Uncommon Peace

The other night our family went to Waxahachie with some fellow believers to Bethlehem Revisited. It was a taste of what things were like in Bethlehem around the coming of Jesus into this world. Everywhere we walked there was someone in character greeting us with the word, "shalom". It is the Hebrew word for peace, but it means so much more than that. We need shalom. The opposite of shalom, which is injustice is all around us. One of my favorite songs at this time of year is, I heard the bells on Christmas Day. The following words of this song speaks to our experience in our day: there is no peace on earth, hate is strong that mocks the song, peace on earth good will to men. But there is hope for shalom. It will come, as more words from the song proclaims: then peel the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor does He sleep, the wrong shall fail the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men. Until ultimate shalom does come, it is through the church that Jesus wants to spread shalom. It is through His big “C” church that He will bring it, but not only that, but through The Ridge Church He wants to spread shalom. We are a part of spreading shalom. So, today let’s see what uncommon peace looks like as we look at God’s heart for shalom and His church to spread it.