Tea with Hezbollah

By: Ted Dekker, Carl Medearis

Narrated by: George K. Wilson

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Is it really possible to love one's enemies? That's the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel-and-glass high-rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet-pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world's three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as listeners join novelist Ted Dekker and his coauthor, Middle East expert Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas; with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs; and with Osama bin Laden's brothers reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated - questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

©2010 Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis (P)2010 Tantor

Love Your Enemies?

Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis have provided us with a very interesting series of stories, travel log, and comment on Christianity all rolled into one. They take a real life trip through the Middle East interviewing some of America's greatest enemies - asking "What do you think of Jesus' admonition - Love your neighbor as yourself?" among other things.

By the end of the book you will laugh, cry, and have your eyes opened. The writing is good and George Wilson reads (and provides dialects) in an interesting manner.

This is a good choice for anyone seeking a better understanding of our contemporary world.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Fantastic and Insightful

The rawness of the idea behind this book--asking controversial Muslim leaders what they think about Jesus' teaching of the Good Samaritan and loving our neighbors--is absolutely brilliant. Far better than academic dialog or second-hand speculation about the thinking of those in the Middle East, these men just ask simple questions and record answers verbatim. A well written, revealing project that promotes genuine understanding.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Over the top great book

I did not have any idea what to expect from this book except that it was about the Middle East and I wanted to know more about the subject. When the book began I was rather turned off by the casualness of it and was prepared to be disappointed. I was not. I was also concerned when I heard that the book was about to be about Jesus and the Second Commandment. I was not up for any kind of proselytizing. At that point I did not even care for the narrator. The book soon changed or I did. After about the first chapter or two I was hooked and could not stop listening.

The book is mostly interviews with people of the area. Sometimes they are "common folk," sometimes rather "uncommon." I loved the questions asked by the interviewers. The questions were not so much of a political nature as they were of a human nature and personal interest. These questions and their answers, I believe, told us more about the people themselves and, isn't that what we really want to know and not their politics?

If we are to believe that the questions were answered truthfully, and I do, then perhaps we have a greater problem at home and particularly with the media than with the people we are lead to believe are all our enemies. Clearly, we have enemies. But many more than we might have thought love rather than hate us.

The book discusses the history and present of the Middle East. I loved it and I could not recommend a book more highly.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Tea with Hezbollah

Ted Dekker is one of my favorite writers. In his non-fiction Tea with Hezbollah, he asks Muslim leaders: “What do you think about Jesus’ commandment to ‘love your neighbor as yourself?’” They all said they believe and practice Jesus’ commandment. But where is the evidence? The Middle East is full of hate, violence, murder and jihad. Which neighbor do these Muslims love? Ted doesn't analyze his findings.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Meh

A good book if you are looking for an idea what the emotional trip through the Middle East is like. Not very good for information. The author talks more about how scared he is, then anything else. He comes across as a big sissy really. The interviews he conducts are all the same questions to each person and you see an obvious pattern just after a few interviews.

I enjoyed some of his side stories (especially the fictional one) more then the actual content of his book. I think a story about Carl's life (the author's partner throughout the book) would have made for a much more interesting story.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

amazing

absolutely one of the best books I've ever read or listened to. I believe everyone should read this and take the values to heart. thank you very much Ted and Carl. I hope to be doing similar things with my wife in the not so distant future. God Bless.

Think for Yourself

Fascinating, intriguing and interesting story. A lot of truth mixed with fiction. Very well done and insightful. Should be a must read for US Congress. Press On!!!

Understanding God's greatest commandment.

Although things have changed a lot between the Middle East and the United States, the insights into the mindsets of the Muslim world view were educational and reminded me that people of different cultures are not so very different after all. The parable of Nicole was helpful as well. One person can make a difference. What will you choose.....fear or love?

Perspective

Great book, it allows the individual the opportunity for perspective rather than giving you what you WILL believe.

. exceptional story. so many truths

exceptional story. so many truths. I hope it helps me to live better by Jesus's words.