A Syrian church has held prayers for the first time in years amid the rubble left by Islamic State fighters there. Around two dozen Christians gathered at St Mary's Church in Deir az-Zour, eastern Syria at the weekend for the first service in six years, according to The New Arab. Rebels seized the city in 2012 and the Christian inhabitants fled. However, the Syrian regime recaptured the city last November and Christians are among residents slowly returning. The service yesterday was led by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Aphrem II. Some Muslim clerics also attended. The patriarch said: 'It's an indescribable feeling for us to pray in a nearly-destroyed church, which serves as a consolation for our hearts and a message of hope to the people of the city to come back and take part in building it anew.' Local bishop Maurice Amseeh called on Christians to return to their city. 'The important thing now is for life to come back – for Deir az-Zour's residents and Christians to come back to it,' he told worshippers. Deir az-Zour is the largest city in eastern Syria and around 3,000 Christians lived there before the war. A large part of the city is still uninhabitable, with many buildings destroyed, no drinking water and only intermittent electricity.

Very interesting. Our garrison is very BLESSED to have great chaplains!

This is a great refresher!

Waiting on the Worst It was mid November 2010. I was a newlywed with a husband in Afghanistan, and the Department of Defense (DoD) website had just listed another casualty from his battalion. The family had yet to be notified, so while the list read, “3rd Battalion, 5thMarines” and “Helmand Provence,” the name slot had yet to be filled in. When my husband first deployed, I heard God tell me everything would be okay. But as I looked at that nameless space, I began to doubt what I’d heard. Would I be the widow that empty space made? Fear and anger at God had become my go-to feelings. In my old life, I was known best for my sunny disposition. But because of those feelings, my once continuous conversation with Jesus had turned into a steady stream of one word, “Please. Please, please, please.” At the time I was living in an apartment my parents had built over their separated garage. In that moment, I meant to walk into the big house and talk to my mom. Instead, I stopped on the enclosed apartment stairs and looked out of the window. My view was clear to the end of the driveway. If my husband had been killed today, a car would soon appear, carrying a chaplain who would inform me of my loss. For now, though, the driveway remained empty. -Hannah Ezell Trust in God's voice when you hear him.

“Do you believe in the Messiah?”

When God gives you an opportunity.

Happy Sunday!

Yummy!