mastermind...

jesus, i have no doubt, is the smartest man who ever lived. not because he invented things, although i'm sure he had a hand in creation somewhere....! but because he did the best thing for the kingdom at all times. and that means the best thing for all of us in the end. i should say that's the very definition of smart.
what i don't get is, how with so many christians living on the earth right now, each one with their own unique piece of the perspective puzzzle, that once fitted together would surely mean jesus could be seen and known.......even with all that.....and so much grace flying around....and such all-reaching methods of communicating news and ideas....and such access to the political arena.......and a holy spirit gagging to be let out into the world through our inconsistent kindness and broken bravery........even after all that has been afforded us in the here, now and present, this is still the state of things.......


CrisisWatch N°41
2 January 2007

Ten actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in December 2006, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch,* released today.

In Somalia, full-scale war erupted between the Council of Somali Islamic Courts and the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government, with fighting estimated to have killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands. In Darfur, the humanitarian and security situation deteriorated while international negotiations continued over the deployment of a strengthened peacekeeping force.

The Occupied Territories saw their worst factional clashes in a decade as Fatah and Hamas battled over the formation of a unity government. Tensions over Iran's nuclear program rose after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions.

The sudden death of Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, prompted fears of a destabilising struggle to fill the power vacuum left behind. In Fiji, the government of Laisenia Qarase was deposed by military commander Frank Bainimarama in a bloodless coup. The situation also deteriorated in the Basque Country, Bolivia, Egypt and Kyrgyzstan.

One situation showed improvement in December. In Guinea, supporters of President Conte and the opposition reached consensus on conditions for organising legislative elections in June 2007.

For January 2007, CrisisWatch identifies Lebanon as a Conflict Risk Alert, or situation at particular risk of new or significantly escalated conflict in the coming month. A Conflict Resolution Opportunity is identified for Uganda.

DECEMBER 2006 TRENDS

Deteriorated Situations
Basque Country (Spain), Bolivia, Egypt, Fiji, Iran, Israel/Occupied Territories, Kyrgyzstan, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan

Improved Situations
Guinea

Unchanged Situations
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Chechnya (Russia), Colombia, Comoros Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, India (non-Kashmir), Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Moldova, Myanmar/Burma, Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Nepal, Nigeria, North Caucasus (non-Chechnya), North Korea, Northern Ireland (UK), Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somaliland (Somalia), Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan Strait, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe

JANUARY 2007 WATCHLIST

Conflict Resolution Opportunity
Uganda

Conflict Risk Alerts
Lebanon