Summary – Blessed are the peacemakers.
Podcast on Substack
With hate, we have more to lose than gain – break the cycle
We each stand in acres of ill will. The outcry, no matter how justified, drowns us. People live in fear of the future. We drink poison hoping our enemies will die. Spiritually, we fill the universe with bad will toward those we hate.
Jesus said to us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Some, not understanding the transforming power of love, believe this is a weak position. But it’s the most powerful. There is no power in the universe more powerful than love.
Reference verse and quotes
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
– Luke 2:14 (NASB)
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:44
“Resentment is like drinking/taking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies”
– Versions by The Buddha, Nelson Mandela, and others.
The virtues and ethical must prevail
Standing for what is good and right should be the goal of each of us. Injustice of any variety should not stand. Yet hate is another of those injustices, and unjustified.
In hate, we fail to recognize we have similar values. The values across our society, and across the world, are essentially the same. Politics gets in the way, and sometimes religion. Yet we can all live together peacefully if we just try. It happens all the time. And we can find ways to make positive change that helps all.
In-depth coverage
The poison of ill will
Anger, resentment, and hatred permeate our conversations, our social media feeds, and even our political discourse. We become so consumed by our grievances that we lose sight of our shared humanity. We allow fear and prejudice to dictate our actions, creating a toxic environment where trust and understanding are eroded. This “poison,” as Mandela eloquently put it, not only harms our enemies but also poisons our own souls.
The Power of Love and Forgiveness
Jesus’s teachings on loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us may seem counterintuitive and weak. Yet, they offer a powerful path to healing and reconciliation. Forgiveness does not condone wrongdoing, but it breaks the cycle of negativity and opens the door to understanding and compassion.
Building Bridges of Understanding
Despite our differences in beliefs and backgrounds, we all share fundamental values: the desire for safety, the need for love and belonging, better futures for our families, and the hope for a better future for all. Political divisions and religious dogmas often obscure these shared values, fueling conflict and division.
Conclusion
Love is a proven way to end conflict over a period of time. It may take years. It isn’t instantaneous, but within love we can negotiate for stable relationships and equity that is good for everyone.
Love is the domain of action, not emotion. It can transform the worst conflicts. Acts of kindness, empathy, and compassion build bridges of understanding based on respect and cooperation. Only a few don’t respond.
Love compels us to act with compassion, to seek justice, and to work towards a more harmonious and peaceful future for all. By prioritizing love and understanding, we can create a more just and equitable world where everyone feels valued and respected.
I offer you the opportunity to learn how to create positive change for all. Join me in first quarter 2025 in building a brighter tomorrow! New Way Forward on Facebook. We can do this!
Also, if you’re wanting to minister to new generations, Millennials, Gen Z, and Alpha, but are stumped, see my Church planning season – strong impact course below.
Probability Space
What probability spaces can we open in our minds to cultivate empathy by looking at others perspectives, and try to open constructive dialogues with understanding and positive outcomes for all instead of debates with winners and losers?
Potential Space
If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, how can we better let go of resentment and anger toward others, with forgiveness, and whether janitor or CEO, lead with kindness, compassion, and respect?
By embracing these principles and choosing love over hate, we can become messengers of goodwill, contributing to a more peaceful and just world.
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
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Church planning season – strong impact course
How can churches minister to new generations if they won’t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won’t come.
I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.
The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don’t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It’s for church groups and generates deep discussion. </p>
Free video preview of the course
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Course on Udemy: <a href=”https://www.udemy.com/course/understanding-and-working-with-new-generations/learn/lecture/46266901#overview”>Understanding and Working with New Generations</a>
Building a Community of Action
New Way Forward community
Can we make positive change in our world and end a lot of suffering?
Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said: “Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of the overcoming of it.”
The human spirit yearns for a world without suffering, but it’s through facing challenges that we progress. The world isn’t perfect, but together we can create a future with less hardship. Famine, discrimination, gun violence, and injurious economic and educational disparities are complex problems, yet understanding their root causes empowers us to find solutions.
Launching in first quarter 2025, the New Way Forward community will connect individuals seeking practical solutions and creating lasting change. We’ll focus on understanding problems and their solutions, and how to effectively create change.
Join us in building a brighter tomorrow! New Way Forward on Facebook.
If you made it this far, you’re a reader! Image two lawyers asking restaurant patrons for help writing their suicide notes, in this comedy. Intrigued? Please consider my novel, Death for Christmas: Be kind or it may kill you, on Amazon and Draft2Digital.
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My friend, David Ketcherside, former Christian broadcaster, has written a book series that I gave feedback on. It’s for men, written from his experience, thoughtful analysis, and heart. Gen A, Z, and X (Millennials) would find it very helpful. It’s available in print, on Kindle, and as an audiobook on Audible. Check out The Whole Dude. His description: “My hope is to remind readers what being whole looks like, and help them recognize the distortions that stop us from feeling totally awesome all the time.” He’s also excellent at marketing if you have marketing needs.
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– Dorian
Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.
Civic service opportunities
Do Unto Others Kindness Campaign, and civic engagement.
United Methodist Church Volunteer Opportunities.
Join or support Zero Hour and amplify the voices of youth organizing for climate action.
Peoples Hub. Resistance, Resilience, Restoration, Re-imagination. Online Popular Education. For movement workers to learn, connect, collaborate, and strategize – in and across the disability justice and solidarity economy movements.
Stakeholder Capitalism – a video podcast series from the World Economic Forum. Can capitalism be made to work for all of us – and to improve rather than destroy the state of the planet?
General service and aid opportunities (on One Spirit Resources Website). To add your service opportunity to the One Spirit Resources list, contact the author (me) through Facebook Messenger. Note that I only friend people I know.
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Education Opportunities for new generations
Becoming an Entrepreneur – MITx online
Evaluating Social Programs – MITx online
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Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.
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Author and books
Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love. Love is a major emphasis in all major religions and replaces law.
The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.
Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.
Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole
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