| I’ve been avoiding the news. In the wake of the terrorist attack in Israel, I got to the point where just I couldn’t take another horrific image or heartbreaking story. I felt a little guilty for checking out. After all, my distress was nothing compared to the suffering the Israelis were experiencing. But I made the decision to pray for them and shield my mental health. Of course, I couldn’t avoid it altogether. If you go online, the story is everywhere. I was especially surprised to see friends announcing solidarity with Palestine in the immediate aftermath of the attack. I understand that there’s a complicated history between Israel and Palestine but the appropriate response to such a barbaric attack is condemnation, not equivocation. I was grateful for the moral clarity from Russell Moore, who wrote: “Hamas is genocidally evil. They and their co-conspirators are solely responsible for their actions. Whatever our views on Middle East policy, whatever our thoughts on military strategy, let’s not be afraid to say that.” Read his essay: “Bothsidesism About Hamas Is a Moral Failure.” The news of the last week has taken a toll on the people in your church. If you’re a pastor, they’re looking to you to provide comfort and guidance. Our resource, Preaching in Moments of Crisis, can help. You'll find questions to ask yourself and your congregation; mistakes others have made that will help you; and how to effectively comfort the hurting. | 