THE NOT-SO-SUBTLE POWER OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH!

There had never been a war between the Argentine and Chile, but in 1899 there was a frontier dispute which had highly explosive possibilities. By Easter 1900, the two armies were poised to strike and war seemed inevitable.

During Holy Week, Monsignor Benavente preached in Buenos Aires on Easter Day a sermon which was a passionate appeal for peace. News of the sermon carried to Chile and a bishop in Chile took up the message. Both these bishops set out on a preaching campaign for peace. At first little seemed to be happening and then, bit by bit, the whole country in both nations was caught up in a great movement for peace. In the end, the two governments were forced by the will of the people to submit the frontier dispute to the arbitration of King Edward VII of Britain.

A treaty was entered into which promised in the future to submit all matters of dispute to arbitration, and then a wonderful thing happened. The guns of the frontier fortresses were now useless and irrelevant. They were taken to the arsenal in Buenos Aires and melted down and out of them there was cast a great bronze figure of Jesus. The right hand is stretched out in blessing; the left holds a cross.

It was decided to carry this great statue 13,000 feet up the mountains to the frontier. It was taken as far as the railway went; it was then taken on gun carriages drawn by mules; and for the final steep rise to the top of the mountain it was dragged up with ropes by soldiers and sailors. On March 13, 1904, it was at last erected and unveiled, and there it stands.

Beneath it are these words: “These mountains themselves shall fall and crumble to dust before the people of Chile and the Argentine Republic forget their solemn covenant sworn at the feet of Christ.” On the other side is inscribed the text: “He is our peace who hath made both one” [Ephesians 2:14].

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The message of this story needs to be brought to bear in our world in 2026!

I realize that there are evil forces at work in this world and that they must be dealt with. For over three years many of us have been in anguish over the war between Russia and Ukraine! Hamas’ uncalled for violence in Israel shocked and dismayed us! And now the need to curtail Iran’s potential for massive damage if allowed to have nuclear capability is a daily concern to many!

If I’m brutally honest, I will also admit that I’ve only prayed about the Iranian War several times since the bombing began. Two of those times were when I watched the arrival of the bodies of our seven dead patriots. I don’t recall it being mentioned in the prayer time at church on Sunday [although with my hearing challenges, it may have been].

The above report reminds us that “if My people pray” God will bring about a remarkable demonstration of His peace and unifying presence!

In essence, we have the power to change these hot-spots in our world!

Do we have the desire to do so?

Will we have leaders who will call us to pray?

Will we believe that our prayers might actually make a difference?

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Gracious God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Call us to prayer about the longstanding tensions that continue to exist internationally in our world!

Help us – as Your followers – to believe Your Word:

“He shall judge between the nations,

and rebuke many people:

They shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.”

[Isaiah 2:4 NKJV]

Remind Your Church that we have the ability to change the hostile and disrupting events in our world  -  if we will just unite in prayer!

 For Your Kingdom’s sake.

Amen.

AN INTERVENTION OF GOD?

In watching the news over the last several days, I've been motivated to write today about another possibility.  We've just emerged from a time of major crisis!  We were at a point where war was imminent!   If the Iran missiles had taken lives, then President Trump's response would have been very different.  It's likely that we would be in a full-fledged conflagration with Iran right now.

First of all:  thanks be to God!  No one wants war!

I've heard two prominent explanations for the fact that no lives were lost as a result of the Iranian retribution launch.  First, some say that they deliberately launched with no intent to take American lives.  The evidence for this is supported by the fact that via Iraq, they notified the American forces BEFORE the launch.  The destruction of property has been catalogued, but no loss of life was documented.

However, there's a second view that has been put forward by the Presidents' Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley.  He suggested that the Iranians did target with the intention of killing American troops.  This implies either incompetence [rather than intention] or faulty equipment as the reason that no lives were lost.  Hmmm...who is right?

I would suggest another alternative - one that I hope someone brings to the attention of our president. In my humble opinion, it is the most likely scenario.

On the evening of the Iranian threats and launch, thousands of military families were thrown into alarm.  Their family members (sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers) were in the midst of the crisis.  Their response?  PRAYER!

However, not only those military families prayed;  tens of thousands of Christians across this country (maybe even more) began to cry out to God for protection over our troops!  The throne of God was assaulted with a barrage of prayers seeking protection for our forces in harm's way!  It's impossible to gauge this response or even imagine how many were calling on God's mercy and power.

And I believe God responded by diverting these missiles away from our hunkered down troops!  I don't know if God used angels to alter the direction of these missiles or if God used a finger to do so. Or perhaps the great God Almighty simply willed them to their fruitless destinations.  But the end result was clear:  there was NO LOSS OF LIFE!

To those who may agree with this assessment, please join me in praying that someone will alert President Trump to this third possibility.  He needs to have a greater understanding of the power of God.  He needs to be given the opportunity to at least consider that we are not at war today because GOD INTERVENED in response to the united prayers of His people!

THANKS BE TO GOD!  

Let's also lift our prayers to God for the grieving families who lost loved ones in the Ukrainian jet that was mistakenly shot down a few hours after the missile launch!  In an unimaginable and ironic twist, they are suffering the loss that was intended for the Americans.

God, comfort the grieving in their anger and pain.  Awaken Iran and its leaders to Your awesome power and love!  For the Kingdom's sake.  Amen.

Untold Grief

Thirty American military were killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afganistan by Taliban insurgents.  Twenty-two of the dead were Seals from the recently celebrated Seal Team Six.  Seven Afgan commandos were also killed.

And hearts at home are broken over the loss of beloved sons.   Roosevelt said, "War is Hell!"  He was right.  Whatever the cause we're supporting in Afganistan, the price just went up significantly! 

God bless the grieving parents, siblings, family and friends who lost the ones they dearly loved.  May they know His comfort. 

God bless the Chaplains who minister in these situations and give them the right words and the grace to speak those words!

God bless the troops who have lost best friends and comrads.  May you comfort them and also strengthen them in their resolve.

And God bless the United States.  May our causes always be just and our motives righteous.