food for thought.

A bumper sticker I saw today:

Why are we killing people who are killing people to show them that killing people is wrong??

My thoughts exactly.

From Jesus for President:

"You, my church, told me it was wrong to kill...except in war.

You, my teachers, told me it was wrong to kill...except in war.

You, my father and mother, told me it was wrong to kill...except in war.

You, my friends, told me it was wrong to kill...except in war.

You, my government, told me it was wrong to kill...except in war.

But now I know, you were very wrong, and now I will tell you, my church, my teachers, my father and mother, my friends, my government, it is not wrong to kill except in war...It is wrong to kill.

-US Army veteran George Mizo

I have strong opinions on this topic. Why is American life more worthy of being saved than Iraqi lives(most of us would say - "It's not!!" Then why are we ok with the death tolls our country is racking up?) Aren't we all made in the image of God? When we pray for God to "bless" America, do we not want Him to "bless" other nations?

Another excerpt from JFP:

(when asked during an interview with CBS if he was a traitor)

"Traitor? If this bloody, counterfeit liberation is American - I am proud to be un-American

If depleted uranium is American-I am proud to be un-American

If US sanctions are American - I am proud to be un-American

If the imposed "peace" of Pax Americana is American - I am proud to be un-American

But if grace, humility, and nonviolence are American - I am proud to be American

If sharing to create a safe, sustainable world is American - I am proud to be American

If loving our enemies is American - I am proud to be American.

Regardless, I would die for the people of New York, but I will not kill for them...my kingdom is not of this world.

I would die for the people of Baghdad, but I will not kill for them...my kingdom is not of this world. I will stand in the way of terror and war...my kingdom is not of this world.

I will pledge an allegiance deeper than nationalism, to my God and to my family...my kingdom is not of this world. I will use my life to shout "Another world is possible"...for my kingdom is from another place. "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight...but now my kingdom is from another place." (Jesus; John 18:36)"

I seem to be on quite the tangent today...I think I'm done now. Just a little food for thought. I know this will seem offensive to many people who read this, and I'm ok with that. These are just interesting parts of this book. If you would like to know more about these ideas, read the book. It shows that there is another way we can live as Jesus-Followers.