Tonight I was watching a bit of the Olympics, and I thought: There is so much good will toward fellow men and fellow women exhibited during these games. It's profound. For two weeks every two years we realize that men and women from all corners of the earth are created in the image of God... and then we return to war after those two weeks as if the Olympics were a commercial interuption to our real lives.

What if Christians decided to be Christ followers... what if we were serious about being people who forever changed this earth? What if we heard those words from years ago, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God."

And then I really pause to ask, "But why haven't we taken this seriously?"

I've been posting the stuff from the training that John West and I are putting together at the on a mission from God weblog. Check it out. There are three weeks worth of material posted.

Jaden, my almost two year old couldn't sleep tonight. Mom brought him down to me as she headed to bed, and he's now leaning up against me - making little snoring sounds and holding his favorite blanket around his neck as we sit on the couch. He's beautiful. He's a son of God - a child of God. He is beautiful.

Over a family picnic early Sunday afternoon, complete with burgers, brats and corn on the cob, I was asked if I would prefer that the war with/in Iraq be here rather than on the other side of the world (?). If I could chose, I doubt that would be my choice. Yet, it seems that we set aside, or at least forego, the things that break the heart of God when we talk politics.

Thousands have died as we attempt to secure our own safety. We quickly claim to be blessed people who live in a free nation. I wonder if we are broken people in need of a savior?