Do I really care about the Middle East?

Lebanese Internal Security Forces have reported 989 fatalities in Lebanon and Israel Defense Forces have claimed at least 159 deaths in Israel since the conflict began July 12. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/16/mideast.main/index.html) How does that make you feel? Does it enrage you? Does it break your heart? Or like me, can you easily find yourself numb to the widespread hurting, especially with constant conflict in the Middle East. With the media pouring images into our home, we can easily become desensitized to all the violence going on in our World today. We can easily dismiss it as distant, and feel powerless to do anything. Do not believe that lie from Hell, for we are far from powerless, we can offer support.
If claim to be a Christian, then I am primarily addressing you. As representatives of the Church of Christ, I think we need to offer both financial support and prayer to the violence we see. In Issues like these I feel that the church should be in the lead with giving in aid, and loudest in crying out for peace.
What if instead of the Lebanese president thanking the Iranian?s for their support, they were thanking the followers of Jesus from around the world? According to Barna polls, 45% of US adults claim to be born again in Christ (http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2). How come there are not even 25% of US adults desiring to aid Bothers in Sisters in Christ over in Lebanon and Israel? How does that 45% feel when fellow Christian?s (let alone anyone?s) homes are flatten in Yaroun and their lives are lost? The Greek Orthodox Church in Yaroun had there confessional pushed against the main door for protection. Muslims and Christians both had taken shelter there. Their roof was pierced in many places by artillery shells. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/14/lebanon.return.ap/index.html).How do we feel when a Hezbollah rocket strike hit?s the Israeli town of Nazareth, wounding 12 and killing two children. Nazareth is mostly populated with Muslims and Christians. Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ from the Middle East need aid. "Two distinct historical experiences characterize the native Christian communities of the Middle East and Arab world: the dhimmi and the free. Over 90 percent of the ten million or so Christians of Arab lands are dhimmis and have never known a free and equal and dignified existence. They include the Copts of Egypt, the Christians of Syria and Iraq, and Palestinian Christians. The remainder-mainly in Lebanon-have managed to resist dhimmitude and remain free, though at a great cost to themselves. Today, they are freer than all other indigenous Christians of the region despite everything that has happened in Lebanon over the past quarter century. But though free they are nevertheless increasingly embattled, isolated, neglected, and marginalized. They live under the combined pressures of Syrian occupation, the armed state-within-a-state of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, demographic decline, deteriorating economic conditions, the suspension of the Middle East peace process, and general Western (particularly American) neglect."
(http://freedomhouse.org/religion/publications/newsletters/2002/Jan-Feb/newsletter_2002-Jan4.htm)
Please, let us not neglect those who are suffering in Lebanon, Israel, and the Middle East. Pray for continued peace and that both sides can be free from fear. If you are willing to donate, click on this link. http://www.worldvision.org/Worldvision/eappeal.nsf/egift_middle_east_crisis?OpenForm&lid=middle_east_bluetext&lpos=subf1). Word Vision is currently aiding the more than a million who have suffered injuries or have found themselves misplaced from where they once called home. In the beginning of this writing, I proposed the question of how the loss of life made you feel? Has it changed anything in your life? Are your prayers still "you" focused? Are you content remaining comfortable and safe while those distantly from you suffer? If so, then you should be more afraid than most, for your heart has grown cold my friend. A condition that may mean your faith is dead (James 2:14-26), and possibly your soul (Luke 7:50), (John 14:12) (Romans 1:17; 3:28).