Are you bothered by this?

I am wondering if this kind of stuff still bothers anyone. We are still in a war. Did you know that? Or have we become desensitized to it and the fact that people are still dying b/c of it?

Here is the latest story from Pakistan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

Here are some highlights/quotes that I find disturbing. I am putting my comments in bold lettering afterwards.

"PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A car bomb struck a busy market in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 100 people — mostly women and children — as visiting Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged U.S. support for Islamabad's campaign against Islamic militants."

Note the fact that innocent women and children were killed. Are you bothered by this?

"Crying for help, men tried to pull survivors from beneath wreckage. One man carried away a baby with a bloody face and a group of men rescued a young boy covered in dust, but others found only bodies of the dead. A two-story building collapsed as firefighters doused it with water, triggering more panic."

Not just children, but babies. Are you bothered by this?

"I want you to know this fight is not Pakistan's alone," Clinton said. "These extremists are committed to destroying what is dear to us as much as they are committed to destroying that which is dear to you and to all people. So this is our struggle as well."

I wonder how Clinton would define the things that are "dear to us" and/or "that which is dear to you and to all people."
I wonder if she is talking about the "American Dream?" I wonder if she is talking about the egocentric and ethnocentric ways of America. I wonder if she is talking about living w/ 80% of all of the world's resources while the rest of the world only lives w/ 20%.
I wonder if she is talking about freedom; the kind of freedom that comes w/ the price tag of war, oppression, and the shedding of innocent blood.
She talks about "these extremists" but we are all extreme for something. The question is what are going to be "extreme" about?

"The resolve and determination will not be shaken," Qureshi said. "People are carrying out such heinous crimes — they want to shake our resolve. I want to address them: We will not buckle. We will fight you. We will fight you because we want peace and stability in Pakistan."

Yes, "heinous crimes" are happening and it is a very sad thing. But to say, "We will fight you. We will fight you b/c we want peace and stability in Pakistan" is the wrong approach.
Jesus says to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" and later says, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matt 5:44 & Matt. 26:52)
There will never be "peace and stability in Pakistan" or anywhere as long as we/they try to solve our/their problems w/ the sword.

"Most have targeted security forces, but some bombs have gone off in public places, apparently to undercut support for the army's assault on the border and expose the weakness of the government."

Seems the bombs aren't exactly hitting the intended targets and are going "off in public places" where there are women, children, and babies."

We are hitting them at their center of terrorism, and they are hitting back targeting Peshawar," he said. "This is a tough time for us. We are picking up the bodies of our women and children, but we will follow these terrorists and eliminate them."

Qureshi is "Captain obvious" here saying they are "hitting back." Of course they are! That's how this world works. Someone hits you, you hit them back.

Jesus says, “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt. 5:39).

“This is a tough time for us”…..DUH! “We are picking up bodies of our women and children, but will follow these terrorists and eliminate them.”
Good luck w/ that! It’s not going to work.

My take:
If you are still reading this blog you are pretty stellar. I am wondering how many saw how long it was and decided not to read it. I wonder how many even went to the link and read the whole story I am referring to.
I wonder if what was reported and what I wrote bothers you.

I don’t care if you are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, activists, pacifists, serve in the military, a veteran, if you are from this country or from another. None of that matters to me.
What matters to me is that we follow the Way, Jesus Christ.

True change in the world won’t come by the sword like so many believe. Like America believes. Name one conflict that has ever turned out good when our method of “peace” was to bomb another country.
If its freedom and peace we want, it will only come when we choose to follow the Prince of Peace and live in the freedom only he can offer. Further, it will only come when we choose imitate this Prince and say, do, and act as he did.

He was loving, caring, just, fair, cared for the poor, needy, homeless, refugees, forgiving, healing, and giving. Are we? Am I? Are you?

Does any of this bother us anymore? If so, then let’s do something about it. Let’s pray. Let’s speak out. Let’s love our neighbors that live across the street, the tracks, and the borders. Let’s love one another.
Let’s learn to disagree better. We won’t agree on everything but we can learn to work through it and still love each other.
Let’s encourage each other instead of tearing each other to shreds w/ gossiping words. Let’s be faithful, to Jesus and his church. Go to church, get involved, serve, teach, preach, sing, praise.
Love our enemies, go the extra mile.

It’s time to stand. Stand for Christ, “the way, the truth, the life” (John 14:6). If you believe the way of America is best, you’ll be judged as an American. If you believe the way of Jesus is best, then don’t be afraid to say it and live it b/c you too will be judged.

Our world needs change. It needs a better way…the Way.

BW