Peacemaking: How to do it?

What do you “wish” for? A common answer is “world peace”…

I wish for world peace

Miss Congeniality – World Peace – YouTube

Most people wish, hope and pray for peace in the world. So why are there still so many wars going on? Aug. 16, 2014 06:13 am JST japantoday.com

*see more down below Deep Thought: Who to “blame” for the world’s corruption? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

Music

Imagine (UNICEF: World Version)

Imagine Peace: A Video for World Peace Day – YouTube

Michael Jackson Tribute – Heal The World – Child Prodigy Cover | Maati Baani

-What defines “peace”?

Peace | Definition of Peace by Merriam-Webster merriam-webster.com

“.. : a state of tranquility or quiet: such as
a : freedom from civil disturbance

Peace and order were finally restored in the town.

b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom

a breach of the peace

..”

Comparing Peace of World and God’s Peace: Overcoming Anxiety foundationsforfreedom.net

♫♥♫ “Peace on Earth”….Our Merry Christmas Wish! ♫♥♫

Peace & Love (Hymn by Sal) Oct 26th 2014

“Let Your presence fill this…”

or

“Come & let your Peace fill this….”

Inner Peace

To Trust in God Promotes Inner Peace and Health – John 14:27 December 13, 2012 By Dale Fletcher faithandhealthconnection.org
“..To Trust in God or To Worry – We Have a Choice

God knows that it’s not good for you to worry or to be anxious and that’s why he inspired authors of the Bible to address this issue in their writings to us. He wants you to trust in God and his promises…”

New Age to Jesus | Samantha Lynn Testimony – YouTube

John Chapter 14

Not as the World Gives (Christian Short Film)

-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Book Report: “About Face- Finding Peace Within the Battle” goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

The Surrender Project: Ministry Combats PTSD cbn.com

“..THE SURRENDER MOVIE
In addition to being an active duty officer in the Air Force special operations, Damon serves as Executive Producer for “Surrender”, a faith-based film that follows true-life stories of six elite combat warriors representing four branches of the US Special Operations Command. The docudrama highlights these challenges and shares messages of hope and purpose to those who are suffering with post-traumatic stress and brings awareness to the suicide epidemic among veterans. Every 65 minutes a warrior commits suicide. “They believe that life no longer has meaning,” shares Damon. The film, an outreach of SOF Missions, gives viewers a glimpse of the powerful events that enable the story’s heroes to find strength and a path away from personal destruction to the One who heals both heart and soul. The backgrounds, branches of service, and personal experiences of each hero are vastly different, yet their personal pain is common to many—even to some outside of the service. The film reveals how God led each person to the point of fully surrendering to Him. To purchase the DVD go http://www.sofmissions.com/shop. In 2017, the DVD will be available on Amazon and iTunes.

THE SURRENDER PROJECT
The Surrender Project is a holistic approach to taking care of the e..”

Veteran Suicide: My Faith Saved Me – YouTube

Overcoming PTSD – Powerful Story of Veteran’s Battle with … – YouTube

Deep Thought: What can “we” do to help Veterans with P.T.S.D.? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

Peacemaker

Bands

Imagine Dragons on Being Famous & Never Having Enough Deodorant

*”talk about any conflict right away (before going on stage) ”

Church Family

What Jesus Teaches About How To Resolve A Conflict – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_YWQATIGr8
*see #stopgossiping

Marriages

The Divorce Which Saved a Marriage

Making Peace with Your Divorce Before Remarrying – YouTube

People Groups

Peacemaking: Various Ways Between Arabs and Jews goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

-Racism

Peace: How to “fight” racism? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

-Religions

Peace: How can we live with Muslims? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

-Protests

TobyMac – Love Broke Thru

-Wars

Peace: Avoiding War? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

Relationships Overall

Learn How To Resolve Conflict & Restore Relationships … – YouTube

Terrorists

I am the son of a terrorist. Here’s how I chose peace | Zak Ebrahim

Workplace

Prayer For Workplace – Daily Morning Prayer For Work – YouTube

Workplace Conflict : How To Resolve Conflict in Workplace – YouTube

Sal: I’ve encountered “conflict” in my various workplaces directly and indirectly. One time at my job working at Taco Bell (fast food), I was accused of stealing money. I was furious when my shift manager told me to go home until this was resolved. I would later get a call that he caught a co-worker stealing money from him, which she admitted “framing” (she planted a $20 bill in my back pack that I used to change clothes) me. I would never find out why she did this, but have speculations. I was giving my job back and this other co-worker was fired.

Another conflict that I was “indirectly” involved and became a somewhat “peacemaker”. A co-worker had been working his second job and was getting burned out. He took his frustration at this current job and he started to argue with our boss. The boss got a little “heated” and I intervened to voluntarily do a certain job my boss was requesting from this co-worker. During “work” awhile after, my co-worker started to just share his gathered thoughts and realized he should not have done this. During our deep conversation, we were “distracted” with a work-related issue. However, I was going to try to tell my co-worker to confront our boss and ask for forgiveness. Well, this “workplace conflict” got resolved at a staff meeting later on, so my prayers were answered..praise the Lord!

Peacemaker Ministries peacemaker.net
“..is a non-profit, non-denominational ministry whose mission is to equip and assist Christians and their churches to respond to conflict biblically. Peacemaker Ministries is fervently working to train and equip 100% of all Christians (2.2 billion) in the world to respond to conflict biblically in their churches, marriages, workplaces and communities. We do this through the church initiative, marriage initiative, workplace initiative, community initiative, and global initiative…”

Peacemaker Ministries at a Glance – YouTube

Sal: When I encounter conflict (e.g. family fights, tense environments , wars , chaos in the news, etc..), I “try” to remember singing (above) “Come and let your peace fall in this ______ ”

What’s your personal definition of “peace”? What does it mean to you? Do you have it? How can you share it with others?

Good News Peace
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What “lies” have you believed….do you still?

Hello…my name is___________?

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Can you fill the blank? What does your name mean to you? Have you ever been called “some other name” that you believed?…from a “bully”? teased/make fun of?

I remember being teased back in middle school/junior high and was called many names that I started to believe. For example, my physical features (e.g. “big eyes”, “Yoda”, “big nose”, “shorty”, “terrorist”, “you look like the enemy” (Persian Gulf War at the time), racist remarks , sexuality, etc..) weren’t the same with the people around me-who does anyways? -God has made us all uniquely-beautiful-and different! Can you relate? Feel free to boldly share your story down below or email me too.

Anyways, I started to believe in many of these “lies”..

“…Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief

Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies…”-Hello, My Name Is
Share
Matthew West (myktis.com)

My self-esteem just went lower and lower as I grew older. I would at times have “suicidal” thoughts and suffered depression. I went through a season where I even wished I was “white” like most of my peers. With all this, my hatred and anger grew, which I would keep to myself and was anti-social.

I slowly grew out of the lies starting my college years when I had a “spiritual awakening” (see personal testimony). My low self-esteem didn’t disappear overnight, but it slowly faded away as I grew in my faith and my found identity as a “child of Him (Heavenly Father)…

“…And I have believed them for the very last time…..

Matthew West – Hello, My Name Is (Lyrics)

…Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed,
And I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life

What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King.”- Hello, My Name Is
Matthew West (klove.com)

One last thought is we need to be careful what you put above God (e.g idols). I used to struggle with this (e.g. sports, music, celebrities, etc..), which I can share the “negative effects” on another blog topic. This will affect one’s identity, which will give you a false belief.

*NOTE: I’m not trying to be the “angel” (righteous) here, but I’ve had my share of being the “devil”. I’ve teased others too or said things that might’ve “offended” them, which some has boldly reminded me. If I have and I don’t know it, please forgive me and let me know (in person if possible or via email, phone, etc..) too! I want to learn from my mistakes.

Satan-“father of lies”

Testimony from an Ex Satanist! What satan DOES NOT! want you to know!!!

Providence
“Published on Oct 10, 2016

There sits today in rulership of this fallen world order one who has grown ancient in evil, cunning in subtlety, and cruel in deceit. He waged the first war of the universe in the distant planet called heaven, and subsequently brought conflict to this little world we call earth as it spins on the outer edges of the milky-way galaxy. He filled all heaven with discord and the earth with death, and both with great sorrow. He deceptively challenged every transparent purpose of the Creator, and even coveted the throne of the Eternal, planning to either assume rule of the universe or if not, then to plunge it into chaos and ruin.
This menacing figure who has hijacked our planet well explains the presence of every conflict that disturbs our world today, every pestilence that afflicts humanity, every sorrow and pain and death that tortures the children of earth. Lucifer, the former covering cherub and one-time honorable prime minister of the angelic intelligences in Heaven, has become Satan, the great adversary of our smitten world. This powerful angel heads a vast army of unseen intelligences, the hosts of darkness who oppose in this world, every beneficent purpose of our Creator the Almighty God of the universe. He especially hates the Holy One who in great condescension assumed our human nature that He might by divine power destroy the works of Satan, conquer evil and lift the terrible sentence of eternal death from our fallen race.
To speak of a throne of evil controlling this world system is no mere figure of speech, it is a grim reality. And the occupant of that throne is no figment of anyone’s imagination. Jesus Christ ascribes to him the title of “prince of this world.” John 14: 30. The famed Christian apostle Paul describes him as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” Eph. 2: 2. Paul also warns us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood , but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness…” Eph 6:12 John the Revelator describes this foe as “the great dragon,” “that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan who deceives the whole world.” Rev. 12:9.
When the leader of revolt against the Eternal Creator was expelled from heaven, expelled along with him were many other angel intelligences who had yielded to his cunning sophistries and had joined in his unworthy rebellion. This world is today their singular abode. This is because that tremendous event, which rid heaven of the fallen hosts, was followed by the tragic fall of our first parents under Satan’s lies. This historic fall let loose legions of fallen angels to bend all of their efforts and genius over many thousands of years in the work of spoiling, corrupting and ruining the once noble human family, originally created to be the crown of God’s handiwork. A key element of the strategy to ruin humanity has been to lead man to blight and degrade the fair earth that was intended to be our perfect and eternal home.
The apostle Peter warns us “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Finally, the inspired revelator says ” Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” Rev. 12:12.”

So…what “lies” have you believed? Feel free to share down below your thoughts of any of the content above. Remember, you not alone! Lastly, do you believe them still? Why or why not?

Good News Sociology
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139706352858524/

ACTION: What are some ways to “heal” (e.g. emotionally) from the scars of your past?

Thank you to my Heavenly Father for giving the inspiration to Matthew West to write this song to touch others, like me (see Who Am I?) !

How do I get along with everybody?

I was driving through this rainy afternoon in this small rural college town and thought about this blog topic after reflecting on some life circumstances. I was pondering on a recent article online that was shown on facebook a lot on “percentage of Americans identifying being Christian has gone down over the years”-something like this. Anyways, I thought about all the people I’ve met that has come and go at my local church, campus ministries during my early Christian walk, etc… The number one “issue” that seem to get people “to leave” church is being “offended” (see my blog on this life challenge).

If you are one of the many people, like me, that have been offended by “the church”…please continue to read. I think “we all” have been offended by someone in our lives so far. But, what makes us forgive and forget “certain individuals”. Why not “everybody”? Do we pick and choose “who to forgive”?

Here is my personal tip on “How I get along with everybody” (it doesn’t meant that “everybody” gets along with me)? It’s one of the best “life advice” my earthly father gave me growing-up, which is “look at the positive of everybody instead of that “one” or “more” negative experience”. We tend to forget the “good” side of everybody that we don’t get along with or have gotten offended. Why is that? What keeps me “keeping positive” is reading my Heavenly Father’s Word (Bible) morning and evening.

For example, I’ve had many situations when I got offended by someone, but I “chose” to forgive them because of a verse that I read previously from the Bible. If you have hard time to “forgive” someone that “offended” you no matter how “bad” it is, try to remember at least “one good-thing” about that person and ask God to help you to “forgive” those that wronged you.

Lastly, if your a person that don’t consider yourself a Christian because of various reasons (e.g. turned away from God, different religion/faith, no belief, etc…). I challenged you to go to God and ask Him your questions about faith. ..

“Taste and see that the Lord is good”-Psalm 34:8

Do you have any other tips that you would like to share to help others in our similar situations? Please share as “we” all can work together to build that peace and reconciliation with our family, friends, workplace, community, region, and world!

Good News Peace
https://www.facebook.com/groups/639527079395556/

YOU offended me!

“YOU offended me! Have you ever been offended? We all have, but how can we counterattack that? We don’t, we give it to God. Yeah right, it isn’t that easy! Before I became a Christian my 1st year college, I was easily offended. This was due to my past from being “hurt” so many times in various ways (e.g. bullying). I can’t pin point exactly when I started getting offended, but I just remember when I was growing-up-I grew very insecure (see self-image) because of the people around me were very “critical” of my outward appearance. I look back now and I can’t blame them because of our “negative” media that keeps giving them the “wrong” message, which is another blog (see Good News Sociology).

Getting back to when I was growing-up, a “close one” would always criticize me in almost everything I did. I seem to not be able to do anything “right” in her eyes. I tried to do well in school, but I just wasn’t “smart-enough”. I was very “slow” in things I did. I look back and have to attribute part of this with my family’s psychological history (another story in itself) and health nutrition as I realize I ate a lot of “junk-food” (somewhat due to my economic background and poor “eating” choices I was very ignorant at the time). This particular individual was just “negative” most of the time with me, so I was always “fearful” every time I encountered her. I grew to be always trying to “please” her by “trying” my hardest to do better (e.g. academically), which I never could achieve. Now, I know the only One I should try to “please” is my Heavenly Father, which is much easier through prayer.

Another “social issue” I was easily offended growing-up was racism. Yes, I grew-up in the “diverse” city of St. Paul, but it was a different type of racism compared to living up here in rural Morris, Minnesota. I somehow couldn’t “fit-in” with any particular group of friends. I already wrote about the specifics in another site. For the sake of jumping to another link, which you probably have already above. In short, I would get “teased” by every racial group I hung out with growing-up. A so-called “friend” (Caucasian-American) made a remarked that I “look like the enemy” during Dessert Storm (war in Iraq sometime in the early 90’s. Even though it was a joke, this put a scar in my mind growing-up (would be reminded of this on 9-11. It might seem “little”, but with the many other “racism” experiences (too many to mention here) I’ve gone through, it was just another added to many different scars (e.g. almost hit with a foot long wine bottle while playing tennis by a couple of “white guys-almost skinheads”, Neo-Nazi group visited my workplace-Taco Bell, called “gook” while delivering newspapers, etc..) added to me.

To be fair, it wasn’t just a “white on Chink/Gook/”Dessert Nigga”/Mexican/etc.., I was teased by my own “racial” group (Asian) in high school. I joined the Asian Club because I needed a place of “belonging”. Well, one of my peers teased me by saying I “don’t look Asian” because of my big eyes. Then I started to want to hangout within my own “ethnic-group” (Filipino over the years later, but somehow I couldn’t “fit-in” because I didn’t know the language (Tagalog). My parents didn’t teach my siblings and I their native language because they thought we would have trouble assimilating in the American culture. I personally think it’s important to learn the native language of the parents to have some sense of cultural identity and it’s good for brain development, which is why I currently love teaching English as a second language.

Well, I can keep sharing many “little” to “big” things I’ve been offended, but that would take a book! I just wanted to give some examples above so “you” readers can somehow relate. Now, let’s make a list of the things how I’ve offended others. This would probably take a second volume! We sometimes forget that we’ve also probably “offended” others too as we focus on ourselves (looking for people to feel sorry for ourselves). If you know me good and have been offended (more likely if you’ve known me longer) by me, please forgive me too :(. We sometimes don’t realize that we all have offended one another, which is why it’s important to dialogue and share with each other honestly and openly. For example, a good “friend” that I worked with at the local college (summer program) was offended by me when I jokingly told her she was “lazy” (after eating lunch together and she didn’t bring-up her tray to the dish room at Food Service in campus). I told her “sorry” after she openly-honestly told me her reason for this offense (she grew up being called “lazy” by her family, so she would work harder). PLEASE contact me (e.g. phone, email, in person is better!) if I offended you because sometimes I didn’t know! Let’s be real with one another and stop being “Minnesota Nice” and “sugar coat” the things we say to one another. We can’t expect to know all of each others’ past, but we can be “more sensitive” (this is where the Holy Spirit comes in) and “compassionate” (this will increase as one grows in their personal relationship with their Heavenly Father) to one another. We are (most of us) mature adults and we need to act like it! This is probably why married couples or couples/friends in general fight with each other because of a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Don’t give Satan a foothold!..

Take care of it right away (see Ephesians 4:26) or the walls (as mentioned in the teaching above and the sermon message at my local church this morning too) will be built too high to take down.

How can we overcome offense? I’ve learned (still learning) to do this more as I’ve grown in my personal relationship with God. For example, I got offended by certain individuals in various places (e.g. home, work, church, etc..), so the way I “combat” it is through prayer. The more I pray for certain individuals, my compassion for them increases. I know there are some other circumstances with people (e.g. enemies-people who have taken advantage on you) that requires more than prayer, which might require some “wisdom” (e.g. spiritual gifts) from other people (e.g. mentor, pastor, etc..).

We can’t “judge” or “stereotype” (e.g. NOT all Somolians are “evil” as the movie “Black Hawk Down” might stereotype these people group) any group because of the actions of a “few” of a group of people (e.g. race, nationality, political party, religion, institution, etc….). This would be another blog topic on how media can carelessly give or promote the “wrong” negative message about a particular group of people.

In the meantime, I want to leave you with this last video, which I was reminded while listening to the beginning part of the video above. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, I highly recommend you do. For those who haven’t seen this movie yet, the scene below is about a father trying to give some advice to his son as he plans to share how he’s been “offended” by his wife and wanting a divorce….

Fireproof -The Cross – Today’s Christian Videos – GodTube

“Heavenly Father, I pray for each of us who have been offended by someone(s). We ask for your love and healing touch from the various offenses (e.g. physical, emotional, spiritual abuse, etc..) we’ve experienced in the past. We too have probably offended someone too and we ask You to forgive us. Give us wisdom and strength on how to ask these individual(s) for forgiveness. We ask You to continue “molding” us to be the “man”/”woman” you want us to be. In the meantime, show us how we can be your light to others that are hurting around us too. We ask all this in Your (Jesus’) name… …And all God’s people say?…Amen!”

ACTION: Let’s all help be peacemakers in the world out there with what we’ve learned!

How to Overcome Offense (through forgiveness)

I just had this recent life “episode” of overcoming offense that I need to share with “everybody” as I feel we can all learn from this. I feel we all can relate to these “life circumstances” and that we can help each other out on this to “increase” peace in our increasingly troubled society/world. Here is the background of this story without giving too many “confidential” details. A “friend” (younger than me) of mine recently (last week) was very frustrated about his on-going weight issues as he was recently in the hospital for a “heart condition”. He was checking his weight one morning and I was going to “double” check it as I serve like a “nurse” at his particular place of residence. Well, he unfortunately gained weight and he started yelling (swearing) at me. I understood his “frustration” and I replied “angrily” that you can have another “staff” check you later this morning. He then would continue to vent his frustration and I would reply patiently to have his weight check by another staff as “another feedback”. He then left and went back to his bedroom. I wanted to bring “light” to this situation to encourage him, so I emailed him some “health” articles telling him he was “right” about an earlier situation (eating a particular food) and another article to “prevent” a future weight increase. He somehow misinterpreted one of the articles I shared and this got him more angry at me-wasn’t my intention. Well, he called me “names” via text and email. I wasn’t going to reply right away as I wanted him to “cool” off and not add more to the “increasing fire”. Instead of just “ignoring” passively, I started to pray for him more as I asked God/Heavenly Father to “soften his heart” every time I would think about this (sometimes frustratingly or angrily) throughout the day after this situation. Later in the day I found out he was back in the hospital…again! I then started to pray for him more (as I thought about how life is very short. Also, a similar story of a high school friend I didn’t “forgive” and later died of a car accident 😦 ) and was going to reply to him now to encourage him to “get better”. As I was about to do this, he actually called the phone where I was at and started apologizing for his “actions” as he was trying to explain how frustrated he was. After our long conversation of reconciliation after forgiveness, I would pray for continued healing and better health and peacefully said our “good night”.

A book that I partly read that I thought about during this “episode” last week was this->
The Bait of Satan
(see how Satan works!) if interested in getting equipped for daily “life challenges” like this…

Join our group on facebook to share similar “life challenges” and how we can work together for peace in everyday life circumstances….

Good News Peace