The fears generated by the threatened war with Iraq make many people all over the world ask if there is any hope.

As the letter of James said, nearly 2000 years ago: "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you. You want something and don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have want you want."

What is needed is for individual men and women of all nations and races to be born again and hatred and lust for money and power to be replaced by love and compassion.

History is full of instances of evil and cruel men being changed by the power of God, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, king of ancient Babylon (and one of Saddam Hussein's heroes), to the present day.

Many Christians are praying God will change the situation and draw the nations back from the brink of war.

Furthermore, we as Christians believe with the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, who prophesied the Earth will be filled with knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

This will be when Jesus Christ returns to this world to bring in his kingdom of peace. On that day, all the world's problems will be over. Such is our hope in these dark days.

-Reverend John Webster, Gleton Avenue, Hove