify him with the keeping of the Law, he learned through the peace with God that came with following Jesus that peace beats war anytime. Peace in the middle east may not be something we see in our lifetime, the peace process is interupted by car bombs, death of politicians, etc, but the peace with God that is offered to each of us individually is not interupted by anything... real peace, it is so good to have it