Peacemakers
Just now I couldn’t stop myself from clicking on a post entitled, “The Most Controversial Foods in America.” While waiting for the blog to open, I wondered if there was any issue that people don’t divide over. In case you are wondering, the most polarizing food in America is anchovies (followed closely by black licorice, oysters, beets, blue cheese, and okra).
Every year at this time I say something about the state of the church and I am proud to say that we, the church known as Cedar Hills Community, are growing as peacemakers. Peacemakers seek peace – especially by reconciling adversaries. Peacemakers don’t avoid controversy but instead, enter difficult spaces with the hope of building bridges.
The place I’ve seen the most peacemaking has been in intergenerational relationships. Many of you sought out people of another generation – not to argue with – but to pray for and pray with. It has been a beautiful bridge-building season. Uniting, not polarizing.
Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” The goal of our intergenerational focus was to tell each other about God’s mighty deeds. We did this and one of the fruits of this – which I did not see coming – was the fruit of unity. One generation loved another.
What a great place to be!
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
