tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715350302811661486.post3274595487909517693..comments2023-04-17T04:28:26.819-05:00Comments on Faith Steps with PastorE: Visiting A ChurchErik Jelinekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379500320756068697noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715350302811661486.post-75289971615300575442008-04-13T23:11:00.000-05:002008-04-13T23:11:00.000-05:00Pastor E. said, "In my prayers today I am being ca...Pastor E. said, "In my prayers today I am being called to pray for the diversity we have in this great body of Christ, and that we may continue to celebrate each other's gifts and grow in our love and understanding of those who are different than we are."<BR/><BR/>My God, what a mouthful!<BR/><BR/>Now, I am sure Pastor E meant these words to be taken as a reflection of accepting other religions and denominations, but if we truly believed in loving and understanding those different from us, wouldn't being able to "celebrate diversity" end all wars, bring world peace and make for a heaven on earth?<BR/><BR/>Pastor Larry delivered a moving sermon today in which he shared how one of his students, a recent recruit for one of the military branches, and who knows that he will be deployed to Iraq, asked him, "if I don't make it, will you do my funeral?" <BR/><BR/>My eyes welled up, as I thought about all the young men and women who have already given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in every other war that our country has seen fit to involve us.<BR/><BR/>I don't see any respect for diversity in the pre-emptive wars begun by the United States. Today I read that over 1,300 Iraqi troops/police have deserted or mutinied, and have refused to fight alongside Americans.<BR/><BR/>What are we doing? Are we respecting them, their culture, their differences from us? If they don't wish to fight, what we are forcing them to fight for, why are WE there? <BR/><BR/>I wish I could feel good about America again. We are not leading in humanitarian efforts, even here on our own soil and the "leaders" of our government tell us lies about a war they created. <BR/><BR/>You will never convince me that the US government is in Iraq for anything other than greed for oil and whatever political advantage "winning" there will bring. (What is a win, by the way? No one is winning. Everyone is losing.)<BR/><BR/>Respect diversity? We are so far from the mark. God help us, our nation and the world; that is my prayer.Betty Dygarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13228417023345371842noreply@blogger.com