Hurricane season in the gulf
The news out of the gulf is grim, 40 days out from the oil spill and we are no closer to a solution than we were a month ago. In fact, it looks like it will be August at the earliest before any real headway can be made in containing the massive amount of crude gushing forth from the ruptured pipe at the bottom of the sea floor. That’s three long months – June, July, August – and we have now officially entered hurricane season. People are beginning to get worried and they are also getting angry. Angry at the loss of their livelihoods, angry at the destruction to the environment and angry that while the worst environmental disaster in American history unfolds, our President has had time for only two short cursory visits to the area. Quoting from BP PLC Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, “This scares everybody, the fact that we cannot make this well stop flowing, the fact that we haven’t succeeded so far.” And, while I’ve read reports that prayers have been going up around the nation asking for divine intervention, I have to wonder – until God sees some evidence of real repentance on the part of his people, how willing is he going to be in answering those prayers.
Last week our Pastor looked out at the sparse turnout for out for our Wednesday evening service and lamented, (not just in regard to our own congregation, but, as an observation in general) how the country we love could be in such serious jeopardy on so many fronts and yet our churches remain empty. It’s not enough, I suppose that Americans continue to die at the hands of terrorists and in the war on terror, it’s not enough that war in the middle-East and war with N. Korea may be imminent with global implications to both, it’s not enough that our government no longer represents us and is systematically working to strip away our constitutional rights, its not enough that the gulf is bleeding away the life blood and livelihood of the country with damage to the environment that is most likely irreparable, it’s not enough that people continue to lose homes and jobs while the list of those hungry and living on the streets grow with each passing day. If all of this is not enough to drive us in to our churches and onto our knees, then I don’t know what is?
Maybe, just maybe each drop of oil pouring forth from the earth is retribution for the sins of an America who has shed the blood of innocents on the altar of lust, laziness and selfishness; for does the scripture not say in Genesis 4:10 following the death of Abel – ‘Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
And maybe, just maybe, the church in America has not faced persecution for the name of Christ because we have not done anything to provoke it? If this is true, the blood of our brother Abel is doubly on our heads. From the headlines a few days ago – EXPERTS PUZZLED AT RED GULF OIL SLICK:
-One of the most defining traits of any oil spill is the fact that it’s black. The tar and crude cover the surface of land or water in a thin, black layer, which causes a lot of damage, and also gives the slick its characteristic look. But this does not appear to be the case with the most recent disaster of this nature. The oil spill taking place in the Gulf of Mexico for the last month has covered the waters of the Atlantic Ocean with a reddish slick, which has left scientists puzzled. They infer that the mixing process currently taking place between water and oil must have something to do with this peculiar event, but a connection is not immediately visible, LiveScience reports. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Experts-Puzzled-at-Red-Gulf-Oil-Slick-142907.shtml
Experts may not know why the gulf is turning red, but, we who know the word of God should or do.
Interestingly, I read an article out of Israel yesterday which speaks much to the same thing. Israel faces today the most serious threat ever to her existence by enemies who have vowed not to rest until the state of Israel is completely and utterly annihilated – wiped off the map! And, Israel knows that these are not idle threats for the enemy has developed the ways, means and intent to make good on their words. Just last week, Israel carried out a series of emergency preparedness drills in antcipation of this very thing. All fine and dandy with one exception – without a call to Jehovah, the one who has the strength and might to save them, all efforts are in vain; something which some in Israel are beginning to recognize as evidenced from the following article by Michael Freund of the Jerusalem Post. In his article titled, Where is God, Mr. Freund comments on the recent Emergency Preparedness Drills and the fact that Israel while being surrounded by foes, is being increasingly abandoned by friends and allies like the United States, leaving them alone to face their enemies.
“Like it or not, we are very much a nation that is dwelling alone ….. in the face of all this, there is a knife-like question piercing through the fear of fog: Where is God? …. What I mean to say is this, Where is God in our public discourse? Why aren’t we turning to Him in our hour of need?” http://www.thejerusalemconnection.us/blog/2010/05/27/where-is-god.html
Good question, and if you caught today’s headlines, you will understand how important this question will be in the coming days. With the disaster that unfolded this weekend with regard to the Gaza blockade, Israel is becoming increasingly an object of scorn among the nations. I personally think the flotilla was intended to provoke a response from Israel that would bring condemnation to the Jewish state and evoke sympathy to the Palestinian cause. Was the amount of force justified? I don’t know, but, I do know the fall-out to this incident will be grave. Israel as predicted by scripture will indeed be friendless as she faces her foes in these last days and with nowhere to turn, she will be forced to call out to the God of her fathers and the Son who had been sent to save her. Jesus as he wept over Jerusalem in Matthew 23: 37-39 foretold the coming of this day, when he said ” O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again (Jerusalem) until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'”
This day is rapidly approaching my friends, we are seeing scripture fulfilled before our very eyes!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6 Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy
Heaven Bound 
I have to say at this point in my life, I am so thankful for this awful disease (PD) I have that God used to take my mind off the world and on to Him! I cannot praise Him enough. Otherwise, I would be out chasing my next big real estate deal! (Big whoop!) Now I crave reading the Word and blogs like yours about watching and waiting for His return. May Jesus Christ be praised!
I think you’ve pegged this correctly, Cindy. Tonight on Fox News, I heard the Mr. Netanyahu had cancelled his appointment with Pres. Obama and was heading back to deal with this new complication. Prayer is NOT OPTIONAL at this point in time. May His spirit lead us in what exactly we should be praying for.
Kim
By: Kim on June 1, 2010
at 12:49 am
Made to look silly by the Holy One of Israel:
“Thunder, lightning stop Obama Memorial Day speech”
By: Jay on June 1, 2010
at 1:19 am
Hi Jay, great caption to the photo! Posting the link to the story that goes with the photo. I thought it was quite interesting. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100601/us_nm/us_obama_memorialday
By: cindybythesea on June 1, 2010
at 9:09 am
This is wild: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/storm-agatha-hole-guatemala
By: Jay on June 1, 2010
at 1:21 am
Wow, that photo is incredible – and terrifying! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Reminds me of the sons of Korah who were swallowed up by the earth in their rebellion (Numbers 26).
By: cindybythesea on June 1, 2010
at 7:59 am
Great question, Cindy! Where is the persecution, indeed? My deepest fear is that, as a church, in America, we have become tame — useful to the enemy as spiritual eunuchs and dupes, proving by tired, dull, empty ritual that what passes for Sunday piety nowadays is an errand of fools, devoid of true power. Yet a few still know that that is not so!!!
In the second chapter of his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes: 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I take from that two things:
1) We must not fear. Our guy already won (on the cross), he ultimately wins (New Jerusalem; Satan bound) and He is, every day, winning.
2) Some will find explanations for what is going on in everything but the Christian gospel. They have chosen to block their own ears and put faith in everything else but Christ to help them understand what is going on. God help them. Please, God. Help them. Have mercy on them. Help us lead them back! Do not let them go down to the pit…
By: ultraguy on June 1, 2010
at 1:58 am
You’re so right brother Art, tonight while I was driving home from Memorial day activities, I tuned in to a.m. talk radio just in time to hear a guest on some program talking about the “vibrational changes” the earth is going through as the cause for all the recent earth activity and disasters. Truly sad, that many would rather buy into this metaphysical mumbo jumbo than the truth.
By: cindybythesea on June 1, 2010
at 9:03 am
Dear Ms. Cindy by the Sea,
Peace be unto you from the Lord Yeshua, the begotten Son of God. Thank you for continuing to stir our spirits and awakening many from slumber.
The questions you brought forth was why the Gulf slick is red. My answer is because the Lord of Host is illustrating to those opening their eyes to Him the god they worship is dying, even the god of earth. There is a hole in her and it will not be plugged. It is her blood.
In the battle of the gods of Egypt that preceeded the Exodus from Egype, The Lord of Host, The Great I AM That I AM, placed His glory upon Pharaoh, Exodus 14:17, before the opening of the Red Sea, so He shall place His glory upon Pharaoh in our red sea.
As He continued, in verse 18 “and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen.”
Let us continue to call upon His name and give praise to Him that lives forever. Let us sing these songs unto our Christ,….Blessed is He, Blessed is He…Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosannna Hosannna Hosanna in the Highest.
Sing Oh House of Israel the Hallel, Psalm 113-118. Let all the tribes of Israel sing unto the Lord. We will sing until the last verse…Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endureth for ever.
Thank you Cindy by the Sea for calling unto the Houses of Israel for Israel is US, YosoY Israel.
By: YosoY on June 1, 2010
at 3:01 am
Thanks again for writing YoSoy, – yes, we know why the gulf is red, strange that scientists do not!
By: cindybythesea on June 1, 2010
at 9:13 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1282835/Desert-storm-Huge-cloud-sand-descends-Chinese-village.html
Neat sandstorm pic from China. When it comes to breath-taking, movie SpecialFX teams have nothing on the Almighty.
By: Jay on June 1, 2010
at 9:21 am
People do not realize how bad things will get with this spill, but soon they will. The same people who prayed on 9/11 that we be kept safe are the same who are praying for protection now. We never have repented as a nation, and most seem to believe we are above reproach, even from God. Of course, we all know better, but unfortunately the majority slumber on. In today’s cynical world, what does it take to get people’s attention?? Sadly, I think we will soon enough find out.
By: gibby62 on June 1, 2010
at 2:19 pm
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for this latest word on our treatment of Jerusalem and the ongoing, red-colored, oil spill in the Gulf. I am totally astounded that there is NO repentance (for the most part) in America. Our churches CONTINUE to ordain homosexual pastors and bishops, and more States pass gay “rights” laws and authorize same-sex “marriages”, while our president betrays Jerusalem into the hands of the Lord’s Islamic enemies. Without repentance, there is No forgiveness or mercy.
Cathy Geever
By: Cathy Geever on June 2, 2010
at 12:41 am