World News and Trends: Peace in whose time?
The Stockholm Institute for Peace Research is celebrating a world without war between sovereign nations.
The Stockholm Institute for Peace Research is celebrating a world without war between sovereign nations. Regular Times feature columnist Simon Jenkins stated: "In 1997 we contemplate a second year in which, for the first time since proverbial records began, nothing that could be called a state of hot war exists between sovereign countries. Guns are not firing across borders."
Sometimes friction among the nations of the former Yugoslavia may stretch this point a bit, and civil war certainly exists at several points on the globe. Also, tensions are much in evidence between sovereign states; witness the Middle East.
Still, we have to be thankful for whatever peace does exist while keeping a wary eye on Jeremiah's ancient prophecy of national leaders proclaiming, "Peace, peace!" when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). The apostle Paul also referred to a time when people would say, "Peace and safety!" yet sudden destruction would soon follow (1 Thessalonians 5:3). (Source: The Times.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: March - April 1997
Course Content
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
