Dear Readers,

The Middle East turmoil, the speaker observed, has not only "highlighted the need for peace, but has also underlined the logic of peace."

The "logic of peace"—what an intriguing concept! This expression has stuck with me ever since I heard it delivered several years ago by Madeleine Albright, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former secretary of state. It is plainly logical, she explained, that only peace can deliver to people the common desires for which all humanity seeks.

This was about the same time that another phrase had briefly flared into public consciousness—"The Road Map to Peace." Remember that? Probably not. It was the title of President Bush's plan for Middle East peace, but it soon landed on "the shelf of empty platitudes," fading away as the magnitude of the problems overwhelmed any realistic hopes for peace.

Peace is logical, of course, but we must have the right road map! As I listened to Mrs. Albright, I thought that among the 10,000 in the audience, only those who have a grasp of biblical prophecy can really connect the dots between her analysis of current events and what the future holds.

"I am in my seventh decade now, and have seen few periods with more dangers or turbulence than this one," she said. "I learned early in life that there is great evil in the world." And now, she explained, world leaders are hard-pressed to prevent "the perfect storm" of terrible world conditions from developing. World military battles today, she proposed, are really the lesser of our problems. The bigger conflicts are the "battles of ideas" that eventually ignite physical clashes. Ironically, our differing road maps to peace lead us to conflict!

Maybe that's because we've ignored where the logic of peace really resides. Jesus told His disciples, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). Only God holds the road map to peace, and real peace among people can come only through us first making peace with Him.

It's a real road map—it is logical, it is true, it is time-tested, and it is different. Are you looking for a new road to travel in life? Tired of the way the world is walking? See that it's leading nowhere? You can begin to find direction that will lead you to God's peace, and we're here to help.

The "logic of peace" has always been a part of the gospel message. Paul wrote, "As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!'" (Romans 10:15). However, the logic of spiritual peace escapes most people, as Paul revealed in the next verse: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For as Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?'"

In lieu of the gospel report, people choose other things. Secretary Albright astutely observed, "To seize the sword instead of the olive branch is a choice; to teach children to hate is a choice; to dehumanize and disrespect is a choice. When people have the ability to choose they have the opportunity to change."

We just have to know the right thing to choose! The gospel of peace is the road map to peace; it is the path to change! Continue to walk with us in discovering God's road map—His way of life!

To help you along that road, take the time to read, download or request a free copy of The Road to Eternal Life.

Clyde Kilough
President
United Church of God