Peacemakers

I was driving home from the grocery store today after a harrowing experience of shopping and I saw a sign outside a small church. That sign has caught my eye many times before but today, I read its message and realized how much the world needs it. It said simply:

PRAY THAT THE PRINCE OF PEACE RAISE UP PEACEMAKERS

What is a peacemaker? It is someone who promotes peace. Ok..that was way too simple. But the sign could just have easily said:

PRAY THAT THE PRINCE OF PEACE RAISE UP MORE PEOPLE LIKE BARRY MANILOW

Barry personifies the definition of a peacemaker. He brings people together from just about every age, race, religion, ethnic background and gives them common ground. He talks about peace. He promotes peace. He works at supporting peace. He wrote a musical about peace: Harmony. It's hard in his world to maintain that character, with all the backstabbing and bitterness in the entertainment business. It's hard to maintain that attitude when he is constantly attacked by the media, his fans, and his critics.

It's my prayer this Christmas season that God raise up more people like Barry. What this world needs is for all of us to "stop hollering" at each other and be peacemakers.

"Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!"--Matthew 5:9

Praying for more Peacemakers,
Texas Fanilow

Putting Power in Perspective...Always be for something

Another fan and a friend of mine, shared this the other day and I thought it was worth highlighting, viewing the current tone on the message boards that mirrors the tone in our country. See if you agree...

As human beings, we cannot help but be subject to our preferences. However, we do have control over the manner in which these manifest themselves in our lives. Every value we hold dear is an expression of either support or opposition, and it is our perspective that determines whether we are FOR something or AGAINST it. As an example of a situation we are all familiar at this time, we can direct our energy and intentions into activities that promote peace rather than using our resources to speak out in opposition of war. On the surface, these appear to be two interchangeable methods of expressing one virtue, yet being FOR something is a vastly more potent means of inspiring change because it carries with it the power of constructive intent.

When you support a cause, whether your support is active or passive, you contribute to the optimism that fuels all affirmative change. Optimistic thoughts energize people, giving them hope and inspiring them to work diligently on behalf of what they believe in. Being FOR something creates a positive shift in the universe, which means that neither you nor those who share your vision will have any trouble believing that transformation on a grand scale is indeed possible. To be AGAINST something is typically easy, as you need only speak out in opposition to it. Standing up FOR something is often more challenging, because you may be introducing an idea to people that may scare them on a soul level.

Throughout your life, you have likely been told that the actions of one person will seldom have a measurable impact on the world. Yet your willingness to stand up for what you believe in instead of decrying what you oppose can turn the tides of fate. The thoughts you project when you choose to adopt a positive perspective will provide you with a means to actively promote your values and, eventually, foster lasting change.

It's easy to criticize, but so much harder to be FOR something. Barry is a perfect example for this and he shows us how the actions of one person--"one voice"--can indeed make a difference.

Adding my voice to his and being FOR PEACE,

Texas Fanilow

(thanks Carole for sharing this principle)