March Monthly Letter

Dear Reconcilers in Christ,

As you know, the Ministry of Reconciliation reaches the spectrum of human interaction. Recently, Pastor Neil Earle and I watched a DVD on some of the challenges that we see in our world. Some of them were related to conflicts between the community and the police. In this delicate subject, we see reasons behind the conflict. Often, it’s misconduct by a citizen. And sometimes, it’s overreach by a police officer. Neil interviewed me for about 30 minutes on the topic.

One of the keynote speakers quoted on that topic was Professor David M. Kennedy. He talked about how he even went underground and let his hair grow long so as to be disguised. In doing so, he gained a lot of information on both sides, the community and the police. This enabled him to speak to both groups with authority in meetings that he conducted.

I met him in Washington, DC at a conference on the police and community. He spoke on the topic of “Operation Cease Fire.” He was able to reach both the police and community. He was very effective because he lived his message, and sparked conversations with both the community and the police. He had seen the best and the worst as he sat on stoops and talked with youth and police offers. His book on the topic is quite revealing and helpful. The book title is “DON’T SHOOT!” The subtitle is: “One Man, a Street Fellowship, and the END OF VIOLENCE in Inner-City America.”

Here’s a statement by a good friend of mine who is an undersheriff in California, “It would be terribly remiss not to mention the role of the police in this society at one time for preserving the (unjust) status quo, but it would be equally as wrong not to say that today law enforcement has become an agent of positive change.” He was quoted several times at the meeting as one who practices what he preaches.

This reminded me that as servants of Christ we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. And just as the example and legacy of the undersheriff still speaks to me today, the example and legacy of Jesus speaks to us day by day through His word.

In both of these examples, I see Jesus. In the scripture, He tells us that He is the Light of the World and the salt of the Earth. He set the perfect example of how we are to live but knowing that we will not be able to reach perfection in this life. But thanks be to God, we will reach it someday through our eternal victory through Him!

In the book of Romans, chapter 8:28 we read: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to Him purpose.” Verse 31 asks the question: “What then can we say in response to this? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?”

May we all continue to love and embrace God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, seeing that they are continuing to lavish upon us all things that matter in this life and the eternal life to come.

Thank you, as always, for your kind support of the Ministry of Reconciliation, a much needed Ministry that Jesus has bequeathed upon us.

Every Blessing,