In any disaster, there are heroes. Some rescue others at great risk to themselves. Some put themselves in harm’s way so that others might survive. I believe we are seeing that with the workers in the nuclear power plants. I can’t imagine what conditions are like for the workers in those plants. With no electricity and overheated nuclear fuel nearby, the ambient temperature in the control room must be very uncomfortable. Of course these workers don’t even know if they are going to live or die. Who knows how much radiation they have already been exposed to?
In addition, they must be under terrible stress to resolve the problem and prevent an even worse disaster. They’ve probably had very little sleep and food, and they probably don’t even know whether their families survived the tsunami. I can’t begin to appreciate what they are going through physically and emotionally. Moreover, if their families did survive, they must be worried sick about their loved ones working in those power plants under wretched conditions.
As we pray for the situation in Japan, let’s remember those workers and their families. They are the unsung heroes who may not even survive this tragedy.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Where Will Be the Next Earthquake?
Along the shore of the Pacific Ocean, known as the “Ring of Fire” because of its seismic and volcanic activity, there has been quite a bit of activity recently. This past week there has been the 9.0 earthquake in Japan. Earlier this year there was a 7.1 earthquake in Chile in January, a 5.4 magnitude quake in China on March 10, and a 6.3 quake in New Zealand in February. There were two significant off-shore quakes in Chile this year, both over 6.0, and some underwater quakes in the Pacific, again all this year. Although it’s not along the Pacific Rim, we had a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last year. Scientists tell us that these quakes are not related to each other since they are thousands of miles apart, but still, I wonder.
I don’t know if this level of activity is typical, but I’m beginning to wonder if “the Big One” is going to hit some part of the U.S. soon. According to the seismologists, we are overdue for large quakes along the San Andreas fault in California and the New Madrid fault in the Midwest. In addition, there are a number of fault lines in and around Puget Sound in Washington State that could cause a significant earthquake and tsunami. To be prepared for any emergency, what can we do?
What we can do is be prepared for any number of possibilities, especially if you live in an area like California that has a number of disasters that can occur: forest fires, earthquakes, mudslides, floods, and tsunamis. First, we should pressure our government officials to make sure all nuclear power plants are adequately prepared and protected against earthquakes (and tsunamis if located on the coast or an inlet). Emergency plans should be in place and emergency personnel should be adequately trained for such emergencies. Millions of dollars from Homeland Security have been dispensed to states, counties, and municipalities since 9/11, so make your officials accountable for how that money is used.
Second, we and our families should be prepared for a number of possibilities. How? A number of ways:
(1) In any emergency, you may be stuck in your house for a while without power and maybe clean water. Have bottles of water in storage, non-perishable food on hand (enough to last for a while), powdered milk (if you have children), and several hundred dollars in cash since ATMs and credit card machines may be down. If you have a fireplace, keep an adequate supply of firewood so you can keep warm if the disaster strikes in the winter.
(2) You may have to evacuate, so you should be prepared to move quickly with the things you need. Either have a backpack filled with what you’ll need, or keep handy a list of items to quickly pack in case of emergency. Below are some suggestions:
IF WALKING
Underwear and socks
Toilet paper/Kleenex
Toiletries, cash
Manual can opener, bottle opener, pocket knife
Change of clothes
Waterproof shoes
Umbrella, blanket
Appropriate jacket for the season
Bottles of water, prescription medications
Cap or warm hat, lighter or matches
Cell phones & chargers
Passports, wallets
Flashlight, extra batteries
Food: high protein breakfast bars, nuts, etc.
Sunglasses, bandages, sunscreen
IF DRIVING
Several changes of clothes
Blankets, pillows
Canned food, other food
Plastic bowels, dishes
Eating utensils
Cutting knives
Bottled drinks
Oil for car, gas can
IF WINTER
Warm boots, wool socks
Heavy coat, jacket or parka
Scarf, knit cap, several pairs of gloves
Chapstick, heavy pants
Sweaters, long underwear
TO SECURE THE HOUSE
Turn down heat, notify friends/neighbors of your departure
Close and lock doors and windows
Throw out perishable food
Disconnect appliances and computer
Unplug and open refrigerator and freezer
Waterproof house as best you can if danger of flood
Sign on front door saying how you can be reached
I don’t know if this level of activity is typical, but I’m beginning to wonder if “the Big One” is going to hit some part of the U.S. soon. According to the seismologists, we are overdue for large quakes along the San Andreas fault in California and the New Madrid fault in the Midwest. In addition, there are a number of fault lines in and around Puget Sound in Washington State that could cause a significant earthquake and tsunami. To be prepared for any emergency, what can we do?
What we can do is be prepared for any number of possibilities, especially if you live in an area like California that has a number of disasters that can occur: forest fires, earthquakes, mudslides, floods, and tsunamis. First, we should pressure our government officials to make sure all nuclear power plants are adequately prepared and protected against earthquakes (and tsunamis if located on the coast or an inlet). Emergency plans should be in place and emergency personnel should be adequately trained for such emergencies. Millions of dollars from Homeland Security have been dispensed to states, counties, and municipalities since 9/11, so make your officials accountable for how that money is used.
Second, we and our families should be prepared for a number of possibilities. How? A number of ways:
(1) In any emergency, you may be stuck in your house for a while without power and maybe clean water. Have bottles of water in storage, non-perishable food on hand (enough to last for a while), powdered milk (if you have children), and several hundred dollars in cash since ATMs and credit card machines may be down. If you have a fireplace, keep an adequate supply of firewood so you can keep warm if the disaster strikes in the winter.
(2) You may have to evacuate, so you should be prepared to move quickly with the things you need. Either have a backpack filled with what you’ll need, or keep handy a list of items to quickly pack in case of emergency. Below are some suggestions:
IF WALKING
Underwear and socks
Toilet paper/Kleenex
Toiletries, cash
Manual can opener, bottle opener, pocket knife
Change of clothes
Waterproof shoes
Umbrella, blanket
Appropriate jacket for the season
Bottles of water, prescription medications
Cap or warm hat, lighter or matches
Cell phones & chargers
Passports, wallets
Flashlight, extra batteries
Food: high protein breakfast bars, nuts, etc.
Sunglasses, bandages, sunscreen
IF DRIVING
Several changes of clothes
Blankets, pillows
Canned food, other food
Plastic bowels, dishes
Eating utensils
Cutting knives
Bottled drinks
Oil for car, gas can
IF WINTER
Warm boots, wool socks
Heavy coat, jacket or parka
Scarf, knit cap, several pairs of gloves
Chapstick, heavy pants
Sweaters, long underwear
TO SECURE THE HOUSE
Turn down heat, notify friends/neighbors of your departure
Close and lock doors and windows
Throw out perishable food
Disconnect appliances and computer
Unplug and open refrigerator and freezer
Waterproof house as best you can if danger of flood
Sign on front door saying how you can be reached
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Japanese Tragedy
We have been witnessing a disaster of biblical proportions. The earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia and Thailand a while back were terribly destructive. Then Hurricane Katrina wiped out a large portion of an American city. Later the earthquake in Haiti destroyed a large portion of a country. More recently there were significant earthquakes in Chile and in New Zealand. Now we’ve seen a triple threat in Japan: an unbelievably severe earthquake, a terrible tsunami that did more damage than the earthquake, and now the nuclear threat from multiple power plants.
Earlier I said this was a disaster of biblical proportions, but I don’t mean to imply that this tragedy is God’s punishment of the Japanese. We live on planet earth and are subject to the laws of nature. We are affected by such things as weather patterns, El Niño, shifting tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, sun spots, tornados, etc. These just happen because of the way the earth is constructed.
The effects of these natural phenomena are made worse by human error, stupidity, and sin. While the Japanese are well-prepared for earthquakes, living on earthquake-prone islands along the “Ring of Fire”, they weren’t as prepared for such a large tsunami. Their seawalls were breached by the 30+ foot wall of water. Their nuclear plants appear to have been built right on the ocean, close to sea level, so the plants would be vulnerable to any tsunami. It was the wall of water that rendered the two backup systems unusable, not the earthquake itself.
The local residents will hopefully not have to pay for the shortsightedness of the designers of these nuclear power plants. Let’s hope we’ve all learned lessons from this tragedy, and will take actions to upgrade nuclear power plants to withstand whatever risks there might be in the plant’s location.
Let’s pray that these at-risk Japanese power plants will be able to be cooled adequately and safely shut down, and that further disaster can be averted. Let’s also pray for the thousands who are homeless, those who are now without jobs, those who have lost loved ones, the brave plant workers whose lives are at risk, and the safety of those involved in relief efforts. Pray that such a tragedy will not happen here in the U.S., since we have significant potential for major earthquakes on the West Coast (mainly the San Andreas Fault) and in the middle of the country (the New Madrid Fault).
Earlier I said this was a disaster of biblical proportions, but I don’t mean to imply that this tragedy is God’s punishment of the Japanese. We live on planet earth and are subject to the laws of nature. We are affected by such things as weather patterns, El Niño, shifting tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, sun spots, tornados, etc. These just happen because of the way the earth is constructed.
The effects of these natural phenomena are made worse by human error, stupidity, and sin. While the Japanese are well-prepared for earthquakes, living on earthquake-prone islands along the “Ring of Fire”, they weren’t as prepared for such a large tsunami. Their seawalls were breached by the 30+ foot wall of water. Their nuclear plants appear to have been built right on the ocean, close to sea level, so the plants would be vulnerable to any tsunami. It was the wall of water that rendered the two backup systems unusable, not the earthquake itself.
The local residents will hopefully not have to pay for the shortsightedness of the designers of these nuclear power plants. Let’s hope we’ve all learned lessons from this tragedy, and will take actions to upgrade nuclear power plants to withstand whatever risks there might be in the plant’s location.
Let’s pray that these at-risk Japanese power plants will be able to be cooled adequately and safely shut down, and that further disaster can be averted. Let’s also pray for the thousands who are homeless, those who are now without jobs, those who have lost loved ones, the brave plant workers whose lives are at risk, and the safety of those involved in relief efforts. Pray that such a tragedy will not happen here in the U.S., since we have significant potential for major earthquakes on the West Coast (mainly the San Andreas Fault) and in the middle of the country (the New Madrid Fault).
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Free Speech Decision
Recently the U.S. Supreme Court determined that demonstrations at soldiers’ funerals are protected fee speech under the Constitution. While the Court (and most of us) find such demonstrations to be obnoxious, revolting, and cruel, they are protected (just as flag-burning is protected).
Some people are upset with this ruling because none of us likes to see the funeral of a fallen soldier disrupted by these hate-mongers from a church in Kansas. However, I believe the Supreme Court decision was the right one for a number of reasons.
First, the free speech and freedom of the press provisions are in the Constitution to protect protests against and criticism of the government and its policies. Americans are free to protest (within limits – no violence, for example) and to criticize without fear of arrest or retribution. Our Founding Fathers did everything they could to prevent abuses of power by the federal government, and to protect the rights of citizens.
Second, if the Court had voted the other way, we would have begun to slide down the slippery slope of censorship and government control of what we can say and not say. This would have been a dangerous precedent. While I find that church’s behavior reprehensible, it is and should be legal. Municipalities can limit the damage done by such demonstrators by passing laws that say no demonstration can take place within 1,000 feet of a soldier’s funeral. Such laws have been passed, and there is a precedent for such regulations. Similar limits have been put on demonstrators at abortion clinics.
Third, since these demonstrations are done by members of a church, it is especially important that their free speech be protected. If the decision had gone the other way, then there is the potential for censorship of sermons, Bible studies, and other religious activity. In particular, I’m referring to speech that isn’t politically correct and may be construed as “hate speech” by some. For example, if a pastor gives a sermon saying the practice of homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible, that speech is still protected by this Court decision.
By the way, that church is totally misguided. Their issue is the “acceptance” of homosexuality by our society. They feel, as I understand it, that God is punishing the United States for this every time a soldier is killed. So they show up at soldiers’ funerals with their hateful signs proclaiming God’s condemnation and rejoicing over another dead soldier. It is completely unchristian to cause additional grief for families as they mourn their loss, and to rejoice that another soldier has been killed. I believe these people are deranged, but nevertheless, their rights must still be protected. Let’s pray that they will finally come to their senses and realize that they have not been following the way of Jesus, who preached (and practiced) love, mercy, and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preach about what the Bible says concerning various behaviors, but we must do so without hate and condemnation. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Some people are upset with this ruling because none of us likes to see the funeral of a fallen soldier disrupted by these hate-mongers from a church in Kansas. However, I believe the Supreme Court decision was the right one for a number of reasons.
First, the free speech and freedom of the press provisions are in the Constitution to protect protests against and criticism of the government and its policies. Americans are free to protest (within limits – no violence, for example) and to criticize without fear of arrest or retribution. Our Founding Fathers did everything they could to prevent abuses of power by the federal government, and to protect the rights of citizens.
Second, if the Court had voted the other way, we would have begun to slide down the slippery slope of censorship and government control of what we can say and not say. This would have been a dangerous precedent. While I find that church’s behavior reprehensible, it is and should be legal. Municipalities can limit the damage done by such demonstrators by passing laws that say no demonstration can take place within 1,000 feet of a soldier’s funeral. Such laws have been passed, and there is a precedent for such regulations. Similar limits have been put on demonstrators at abortion clinics.
Third, since these demonstrations are done by members of a church, it is especially important that their free speech be protected. If the decision had gone the other way, then there is the potential for censorship of sermons, Bible studies, and other religious activity. In particular, I’m referring to speech that isn’t politically correct and may be construed as “hate speech” by some. For example, if a pastor gives a sermon saying the practice of homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible, that speech is still protected by this Court decision.
By the way, that church is totally misguided. Their issue is the “acceptance” of homosexuality by our society. They feel, as I understand it, that God is punishing the United States for this every time a soldier is killed. So they show up at soldiers’ funerals with their hateful signs proclaiming God’s condemnation and rejoicing over another dead soldier. It is completely unchristian to cause additional grief for families as they mourn their loss, and to rejoice that another soldier has been killed. I believe these people are deranged, but nevertheless, their rights must still be protected. Let’s pray that they will finally come to their senses and realize that they have not been following the way of Jesus, who preached (and practiced) love, mercy, and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preach about what the Bible says concerning various behaviors, but we must do so without hate and condemnation. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Yearning to Breathe Free
The recent uprisings in Egypt and other Arab countries illustrate the fact that people don’t want to be ruled by oppressive regimes, but want to have a say in their own destiny. The United States was a refuge for those “yearning to breathe free” in the words of Emma Lazarus, whose poem “The New Colossus” graces the Status of Liberty.
Admittedly democracy can be messy, but it is still the best way to go. Our Declaration of Independence contains the founding principles of the United States, which states that the government serves the governed, not the other way around:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government…
Please pray for those countries, not just because what happens there can affect us, but because the citizens of these countries also have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We should also pray that the kind of government that eventually emerges in Egypt especially will be moderate, not radical, and will not be dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood or any other islamist groups. Let’s also pray that the Christian minority in Egypt will not suffer persecution at the hands of any regime.
Admittedly democracy can be messy, but it is still the best way to go. Our Declaration of Independence contains the founding principles of the United States, which states that the government serves the governed, not the other way around:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government…
Please pray for those countries, not just because what happens there can affect us, but because the citizens of these countries also have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We should also pray that the kind of government that eventually emerges in Egypt especially will be moderate, not radical, and will not be dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood or any other islamist groups. Let’s also pray that the Christian minority in Egypt will not suffer persecution at the hands of any regime.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Be Nice
I watched President Obama’s speech at the memorial service for those killed by a deranged gunman in Tucson. I agree with all that he said, which boils down to “be nice.” However, the problem is everybody hears the message, agrees with it, but then never applies it to himself or herself. The message is always for the other guy, never for me. “If only those leftists would stop …” Or “If only those on the right would start to …”
I believe the harsh rhetoric and other nastiness we see in the political arena is symptomatic of American society becoming ruder and cruder. It is also symptomatic of the tendency we have of demonizing of those who disagree with us. Sadly we even see such attitudes in the Church. Many mainline Protestant denominations are split along left/right lines, with each side demonizing the other. That’s why they are losing membership.
Let us all take to heart what Obama said in that speech, let us all apply it to our own lives, and let us hold our politicians accountable for cleaning up their act. Then just maybe Congress will get something done, and we will all be better off.
I believe the harsh rhetoric and other nastiness we see in the political arena is symptomatic of American society becoming ruder and cruder. It is also symptomatic of the tendency we have of demonizing of those who disagree with us. Sadly we even see such attitudes in the Church. Many mainline Protestant denominations are split along left/right lines, with each side demonizing the other. That’s why they are losing membership.
Let us all take to heart what Obama said in that speech, let us all apply it to our own lives, and let us hold our politicians accountable for cleaning up their act. Then just maybe Congress will get something done, and we will all be better off.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tragedy in Tucson
We have once again experienced a deranged person killing multiple people with a gun, this time killing a congresswoman and a nine year old girl. Let me share a few thoughts with you regarding this tragedy.
(1) Violence is so pervasive in the media (TV, movies, games, some forms of music) that some mentally disturbed people see it as a reasonable way to give expression to their frustrations, anger, or other negative emotions. As long as people go to see violent movies and buy violent games, they will be out there. How do we reduce such violent media? I don’t know, but I think one way might be for parents to not allow their children to see or buy anything with a high level of violence. Parents have to regain control of their children, know what their children are doing, and exercise their rightful authority over them. Remember parents, you’re supposed to be in charge, not the kid.
(2) Guns are too readily available, so that just about anybody can buy one. Yes, I know that bearing arms is a constitutional right, but every right is limited to some extent. I really don’t know how you prevent mentally deranged people from buying guns given privacy issues, but there should be a way.
(3) Our care for mentally unstable people is lacking in this country. The shooter should have received treatment and perhaps should have been institutionalized. I know that conjures up images of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest type of insane asylum, yet is it right to put the public in danger? Is it fair to the mentally unstable person who isn’t getting proper care? We as a society have to rethink how we handle and care for such people, taking into consideration the safety of the public as well.
(4) Families are always surprised when their child (including adult children) do something terrible. Mothers are seen on TV saying “He’s a good boy. I don’t know what happened.” I don’t know the family situation in this case, so I can’t comment except to say that parents should be more involved in their children’s lives. Yes, I know the shooter in this case was 22 years old, yet it seems obvious that something was wrong.
(5) Lastly, the crime and violence (including bullying, spousal abuse, child abuse) that is so prevalent in the U.S.A. indicates something is seriously wrong with our society. Of course we do have a violent history. The West was “won” using violence, mostly against the American Indians. Our freedom was achieved by a war, and the Union was held together by another war. Yet there is no need for violence today. Why are we still such a violent society with gangs, rape, armed robberies, etc.?
Illegal drugs, prescription drug abuse, and alcohol are major contributors to violence and crime. Without those, society would be much better. The media portrays violence as the norm, so some embrace it. However, what I’ve described are symptoms of a deeper problem. The real problem is that so many people are missing a key part of life. As a result they turn to drugs, violence, bullying, and abuse of spouse, children, or pets. Their anger and frustration is made worse when they are the victims of bullying, or their job is miserable, or other difficulties arise.
So what’s missing? God. We were designed by God to be in relationship with him. If that God-shaped void in our life is empty, we try to fill it with idols such as career, pleasure, material goods, bad relationships, or substance abuse. None of those things satisfy, so we become even more frustrated, angry, or discontent. Why not go to church, and take your children with you? Just maybe it will help them to become better citizens because it will teach them values. They will learn about God, and will hopefully become committed followers of God. Let’s improve our society, one person at a time.
(1) Violence is so pervasive in the media (TV, movies, games, some forms of music) that some mentally disturbed people see it as a reasonable way to give expression to their frustrations, anger, or other negative emotions. As long as people go to see violent movies and buy violent games, they will be out there. How do we reduce such violent media? I don’t know, but I think one way might be for parents to not allow their children to see or buy anything with a high level of violence. Parents have to regain control of their children, know what their children are doing, and exercise their rightful authority over them. Remember parents, you’re supposed to be in charge, not the kid.
(2) Guns are too readily available, so that just about anybody can buy one. Yes, I know that bearing arms is a constitutional right, but every right is limited to some extent. I really don’t know how you prevent mentally deranged people from buying guns given privacy issues, but there should be a way.
(3) Our care for mentally unstable people is lacking in this country. The shooter should have received treatment and perhaps should have been institutionalized. I know that conjures up images of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest type of insane asylum, yet is it right to put the public in danger? Is it fair to the mentally unstable person who isn’t getting proper care? We as a society have to rethink how we handle and care for such people, taking into consideration the safety of the public as well.
(4) Families are always surprised when their child (including adult children) do something terrible. Mothers are seen on TV saying “He’s a good boy. I don’t know what happened.” I don’t know the family situation in this case, so I can’t comment except to say that parents should be more involved in their children’s lives. Yes, I know the shooter in this case was 22 years old, yet it seems obvious that something was wrong.
(5) Lastly, the crime and violence (including bullying, spousal abuse, child abuse) that is so prevalent in the U.S.A. indicates something is seriously wrong with our society. Of course we do have a violent history. The West was “won” using violence, mostly against the American Indians. Our freedom was achieved by a war, and the Union was held together by another war. Yet there is no need for violence today. Why are we still such a violent society with gangs, rape, armed robberies, etc.?
Illegal drugs, prescription drug abuse, and alcohol are major contributors to violence and crime. Without those, society would be much better. The media portrays violence as the norm, so some embrace it. However, what I’ve described are symptoms of a deeper problem. The real problem is that so many people are missing a key part of life. As a result they turn to drugs, violence, bullying, and abuse of spouse, children, or pets. Their anger and frustration is made worse when they are the victims of bullying, or their job is miserable, or other difficulties arise.
So what’s missing? God. We were designed by God to be in relationship with him. If that God-shaped void in our life is empty, we try to fill it with idols such as career, pleasure, material goods, bad relationships, or substance abuse. None of those things satisfy, so we become even more frustrated, angry, or discontent. Why not go to church, and take your children with you? Just maybe it will help them to become better citizens because it will teach them values. They will learn about God, and will hopefully become committed followers of God. Let’s improve our society, one person at a time.
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