I am long over my pre-tribulation rapture days and looking at “signs” in the Middle East and making wild predictions of the end of the world.

Where I find myself these past many years is longing for peace. A longing to “study war no more.” There is a longing when I pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It is a deep longing that God’s peace can and will reign.

As Iran launches drones at Israel and Israel knocks missiles out of the sky, I am not impressed with Israel’s defense or the ability of pilots in American jets to aid in defense. I find myself, instead, longing for peace because each of these attacks will find damage in the lives of ordinary people and in many ways create more refugees that the world will continue to ignore.

I pray for peace:

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all people may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. AMEN. (BCP, p. 654)