Blessed are the Peace-fakers? (Matthew 5:9)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Blessed are the Peace-fakers?

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." --Matthew 5:9 

People who use escape responses are usually intent on 'peace-faking,' or making things look good even then they are not.  This is especially common in the church, where people are often more concerned about the appearance of peace than the reality of peace.  Attack responses are used by people who are prone to 'peace-breaking.'  They are more than willing to sacrifice peace and unity to get what they want.

Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 28

Food for Thought

Being a peacemaker is difficult.  There is no other way to honestly speak about it.  It is hard, humbling, and sometimes humiliating work.  But consider this:  The peace that Christ achieved for us was hard.  Jesus is described as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53.3).  It was humbling.  Jesus humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2.8).  And it was humiliating.  Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews12.2).  All this was done so that peace, not just an appearance of peace, but the reality of peace would be achieved between God and human beings.

But believe it or not, being a peace-faker is difficult too.  It takes a great deal of emotional energy to smile and wave or shake hands with someone at church when your heart is hardened against that person.  Continuing to function in a civil manner alongside a co-worker who has wronged you can feel like splitting rocks in a prison camp.  Tip-toeing around sensitive issues in your family while a dangerous current of anger and resentment boils beneath the surface can often make you physically sick inside.  And what is the result of all this?  The appearance of peace, but not the reality.  For all of that time, and energy, and heartache, you end up with something that is not real.

Hebrews 12.3 says, "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." Are you feeling weary? Yes, it's hard and yes, there is hostility (and a list of other h-words), but consider Jesus and don't lose heart.  With His strength and presence, it is doable.  Remember, the goal is God's peace. And while it may not always be pretty, it's always real.

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of October 4, 2009

* Indicates a new or updated prayer request

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

Larry Lose                  Recovering from Heart Surgery
Johann Blanco           [young son of Mauricio, OSLS Custodian] recovering from a broken leg
Dorothy Ordel            Able to return to Jefferson Manor this week
*Brooke McGrew      [Sister of Scott Smith] Thanksgiving for successful cancer surgery. Awaiting results of tests of other cancers
Brock Douglas          [Brother-in-law of Melanie Douglas] recovering from surgery from infection and fighting cancer.
Jason Smith               [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 37 y.o. with metastatic cancer and recovering from surgery
Joel Miller                   [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 15 y.o. in rehab for substance abuse, friction with faith
Linda White               [Sister of Sharon Coleman] Cancer, praying for comfort and peace, and for God’s will to occur.
Pastor Lee Berndt    Recovering from surgery
Lt. Daniel Berschinski          [Fellow soldier of Matt Kuecker] injured in IED explosion, recovering at Walter Reed
Phil Ritz                      [Friend of Joe and Doris Deuth] recovering from a heart attack
Joanne Leeming       [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Healing from a stroke and Lymphoma
Joe Kierstead            [Relative of the Belza’s] Fighting metastatic lung cancer (prognosis poor)
Hannah Dirkse          [Friend of the Detroy’s] 18 yrs. old diagnosed with Leukemia
David Cheek             [Friend of Caron Fausel] Recovering from very serious injuries
Sharon Cheek           [Friend of Caron Fausel] Trying to deal with her brother, David’s injuries
Molly Pierce               [Friend of Chapin Fausel] suffering seizures and is undergoing testing to determine the cause
Christian Mehl           [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma
Bill Griffin                    Suffering from an infected foot that is not healing
Frank Walker             Recovering  at home after extended rehab from injuries in a car accident
Jim Trotter                  [Father of Aaron Trotter] heart concerns
Austin Speaker         [Grandson of Billie and Harvey Detroy] recovering from hip surgery after an  accident
Phyllis Kenrieck         [Aunt of Mark Whitsett] hospitalized in critical condition with health concerns
Bob Wolke                 [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain
Ty Hassler, Jr.            [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns
Orval Bestian             [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems
Kay Mitchell               [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] major health concerns
Kim Hunter                 [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns
Karen Jackson          [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant
Mary McKenzie         [Friend of the Kaulitz Family] small child with a heart defect

 FOR THOSE MOURN

*The Family of Lily Snook who was called home on Thursday
*The family of Hannah Gosden, who’s great-grandfather Meade Ricco was called home last week.

FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER:

Thomas Davidson, Christian Mehl, Phil Sanders, Barbara Robertson, Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Laura Webster, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Joan Beck, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Sue Sexton, Jana Maher, Warren Mounts, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim Siegfried

FOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESS

Bill Berger, Ben Hutto, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer, Reinhart

FOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTER

Eldon Tappendorf, Dorothy Ordel, Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Erna Kelley, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Isabella Tappendorf, Virginia Alexander, Helen, , Dennis Krause

FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Andrew Kressin, Matthew Kuecker, Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey Davis 

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.  -- Psalm 37:10-11
 
In Christ,
Paul E. Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

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