The news this week from Christchurch, New Zealand was heartbreaking. Fifty Muslim men, women and children gunned down by a 29 year old during prayers. Some on Facebook and other social media have pointed out the other killings this week in places like Nigeria of Christians by Muslims, but why is this needed? Why can’t… Read More Do you feel connected in heart to Muslims?
What does courage look like? One doesn’t need to look beyond the face of Malala Yousafzai, who this last week returned home to the beautiful area of Swat in NW Pakistan. You may remember that in 2012, when she was only 14 and on her way to school, Taleban gunmen stopped her bus and asked… Read More Malala Yousafzai Returns Home
As the world gets caught sleeping again during a horrible developing genocide, courage is again in short supply on the part of world leaders. The Armenians and Syrian Christians in Turkey in the early 20th century, the Jews in the Holocaust, Cambodia at the end of the 1970’s, Rwanda in 1994, Bosnia in the 1990’s.… Read More “The Presence of God is also called Rohingya”
It must have been a stark and stunning image that September day in 1287: Edward I, the King of England, kneeling to receive communion from Rabban Sauma, an Asian Church of the East leader. Sent from a Mongol ruler named Arghun from the capital near modern day Beijing, (and with overall Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan’s… Read More Power Reversal: A 13th century Asian Christian leader gives Holy Communion to the King of England
Last night here in Singapore I had the privilege to speak at the graduation of a six-week seminar called School of Transforming Business. Singapore is an epicenter helping fuel the present and future dynamism of Asia’s economies. (See my last post, in part on Singapore Treat the Stranger With Tender, Loving Care-For You Were One… Read More The Bugis and the Sogdians: Two Merchant Peoples in Asia with a Mission
Today on the radio I heard a story that touched me deeply. Maybe some of you have heard it. It concerned a Texan man who is a sign-maker. Many times we associate people who hold up signs as those who have a message of hate, of anger. But this was different. This man had a… Read More ‘You Belong. Stay Strong. Be Blessed’: A Message from a Texan to Muslims in the USA
It is the first few days of Ramadan, the month of fasting that Muslims all over the world are participating in. As an act of love, faith and hope, an estimated one million Christians are praying for their Muslim friends and neighbours during these same 30 days. What is not often considered is that those… Read More Praying Not Only For Muslims But With Them
At least some of those reading this would be honest to say that they don’t love Muslims. Maybe not hate, more like ignorance or possibly fear is what is experienced. But when we have even one Muslim friend, everything changes. And for those of you who pray, regularly remembering Muslims in love, faith and hope… Read More Want to Change Your Heart Toward Muslims?
Ever been to Qatar? It is a small nation state that sits on the southwestern side of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East. Shaped like an oversized thumb, it is becoming a crossroads of global finance and trade in competition with places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the nearby United Arab Emirates. Qatar… Read More What Can a 7th Century Qatari Mystic Teach a World of Constant Noise?
Welcome to 2016! For some of you reading this, it has already started. For others, including me, it is still a few hours away. I want to thank you for reading my blog posts in the last six months. In the new year I will continue to post on Asian history, Christian-Muslim relations and contemporary… Read More Musings on the Year Ahead
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learning life and leadership in Thailand
Our Journey Into Justice, Compassion, and Action
IFES Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement
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COMMUNICATING ACROSS BOUNDARIES
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Encounters of Faith in Asia: Past, Present and Future 