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a challenge


cwsox

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I just returned from our community service for prayers for this time of war. Naturally many of the area clergy could not make it, and naturally it is assumed that I would be - which I was. It is a gift and an obligation to be one of the 4 clergy in town who is always on call for community events. And as I sat by the altar, as I read from Scriptures and led prayers (and threw in a Semper Fi for my son) I reflected that I don't have the same freedom as all of you to give way to your emotions and passions. How much fun it must be to say screw you this and screw you that and wish war and death and destruction on other people because it is so fun to just go with the flow. How easy it must be to hate Bush or hate Saddam or hate the whole Iraqi people or not care how many casualties there are because you want to be #1 no matter how many graves it takes.

 

I can't stand before the community and say exactly what I feel - that this is the wrong thing and that there were other ways and other values that must be upheld. Not the time for a dissertation on what I think American foreign policy should be. It is instead a time for me to stand before my community and represent what God wants to be said and done in this situation, remembering our obligations to our God and our separate obligations to our country..

 

You all ever lead a community service in singing America? Ever seek to say something on behalf of something greater than yourself to speak to a community of people with very divergent views and bring all the thoughts, hopes, and fears of a community into expression? Somehow in rural western Michigan in rock ribbed Republican country I must do ok since it is always expected that I be at these community worship events to speak. One of the most conservative pastors in the community was in tears thanking me for what I said tonight in words that I shall not share but never forget.

 

But that is my calling, to transcend my own beliefs to speak to others so that feel they are being represented, no matter how different our beliefs may be. It's not your calling but it is mine. And I do a very fine job of it . And I am limited in what I can say when I knwo that I have to justify everything I say to God - not free to say screw this or screw that because I have to speak on behalf of what God wants - and not that my own personal ideas are that at all, not at all, not at all, but I called to account on it all the time.

 

Can you imagine Jesus shooting off cruise missiles or scuds or making weapons of mass destruction or breaking off negotiations or anything else that either nation's leaders have done? And yet I can't say screw you Bush screw you Saddam for doing things that you do because God requires more. And I have to find that in a way that encompasses everyone in the community - to speak for apo and doubleM and HSC and baggio and CK and do it for all of you in God's name. Quite the challenge.

 

 

Now you all know thast I have challenged those of military age to enlist if they are so gung ho about this war or think that this is what America really needs. But you all won't do that, and besides there are others of you who have already served or are too aged to serve now.

 

But I do challenge everyone - pro war and anti war - to get away from your computers as I did for a while tonight and do something. Give blood. Visit a VA home. Work in a homeless shelter. Donate what you spend on beer in one week to feed the hungry or to the Red Cross or the USO. Do what I do - bring donuts and coffee to the recruiters at the local military recruiting station and pray for them, with them, thank them. Go thank a veteran instead of ranting and raving on these boards about screw you Saddam and screw you antiAmerican antiwar hippies. Do something for your country more than squawk about what beliefs you have and yet do nothing about.

 

And in closing having issued my challenge, this is the prayer that I led tonight:

 

O God

you have taught us

that the earth is yours,

and all the fulness thereof.

 

All people have been created in your image.

All people are your children.

 

God, please bless your people

of every nation and faith.

 

God, bless America.

God, bless Iraq.

 

God, bless all the people whom you have made;

we are all your creation in your own image.

In waging war upon each other

we wage war upon your image and creation.

 

God, bless those who cower in fear from bombs that fall.

Bless those who live in fear of terror or in terror itself.

Bless those under fire.

Bless those with no shelter,

bless those with no running water or sanitation,

bless those with no medical care,

God, bless those have suffered injury or loss of loved ones or death.

 

God, bless the children.

 

God, forgive us for giving such a world to our children.

 

God, bless the children who huddle in fear of war raining upon them,

God, bless the children who huddle in fear for parents in the service,

God, bless the children who watch war on television

and think this is the way life is supposed to be.

 

God, save your people.

 

It is you O God who taught us in your Holy Scriptures

to put no trust in princes.

God, would that you take the leaders of the nations

and lock them into a room and let them dispute amongst themselves

so that people might be spared the wars of those who sit in power.

Would that you would walk amongst us again

and teach us again to love all people,

to love our enemies,

maybe you would even ask us to ask ourselves,

who is our enemy

other than people created in your image,

you also call upon you for strength and hope and deliverance.

 

In our fear no one is an enemy.

We are all people frightened

and have no where to turn but to you,

for you alone are the God of all people,

the God of all nations,

the God of all peace.

 

Forgive us all for hate and hostility.

Forgive us all for thirst for violence and bloodshed.

Forgive us all our acceptance of war.

 

Protect those who serve.

Protect those in harms way.

Protect those in the path of the storm.

 

Place in our hearts the image of the One who Came to bring Peace.

 

Gracious Sovereign, deliver us.

Sovereign of all nations, deliver us.

Soveriegn and Savior, deliver us.

 

Grant to all people,

grant to us here in this place,

those in every place in this nation

those in every other nation,

those who protest,

those who support,

those who serve,

those who are under immediate threat,

those who know you,

those who do not you,

grant to us all

the peace that the world cannot give

for only in you may we dwell in safety.

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im not pro war and im not anti war. what is goin on right now i dont think anyone not directly involved has any idea what is goin on in iraq. All i know is i dont want to fight myself but if something needs to be done i will support those that go over seas. and way to many god blesses in one prayer. comeon who do you think he is god :)

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