BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.......

BleSSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS....... By Keith Hunt

Do you want to be a literal child of God? You do - then you will have to be a person of PEACE, for it is written, Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God (Mat.5:9).
The greatest peacemaker in the universe is the heavenly Father, but mankind, as a whole, is not at peace with the Father,because of sin. Sin (the breaking of the law of God - 1 John 3:4)cuts us off from being at peace with the Father. Notice Isaiah
59:1,2. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His eyes from you, that He will not hear."
Yet the Father wants a reconciliation - a peace - between Himself and mankind whom He created. So He cries out to those who could be His children, "Seek you the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked FORSAKE HIS WAY,and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him RETURN unto the
Lord, and He will have MERCY upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly PARDON " (Isa.55:6,7).

God wants peace!
He is the greatest peacemaker in all the universe. He wants -He DESIRES, that every last person who has ever lived or will ever live, should repent and not perish. For it is written, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, not willing(not wanting) that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance" (2 Pet.3:9, emphasis mine).

Repentance is vitally important for each of us if we are not to perish - if we are to make peace with God. Jesus said, ".......except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3). Paul was inspired to write, "And the times of this
ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men every where to REPENT" (Acts 17:30). We have literature on the subject of repentance - what it really is. Write for it if you have not already done so.

The wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23. The heavenly Father could not just turn a "blind eye" to our sins. He could not just ignore them as if we had never ransgressed His holy, just, and good law and commandments(Rom.7:12). Our sins had to be paid in full to make peace with Him, but instead of each one of us having
to die He made a way by which we could be made at peace with Him.
He sent His Son to overcome sin in the flesh, to take our sins upon Himself, and to die in our place. Notice it in Romans 3:23-25, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being JUSTIFIED(forgiven of sin - declared sinless) freely
by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God has sent forth to be a PROPITIATION(atoning sacrifice) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins(forgiveness of) that are past, through the
forbearance of God."

God the Father is the great peacemaker. He has made a way whereby all mankind can have peace with Him. That way is through Christ Jesus. Paul instructed the church at Ephesus, "But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our(Jew and Gentile) peace, who has made both one.......so making peace. And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross......And came and preached peace to you(Gentiles) which were far off, and to them(Jews) that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto
the Father" (Eph.2:13-18).

The way of peace with the Father is through Jesus Christ. The Father is the greatest peacemaker in the universe. He has gone out of His way to make peace with the humans He created. If we are willing to repent of our sins, if we are willing to separate ourselves from unrighteousness and follow righteousness(see Ps.119:172 for a definition as to righteousness), if we are willing to separate ourselves from the world of Satan and walk in the light and truth of God's word, then the Father says,
"......you shall be my sons and daughters......" (2 Cor.6:14-18).
We can then be the children of God!

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
How would you like to be remembered? What kind of reputation do you desire? What kind of image do you want? What words would you like to be carved on your tombstone - maybe the words: "Here lays a child of God" ?
If you earnestly desire to be the son or daughter of God, you will have to be a peacemaker. For it is written, "Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be called the CHILDREN of God."

How do we build a reputation as "the children of God"? The seventh Beatitude of Christ as they are called, tells us one way - being peacemakers.
We are all called to be peacemakers in one way or another. We are probably going to get at least one chance in this life time to be a peacemaker, and most of us will no doubt get many opportunities to peacemake.
Being a peacemaker can be extremely rewarding. Helping bring peace where there is conflict, tension, and strife, brings about a healthy sense of satisfaction.
Peacemaking can also be a tough role to play. And yet it is absolutely crucial if you are to be a child of God.

Senator Hubert Humphrey put it this way: "Negotiating between conflicting parties is like crossing a river by walking on slippery rocks. It s risky, but it s the only way to get across."

We see "breaches" all around us. In families. Between labor and management. Between nations. Between political parties. And between Christian brothers and sisters.
We have been called as Christians to be REPAIRERS of the breach. Restorers of paths to dwell in. Where a relationship has been ripped, torn apart, we are called to bring about
reconciliation and peace. Where there's a rupture, create a rapture. Where there is a scar, create a star - healing where there was only hurt.
Paul instructed, "If it be possible, as much as lies with you, live peaceably with ALL men"(Rom.12:18 - emphasis mine).

Peacemakers. Who are they? Are they only politicians or world leaders? Ah, not at all! They are people like you and me.Everyone can be a peacemaker. The mother who resolves the conflict between her toddlers is a peacemaker. The student who
helps settle disputes between her class mates is a peacemaker.The man or woman who helps in resolving family arguments, is a peacemaker. Those who help restore a spiritual brother or sister from being overcome by sin, is a peacemaker(Gal.6:1).
Every one of us can be a peacemaker - no matter who we are or
what we do.
There are great blessing here and now, and in the future, for being a peacemaker. You want to see good days in this physical life, then do as Peter instructed: "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good;let him SEEK PEACE and ensue it" (1 Pet.3:10,11).
Now notice this important verse found in Hebrews 12:14, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Now it follows that if we can not see God without following peace and holiness, then by following holiness and peace we shall see God!
It is just that important. To be a child of God you must FOLLOW PEACE. Those that do shall one day live for eternity and be called the children of God.

PEACEMAKERS
Abraham was very rich in cattle, silver, and in gold. He and his household together with Lot his nephew and all that he possessed, went up out of Egypt to the area of Bethel. So large were their combined flocks and herds, the land "was not able to bear them" (Gen.13:6).
Verse 7 says, "And there was STRIFE between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle...."
Did Abram, as the older man, get all steamed up with
indignation and demand his rights? Look at it - verses 8 and 9.What an example of peacemaking we have recorded for us. "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be NO STRIFE......between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we be
brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself .....from me. If you will take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
Among other things, Abram was a peacemaker. It is no wonder then that he is called the father of the faithful and a friend of God.

We too can not only be a friend of God but a child of God, if we are peacemakers.

The Bible contains many examples of people who were peacemakers. There is Moses and his peacemaking efforts as found in Exodus 2:13 and chapter 32, where he acts as a peacemaker between God and the people of Israel. There is the example of Abimelech in Genesis 26. We have the example of Mordecai as a man of peace - Esther 10. And there is David - a man after God's own heart - who tried numerous times to make peace with King Saul who was often out to "nail his hide to the wall." David returned good
and peace for the evil Saul wanted to do to him.

These are but some of the examples left us in the Bible concerning people of peace. Here are some from more recent history.

Rolan Hayes was one of three children born to a Black family on a fifteen-acre cotton farm in Tennessee. At the age of five Roland lost his father to an accident. His mother moved the family soon after the death of her husband, to Chattanooga. While in that town they sang in a church choir. And one day the choir director played for them a recording of Caruso and of Melba, two of the great singers of the day. Roland Hayes was so moved by the music that he said, "I believe that God has called me to sing a message of peace and brotherhood around the world."
With determination and effort over many years he did indeed become an international solo concert singer.
In 1924 he was booked for a concert at the Beethoven Concert Hall in Berlin. En route to Germany, Roland stopped in Prague. He was called into the American consul's office. "Mr. Hayes," the consul said, "I have bad news for you. You are going to have to cancel your concert in Germany. The French have taken over the Rhineland and they are holding it with troops made up of Negroes from America. The Germans are furious. No black-skinned person will be able to sing in Germany at this time."
"Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Consul," Roland said, "I will surely pray about it." The days passed and he could not bring himself to cancel the concert.
On the night of the concert, Roland and his black accompanist carefully made their way to the auditorium and slipped in through a back door. Once inside, they peered through the curtains and saw that the place was packed to overflowing. Now Roland realized he was an internationally controversial case.
When the curtain went up, Roland Hayes stood in the curve of the baby brand piano. He folded his hands, looked upward, and said a private prayer to God: "God, make me a horn for the Omnipotent to sound through."
As he stood silently praying, he began to hear hissing, then stomping, and then catcalls and boos. Somebody shouted, "Don't disgrace the Beethoven Concert Hall with plantation songs about black men from America."
Hate seemed to fill that auditorium. His accompanist said,"Mr. Hayes, we better get out of here!"
Then objects began to fly onto the stage, narrowly missing the soloist. Roland Hayes later recalled the incident and remarked, "I just stood there and prayed,'God,what will I do?' "
An idea entered his mind. To the accompanist he said, "Let's begin with Beethoven's 'This Is My Peace.' " The accompanist slowly and softly began to play. A surprised murmur ran through the hall as the German concertgoers heard the music of their favorite, Beethoven.
Roland Hayes opened his mouth and began to sing "This Is My Peace." His mighty voice rolled through the auditorium, and the audience fell into silence. By the time he finished, there was absolute attention. He went on to sing several classical numbers and ended the concert with Negro spirituals and plantation songs .
At the close of the concert, some members of the audience jumped up on the stage, hoisted Roland on their shoulders, and paraded him around the auditorium. He was the hero of the continent, and he was an inspiration in settling the dispute between France and Germany.

It s not always easy to be a peacemaker, but there can be great rewards here and now, in trying. And the best of all is that you can be called the CHILD of God.

Another great Black leader that advocated the peaceful means to procure change, was the Baptist minister of the 1960's -Martin Luther King,Jr.
At a young age, and while studying for the ministry, Martin attended a lecture about the tremendous social change that had occurred in India as a result of the efforts of a lawyer named GANDHI. Though born in India, Gandhi spent much of his early life in South Africa. He returned to India at the age of 46. He quickly saw that India was nothing more than a British colony and that it was slowly dying under such bondage. He advocated a nonviolent - peaceful protest against the British for India's independence. It was most important to be nonviolent Gandhi taught. Sometimes protesters forgot this and turned to violence and bloodshed. When they did, Gandhi would fast, refusing to eat until the violence ended.
It took years, seventeen long years, but through the combined efforts of people like Gandhi, the unity of the Indian people,and adverse world opinion, the British granted India its independence in 1947.
Martin Luther King left the lecture so excited he went out and bought all the books he could about Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence.

Martin recognized the differences between his country and Gandhi's. In the United States, blacks were only about ten per cent of the population. Still, he could not get rid of the
feeling that somehow Gandhi's philosophy could be applies to the plight of the blacks in the USA. Martin was living for the most part in the South, where there was still WHITES ONLY signs on Coke machines or water fountains or over doorways. Where blacks
had to ride at the back on public buses. On trains in the South,blacks had to sit in the rear of the dining car, and a shade was pulled down to separate them from the rest, as if the sight of blacks in a car would offend the white diners.
This was the world the blacks lived in, in the South. Martin was determined to do something about it - but only through peaceful means.

During the 50's and on into the 60's Martin Luther King became the most prominent voice for the Civil Rights Movement.His philosophy and teaching throughout all those years up to his assassination and death on April the 4th, 1968, was a nonviolent
PEACEFUL approach to "equal rights" for blacks.
Yes, the "Civil Rights Movement" was from time to time during those years, to be infiltrated by those who recommended violence as the solution to the black problem of the South, and indeed,violence did flare up at times, blacks being the instigators, but Martin Luther King would have no part of it. He stood only for a peaceful solution - peaceful marches and public demonstrations.

It was on Monday January 30, 1956, that Martin s house was bombed for the first time. He was not at home that evening.
When he did arrive home, summoned by a brief and frightening telephone call, he found his house filled with people and the street outside jammed with onlookers. The crowd of blacks was angry; police stood by, expecting at any moment to have to quell
a riot. The Mayor and Commissioner of Montgomery were there to grab Martin on his arrival and to express their sympathy. The crowd was not mollified. Rage filled the air.
Having seen for himself that Coretta and Yoki(his wife and daughter) were all right, Martin turned to the most immediate problem. The crowd might loose control at any moment and burst into violence. He made his way to the front porch and held up his arms. He spoke to the crowd. He assured them his wife and baby were fine. He was all right. They must not let their anger hurt the nonviolent cause for which they were working. He quoted Jesus. He spoke of love. Gradually the crowd quieted. Then,
Martin Luther King, Jr. channelled the high emotion of the crowd from negative to positive and made his first public utterance about the possi bility of his own death: "Remember, if I am stopped, this movement will not stop because God is with this
movement. Go home with this glowing faith and radiant assurance."Shouting "Amen!" amid tears, the crowd dispersed.

As the leader of the successful Montgomery bus boycott,Martin Luther King Jr., was in great demand as a speaker. Many young whites were receptive to his pleas for black equality.

Inspired by King and the nonviolent peaceful civil rights movement, young black students started their own nonviolent protests. Tired of segregation they wanted to do something about it.
So began the "sit in lunch counter" campaigns across the South. These "sit-ins" adhered completely to nonviolent principles. This is the list of rules governing behavior at sit-ins drawn up by Nashville, Tennessee, college students in the
spring of 1960:

Don't strike back if cursed or abused. Don't laugh out.Don't hold conversations with your fellow workers. Don't leave your seats until your leader has given you instructions to do so.
Don't block entrances to the stores and aisles. Show yourself courteous and friendly at all times. Sit straight
and always face the counter. Report all serious incidents to your leader. Refer all information to your leader in a polite manner. Remember love and nonviolence. May God bless each of you.


There was much sorrow and pain yet to endure for those who stood for de-segregation and equality through peaceful means. But their efforts were not in vain. During those years of the 60's, mountains were moved, the wall of bigotry was broken down, segregation was smashed, blacks did get to use the same water fountain as whites, sit on any seat they wanted to on the buses, and be treated as an equal part of the human creation of God Almighty.
All this was accomplished by the use of PEACE!
The world finally honored the peaceful efforts and teaching of Martin Luther King Jr. They presented him with the NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE in 1964.

Shortly before he died, King gave a sermon in which he related how he would like people to remember him: "......I'd like someone to mention that day of my funeral, that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like someone
to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to love somebody."

Ah yes, the fruit of the Spirit is........love, joy,PEACE........

Those that are peacemakers will be called the children of God.

THE CHILD OF GOD
Do you want to be a child of God? Do you want to be a son or daughter of the greatest peacemaker in the universe? If you do then you will have to practice peacemaking. And it may not be easy, for the NATURAL way of man is to dislike, distrust, impute evil motives, slander, and hate, those we think have "done us
dirt" in one way or another.
It is human nature to fight against and even go to war, with those whom we perceive to be our enemies. They may not really be our enemy, but we think they are, or they may very well have "done us evil." Which ever the case is, the natural way to go -the way of least resistance - is to hate and war, and not to try and peacemake. It is not a proclivity for most of us, to say,"Please forgive me if I have done or said something to offend you. I would like us to be friends." Or, "I ask your forgiveness for the wrong I have done to you."
It is not easy for human nature to say, "I realize their is a wall between us. I would like for us to talk, get things out in the open, lay the cards on the table, and say sorry where the word sorry is needed to be said. I would like us to forgive where forgiveness is due, and be at peace with each other."
No it is not easy to PRACTICE the above words. But we must try to do so as Christians if we want to be called a child of God.
With the power of the Holy Spirit in us we can be peacemakers!

Now brethren, it is commonly noised abroad that there is in many of the churches, dissent, bickering, strife, antagonisms,jealousy, suspiciousness, back-biting, and other "works of the flesh" that are anything but peace and love.
This should not be!
The fruits of the Spirit, are among other things, "....love, joy, PEACE ....... (Gal.5:22). Where there is little evidence of these fruits in a church's life, there can only be a lack of the Spirit of God among the church's membership.
The spiritual "thermometer reading" of any group will be determined by the amount of heated love, joy, and peace, the group produces. If there is little love and peace, there will be a VACUUM, and the vacuum will need to be filled. It will usually be filled with anger and strife, the works of the flesh (Gal.5:19-21).
Notice what God is NOT the author of, as well as what He IS the author of: "For God is NOT the author of confusion (tumult -mrg. reading) BUT of peace...." (1 Cor.14:33).
Yes, God is the greatest peacemaker in the universe - He wrote the book on it. He is the author of peace. And those who will seek to be peacemakers will be called the children of God.

Are you "at odds" with someone? Is there strife between you and another, or resentment, or anger, or maybe bad feelings over something? Then you need to do what YOU can do, to bring about peace. Do not wait for the other guy to make the first move
towards peace - he may never do so, or as you are waiting for him, he is waiting for you.
Paul instructs, "If it be possible(some carnal minded individual may never want to be at peace with you), as much as lies in you(you at least should smoke the peace pipe) LIVE PEACEABLY with all men" (Rom.12:18 added comments and emphasis mine).

I was having my car professionally washed and waxed one day,and while waiting in the lounge they provided for their customers, I came across a card in a rack of BLUE MOUNTAIN ARTS. The poem on it by Paula Finn was entitled: "I THINK WE NEED TO TALK." Here are the words:

"Lately things haven't been quite right between us....We've allowed some negative feelings to build up, and those unexpressed feelings have kept us from being as close as we could be.

We need to trust our love enough to share the truth.....to express criticism as well as praise,to be honest about our disappointments as well as our hopes, to communicate our hurts and frustrations, rather than keeping them inside.

We have to find ways to put into words what we need from each other, so the other person....can find ways to give it. And we need to be realistic in our expectations, and remember that no one person can ever meet them all.

We have to talk more freely about our own feelings and listen more sensitively to each other's, to realize that feelings are neither right nor wrong, but they are all important, and that our differences can really be strengths if we bring them out into the open and work together to solve them.

It will take effort and courage on both our parts, but we need to realize that keeping anger inside will only make it stronger and will cause us to hurt each other even more.

We have to talk.
I'm not quite sure how to begin.......but I know we must."
Yes, communicating through word or letter, to those we are
having problems with is the key. Jesus taught: "...if you bringyour gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you. Leave your gift before the altar;
first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift......Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven, for He makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward do you have? Do not even sinners do the same? And if you honor you brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the criminals of society do the same among themselves? Become you therefore spiritually mature even as your Father which is in heaven, is spiritually mature" (Mat.5:23,24,44-48 paraphrased myself).
Then also notice Jesus words in Matthew 18:15, "......if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone; if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother."

For those who claim they love Christ, who claim they are followers of Jesus, they must obey this teaching of being peacemakers, for Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words......" (John 14:23).
That's it, there's no way around it - Christians must put forth the effort to be peacemakers!
The child of God is to seek peace and pursue it(1 P et.3:11). There is joy to the counsellors of peace (Prov.12:20). Proverbs 20 and verse 3 says, "...It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." The words of Zechariah admonish us to love the TRUTH and PEACE (Zech.8:19). Jesus taught
us to "....have peace one with another...." (Mark 9:50). Unity of the Spirit is bonded together by PEACE (Eph.4:3).

Peace is an integral part of true wisdom and righteousness;"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then PEACEABLE.....The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace " (James 3:17,18). We are to do the things that
will produce peace (Rom. 14:19).

HOW TO BE A PEACEMAKER

Who are the peacemakers? They are not necessarily the people who are talking about peace all the time. Peacemakers are those who are doing something, creating something, building something -bridges, mostly!
You would like peace in your family, in your community, in your place of work, in your church. There will be no peace anywhere as long as there is war going on in YOUR heart and in your life.

To be a peacemaker you must first be at peace with God and yourself. You can be a peacemaker once you have your life together, once you've let the heavenly Father and Christ Jesus become your friends. When you have made your peace with them by repenting of sin in your life and accepting Jesus as your savior, once you have made peace to God through Christ, once you are at peace in your own heart and mind, when all your anger, bitterness, hate, resentments, jealousy, and animosities, have
been washed away from your heart by the blood of Christ, then you are ready to make peace with others - with those whom you need to make peace with.

So you are at peace with the two main persons of the universe, now what should you do next? I think the next move is for you to PRAY!

Pray for humility and wisdom. Pray that you will be able, in word and deed, to go about the job of making peace in the light of God's word.
Once you have done the above, you are ready to ACT! It s no use just wishing for peace but doing nothing. Just thinking about peace will not automatically bring about peace. You must act. Be determined that you are going to communicate, in verbal or
written word, with the person or persons you need to have peace with. Then fulfil that communication.
It will take effort, it may not be easy, but most things in life that are rewarding and lasting, do not come at the snap of the fingers, but takes work and effort.

Yes, all of us can be peacemakers - wherever we are. There may be a tension inside of you, in your home, or in your place of business. But you can resolve this tension if you give it all you've got. Tackling the problem of tens ion is no different than tackling any other problem. You can make peace in much the same
way that you solve other problems. The people who ultimately win at what they go after are people who give it all they've got.

This true story may help you win at peacemaking.
It happened on the slopes of Squaw Valley. The handicapped skier was a girl by the name of Kim. She was about eighteen and blind. Kim was being led down the giant slalom. She made it through forty-four gates, and she was lined up straight with the
finishing line. Her guide behind her said, "Straight ahead Kim; go for it!"
Kim dug in and was flying over the snow when she hit a rut. The poles flew out of her hands. She fell flat on her face. She knew she'd have to get her body across the finish line or be disqualified. She looked beaten, looked like she was out of it,
but she didn't stop. She reached out for her poles. When she couldn't find them, she started swimming over the snow, straight ahead, until she crossed the finish line.
"Kim, you made it!" the judge called out. But she didn't hear him. She just kept on snow swimming on her stomach for another five, ten, fifteen feet.
The judge kept shouting, "You made it, Kim; you can stop!"She still did not hear him. Finally a second voice, then another,then all of the spectators shouted, "You made it, Kim!"
Kim stopped, still flat on her belly. Then she heard the applause. She jumped up to her feet and danced for joy.
You can do it, too! You can be a peacemaker - you can be called a child of God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the
children of God.
Written in 1991
All articles and studies by Keith Hunt may be copied, published, e-mailed, and distributed as led by the Spirit. Mr. Hunt trust nothing will be changed without his consent. Navigation List

和好的福音 以弗所二11～22（2011-5-4）

和好的福音 以弗所二11～22（2011-5-4）

（一） 引言
母親節；天下母親愛家庭，愛丈夫，愛子女，愛和平，愛教會，愛在神家。

（二）本論（以弗所二章11-22）
（1）教會今年的主題，愛在神家（二章19）。
19：這裡講『我們我們不再做外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人』。

我們不是外人，不是客旅， 我們是怎樣的關係，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人 ，愛在神家。
家人，我們從外國回來，第一件做甚麽，就是打電話回家，『蜜糖，我回家了』，
我們是聖徒； 是同國的人，是聖徒，是天國的國民；
今天，我要跟大家思想，聖徒和天國子民的特質：所以，以弗所以弗所二19：
『這樣，你們不再作外人，和客旅；是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人。』
今天的經文清楚告訴我們，幾個重要的名詞： 『外人』：就是外族人，甚至是敵人； 客旅：旅客，過客，來消費，或是帶來不好的影響。
沙士，就是有一位中國教授來香港求醫，帶來沙士。
外地孕婦來港分娩，本地婦女憂心沒有床位。
外地人來買房子，80後地說，我們買不起了。
所以，外人有不好的意思。

究竟我們我們能不能實踐是神家裡的人，愛在神家。
就看我們有沒有愛在神家，不作外人，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人。
第1次世界大戰，第2次世界大戰，很多人以為世界大戰是神的審判，德國打法國，意大利打英國，打美國；英國人，美國人，意大利人，德國人都是信主的人，是弟兄姊妹。
基督徒的國家大戰，弟兄姐妹打弟兄姊妹，死了千千萬萬人的弟兄姊妹，這是甚麽？當時的信徒，當時有人以為是神的審判來到。
當然，這不是神的審判，乃是政治領袖的私慾，用武力去解決問題，用武力解決問題，一直到今天，都不能解決。 武力不是解決問題最大的力量。

第一次世界大戰之後，人人知道戰爭的痛苦，就不想用武力，就組成國際聯盟， 成立聯合國，不用武力，用討論，同『話語權』來解決問題。
請問，用口可以說服人嗎？
1931年9月18日，日本侵略中國東北省，中國可以用口把日本人趕走嗎，日本侵略中國，結果是發生第二次大戰； 聯合國，用嘴來辯論，可是不能說服日本人撤離中國。

甚麽的力量才是最大呢？ 愛。
愛的力量才是最大的力量；耶穌基督以十字架的愛為力量，用十字架的愛，用基督的愛，才能真正的征服人，最壞的壞人，只有用愛才能改變他。
掃羅是一個宗教狂熱分子，有權，有才華，這種人，危害很大，在使徒行傳告訴我們，
掃羅殺掉司提反，乃是因為司提反指責猶太人，說，『神不住在人手的聖殿，你們這硬著頸項、心與耳未受割禮的人，常時抗拒聖靈！你們的祖宗怎樣，你們也怎樣。』

你們心硬，聽不進去， 我現在就是以先知說話告訴你們，耶穌基督就是彌賽亞。
猶太人不進去聽，還煽動猶太人，要殺死司提反，處罰人的方法很多，絞刑，槍斃等，猶太人用石頭， 猶太人就用石頭活生生的打死司提反。
各位，司提反受逼害，受傷，還沒有死的時候，聖經記載，司提反『又跪下大聲喊著說：主啊，不要將這罪歸於他們！說了這話，就睡了。』司提反的話多麼美，司提反的臉多麼美，司提反的行為是多美，司提反的話語多麼美，也是耶穌基督在十字架的話； 『父啊，饒恕他們』。
使徒行傳十七章，記載，司提反看見耶穌基督就站在神的身邊，他看見耶穌基督，看見自己靈魂歸回耶穌基督，就表現出司提反多麼美的臉孔，美的言語，美的死亡。

當保羅打死司提反，拿著大祭師的令牌， 繼續去追殺基督徒，在路上一定想，我可以消滅基督徒。
保羅在追趕的路上，突然有大光照著保羅，保羅就撲倒，就是向穌基督仆倒，『掃羅…… 』。有人跟保羅講話，從此之後，保羅認識了耶穌基督，歸向了耶穌基督， 本來是殺基督徒的，變成傳揚耶穌基督，是司提反的愛，耶穌基督的愛，
使徒行傳很清楚告訴我們，誰接續司提反的工作；是彼得嗎？是約翰嗎；不是， 是保羅。
掃羅在大馬色的路上，遇見耶穌基督，遇見神，現在，保羅才明白過來，神不住在人手殿宇裡面。
神在路上可以遇見。於是保羅悔改了，保羅成為外邦的使徒，帶領外邦人歸向主，是司提反的死；是司提反的愛；
我們今天信主了， 同樣是司提反所傳的信息，耶穌基督是主的福音，是十字架愛的福音，是和平的福音，饒恕的福音，平安的福音，保羅延續了， 你我也來延續這和平的福音。

（2）這個世界需要和平的福音（二13～18）

耶穌基督在馬太福音五～七章的登山寶訓講和平，和保羅在以弗所二章講和諧，及今天在我們教會的主題『愛在神家』，又適逢今天母親節一個重要的日子裡面，但願天下的基督徒得到這個寶貴的禮物，平安，和平，和諧為禮物。
各位，保羅延續司提反的路，傳和平的福音，我有沒有司提反的信息呢，『父啊，饒恕他們』。
愛的為威力很大，

2001年，美國的911，引發的是阿富汗，伊拉克戰爭，直至2011年5月2日，美國軍隊殺死了拉登，目前局勢所關注的焦點，會不會報復。是更加和平，還是更多的殺害，局勢發展令人憂心。。
仗打完了，懷恨開始， 這個戰爭完了嗎，我們可以相信另外一個戰爭又開始了，
理論可以解決們問題嗎？或許可以， 可是愛的力量最大，最有威力。

以弗所二章說『你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裡，靠著他的血，已經得親近了。因他使我們和睦（原文作：因他是我們的和睦），將兩下合而為一，拆毀了中間隔斷的牆；而且以自己的身體廢掉冤仇，就是那記在律法上的規條，為要將兩下藉著自己造成一個新人，如此便成就了和睦。既在十字架上滅了冤仇，便藉這十字架使兩下歸為一體，與神和好了，並且來傳和平的福音給你們遠處的人，也給那近處的人。 』。

主耶穌來到世界上來，把任何高大的牆拆毀。
耶路撒冷是神聖的聖殿，神聖的聖殿卻有不近人情事情發生。
主耶穌來到世界上來，把任何高大的牆拆毀。
耶路撒冷是神聖的聖殿，神聖的聖殿卻有不近人情事情發生。
在耶路撒冷，猶太人的聖殿也有好幾十尺高的圍牆，它的裡面宗廟之美，百官之富遠遠的超過了世上的一切，在它的門口有一塊石碑，上面寫著：「外邦人不得擅自進入，否則格殺勿論。」怎樣的人才有資格進去呢？信猶太教的猶太人，所以所有的外國人或者叫外邦人的都只能在門外探個頭向裡面看看而已。

這道高牆，耶穌基督將牆拆除了， 聖殿有聖所和至聖所，祭師只有一年一次進入至聖所， 耶穌基督愛我們，為我們的罪死的時候，聖幕斷成兩半，根據希伯來的記錄， 耶穌基督是第一個進入至聖所，
以後，所有的人都能進入至聖所， 我們可以跟耶穌基督交通，不需要祭師，我們就可以禱告，耶穌基督的死是多麼重要， 使我們成為和平的使者。

十字架從此就成為救贖的記號，和平，和諧的記號。十字架的信息是基督徒的信息，基督和保羅是根據聖經的總原則來教導我們要『愛』。
基督徒所盼望的是天國，基督徒活在這個世界的動機是甚麽，就是建立天國，我們所傳的是天國的福音，天國的好消息，就是耶穌基督，耶穌基督就是福音。
天國在那裡，天國不是死了之後才得到，是現在就得到，是相信耶穌基督的那一刻，天國就在你們的心裡，
正如羅泰然牧師教導我們的，天國已經降臨，『已然未然，all ready ,but not yet』，
天國在那裡，天國在基督裡面，在教會裡面，在基督徒裡面，在基督裡找到平安，找到生命，喜樂，找到和平。

（3） 我們是和平的使者（以弗所二16—17.）
『既在十字架上滅了冤仇，便藉這十字架使兩下歸為一體，與神和好了，並且來傳和平的福音給你們遠處的人，也給那近處的人。』

我們要樹立追求和睦生命特質，如果，家人兄弟夫妻朋友、國家社會公司都樂意追求和睦，就是一個和平的社會。
彼得追求和睦面對一個難題，彼得問主耶穌，有一個弟兄得罪我已經7次，我已經原諒他7次了，現在我該怎麼辦？耶穌基督回答彼得，饒恕他70個×7次。

兵如港；青年人，怒視，打架
羅倫，希斯（Roland Hayes）羅蘭海斯,是美國著名的歌唱家。
他出生貧窮的家庭，他又極好的歌喉在美國，加拿大，英國歌唱。
世界第二次世界大戰的時候，他到了德國貝多芬音樂廳演出，那是德軍正好佔領法國的萊茵，
當時的法國軍官，有部分是黑人組長，因此，德國人十分討厭，將憤怒轉移在希倫的身上。
希倫極度為難進入音樂廳，為他伴奏的另一個黑人建議他取消當晚的演唱，立刻離開德國，
但是，希倫禱告之後，決定演出，一出場，希倫就遭受群眾鄙斥和噓聲；
就在十分惡劣的情況下，希倫平靜的心情唱出了貝多芬的名曲
『這是我的平安』（This is My Peace）.
會眾立刻安靜下來，因為『這是我的平安』是貝多芬寫的。
希倫的演出十分成功，打動德法兩國的領袖，解決紛爭。
希倫說，『我信神召我在全世界唱出四海之內皆兄弟也，以及基督和平的信息』。

但願，你我也是一樣，真能發揮我們是和平之子的生命特性，成為和平使者。

基督活在我裡面，我為基督而活，
我們每一個人成為基督跟誰者，用愛， 跟在耶穌基督的背後，揚起愛的旗幟『愛在神家』。


- ---------------------------------------
所以你們應當記念：你們從前按肉體是外邦人，是稱為沒受割禮的；這名原是那些憑人手在肉身上稱為受割禮之人所起的。
那時，你們與基督無關，在以色列國民以外，在所應許的諸約上是局外人，並且活在世上沒有指望，沒有神。
你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裡，靠著他的血，已經得親近了。
因他使我們和睦（原文作：因他是我們的和睦），將兩下合而為一，拆毀了中間隔斷的牆；
而且以自己的身體廢掉冤仇，就是那記在律法上的規條，為要將兩下藉著自己造成一個新人，如此便成就了和睦。
既在十字架上滅了冤仇，便藉這十字架使兩下歸為一體，與神和好了，
並且來傳和平的福音給你們遠處的人，也給那近處的人。
因為我們兩下藉著他被一個聖靈所感，得以進到父面前。
這樣，你們不再作外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人了；
並且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶穌自己為房角石，
各（或作：全）房靠他聯絡得合式，漸漸成為主的聖殿。
你們也靠他同被建造，成為神藉著聖靈居住的所在。

使徒七章43
你們擡著摩洛的帳幕和理番神的星，就是你們所造為要敬拜的像。因此，我要把你們遷到巴比倫外去。
我們的祖宗在曠野，有法櫃的帳幕，是神吩咐摩西叫他照所看見的樣式做的。
這帳幕，我們的祖宗相繼承受。當神在他們面前趕出外邦人去的時候，他們同約書亞把帳幕搬進承受為業之地，直存到大衛的日子。
大衛在神面前蒙恩，祈求為雅各的神預備居所；
卻是所羅門為神造成殿宇。
其實，至高者並不住人手所造的，就如先知所言：
主說：天是我的座位，地是我的腳凳；你們要為我造何等的殿宇﹖哪裡是我安息的地方呢﹖
這一切不都是我手所造的嗎﹖
你們這硬著頸項、心與耳未受割禮的人，常時抗拒聖靈！你們的祖宗怎樣，你們也怎樣。
哪一個先知不是你們祖宗逼迫呢﹖他們也把預先傳說那義者要來的人殺了；如今你們又把那義者賣了，殺了。
你們受了天使所傳的律法，竟不遵守。
眾人聽見這話就極其惱怒，向司提反咬牙切齒。
但司提反被聖靈充滿，定睛望天，看見神的榮耀，又看見耶穌站在神的右邊，
就說：我看見天開了，人子站在神的右邊。
眾人大聲喊叫，摀著耳朵，齊心擁上前去，
把他推到城外，用石頭打他。作見證的人把衣裳放在一個少年人名叫掃羅的腳前。
他們正用石頭打的時候，司提反呼籲主說：求主耶穌接收我的靈魂！
又跪下大聲喊著說：主啊，不要將這罪歸於他們！說了這話，就睡了。掃羅也喜悅他被害。

羅蘭·海斯（Roland Hayes,1887–1976年），美國籍音樂會男高音歌唱家。對美國黑人靈歌的詮釋讓人折服，將法國、德國藝術歌曲演唱得非常到位。海斯生於佐治亞州卡裏維勒，就讀于費斯克大學，是“費斯克喜慶歌手”（Fisk Jubilee Singers）主唱男高音。1924年因其作爲一名美國黑人而做出的傑出成就榮獲斯平加恩獎（Spingarn Medal）。\\

黑人男歌唱家先鋒◆陳茂生
十九世紀末期出生的兩位黑人歌唱家，是使得「黑人靈歌」在英國、歐洲及美洲成名的大功臣。一位是男高音羅蘭．海斯〈Roland Hayes, 1887-1977〉，另一位是男低音保羅．羅布森〈Paul Robeson, 1898-1976〉。

這兩位歌唱家以他們誠摯真純的心去「感受」黑人靈歌，他們的歌聲撥 了聽者的心弦，濕潤了千萬人的眼睛。前者以經典古典音樂的深厚基礎，將黑人靈歌帶給世人，後者卻是經由舞台音樂劇傳達出黑人靈歌的精髓。

羅蘭．海斯是二十世紀最受矚目的黑人男高音，他是一九二○年代全世界演唱價位最高的男高音。海斯出生於美國喬治亞州的柯瑞爾小城（Curryville），距大城市卡爾紅（Calhoun）幾哩路，父母都曾是黑奴。小海斯十一歲喪父，母親將全家遷往田納西州，卻是小海斯歌唱生涯的開始。他從小就唱著「家傳之寶」黑人靈歌，在教會參加詩班，也到街頭賣唱，賺錢養家。教會的一位音樂教師發現了他的歌唱天分，自 教導他唱歌技巧及音樂知識和樂理。海斯雖然非常喜歡學校生活，為了幫助家計卻不得不輟學，只讀完小學六年級，就出外做苦工。但是他人窮志不短，從辛苦賺的錢之中撥出了一部分，聘請家教努力向學，後來竟能以同等學力進入當時專收黑人學生的費斯克大學（Fisk U.）。他優美的男高音馬上被重用，成為該校「費斯克慶典歌者」（Fisk Jubilee Singers）的台柱之一，但是他仍需當人家的僕役，賺取生活費。
海斯的男高音出了名，一畢業即被肯塔基州最大城路易斯維爾城（Louisville）的一家無聲電影劇院聘為主唱，頗受該城人們的歡迎，卻因是黑人，只能在幕後歌唱。但他的名聲傳回母校，校長親自出馬，邀請海斯回母校擔任「費斯克慶典歌者」之主唱（特別為前往麻州波士頓之演唱之旅）。演唱會非常成功，海斯卻下定決心留在波士頓追求他專業「歌唱家」的美夢。他走的古典樂路線，除了需要專心練唱，更要辛苦工作存錢，為的是租下波城交響樂廳舉辦獨唱會，他以辛勤及毅力，自己籌畫一切細節，終於成為眾人皆知的歌唱家，佳評潮湧之中，紐約的卡耐基音樂廳、波城的交響樂廳，以及美國許多重要的音樂廳都相繼禮聘他演唱。海斯不忘本，除了演唱經典曲目之外，更竭力推薦黑人靈歌，他稱之為“Aframerican Religious Folk Music”（非/美宗教民歌）。由於絕大部分的黑人靈歌都是「傳唱」而來，海斯用心自己譜曲，編出交響樂的配樂，頗受歡迎，特別是他的歐洲之行，讓黑人靈歌成為他最受歡迎的曲目。一九二○年海斯的倫敦首演，驚 了英王喬治及瑪麗王妃，邀請他在御前演唱，從此，海斯成了英國及歐洲樂界的寵兒，持續將近十年，受邀至歐洲演唱。到了一九二○年代末期，海斯不但是最受歡迎的男高音，更是「演唱費」最高昂的演唱家。

只是，名聲如日中天的海斯，在自己的家鄉卻仍飽受種族歧視之苦。他為了紀念母親，又亟思「落葉歸根」，就回到喬治亞州，自己的出生地柯瑞爾，買下母親生他的小屋以及附近約六 英畝農場（海斯的雙親都曾在那農場當過奴隸），與妻子海倫及女兒“Afrika”住了下來。一九二四年的某天下午，他與妻女到附近的羅馬城（Rome）買鞋子，不經意地坐上鞋店中「只供白人」的試穿區之座椅，全家人被轟出店外。海斯心有不甘，回鞋店與店員理論，卻被揍得鼻青臉腫，全家三人還被當地警察逮捕入獄。這事件馬上成了全國 的頭條新聞，世界著名的美國男高音竟在自己的家鄉遭到非禮的歧視。只是，當時的喬治亞州州長Eugene Talmadge竟向媒體回應：「任何黑人若不同意本州的『種族隔離』政策，就請他們遠離喬州吧！」他更放下重話：「我們一定會守住這“Jim Crow”律法，而且一定會盡力保護它。」（註）
海斯雖然向報界聲稱自己沒有什麼好懷恨的，可是全家人仍在不久之後黯然「告別」「家鄉」，遷回他「創業」的源頭波士頓，並於一九四八年賣掉在喬州的農場。海斯在七十五歲時，在紐約的卡耐基音樂廳為自己舉辦慶生演唱會，特別為當時的「宗教學院」募款。他愛神愛人，把餘生投入鼓舞年輕音樂家的事工，不但提供獎學金，更親自調教（身教、言教），讓學生明白，不論自己是什麼膚色，只要誠懇、用心歌唱，必有昂首闊步的一天。他一生榮獲許多榮譽博士學位及榮譽勳章。八十六歲時，在麻省劍橋的龍基（Longy）音樂院舉行了告別演唱會，九十歲時去世，被榮葬於麻州的「希望之山」墓園。

海斯去世之後，喬治亞州的人們才覺醒到他們原來擁有世界 的「州寶」及美國「國寶」，「先人」竟然虧待了他。於是在一九九一年追 他進入「喬治亞音樂名人榜」，一九九五年該州的自然資源部在海斯的家鄉樹立了他的紀念碑，更在海斯曾經演唱的市政廳廣場前設立「海斯紀念公園」，且將該州的第一五六號州際公路命名為「羅蘭．海斯大道」。
二○○○年時，更在Calhoun城的哈瑞斯藝術中心（Harris Arts Center）完成了「羅蘭．海斯」博物館。從此，每年在該館舉辦紀念海斯的年度音樂會。海斯以真摯的心唱出了「黑人靈歌」的精髓，扣人心弦的演唱成為最具權威、令人難忘的「黑人靈歌」演唱之父，使「黑人靈歌」傳遍了全世界。

黑人男低音──保羅．羅布森

保羅．羅布森〈Paul Robeson, 1898-1976〉出生於紐澤西州普林斯頓的牧師之家。他原是學法律的，卻於一九二二年成為職業演員，只是他那特有的渾厚男低音卻將他帶入了歌唱世界，一九二七演唱舞台音樂劇大作家Jerome Kern（柯恩，1885-1945）的音樂劇“Show Boat”中類似「黑人靈歌」的“Ol'man River”（老人河），而一夕成名為國際 的歌唱家。
與海斯不同的是，羅布森的「黑人靈歌」是尋根研究及勤習來的，因為他並非成長於「黑奴」家庭，但是卻深入了解「受苦」前輩同胞的心，以及血淚所孕育而出的「黑人靈歌」，因此不但能在音樂劇中將「黑人歌曲」唱活了，更能以心靈唱出「黑人靈歌」歌中的信仰力量。他那天生的歌喉以及誠摯的心靈，使他與海斯二人並肩的努力，促成「黑人靈歌」躍上了世界音樂舞台，也為黑人聲樂家舖下了康莊大道。
（作者曾任台灣神學院教會音樂系教授暨主任；現旅居美國，擔任中華音樂崇拜學院加州聖工研究所特任教授）

註釋

“Jim Crow”律法，是涵蓋了將近一 年（1876-1965）的美國州法及地方法。大部分都是美國南方的州、郡。它是一種「種族分離」政策的法令。美其名為「分離卻是平等」地對待「黑人美國人」，實際上卻是極盡種族岐視之能的法令。不論是公立學校、公共汽車、火車、公共場合的洗手間，餐廳、商店，甚至是飲水機，都要「黑白」分明，任何黑人越了界就是犯了法，嚴重者連生命都保不住。“Jin Crow”原是1830年代的一位白人演員及劇作家，Thomas D. Rice在他的“Blackface”舞台劇中，所創出的一種滑稽模仿 作的歌舞叫“Jump Jim Crow”而得名（Jim Crow是劇中小黑人的名字）。這「種族歧視」法是全美國人之「痛」，卻一直到了1954年，美國最高法院判決州立大學「拒收」黑人學生是「違憲」，才有進展。而整個惡法的被剔除，更要等到了1964年，金恩博士榮獲諾貝爾和平獎之後，美國國會所訂立的“Civil Rights Act”（民權條款）以及1965年在詹森總統全力推 之下所通過的“Voting Rights Act”（選舉權條款），才大功告成。

名片推薦

1.Roland Hayes, “My Songs”：Aframerican Religious Folk-Songs. Boston, 1948
2.Roland Hayes Sings,“Negro Spirituals, Aframerican Folk Song”, Amadeo Records, Austria, AVRS 6003(12”LP)

參考書目

1.“Groves Dictionary of Music & Musicians”St. Martin's Press, 1973
2.“Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music”Oxford University Press, 1996
3.“Cassell Companion to 20thXCentury Music”by David Pickering, Cassell, 1997

>>更多精采內容請訂閱曠野雜誌

http://www.afrovoices.com/rhayes.html

英文詩歌分享 (1)My Peace
My peace I give unto you,
It's a peace that the world cannot give,
It's a peace that the world cannot understand.,
Peace to know. Peace to live.
My peace I give unto you.
這首詩歌告訴我們平安是由誰給予人呢？其實這首詩歌提到平安並不是世間所能給予，聖經 腓　四：7「神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裏，保守你們的心懷意念。」，這裏指出了平安乃是由神所賜予的。
記得在1998年放榜的時候，我未能入讀本港大學學位課程，當時我感到很徬惶；但這首詩歌成為我的支持，神在放榜路上給我平安和安靜的心，我在等候香港教育學院放榜的時間裏卻是安靜和平安的渡過。


My peace I give unto you 我將平安賜給你，
It’s a peace that the world cannot give 這平安非世界所能給，
It’s the peace that the world cannot understand 這平安非世界所能够瞭解，
Peace to know, peace to live 藉祂知，藉祂活，
My peace I give unto you 我將平安賜給你。

My joy I give unto you 我將喜樂賜給你，
It’s a joy that the world cannot give 這喜樂非世界所能給，
It’s the joy that the world cannot understand 這喜樂非世界所能够瞭解，
Joy to know, joy to live 藉祂知，藉祂活，
My joy I give unto you 我將喜樂賜給你。

My love I give unto you 我將我的愛賜給你，
It’s a love that the world cannot give 這份愛非世界所能給，
It’s the love that the world cannot understand 這份愛非世界所能够瞭解，
Love to know, love to live 藉祂知，藉祂活，
My love I give unto you 我將這份愛賜給你。

http://www.daisy-online.net/blog/?p=7084

http://www.live365.com/index.live


In 1924 he was booked for a concert at the Beethoven Concert
Hall in Berlin. En route to Germany, Roland stopped in Prague. He
was called into the American consul's office. "Mr. Hayes," the
consul said, "I have bad news for you. You are going to have to
cancel your concert in Germany. The French have taken over the
Rhineland and they are holding it with troops made up of Negroes
from America. The Germans are furious. No black-skinned person
will be able to sing in Germany at this time."
"Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Consul," Roland said, "I
will surely pray about it." The days passed and he could not
bring himself to cancel the concert.
On the night of the concert, Roland and his black accompanist
carefully made their way to the auditorium and slipped in through
a back door. Once inside, they peered through the curtains and
saw that the place was packed to overflowing. Now Roland realized
he was an internationally controversial case.
When the curtain went up, Roland Hayes stood in the curve of
the baby brand piano. He folded his hands, looked upward, and
said a private prayer to God: "God, make me a horn for the
Omnipotent to sound through."
As he stood silently praying, he began to hear hissing, then
stomping, and then catcalls and boos. Somebody shouted, "Don't
disgrace the Beethoven Concert Hall with plantation songs
about black men from America."
Hate seemed to fill that auditorium. His accompanist said,
"Mr. Hayes, we better get out of here!"
Then objects began to fly onto the stage, narrowly missing
the soloist. Roland Hayes later recalled the incident and
remarked, "I just stood there and prayed,'God,what will I do?' "
An idea entered his mind. To the accompanist he said, "Let's
begin with Beethoven's 'This Is My Peace.' " The accompanist
slowly and softly began to play. A surprised murmur ran through
the hall as the German concertgoers heard the music of their
favorite, Beethoven.
Roland Hayes opened his mouth and began to sing "This Is My
Peace." His mighty voice rolled through the auditorium, and the
audience fell into silence. By the time he finished, there was
absolute attention. He went on to sing several classical numbers
and ended the concert with Negro spirituals and plantation songs.
At the close of the concert, some members of the audience
jumped up on the stage, hoisted Roland on their shoulders, and
paraded him around the auditorium. He was the hero of the
continent, and he was an inspiration in settling the dispute
between France and Germany.

It s not always easy to be a peacemaker, but there can be
great rewards here and now, in trying. And the best of all is
that you can be called the CHILD of God.