Most of us want to live in peace – we try to Biblically reconcile with people, and still, living in peace can be tricky. It seems the whole world is in conflict. Where can we seek and find tranquility? Jesus says, “Go to the Church.” That means us! This is our time to commit that our Church will be the living peace of Christ – a beacon of hope in the world.

The sad fact is that even when we seek peace and reconciliation, it often eludes us. These are the moments when having a trusted Christian friend can make the difference between breaking a relationship or finding genuine healing and peace.

Sadly there are times when a true offense has occurred and, even in the name of peace, it can’t be overlooked. When conflict must be addressed, Jesus gives us the prescription on how to preserve peace and protect joy while confronting hard truths.

Normally we say that “IF” leads to regret. But Jesus understood that living in joy requires being at peace with people. The first moment conflict arrives can determine whether or not joy will be the victim. How do you react in the immediate moment you feel hurt, slighted or offended? Anger rises quickly; however, it need not spill out. Jesus teaches us how to seek peace first.

This weekend, Chesapeake’s long-time friend Kenn Kington brings us the simple joy of laughter with his own special brand of stand-up comedy. Kenn’s hysterical observations about everyday life remind us that sometimes joy is standing right in front of us.