Storm Chasers

No one expected it to happen to him. He had been doing it for decades. He was considered a professional in the field of tornadoes research. We have all heard of adrenalin-crazed storm-chasers who, with reckless abandon, drive dangerously into storms with their cameras to prove they did it and survived. But Tim Samaras was not one of them. Samaras was respected around the world for his research into violent weather and tornadoes. He traced his fascination with tornadoes back to his childhood, when he first watched the violent storm sequence in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. That’s when he said he was ‘hooked for life.’

Samaras and his team starred on "Storm Chasers" for five years on the Discovery Channel, with the last show in the autumn of 2011. Speaking with a reporter from the National Geographic, in what would perhaps be his last interview, Samaras gave some advice about being safe in tornado country. 

One Small Step

‘Five decades ago tomorrow, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the powdery surface of the moon in humankind’s first ever journey from one world to another’ Source - New York Times Friday 19th July 2019

This is a quite amazing statement in so many ways. Firstly, it’s true. Neil Armstrong was the first human to go from earth to the moon. What a celebration of the intelligence and tenacity of mankind! The planning, skill, relentless attention to detail and investment that made this trip possible was outstanding. 

Why did God allow Hurricane Harvey?

By the time you read this, hopefully, Hurricane Harvey will be long gone, but we all know that the after effects of such a tragedy take a lot longer to handle. The physical reconstruction work is daunting enough but rebuilding lives, families, hearts, and minds is another matter completely. Why did God allow such devastation? 

Many people claim to have answers, here are a few to think about.

1. We are being punished for sin.

God brought plagues against Egypt in response to Pharaoh's "hardened heart." The book of Revelation is full of disasters arranged by God to discipline those who reject him. Is Hurricane Harvey an instrument of his anger against our sinfulness?

If so, does this mean that people living on the Gulf Coast are worse sinners than those residing in the Wirral, London or New York City? God can use disasters to bring us to repentance, but is this always the explanation for such calamity?

2. Fairness demands that God ignores the crisis.

If God stopped Hurricane Harvey, wouldn't he have to do the same with every storm? Does this mean that he cannot cure anyone of cancer unless he cures everyone of cancer? He cannot protect one person unless he protects us all! Such logic is flawed. I, personally, know of examples where God has healed in response to prayer, and he has protected people in the past - i.e., in the UK we had a National Day of Prayer on the 26th of May 1940 before successful Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 against all the odds.

3. He does not know or doesn't care, or can't help.

Skeptics might claim that if God knew the devastation that this hurricane would bring, or cared for those in its path, or had the power to prevent their suffering, surely he would have intervened. So because he has not, he cannot? However, His word teaches that he is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Moreover, his omniscience, compassion, and omnipotence are on display regularly in our broken world.

So what is my conclusion - I do not have an answer, but I know that God sometimes intervenes in natural disasters and sometimes he does not. I do know that sometimes he heals and sometimes he does not. The scripture states in Isaiah 55:8 ”my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” 

I also know that God saves all who call upon his name, Romans 10:13 and that he loves us unconditionally despite the fact that we are all sinners, Romans 5:8. The Bible teaches that one day this broken world will be gone and that Believers will live in "a new heaven and a new earth,” Revelation 21:1.

I choose to trust God, to trust him even when I do not presently have explanations. Will you join me?

Troubling Times!

Some people say in anticipation of trouble “the sparks will fly,“ perhaps they are unaware that they are quoting the Bible. Job said in Job 5:7 “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward" and in  Job 14:1 "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble”.

Donald Trump should try reading and practising what the Bible says!

If Donald Trump ever wants to become the leader of the USA and the free the world he should start by reading and obeying the Bible. This could of course be said of any candidate who wants to stand for political office. The 'good book' says 'righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people,' Proverbs 14:34. Mr Trumps behaviour, values, attitudes and lifestyle are a sad reflection of what he really stands for. Mrs Clinton is not exactly clean when her life is reviewed. The sad fact of the matter is that no one of any great political ability and moral standing is rising on the world stage. We are struggling to find individuals who have the ability to rule our nations well and to solve the global problems we face.

The Bible highlights the importance of purity in high office. The only person who fulfils the criteria perfectly is the Lord Jesus Christ - see post dated 15th September 2016 entitled -  'Nobody's Perfect' (http://findingthemissingpeace.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/nobodys-perfect-is-that-true-stt-bible.html). In his short life on earth he left enough evidence on record for any thinking person to be completely satisfied that his claims to be 'righteous' are entirely true and can be validated. His birth, life, death and resurrection were predicted in the ancient scriptures of the Jews - the Torah, the Psalms, the Prophets etc. I have therefore no hesitation in believing that the predictions about his second coming and subsequent enthronement as world ruler, King of Kings and Lord of Lords will take place exactly as predicted.

Before you go off on one criticising the current politicians take a quiet moment to think about your own life and where you are compared to these standards. I think if you are honest you will admit that you fall short, as I do!

If this post really speaks to you all I would ask you to do is to consider the offer of forgiveness and salvation that God offers to all of us. We all need it, it is freely available to all, and it is received by trusting God to save you as he has promised. Read Romans 10 for the answers (I have copied it here for you to read)

Romans 10English Standard Version (ESV)

10 Brothers,[a] my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.[b]

The Message of Salvation to All

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hearwithout someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
    and their words to the ends of the world.”

19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
    with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
    I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

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Eavesdropping!

I was sitting in a shop listening to two shop assistants chat as they sort out the clothes on the display racks.

Eavesdropping is good fun sometimes; especially when it is harmless. You can learn a lot by just listening. I've had just been reading about how upset the FBI and the various security agencies in United States are about the highly secure encryption system of the new iPhone 6. Eavesdropping will be very difficult for them when it comes to these types of phones.

Did you realise that God is always able to eavesdrop on everything that you and I think and say. There is a little verse in the bible which seemed to be seriously scary when I was a child. It is this "Thou God seest me". This verse is found in the Bible, in the book of Genesis chapter 16 verse 13. It is really a statement describing the all seeing eye of God. In the calamities of life when we think the one else notices; God does. It was a relief to the lady in this story in Genesis to understand that God saw her and her circumstances even when she thought everybody had forgotten.

Maybe you find it a relief to know that God notices and understands your circumstances even though others seem to be unaware of them.

It could also be quite a frightening thing to realise that God is aware of everything that is going on in our lives. In a slightly different context it says in the gospel of John (John 2:25) that Jesus did not commit himself unto people because he knew exactly the way men operate and the way they think.

Again there is a passage in the Old Testament that is very very frightening. Frightening in the sense that God knows me inside out and knows everything about me (yet He still loves me - see ROMANS 5:8). David, the Shepherd King writes in Psalm 139 about his awareness of God's knowledge. He actually bares his soul to God and says "search me O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts". It is a brave man who invites God to analyse the depths of his mind and to determine and understand his thoughts. But David realises that God already knows his heart and he is willing to submit to God's scrutiny.

It is because of God's knowledge and awareness that he planned the scheme of salvation through the death of his own dear Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before the world began God had already ordained that his Son would pay the price for sin upon the cross outside Jerusalem.

Christ died for sins, He was buried and on the third day He rose from the dead (1 Cor 15).

It is my privilege is to tell you that through this man, Jesus, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. If you turn from your sin, turning to God and confessing that you are guilty he will not turn you away.

Please get in touch if we can help you further through our website www.seekthetruth.org.uk.

Stephen


For more posts and info visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Location:General Drive,Liverpool,United Kingdom

Does the bible bring you luck?

Listen to this one!
https://soundcloud.com/seekthetruthpodcast/does-the-bible-bring-you-luck

Location:Liverpool

President J F Kennedy

Today is the day when 50 years ago the then current President of the United States of America was cut off in his prime. A waste of life, energy talent etc. We remember with the sadness the bitterness of the violence of men and the devastation it produced in a home, a government, a nation and across the world.

It reminds me of the abrupt cutting off another life - Jesus of Nazareth. Rumour and conspiracy theorists may tell us that people knew in advance of JFK's sudden demise. That may be open to debate but one thing is true the scriptures had predicted the death of Messiah (Jesus Christ) millennia in advance.

Daniel writes in chapter nine verse twenty six that 'shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself'. That could either mean - 'his demise was not as a result of anything he had done' or 'the reason for his demise was not to benefit himself but on the behalf of others'. Both are true.

The old song says 'he died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good, that we might go one day to heaven, saved by his precious blood'.

Can you say 'he died for me'?


All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

Location:Liverpool