Peace In The Storm
It is Christmas month. I was thinking of the familiar phrase, Peace on Earth. This reminded me of the hit song "Peace on Earth" by U2, the eighth track on their 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind. It’s lyrics were inspired by the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on August 15, 1998. It gained further recognition after the 2001 September 11 bombing. Here it is 2020 and again the words have taken on a prophetic edge. I present some of the lyrics here:
Heaven on earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
Sick of pain
Sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on earth
Jesus, in the song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth?
This peace on earth
They say it will be a Christmas like no other. And it will. We are not allowed to gather with those outside of our family. This will be the first Christmas that I can remember when our son will not be with us. This will be the cultural norm. For many, peace will be replaced by anxiety, fear, and loneliness. Sickness, death, and sorrow is on the news nightly. Worse, it is personally touching thousands of people every day. Peace may be hard to find.
Is peace possible during one of our greatest crises? I say an emphatic yes. It requires, however, a shift in perspective. Peace is not a circumstance, a situation, or a life condition. No, none of these things, it is a person. We say “peace on earth” because the birth of Jesus signified the coming of the Prince of Peace. He is the giver of peace that “passes understanding”. In the midst of our greatest storm, we can have peace when Jesus is in us, around us, beside us. Small children are instructive here. A child clinging behind the leg of a parent feels peace, not because of its own power, ability, or intelligence, but because of its proximity to someone greater than itself. So it is with Jesus and us. When I allow the Prince of Peace in my life, the storm can rage, but I am safe, as I cling to his leg.
Christmas will be different this year. Why not make it really different, by starting a new tradition. At the start of each day, invite the prince of peace into your life. Read a chapter of Luke each day and take some time to meditate on it. Then, throughout the day, practice the presence of Jesus right there with you, inviting Jesus along with whatever your are doing. And when you go bed at night, read a chapter in Mathew and thank Jesus for the day. This simple practice may result in the most amazing December ever.
Sunday Meeting – We are back on Zoom
This coming Sunday, Kootenay Christian Fellowship will have 2 different options to participate in Online Sunday Service and we hope to find you at one of them. Both will begin at 10:30am:
A simple and quick Advance-Registration is required via the link below. If you are not familiar with Zoom, feel free to contact us directly for guidance and we will be happy to help you. 250.352.1722
You must Register in advance for this Zoom meeting (click the link below):
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApd-Gupz0oG9WFCQ_s1Br9pmMyxOtrfYiO
For those who may not have internet availability, use your phone to call in on the Zoom meeting at 1.778.907.2071. Please do the Advance Registration to access the pertinent information.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We are looking forward to connecting with you on Sunday if not before.
We look forward to connecting with you there.
You can also find us on YouTube (posted afterwards) at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNT9GnRlN0fPZdvqmaUV_LA
Subscribe to our channel while you are there.
When you visit us on Facebook, like and follow please, here is the link
https://www.facebook.com/kootenaychristianfellowshipnelsonbc
Jim Reimer, Pastor
December 10, 2020
E-transfers to office@kcfoffice.com
Kootenay Christian Fellowship520 Falls Street (1/2 Block up from Baker Street)Nelson, BC V1L 6B5