Isaac-Ishmael Initiative

Advent Week 1: Keeping Hope Alive [Writer’s Note: I will be publishing only one time per week, on Tuesdays, through the month of December because I am working on two writing projects.

Thank you to so many people who care deeply for the well-being of people in the Middle East - whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. As we prepare for 2026, please consider giving a donation on Giving Day to bless those in need.

Donate - Isaac Ishmael Initiative The generosity of individuals, churches, foundations, and companies gives us the privilege of serving people around the world. We are so grateful for each gift we receive and seek to be good stewards with these resources.

The Ten Commandments and Jesus' Beatitudes Reconsidering our loyalties and the call to becoming poor in spirit

New Substack post. This is a fun and funny entry!

The Joy of Youth Baseball Catchers! Finding Refuge on a Baseball Diamond

Monday Webinar on Genesis -

Monday Webinar on Genesis

Join us for an indepth look at Isaac and Ishmael and what the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament says about their descendants. Registration is required at: bity.ly/120224webinar

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: A Theology of Abraham's Sons - Isaac and Ishmael. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: A Theology of Abraham's Sons - Isaac and Ishmael. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Our Next Webinar - a close look at the book of Genesis (chapters 16-25) and what it shows about Abraham's sons, Isaac and Ishmael. We hope you can join us.

Regardless of one's political ideology and understanding of the Middle East, we cannot and must not lose sight of the HUMAN SUFFERING and LOSS in this year-long war.

All people are made in the image of God. He does not show favorites about this (look at the list of cultures represented on the Day of Pentecost as an example).

Tonight in a flat in Beirut, in a home in Israel, a street in the West Bank, and among the ruins of Gaza there are PEOPLE - men and women, children - who are just trying to live with some sense of normalcy. Many, many of these people do not hate "the other."

Missiles are being shot at Israel tonight. Two days ago a 2,000-pound bomb was dropped on central Beirut, a week ago streets in the West Bank city of Jenin were bulldozed. I can go on and on. And we can point fingers at who started this war, or when it actually started.

What we must never do is lose the heartbreak of people suffering and dying, being driven from homes and living in abject fear - Jew and Gentile alike.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - and of Beirut and Damascus and Amman and Baghdad and Ramallah and Cairo and Tel Aviv ... and ... and ... and

💻✨WEBINAR INVITATION: The Israel-Hamas War—1 Year Later: Diverse Perspectives from 3 Friends -

💻✨WEBINAR INVITATION: The Israel-Hamas War - 1 Year Later