Bleak? Yes. But all the more reason for those of us willing to cross these barriers to build bridges that bypass the walls.
Read MoreI'm very aware of how much of a parallel there is between the Israeli civil religion and the American version.
Read MoreIt is only the strength of living stones knit together that can bring about the peaceable kingdom.
Read MoreWalk the Emmaus Road; you will most certainly be joined by the presence of the living Lord.
Read MoreMissed connections are opportunities for unexpected ones.
Read More"We waited 2000 years to welcome you. Please don't make us wait another 2000 for your next visit."
Read MoreRight before we left, the Barrier had started going up - a good quarter of a mile inside the Green Line. Since then, the area has been transformed into an industrial crossing.
Read MoreAs soon as the rest of the group headed off to the olive harvest, I grabbed a taxi down to Zababdeh. No sooner had the car risen over the hill and the town came into view than I felt a smile overtaking me.
Read More"The diplomats have taken Palestine off the maps, he says, "So we have put Palestine on the shelves."
Read MoreChristians in this part of the world consider this their God-given calling, to continue to be that salt and light.
Read MoreWe spent today on the Sea of Galilee, visiting the stretch of holy sites dedicated to various miracles and teachings of Jesus.
Read MoreIf only someone had bothered to ask this question back in 2002...
Read MoreThe organ began to play, and the congregation began to sing, "O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem."
Read MoreThe Nassar family purchased their land in 1916. Successive generations have lived on it since.
Read MoreThere are 23 of us on the trip from all over the States, Presbyterians all.
Read MoreOff we go!
Read MoreIt's good to be back home.
Read MoreIt's dawning on us that today is our last day.
Read MoreThe American tourist lying back in the chair, the young Iranian applying his craft; the television is on in the background, where the Ayatollah leads prayers as the President prostrates with the rest of the congregation. Old meets new, East meets West, pious meets secular.
Read MoreStanding there, as the crowds walked past and the sun approached the horizon, we couldn't help but wonder: could it be that we, too, are called to build such bridges that demonstrate a symbolic and real equality?
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