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An End to War? It is written: Many peoples will come and say, 'Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob [Israel]. He will teach us his ways, so that we make walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD." -Isaiah 2:3,4 “There is hardly a family who hasn’t, at one time or another, dreamed of coming away from the cares and pressures of life and the sinful world around them to settle down on some peaceful homestead… there to enjoy the  Lord, His Creation, and to raise and enjoy
their family in an atmosphere that promotes Godliness and wholesome
cooperation, kind attitudes, and valuable character for life.”
-Barth Family Ministries; Vermont
( On the Farm! Mothers and sons
-Tom at far right) ^
“We love God because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: ‘Whoever loves God must also love his brother.’” -1 John 4:19-21 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” –Matthew 5:9 "He [the LORD Almighty] will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken." -Isaiah 25:8 "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own, intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!" -Abraham Lincoln Source: proclamation of National Fast Day, March 30, 1863.
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"Society today is deeply influenced by what is known as Judeo-Christian ethics, which is essentially based on Torah principles. It was this unique book of instructions that introduced such fundamental concepts as, 'love thy neighbor' and 'do not hate your brother in your heart.' In ancient society there was no such thing as a desire for peace, the nations simply vied for power through military might. The Torah spread the concept of peace to the world to such an extent that The United Nations motto is a verse from Isaiah, calling for a society where people lay down their weapons and sworn enemies become friends." - Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, writer and educator in Jerusalem. www.Torah.org Is God Almighty looking down from Heaven upon the earth looking for military “superiority” to define a people as a “great nation”? As an Ambassador for Christ, I confidently say no. Is society’s end all really a matter of having a powerful standing army when it is common knowledge that death is an enemy of all people regardless how it comes? [Psalm 89:48, 1 Corinthians 15:26]. Have you carefully considered that armies cannot keep you from getting Cancer or getting run over by a car? Military “Greats” (i.e. Alexander the Great) historically have had absolute murderous and tyrannical ends. A most recent recurrence of this issue is clear: “The problem was that Saddam didn’t want peace, and he didn’t care how many people were killed in his rage for absolute power.” - Saddam’s Secrets, Iraqi General Georges Sada. Warning to all paid professionals bearing arms: How do you know if your life is being used by the powers of a tyrant? Never hide behind the excuse "I was/am just doing my job." Make certain that you live for Jesus. The consequences of war are evident and consistent: In World War II “the number of lives lost easily exceeds thirty million while countless millions more suffered the destruction of their homes, their families, and their entire way of life.” –History Book Club review of Absolute War, by Chris Bellamy. The United Nations back in circa 1960 regarding Russian/U.S. negotiations was quoted as saying:, “atoms for peace” is a good idea. –Burlington [Vermont] Free Press article. However, is war not a colossal waste of human life and resources? War is radically insane as a means to resolve issues! Who wins? No one! So then, if it is your one and only life you are wanting to keep, then receive the eternal life found in Jesus. "... In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr. (So where does true godly love come from? God's love .) It is written: “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” -Ezekiel 33:8-9 "COME NEAR, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon their armies. He will totally destroy them; he will give them over to slaughter.” -Isaiah 32:1-2 A good reason to repent: 180 degrees, about face! – Do good not evil in the eyes of the LORD! Love and do not hate! No threats by men through hostile words or physical aggression (if this…then this”) convey the heart and mind of God’s love, nor does it earn true allegiance. A good prayer could go like this: “God I do not know what the truth is, but I am willing to find out even if it means that Jesus is the Messiah, the savior of the world.”
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