When I first heard the basic concept for this book, I was curious and excited to read it...

Take two American evangelicals and send them to visit the Middle East. Provide them access to a truly remarkable network of contacts and give them a simple set of questions to ask. Stand back and watch the worldviews shift and rearrange.

Which is apparently what happened, and I'm glad. There are a number of ways it could have gone much worse.

Maybe I should just stop there, but having just finished the book, some things are fresh in my mind:

- The amped-up, "high-energy" writing style is inappropriate to the subject matter. This is a complicated topic and an incredible opportunity. But instead of getting to the point, the author spends much too much time talking about himself and his fears. Here's a sample:

"I am a writer cursed with powers of observation and even greater powers of imagination, and by this point a hundred or so scenarios were now so real to me that our driver became the kidnapper, whisking us away to a compound where we would spend the next ten years until the United States finally broke down and sent Rambo to free us."

Maybe he's trying to get me to identify with his feelings, but I just wanted him to get out of the way so I could listen to the people he was talking to. I felt like I was reading all the outtakes and missing the real story.

- In chapter 4 and woven throughout the rest of the book, a side story about a woman named Nicole is introduced, which quickly becomes the most interesting part of the narrative. We are supplied with names, dates, places, and events, and given to believe that she is a real person with an extraordinary story. Her life becomes a powerful example of the story of the Good Samaritan. Except that it's not true. In fact, she's entirely made up. On the second to the last page of the book, Dekker writes, "Along the way I'd reached into my most reliable source, my own imagination, to relive the parable of the Samaritan...or as you've come to know it, Nicole's story."

At this point, I almost threw the book across the room. Wasn't there one, true story to be found among all the conversations that could have served the purpose? And if it is truly impossible to find a Good Samaritan in the real world, why didn't we spend some time talking about that, instead of making up a complicated fiction to fill the space?

- I had other disagreements with the structure and style, but maybe I should just make my point: I have traveled in some of the same parts of the world and have had similar conversations. I have seen the complexity of the problems and felt some of the frustration that comes from trying to find answers. But I have also seen grace at work in some of these same dark places. I believe there is hope, but it only comes with great sacrifice and great love. And I believe that Dekker actually stumbled into it again and again throughout his journey.

But instead of realizing this, the book ended with a shrug, "Love is the only solution, and nobody does it well. Not Christians, not Muslims, not Jews, not me." It made me sad because it seemed to me that the author had, in fact, found what he was looking for and then tossed it away. The fact that he sat down face to face with people that our government calls terrorists and was treated with respect and hospitality is astounding and beautiful. I just wish that, after all that, we could have really listened to what they had to say.



[Note: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.]

Tea with Hezbollah is said to combine nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background as the authors travelled through the Middle East having conversations with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world - Hezbollah, Hamas, Osama bin Laden's brothers, etc. The premise is that we will be surprised to discover that these men are real people with emotions, fears, and hopes much like the ones we have. Having lived in the Middle East for several years, I had trouble being surprised that the men interviewed turned out to be real people, no matter how much we are in disagreement with the policies they may espouse. The real focus of the book to me is the similarities among people in different areas of the world. I think we often concentrate too much on our differences.

I liked the idea of this book. I just found that it didn't really have enough substance.

If you want to learn something about Middle Eastern politics, so that you're not speaking from a really uneducated point of view, this is a really entertaining, thrill-ride through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut and Israel. Along the way, the narrator talks to some of Bin Ladin's brothers, a Bedouin prince, Muslim scholars, Hezbollah, boat pilots and cabdrivers, pacifists in Israel, Orthodox Jews and even the keeper of the key to what Christians call "Golgotha", or the site of the Crucifixion.

This is really neat, and very memorable. It has a couple of storylines: our narrator and his friend travel through several countries in the Middle East asking a similar set of questions, "What kind of car do you drive?" "What makes you laugh?" "What makes you cry?"

There is also a more personal storyline about a young woman of Arabic descent trying to find her biological father in Beirut; this thread focuses on local politics and the conflicts between them--in fact, it's one of the most effective narratives in the book because the author ultimately uses it to humanize the various factions.

However, there is a really big, "Um, yeah, we knew that." element to this entire book: the set of questions asked of Arab leaders, and the more personal storyline are designed to make the reader think, that even in the midst of really complex political problems, we're all a lot alike.

You wouldn't need to travel through the Arab world to find that out: I found myself wondering if the author had ever bothered to spend any time with Middle Easterners in the United States. (I passed college Trig because of an Iraqi math grad student--it's not like it's that hard.)

The book itself, though is fun to read: the Arab world seems like an interesting place to visit and the author does a really good job of describing it, although even here, it's not very sympathetic to the subject matter. The author is very good at scaring the heck out of you in his narrative. He spends a lot of time (perhaps reasonably, as a journalist) talking about his fear of being kidnapped.

More troubling, though is the author's take on the Arab world: he goes out of his way to get his subjects to agree with Christian doctrine in such a way that it's like he's trying to prove that Christian beliefs are universal. The author goes to great lengths to say that he is a Christian, and to ask, in his set of questions, "What do you think of Jesus' teachings that say you should love your neighbor as you love yourself?", thereby establishing that virtually everyone would at least nominally agree that Arab extremists who are terrorists should maybe stop taking hostages, and maybe the U.S. should get out of Iraq and stop "accidentally" killing civilians, and both the Israeli military and Hamas should rethink some of the random and brutal retaliation thing.

"Yeah, we knew that."

Platitudes aside, the author even acknowledges that nothing in the Middle East is simple; and then, strangely, he concludes the book with the idea that we "should all just follow the teachings of Jesus and get along."

Inherently, he's right--and yet, he had to parse the idea, that fighting in the Middle East is maybe not so good, in such a way that the conclusion is offensive to his narrative subject. He doesn't seem to be aware that there is a problem with quoting Christ to solve the problems among the multi-factioned Arab/Jewish/Jewish Splinter-Group/Arab Splinter Group/Christian/Christian splinter-groups.

Still, this is fun to read. It's also kind of annoying, although it's a lot less painful to get through than many other books on the subject. Ironically, though, it's a book about the Arab world that is ultimately pro-Christian.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is taught so often in Christian churches that our reaction is often automatic. "Good samaritan" - "Love your neighbor", what's next? But there is considerable depth to this story of an outcast who saves his enemy, after the religious leaders and scholars of the day walk by without helping. The authors here look at the story in light of the Middle East, both the current historical moment and the layers of history that go reach back to the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The story is told in two plots. First, we are told of the authors' own journey thru the modern Middle East seeking out leaders of Radical Islamic thought and practice - the men whose writings may have inspired Al-Qeada and the 9/11 plot. These people are asked about their own humanity, and about Jesus's teaching to love your neighbor. Second, we are told the story of "Nicole", a woman seeking her father in modern Beirut, whose story eventually parallels that of the victim in the story of the Good Samaritan. The two plots are used to accentuate each other, and bring out different aspects of history and culture. They eventually come together to show just how radical Jesus's teaching was and continues to be today. And to show that even after the assassinations of Jesus, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King, there are still a few radicals ready to put non-violence to work to fight for peace and good.

Fair warning, the story of "Nicole" is presented in the body of the book as fact, then admitted at the end to be merely a parable of the author's own choosing. This may be off-putting to some, and I'd argue the story would have been equally effective if he had admitted up-front that it was "inspired by true stories."

Overall, this is a brilliant book and should be required reading for any serious Christian or anyone trying to understand the minds behind radical Islam.

I was given the opportunity to review Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medaris. The following is my review:

If you have read any of Ted Dekker's novels, you are aware that you won't ever pick one up and find a normal read. Ted probably has one of the most imaginative minds in all of evangelical literature. Some of his work, especially his latest stuff, has tended to the dark side and has turned off some evangelical readers. Nevertheless, Ted is a first-class writer and an excellent wordsmith.

So when I was given the opportunity to review his nonfiction work, Tea with Hezbollah, I jumped at the chance.
It's an interesting read. On one level, it's a remarkable sort of travelogue into the world of some of America's feared enemies. Ted interviews leaders in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Cairo, Syria, and Palestine. He met with leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, and many of the most influential Muslim clerics in the world.

I came away with a profound sense of the complexity of the Arab world. It's a world too many Americans and too many Christians sort of put together in a caricature as "radical Islam," as though every single Arab and every single Muslim is dangerous and a terrorist. That is a paper-thin assessment.

Ted does well to dive into the complexities of Islam and also the struggles of Christians who live in Muslim worlds. To his credit, Ted doesn't claim to be an expert in their theology or in their culture. He's merely an observer and a scared one at that.

I give him enormous credit for traveling where few will go. I mean many Christians won't even go to Israel, where it is much safer than some of the places Ted traveled. But we ignore that part of the world to our peril and I think it does a great disservice to the Body of Christ if we marginalize those areas as being unreachable or unlovable.

So I recommend Ted's book as a beginning education on the complexities of the Middle East. However, there was a thread that ran through this book that bothered me greatly as an evangelical Christian who holds to the truth of Scripture.

Ted's entire thesis is that the three major religions--Muslim, Jewish, Christian struggle to practice the words of Jesus, which are to love your neighbor. He claims many times that these radical words are why they killed Jesus. But this is really not faithful to Scripture. Jesus was killed because HE claimed to be the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Jesus was killed because Jesus laid down his life for the salvation of mankind's sin. Jesus died for the Gospel. Not to be a Gandhi-like figure that would sit everyone in a wonderful circle and make sure they got along. In fact, Jesus said he came not to bring peace, but a sword.

Ted also seems to think here is symmetry between the world religions. A creeping universalism courses through this book. If you read this, you might easily come away thinking that all religions have merit, all are valid paths to God.

Lastly, I think his diagnosis of the world's root problems is simplistic and, I might say, unscriptural. True, Christians have done things in the name of Christ that are horrific. Christians have committed atrocities. But the root problem of the world is sin, began in the Garden and continuing to weave its destructive path through history. And the world hates Christianity, primarily because Jesus predicted we would be hated. Not because there is something wrong with our faith or because we haven't been nice. The solution for the world's ills is the Gospel and the future for the world is peace, but only the peace brought when Jesus, the Prince of Peace returns.

So do I recommend this book? I do actually. Not for its theology, but for the incredible insights Ted and Carl bring to the Arab world. Christians ought not to be caught up in irrational hatred of certain people groups, no matter how easy and humorous that is. We should be compelled by the love of Christ to see these people won over with the Gospel. We should be active in building up the faith of Christian brothers and sisters who suffer in these lands.

So read Tea with Hezbollah, but read with Biblical discernment.

Books about various viewpoints from around the world interest me. That's why I was drawn to this book even though I knew it had a Christian religious overtone. Subtitled "Sitting at the Enemies' Table, Our Journey Through the Middle East", the two authors traveled to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Israel. Along the way they met with Muslim leaders. They were looking for an answer to the question of whether it was possible to "love thy neighbor as thyself". Their trip was set up by a well respected Muslim and wherever they went they were met with kindness and served tea. In addition to the details of their trip, the author included a parable about an Arab-American young lady who went to Beirut to search for her ancestry. There were also long biblical historical background pieces on the various temples and religions and battles, etc.

The part I liked most was the modern day stories of their travels, their inconveniences at border crossings, the descriptions of the various places, the feelings of fear and displacement. Some of the modern history also interested me. I also was intrigued by the story of the Arab American young woman even though I figured out from the beginning that this was not a true story. However, it was written well and I got involved in the drama of it.

The part I felt most lukewarm about were the transcripts of the interviews they had with Muslin leaders over tea. They asked these leaders about their children, what made them laugh and other rather inane questions. They also very gently brought up the theme of loving their neighbors and, of course, every one of these Moslem leaders talked about love in the Koran and in their lives. Politics was never brought up except in the most general of ways. O.K. These men were humanized. But I didn't need a book to tell me that everyone loves his or her children and that everyone believes in the power of love.

O.K. I understood this book was written from the point of view of Christian author but I was put off by all the religious stuff.

Taken as a whole though I did enjoy the book. It held my interest. It kept me turning pages. It was what it was. And it was just not my style. But even though I know I was not the authors' target audience, there was something about it that made it worthwhile.

A very interesting and enjoyable read, Tea with Hezbollah contains a view of the Middle East that is very rarely reported in the news, if at all. The authors are even handed, honest, clear, and concise with their descriptions. They strike at the heart of those they interview, and you come away wanting more. There are no politics, no proselytizing, and certainly no boring pages. There is a great deal of insight about the different fixtures of Middle Eastern Islam that is relatively unknown in the West. The prime objective was to meet with the United States' enemies, both real and perceived, and ask them one simple question: What do they think about Jesus' revolutionary teaching to love one's enemies. This culture-rich trip journal finishes with a visit to some of the last remaining Samaritans in the world, the very people who Jesus used to illustrate his principle of love. I highly recommend Tea with Hezbollah to anyone who is interested in current events, foreign policy, or comparative religion between Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

I was a little afraid to order this book. I was afraid it would be heavy reading at a time when I was too busy to do heavy reading. Instead, it was really easy to read, yet gave insights into how middle easterners view America and how much we all have in common in our hopes and dreams and desires. It also has what I assumed was a novelette tucked into its pages--a kind of parable of the good samaritan that illustrated how some political relationships function in the Middle East. This assumption turned out to be correct.

If you are looking for some fairly entertaining reading from which you will also learn something about the Middle East, this is your book. My only regret, even though I did not want to read a heavy book, is that the authors had such an incredible opportunity to explore the minds and hearts of those who are our "enemies," I wish they had dug a little deeper.

One additional comment: students of the Bible will find this book extra fascinating as they see again and again the intersection of extra-Biblical history and the Bible itself. Those who are not students of the Bible, I would recommend you get a modern translation of the Old Testament and give it a read to expand your knowledge of historical record.

I was a little afraid to order this book. I was afraid it would be heavy reading at a time when I was too busy to do heavy reading. Instead, it was really easy to read, yet gave insights into how middle easterners view America and how much we all have in common in our hopes and dreams and desires. It also has what I assumed was a novelette tucked into its pages--a kind of parable of the good samaritan that illustrated how some political relationships function in the Middle East. If you are looking for some fairly entertaining reading from which you will also learn something about the Middle East, this is your book. My only regret, even though I did not want to read a heavy book, is that the authors had such an incredible opportunity to explore the minds and hearts of those who are our "enemies," I wish they had dug a little deeper.

Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis set out to find out what Middle Eastern leaders thought of the Christian Bible story of the Good Samaritan. The writers avoid the term Christian. Ted says "I have been called a Christian writer, but I'm not a right-wing gun toting fanatic, who hates Democrats, not by a long shot. So am I a Christian? Yes and no - it depends on what Christian means to you. The same could be said of Carl. But labels are almost impossible to shed."

The book has three voices - that of a travel writer, an interviewer and a story teller.

Their journey was dangerous, but well-planned. I enjoyed the insights into very different Middle Eastern countries - Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria. The trip report was a little dry - the language understates the travelers' fears.

Short, thoughtful interviews show that many of the leaders start off by supporting the idea of being a Good Samaritan, but when it comes to details some balk. The reader can decide who's really the enemy.

The story of Nicole, an American who goes back to find her roots, is woven between the travel tales, with drama, compassion and energy. I wish the travels had been related as colorfully as Nicole's adventures.

The last chapter - The True Samaritan - finishes the travels by meeting real Samaritans. "What do Christians, Muslims, Druze, Samaritans and Jews all have in common?" asks Carl. Read the book to find out.

This book will make most sense to those who live in pluralist cultures, where they encounter people with different beliefs. Those who live in less diverse societies may find the book a tough read, because it challenges them to treat people who are different, who may be enemies, with kindness. Whatever your world view - read the book - it will challenge you to be a Good Samaritan even if you have to leave your comfort zone.

Tea with Hezbollah definitely deserves some points for originality, if not a touch of nuttiness.


Jesus taught that the most important commandment was to love God and to love your neighbor, even if your neighbor is your enemy. (If I may paraphrase.) So, Ted Dekker, writer, and Car Medearis, Middle East expert, go traipsing into the desert to explore this teaching. Literally. With only God for a safety net, they go into the desert and have tea with the leaders of some of the most misunderstood (and possibly dangerous) groups in the Middle East: Hamas, Hezbollah, bin Laden brothers. They sit down to tea, turn on their tape recorder and ask, "Jesus said to love your neighbors. What do you think of that?" Much to my surprise, every one of their interviewees responded candidly with obvious respect for Jesus Christ, though their actual answers ranged from, "Jesus is right," to "I agree, sometimes, but not in my life."


They travel to and through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Baalbek, Syria, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The whirlwind tour of America's perceived enemies culminates in their quest for the Good Samaritan. Literally. I did not know this, but there are 700 Samaritans alive today, and Ted and Carl find one of them. They share some lemonade and talk about religion.


What I loved most about the book is also what made me the most furious. This book is more of a travelogue than a memoir, more of a journal than a nonfiction narrative. It almost seemed a bit jumbled through the first half of the book. But what held the book together was the narrative of a young woman named Nicole. Nicole, an American, visiting Beirut at the same time as our friends Ted and Carl, has a terrific adventure. Her story is riveting. Dekker parceled out her story so that we would get a taste of it after a few chapters of his tale. I found myself rushing through his chapters -- I even considered skipping a few -- in order to get back to Nicole. Nicole is presented as being a real person, and I loved her. Then, in the last chapter, Dekker apologizes for "tricking the reader" and tells us that Nicole was a parable, a work of his imagination. I don't like being tricked. His trick just goes to show that a truth born of parable is probably "more true" than a truth born of facts or statistics, but still. Dekker, you didn't need to trick me.


Okay, with that tantrum out of the way, I will tell you what else I loved about the book. I feared while diving into this book, that Dekker and Medearis were going to stomp their way through the Middle East preaching about Jesus and hellfire, trying to win souls, and ultimately, embarrassing the Christian tradition once again. But they did no such thing. I shouldn't have prejudged them. Dekker and Medearis were respectful and reverent of everyone with whom they came in contact. While they remained unapologetically Christian, they did what so many of us Christians fail to do -- they walked through the desert loving their neighbors.


The book expects a basic understanding of the Middle East and its politics, conflicts, and history. While I consider myself fairly well-educated about the region, I still found myself a bit lost at times, needing to Google terms and titles. Still, don't let this alarm you. The book is worth reading, even if you know nothing about the Middle East. Just keep Google within arm's reach. I also wished they had included a map of the regions they visited. Again, while I only needed to Google a map for myself, it would have been nice to have one in the book.


All in all, I am thrilled that I've read this book. It gives Christianity a good name, and works towards proving that the secret to world peace really lies within the ancient, crazy teaching of Jesus Christ: Love your neighbor as yourself.

This is a well written book that brings together two Christians and a variety of Muslims in the Middle East. The authors weave together the account of their journey with interviews of different Muslims, usually asking them a key question that serves as the focus of their quest--what do they think of Jesus' admonition that we should love our enemies? The answers are varied and interesting. The book is written much like a novel and is extremely compelling, although it has a couple of flaws. The first is minor--numerous typographical errors. The second soured me on the book a little; it was the discovery that mixed in with the true story of their journey, some of what they recounted was fiction. I was disappointed in that, although it did keep the story moving. Overall, I would recommend it as an enlightening look at how Muslims really think (you'll be surprised) and what they think of Christians, as well as for the great writing.

I am a huge fan of Dekkers and when I saw he was co writing a non fiction book with Carl Medearis about their journey to the Middle east, I instantly wanted to check it out. This is a great read and gives us alot of insight into what those in the Middle East think and what they have to deal with daily. It reads like a journal of their time spent over there. It is also interwoven with a story about a young woman named Nicole.

This is a great book for our time and is a must read book. I love how they gave historical details to people and place that they come in contact with. It really opened my eyes to how Middle Eastern people think.

In their new book, Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis take us into the lives of Islamic law givers and followers as they sit down to "Tea With Hezbollah..Sitting at the enemies' Table, our journey through the Middle East." From Cairo to Saudi Arabia and on to Beirut over to Baalbek down to Damascus and continuing to Jerusalem and Bethlehem finally stopping in Northern Israel to meet the Samaritans, they are on a quest to ask Islam personal question about family, attitudes toward the West, faith and opinions on Jesus' parable of the "Good Samaritan". They are endeavoring to open up dialogue with leaders from Hezbollah, and Hamas to basically feel the heartbeat of the people especially about the message of "love your neighbor as yourself" that Jesus delivered so long ago. They did find a few surprising answers but mostly they discovered that time and players have changed but old human nature is still the same. After reading the responses, I never really got the idea that any of these enemies, of America/Israel, opened up very much to these two Westerners. However, the book does show that, as governments come and go, love and not bombs is the thing that changes people. One of the best insights on how to live life was delivered to them by a Lebanese businessman named Samir Kreidie who lived by the marvelous adage of "I respect and love you first. Then you may respect me, if you wish." That is a nice way to live life. Anytime dialogue can be established it is a good thing and can lead towards positive results. This book is well worth reading and pondering over especially as it deals with this timeless message of loving our neighbors both near and far.

"Tea with Hezbollah" is not a novel, rather it is, what the authors call, a nonfiction travelogue .
Over lunch at the Hard Rock café in Denver, Ted and Carl ponder whether, since Muslims accept Jesus as the greatest prophet, is the message of Jesus taken seriously by our "enemies" in the Middle East. They cautiously decide to try to interview key people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, to discuss the question.

Strictly as a travelogue, Tea with Hezbollah is truly outstanding. The authors carefully describe the lands they visit and even insert meaningful historical commentary to enhance the content. The picture of Cairo and its people is especially noteworthy. Ted and Carl paint a picture of the Egyptian people, especially the great masses who live in poverty, that is alive and real. After reading about these people, I could see them, chat with them, and bargain for their wares.

The author's description of the country is chromatic. After reading the book, it is as if I actually visited these lands. I have often thought of Israel as the "land of milk and honey", but never imagined its beauty or its danger.

Their quest is to answer whether the teaching of Jesus to love thy neighbor as yourself and love your enemies is actually lived or believed by the peoples we see as "enemies". They seek answers among Muslin people - especially Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine. They visit several of the most infamous people extant.

Ted and Carl receive blunt and open answers to the questions they ask. The book includes a transcript of each conversation. The answers and discussion is fascinating, enlightening, and troubling. Who among the people who claim to be followers of Islam really practice the demands of both Jesus and Mohammad to love everyone? Being honest, who among Jews practice the demands of the prophets to love each other? And who among Christians follow this rule of Jesus?

Tea With Hezbollah is an excellent book. It is very well written and presented in a conversational style. I highly recommend this book.

I have read many of Ted Dekker's novels and consider myself a fan. That being said, this project was a bit of a disappointment. Even though I started off with high hopes, they were not realized.

The concept is superb. Dekker and co-author Carl Medearis went on a journey through the Middle East to explore that area and in particular the application of the commandment of Jesus Christ to love one's enemies. Arguably the greatest teaching of Jesus and clearly the most radical, the notion of loving a person's enemies is certainly the most difficult to follow.

During this voyage, the authors met with a wide range of 'enemies' including leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, a Bedouin 'prince', opinion leaders in Islamic academia, and even a real live Samaritan (one of only 700 worldwide today). In addition to these, they also interviewed ordinary Arabs such as cab drivers. They certainly managed to converse with an impressive assortment of Muslims in various countries including Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Israel.

As a travelogue, this book is very interesting. From the standpoint of criticism of Christians not meeting the unconditional love standard, it is right on point. He has a stinger that should make all Christians wince: 'Do they (Muslims) follow its (the parable of the Good Samaritan) lesson as poorly as most American Christians?' That is undoubtedly a question that each Christ follower should ask him/herself.

There are some troubling aspects to this book as well. Dekker is a Canadian. I assume that his 'question' is not just a potshot at Americans, but might apply to his countrymen as well. I have no problem with the critique, but I think that it applies to all believers, not just Yankees.

He also seems to have a bit of a political agenda. He refers to the 'so called war on terrorism'. Perhaps that point can be argued, but he claims in the book that 'this is not a political book'. That statement crosses the line into political commentary.

For Christian readers, there are some other troubling aspects as Dekker has always been labeled as a Christian writer. In this book, he said that he does not like the term Christian. He has an explanation for that, but it falls woefully short. He also refers to his friend Sami Awad as a 'prophet'. Although it sounds like Awad is a force for good, to call him a prophet is silly at best. Maybe Ted should read the definition of the word.

Another problem is that the authors seem to create a moral equivalence between Christians and radical Muslims. Of course, the evil cited for Christians is the Crusades, an era that ended over 700 years ago. Talk about ancient history. Although the Crusades were certainly bad, there were a total of about 2000 people killed during that nonsense. As those campaigns lasted about 400 years, that amounted to about five people killed a year. That is certainly not good, but it pales in comparison to the killings perpetrated by Muslim terrorists.

If the authors could have avoided the silliness described above, this would have been much better. As it is, this is not one that I will be recommending to others.

I always thought sitting down with chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk was key to peace in the Middle East--if only we could all agree to sit down together. That's what Carl Medearis suggested to novelist Ted Dekker one evening over dinner--only the pair would drink tea, a popular drink in the region, with the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Samaritans.

Tea with Hezbollah by Dekker and Medearis is the travelogue of the duo's adventure into Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Israel to meet with some of the most dangerous key players on opposite sides of the Middle East conflict. The result is a fascinating book, which culminates with a visit to the 700 remaining Samaritans who occupy an area just outside Tel Aviv. Written primarily by Dekker, the book is a fascinating look into the world of Arabs, Christians, and Jews who are confronted with Jesus' second greatest commandment--to love one's neighbor. Dekker also weaves together the story of a girl named Nicole, an American who seeks to find her roots in the ghetto of Beirut.

Through Medearis' extensive contacts g in the Middle East region, Dekker and Medearis are able to meet with everyone from Osama Bin Laden's brothers, who think Osama is a jerk, to Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, known to Westerners as the political voice for Hezbollah. To me, the most interesting parts of the book were not the interviews with Hamas leaders or sheiks, but the thoughts of every day people such as the scholarly Dr. Micah and Sami Awad, a Christian living in Bethlehem (not Pennslyvania--the one where Jesus was born) who embraces non-violent beliefs.

When I say Tea with Hezbollah is a must-read, I'm not mincing my words. To truly understand what Arabs think about Americans and their neighbors, you must read this book. Plus, you will also gain a sense of the "humanity" of our "enemies." Ted Dekker's true story of his journey in the Middle East with buddy Carl Medearis rivals the suspense found in any of his novels.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Tea with Hezbolla is an adventure. At moments, I had to close the book and just imagine these people Ted Dekker talks about and describe. The Arabs, the Syrians, Hezbolla group(its hard for me to keep up); all of them are just like any normal human being with emotions, families, and fears.


Although Dekker reminds us in the beginning of the novel that he wishes only to tell about his trips and dish rag the politics and religion talk....he nevertheless engages in an historical backdrop of each region coupled with their Muslim religion and roots, and this I am grateful for. it was like a quick tour through the eyes of Dekker and his friend Carl Medearis. I learned more about the Middle East, than I ever learned in high school history class.

The author also mentions how he will refrain from using the term Christian, because attached to that word is negative things like hypocrite and judgmental and he is not that. Christ was not about those things. Each leader he spoke with in that country, he questioned about Christ's commandment to love one another and of course many of them responded that they love the Lord and these men are peaceful, wise, intelligent men. Just read the transcripts though because many of them say more with the answers they don't give. Also, what I fell in love with was Nicole Wagner's story. Hers is one not to be forgotten and is a powerful lesson all levels.

In conclusion. Read the book. I had some concerns about Hookah bars and the author being invited to smoke a hookah(?)...oh well, there I go being Miss Prissy again. Love his books!

You ask me who my favorite author is, and I will tell you without hesitation, that it is Ted DeKker. And I look forward to all his work that comes out, always anxious to discover what comes from his pen. When I saw that he had a non-fiction offering, his 2nd, TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH, I was more than interested. And for somebody who could care less about the Middle East and Muslim culture, I was willing to embrace DeKker's side of the story. I was also wondering what I would find. Would I find a people pleaser offering with a bunch of canned answers? Or would Ted DeKker spark my interest like he has in the past? While in instances where you have to judge for yourself, maybe I did find an answer or two fit to please the reader. But I also found humanity, laughter, along with tears among a people who us Americans revere as mere scum.

Apprehension was among the emotions felt by Ted DeKker, who grew up in Indonesia. He'd seen a few things here and there, but many of his fears were among the antogonists in his many bestsellers. But he also had Carl Medearis with him, the big dog leading the puppy, an expert in Middle Eastern culture, sometimes to the point of prison a time or two.

When you take the parable of The Good Samaritan, Jesus taught to love your neighbor as yourself, and after the parable was told the answer was, "Go, and do likewise." Sounds simple, right? Well, between them and us, maybe not as easy as we think. And through interviews with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, it is quite interesting to read what they had to say, all over cups of tea. DeKker has conversations with sheiks and ayatollahs, and when you expect the rehearsed answer at times, be prepared to be floored! But also, throughout the journey, don't expect it all to be so smooth.

And interlaced through this journey in the Middle East, take in the story of Nicole Wagner.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Baalbek, Southern Lebanon, Syria, Jerusalem, and even Lands Unknown. This is where Ted DeKker and Carl Medearis take their travels, and this is where they get answers. This is real stuff, not just stuff stuffed with stuff. I found it amazing, and in the end, I couldn't put it down. I found that DeKker really had a heart and passion for what he was seeking. And admitting that we all are hypocrites at some point in our lives. It comes to an understanding, and a realization that not all of us are Good Samaritans, but sometimes the most unlikely people out there are. In the end, do we really understand those we call our enemies? I don't think so, and DeKker proves that rather soundly. Through it all, we get a better understanding. And as the beat reverberates through all we thought we knew, man, I have a whole new respect for my favorite author out there!

"What is one thing Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Jesus have in common?"..."They were all murdered"..."And they all died for the same message". And that message was: "To love your neighbor. Even if they're your enemy."
"First, what this book is not. This is not a religious book that seeks to correct anyone's misguided beliefs, Christians or Muslims. This is not a political book that undermines any one ideology. And it certainly is not a historical narrative that pretends to correct any previous work by far more qualified historians."
"Rather, this is a travelogue.... Journey of discovery through the heart of the Middle East with some simple questions for some unique and influential personalities whom most in the United States, including the government, think of as enemies who belong on Most Wanted lists."
..."So we go.... Sit at the table of our greatest enemies"...."You're talking about the people who blew up the Twin Towers!"..."We sit with these so-called enemies, ask them what their favorite joke is, and what they think of the parable of the Samaritan, which teaches us to love our neighbors even if they are our enemies"..."And in writing about it all for an American audience, we would be sitting Americans at the table with their enemies. We will let them decide what to do with this radical teaching that got Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Jesus killed."
I think the writers achieved their goal; the book is an educational journey not only through the minds, but also the hearts and souls of those so-called enemies. It is very well written; despite of all the excitement and twists, it's a smooth sailing through the rough seas of the Middle East. Highly recommended.

P.S. Three Cups of Tea, is another excellent book that should be read.
www.amazon.com/Three-Cups-Tea-Mission-Promote/dp/0143038257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265660848&sr=8-1

I like culture, and I like middle-east studies, and I've been to Lebanon. This book is phenomenal.

The inter-weaving of story lines (vignettes?) kept pulling me to the next chapter. The settings seem to be realistic. The action in the book keeps it exciting.

What a great life to live--with purpose, and Carl & Ted make the most of meeting people where they are, and still sharing the greatest news in effective ways.

Challenging. I'm glad I read it.

This is not your ordinary Ted Dekker book. This is a non-fiction account of a journey he took with friend Carl Medearis through the Middle East asking people how they feel about "Love Your Neighbor As You Love Yourself" as well as general questions about their likes and dislikes, what car they drove, what makes them laugh, and what misunderstandings they thought we had about them.

The book teaches us that no matter where you live or what your culture is, we are very much alike. We love our families and God, we all laugh, cry, feel mental and physical pain. We can not help where we were born, and that is the main difference.

This is very good book, but I don't understand why the story of Nicole wasn't written as a one chapter instead of every other chapter. It makes it harder to follow. It's like reading two books at the same time, which I never do. I like finishing a book before starting another and I think Nichole's story would have been very interesting as it's own book.

I was skeptical whether I would like this book or not. After the first chapter, I was hooked and finished it within hours. The authors tell the story of their journey to the Middle East, along with the conversations they had with people living there. I thought it would be boring, but it was interesting and I especially liked the story they had about Nicole. They travel to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Baalbek, Southern Lebanon, Syria, and Jerusalem. At each stop, they speak with someone to get his opinion on many things, including America, and most importantly, following Jesus' commandment to love thy neighbor as yourself, which was the reason for their trip. What they find will have you thinking and will show that we aren't as different as it appears.