A curious thought about Katrina .....

[Wildwood]

A more logical "explanation" is that nothing gets God more attention than a major disaster. Nothing else makes more people come to church, as on 9/11. Nothing better makes people inside and outside the church come together, to reach out to each other and God, to look at their silly and self-absorbed priorities, and appreciate what they do have. There was a huge revival in California just after the 1906 SF earthquake.

I'm surprised God doesn't allow more evils and disasters to overtake us, speaking logically, but he is doubtless more merciful than strictly logical.

Rad

Interesting ideas. The book of Jonah tells of how the people of Nineveh avoided destruction by repenting. And the Azuza Street Revival began in 1906.

The "coincidences" outlined in Rabbi Nachman's message, though, are striking.

 

[strangelittlefaerie]

I'm a part of another Christian forum/message boards - and I see the same thing there. The end is coming. New Orleans was a punishment for this or for that.

What I find odd is that so many Christians are blatantly overlooking the promise God made in Genesis after the flood: that He would never again pour out His wrath and destroy people by flood. He's good on His promises. (Not that floods won't occur, but that they won't be the tool of His wrath)

Sometimes, I think a hurricane is just a hurricane. God did make hurricanes, but He doesn't necessarily use each and every one to inflict His wrath.

Now, I do agree that the connections between Israel and New Orleans are striking. Human-created, perhaps, but still striking (or interesting, at least).

But, I won't pretend like God's never wiped out bunches of "innocent" people to punish one bad leader - He wiped out 70,000 of David's people with a plague because of David's folly. Can't say I understand that and how it lines up with a gracious God, but then I'm not one to know the hearts of 70,000 people, or even one person for that matter. No one in innocent, not even one.

But in this case, I really do think it was just a hurricane. Then again, I ain't God.

 

[mindlight]

The kind of people I would have expected to have been judged by the Hurricane had already left the city e.g.: the Rich and proud. There are other American cities which are morally worse so why New Orleans:
e.g. LasVegas, San Francisco. It was the poor and helpless who bore the brunt of the hurricane.

The timing with the Gaza withdrawal is interesting. I would attribute American great power status, in part, to its protection of the Jews and of Christian communities around the world. (Those who bless these will be blessed and those who curse these will be cursed). But it seems to me that these motivations were in the American pressure on Israel to withdraw. The desire to protect Jews by neutralising some of the arguments of its enemies. Did the USA cross a spiritual line - I hope not since I too thought this policy was a correct one in the circumstances. Why did no similiar hurricane occur after the Sinai withdrawal if this was the reason?

So this seems to be less a judgment on New Orleans for Americans actions in Gaza than a wake up call to the whole nation concerning:

1) past poor governance of that area and during this crisis also
2) past neglect of the poor of the region in particular.

The hurricane is definitely significant - consider the size of it. This needs to be prayed about

 

[ArchangelGabriel]

well since the president is in a great place to influence the nation in what he might think godlt ways should he stick his head out and say no they should be able to stay and risk losing that position thus losing a very important vast majority influence or should he follow the government standards so he can lose this matter but over all do more good then bad?

 

[bkhoward2001]

Angel, I fear that you are exactly right on this..... We are in the midst of severe labor pangs but people are not opening their eyes to what is happening. God's word is complete and flawless. He said it will be and so shall it be. The end is near.

 

[salvation05]

Romans 1 :29-32 “Those filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hate for god, despite, proud, boasters, inventions of evil things, disobedience to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, unnatural affection, implacable or unmerciful nature: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death”.

Death is what happens when you are not saved, that is why when you are saved you are born again.

God would never want any of his children to suffer. As Gentiles, we were adopted through Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus told us we would know when the timing of his coming, not the day or month... did he mention the year?

Why is he taking so long? Christ Jesus wants everyone to be preached the gospel, save more people, not kill them...

Christ Jesus took the throne away from Satan, Satan was thrown down to earth ... Satan offered Christ Jesus the whole world to rule..

Could it be Satan who causes bad things to happen and ruling this world and we do not know?

Put the Armour of God on..

 

[constant]

I don't understand why people think that there WON'T be any repercussions for "giving up" the promise land. Especially the section that used to belong to the tribe of Judah. Yes, the promise land has been taken away before, but has it ever been given away? And if you don't think God uses natural disasters as forms of punishment, not that I'm saying N.O. was a punishment, you need to go back and reread the entire Old Testament. I'm not a conspiracy theorist what so ever. It's hurricane season here in Texas, so this is really nothing out of the ordinary. However, the bible directly speaks to natural disasters in the end times, and we've had some duzzies in the past year and a half.

I would also like to adress a couple of emails I read stating, in broad terms, that "they" would not want to worship a God who would punish them. Well, God ain't Santa Clause. If you are committing a mortal sin on a regular basis, and there is no regret in your heart, and God is not trying to get your attention with some version of discipline, THEN there is something wrong.

 

[Jipsah]

I asked for opinions on what was sent to me .

OK, here's mine - balderdash.

 

[Jipsah]

So this seems to be less a judgment on New Orleans for Americans actions in Gaza than a wake up call to the whole nation concerning:
1) past poor governance of that area and during this crisis also
2) past neglect of the poor of the region in particular.

So God gets our attention about bad government and oppression of the poor by allowing the poor to be killed, starved, and rendered homeless by the combination of natural disaster and governmental incompetence. What kinda god are we talking about here if his response to oppressing the poor is to hammer the poor?

 

[Jipsah]

Christ Jesus told us we would know when the timing of his coming, not the day or month... did he mention the year?

No, so what year is it? I still have my copy of "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988" if I need to update it.

 

[Jipsah]

I don't understand why people think that there WON'T be any repercussions for "giving up" the promise land.

We didn't give it up, it wasn't ours in the first place. When did the US and Israel become the same place?

If you are committing a mortal sin on a regular basis, and there is no regret in your heart, and God is not trying to get your attention with some version of discipline, THEN there is something wrong.

So does that mean that because of sin in my heart, God may very well send a twister to destroy a poor neighborhood in Nashville and kill a buncha folks just to get my attention? Or maybe that would indicate that He was mad at me about giving away Gaza. After all, I didn't do anything to stop it.

 

[salvation05]

[/i] No, so what year is it? I still have my copy of "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988" if I need to update it.

We do not know the year, that is what I am saying..

Let me ask you a question...

Do you believe in Revelation? Or any of the times concerning end times from the Prophets and Apostles?

Peace

 

[Jesus Is Real]

Katrina was a Judgment of God. Actually God's Judgment has been here even on 'The Vine' from the beginning of time. God's Judgment that we might turn back to His Love, because it's His Love wooing us.

Blessings,
Connie

 

[artybloke]

The idea that Katrina was a judgement from God is vile, unloving and about as far from the Gospel that Jesus preached as it is possible to get.

Do you believe in Revelation?

I don't believe in no dispensationalist heresy.

 

[BarbB]

The idea that Katrina was a judgement from God is vile, unloving and about as far from the Gospel that Jesus preached as it is possible to get.

I don't believe in no dispensationalist heresy.

This post is as vile and unloving a post as I've seen on CF.

Someone needs to re-read Matthew 24! Is it only you Anglicans who complain against "heresy". The rest of us just worship God!

 

[Jipsah]

Do you believe in Revelation? Or any of the times concerning end times from the Prophets and Apostles?

Sure. Every thing in the Word of God is true.

Now ask me if I believe every nutburger "interpretation" of the Word, and the answer will be an emphatic "No!". I'm fed up to the gills with people saying "Oh yes, that's what the Scripture says, but when it really means is..." and then following it up with some ration of arglebargle that they've made up essentially out of whole cloth. I've been told that "the Bible clearly shows that Saddam Hussein is the beast of Revelation", that "the Bible clearly teaches that the Lord will return in 1988/2000/2012", that "the Bible clearly shows that the United States is Babylon, the European Union is Babylon, Jerusalem is Babylon, Iraq is Babylon, ad infinitum", and a variety of other thunk-up-by-hand notions that people decided they believed and then read into Scripture. And of course, if you fail to believe that any of these ideas are less than the Very Word of God then you "Don't Believe The Bible".

BTW, the most egregious example of that was a dear old saint I knew who was persuaded by some End Times popinjay or the other that the Lord would certainly return in 2000. When her pastor and I with all due courtesy and respect for her years cast some doubt on the idea, we were ordered from her home because she'd have no truck with people who "didn't even believe the Bible".

It's just proof of Marge's Law, which states that "It may not take all kinds, but they're out there anyway."

 

[Jipsah]

Someone needs to re-read Matthew 24!

Who was our Lord talking to in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them

(The Word of the Lord)

Is it only you Anglicans who complain against "heresy".

We Presbyterians are pretty much down on heresy as well. We think it's a bad thing for folks to hold false beliefs and call it Christianity.

 

[Jesus Is Real]

This post is as vile and unloving a post as I've seen on CF.

Someone needs to re-read Matthew 24! Is it only you Anglicans who complain against "heresy". The rest of us just worship God!

Well, this is where we have to have great patience on others.
The Love of God and the Judgment of God is His Balance.

Blessings to you all,
Connie

 

[Galilean]

Can't anyone see this for what it is?
This is just taking advantage of the deaths of innocent people . The fact this guy is a RABBI should be putting up red flags - this guy isn't christian, he doesn't actually beleive in any of this stuff, he's just manipulating christians into sending more of that beloved MONEY and support to the israeli.
Don't pay any attention to his rubbish.

 

[soblessed53]

I truly believe the earth is getting wake-up calls, from God,but I will speculate no further than that.