Category Archives: Shalom Vision

No one joins the military to die. No one intends to be a sacrifice, though many soldiers know there is a possibility they will die if sent into conflict. Yet when soldiers die from a bullet or by a bomb’s blast it is not because they give themselves in sacrifice. Rather it was because their [...]

It astonishes to me that politicians who are eager to identify themselves as Christians so readily declare the irrelevance of Jesus. Not that they claim he is totally irrelevant. They are perfectly willing to acknowledge his importance in the fenced in territory of private life. But when it comes to public life, the influence of [...]

With the arrival of the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq many are asking, “Was it worth it?” As one who publically opposed the war in the pulpit, in print and by participating on demonstrations against it, it is difficult for me to take the question seriously. Since I have always regarded the war [...]

Craig M. Watts I was looking online for some graphics about love I could use for a project on which I’d been working. I came across pictures of bumper stickers and posters that contain the words of Jesus, “Love Your Enemies.” I was struck with the variety of ways the words were used. For the [...]

A note from Disciples Peace Fellowship Co-moderator, the Rev. Bruce Ervin: Dear Peace Seekers: I hope that you’ve read the letter from Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. It lifts up concerns that are dear to the heart of DPF. Among the signatories is the Rev. Ronald J. Degges, President of Disciples Home Missions and [...]

RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT and the PROTESTS in the MIDDLE EAST Craig M. Watts It is with sadness and distress that I view the violent protests that have broken out in the Muslim world over a video that apparently was designed to be insulting toward Mohammad. While I disapprove of denigrating the religion of others, I regard [...]

THE MOST “BIBLICALLY-HOSTILE PRESIDENT” or the MOST DECEITFUL CHRISTIAN LEADER? Craig M. Watts It seems that vicious distortion and flagrant misrepresentation are acceptable weapons in the battle for “God and Country.” One particularly nasty example of this is found in a piece by David Barton that has been widely spread for several months in emails, [...]

The Greatest Generation Their Legacy of Peacemaking Continues By Bruce D. Ervin Co-Moderator, Disciples Peace Fellowship Tom Brokaw called them The Greatest Generation. They came of age during the worst depression in history, fought in the most horrible war in history, marched with Dr. King, protested the Vietnam War, and taught us – their children [...]

A FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING JESUS FOR A review of Tripp York and Justin Bronson Barringer, eds., A Faith Not Worth Fighting For (Cascade Books: Eugene, OR, 2012) Probing and insightful responses to crucial questions about Christian pacifism and peacemaking are offered in A Faith Not Worth Fighting For. Frankly, the worst thing about the book [...]

I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)   Imagine being a part of the marathon race. A large [...]