麻豆约拍

Good morning, Watching the jerky, black and white images of men in steel helmets clambering out of their trenches with fixed bayonets, it鈥檚 hard to imagine that this is real footage of 100 years ago. Great, silent explosions, men falling in the churned up mud, blasted trees and barbed wire.

鈥淚t鈥檒l be over by Christmas鈥�, they said. But it wasn鈥檛.
鈥淚t was the war to end all wars鈥�, they said. But it wasn鈥檛 that either!

Just twenty one years after the Great War ended we were plunged into another one.
Hitler invaded Poland and on this day seventy five years ago, we declared war on Germany again.

Today, war dominates every news bulletin again. The human race appears incapable of living at peace with itself.

The Bible聽 teaches us that war has its roots neither in politics nor religion but in the human heart.
鈥淲hat causes fights and quarrels among you?鈥�, asks James the Apostle. 鈥淒on鈥檛 they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.鈥�

Paul writes to Timothy and tells him, 鈥淚 urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people鈥� for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.鈥�

Heavenly Father, we pray this morning for all those caught up in war and for those who have suffered injury and loss through conflict.
We pray for all of those in government who are making important decisions that affect our lives.
Grant them wisdom and understanding that we may be governed justly, peaceably and well.
In Jesus鈥� name
Amen