Not Why? But What Now?

When calamities strike like what we observed in Japan and elsewhere recently, many tend to ask the question why these happened ?

Chuck Colson, President Prison International wrote an interesting article addressing this issue. Essentially he said we should ask "What Now ?"

God gave us intelligence and abilities to learn many of nature's behaviors. Earthquakes and the likes are natural occurrences due to activities in the earth. Beside, if man chose to build cities along the fault lines, we are expecting and taking the risks of disasters. Than should we be asking "Why these happened?"

How should Christians respond in these situations ? ( I am learning too )

He said :

But as a Christian, what do I do when disaster strikes? I pray for the victims, console the grieving, and love my neighbor created in God’s image. That is, I get to work and help those in need. And I have no doubt that Christians -- those who follow a God whom the atheists call cruel and inhumane -- will be in the vanguard of helping the hurting in Japan because He has taught us to love one another on this beautifully created, intricately complex, and even sometimes dangerous planet on which we live, and because humans are, after all, the crown of creation.

As the Psalmist writes, “When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him? Yet thou hast made him a little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.”

To read the whole article click on the title of this post

Tsunami An Apocalyptic Sign ?

Many people are calling the earthquake and tsunami in Japan one of the apocalyptic signs. Pastor John Piper commented of this when he saw the devastation in Japan. Now author Steve Wohlberg said there are signs pointing to this direction. The natural disaster like earthquakes happened one after another, and there are man-made disaster like civil unrests in the middle east and the nuclear disaster in Japan.

According to him these signs were mentioned in the Bible. Luke 21:11 "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven".Verse 25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea".Verse 26 "People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken".

These are commonly known as signs of end-time.

Worst things are yet to come.

Wohlberg said "It’s going to get worse before it gets better. But the good news is that when it’s all over, it’s going to get really good. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Bible says that Jesus is going to come and He is going to get rid of sin. Satan is not going to have the upper hand like he does right now. God is going to put down evil."

To read more click on the title of this post

Japaness Dog Won't Leave Friend after Quake

"This is one of the most touching videos. Amid all the sadness and tragedy in Japan right now, even dogs are bonding together. This dog in particular will not leave their injured friend’s side. What an amazing creature!"

Even in tragedy like the tsunami in Japan we are seeing inspirational story like this one. A heart warming video.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed!"

You don't need to understand Japanese to understand the story.

Tsunami in the Bible

It is interesting and humbling to learn that our Holy Bible prophesied about tsunamis thousands of years ago. Thanks to scientist, archeologist and geologist, Dr. Jeffrey Goodman who had been studying the Bible to search what it says about tsunamis. In the Bible it is referred to "floods", one particular familiar ones is "Noah's Floods". He said the great flood was caused by a 3 mile wide comet hitting the earth, crashing into the Indian ocean, resulting in great foods, or tsunamis.

The Bible prophesied that tsunami will occur during end-time

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Rev 8:8-9

Many scientists are studying the catastrophes in the Bible. Dr.Jeffrey writes:

A growing number of astronomers and planetary scientists have begun to write about how the catastrophes of "Revelation" accurately describe different types of cosmic impact, depending on whether the land, sea or atmosphere is hit. Dr. John S. Lewis, a leading expert on cosmic impacts in his 1997 book (pages 11-13) "Rain of Iron and Ice" asks "Did John (the author of the Book of Revelation) somehow know more about impact phenomena than any scientist before the present decade?"

To read more click on the title of this post

Muslim Brotherhood Showing Their True Color

The Muslim Brotherhood featured very prominently in Egypt's recent revolution. Some experts said this may be good for democracy as well as Christians there. However, experts like Pastor Shaddy Soliman, an Egyptian now pastoring a church in Florida said otherwise. In my previous blog post I had shared about Shaddy's comments saying democracy and Islam just cannot mix. He also warned against the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood. Now they are showing their true color by organizing a new political party called Freedom and Justice.

An exiled leader,Al-Qaradawi went home and called for the destruction of Israel including Jerusalem. This was reported :

"Al-Qaradawi asked the Egyptian army to open wide the Rafah crossing and to pray for the re-conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims, so that he and the Muslims could pray in security at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This part of his sermon was cheered and applauded by the crowd,”

Muslim Brotherhood is certainly up to no good. This is proving the skeptics wrong that they are moderates and have peace in mind.

The minorities are certainly going to suffer when the Brotherhood takes control.

Lets continue to pray for all minorities including the Christians in Egypt, that they will unite to face their enemy. Pray for peace and that they will not suffer under the new government.

To read more please click on the title of this post.

Japan Earthquake Tsunami Prayer Song

Piper Called Tsunami "Apocalyptic"

The tsunami in Japan is beyond expectation of many people. The death toll is said to rise to over 10,000 according to Miyagi prefecture police. Although it is an estimate more may die. Another bad news is that the Fukushima nuclear plant explored early this morning. Seriousness of damage unclear.

Pastor John Piper called it "apocalyptic" seeing the devastation on television and internet. Beside tsunami in Japan, there is earthquake in China, recent earthquake in N.Z, and also volcano eruption in Sulewasi, Indonesia. With so many disasters happening close to each other, it is quite natural to associate these with end-times. Added to the natural disaster equation, there is the Fukushima nuclear plant explosion.

Pastor John Piper was shaken and he prayed the following prayer:

"Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways," he said in a prayer for Japan.

"O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment – in the twinkling of an eye – we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh."

The earthquake, tsunami and risk of nuclear explosion are terrible things, yet we know God is in control. Let us continue to pray for peace in the hearts of the affected, pray for their safety, and that people will not go cold and hungry.

May our Good Lord be with the people of Japan. Amen.

To read more click on the title of this post.

Fukushima nuclear plant explosion