Daniel Polisar, an Israeli political scientist, recently published a fascinating study in Mosaic magazine of Palestinian public opinion based on 330 polls conducted over many years. It makes for some bracing reading.

“When asked hypothetically if Israel’s use of chemical or biological weapons against Palestinians would constitute terror, 93 percent said yes,” notes Mr. Polisar. “But when the identical question was posed regarding the use of such weapons of mass destruction by Palestinians against Israelis, only 25 percent responded affirmatively.”

Other details: In December 2014, 78% of Palestinians expressed support for “attempts to stab or run over Israelis” in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Only 20% were opposed. Palestinians have also consistently supported terrorist attacks against Israelis within Israel’s original borders, “often by as much as six to one.”

As for the idea of sharing the land, only 12% of Palestinians agreed that “both Jews and Palestinians have rights to the land.”…Most Palestinians also think Israel won’t be around in 30 or 40 years, either “because Arab or Muslim resistance will destroy it” or on account of its “internal contradictions.” Where is the sense in agreeing to relinquish through negotiations…what be yours in deed tomorrow? – Brett Stephens in The Wall Street Journal 10 November 2015

“Hospitality is … an other-centered engagement with people that comes as naturally as breathing to [the one trusting God] and … it’s goal should be to encourage others. … Giving encouragement is more important than many of us often realize. What we call psychological problems are, in most cases, the product of painful, self-centered relationships. People have been hurt, and they spend most of their energy seeing to it that they don’t get hurt again. Nothing breaks into that cycle … quite like loving encouragement.” – Larry Crabb and Rachel Crabb, The Personal Touch

Wayne, a high school girl just came by to chat. It was her first time to ever come to church and she wanted to talk about college. She noticed the photographs on our table and asked to see how we use them to share the gospel of Jesus. I demonstrated, and she shared that she had always wanted to be a Christian. However, she was worried about what would happen if she trusted Jesus and then later did wrong. I was able to explain the true doctrine of justification by grace to her. She then sat in the chair here and prayed her belief in Jesus.

Obviously, I am blessed with friends who are like Deborah. They inspire courage and call God’s servant to lead. I pray that I am like that and that you are as well. As Deborah knew, when we inspire leaders and volunteer it leads many to “praise the Lord.”

We were walking from the field toward the press conference and came up to an old man standing in Coach Joe’s path. Joe didn’t immediately recognize the man. The old man called out his name and Joe immediately embraced the man and began crying. It seemed the elderly fellow could hardly hold the coach up.

Turns out this man was a counselor at the boys’ home where Joe Kennedy spent his teens years. Joe had a difficult childhood spent mostly in foster homes and was always in trouble. He was so troubled that Joe ended up in a boys’ home. The counselor was a Christian. He loved Joe and tried to reach him by sharing God’s truth and love, but Joe wasn’t ready.

Joe entered the Marines and many years later became a Christian when those old dormant seeds of God’s love burst forth and took root. God had used the love of an old guy – a man who saw no visible fruit of his efforts for years – to change an troubled young man into a godly leader of young men.

As the two men hugged, Joe’s old mentor said, “I drove six hours to see you tonight because I thought you might need a little support.”

Many of the Christians I know are investing in the lives of people all around them. Some of those brethren are weary. They feel stuck in a rut or see no visible change. I pray for each of us that we will not grow weary in doing good, that we will not stop driving long distances to offer support. We never know when the eventual fruit of our investment may become viral.