Mark was glad to recently meet Amy Branham through a mutual friend.  Through a few initial discussions and after reading A Deadly Misunderstanding, she published this review on her blog, Amy’s Head:

“This book took me on an emotional journey that I really had to struggle with. After reading the first chapter or two of this book, I did not want to go any further. It wasn’t because I objected to what the author was learning and sharing in his story. It was because of where he came from that made me feel very vehemently opposed to hearing what he had to say. Here was an evangelical Christian Republican Congressman who had been known in Washington D.C. as one of the biggest Jesus freaks ever to walk the halls of Congress! One who, under normal circumstances and, much more so today, wouldn’t give me, one of those left-wing liberals, the time of day!”  Read more…

EDIT: Mark was appointed with Amy to the Veteran’s Today website editorial board, focusing on politics and Middle East affairs.  Veteran’s Today “aspires to unite the U.S. Veterans Community by providing an empowering place whereby it can gather, commune, and lift up one another in the service of each other.”

We’re happy to announce that A Deadly Misunderstanding won the 2009 Silver Nautilus Award, an award that recognizes books that “Promote Spiritual Growth, Conscious Living, and Positive Social Change.”  Past winners include titles from Deepak Chopra M.D., Barbara Kingsolver, Thich Nnat Hanh, Jean Houston, Ph.D., Eckhart Tolle and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The awards are determined by three experienced judging teams made up of book reviewers, librarians, authors, editors and book store owners.  The Silver marks the second level of judging and the Gold will be awarded later this month!

This from the Nautilus website seems particularly apt for ADM: “…with religious and secular fanaticism all growing at an alarming rate, the need for books that promote viable options for positive social change is vast, and the phrase, “Changing the World One Book at a Time” is more meaningful than ever before.”  We offer hearty agreement and are glad to see ADM ranked amongst those most meaningful books.

We received this encouraging letter from Mark’s friend, Betsy Brown, and wanted to share with you a story where this kind of new understanding and journey allowed for real spiritual fruit!

Mark,

I just returned from Turkey and N. Iraq. I have to tell you something that happened on the plane to Iraq. A young couple sat on my row on the plane. I thought they were a couple but it was brother and sister. The woman made sure she sat by me to practice her English. She asked what I do and I told her I do a lot of Humanitarian work and explained the Iraqi refugee thing and added I had been deeply involved after the tsunami in Indonesia. She said, “You are such a good person” to which I replied, “No, any good in me is God inside of me.” Later the flight was bumpy and she was nervous. I patted her and comforted her and told her God would protect us. She touched my arm and said, “Betsy, you are such a good Muslim. Do you understand what I am saying?” I said, “yes I do; thank you so much.” Because of my pilgrimage I knew that the word “Muslim” means “One who is submitted or devoted to God”. It was so sweet and the highest compliment she could give me. Years ago I would have been so defensive and would have been highly offended. Thank you, Jesus, for grace and growth!

Betsy

By Mark Siljander; U.S. Congressman (ret)

(Recent editorial published at Veteran’s Today and printed in full below)

When considering our foreign policy in the Islamic world over the last many years, one cannot help but assume that something has gone horribly wrong. Much of the foreign policy strategy, while marketed as a genuine fight against evil, has had little tolerance for influence of the spiritual. The primary way to undermine Muslim radicals and despotic regimes was by hard-line force and spreading democracy. Americans cherish democracy and pray the republican form we have encouraged in Iraq is still vibrant when our troops are long gone.

The problem comes when democracy is perpetuated by any means necessary, including undermining civil liberties and waging war. Force hardens and rarely yields a change of heart. So how do we find the right formula encouraging sustainable democracy, undermining radicalism while finding solutions to seemingly unfathomable conflicts like Darfur in Sudan?

In his inaugural address President Obama set the stage for change when he spoke of seeking “a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” His first interview after taking office was with Dubai-based Al Arabiya News. There he reiterated his offers of respect and friendship and spoke of the distinctive spiritual perspective he has gained through his Muslim and Christian family ties.  Soon, he will continue this message by speaking with the Turkish people.

Obama is poised to use his unique background to incite hope. As he treads carefully in the fault lines between East and West he would be helped to acknowledge that “respect” in the Islamic world must include addressing the religious/spiritual heart of Muslims. Spirituality is infused in every aspect of Eastern culture and politics. It is a critical starting point in foreign policy engagement that has been absent from official US positions.

Many in the last administration found it difficult to accept this “spiritual track”, believing that sitting with our enemies, sharing a meal, praying together and discussing spiritual common ground could never lead to anything substantive and consider it “appeasement.” In spite of those who treat anything of faith as worthless and unsophisticated, my experience proves that this approach does go a long way in first building trust, which lays the foundation for a roadmap to peace, consistently invoking tangible results.  Regrettably I fear the Obama Administration is being sucked into the same mistaken path on Darfur/Sudan as the last one.

Who am I to make such suggestions? During and after my official roles as US Congressman and diplomat I visited nearly 130 countries over 28 years and met some of the best and most despotic leaders of modern times.  In early 1999, a friend and I visited Libyan leaders and prayed with them. Ten days later Gaddafi released the terrorists who blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. We continued a successful “spiritual track” with Gaddafi’s regime for several years encouraging a remarkable change of heart. Then in 2001 we engaged Saddam’s regime who ironically was very open to diplomatic relations. After visiting Iraq I warned the Bush Administration, and in particular, VP Cheney of the unnecessary need of going to war, suggesting rapprochement beginning with the “spiritual track.” My effort fell on deaf ears and ended in personal veiled threats. In 2007 I was asked by the Korean Government to use the “spiritual track” to get Korean missionaries taken hostage by the Taliban released. That ended much like Iraq and I was asked by a top Bush State department official to immediately disengage. I complied, but thankfully, others used this “spiritual track” for ultimate release of the hostages.

Finally, I witnessed very definitive progress towards peace in Darfur after fourteen trips to Sudan, repeatedly praying with President Bashir and engaging in the “spiritual track” with his regime over eighteen months. This ended in January 2008 when I was indicted by the US Justice Department on five charges related to working with US Muslims. The ensuing inaccurate publicity so exaggerated and horribly misrepresented the situation, that my efforts for faith-based peace in Sudan were undermined.

I know firsthand that the “spiritual track” works, at very least it is like inserting yeast in bread when included with traditional approaches to conflict resolution.  With the entire world watching and 2.5 million displaced Muslims of Darfur desperately seeking peace, President Obama has the opportunity to turn the tables, venturing to shift years of misguided direction. He can combine his policy of “respect” with what he already instinctively embraces, producing a “spiritual track”; the new face of America’s peacemaking strategies that can and will succeed.

Today Bridges Sudan is organizing a symposium for the timely book A Deadly Misunderstanding, 7:30 pm Khartoum time.

The symposium will be chaired by Peter Tipi, General Secretary of the Sudanese Churches Council and the main speaker will be Ambassador Alkhider Haron, Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry.  Commentators will include: Prof. Abd Alrahem Ali from Khartoum International Institute of Arabic Language and Prof. Altayeb Zain Alabideen, Khartoum University.

Attendees include many representatives from organizations concerned with issues in the book, such as studies centers, ministers, NGOs, and universities.

Thank you Bridges for hosting such an event to discuss and encourage dialogue on the issues addressed through Mr. Siljander’s A Deadly Misunderstanding!

One of the endorsers for A Deadly Misunderstanding, Tawfik Hamid, published an opinion piece this week in the Wall Street Journal Online.  In Islam Should Prove It’s a Religion of Peace, he calls Islamic clerics to denounce the violence often characterized along with their religion rather than demanding that it be ignored.

We’re always glad to hear about small groups reading ADM together, so thanks to co-author John David Mann for passing on news of Hannah Ineson and the ecumenical group she is a part of in Florida.  Welcome and hello to any new visitors who found your way here from John’s recent posts talking about ADM and his emphatic belief that “This book is going to shake the world in a very big and very positive way. (That’s my story, anyhow, and I’m sticking to it!)”

Meanwhile, the Religion Blog at The Dallas Morning News posted a link to Mark’s ReadtheSpirit article and God Discussion.com, “The Place for Seekers Who Don’t Want to Go to Church,” featured ADM with a summary and reader reviews.

Mark’s has a few speaking engagments coming up, and more in the planning stages. Be sure to keep an eye on our itinerary page for new events!

Join ReadTheSpirit editor David Crumm for a conversation with Mark discussing his global activism and hope for reconciliation.  Crumm faces head-on the Google searches that equate Mark Siljander with “indictment” by bringing his transparent and balanced inquiry to bear:

Google Mark Siljander, the evangelical Christian writer and global activist — and you’ll feel a jolt. Right near the top of the online “hit list” are disturbing news items like this one from the Los Angeles Times: “Mark Siljander vehemently denies the allegations in the indictment …”
What indictment?!
This is a conservative, evangelical, Republican who formerly served in the U.S. Congress and now travels the world working on peaceful development projects. When he’s not working on commercial projects (like a green, bio-fuels project in Kenya at the moment), then he’s working on nonprofit projects in trying to build peaceful relations between Western (mostly Christian) and Eastern (mostly Muslim) governments.
Not only that, but HarperOne has just published his book, “A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide” — a terrific book that Americans should be reading and discussing in small groups.
Plus, the book carries endorsements from Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, former Secretary of State James Baker — and the hottest writer in emergent-Christian circles, Brian McLaren.

So, what indictment?!

Read on for ReadtheSpirit’s take on the indictment and further discussion of Mark’s work…

Conversation With Mark Siljander on his “Deadly Misunderstanding”

DAVID: You’ve served several terms in Congress. You’ve served at the United Nations. You’ve traveled the world. And still — still you tell readers that there’s hope for peace and reconciliation. There are a lot of people who are sounding pretty hopeless right now about global conflict. You’re not only refreshing in your promotion of serious, peaceful dialogue between devout Christians and Muslims. You’re also refreshing in saying that we should be hopeful about world peace.
MARK: In the middle of the last century, who ever thought the world could defeat the massive empire of communism? Communist leaders even had nuclear weapons! Who thought that could be overcome? But it was.
I’m saying that the practical way to engender hope in the world is to support the vast majority of Muslims and work with them to undermine the small number of radicals out there. This isn’t a big Einstein theory. It’s just common sense.

Next week our national leaders will be gathering for the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, 2009.  They will be joined by many prominent individuals from around the world.  It is an important time of gathering to pray together, across and despite cultural, religious and political lines.  This event will be viewable by simulcast for anyone who would like to participate through the web for the first time!  Mark will also be attending the NPB and meeting with many leaders in the surrounding days.

For the first time in its 57-year history the National Prayer Breakfast will be available for viewing “live” over the Internet. We are hoping that this will enable more people to participate and join us in prayer for our leaders. We cordially invite you to view the simulcast of the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. EST.

There is a charge of $5.00 for viewing the National Prayer Breakfast to cover the cost of the simulcast. Please REGISTER NOW (or before February 4).  Once registered you will receive a confirmation letter and instructions.  If you prefer, you can also view the event at a later time. Delayed viewing will start approximately one hour after the event concludes.

Register Now!

Note: Several people have asked if the simulcast is available for group viewing. The answer is YES. If you have a large monitor, projector, and external speakers you can view it as a group.

Harvey McKinnon’s generous review of A Deadly Misunderstanding highlights the personal transformation Mark has made over the last decades as he allowed his paradigms to shift when needed.  Thanks Harvey for articulating your response and sharing the joy we all experience when yet another of our stereotypes is dashed to the ground.. to our relief.

“Decades ago, Mark Siljander and I probably would’ve disagreed on virtually everything.  In fact the Mark Siljander of 2009 would probably disagree with many of the beliefs that he held back then as well.  That’s what makes Mark’s transformation so profound, amazing and inspiring.

Many times while reading this book, I got choked up with the stories in courage of his journey.  His travel from ultraconservative evangelical Christian to a major peacemaker makes this one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read.

You’ve probably heard the expression “Blessed are the peacemakers” – well, Mark should be blessed for the hopeful work he’s done, and his book deserves a truly wide readership.”  more

Incidentally, Harvey is the author of his own book, The Power of Giving.  We haven’t had a chance to read it, but the message of the hope and possibilities created by giving is central to Mark’s approach of offering love first when approaching our enemies. Being willing and able to give is what will make further reconciliation possible.

We were glad to see that Lynn Green, the International Chairman for Youth With a Mission, recently recommended ADM on his website.  YWAM is a widespread network of ministries around the world, we hope our paths will continue to cross.  In his review Lynn references the Reconciliation Walk that YWAM began in 1996, which entailed teams of Christians walking the path of the crusades and offering apology and reconciliation as they went.  This effort resulted in overwhelmingly positive responses from the Muslims and Jews the teams encountered.  Read more here.