You are already aware of what comes to mind when people think of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I just spent 10 days in the Holy Land and I now have a new way of seeing the threats on Israelis and the occupation of the Palestinians. The conflict is no longer just about religion, land, and justice. It is about real people and friends that I have made there. I heard stories from both sides (this is my second time there). I have seen their pain, faced my own prejudice, and learned a lot about peacemaking. 

Peacemaking is not rocket science. Ultimately, it’s about friendship, and Rabbi Solomon and Steve LaSala masterfully modeled the three foundational steps of friend-making. I encourage you to follow their example by beginning a friendship with someone whose perspective is different than your own!

David L. Johnston has just written an article in response to last week's Newsweek cover article, “The Global War on Christians in the Muslim World,” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Can any parallels be drawn between the behavior of Ahmadinejad in Iran and dispensational Christianity?

N.T. Wright often speaks of God’s mission in terms of “putting the world to rights.” Our world, full of irresponsibility, greed, power, lust, and violence, is desperately in need of restoration.

Common grace, common ground, and the common good are three indispensable keys for peacemakers that help us build bridges for peace, partner for human flourishing, and bear witness with authenticity!

Common grace shows us that we have common ground, and this leads us to seek the common good. These are indispensable keys for peacemakers, as they help us build bridges for peace, partner for human flourishing, and bear witness with wisdom and grace.

Like most Americans, I am frustrated by the government. Polarization and gridlock of congress; attack ads and uncivil discourse; inability to stop the economic meltdown. What a mess! I feel like Nathanael did when he heard about Jesus for the first time: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” I have to ask, “Can anything good come out of Washington, DC?” 

As Muslims and Christians, we won’t agree on some central tenets of our respective revelations, but we certainly can celebrate – and hopefully put into practice – a God consciousness that empowers us as God’s trustees to shape our world in a way that brings honor to His name.