WHEN ONE PART OF THE BODY SUFFERS...

“Every part suffers with it”.

So it is with us as we witness our dear brothers and sisters in the Middle-East going through most painful and stressful times at the moment. The list of nations with an interest in the latest flare-up of this age-old conflict between Ishmael and Isaac suggests that it would not take much to escalate into all-out war, and one UK newspaper has even used the term ‘Armageddon’ for what might happen. Our brothers and sisters in Beirut, John, Nancy & Thia, Karen, Maher and Scott, and their young people and Board members are safe and well at this point, but fearful, angry and depressed at the prospect of war again after all the country went through in the civil war of 1975-1990. I spoke to John yesterday, and his most urgent request, after asking for all of us to pray for them, is for the international community to bring urgent and heavy pressure on all sides to negotiate a cease-fire without delay. Every day that passes means it is too late for someone who is caught in the rocket-fire or bombing. This is what John wrote yesterday evening:

“The bombing continued all day Saturday, Saturday night and today, Sunday. The destruction is terrible, with more than 100 people, mostly civilians, killed. Villages, regions, have been isolated from each other because major roads and more than 20 major bridges have been destroyed. The airport is closed and the ports have been hit. Foreigners rushed to Syria, before the roads to Syria were bombed and cut, to find flights home, and embassies are trying to find ways to evacuate their citizens.The rhetoric on both sides has been escalating. Israel will not stop its aggression. Hizbullah says they have only just begun. The government is powerless to do anything and yet is blamed for everything. Meanwhile the Lebanese people suffer.So far, the area where we live and where our YFC office is located, has remained safe. Explosions set off car alarms. We check to see where the smoke is this time. We have electricity (though only half the time.) There is water, food, bottled gas for the stove and gas for the car so far.Life goes on – I know of at least three weddings that took place this weekend. We went to church this morning and had our service, though we had fewer people than usual. We spent the rest of the day watching the news, looking at the map to see where villages are that have been hit and trying to contact people we know are in un-safe areas.Having our camp next Friday, is highly unlikely. We’ll be discussing plans to postpone it.Please continue to pray for us:
1. For humility and wisdom for the leaders – may they make peace their priority;
2. For continued safety and wisdom as we move around;
3. For plans for our camp: when, where?
4. For Scott and Karen who were to lead a group of teenagers to the States on August 6;
5. That the Lord would be glorified in our lives and our conversation as we, along with our neighbors and friends, struggle with anger, discouragement and depression; and,
6. For our son, Jay, who’s in N. Ireland getting ready for the three weeks of SummerServe where he’s a group leader. He so much wants to be back here with us. May he be able to focus on his responsibilities and be a blessing for the Lord.”

I know you will not need encouragement to pray for these folks, and for our brothers and sisters in neighbouring countries who are suffering, or who are fearful of what is to come. May the whole of Psalm 46 (“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble…”) be of great comfort and help to all of them.