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Individuals, small groups,and congregations are invited to join the National Registry of Peace Churches. More...
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| Following Jesus in nonviolent struggle for justice and peace, we love our neighbors and enemies
as God loves us all, becoming a peace church to share in Gods work to save the world. |
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Commentary Archives
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| 9/17/2005 |
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An urgent news release from the Catholic Worker movement.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A press release from the Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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As the nation prepares for large peace rallies this weekend, Congress begins to forge an exit strategy for Iraq. Clearly, we need to keep the pressure up.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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It is time for Christians and other peace activists to move beyond "protest" to nonviolent war resistance. Ending wars, preventing wars, nonviolently opposing injustice requires deeper sacrifice than weekend protests or candle-light vigils--important as they are.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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How can peace churches also be justice churches? Community Organizing
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| 9/17/2005 |
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M. L. Westmoreland-White argues that the concept of violence as a last resort corrupts moral reasoning. Rough-draft of an article for a future ECAPC resource.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The Interreligious Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons is forming to forge a grassroots anti-nuke movement centered in faith communities. ECAPC will be centrally involved.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Christians and others called for an end to the Iraq War in protests around the globe.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A new church curriculum from the National Council of Churches (US) and Friendship Press.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Is the mainstream media biased against peace events and peace people? Does this media bias (if it exists) make it more difficult to discuss Christian peacemaking in your local church?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Even as calls for independent investigation of routine torture by U.S. soldiers is increasing, the silence of U.S. church leaders about torture is deafening.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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ECAPC continues to need regular contributions by those who look to us to help make gospel nonviolence the norm for all churches. Our needs remain urgent.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Voices in the Wilderness, which took the lead in trying to end the economic violence of the sanctions against Iraq during the decade between Gulf Wars, is now launching a new campaign to end the economic AND military violence against and in Iraq.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A message from Don Edwards, host of ECAPC-TV in Atlanta, about upcoming interview episodes. Please note Don's message at the end about contributing. This not only keeps ECAPC-TV on the air in Atlanta, but will help us spread the program elsewhere.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A sermon by the co-pastor of an ECAPC-affiliated church.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Dr. Teresa Whitehurst, a Christian psychologist and member of ECAPC's Speakers' Bureau, argues that women in conservative and fundamentalist churches in the U.S. see themselves in Cindy Sheehan---and that this could spell the end of their silence on the war.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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1-8 October 2005 is International Keep Space for Peace Week.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The National War Tax Resisters' Coordinating Committee will hold a press conference this coming Friday advocating the open refusal to pay the military portion of U.S. taxes.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The late Bill Moore, longtime Kentucky Baptist peacemaker, reflects on Walter Wink's concept of "the myth of redemptive violence."
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| 9/17/2005 |
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In Dover PA, not too far from our home, a debate is underway concerning intelligent design.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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I wonder what the world would be like if Christians had yard signs proclaiming the TWO commandments.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Peace takes guts! What a proclamation. What a truth. Let's teach it to our children.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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What are you willing to risk for peace?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Dr. Paul Alexander gives the first report (and a group photo) on the first annual conference of the Pentecostal & Charismatic Peace Fellowship. Michael Westmoreland-White attended both to represent ECAPC and to join as a charismatic Baptist.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Especially if you live on the West Coast, mark your calendars for a large counter-recruitment rally at the end of this month.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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We are fast approaching 2,000 U.S. deaths in Iraq (plus thousands of Iraqi deaths--also God's beloved children!). It's time to tell the media and the politicians "no more!"
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Have you checked out our Speakers' Bureau?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Last weekend, Michael Westmoreland-White represented ECAPC at Shalom 2005: Intercession as a Way of Life--the first annual conference of the Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship. Here are online pictures of that event.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Some Seventh-Day Adventists are trying to reclaim and renew the pacifist convictions of early Adventists.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A columnist questions the support of U.S. Christians for a president who allows the torture of enemies.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Youth and young adults voice their opposition to war and killing; embrace conscientious objection.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Why do Christian peacemakers pray? Beginning a conversation on the spiritual disciplines for gospel nonviolence.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A book review by Michael Hardin of PreachingPeace.org
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The upcoming conference of the Catholic Peace Fellowship will focus on biblical and contemporary prophets.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will be held in Austin, TX. Prominent Religious Voices will be there.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Michael Hardin shares his perspective on prayer and Christian peacemaking.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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No commentary today.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Rosa Parks, "mother of the modern Civil Rights movement," passed away yesterday.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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2000 American military personnel and between 26,000 and 30,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed. This is the first cost of war; there are additional costs.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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ECAPC and others are exploring a response, envisioned by C. T. Vivian, to rebuild churches so they can rebuild communities.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Last week I represented ECAPC at the semi-annual steering committee meeting of CPT (Christian Peacemaker Teams). DId you know that Every Church A Peace Church plays a significant supportive role with CPT?
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Iranian threats to destroy Israel and the United States give pause for reflection on words and weapons.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Today I'm introducing an understanding of Jesus and ECAPC by which I intend to regularly shape the content of these daily commentaries.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Mark reports that Jesus spoke of himself as the Son of Man in relation to forgiving sins.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Luke's gospel agrees with Mark's account, putting Son of Man words on Jesus' lips early in his public ministry.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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In John's Gospel Jesus readily applies both Son of Man and Son of God titles to himself, but again son of man seems quite predominate.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Jesus was aware of meanings attached to "the son of man" title in his culture. So we look at some of those meanings
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Jesus, far from setting himself up as different and distant from other humans, portrayed himself as an example of fulfilled humanity. Also today, report on Toronto Sabeel Moral Investment conference.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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End this war in Iraq, a step on the way to ending all war.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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An invitation to do a simple, human thing for peace this Advent season--walk the Christmas Peace Pilgrimage in eastern Pennsylvania.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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You've heard the Marine slogan, "Be All you can be." That is a comment on human fulfillment, on what it might mean to become more like what God created you to be.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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On Saturday November 12, John Stoner will speak at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Syracuse, NY.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Jesus as "the Human One" seems to have been hopeful about human nature.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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What does it mean to say that "people are violent by nature?" Do you say that? Is it a true statement? What are its presumed implications?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Feedback on yesterday's column. And an announcement of the Carlisle Peace College, tomorrow.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Bettina DelSesto, another American woman, reflects on her visit to honor Rosa Parks at the Capitol Rotunda.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The Fellowship of Reconciliation leads people of faith and conscience to stop the attempt by the Bush administration and some in Congress to make torture "legal."
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Rev. Dawn Yoder Harms of Akron Mennonite Church preaches a Sermon on the Wisdom of God's peaceable people, illustrated in 1 Samuel 25.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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My visit to the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle this weekend causes me to think about names and naming.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A controversial contemporary painting of the stations of the cross... And the Lititz, PA murders.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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IRS pursues retaliation against All Saints Church in Pasadena for pastor's peace sermon.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Anam Cara ("Soul Friend"), an experiment in doing church differently, has joined ECAPC.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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The old question about who is a false prophet, and who is true, is still with us.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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ECAPC needs your support now.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Have you heard Jesus' words, "Father, forgive them."
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Did Jesus call himself "son of David," the king?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Have you thought about what a problem Thanksgiving day is for grateful people?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Today I give thanks for many things.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A column by Michael Hardin.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Some recent efforts of the Peacemakers' Ministry Team of Peace Community Church, Oberlin, OH--part of the ECAPC Network.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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For over 10 years, now, Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty, has worked to reclaim Christmas from the commercial profiteers and make it once more celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace who proclaimed Good News to the Poor.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Using Fair Trade organizations when shopping for Christmas presents.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Norman Kemper, one of the leaders of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of Great Britain, has been kidnapped while on a mission in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Here are words explaining the motivation of CPT for being in Iraq and sending delegations there.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Here is how Jim Loney, one of the CPTers kidnapped in Iraq, wrote about Iraq last year.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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This is a critical moment for the church. Can we call on it to speak out?
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Sign a petition here for the CPTers that are held in Iraq. Prayer vigil information page/liturgy.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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For the past few days you have read about the CPT captives. Meditate a few moments with the petitions for their release.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Could we all appeal to Rick Warren, and other famous "Christian leaders," to appeal for peace in Iraq and release to the captives there?
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Why witness to Rick Warren about the CPT hostages? He is the Billy Graham of our day. Also see Petition.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A litany for a prayer vigil for the four CPTers and all who are held against their will.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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No single person can meet the demands of justice, or of peace.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Rev. Graylan Hagler calls for action. Also today, a little Rumsfeld/Saddam history.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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An Advent meditation.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A special issue of the journal Church and Society sponsored by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Our bank account is on the edge.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Today, first installment on the promised report on the book project I'm doing with C. T. Vivian
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| 9/17/2005 |
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An old letter by Norman Kember, CPTer missing in Iraq. And an invitatioin to write letters to the editor for the missing peaceworkers.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Thoughts on the lives of those who have lived and died for others.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Practices which could move the world to a new space.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Today, a reflection on knowing our own spirit.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Call for release of detainees and end of war in Iraq.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Homily on Iraq by Bob Holmes in St. Michel's Cathedral, Toronto.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Sorry, the commentary was down yesterday because of technical difficulty. Catch up today!
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Will pastors speak with courage about peace on earth this Christmas? Forward this to your pastor, or deliver a copy in print.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Denominational leaders have an opportunity to sign on to letter calling for peace in Iraq. You can help.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Letter to a friend kidnapped in Iraq by Ken Sehested
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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On opportunity to sign a letter to President Bush, the US Congress and our sisters and brothers around the world calling for peace for the people of Iraq. Announce with the angels this Christmas...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Into the way of peace....
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Tomorrow the conference begins; today many people travel.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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A question as the new year approaches.
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Here is an opportunity to contribute to peace in Palestine for you or someone you know.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Some questions from a conscientious objector in an American prison. Here is a way to "keep Christ in Christmas."
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| 9/17/2005 |
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Kent Beduhn, attending the international Celebrating Nonviolent Resistace conference in Bethlehem, writes about strategies for peace.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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As 2005 comes to a close and 2006 begins, it is appropriate to look back and look forward. Looking back at the work of the many supporters of the ECAPC movement since its inception in 2000 is both heartwarming and encouraging.
More...
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| 9/17/2005 |
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May the light of hope never go out in your life!
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The movement is growing. And now with our new website, people all over the world can hear our message of peace.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Report by John Stoner on ECAPC briefing meetings, Global Peace Service meeting, and US Inst. Peace.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The inaugural ECAPC conference was held in Duluth, Minnesota, April 27, 28, 2001, attended by 110 people. Read about denominations attending, endorsement greetings received, major ideas presented in speeches and workshops and how to get involved.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Starting an experiment with this news function, I (John Stoner) am going to write a brief daily report or thought here. Your feedback and comments will always be welcome, including ideas you would like to share with others through this news page, on the web homepage of ECAPC
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A response to our discussion guide on Jesus said: "One of the major flaws of the discussion Guide is that it assumes that everyone attending the discussion already believes that peace should be the primary concern of churches."
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christian Peacemaker Congress VI, in northern Indiana, will bring together some of the most dynamic examples of Christian nonviolent resistance available today. You are invited...
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In spite of their occasional feelings of inadequacy or powerlessness, preachers hold the key to a great deal of what happens in the churches. ECAPC provides a preaching opportunity for pastors and other public speakers.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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ECAPC will share views which it knows not everyone will agree with. Why will we do this?
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus had the courage to speak the truth as he saw it. He lived what he taught in those familiar words "Fear not!; "Do not fear." "Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said..." Luke 6:8
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This weekend the ECAPC office received an inquiry from a person in Beirut, Lebanon wanting to find a Peace Church Partner (which we recomend as the first step of involvement in ECAPC). This person wants help in locating an email partner because of the dangers involved in public discipleship and peace advocacy in their national/culltural settting. We will help them find a partner. But...
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A phone call yesterday from Dr. Tyrone Pitts, General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention in Washington, D.C. confirmed the support of the PNBC for Every Church A Peace Church, and that Dr. Pitts will speak at the Nov. 1-3 Kirkridge gathering. This is good news! If you are wondering whether...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Can you approve, fund and use violence on the wholesale level and then expect to avoid, forbid and escape violence on the retail level? Are there connections between national policy whch uses violence and neighborhood behavior which also resorts to violence? Dr. Gary Kohls' experience with PTSD has convinced him that military policy, training and combat has unavoidable consequences on the domestic front--the retail level, if you will.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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People ask, "How does ECAPC work?"
Pastors too ask that question. The short answer is that it works ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I spent the weekend with the Brethren Peace Fellowship at a beautiful farm on a lake near York, PA. We came up with some ECAPC "conversation starter" questions. I think you will like...
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"Would you say that your church is a Christ-centered church?" This ECAPC discussion starter question (see yesterday's news item) seems like a good one to use with one's conservative Christian friends. A "yes" response is likely. A follow-up comment or question...
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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It is 10:55 Eastern Daylight time. The tv and radio are full of reports of attacks on the World Trade Towers -- they have crumbled, and on the Pentagon. Planes have been flown into these buildings to destroy them. All US airports have been closed. This is VERY BIG, VERY BAD. What is needed most at this time...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Our task as Christians the day after the plane attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is to interpret what this means in world affairs. This is political and economic, with religion in the mix, and discerning the signs of the times is our call. Gary Kohls has written a very perceptive interpretation...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I have staked a sign in my front lawn which says "Pres. Bush: Don't bomb people -- terrorists bomb people.' It is really that simple. The question for America is whether it will use the method of terrorists to retaliate, and lower itself to their level, or even lower, by using bigger weapons, destroying more buildings and killing more people than they did. There is no comfort...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
PLEASE SEND SUNDAY WORSHIP, SERMON REPORTS--click "more".
I spend my life speaking up for empathy and compassion, for understanding how people feel, and for being in touch with the suffering which other people are experiencing. And so when America's psychologists, grief counselors and pastors say that we need to let Americans vent their hurt and rage, I have a lot of empathy for that view.
But having said that, I cannot stop there, and I am loath to let others stop there.
The other title which I was considering for this morning's newspage was "500,000 Dead."
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Tomorrow will be the first Sunday in the United States after September 11. What will pastor's say from the pulpits of America? Here is one pastor's thoughtful reflection, written in an email to some friends, shared here with his permission. The United Methodis Church is a large denomination. Pastor Carr is only one voice, but multiplied a thousand times, and more. "the church could turn the world toward peace if every church lived and taught as Jesus lived and taught."
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
See Sermons at "more"
Even those who are using eye for an eye language do not understand it, and would take us even further back into barbarism than that law intended.
Feel free to make this letter to the editor your own, hand a copy to your pastor before church today, send it to your newspaper, discuss it in your Sunday School Class.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"My first job with the CIA's clandestine services 46 years ago was to organize a network of informants in the squalid Palestinian refugee camps of Southern Lebanon--some, ironically, barely a stone's throw from where my grandfather and great-grandfather established mission schools more than a hundred years ago....
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Martin Luther King, Jr. said:
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing
evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar,
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Yesterday the newsletter theme was conversion. Today it is politics. We need a politics in America that has been converted from bondage to prevailing assumptions of greed, domination and invulnerability.
Polly Mann helps us to think about what that would mean.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
I am leaving early today for Joyfield Farm, near North Manchester, for the Christian Peacemaker Teams/New Call to Peacemaking "Peacemaker Congress." We expect 150 people to gather to rejuvinate the nonviolent imagination among God's people. We will have a prayer walk and vigil for nonviolent imagination in Fort Wayne Saturday afternoon, ending on the steps of the Federal Building.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A rooster crowed pretty much from 3:00 am until dawn at Joyfield Farm during the Peacemaker Congress yesterday and the preceeding two days. A lot of us were sleeping in tents within fifty yards of the chicken house, and it was a wake-up call you couldn't miss. More than one person thought of Jesus and Peter, and the wake-up call the church in America has received this week. Will we remain true to Jesus or deny his nonviolent way as the drums of war sound in our ears every day now?
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"A time comes when silence is betrayal....Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy,especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Two weeks ago, just before the September 11 events, I got an angry call from a patriotic World War II veteran who complained about an essay I had written that got into his hometown newspaper. The theme of the essay was that the popularly accepted notion of the necessity of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs and the proposed land invasion of Japan in November 1945...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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If Christians are not
careful to follow the way of the Father of the Lord Jesus and the breather
of the Spirit, they may well follow the god of Osama bin Laden while calling
the name of Jesus. ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Sunday October 7 at 3:00-4:00 pm Christians and others will join in a public witness for a nonviolent response to terrorism, on the steps of the state capital building in Harrisburg. Not hundreds, but thousands, should be there to sow seeds of peace!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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'Military action to destroy terror, particularly as it affects significant and already vulnerable civilian populations will be like hitting a fully mature dandelion with a golf club. We will participate in making sure the myth of why we are evil is sustained and we will assure yet another generation of recruits.'The Challenge of Terror -- John Paul Lederach One of the best available.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"What to do? I suggest we pull the car into the driveway, grab that garden hose and wash an automobile or two and, while we wax the car, let's attempt to process our growing anxiety in ways that don't project our unprocessed anger upon other people and/or nations." ...more, Dick Davis...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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We are looking at a world struggling for nothing less than hope itself.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Someone wrote this question/invitation yesterday: "I would appreciate receiving your comments on Romans ch 13 which
outlines the Christian responsibilty to the governemt."
Here are four observations on Romans 13.
More...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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ECAPC needs 10 people who will prepare themselves to carry out a major internet initiative to spread the word about Every Church A Peace Church. Each of the 10 initiators will locate from 30 to 100 email addresses of leadership and grassroots people who themselves are high potential initiators.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A check for $465 arrived in the mail from a small church in Kansas yesterday. This was a good day for Every Church A Peace Church. We urgently need contributions for...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Is it too much to expect some degree of moral proportion and at least a faint scent of restraint on national chauvanism in the American discussion of terrorism?
Indeed, voices of conscience, voices with some sense of history are being raised, but they are moving around on the web and emails far more than in the mainstream press.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday afternoon 300 people sowed seeds of peace on the state capital steps in Harrisburg, PA, while American planes bombed in Afghanistan. A heckler chanted, "All we are saying, is give WAR a chance."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on 10/7 when the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan? On 9/11 when the planes hit the Trade Towers and the Pentagon?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Would you support a nonviolent alternative to war if you knew it would work?"
I think that ECAPC creatives can ask that question of just about anyone to start a conversation in these times.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"The world has come together to fight a new and different war; the first - and we hope the only - one of the 21st century."
Where did that come from-- that "first war of the 21st century?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The first casualty in war is...what? -- TRUTH. Every Church A Peace Church joins Christian Peacemaker Teams in urging churches to open their doors once a week to sponsor a "Truth Forum."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" Jesus asked 2000 years ago. How do we answer that question today?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
President Bush should spend this week doing nothing but reading the columns which are reprinted on commondreams.org and talking with the people who wrote them. He should direct every one of his cabinet members to do the same.
This is a serious proposal. The President is tampering with billions of years of history right now--taking a week to look at what he will do is not a lunatic idea.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A time comes when silence is betrayal. Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
In the end perhaps there are really only two great world religions: the one whose god says "Love your enemies" and the one whose god says "Kill your enemies."
I get this idea from Jesus, from the time in the synagogue when he posed what he seemed to think was the Big Question:
"Is it lawful to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
We have reason to be glad that "God sends his/her rain on the just and on the the unjust" if we stop a moment to wonder which of those two categories our lives fall into.
The message of Jesus was called "good news."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Last Thursday when I introduced the topic of "loving our enemies" I did it by suggesting that the only two great world religions are the one whose god says "Kill your enemies!" and the one whose god says "Love your enemies." And I asked, even if we should love our enemies, how could we do it?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Have you ever been loved more than you deserved?
A person who must answer that question in the negative is not a good candidate for loving their enemies.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
The first title which I considered for these thoughts was "Love and Forgiveness." Then I thought, no, some readers will be turned off. They don't want to hear about love and forgiveness, they want to hear about justice.
See important video here "What I Learned about US Foreign Policy"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Yesterday we looked at our own need for love, and for forgiveness. Today, we look look at the compassion we feel for others in the face of death and great loss.
How can we feel the empathy we should feel for others-- the victims of 9/11, and the victims of military actions and wars in Iran, Panama, East Timor, Nicaragua, etc. etc? Compassion fatigue begins to set in...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, if a brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." Matthew 18.
Now why did he have to say that? After all, we're only human.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Martin Luther King Jr. said: "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Jesus asked the religious fundamentalists of his day: "Is is lawful to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" (Mark 3)
This most basic question of human existence and behavior has not changed in 2000 years. Forty years ago Martin Luther King put that question at the center of his life and teaching, and the United States is a better place because he did.
How is the church in America today answering this probing dilemma: Is it lawful to save life or to kill?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" the disciples asked Jesus, when the Samaritans disgraced them by showing inhospitality. No doubt the disciples remembered Elijah (in II Kings 1) calling down fire from heaven and killing the king's guard 50 at a time.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
More than week ago we started a theme looking at the resources which a person (or a country) would need to do what Jesus taught--to love their enemies. Many Christians are familiar with the Apostle Paul's description of the equipment, or "armor of God," which equips believers for the good fight of faith (Ephesians 6).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
For the past two days I was at the Peacemakers Retreat at Kirkridge in northeastern Pennsylvania. "Journeying Toward Jerusalem" with Jesus was a theme which captured the imagination of the 24 of us meeting on the theme of Every Church A Peace Church.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Bill Moyers in a recent speech said: "The playwright Tony Kushner wrote more than a decade ago: 'There are moments in history when the fabric of everyday life unravels, and there is this unstable dynamism that allows for incredible social change in short periods of time. People and the world they're living in can be utterly transformed, either for the good or the bad, or some mixture of the two.' "
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today just this brief note: a website with a wide range of ideas for non-war responses to terrorism can be found at JustResponse.org. After you have read everything linked from our ECAPC home page, read this!! --John Stoner
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The Carlisle Peace College, an alternative to the Carlisle War College which celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend, will open Friday evening at First Church of the Brethren, Carlisle. Tell your friends in Pennsylvania about it--see details at Carlisle Peace College.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"The nonviolent resister would contend that in the struggle for human dignity, the oppressed people of the world must not succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter or indulging in hate campaigns. To retaliate in kind would do nothing but intensify the existence of hate in the universe." M.L.K.
This evening I will be with a group of people motivated by faith and hope and love who are opening the Carlisle Peace College....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"In accepting this responsibility my mind, consciously or unconsciously, was driven back to the Sermon on the Mount and the Gandhian method of nonviolent resistance. This principle became the guiding light of our movement. Christ furnished the spirit and motivation while Gandhi furnished the method." M.L.K.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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" A third challenge that stands before us is that of entering the new age with understanding good will. This simply means that the Christian virtues of love, mercy and forgiveness should stand at the center of our lives." M.L.K. ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The Carlisle Peace College, sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams and Women in Black, opened on November 9 and 10, 2001, while the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle celebrated it's 100th annniversary of training to kill people and break things. The transformation of the war college is underway, some of it...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Love your enemies. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?"
Yesterday when I read "Saying Goodbye to Patriotism" by Robert Jensen, I wondered if he is a disciple of Jesus. I still don't know...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"I can't find a publisher for this piece on peace," the writer told me yesterday. So here it is, for you to read.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
To repent means to change one's thinking, to think a new way; it includes also behaving in a new way.
The gospel accounts report that Jesus came with this message: " "the reign of God is at hand, repent and believe the good news" (see Mark 1:14). Americans are a people slow, reluctant, to repent...no different...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Well, I will give you some feedback on the article "Saying Goodbye to
Patriotism", but I don't think it is the kind of feedback you necessarily
want. "
"Put simply, it is the most empty moral posturing I have read in a long
time. I still find it incredible, in the wake of all that has happened,..."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Krystallnacht (11-9-38) was not an historical aberration. Rather, the Night of the Shattering Glass, which destroyed virtually every Synagogue and every Jewish business in Germany during the same two day period and was the official start of the holocaust, was emblematic of an all-too-common reality that has been going on ever since soldiers started killing other people, men, women, children, babies and the unborn, in the mass slaughter that is known as war. Today, in the high energy confusion since 9-11-01...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A sermon preached today by retired LtCol Sandy Cotton at Saint Thomas Kingston Anglican Church, Ontario.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
For impractical you could hardly beat the title of today's newspage, right?! "All You Need is Love"
But we have to take stories of how evil has been overcome with good where we find them, and here is one--actually two--which will surprise you.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A Japanese American woman says why her patriotism is "tough love." I find in her attitude some clear echoes of Jesus' love for those beyond the narrow scope of his ethnic and religious group, as in Luke 4 and many other stories.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"In the end, it is not the words of our enemies that we will remember, but the silence of our friends." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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While the Bush government fights a war overseas, it attacks basic lilberties of Americans at home. This article details what is happening. Do we know these things; do we want to know them?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
David Mycoff, a teacher at Warren-Wilson college, reflects on the church and empire, God and Caesar. He gives the kind of historical perspective which could save the church in America -- and nothing less than this will do to job.
[Posted one day early -- see Friday's below.]
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously." Daniel 6:10
This is a time in America to continue praying and working for justice and peace in spite of the legislation described in the Friday newspage. See and reflect on it below, as Friday's newspage.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"A Moral Response to Terrorism" study guide from Sojourners is available click here.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
On November 9 the United Methodist Bishops of the United States in a Pastoral letter called upon the church "to be a community of peace with justice." Responding to the September 11 attack, they called upon the church "to study and work toward alleviatiing the root casues of poverty and other social conditions that are exploited by terrorists."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"A peace church understands injustice and acts for justice with the power of nonviolent struggle." "This one-sentence definition of "a peace church" is offered for your reflection, in a world laden with injustice, including unjust international trade relations which favor the rich over the poor. Your feedback is welcome.
Please send feedback to ECAPC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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American Christians would be well advised to read the book of Daniel. This flash video on civil liberties may be viewed as a kind of commentary on Daniel's writings. [Note: I question the comment that what the terrorists want to destroy is freedom; that's probably a half-truth at best. -J. Stoner] http://www.actforchange.com/liberty/flash.html
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In Daniel's vision of the end of history (ch. 7), he sees God give all political sovereignty to "one like a human being" or son of man. But then Daniel receives an interpretation of the vision, and...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jeff St. Baptist Community at Liberty, in Kentucky, is actively joining Every Church A Peace Church. Read about their exciting journey and process.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
When the preachers of America (or anywhere) do not say what needs to be said, we will have to turn to those who do say it. Here, from Bill C. Davis, a playwright, "George, the Pope and the Sanctity of Human Life."
Davis essay
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The news from the Middle East is ominous. Here are two articles calling for restraint. We should be forwarding voices for nonviolence to local newspapers and opinionmakers everywhere.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Gary Kohls writes: Dear ECAPC friends, The enclosed idea of weekly peace prayers that ECAPC will be encouraging among its members and their congregations came from Bonnie Block, a Lutheran peace activist friend of mine, who toured one of the East German churches which was at the center of the collapse of East German/Soviet totalitarianism in 1989 (and the coming down of the Berlin Wall).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"They commit their crimes in the name of the Jewish God and in the name of the Muslim god, while in Ireland and in Eastern Europe people kill each other for different versions of their Christian God....they all recruit man-made gods to their sides...."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Did you read the Israeli mother's lament in yesterday's newspage? Read that now (just below this). And then ask again, What is a peace church? A peace church is a church which
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Wednesday this week the World Peacemakers board, a mission of the Church of the Saviour in Washington DC, voted to strengthen its partnership with ECAPC. This means that (1)
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"We are members of a very small tribe and it's essential that we find each other." Sudanese Saying
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
We call barbarians
people living on the other side of the border.
We call civilized
people living on this side of the border.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
One of the constant goals of ECAPC is to help the church to read the signs of the times. To suggest that Americans are blind may be unwelcome to some eyes, but to others it may offer the possiblity of seeing. Probably it was for those others that this article by Henry H. Lindner was published in the Middle East Times, September 20, 2001. click here
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"When I pray for peace, I pray not only that the enemies of
my own country may cease to want war, but above all that my
own country will cease to do the things that make war
inevitable." --Thomas Merton
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
"Susan Freundlich said it best: 'How many lives need to be lost before we admit that this kind of thing doesn't work? The oppression of a people, forced violence, bullying and reprisals do not bring security. They bring the opposite.' "
Also a trenchant question by Wendell Berry....
And the White Rose resistance to National Socialism....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"What might happen in the seething refugee camps and angry cities of Pakistan if we immediately stopped the bombing and poured our efforts into food and shelter for these seven million souls? Maybe the ghosts of terrorism would begin to starve, ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Today we begin an Advent series of reflections on Jesus as he really was, not as he has been remade by Christendom. This is the central ECAPC project. Here are some key quotations from Walter Wink's new book "THE HUMAN BEING: JESUS AND THE ENIGMA OF THE SON OF THE MAN."
Also an article on World Trade Center family survivors opposing the war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
This first of four advent reflections from Mark 1:15 takes up Jesus' words regarding time. Jesus says, "The TIME is fulfilled, the reign of God is at hand, repent and believe the good news."
We live in a time of crisis; Jesus appeared in a time of crisis. ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This second reflection on Jesus' advent/inaugural message in Mark 1:15 asks what Jesus meant by the "reign" or "kingdom'" of God. Let's start with the obvious. ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The third word of Jesus' inaugual message in Mark 1-15 is "repent."
The Greek word is "metanoia," meaning to "change the mind," or "gain a new mind." Tomorrow we look at the content toward which the mind is changed, but today....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The fourth element of Jesus' inaugural speech was "believe the good news." Jesus chose a term for "good news" which the Romans used to announce a military victory by the emperor. So Jesus took the term straight from the realm of power politics. What's more, ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
One expectation of the "Mighty Savior" (horn of salvation) who was coming in the house of David to Israel was that he would "save us from our enemies and the hand of all who hate us" (Luke 1). This is a neglected aspect of the typical Advent/Christmas celebration, but....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday's advent meditation considered the Luke 1 promises that the coming one would save people from their enemies. Today we move to an instance of that happening. Ananias was one of those followers of the nonviolent Jesus who were threatened by holders of entrenched power. Saul was one deluded by notions of dominating power,....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
As we are thinking about Jesus, coming to him with our notions and preconceptions of who he was, it might be helpful to look at how he spoke of himself. A book just published, THE HUMAN BEING: JESUS AND THE ENIGMA OF THE SON OF THE MAN can help us. Some quotations here...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"Do not be afraid" were the first words of the angel to the terrified shepherds who heard the announcement of Jesus' birth. Visitations from beyond, from the transcendent realm, are frightening. Was September 11 a visitation from beyond for America? Certainly the fear ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
If an angel of God said to you, "You have found favor with God" and then went on to say that you would become the parent of a most unusual, a very extraordinary child, what would you do with that news? Mary, who became the mother of Jesus, went ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
How easily we forget the most basic things we know! For example, we know that God does not have favorites. "'He' makes `his' sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matt. 5). So when God looked with favor on Mary--what...?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The gospel of John speaks of Jesus' impact on this world as follows: "He was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world" (John 1). John's gospel does not have traditional birth narratives, so at Christmas it may be unusual to turn there. But perhaps this year ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
When Christmas is over as a holiday celebration, it continues as your life and mine. We are the incarnation of God and God's love. Jesus never tired of telling the people around him that...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"The time has come for unity in the church centered on the fundamental truth that genuine peace can come only when Jesus' teaching of nonviolent love of friends and enemies is, through the power of the Spirit, believed and incarnated."
Could we seek, or expect, unity in the church centered on this truth? ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Many have spoken in profound ways of the need for unity in the church. Today the world cries out for an example of reconciled relationships. Can the church offer such a model? In a world at war, the church too often is either supporting the state in its wars, or at war within itself. Yet the possibility for something much better is at hand....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"A group of Catholic leaders issued a statement Dec. 19 declaring Washington's "war on terrorism" morally unjustifiable and calling for new teaching to replace the centuries-old Catholic teaching that justifies war." This sentence from a recent news article...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
It is clear that Jesus is the ultimate norm of Christian existence; everything must be referenced to Him. It is also clear that this norm must be consistent with the love that it is in the Spirit of Christ, the love that is imitative of Christ, the love that is...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
As extraordinary as it may sound, when the image of Christ is officially misrepresented by Christian ecclesiastics through their support of justified violence, the God revealed by Jesus, "He who sees me sees the Father" (Jn 14:9), is not only corrupted in the eyes of followers of Christ, but in the eyes of followers of Muhammad as well. How is this possible?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The process of choosing to live with God as the ultimate protector, as our total protector, as our only protector, security, strength, fortress, and rock -- in the middle of the storm of violence, conventional or unconventional, in which we live -- can be a source of human tension.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday's newspage by John Carmody spoke of "the process of choosing to live with God as the ultimate protector." Did you think or meditate deeply into that phrase? Did you wonder where it came from -- who is John Carmody? Here are a few reflections...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
If we are too easy on ourselves, we make it inevitable that others will be too hard on us. If we avoid unwelcome truth, we will experience even more unwelcome consequences.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
There was a picture of a soldier in the New York Times not long ago.
He was a Lebanese militiaman standing guard in the "Christian" section of Beirut. He was carrying a rifle bearing a picture of the Virgin Mary...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center in Philadelphia has proposed a call by religious leaders in the U.S. for Eleven Days of Reflection across the nation. Here is his proposal.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Here is a new web page. You will enjoy, be challenged by, and want to print these quotes collected by Gary Kohls. peacemaker quotes
Also, an article from Hebron.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The church must lead the way on the road to nonviolent settlement of difficulties and toward the gradual abolition of war as the way of settling international or civil disputes. Christians must become active....[Thomas Merton quote continued]
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Have you ever had a serious conversation about war and peace which did not veer toward questions of economics, money, profit and technology? I don't think that I have, and that's why the practice and the question of war tax resistance is so persistent in my mind.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jesus is the only way, not because it is necessary to know something available to only a few or believe something hard to believe, but because...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"The horror of September 11 is a message that our society has received before and not heeded. If we do not heed it this time,..."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
For the next 3 days we will look at Jesus and "the way" as portrayed in Mark's gospel. In 10:32, near the center of his story, Mark says of Jesus and his disciples, "They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them (before them);...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Following up yesterday's reflection on the way of the Gentile "so-called" leaders in contrast to Jesus' way, we follow Mark's story to the next scene. A blind man is sitting by (para) the way....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Mark's gospel ends abruptly at chapter 16, verse 8 in the oldest manuscripts. Interpreters have puzzled over how to make sense of it. Ched Myers in his book BINDING THE STRONG MAN offers an interpretation ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Do you have a true story about how you or someone else successfully made peace where it was needed? If you do, please consider publishing, or republishing, it in an inspiring book about people who used the creative POWER of NON-VIOLENCE to resolve conflicts and nurture relationships.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Your prayers are solicited for a meeting this weekend in Washington DC, to bring together final plans for the "Journey to Jerusalem" ECAPC conference. NOTE THIS IN YOUR CALENDAR-FOR MARCH 1, 2....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"I have heard angry rhetoric by some Americans, including many of our nation's leaders who advise a heavy dose of revenge and punishment. To those leaders, I would like to make clear that my family and I take no comfort in your words of rage. If you choose to respond to this incomprehensible brutality by perpetuating violence against other innocent human beings, you may not do so in the name of justice for my husband."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christian disciple and contemporary prophet John Dear writes in the National Catholic Reporter, "This War is not Blessed by God." Dear's view runs counter to the opinion and vote of the U.S. Catholic bishops....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The writer Starhawk reflects on the fallen towers, nature, and our place on the planet. This is a reflection worthy of the Hebrew prophets....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A sermon preached by Rev. Sandy Cotton, Kingston, Ontario. We are posting this for a second time, as a Sunday reflection for those who may have missed it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A book just published, Where Was God on September 11?: Seeds of Faith and Hope offers "the promise of a better world." Information for ordering the book is given here.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Friday evening March 1 in Washington DC Every Church A Peace Church opens it's "Journey toward Jerusalem" conference. You are invited! The event is being modeled on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, because as disciples of Jesus we are interested in living life the way Jesus lived it. This includes courageous...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
wednesday news
On Sunday and Monday I attended the Tikkun organizing conference in New York City. It was a great inspiration to me. Yes, it filled me with spirit. Spirit is a central principle of the Tikkun vision. I was fortunate to be invited to the conference.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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C. T. Vivian of Atlanta, Georgia, personal friend and co-worker with Dr. Martin Luther King, Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson will be the keynote speaker for the Washington DC ECAPC conference on March 1.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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What are we going to talk about at the Washington ECAPC conference March 1 and 2? C.T. Vivian will lead us straight into active nonviolence. That is, nonviolent struggle. Walter Wink has spoken powerfully about that....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Michael Westmoreland-White agreed with much of what Walter Wink wrote (yesterday's page), but disagrees too. He asks why throw out pacifism....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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World War II General Omar Bradley: "We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we do about peace; more about killing than we do about living."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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C. T. Vivian: "I'm enthusiastic about Every Church A Peace Church. The past century has proved forever the power of nonviolence over violence. Given the nature of world society today, we have no other alternative. ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Part of the problem for those peacemakers who are appalled by both 9/11 and 10/7 is what is commonly known in the peace and justice "business" as "compassion fatigue"....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The distortion and misuse of Martin Luther King's message and legacy is frightening to behold. This article by Tom Turnipseed helps us recover King's message and spirit....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Q: What do you think Howard Thurman's theological legacy is?
A: Thurman, I think, connected activism and agency for social change to spiritual renewal. I think he was really a genius at holding together in thought and in his own practical existence a focus on social and personal transformation.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Howard Thurman was crossing the Atlantic in a ship--thinking of his forebears centuries earlier crossing as slaves. He wrote...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Howard Thurman wrote: "This total experience enabled them to reject annihilation and affirm a terrible right to live." The center of focus was beyond themselves....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Rabbi Michael Lerner sent a copy of a news story today, earlier versions of which I had seen. I share it with you because I believe it is a very significant development in Israeli resistance to the policies of the Sharon government....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here are three stories of nonviolent responses to crime. Some help in thinking about the question, "Do policing and security only come out of the barrel of a gun?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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As peace and justice activists, after years of observing and participating in peace actions that often turn out to be frustrating activities organizing symbolic events, spending much energy in the process and, despite all that, ...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Today we give you the full and complete program brochure for the DC Conference, March 1 and 2. You can make your own copies of this.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
C. T. Vivian from Atlanta, Georgia will be the keynote speaker at the Washington DC. "Journey to Jerusalem" Conference on March 1. Here is a picture of C.T, and some intriguing biographical information on this Spirit-filled man.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Rev. Tyrone Pitts, General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention will address the conference on Saturday morning. A picture of Rev. Pitts, and biographical information, is available here on line.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Bill Price, the founder and director of World Peacemakers, has worked tirelessly for peace since his retirement from the Air Force. He has been one of the strongest supporters of Every Church A Peace Church since it's inception. You will meet him at the D.C. conference. Read more about him....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The time has come for unity in the church centered on the fundamental truth that genuine peace can come only when Jesus' teaching of nonviolent love of friends and enemies is, through the power of the Spirit, believed and incarnated.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
David Cortright addresses the question of power-what is real power? What is true power? No question is more important for the church, for America or for the world at this moment in history. Prepare for the March 1, 2 D.C. conference by reading this.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A critical look at the obstacles to peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
(Today, also please click the button above for the Washington DC conference next weekend--join us there!)
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jeff St. Baptitst Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, declared itself a peace church on Wednesday, January 30, 2002. Here is their statement.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A poem on the "Axis of Evil" by Peter Ediger of Pace e Bene.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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An ABC program on Forgiveness is available. Click here to read about it and see how to order. This is an excellent educational video for peace church education.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Testing an idea today. ECAPC needs a youth program. In fact, this effort probably won't go anywhere unless is is carried forward in a central, major way, by youth.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In the past people quoted Scripture to justify slavery. Today people quote Scripture to justify war. The former proved to be an embarrassment. I predict...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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An article in the Christian Science Monitor describes the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron-an example of the nonviolent struggle which Every Church A Peace Church calls on every church to embrace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Art Gish is an Indiana farmer, writer, peacemaker, theologian and CPT "reservist." He is in Hebron in the Occupied West Bank now, and writes a report of a recent encounter with Israeli Defense Forces soldiers. This is peace church in action.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Rev. Roger Hudson of South Africa, seeking the way of peace, writes his convictions from what feels like a lonely place.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Yesterday we carried Roger Hudson's challenge to the church to abandon the way of "redemptive violence" which is so popular, and embrace the way of Jesus. Today we share his suggestion for a program of training youth in nonviolent struggle.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Christian Peacemaker Teams, a peace church presence in the Middle East, holds out hope in the darkest hours. This is the "Journey Toward Jerusalem" in practice-willing to bear suffering but not to inflict it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
For Jesus the Journey Toward Jerusalem was a test of and a revelation of true humanity. We still struggle to define humanity, to know what human greatness really is.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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As Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem," he promptly found himself going through Samaritan territory. And a problem arose, evoking a very human response from his disciples.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Following Jesus toward Jerusalem in Luke's account, we are told that "Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem." We learn why his movement toward Jerusalem was so purposeful and determined in chapter 13.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
What did Jesus do when he arrived at Jerusalem? It's a fair question. Let's see. He wept over it. He drove the merchants out of the temple (Luke 19).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today is Thursday. On our ECAPC "Journey toward Jerusalem" (Washington, DC) this is our Maundy Thursday. Maundy means "mandate" or "command," here referring to Jesus' new commandment. Do you know what that commandment is?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
On Friday in Jerusalem Jesus died. Why did he die? Who willed his death?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Saturday of Holy Week, as we remember Jesus in the tomb, our ECAPC conference meets in Washington, DC. How do we connect Jesus in the tomb and our discipleship today?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Two people were walking on the road to Emmaus some days after Jesus was a victim of a homicide sanctioned by state and religion. In our reconstruction of the human journey to Jerusalem they could be seen as ECAPC partners--two people seeking life and truth.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
For the next few days here we will share comments on the Washington, DC conference. "What do you envision as the essential attributes of a peace church?" was a question on the registration/response form.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"Is this church a peace church? If it is not, what is it?" News story on Washington conference here.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The following churches have declared themselves to be on the journey of a Peace Church and support our movement to call Every Church A Peach Church. Click here if you are interested in learning more and perhaps adding your church to the list so that others can contact you, encourage you, and learn from you. Check the Annunciation Parish for a carefully designed plan to move toward becoming a peace church.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In the best tradition of democracy, which itself represents a great leap forward in forms of human governance, the peace churches of the United States issue an "Invitation to Democracy and Dissent."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday's commentary was a proposal that we issue an invitation to Democracy and Dissent. I'm still waiting to hear what you think of the idea. So please revisit yesterday's commentary. --John Stoner
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today, one day before the 6 month anniversary of September 11, we launch the Tuesday Truth Forums Invitation to Democracy and Dissent. Print the information, pass it on, and start a forum in your church! www.ecapc.org/invitation.asp
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today, on the six month anniversary of September 11, we stop to ask "Is This War Working?" Here is another essay to use in the Invitation to Democracy and Dissent which ECAPC is extending to America.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Thanks and commendations to each of you who have endorsed the ECAPC call for Tuesday Truth Forums, an Invitation to Democracy and Dissent. This is a very urgent and practical way to act like peace churches. But many more responses are needed. Would you...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"Further, our church covenant already commits us to "promote peace and justice in all life circumstances. Therefore, in identifying ourselves as a congregation of peace, we declare no new teaching, but name explicitly an identity we already possess."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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One of the nagging challenges facing our efforts to heal the world is the apparent conflict between justice and peace. Bush's recent threats of nuclear attack remind us of the nuclear piece of the world's current sickness.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The Ides of March are upon us and what a great time to extol the virtues of information in an America that seems to hide the truth.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
If the peace churches of America will not support dissent from an immoral
national "consensus," who will? Are the peace churches going to give their
support or silent acquiescence to nuclear threats, a permanent war economy,
a war on terrorism with no boundaries or restraints, and the weaponization
of space--the agenda of this government?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Tuesday Truth Forums are the vehicle we have suggested for embracing democracy and dissent at this time in America. Many of us feel too busy to add one more thing like this. What should we do?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Has patriotism replaced citizenship as the defining essence of democracy? A Tuesday Truth Forum could start here in its discussion of the current state of America and the church.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Second question for Tuesday Forums: "Why aren't there safe spaces for the questioning, the debate, the discussion, the search for better ways which nobody has thought of because nobody has really thought? Why are people seemingly afraid to ask? Is there some penalty hanging over people's heads for just raising their hand and saying "Why?" "
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Third in a series of questions for Tuesday Truth Forums: "Who is this war obviously good for, now, on the face of it? Who stands to profit from it? Who is getting this $billion dollars a month which President Bush proudly announced in the State of the Union, to witless applause, that this country is spending on this war? And who will make a profit from the $40+ billion tax increase this year for the war?" And a meditation on "passion."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Does it work to fight terrorism with war -- or as somebody said, to fight terrorism on the retail level with terrorism on the wholesale level? Can you get rid of dandelions by hitting a dead and dry one a booming stroke with a golf club?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A sixth question for Tuesday Truth Forums: "Has the United States as an empire, by some strange miracle, broken the mold of all empires in history? Is its wealth all innocently gotten?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Is there anything in this approach to terrorism which reduces the threat of nuclear terrorism, by sabotage of power plants such as TMI, or by bomb, rather than actually increasing it?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
One more question for Tuesday Truth Forums: Where is the church in all of this? Or put another way, where is morality, spirituality, or even the common decency of open discussion of alternatives?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Holy Week. Easter. Jesus. God. Big things for Christians. So, what is the central thing, the biggest thing, about Jesus? The biggest thing is that he showed us how God deals with enemies.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Do Christians believe that Muslims, Jews and Hindus are held in the embrace of God's unconditional love?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Yesterday we said that God's the experience of God's unconditional love is often viewed as conditional based on how people respond to Jesus. Today, a further reflectioin on that.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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What happened on Good Friday was that people who believed they had the right to kill people killed a person who believed no one has any right to kill any person.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Today, when in the Christian year we remember Jesus in the grave, Jesus dead-- today is a good day to think about death and the power which we give to it
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus said, "You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The Bible's story of God's relationship to the Hebrew/Christian peoples can be charted in terms of three ways of dealing with enemies: annihilation, isolation, and reconciliation.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The current Israeli/Palestinian conflict calls for urgent response from us. Rick Judy has sent this message...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The writers of the Hebrew (and Christian, we'll see later) scriptures present conflicting images of God, leaving us a choice between a god with multiple unpredictible personalities or more than one god.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I am finding it difficult to linger on the "annihilation" method of dealing with enemies.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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To complete the first of the three scriptural modes of dealing with enemies, (annihilation, isolation and reconciliation) we review some New Testament continuation of the annihilation theme.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Annihilation--isolation--reconciliation: three methods of dealing with enemies, all advocated and exemplified in the bible. But what is this talk of enemies?....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The Hebrew concept of holiness, and the categories of clean and unclean, were linked to isolation from enemies, or the threatening other.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The story of Jonah injects a radical critique of the isolation model into the life of Israel.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus' teaching, "Love your enemies" was a reconciliation strategy for dealing with enemies. This is irreconcilable with annihilation or isolation strategies.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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So if Jesus taught "love your enemies," did he himself have enemies, and any occasion to practice what he preached?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Israel's Messianic expectations when Jesus was born looked for a military hero to deliver Israel from its enemies. Jesus knew that...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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If we wonder whether Jesus truly practiced what he preached about loving enemies, we do not have far to look for the answer.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Although Jesus never killed his enemies, he was not against angering them if the situation demanded that. The distinction between killing and angering is one worth noting.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Forgiveness as a way to deal with oppositional people is surprising. But then, Jesus was nothing if not surprising.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This field can not be empty. Click on Edit to change this field.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Samaritans in Jesus' time were the proverbial enemies, the outsiders, the oppositional ones. How to respond to them was the "enemy question" we are examining.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus tught a way of surprising generosity which included people whom society had excluded.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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How can the weak get enough power to challenge the domination of oppressive systems and people?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst to see justice prevail will be satisfied.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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If you have been conditioned throughout your life to defend your image of the Bible at the expense of your image of God, it is time...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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At the Tuesday Discussion Forum last evening in Lancaster there were numerous comments regarding how hard it is to get people to see new truth or think a different way.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Given a choice between annihilation, isolation and reconciliation models of dealing with enemies in the Bible, which will we choose?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Will Campbell says of JESUS AGAINST CHRISTIANITY: "Those whose playhouse is threatened will turn away."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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See also The Scandal of The Church's Support of War by John Dear.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Liberation theology has helped us understand Israel's exodus and modern justice struggles, but then Israel's exile comes, creating problems hard to explain.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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For the sake of the human enterprize, we should be uncovering what lies hidden under that comma in the Apostles' Creed.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus put forward images of abundance and love of enemies as the foundation of his alternative image of God.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Sarah Shields, a Jew, asks, "Please, Dad, Tell Me: How Do I Stop Being Complicit?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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At the Tuesday Truth Fourms we've been holding in the the Lancaster, PA area, participants have raised many questions about how to talk with other people on disputed issues.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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You will be asked, "How would you pacifists have stopped Hitler?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Easy assumptions that Hitler was truly defeated must be challenged, as well as implications that no other approach could have worked.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Initiating conversations about ECAPC can be as simple as asking "Would you say your church is a Christ-centered church?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A simple way to start a conversation that can move to a significant level is to ask a question about the preaching which a person is hearing at their church.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"Has your pastor ever preached a sermon on Jesus' words, 'Love your enemies'?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"God approves of war, practices war and commands people to wage war in the Old Testament."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"The Bible says, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and war is Caesars."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jesus did not rebuke a centurion (soldier) for his vocation, so he must have approved of war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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With all of the violence in our society, what does your church do to teach nonviolence?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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To a pastor: Could you introduce me to individuals in your congregation who feel especially called to be peacemakers?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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There is a saying from an American hero that goes, "May my country always be right, but my country right or wrong." How do you think Jesus would have responded to that?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Why did Jesus tell his disciples to obtain swords, according to Luke 22?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Do you think that our Christian faith speaks to the issues that environmentalists are raising in our society?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Do you think that our Christian faith speaks to the issues that environmentalists are raising in our society?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Would you say your church gives a literal or a symbolic interpretation to the Sermon on the Mount? For example, the words of Jesus, "Love your enemies."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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How do you think Christians should respond to violence in the media?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Do you think that people who go to church find the church a safe place to express their real feelings?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers have been called "peace churches." That has something to do with their commitment to nonviolent struggle. How does your church view that?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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If the nations could apologize for slavery in 2001, do you think that they can apologize fo war at some time in the future?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Some say that Paul in II Timothy 2:3-4 and elsewhere sanctions the Christian being part of the military by using the analogy of military discipline.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Today I interrupt the "hard questions" to comment on Rumsfeld and Company warning of more terrorist attacks. I'll ask Mr. R a hard question.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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But doesn't Romans 13 provide absolute justification for homicidal violence--for going to war at the call of the government?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"If we believe in a police force it must be right for Christians to be part of the military."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"But Jesus said, 'I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.' " Matthew 10
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Departing for the day from the "Hard Questions" series, An article by Robert Fisk of the British INDEPENDENT "There is a Firestorm Coming, and it is Being Provoked by Mr. Bush."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
It is argued that only God can put an end to war, so it is impossible for us to end war, futile to try, and maybe even against God's will.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"What would you do if your wife were attacked?" This is to be the show stopper--the question to end all questions.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Popular evangelical speaker/writer Chuck Colson uses a string of faulty interpretatons of scripture to argue the morality of war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
This is the most direct attack on teaching peace, hope and nonviolence to children which I have seen so far.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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ECAPC is planning a joint project with SpiritHouse (led by Ruby Sales) to take a choir and peace witness to seminaries this fall.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Here is a small book with a big message, for a study group, to discover the message of Jesus in the midst of great distortions of his message in our time.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"Why do we tolerate the men who use nuclear weapons to blackmail the entire human race?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is an interesting "what if?" question, from this website, by Dr. Gary Kohls.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
People ask, "What is a peace church?" Here are five distinguishing marks.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Last evening the President of the United States outlined a plan to create a new cabinet level position for Homeland Security. Why don't I feel more secure?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jesus spoke of money more than he did of salvation. And yet, we, as Christians, still avoid working that issue into our concern for peace. Maybe we need to find a way to make peace profitable.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Do you know where your tax dollars are tonight? $7.5 million of it is being used to develop a new computer game the Army hopes will lead young people into the military.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Have you looked at the "Find A Partner" page on our home page? Peace church exploration and work is best done with a person who shares your hope and concern.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A powerful, historic essay by Suzanne Belote Shanley of the Agape community comes to us as a gracious gift for our troubled times. Read it and be filled with anger, tears and energy.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
As the Catholic bishops of the United States meet this week, a Catholic woman asks questions and points directions with a wisdom one would wish the bishops could sometime achieve.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In Luke 12 Jesus chides the disciples for being able to interpret the face of the sky, but not able to interpret the signs of the times.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today is "flag day." A good day to think about God and country, war and peace, violence and nonviolence.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Have you looked at the quotations selected and posted on our web site?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christians should not be the most gullible citizens, even if the common impulse to be good citizens is commendable, so it is worth asking...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Do the Amish hold demonstrations against automobile companies?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Monday evening 60 people met for a pot luck supper and discussion of ECAPC. Defining a "peace church" was on the agenda.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
An opportunity for those fifty and older to focus on the nonviolent pursuit of peace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Edward Said proposes a next step for Palestinians, beyond Arafat.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Charlile McCarthy asks whether the Catholic church will reform itself with regard to homicide as well as with regard to sexual abuse.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is a short introduction to ECAPC for Christians and churches anywhere.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A speech by Mary Lord, given to the Friends World Committe for Consultation in March, 2002.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The world's eyes are on the Middle East, and we seek ways to nurture peace there with a path toward hope for humanity globally.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Is that plain enough? What part of s-i-n don't you understand?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Upon reading what Gary Kohls and Bruce Gagnon wrote about Star Wars yesterday, it came to me that George Bush is trying to turn all of us into sucide bombers.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Howard Zinn wrote: "If we remember those times--and there are so many--where people...."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jane Stillwater tells of leaving the church, and then circling back with the help of ECAPC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christians should not be upset that "under God" is ruled unconstitutional in the "pledge of allegiance."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Lutherans and Episcopalians combine efforts for a September 27,28 conference this fall in Washington.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Rabbi Arthur Waskow of The Shalom Center in Philadelphia had proposed 4 creative themes for 11 days of national reflection around September 11.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Do we have the courage to look into water and see there ourselves and our connectedness?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
We have an opportunity to lead the country into a process of learning, instead of mindless self-congratulation, this September.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Reflecting on WATER, the second of 4 suggested themes for 11 Days in September.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Speech is communicated through air. Truth --and falsehood--are thus expressed.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"I guess part of me gets angry that I didn't know about this before now."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A July 4 meditation, including a thought on the American pledge of allegiance.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A friend of ECAPC in Atlanta is leading an ECAPC VBS there this week.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Here are some resources from Witness for Peace to help Americans to think about US policy toward Colombia.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
When the Bush administration criticized envionmentalists for advocating policies which increased risk of fires, I wondered. Then I read...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Why there is hope, why it is hidden, what we can do--a very special sermon.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I could not pass over this plaintive, desperate cry for help, forwarded by Sis Levin.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The slave system would have been impossible without the church's support. The war system...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Now there is a radical idea--gospel precedes law! From Carol Hunter...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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We never did think that the church could do all that needs to be done--at least not church as usually defined.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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You can expect a lot of nationalilstic and patriotic hoopla around September 11. The church could offer something better.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Did you ever know that violent cartoons make kids feel safe? Ever wonder why?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Would a Peace church look for people from other faiths to become kindred spirits on the journey? The Shalom Center sent me this email message today. How would you respond? As an American? As a Christian?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said military air power alone can't defeat Iraq. Could there be a better way?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Look around and note the signs of the time. How do your respond as a member of a peace church?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jerry Levin and his wife, Sis, are currently serving with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron, West Bank. First hand reports are especially important in times of war. As a former CNN correspondent, Jerry is a great resource to ECAPC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
What is the proper relationship between the cross and the flag?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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It is said the opposite of Love is Fear. Is it possible that Fear is what keeps us from following Jesus" admonition to "love your enemies"?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This week marks the anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Time to reflect, pray and act.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"My sense is that the balance has gone wrong lately and that the only face of America we see now is the one of military power, and it really frightens the world." A recent quote from an international observer. Question. Where is the church?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
John Carmody offers a three part series on the "Mind of Christ". As our country moves steadily toward war, Christians need John's reminder that "violence is sacrilege".
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Violence and war begin in the mind, and there they must cease, or else they will never cease. Today, John suggests a powerful first step toward peace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Nowhere does Christ say that His followers are relieved from following Him because they fear the consequences of doing so. In this section John calls Christians to task. A fitting essay for the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. What if Every Church had been a Peace Church that day? What if today....?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
What if every Christian took the time today to send a letter to a Senator and to his/her Representative in Congress expressing the view that war is not the answer?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The People Poll in our local paper indicates an overwhelming majority against an attack on Iraq.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Use the Links section of this web site as part of your summer reading program and send us any favorites you might have that are not listed. A good place to start is Third Way Cafe.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Each day our newspaper has plenty of news to cause alarm. As war draws closer, I find I need to spend some time focusing on the good news around me. I know there is plenty. Here is a link to a peace story with a happy ending.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Sometimes it helps to look at the numbers when making a case against war spending. Michael Westmoreland-White did a little research.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jesus showed the people of his time how to be creative in opposing the domination system. Here is a simple idea you may wish to participate in before the week is out.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In a day of massive communication and overwhelming abundance of information, it gets harder and harder to discern truth.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Thanks to Rick Stamm for his contributions to and management of the daily commentaries for 3 weeks while I was on vacation. His stimulating thoughts...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In the tradition of Daniel, Jesus, Dorothy Day, M. L. King and people like you, it is time to address the king.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Sometimes the most obvious truths are the hardest to implement.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The dialogue with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer at Wesley Seminary on September 21 in Washington D.C. is worth telling your friends about.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Have you ever wondered why we (adults) are violent, but not illiterate?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A member of ECAPC's Speaker's Bureau, Michael Westmoreland-White in Louisville, KY will start a weekly column in this space next Sunday.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
G. K. Chesterton said a very interesting thing about going against the stream.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Churches for Middle East Peace call on President Bush for an international peacekeeping force in the Middle East.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
This field can not be empty. Click on Edit to change this field.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today I am going to Philadelphia to Senator Specter's office to cry out against war in Iraq.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Creative responses may start with centering on basics. (Also, report on Sen. Specter's office vigil).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
If we stare hard into a blaze of red, the color of the fires that destroyed the Towers, the color of blood, of death -- stare hard and then for an instant blink -- we see green. The color of the Garden, of grass and trees and fruitful life
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In this first installment of a regular Sunday commentary of the history of novnviolence we are introduced to Mrs. Overton and her nonviolent resistence to autocratic rule.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Water connects the earth and its people wherever the earth lets off connecting them. What are the waterways which link you to other people?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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What response is appropriate to the crisis of national leadership which we face?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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How do we ask this question widely, courageously and invitationally?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Tim Musser reports on his vigil at the Cleveland military air show.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Rabbi Arthur Waskow writes wisdom which Christians in Amaerica should ponder.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
This piece is anonymous--perhaps appropriately so because it speaks for more than one.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Here is the reflection on terrorism which I wrote on the afternoon of last year's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. says why he, as a minister, speaks against war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Perhaps you missed this yesterday, or should read it more closely...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Mark Lance's reflections on 9/11 touch all the bases and call for love in action.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yesterday, Sept 13, organizers of ECAPC were meeting in Washington. While there, the group participated in a rally with Jesse Jackson. Among the voices, one seemed especially profound.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
One historian estimates that fully two-thirds of all U.S. citizens are descendants of immigrants fleeing conscription into the armies of the "old world" We are a nation mostly of descendants of draft dodgers! And, although often forgotten, we are a nation of nonviolent activists. Here is one such story.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Letters to local papers are critical; please consider writing one, a brief one is fine.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The Welcoming Table is being set by ECAPC; co-hosts called and appointed.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Attend this, or phone your friends in the Washington DC area and tell them about it!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer takes us into the Bible in a way that clarifies what is happening in the USA today.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
then let us add some wisdom to our fear. There are things to fear in thinking about Iraq...
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Not a flattering description of human behavior here, but think about it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Women lead peace movement in Ireland, their story can inspire others.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Here is a powerful Statement of Concscience against an attack on Iraq. Place it in your local paper.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A news release on the recent ECAPC "welcome table" organizing meeting in Washington.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A wise and frank letter opposing war in Iraq. Share this with your pastor, and others.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Yes, it's true. ECAPC needs financial support. We want to buy advertising in denominational magazines, and....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Here is a proposal for a global nonviolent response to the Bush push for war against Iraq. Is the church up to it?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
People will be heard. They will make noise, yes, banging pots and pans. blowing whistles, because it is time to stop this rush to war, and voices of sanity are not being heard.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Spead the news with the help of the ECAPC web site and this new feature.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A contemporay chapter in the History of Nonviolence. It is happening here today.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Nonviolence: Anti-terrorism that Works--share this message with your neighbors.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"This is the best expression available of how the current perversion called pax Americana came into being and what the Christian can do to supplant it with pax Christi." -John Carmody
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Last Friday, 9/27/02 I proposed a journey of reconciliaton from 10 countries to Iraq, 1000 people going to meet one-on-one with Iraqi people. Does this seem too difficult a response, or too thin, too easy, a response to the global crisis we face?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A confrontation of state power and the way of Jesus in the life of a 16th century woman, and a note on "nonresistance."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A call to freedom from the bondage of white American Christianity.
Anniversary of US invasion of Afghanistan today.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Michael Westmoreland-White, who has been writing the inspiring Sunday commentaries on heroes of nonviolence, comments on my 1000 peacemakers to Iraq proposal.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jane Stillwater of Californina speaks from the deep, still waters of her loving soul. Also, a letter from the Middle East Council of Churches to Jerry Falwell.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
On the evening of Thursday, October 3, a small group of concerned citizens gathered at Mennonite Central Committee's Meeting Place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to make signs promoting peace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Christians in America are going to talk back to Jerry Falwell in newspapers across the land.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The U.S. Congress has given war powers to President Bush. Where is the church?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jimmy Carter, a former submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, is neither a pacifist, nor has he engaged in the practice of nonviolent direct action, either as a personal witness or as part of a mass movement. So why am I writing about him in a column devoted to the history of nonviolence?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
You will be reading a number of references to "just war" now that we have chosen that path as a nation. But, we still believe that the church could turn the world toward peace if every church lived and taught as Jesus lived and taught. Setting aside "just war theory" once and for all would be a good place to start.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Peter Esch-Scott from Pittsburgh invites others to join for all or a part of this pilgrimage from October 28- Nov. 10. And: Letter to Falwell called off.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
What does it mean to "walk the talk"? As the drums of war grow louder, those who profess to "believe" Jesus in addition to "beliving in" Jesus might find it interesting to follow the fate of the Iraq Peace Team.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"Blessed are the warmakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Kill those whom you fear may kill you." ["Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9] Do you recognize the real words of Jesus?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
On October 19th in 1781 Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George
Washington at Yorktown, VA. Tradition says that the tune played at the
surrender was "The World Turned Upside Down".
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Diane Judith Nash was a light-skinned African-American woman with green eyes who had been born and raised in Chicago. Although used to the racism of the North, she knew of the more blatant indignities heaped on African-Americans only through the stories of her father, who was from the deep South.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Does "Every Church A Peace Church" sound imperialistic, or hegemonic?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Michael Westmoreland-White's thoughts in response to yesterday's commentary take us a little further into this reflection.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Share this with parents and grandparents. More wisdom here than on any 24 hours of Fox or CNN. Also: A Mighty Cloud of Gray Haired Witnesses
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A collection of excerpts from religious leaders against war in Iraq. Also today, see the new "Regime Change Begins at Home. VOTE" poster.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Tomorrow, Saturday, thousands will gather in Washington DC to say war is not the answer. I'll look for you there.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A progressive Jewish voice is gone, but work and hope remain.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
This field can not be empty. Click on Edit to change this field.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Nonviolent direct action can evoke talents and qualities of leadership, virtues of courage and discipline, that were unknown or obscured in the person before they began practicing nonviolence. This is abundantly evident in the story of Cesar Chavez
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
For ECAPC supporters Phil and Mavis Anderson, Paul Wellstone was their senator from Washington DC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
This was an important event, and the message it sent to Washington should not be lost on our so-called leaders.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Michal 6:8 is a familiar prophetic passage--"what does the Lord require." Luke 6:8 is less familiar, but probably just as important.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
All Hallows Eve. In our secular culture, a time to scare our friends and neighbors. But these times are scary enough without Halloween. And yet, peace activist Michael Westmoreland-White offers reasons for hope. Send us yours.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The church I grew up in can claim a lot of military veterans. It is not what you might call a "Peace Church". But if we listen to those veterans in our pews we might take a more serious look at Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and decide to believe what he said. Here's what one has to say.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
With political elections coming up this week, we could ask if Jesus ever spoke to questions of government, leadership and authority.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
If we will not accept the pain of words that speak truth we will be forced to accept the blast of guns that speak death. --J. Stoner
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Reflections by ECAPC prophets, Ruby Sales and Michael Westmoreland-White.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
My speech at the Atlanta peace rally tomorrow (Saturday) will be based on this.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In preparing for a youth class on conscientious objection, I found an historical answer to this question. The story of how one group of people battled Hitler nonviolently and won.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Jesus was a master at exposing the domination system of his day. Modern day followers can do the same. Jerry Levin has been "getting in the way" in Hebron as a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). Here is his latest report.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Today is Veterans Day in the USA. "Every year the President of the United States urges All Americans to honor the commitment of our Veterans through appropriate public ceremonies." So states the VFW in it's review of the history of the holiday. If Every Church Had Been A Peace Church we might still be celebrating it as "Armistice Day", instead.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
"Atlanta's largest anti-war demonstration in 30 years" said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday morning.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On Sunday afternoon a group met in Atlanta to plan future ECAPC initiatives in that city.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christians, of all people, should know that the moral difference between people who will kill for one cause and people who will kill for another cause is not a big difference at all.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Michael Westmoreland-White analyzes some different perspectives, or theories, of nonviolence--sees them as complementary.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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ECAPC invites you to consider participating in nonviolence training, Ruby Sales leading, December 6-8 in Akron, PA.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The 43rd Annual Christmas Peace Pilgrimage from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania will be held Saturday December 14.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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It seems strange that the drink many of us start our day with can have an effect on world peace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Who will inspect US foreign policy, military installations and the public welfare? Here is a proposal....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Yesterday's commentary offered a plan to avert war in Iraq. But people are needed.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A plan to stop war in Iraq was posted here Friday, in a less user-friendly form. Let's try again. I received only two responses.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is a response to The World's Future Force as a strategy for stopping war against Iraq.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here are two responses to the ECAPC proposal to send 1000 people to Iraq and bring 1000 inspectors to the US.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Two people have signed on saying they will join a force of 1000 peacemakers to go to Iraq, while 1000 come from other countries to the USA.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Today I am grateful for truth. In the land of the turkey thanksgiving today, almost nothing is more rare, nor more to be sought and treasured.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is the peace statement adopted by The Riverside Church in NYC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Maryland church identifies itself with ECAPC--when will your church do this?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Michael Westmoreland-White's report on Riverside Church's A Call to Action: A Conference for Justice and Peace.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"He hit me first," is not language that compliments the intelligence or the creativity of the one saying it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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There will probably be many opportunites like this one over the next few months. Perhaps Christians should have their names on each and every list that says "NO" to war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is a guest commentary which makes a good turn on the religious right's campaign to make a fetish of the Ten Commandments
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Get your "Let's honor Jesus this Christmas" juices flowing by looking at these ideas.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here's help for engaging people in conversation about ECAPC.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Michael Westmoreland-White explores the rich heritage and dynamic potential of types of nonviolent action.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Have you visited the listing of ECAPC speakers on the website?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Don Edwards of Atlanta recommends that ECAPC initiate public vigils after the church meets on Sunday.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Urge your friends to come out Saturday December 21 to an anti-war vigil in Penn Square, Lancaster, PA.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The big January 18 anti-war protest in Washington will focus on US nuclear weapons and theft from social welfare.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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You will talk with your family about plans for 2003 schedule over the holidays. Please include ECAPC in your planning; see these events.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On a Sunday morning, food for thought. A quote, and quotes, for the soul, for life, for hope.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Have you ever been asked, "So, what is your alternative to war?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A Canadian group of people concerned about human rights, terrorism and peace are planning a weapons inspection process in the United States.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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When Canadian weapons inspectors come to the US, they may need the inspiration of Amos to stay the course.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Giving the inspections, of the US, time to work is our task.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Abraham Heschel's prophetic critique of complicity in political evil.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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If the answer is WAR, pehaps we are asking the wrong Question.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
Isaiah. Jeremiah. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Siddartha Gautama the Buddha. Jesus of Nazareth. St. Martin of Tours. St. Francis of Assisi. Pieter Valdez (Peter Waldo). Jan Hus. John Wycliffe. Menno Simons. George Fox. Count Leo Tolstoy. Mohandas K. Gandhi. Kenneth Kaunda. Chief Albert Luthuli. Toyohiko Kagawa. Abdul Gaffer Khan. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cesar Chavez. Thich Nhat Hanh. Philip and Daniel Berrigan. The 14th Dalai Lama .........
All men.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In a letter to the editor in our local paper today, someone asked for alternatives to war in Iraq. Good idea!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Christmas Eve! Growing up in the Moravian Church, one hymn stands out. It is a good meditation for Christians this year on the eve of war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The Canadians are coming; if we help them. Here are ideas we are exploring.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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From SpiritHouse in Washington, DC, Ruby Sales supports ECAPC. A woman in today's peace movement.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Join this event in January no matter where you are in the world.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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New Year's Eve 2002. Many will be lifting a toast to the year, to friends, to family, etc. May we also think of Jesus on the eve of what may be a most violent new year. While the Last Supper was not exactly a toast, it might be a good reflection for tonight.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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During the next few weeks, Christians in the United States may need to be very conversant on Just War Theology as our country's leaders make life and death decisions. The Peace College offers a forum for your edification.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is a spiritual heritage from which we can draw strength in a new year.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Why do Americans of African origin want to be called African Americans rather than Negroes?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The prayer of a mother whose children were all kidnapped from her into slavery.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"From 1964 to 1968 I was the principal CIA analyst of Soviet policy toward Vietnam and China." -Ray McGovern
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"From 1964 to 1968 I was the principal CIA analyst of Soviet policy toward Vietnam and China." - Ray McGovern
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, returned from Iraq speaking as a prophet against war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On February 22, 23 a Canadian team expanding the search for weapons of mass destruction will request entrance into the United States. Will the US admit the weapons inspectors?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Is this country educating its children for peace? Does it want to?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Is hate really the opposite of love? As a motivator of behavior, fear is much bigger than hate.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I sent this letter to the Inquirer in response to a column by Jonah Goldberg.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Profit by US corporations from the promotion and sale of arms to poor countries.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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ECAPC will nurture it's US west coast roots and branches from June 21-28 at Holden Village, a truly awesome study and retreat village.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The march on Washington today would tell this nation to listen to Martin Luther King, Jr. for the sake of its life.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Keep up the energy, speak the truth in the wake of the Great Washington Demonstration.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Martin Luther King, Jr. and an anonymous Arab speak to us today.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The rally led by Black Voices for Peace in Washington DC yesterday was inspiring and historic.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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To be willing to die, but not kill, for a cause might be the deciding factor for Christians contemplating participation in war (or protesting war).
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In an earlier commentary it was suggested that the opposite of love is fear. A new documentary suggests that violence in America may be rooted in that same emotion.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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How often are Christians unwilling to believe that they have been transformed and that the impossible has become possible? Could it be that the power manifested in the resurrection of Jesus has been frustrated by our refusal of faith in the power- the refusal to love as Christ loved?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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While the world tries to "reason" a call to war, the Christian is called to go beyond reason and find love.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Small is beautiful; it does not have to be big to be good, and to make a very significant impact.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In his state of the union address, President Bush's emotional level was restrained until he began talking about Iraq and war. Patriotism is not....
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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While listening to the State of the Union Address, and in particular President Bush's obsessive predilection for the ultimate psychopathological delusion-war, a number of quotes/insights came to mind that provided me enough solace to endure his transparent pretense and his cruel detachment. It's nice that Bush has admitted that Jesus is his favorite philosopher, but there is an abyss between one who simply "believes in" Jesus and one who actually believes Jesus.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In actual human history, wherever there is a victim there are victimizers. Where there is a victim, there is always violence and where there is violence, there are always those who profit from the violence. But is that the way of Jesus?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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When we view the New Testament passages on violence from the perspective of community, we recognize that the church as a whole is called to live the way of discipleship and to exemplify the love of enemies.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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On February 2, 1990 John Carmody's daughter, Jenny, was killed in an automobile accident. Yesterday the crew of the Columbia space shuttle died. In the weeks to come, many innocents will die in wars around the world. This reflection, sent to John by (Rev) Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, is dedicated to the innocents and their loved ones.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
As an amateur historian I have often noticed that so-called "great warriors" and warmongers tend to bear a remarkable resemblance to each other, as if all afflicted by the same or similar mental illnesses. By contrast, peacemakers (including some former soldiers) come in a rainbow or kaleidoscope of varieties and their contributions and struggles are infinitely varied. Such it is with some peacemakers whose field, nuclear physics, has been used to give us the devastating nuclear bomb and bring us to the brink of global holocaust
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
Friends who read this commentary,
I returned last evening from a 5 day ECAPC trip to Penney Farms and Gainesville, Florida to find great riches on this daily commentary site.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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My five day trip to Florida brought me close to the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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In classic fashion Powell said how bad the other guy is (might have all been true--though I doubt it) and nothing about how bad we are and are planning to be. This report from Iraq, Jan. 29, though written before Powell's speech to the UN, can be read as a wise, compassionate and prophetic response to it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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For Colin Powell's speech, a painting of victims of war was covered up. This picture is worth a thousand words, and more.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"As the calls for military action against Iraq continue from our two governments, despite the new opening for U.N weapons inspections, we are compelled by the prophetic vision of peace to speak a word of caution to our governments and our people."
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This field can not be empty. Click on Edit to change this field.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Why does the church dream that it could do with its prayers what it refuses to do with its politics?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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The longing and prayer for freedom on the lips of an African American slave Frederick Douglass, looking at the billowing sails of ships blowing free on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Matthew Bailey-Dick prepares to go to Iraq from Amman with a CPT team. Also information on the Children's Defense Fund "Leave No Child Behind" legislative campaign.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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People around the world are mobilizing this weekend to speak out for peace. Will you be there?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This weekend the world could see the largest anti-war movement in history. Is the message of Jesus central to the call for peace? Will the world see the church in action this weekend?
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
On Maryland Route 27 south of Damascus, posted on a fence, are a number of signs. Obviously a sign collector’s home. The most interesting one reads DO NOT READ THIS SIGN. I tried to obey the instruction, and was unable to do so. How about you? Have you been able not to read this sign? Ha!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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This plea from Elias Amidon and Gary Kohls for compassionate action will disturb some people. That’s OK. It is a time which calls for disturbing.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jimmy Breslin walks along streets of peace at Saturday’s New York Peace Rally, and makes some observations on people and police.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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"There will be millions of people who will never forget Saturday February 15 2003." Madeline Bunting says it was far more than anti-Iraq war--it was anti-war.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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2/15 was the first global referendum on the best response to 9/11, and the people spoke with one clear voice--war is not the answer! It was democracy at work.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Peace mission from Canada will be in DC Saturday evening, Sunday.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A letter to Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, urging church leaders to call for conscientious objection to orders for war against Iraq.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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You or somone you know should attend the April ECAPC conferenc in Menneapolis. Share this program information!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
A contemporary figure who has worked long and courageously for nonviolent change.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Behind it all lies a dream (let us say nightmare) vision of an imperial United States of America which brooks no resistance from any nation in the world. Until you understand this, you do not understand.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Conscientious objection to war is the spring from which the abolition of war will flow.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A prohetic teaching by David Hilfiker, a message of warning and hope for Americans.
Note: Please read yesterday's commentary as well, which was inadvertently not posted.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
In the future we will come to see that the justifications of war were as misguided as the justifications of a flat earth, monarchy, slavery and patriarchal sexism. When people believe a lie, we can take no comfort from the fact that most people believe it.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Here is a call to pray for peace, with spiritual and prophetic wisdom on how to link prayer and action, including conscientous objection. Print and share!
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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A Baptist pastor asks, in a serious way, "WWJD about Iraq and the Bush push for war?"
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Jeremiah looked beyond the present disaster to God's good intentions for humanity on the long term.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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I do not think that the question “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” is the most important question.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
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Daniel sees the untimate democratizaton of political power, when all sovereignty is given to the people. 2/15 was a foretaste, a sign, of that.
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| 9/15/2005 |
| John Stoner |
|
The people can speak, here and around the world, and stop Bush's war plans.
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