Pilgrim:
Let me make sure I am understanding your position on war, specifically in regard to how it applies to Christians. Is it your contention that no Christian should be involved in any war? specific kinds of war? but rather they should restrict their involvement only to that of prayer?

Okay I have friends in the military, one of my closest friend is a Lt. Colonel good man, good Christian but that is his job and he does it quite well as in a short time he has been promoted several times based on performance. He is humble and devoted to his wife and family, he does not agree with war especially the the speed with which our modern day leaders resort to war. War is not a picnic it is not something that we can just pretend to be God and follow the examples of the Old Testament. God knew what he was doing, we dont. I am sure He took no joy in what happened, but He is God. I question the almost cold way in which persons whose hearts are supposed to be filled with love scoff at the deaths of others. Will read the articles you mentioned in your follow up post.

Boanerges:
"So D your telling me that its more scriptural to allow evil to happen and for you to just pray about it and hope it goes away. How do you reconcile that with 1 Tim. 5:8? Shouldn't safety also be something you provide?"

Where I live my friend I have to trust that God will keep my family alive and safe and He does each day. SO yes I depend on my prayers and the Grace of God toward His people to keep my family out of the clutches of the wicked. Before I came to know of God's call on my life I was filled with fear and this fear lead me to study martial arts which I did for over twenty years and I also did lessons at a private legal gun range in the effort to defend my family and myself against the actions of gangs under instructions from drug leaders etc. but I solved nothing. I am now without that fear that gripped me prior to my Christian walk. If I feel concern for my families safety my wife and I and the Christian members of our family hold prayer meetings and ask for Gods prtection and we conduct our various businesses in war torn areas without incident, thanks be to God. I do not want to seem as though I am taking a higher road than every one else as I am sure that if you examine the question and look at it in the context that it was meant we would agree.

There is an exercise that I try to do every day all through the day, it is this, when I am confronted with a situation that is potentially hostile, to pray first and always ask for Gods' Grace first. Keep the need to react further away from my thoughts. It is hard to do but I try to everyday, and it keeps me from trying to do what I think too quickly in situation that can affect another life or even my own and I take this attitude to every level. I believe that this is biblical and that the time of "an eye for and eye" has passed.

Roy.