Syria: The Stuff No One Wants To Talk About

I have read countless articles from political, religious and ethical perspectives on why or why not the U.S. should militarily intervene against the Syrian regime. Most do a decent job evaluating the situation, but I am yet to read one that really puts the human element on the table as a deciding factor. A few …

Our Obsession with Violence & the Stories You’re Not Supposed to Hear

Upon my recent return from the Middle East (with The Global Immersion Project), I was struck more than ever before at our Western infatuation around military aggression, violence and division. Not only are these the primary narratives we are fed through our major media outlets, they are the narratives we subconsciously embrace through the latest …

Ramadan, A Shared Table & Following Jesus

Last night, Janny and I had the honor of sharing a table with a gathering of local Muslim’s for an Iftar meal.  It is currently Ramadan, which means the Muslim community around the globe fasts everyday day from sunrise to sunset.  No food. No water. No tobacco. No sex. Each night they have a celebration …

An Inconvenient & Unlikely Experience of Peacemaking

We often associate the work of peacemaking with grand political agreements or far out euphoria that really isn’t worth our time and effort.  The more I understand the work of peacemaking through the life and teachings of Jesus, the more I realize peacemaking isn’t a far off ideal, but the very real and tangible realities …

Christians and Muslims: Shall We Dance?

There is no doubt that the global relationship between Christianity and Islam is strained.  Although both are monotheistic faiths (religions that worship only one God) who share much of their history and family lineage (all the way back to Abraham), there have been many political, cultural and social realities over the years that have driven …