United Nations

When will the UN become more useful? How is it that we are to trust this organization when it is made up of nations that are predominantly totalitarian? At what point will the UN troops be as effective in training as the US, so that situations like Somalia won't happen? When is it ok to go into another nation and try to fix it? Has anyone really done that successfully? When is it our Good Samaritan responsibility to go in and help fix horrendous situations; and when are we trying to play God and police the world? I don't see how any nation or people group can be stable without a common adherance to a moral ethos - some sort of commitment to basic right and wrong. And I don't see this happening unless there is a move of the Spirit of God, like the revivals in America in the 1700's. No nation is saved by military might alone, there has to be some sense of decency among the people and a widespread support for integrity in the government and people of any nation.

National Day of Prayer & Thanksgiving

I think President Bush should declare a day of prayer & fasting in regard to our situation in Iraq. Many in the body of Christ in the United States have taken on a warfare mentality, putting all their trust in chariots and horses. We forget so easily the mistakes Solomon made, mistakes that the Lord had so clearly warned him about. Our strength is not in our military might, and this war has shown the hubris in our government and in some of our military leaders. We need to repent and humbly call on the Lord to lead us out of this mess. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord, but if there is pride involved He is resisting us and keeping badly needed solutions at bay.

But if we will humbles ourselves and call on Him, He will show us the best way to handle the Iraqi conflict.

War in Iraq

As our nation's leaders began to talk of going into Iraq, I had several doubts. First of all, since when does democracy get established from the outside in? And by force? Given the make-up of Iraq, the several people-groups that comprise the population, the possibility of a cohesive constitutional government arising after Saddam was taken out was very slim. Yet we seemed to place all bets on this happening.

Another problem I had was that it was not a clear-cut war against aggression toward our nation. Romans 13 says that our civil government is to avenge acts of wickedness. Gary North points out that it says, "acts of wickedness," and that going to war in the face of threats is not backed by Scripture. He was speaking during the Cold War, but the principal is the same. Going to war based on a perceived threat is wrong.

I believe Pat Robertson had it right when he warned President Bush to not go to war against Iraq because it "would be disastrous and messy." I don't listen to Robertson very often, but I believe time is proving him right.

Yet given all this, we are still in Iraq and we need to know what to do now. Al Qaeda is also in Iraq now, so our true enemy is there and pulling out may not be smart. Al Qaeda is also fighting an enemy within Islam - the Shiites - themselves, setting the stage for an implosion in the Muslim world. I don't pray for this to happen, I would pray that God's Spirit be poured out in the Middle East. Yet radical Islam is evil, and God will not bless evil. "If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Isaiah 1:19-20 This verse applies to everyone, as God is no respector of persons. Intercession is the key to bringing down Islam, just as it was key to bringing an end to Communism in Europe. Intercession can also bring revival to the United States, which it desperately needs.

Reason for Room Filled With Light

I am starting a blog. The main reason I'm doing this is because I want to put my thoughts into writing, and if someone cares to respond I will hopefully learn more through the exchange of ideas. Living in a rural area, there is not much opportunity to talk about foreign affairs, Christianity and war - especially among women. But I often think about these things, and read about these things, and would like to write about them. It also helps me figure out what I really believe when I have to write something down that may be read by others.

The name of the blog refers to a dream I had last night. I was living in a large house, and discovered a room I hadn't noticed before. It was a good-sized room with gables, and one wall was all windows allowing a lot of light in. There was a desk off to the side, and I said, "I can put the desk right in front of the windows!" I wanted to study in the light. I believe the dream was from God, who is light. The dream was also significant because it was a room in the house in which I was living. Only a room. There is only so much one person can learn or read, and it is so easy to feel like you know nothing or know a lot. We each have our own rooms, our own limitations and ways of thinking that keep us from learning more. Some of these limitations are self-restrictive. I believe in the Bible and if I think something is clearly taught within its pages, I'm pretty set on that. I respect others' right to believe otherwise, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ and I believe that He is truth.

But I also want to hear what others think and believe, what they are learning in their 'rooms' that relate to things of mutual interest. If I receive no responses, that is fine also, because I will gain just by writing and formulating ideas from what I read and learn day by day.

MomOnFire


Recently Read Books:

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Dreaming With God by Bill Johnson
Night Draws Near by Anthony Shadid

Currently Working On:

Making War to Keep Peace by Jeanne Kirkpatrick
Strengthening Yourself in the Lord by Bill Johnson
Red Moon Rising by Peter Grieg
Operation Desert Light by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen