"i know the plans" - waterdeep

You talk of hating war,
but where's your own peacetime?
You don't love anymore,
all my children.
It lingers in your mind,
"everyone's so unkind,"
but you forgot the mines
you laid on your land.

"I know the plans that I have for you.
I know the things that I want for you to do.
I know the plans that I have for you.
And it hurts sometimes to see you blind."

You read up on the lies,
And keep them in motion.
So clever the disguise of devotion.
You say that there's not time,
but there you stand joking.
You've forgot that I'm the one
who weighs the words you've spoken.

"I know the plans that I have for you.
I know the things that I want for you to do.
I know the plans that I have for you.
And it hurts sometimes to see your crimes."

You talk of hating war, but where's your own peacetime?
"I know the plans that I have for you.
I know the things that I want for you to do.
I know the plans that I have for you.
Plans to prosper, plans to not fail.
Plans for hope, plans for peace,
Plans for love, love..."

"we used to wait..."

Waiting... Hoping... Impatience... Surrender... Waiting... Hoping... Waiting... Hoping... Joy In Waiting... Peace in Waiting... Impatiently Waiting... Surrender... Hopefully & Expectantly Waiting.... Waiting

...learning to walk by faith & to TRUST beyond what my mind understands and beyond what my eyes see...

"I'm learning to walk by faith & to TRUST beyond what my mind understands and my eyes see." That's what I wrote to a friend earlier today and what I was talking through with the Lord this morning. It was a lot more specific than what I just wrote, about specific circumstances in my life now and in the future, but that was the jist of it. I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do and felt like he said, "I want you to TRUST me and to walk by FAITH not by sight." I then thought, "But couldn't this still be a little easier!" Hmm... from there I asked the Lord for strength, peace, quiet trust, and to be still before him, seeing HIS power and strength. I guess if Jesus learned "by suffering," something which I still don't comprehend, but know that's what the Bible says, then I guess it makes sense that I would as well. I can't say that I'd choose this path, but if this is what the Lord, the One I love and trust and know is GOOD and has my best at mind, then I guess this is the way I'll walk.

war and peace

So, I've been trying to think about war and a Christian's response to it - and the various positions held by believers over the years. It's not like I haven't thought about this before, but having watched Thin Red Line and knowing that we're going to discuss it tonight, and the fact that there are strong christian undertones, i'd just like my thoughts to be a bit more cohesive before i have to say them out loud (and to preferably not just be verbally processing).

Some of the big questions from the film are:

Where does the evil in the world and in us come from? What happened to the light and to the good in us and in the world?

Why is there war? Is war ever just? What is the right response of one who follows Jesus to war? How do we reconcile an individual response to evil and a government & country's response to it? Is it right to bring about justice through violence?

What about the beauty in the world and in people? Where does that come from? Why do we sometimes see it so clearly and other times does it seem so dim?

Anyway, there are many more questions than just this. And I honestly wish the film had more fully developed each of the characters. There are lots of vignettes and just brief touches with various characters so you are left with little thoughts and a lot of questions about even what they are trying to convey, what the movie is trying to convey, and what the various characters think.

So, in thinking about all this, here are a couple links I found through a google search that were helpful (Although I still have more questions than answers, they at least gave some more food for thought. And I DON'T necessarily agree with all that is written in these links.):

http://www.leaderu.com/humanities/demy.html

http://fromthestacksonmydesk.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/christian-response-to-war/

http://allkindsoftime.blogspot.com/2005/05/ive-read-good-deal-on-christian.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_Red_Line_%281998_film%29

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120863/quotes

http://www.counterpunch.org/mcdowell02122003.html

http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/war-and-peace

I'd love any thoughts you guys have too about this.