General's Confession

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

What if we set aside 15 minutes of each day for peace?
What if all armed parties agreed to do the same?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Ready to comfort, you do not wait to be asked.
But we do ask for comfort in our distress.
Ready to bless, you do not wait to be asked.
But we do ask for blessing in the lives you have given us.
Ready to guide, you do not wait to be asked.
But we do ask for guidance in ways that bear fruit and life.
Ready to forgive, you do not wait to be asked.
But we do ask for forgiveness for our disregard for you and our disregard for the things that make for life and happiness.
Ready to save, you do not wait to be asked.
But we do ask for salvation from things that diminish our lives.
Ready to love, you do not wait to be asked.
We can but marvel at your faithfulness, and pray for hearts that respond in love.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m in training for next year’s Tour de Judea.”

[No bicycles, so He never said this.]

D. Blog: General’s Confession

The general went to confession and sobbed as he said: “War is Hell. All war is sin. Peace is the will of God.”

The priest tried to comfort him. “Was your cause not just? Was God perhaps on your side?”

The general replied with scorn, “War is no more about justice than a basketball game is about gardening. It is about killing and destruction until one side has had enough of the horror. God had enough of dying on the cross. God has nothing to do with war. War is just hell.”

The priest had nothing to say.