We can imagine being on a small fragile boat, in stormy waters,- no match for the elements..

Just so, we can imagine ourselves feeling very small  and  fragile when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm us.

The ship, or boat, has always been a common image for the church.

That’s where we get the word “nave” for the area you sit in- it’s from the Latin for ship.

There are cruise ships and ocean liners- and some churches are like that., or used to be.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives .Do not let your hearts  be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Jesus gives us this as stated in the Gospel of John.

What is this peace? Interested in your thoughts.

More than 60,000 Palestinians expected to visit Israel as tourists in 2011

The permits are not usually issued to individuals or families, but mainly to schools and summer camps wishing to take children to visit beaches and mixed Jewish-Arab cities in Israel.

By Anshel Pfeffer

Here's the latest bad news from the Middle East....

6 in 10 Palestinians reject 2-state solution, survey finds

By GIL HOFFMAN 
07/15/2011 04:26

 I've never given thought to this because I've never owed taxes, but as someone who is less than impressed with the governments stance on Militarism, I thought that this was both funny and powerful. What do people think?

MY LETTER TO THE IRS BY SHANE CLAIBORNE

We talk a lot about peace on earth. We think we want a utopian state of peaceful bliss. But do we? Or would we become hand-in-the-chin, puddle-of-drool-on-the-desk bored with that?

The last time a country invaded another country was the US invasion of IRaq. China which is the up and coming empire has not invaded a country since 1950. (Tibet)

Have our national leaders learned that the cost of war is always greater than it's perceived worth? it also seems that counties are reducing the size of their military and war machines. Have we started down the path, where invasions of other countries will be unthinkable.

This little song is from a Vancouver singer.

 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.