This one is hard. Not because I have nothing to say or because it is too complicated. No, it is because I am a Western Christian and also student of theology/religion. And there is no other international geopolitical issue which can divide Christians as sharply as the Israel-Palestine past, present and future. No matter how…Read more Israel-Palestine conflict and my personal challenge
Reconciliation
Shared European identity? Being proud and embarrassed together
Recently in Amsterdam I was invited to join a small group at a local pub. I am not a fan of beer, so my choice was a glass of red wine. But the rest of my new acquaintances knew their local beers - Dutch, Belgian, German... You gather a few Europeans and they can have…Read more Shared European identity? Being proud and embarrassed together
Don’t talk in maybe’s… Sing it like it should be
There is this one guy I would like to meet. He is very tall, very skinny, very bald and very cool. Well, he is kind of intimidating, too, but in a good way. His name is Peter Garrett and he is an Aussie. He also happens to be the lead singer of my favorite Australian…Read more Don’t talk in maybe’s… Sing it like it should be
Peek into my library…
One of my New Year resolutions is to read even more books. I love reading and through the work and travels I have collected a small library. Unfortunately my library is scattered - most books are in Latvia, many in USA and a few in Thailand. I have a dream that one day I will…Read more Peek into my library…
Mitsubishi and three little words that make grown men cry
Most of us would be quick to point out that there is lots of media coverage of the brokenness of our world – stories of corruption, pollution, conflict, wars, extremism, human trafficking, injustice, etc. It is because the world is broken… so the media does their job and shines the spotlight on the ugliness. I…Read more Mitsubishi and three little words that make grown men cry
Part One: Unfinished business with our neighbors
Have you noticed that once you start paying attention to a certain thing or topic, it seems to appear everywhere? When I started my journey of ‘peaceroads’ and started thinking and studying about forgiveness and restored relationships in a deeper and intentional way, suddenly I heard the word “reconciliation” a lot. Is it just me…Read more Part One: Unfinished business with our neighbors
Tale of two cities
What does Coventry, England and Dresden, Germany have in common? Beauty, life and forgiveness out of ashes and destruction! I like history. Blame it on my dad who should be a history teacher. I just wish I had my dad's memory for facts and dates and names and places. You know how they say that…Read more Tale of two cities
Where to begin?
If you wanted to study about reconciliation, where would you start? Well, I started with Google search... It can be quite overwhelming to dig through all the resources and information available but eventually I found what I was looking for - School of Reconciliation and Justice (SORJ) in Harpenden, England. I read the introductory statement…Read more Where to begin?
Burma road…
There is a well-known verse in the Bible. “He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Because of my work, I have been privileged to visit many countries. In many…Read more Burma road…
peaceroads 