“Will you end wars by asking men to trust men who evidently cannot be trusted? No. Teach them to love and trust God; then they will be able to love the men they cannot trust, and will dare to make peace with them, not trusting in them but in God. For only love - which means humility - can cast out the fear, which is the root of all war.”
Thomas Merton
“The [Old Testament] Israelites were trusting in military might so they wouldn't have to trust in God. Chariots and warriors were a substitute for faith. Their faith in God could have made them great among the nations; their faith in militarism would result in devestation.” Eugene Peterson
My name is Omar. Since the days of the Bible, one’s name in the Middle East can tell you the nature of the person. Omar is Arabic for “first born son” and is the root word for “one who builds.” In Hebrew it means “gifted speaker or storyteller.” My father is a Muslim from Iraq, my mother is a Christian from Texas, my wife is half Jewish, and I am a Methodist minister. To that end, First Born Son seeks to tell stories that help build bridges of understanding, repentance, reconciliation and peace.
