Hmm...there's imagining a world of non-violence, and we'll call that world "utopia" because, seriously, that's what it is. Then we'll call what you're doing, "Jesus, bombs, and Ice Cream" a reimaging of our world to resemble a world that isn't like the one we're living in...and we'll call that world we're living reality because, seriously, that is where we live.

Now, "imagining" a world without violence is really sweet, makes for a great script, and often ends up as a nifty movie with lots of "imaginative" scenery.

We'll call that fantasy because as we all know...fantasy is not real.

Now, unfortunately, I live in the real world, and in that world that I live in there is accepting reality for what it is, and trying to minimize the nastiness by trying to convince one person at a time that Y'shua is the peace maker.

So, good luck with that artsy "imagining" project, I hope it fires "imaginations" and perhaps someone who was going to shot-gun another person will have a re-imagining moment and one less person dies.

Really, it's a nice gesture...far better than war porn, and I hope it's made into a movie.

This is not a bad idea.

But "imagining" is the stuff of Beatles songs. Also, regarding the loss of imagination. Iraq lost its imagination long before we even got there with "shock and awe". Why don't you call Iraqis to account for their blatant lack of imagination by having a leader who used chemical weapons on thousands of his own people. That takes a lot of imagnination doesn't it?

Seriously? This level of idealism boarders on fantasy.
Wouldn't it be better to invest in actually doing something that provides clean drinking water, brings hope to the hopeless, health to the sick and eternal life to the lost?
Imagining something better, by itself, feels "warm and fuzzy" but neither fulfills the biblical mandates nor actually accomplishes anything substantive.

I love this concept! It seems other readers are pressing questions of what tangible results could possibly come of this event, as if it's only worth doing if it actually ends war this year or decade. It won't. But it's still worth doing. And the event is not merely fuzzy-wuzzy feelings if it connects with hope and peace in Jesus, which it apparently is intending to do through Shane's talk.

It has the potential to paint a powerful message--albeit an idealistic one--that life is meant for more than war and aggression. It is intended for joy and wonder--not just theological words but emotions that are deeply felt and socially shared. And if there's any feeling that the joy and wonder of the night will be over by dusk, it just might have the potential to highlight our hope-giving destiny in Jesus, the one who will one day bring the utopian utmost of all joy and peace that will never run dry or fade away. The warmth and glimmer of the night may provide a brief taste of that which comes in Jesus.

I wonder if this might be the spirit embodied in Shane's event. Wish I lived near Philly... :)

Why do those who respond the most to each entry seem to be the most cynical? To read the comments section of Out of Ur makes one wonder if it is a race among regular readers of this blog to see who can post a snarky comment first. As for Claiborne, I find him challenging in many respects, but always hopeful, and full of courage and faith. Keep up the good work

Aaron wrote the following: "Why don't you call Iraqis to account for their blatant lack of imagination by having a leader who used chemical weapons on thousands of his own people. That takes a lot of imagnination doesn't it?" Are you serious?? You're blaming the Iraqi people for Saddam Hussein? It's not like they elected him. He was a dictator! Can you please explain to me how they are too blame??

"Why do those who respond the most to each entry seem to be the most cynical?"

Hmm, good question, perhaps it's my "ARE YOU SERIOUS???" detector going off in my head...what a racket it makes...it's loud, obnoxious, and always, always has to blare in my skull whenever I'm around Christians who use emotionalism rather than rational, biblical statements that are clearly spelled out in the bible. However, as I think about it, I could have just used the more familiar /facepalm which would have summarized my thoughts more succintly.

"To read the comments section of Out of Ur makes one wonder if it is a race among regular readers of this blog to see who can post a snarky comment first."

Snarky?
And here I thought I was being quite generous and encouraging rather than writing what was really on my mind.

Okay, well, there it is, next time I read something like what is being proposed here I'll just use /facepalm and leave it at that because I'm a nice guy.

That whole Jesus-y, love your neighbor, pray for your enemies, live-peaceably-with-all-so-far-as-it-depends-on-you stuff, yeah that'll never work...

Not to pick nits, but I'm pretty sure that Jesus said some things that don't pass the test for "rationality". And after all, didn't Paul say that the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles? I'm pretty sure I'm not in the "realist" camp or whatever you call it. I'm in the "all things are possible with God" camp. That means that I truly believe that we can stop dropping bombs...that one day there will be no war. And I'm going to do what I can to hasten that day. I'm glad the Spirit is driving the cynicism out of me...

"I'm in the "all things are possible with God" camp."

And I'm in the "All things are possible within G-d's will" camp.

Because as G-d and Y'shua have pointed out clearly in the bible "there will be wars, and rumor of wars, but the time is not yet..." which, and note the choice of word I am using, "unfortunately" contradicts your "That means that I truly believe that we can stop dropping bombs."

However, I will concede, you can make the decision for yourself that you will not be dropping bombs no more (ala chief Joseph's "I will fight no more" statement) but that is a decision only you can make for yourself, not for a nation who does not believe the way you and I do.

The world does what it does regardless of you and I.

"that one day there will be no war. And I'm going to do what I can to hasten that day."

And if you were familiar with G-d's will expressed through the bible you would know that you and I have no say when that day is.

Though admittedly, it's a nice thought, reality says otherwise.

"I'm glad the Spirit is driving the cynicism out of me..."

Oddly enough, I share in this gladness, for I am happy that the Spirit of the living G-d who has taught me the ability to rein my cynicism so that it serves me rather than I it.

"...didn't Paul say that the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles?"

Nothing that Shane Claiborne is doing here has anything to do with the gospel, but it sure has a lot to do with foolishness. Shane's antics seem to be more about him than much of anything else - again.

In his second paragraph, Mr. Claiborne wrote the following: "As the bombs fell from the sky and smoke filled the air, one of the doctors in the hospital held a little girl whose body was riddled with missile fragments." I'm sorry, sheerahkahn and elegance, but I just cannot comprehend how anyone claiming to be a disciple of Christ can express more indignation towards Mr. Claiborne's event than towards the suffering of a young girl, created in the image of God, as a result of American bombs!

Look, I get it, he's not you're cup of tea. He's not mine, either. I actually agree with you, sheerahkahn, that we can't stop bombs from falling on this side of the second coming. I agree with Jesus' words that "there will be wars and rumors of wars." But just because we can't stop it does NOT mean we should become desensitized to the suffering caused by war. Sheerahkhan, you wrote: "I am happy that the Spirit of the living G-d who has taught me the ability to rein my cynicism so that it serves me rather than I it." I'm sorry, but from what I've been reading from you recently, I doesn't look to me like that has happened. I don't think you realize how cynical you come across as, or how dismissive and condescending you sound to those trying to express the Gospel in a way that is different from the way YOU think it should be expressed.

So, let Mr. Claiborne do his event. It's not hurting either of you, and it may inspire some who think differently from you. And instead of closing yourself off in a shell of cynicism, open yourselves to the pain of someone you know, and minister to their pain in the name of Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ said people have wicked hearts, and that is why there is violence in the world.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. " Matthew 15:19

I am all for more ice cream, but an ice cream social is not going to change people, only repentance and faith in the crucified and risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died as a substitute for wicked sinners is going to change this world.

Like the others, I can't imagine a world without bombs. War is the natural judgment against people who continue to rebel against God.

But I can imagine the US being in less of a hurry to go to war. That would be a very good step in the right direction.

The US needs to quit being the world's policeman and let other people solve their own problems. That won't cause a total reduction of war and death in the world, but it would reduce the amount that the US causes.

That means getting out of S. Korea and letting the two Koreas work out their own problems. It would mean getting out of Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to the American lives saved, the financial savings would help the country a great deal.

But to accomplish this, Republicans need to wean themselves from the addiction to be at war with someone somewhere all of the time.

Is not our vocation as followers of Jesus living in the reign of God - primary to pull the future Shalom of God into our present reality. (may your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven)

We are live as signpost, trailers a foretaste of that day when God's Shalom will cover the earth as the water covers the sea. We are called to be active players in God unfolding restoration drama. Just because we think war is our worlds reality does not stop is from living a different way, a Christ centered non-violent way, the kingdom of God way.

Roger, I agree that the US shouldn't be the world's policeman and should be less in a hurry to go to war. I would caution you, however, not to fall into the temptation of believing the lie that one political party or ideology is to blame, while the other is innocent. Remember, Obama has been President for about 2 1/2 years, and we're still in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention our intervention in Libya. And before Bush, there was our intervention in Kosovo led by Clinton.

Both Republicans AND Democrats, conservatives AND liberals, are willing to go to war when it serves their political interests to do so; and not to recognize that reality undermines our credibility as a people whose loyalty is not to a political party or ideology, but to the Prince of Peace.

When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I'm pretty sure he didn't mean "bomb them to death."

"When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I'm pretty sure he didn't mean "bomb them to death."

No, he didn't, but that is not the discussion we are having...however, for transparency sakes...this is my position:

When a person has matured in their walk with G-d there should come a moment of clarity/recognition/acceptance that service in one's country's military, and service to G-d are incongruent for the follower/believer/servant of the most high.

And by association cheerleading war, death, destruction, "Kill them all in the name of the Lord" is also an incongruent behavior for a follower of G-d.

This is not an easy teaching, nor a very comfortable revelation for those who are mired in the here and now so I don't teach or preach it; it is something that each follower of G-d must reach on their own through their walk with G-d.

Mr. Williams,
I suffer the ignorance of non-christians far more compassionately than I do the stupidity of Christians who should know better.
You call that cynicism, I call that experience, and experience, Mr. Williams, is my most valuable tool.
And I will not suffer an allegedly mature Christian deceiving any younger Christians who are clueless about "good-intentions" masking themselves for actual modeling of the spirit...and if you think I'm being condenscending then I really need to up my game...

But the one thing I am not, and I object to, Mr. Williams, is being accused of being dismissive.

That, I know, is demonstratively, and patently false.

Wow,terrible thing to happen to that little girl. I wonder what that horrible war was about.

Oh yeah, turned out it was nothing.

I wonder who put the people in office who started that war?

Oh yeah, right, it was you guys.

It's no surprise that Christianity is on the wane when the loudest "Christians" insist on straining gnats (gay marriage) and swallowing camels (war, poverty, lack of mercy).

"Oh my, sorry we voted in the guy who blew up your house, but here, have some ice cream."

If you don't want bombs, stop voting for them.

Don't expect me to visit you until you start acting more like real Christians.

I wonder if Ben and Shane, with their concern for life would have an Abortion Clinics and Ice Cream event to help stop the massacre of millions of babies in the last 40 years. Better than changing laws is leaders telling the truth about what it really is, rather than all the lies and obfuscation that compare it to a mere tumor removal.

Sheerahkahn, if you want to call your cynicism "experience," fine. You know your own heart, I don't. But it does come off as cynicism, and I know I'm not the only one here who sees it that way.

As for your statement: "[I]f you think I'm being condenscending then I really need to up my game..." I'm not quite sure what that's supposed to mean. Are you trying to say that you could be MORE condescending if you wanted to? Are you holding yourself back? But maybe I'm reading you wrong. Regardless, I told you that I agree with your overall position regarding this issue, but I don't go around calling people "stupid" if they don't agree with me. It's kind of hard to have a conversation with someone with that kind of attitude. And isn't conversation the point of this blog?

However, and I'm sorry that you object to being accused of this, you most certainly are dismissive. You dismiss any expression of the Gospel that is different from the way YOU think it should be expressed as "the stupidity of Christians who should know better." And you completely dismissed and ignored the main point of my comment addressed to you, which was clearly stated in the opening paragraph. So let me ask you again: why is it that you are willing to express more indignation towards Mr. Claiborne's event than towards the suffering of an innocent Iraqi girl at the hands of American bombs?

"So let me ask you again: why is it that you are willing to express more indignation towards Mr. Claiborne's event than towards the suffering of an innocent Iraqi girl at the hands of American bombs?"

because, mr. williams, I have seen worse.

I have seen the death of the future, and it is more horrible than what Mr. claiborne saw in the arms of the doctor.

And the people who should be attending won't be, the people who should hear what needs to be heard will not hear.

Because Mr. Claiborne is preaching to those who already know, and not to those who don't know how to know, who don't know how to care, who don't know how to hear. He preaches to his choir, and ignores the rest.

An ice-cream social with long-winded speeches...smiling faces, quiet embraces, loving exchanges between people of likemindedness, and still the future dies one person at a time.
This whole thing isn't about Christ, or christianity, it is a wake for the dead, and perhaps fittingly so for a nation, and a Church that has completely lost its way.

Wow, some of the comments... Very cynical and they remind me of the account when the woman washed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. Could she/he have/has used the money for better things like feed the poor, sure, but where is the heart of this example? And Jesus didn't Jesus say "Go and sin no more" and not "Go and sin no more, except, I'm a realist and I know the real human condition... And the fact is, you will sin again, so just go feed the poor and stop w the rhetoric."

Sheerahkahn, if you had actually seen that girl in the doctor's arms, and if you had had a chance to talk to her, could you have said to her face that her suffering and death was not as bad as the death of the "future?" Would your heart actually be that callous?

So, he's preaching to the choir. That's his big sin. SO WHAT??? WHO CARES????? HAVE WE LOST OUR MIND???? Talk about straining gnats and swallowing camels!! Shannon is absolutely correct. As much as her rebuke to us hurt me, as much as I wanted to defend myself, she is absolutely correct. We're not acting like Christians. We live in a country that has become desensitized to violence. We see it on TV and think it's a movie with special effects. We live in a country that produces people who think the death of some abstract concept of the "future" (what does that even mean?!) is MORE HORRIBLE than the death of an actual, concrete, living, breathing, flesh and blood innocent girl whom God created in his image. No, sir, you are absolutely wrong on this. The "death of the future" is not worse, it is not more horrible. Read the Bible again, and you will see that Christ died on the cross, not to redeem and restore some abstract theory, but to redeem and restore ALL OF CREATION, including that Iraqi girl.

By the way, I've read the Bible through to the end. It turns out that the reports of the future's death, to paraphrase Mark Twain, have been greatly exaggerated. It turns out the future is safe in God's hands.

So, you can go on believing that the death of the future is worse than the death of a girl. But you only believe that because you were not there. Mr. Claiborne was there. I agree, he'll be preaching to the choir. I agree, no one's going to change their mind. I agree, we can't stop the bombs from falling. I agree, the whole thing is probably pointless. But Mr. CLAIBORNE WAS THERE!! You're weren't. Neither was I. BUT HE WAS!!!! So I'm going to cut him some fricken slack.

Hey Sheerakahn, Dude I like you. You usually have something intelligent and thought-provoking to say. Your best posts point out errors in thinking and can push people to look past the often shallowness in our practices of faith. But on occasion, whether you want to admit or not, you do let the cynicism in your head/heart bleed all over other posters here. I don't know if Shane's event will do anything at all or if it is the right step, but it is certainly a better alternative than the "crying over the death of the future and oh-how-lost, stupid, and worthless the Western church" mantra of your last post. Rather than just disparage the attempts of others, let's hear your ideas on how to do it better. I'm sure you have some good ones--and I mean that sincerely.

"No, sir, you are absolutely wrong on this."

mr. williams,

i wish i was...however, done is done...

hmm...

well, that's it for me.

fare you well mr. williams

i leave you in G-d's care.

Sheerahkahn, I've been thinking all day about how to respond. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed that you're closing off the conversation. You never really addressed any of the substantive issues I asked about. You never explained what you meant by the "death of the future", and you never explained how that was worse than the death of an innocent girl (by the way, the "I wish I was wrong, but I'm not, because I said so" argument doesn't fly). You completely ignored Mark E.'s request about constructive ideas on how better to address the issue of war. I was sincerely wanting to understand where you were coming from. Maybe you think I'm not smart enough or spiritual enough to understand something that is so obvious to you. But, oh well. I can't do anything about that.

But what I can do is try to give you a word of encouragement. I've been thinking about what you wrote in one of your posts, that experience was your most valuable tool. Then all of a sudden, it clicked! Don't let experience be your most valuable tool. Let the BIBLE be your most valuable tool! I imagine you must have gone through some difficult experiences that have left you cynical. And for that, I'm sorry. But I hope and pray that God will grant you the grace to look past those disappointing experiences to the glorious future God has promised us!

You see, when I read the Bible, I realize that God, more than anyone else including you, has the most reason--the most experience--to be cynical. But he isn't. He never gives up on us, and he never gives up hope, because he knows that he is not dependent on us to accomplish his purposes. He is the one in control. Like I said in my last post, the future is not dead. The future--our future--is safe in his hands. And no matter how many times we disappoint God, how many times we fail him, how many times we don't "get it," he is always able to take us, with all our messiness and all our failure, and use us to further his kingdom.

So don't be discouraged, Sheerahkahn! There is HOPE! GLORIOUS HOPE!! For you, for me, for Mr. Claiborne, for everyone of us who follows Christ, even if we do it imperfectly, and even if we do it in a way you don't agree with. Don't let anyone take this assurance of hope away from you. Don't ignore your experiences, but do submit them to the vision of God's kingdom revealed in the Bible, the vision of a kingdom where all wrongs will be made right, the vision of a kingdom that will last for all eternity!

"I was sincerely wanting to understand where you were coming from."

You have a funny way of expressing that, but understandable given the forum.

So...you want to understand...alright, since the memories have come back...

At least Mr. Claiborne didn't kill the child...and he didn't kill the mother, and he didn't kill the other mothers and children, and he didn't kill the old men who were hiding with hte mothers and the children.

You see, Mr. Williams, perhaps if you had asked me directly, instead of assuming things you would have gotten a straight up answer...but, and this is where G-d is talking to me now, but I should grant you the benefit of the doubt because, like me, you're human prone to jumping to conclusions before all the facts are lined up before you.

And, therein, is Mike's answer...perhaps, as a people, before we act like a pack of rabid baboon's strung out on meth, we actually took a step back, and thought out our actions before we acted on them...we might, as a people, much less as a church, be less prone to make regrettable decisions that will haunt us far into the future.

Sheerahkahn, in an earlier post I wrote the following: "As for your statement: '[I]f you think I'm being condenscending then I really need to up my game...' I'm not quite sure what that's supposed to mean. Are you trying to say that you could be MORE condescending if you wanted to? Are you holding yourself back? But maybe I'm reading you wrong." I acknowledged that, yes, I might be jumping to conclusions--which we all do, as you pointed out. But I think I asked pretty directly for an explanation of what you meant, because I really did want to understand. I never got a straight up answer from you.

Later I wrote: "We live in a country that produces people who think the death of some abstract concept of the "future" (what does that even mean?!) is MORE HORRIBLE than the death of an actual, concrete, living, breathing, flesh and blood innocent girl whom God created in his image." I asked you directly what you meant by the "death of the future." I never got a straight up answer.

In that same post I wrote: "No, sir, you are absolutely wrong on this. The 'death of the future' is not worse, it is not more horrible. Read the Bible again, and you will see that Christ died on the cross, not to redeem and restore some abstract theory, but to redeem and restore ALL OF CREATION, including that Iraqi girl." Your straight up answer to my assertion that the "death of the future" is not worse than the death of an Iraqi girl was basically, "No, I'm not." Nothing to back that up.

So I am well aware that I have had to assume things and jump to conclusions. Although I'm not quite sure what YOU think I'm assuming; and I think I'd rather not assume anymore what you think I'm assuming. But the reason I've had to assume things, the reason I've had to try to read in between the lines, is because you haven't given me ANY straight answers. You say now that you would've if I had asked you directly. But I've just reminded you of two direct questions and one direct challenge to something you said. You never responded to any of them.

So now, in your latest post you wrote the following: "At least Mr. Claiborne didn't kill the child...and he didn't kill the mother, and he didn't kill the other mothers and children, and he didn't kill the old men who were hiding with hte[sic] mothers and the children." Yes. Great. But I'm sorry, I don't get what this has anything to do with what we've been talking about. Like I said, maybe I'm not smart enough or spiritual enough to get it, but I'm going to need you to connect the dots on this one a little more for me.

Let's review. I began by expressing my surprise that you and elegance showed more indignation at Mr. Claiborne's event (whose biggest sin, from what I could understand from you, was that it was preaching to the choir, the people who needed to hear that message wouldn't be there to hear it, and it was pointless), than at the description of the suffering of an innocent Iraqi girl. Eventually you responded by saying that the death of the future was worse than the death of the Iraqi girl. So, no assuming things, no jumping to any conclusions, I'm asking you as directly as I possible can and hoping to receive some straight up answers: 1. What does the phrase "the death of the future" mean? 2. How is that worse than the death of an actual human being?

I don't say anything to start controversy. But wasn't is God who said that through Him all things are possible? And in James chapter 5, James says that the prayer of a righteous man has much power, and that Elijah was just like us and He prayed that it might not rain, and it didn't rain for 3 and a half years. And then he prayed again and it began to rain. Maybe we have lost sight of the power that Christ has brought to us. I know that I need help in getting there, but that's why we as God's family can work together to do this and have God's glory fill this earth. I love you all with Christ's love. May we all learn to live righteously with God our Father together.

Ben

Well, sheerahkahn, I did ask you directly (again!); but unfortunately, you have not been true to your word and you have not given me any straight up answers. Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed, as I really wanted to understand how the death of the future, in your understanding, is worse than the death of an Iraqi girl. Fortunately, I've learned to live with lots of unanswered questions, so I'll just consider this as one of them. I will drop in every now and then, however, in case you ever decide to be true to your word and give me a straight answer to my two questions. I hope to hear from you...

Ben Blackwell, I think you've made some really good points. We live in this age in a constant tension between the two realities that through God all things are possible, on the one hand; yet through sin many things that are possible just don't happen, on the other hand. The good news is that, despite some people's pessimism towards the future, one day we will live in a new world--new heavens and a new earth. One day our prayer will be answered--God's will WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In the meantime, our calling is to live in THIS world in way that is consistent with how we will live in THAT world for all eternity. This, of course, will make us look weird, out of place. Because, indeed, we are! We're strangers living in a strange land. We're (for example) Vietnamese immigrants living in a small town in West Texas.

What this also means is that we will be open to the God-inspired possibility that even though we cannot stop EVERY bomb from falling, maybe we can stop SOME bombs from falling. Maybe there are SOME innocent Iraqi girls (or Afghan, or Libyan, or Iranian, or from wherever) that won't have to die. And that's a start. For those whose lives may be saved, it'll make all the difference in the world.

Now, whether or not Mr. Claiborne's event will actually have any influence in this way is an issue that can be debated. Actually, I agree with sheerahkahn in that I have my doubts that it'll do any good (I suspect he may have assumed things about me, as well!). But that's fine, because I have no problems at all with God proving me wrong for doubting, even if I never find out in this world that I was wrong. Regardless, it's something. Mr. Claiborne can do his thing, and I'll put my efforts in doing whatever I can do in the place God has put me.

"Well, sheerahkahn, I did ask you directly (again!); but unfortunately, you have not been true to your word and you have not given me any straight up answers."

but i did answer you, mr williams.
the answer is right there...

"At least Mr. Claiborne didn't kill the child...and ,he didn't kill the mother, and he didn't kill the other mothers and children, and he didn't kill the old men who were hiding with hte mothers and the children."

i'd bold the entire sentence for effect, but the first part sums it up succinctly.

perhaps you remember the nations first encounter with the words "collateral damages"?
former general colin powell utter those sacrilegious words on national television due to the deaths of ~400 women, children, and old men.
i was part of that mr. williams...in a small way, i was part of that...much like paul except that i worked on the -------- that enabled us to do...such...precise work.

america is very good at war...unfortunately, americans are completely and totally ignorant of the costs of war.
when you have seen that many children die, and their bodies stacked up on their dead mothers...that mr williams, amazingly that you couldn't pick up on it yourself, is what a dead future looks like.

the future dies each time a child dies, that is sad, and cause to mourn; but when they die en masse...that mr williams is a very dead future.

I could write a book on how meaningless an ice-cream social is...a wake would have been more appropriate...final farewell to our faerie like dreams of a city on a hill...but that is for another time.

i have done what G-d insisted i should do, and you have your explanation mr williams...i am moving on.

Sheerahkahn, I appreciate you living up to your word. You quoted your original "answer"; and although I'm sure it made sense to you because you knew where you were coming from, for those of us who don't live inside your mind, we needed you to connect the dots. If you could've been more straightforward from the beginning, perhaps we could've saved ourselves a lot of time. Don't be so amazed that I couldn't pick up on it myself--we often don't communicate as clearly as we think we do, so it's important that we be patient with others when they don't understand us. I wish you had been more patient with me, but it is likely that the way I tried to communicate didn't help either.

So, I can see where you're coming from, now; and there is much I agree with. A bit of the future does die with each "collateral damage." We in America are incredibly desensitized and ignorant to the violent nature of war. And in this context, I get your objections to Mr. Claiborne's event. I can see how it can come off as meaningless, frivolous, inappropriate. But remember, Mr. Claiborne was there. Mr. Claiborne saw the horrors of war first hand, and I believe him to be sincere in trying to do something about it. So even though you and I may not agree with his point of view, I think he has at the very least earned the right for us to respect his point of view. Regardless, thank you for helping me understand your point of view. I hope this demonstrates that I was being sincere, regardless of how you may have interpreted what I wrote.

I know you are moving on, and I don't expect you to respond, but I do hope you at least read this message. Because I want to finish by repeating something I wrote earlier. I keep sensing that you have experienced things that have made you cynical, pessimistic. But I just want to encourage you not to let the experiences you've had define reality for you. Go back to the Bible and discover the hope it gives us!! Yes, perhaps the future IS dying--BUT CHRIST HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD. Satan, death, sin, war, injustice--all of that is a defeated enemy!! Every innocent child that died will be raised back to life! Everyone who has followed the way of Satan will share in his sentence! The future may be dead, but God will raise the dead. That is the hope of the entire Bible, both the Old and New Testament. And no one can follow Christ, as you claim to do, without experiencing that hope. So, like I said, I don't expect you to respond. You have fulfilled your word. But I do hope you read this, because I truly want you to experience this hope!!!