GAZA, LEBANON and SYRIA: the darkness of the tomb or the darkness of the womb?
What if the darkness in Syria is the darkness of the womb and not the darkness of the tomb? What if the darkness in Gaza is the birth pains of something so beautiful that only God can comprehend it. What if God, in His sovereign goodness and His desire to seek and save the lost, can use this darkness to birth a nation, to raise a people, and to establish His presence through the beauty of His church. What if this is the darkness of the womb and not the darkness of a tomb?
10 LESSONS FROM SYRIA: when faith is under fire
Observing the church in Syria during one of our recent visits brought a new conviction of how a Church should influence a nation. Not by fighting evil with evil nor by cursing darkness, but simply by living Christ and being light. We encountered many heroes of faith and divine meetings and hereby include TEN LESSONS we learned from the Church in Syria.
THE ROSE OF SYRIA: A time to strengthen the local Church
“If Syria is a garden of flowers, then the church is the rose. The fragrance of which is reaching even those in government.” If you have prayed for Syria before – “one more prayer, please”. If you have given before – “one more time, please.” This is the heart cry of Syrian believers
NO, SYRIA HAS NOT BEEN LIBERATED: a time for courage
No, Syria has not been liberated. Terrorists do not liberate, they enslave. The Syrians need courage, more than ever before. Courage to endure, to persevere and to survive. But the passive bystanders from the outside world also needs courage, but a different kind of courage.
ANOTHER NATION, ANOTHER WAR – Can beauty save our world?
“Beauty will save the world” These words by Russian philosopher, Fyodor Dostoevsky can be easily dismissed as hopelessly naive, considering all that is happening in the world today. But for Dostoevsky “beauty” seemed to transcend aesthetics, and is what inspires the best in us, our aspirations for what is good and true, and what connects us to each other. Sadly, for many Christians, truth has replaced beauty. It is so much easier to demand submission to the teachings of Christ than it is to radiate the beauty of Christ. Judging people is a lot easier than loving them and condemning sinners is a lot easier than forgiving them.