The United States Will Soon Be Entering Decision Time, Twice Over: Mid-term elections in November and Then the Presidential Race While the World Burns.




Watch and Pray: 

Two More Soldiers Killed in Gaza
One shot dead "by a terrorist in a tunnel;" another by a missile defense system's activation in a tank

Meanwhile, rockets continue to rain down on Israel




Anti-Israel protesters rally across France, defying ban imposed after synagogue clash
Thousands march through French cities in protest of Israeli operation in Gaza Strip; French president says will not allow violence to spill over into France.
Article by Nicholas Vinocur, Joe Bavier Jul. 19, 2014 | 10:40 PM



source unknown



Related:
Russia supplied missile launchers to separatists, U.S. official says

The United States has confirmed that Russia supplied sophisticated missile launchers to separatists in eastern Ukraine and that attempts were made to move them back across the Russian border after the Thursday shoot-down of a Malaysian jet liner, a U.S. official said Saturday.

“We do believe they were trying to move back into Russia at least three Buk [missile launch] systems,” the official said. U.S. intelligence was “starting to get indications…a little more than a week ago” that the Russian launchers had been moved into Ukraine, said the official.

My note: pro-Russian militants are acting awfully guilty, not allowing full access to crash scene; allegations of tampering with evidence and bodies, etc. 

God at Work in Ukraine reports:

Ministry to Ukrainian soldiers continues. Natasha, who is a member of a Baptist church in Odessa, recently took part in a trip to take supplies and encouragement to soldiers. In addition to much needed supplies, they were able to provide a music program and a gospel message. Natasha shares that many soldiers were grateful and excited to receive the New Testaments that were brought to them, and listened attentively to the program and gospel presentation. Some of these men were sent to the area where the fighting is the most intense the day after this ministry team visited them. Pray for teams such as these as well as local believers who seek to minister to the soldiers camped in their areas. Pray for the salvation of these young men and women.


8thirty8 reports:
A challenge to set your alarm for 8:38 PM and pray for believers who are either in prison, persecution, or danger. Romans 8:38-39.


The Remaining Christians in Mosul, Iraq (Ancient Ninevah) left today under threat of death from the 'Islamic State' terrorists. An Iraqi pastor just called and said that each Christian family departed with the clothes on their back. Their houses were spray painted with signs: "This House is Now Property of the Islamic State." This announcement was then made over Mosque loudspeakers: "Today is the day you must choose to convert, pay the jizah tax, or die." Mothers were not allowed to take diapers or formula. Everything was left behind. They headed for Kurdish controlled areas like the city of Erbil.

Most Christians had already left Mosul after the Islamic State took control of the city on June 10th. This is another humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. We are looking into ways to send aid to help these poor displaced families. Will you pray for them? If you're in, let us know. Also, pray that The Good Shepherd leads us to the right way to send in relief. This is often tricky in the Middle East, as governments are strict when it comes to sending in funds. Often, the government wants to control this. Don't want to say too much, but you get the picture. Thank you for praying.


ISIS Forces Last Iraqi Christians to Flee Mosul
article by ALISSA J. RUBIN JULY 18, 2014



Since 2003, when Saddam Hussein was ousted, Mosul’s Christians, one of the oldest communities of its kind in the world, had seen their numbers dwindle from over 30,000 to just a few thousand, but once ISIS swept into the city in early June, there were reports that the remaining Christians had fled.



18 July 2014 
Nigeria's Boko Haram crisis: 'Many dead' in Damboa
Many people are feared dead after suspected Boko Haram Islamist gunmen attacked a town in north-east Nigeria.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that half of Damboa had been burnt down, including the town's main market.

At least 18 bodies so far have been recovered from the attack, which lasted for several hours. The death toll is expected to rise, residents say.

Boko Haram's violent campaign to establish an Islamic state has killed thousands of people in recent years.
My note: And to think I have only scratched the surface of the news coverage of trouble spots worldwide. Watch and pray with me?

Unless otherwise noted, pics are from the articles posted and are attributed accordingly there

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