19 Jul, 2006
ISRAELI AIR STRIKES ON LEBANON KILL 42
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli air strikes killed 42 people across Lebanon on Monday, including 10 civilians hit on a southern bridge, on the sixth day of a bombardment that has wreaked the heaviest destruction in Lebanon for over 20 years.
Rescuers also pulled nine bodies from the wreckage of a building in the southern city of Tire that was bombed on Sunday, raising the death toll since Israel's offensive began to 204, all but 14 of them civilians.
The fighting was triggered when Hizbollah, the guerrilla group which is backed by Syria and Iran and is part of Lebanon's government, seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight in a cross-border raid on northern Israel on July 12.
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 7/17/06
Extreme Peace for Extreme Days
What does today's scripture teach us about God's love and the peace it brings to His children?
David, the psalmist, received his inspired words from God's Spirit. The context of today's verse is that David is expressing his conviction that God is in control no matter how difficult life's circumstances might be.
Does this mean that God always keeps His children from experiencing stress, harm or death? Obviously not. But it does mean that adversity in life is more bearable when we recognize that we have a personal relationship with the sovereign God. Even when it seems that hard times or enemies are winning, don't panic or lose hope. For those of us who know Christ as our Savior, remember....in the end, we win! Jesus gives us courage today, because our loving Father will save our lives for eternity.
How can we connect today's verse (part of God's Story) to our story?
To help you think about this, please read part of an email I (Byron) received from a missionary friend in Beruit. After you read the email, spend a few mintues in prayer. Listen to Jesus as He shows you how to apply today's verse in your own life....
Dear Friends,
There’s a song by tobyMac that goes, “These are extreme, extreme days. We’re livin’ in extreme days.” You can definitely say that about Lebanon at the present time.
When bombing is happening down in Beirut, I do hear it and I can hear the Israeli jets when the fly over. I was able to see the fires and smoke rising from the airport the last three days. One location destroyed was a bridge that I must use when I do school programs in the Bekaa Valley. So, while I’m not living in the middle of the bombing yet, I am hearing about many places that I am familiar with.
The offensive has virtually shut down the country and landlocked its people. The air and sea ports are closed and the US Embassy is saying to stay put since there’s no way to leave the country right now. There is talk of military evacuations, but no timetable for when.
On Monday we will make a decision on whether we can go ahead and hold our camp which is to start next Friday and for which 96 kids have already registered. Is it too risky to do a camp? Will parents be willing to send their kids? Will the camp location give us the green light to use their facilities considering the circumstances? Will our camp speaker be able to get into Lebanon from Jordan? All of these issues need wisdom and discernment.
Despite all that is going on, I am personally experiencing the peace that passes human understanding. God placed that peace in me when I first came to Lebanon and it’s never left.
Please pray for us and for Lebanon. Pray that God would bring an end to these extreme days. Pray that the advice of cooler heads would be heard around the tables of decision makers who are raging this war. Pray for the believers in this country to remain strong and full of grace as they represent the Lord Jesus.
Always grateful for your prayers,
(name withheld for his protection)
Psalm 31:21 – “Praise the Lord, for he has shown me his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack.”
- Pray for peace in the Middle East and for Jesus, the focus of God's Story, to be seen by the world.
- Pray for the youthworker missionary in Beruit...for safety, courage, and wisdom and they continue to share the love of Christ with students who need Jesus.
- As you have conversations with others about the Middle East conflict, look for an opportunity to use the emailed story of the youthworker missionary as a way to talk about the peace that Christ gives you.
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