What does it mean to be an evangelical peacemaker? For many this is an oxymoron. How can you be a true peacemaker and at the same time be a faithful evangelical? I get criticisms from both Muslims and Christians about this. Some Muslims accuse us of doing peacemaking only as a means to evangelize. Some Christians believe that peacemaking without evangelizing is meaningless. 

Here are the top ten books I’ve read in 2011. It was painful whittling the list down to only ten books, but hopefully this will give you some books to read as part of your New Year’s resolution if you haven’t read them yet. 

In my series on Biblical Holism I have defined the gospel as Old Testament promises of good news fulfilled in Jesus. This good news was fulfilled in Jesus and demonstrated by Jesus when he healed the sick, fed the hungry, or forgave sinners.

Carl Medearis is an expert on Muslim-Christian Relations and the Middle East. John Piper is a famous evangelical pastor and author. What do Carl and John have in common?

Virtually everyone – atheist, animist, secularist, or believer – agrees on one theological doctrine: the world is in a mess. Theologians call this the doctrine of sin or “the fall.” Newspapers call it headlines. Why are we in this holistic mess?

I have the privilege of serving in a denomination that believes in a holistic gospel.  I believe in the spiritual part of life, and I value evangelism as long as we understand it as bearing witness to Jesus and not converting people to Christianity.

What if communities all over the United States - and all over the world - launched Peace Feasts? What if there was a Peace Feast Phoenix, a Peace Feast Chicago, a Peace Feast London, and a Peace Feast Dubai? What if each feast came with an attitude that promotes humbly receiving blessing and generously extending blessing?

In 2004, a group of about 25 people from a small church group met at a Lebanese restaurant near Arizona State University. Each week they came with hungry stomachs and open ears. This group was interested in other cultures, and Ali, the owner of the restaurant, didn’t leave them disappointed.

At Peace Catalyst, we do this thing - which we would love others to reproduce around the world - called Peace Feast. The Peace Feast is a movement of “dinner clubs,” frequently gathering at ethnic restaurants in order to learn about other cultures, enjoy good conversation, and seek the flourishing of their local and global community.