Avengers and the Avenging; Syria Spills Over Into Lebanon

Saturday morning, the courts announced the verdict on Mubarak and his officials relating to the 840 killed during last year's revolution.  As previously reported, and as we're sure you've read by now, Mubarak got a life sentence while the rest were exonerated from wrong doing.

Meanwhile, Saturday afternoon, I took the boys into downtown Cairo to watch "The Avengers".  The family had been wanting to go see the movie that has been playing here for several weeks, but it wasn't nearby, and movies can still be expensive here.  We found several cheaper theaters, and so we took a chance on one that should be near the metro stop we were familiar with--no problem finding the theater, but I didn't realize just how close we were to the action.

We were attempting to avoid downtown, but we were actually just 2 blocks from Tahrir Square.  While watched fictional superheroes battle intergalactic/interdimensional invaders, thousands of Egyptians outraged by the verdict were invading Tahrir Square.  Along the way, they damaged property, hurling stones at courthouses.  The movie provided enough digital surround sound that we wouldn't know just how close the angry mobs were until we left the theater!

Mobs of outraged people are still gathering, and are planning to gather all week, demanding justice for the martyrs--seeking to avenge their blood by getting a little blood from Mubarak.  Leading the charge, the charges, and the chants are a few of the defeated Presidential candidates: Sabahy and Abouel Fotouh; the Muslim Brotherhood are there as well, and apparently a part of organizing and promoting rioting in the square until "justice" is accomplished.  CNN has a good report here with a slide show from Tahrir.

Sunday, during the Worship's Q&A time, one believer talked about how difficult it is to even admit that you are at peace with the verdict in her workplace.  To be outraged and to seek greater punishment is being labeled as patriotic.

We are two weeks from the controversial election, and the angry mob is already present in the heart of the capital.

Continue to Pray for Egypt.

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Not far away, in a place that we're also called to serve the Church and leadership, Lebanon is seeing things escalate out of control.  We posted last week that we were keeping an eye on this situation, while also attempting to encourage and listen to our brothers and sisters there.

Lebanese citizens have begun taking sides, as either pro-Syrian regime or against the regime that is facing their on atrocities.  This duality has bred controversy, which has led to arguments, which have become altercations, and now blatant violence with 13 killed and 50 wounded just on Saturday.

This is only a fraction of the violence suffered in Syria, where we also have brothers and sisters caught in the middle of violence and bloodshed.

As you pray for Egypt, pray for Lebanon & Syria -- as you see the images on the TV screen, while you shake your head at the news reporters commentaries, bow your knees and remember that you have brothers and sisters in Christ in these places, that their homes and their communities are suffering division, discord, and trouble--pray for them as you would your own family trapped in the middle.  Then, pray also for those around them who do not yet know the transformative love and peace of Jesus Christ--pray that the Church would be bold and courageous to serve and demonstrate His love and peace in the midst of the chaos and trouble.

Continue to remember those in prison 

as if you were together with them in prison, 

and those who are mistreated 

as if you yourselves were suffering. 

~ Hebrews 13:13