In light of the approaching Muslim pilgrimage known as the Hajj, and the Muslim day of sacrifice on the third day, Eid al-Adha, this is a timely update. Pastor R mentioned the upcoming date in a call this week. Most readers are aware of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. This year, about 2 million Muslims are expected to journey […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…6/16/2023….Our God Has All Things Under Control!
One request that is made quite often in the Mideast Updates over the past 11 years, is for prayer. Why is prayer requested? It is because God’s intervention is needed. I wonder how many of us, yours truly included, pray in a nonchalant way, not really grasping the gravity of what we are doing and not realizing what is involved […]
MIDEAST UPDATE….6/3/2023….”Groaning”
In God, every heartache, every tear, every difficulty, and every sorry that we experience in this life will bring forth the birth of new life. The pains we experience in this world will be forgotten in the next in the joy of new life. Notice the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8: 18 “For I consider that the sufferings of […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…5/10/2023…”God Sometimes Works In Mysterious Ways!”
How does one face life as we find it in 2023, knowing that tomorrow’s news will likely be more troublesome than even today? There are those who live in constant fear. There are also those who avoid knowing what is going on in our world. Others focus on staying entertained and refuse to deal with the more unpleasant realities of […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…3/30/2023…”Even The Very Old…!
In the last update, dated 3/23/2023, I shared the story of “The Dead Branch.” As is usually the case, the effects of God’s miracles and interventions continue after the initial miracle has happened. The story of Ayaet Rahmani’s challenge to Omar and what God did to meet his challenge, is spreading far and wide. Hundreds of people have already found […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…3/17/2021…Our GOD Never Leaves Us, Nor Forsakes Us
As I was recalling my last conversation with Pastor R, I thought back on the difficulties that our friend has gone through over the years. Snippets came to mind of stories about the first Omar, back in 2012 and 2013, when he took the first handful of Bibles over the border from Jordan into Iraq and subsequently started a House […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…2/23/2023…”Jesus Is The Resurrection And The Life”
As most know by this time, the death toll from the great February 6 quake is inching closer to 50,000 every day. The latest count I have been able to find is 47,244. That is a combined death count between Turkey and Syria. At least 164,000 buildings were destroyed. Many of the House of Blessing missionaries have joined those trying […]
MIDEAST UPDATE….2/16/2023….”Goin’ Home”
In light of world events lately, life and death are on the minds of many—especially with the latest catastrophic loss of life from the twin earthquakes just over the northern border of Syria in Turkey. The Bible has many things to say about life and death, especially for the true believer. One of these is found in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4: […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…2/9/2023…”The Lord Is Our Stronghold…No Matter What!”
It is hard to believe it has only been four days (at the time this update will post) since the massive earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria. The feared number of 20,000 deaths was surpassed some hours ago today, Thursday, February 9. Judging by the extensive devastation among such a large population, the number of dead is sure to climb […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…2/7/2023…”And There Will Be Earthquakes in Diverse Places”
What had been the regular struggle to keep refugee tents upright during winter weather suddenly became a huge effort to reset and rebuild tents that had been shaken and knocked down, and even torn by two major earthquakes that hit just north of the southern border of Turkey with Syria on February 5. The first quake was said to have […]