These are times that are trying many souls

Over the course of the past year or so, we have witnessed catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand and Japan.  We have seen a tsunami suddenly kill thousands of people and cause turmoil and anxiety even unto this present hour due to the problems at a nuclear power plant in Japan.  We have seen volcanoes erupt in Iceland and ice storms in places that rarely see them.  Through it all, the United States of America was basically unscathed.

Over the past few weeks, the forces of nature have unleashed their fury upon the very heart of America.  Through wildfires burning in Texas, flooding along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and the current incredible outbreak of tornadoes; there is no longer any feeling of invincibility in this land.  As if the current situation were not bad enough, a very active hurricane season looms just ahead.

In due time, all the damage being done by all these natural disasters will act as a financial stimulus as people will find jobs rebuilding houses, businesses, churches and other facilities.  But, in the short term, the current situation is too much for many to bear.  Losing one’s home or business is a traumatic experience that leaves deep scars in someone’s hearts for years to come.  Obviously there are many hurting people around right now.

The frustration people go through dealing with insurance companies, government agencies, financial institutions and employers is hard to understand unless a person has lived through a major disaster or worked with those who have.  People can talk about “trusting God” all they want, but when your home is a pile of debris, your place of employment is demolished and your creditors want payments NOW; the pressure many times literally breaks people and demolishes families.

In 2006 I took a very long and difficult trip to Cameron, a little town on the coast of southwestern Louisiana, which had been utterly destroyed by hurricane Rita the previous year.  The area was a ghost town as it had been literally forgotten due to most of the emphasis being placed on Katrina damage.  As I trudged through the sand looking at the destruction I came upon a few very haggard people hanging around a white tent.

When I inquired as to what was going on, I was told of how there used to be a church ministry that brought food to that tent twice a week but had run out of resources and had to stop.  My heart ached for these poor people who received no aid from FEMA, the Red Cross, Salvation Army or any other group except one lonely ministry who could no longer find the resources to get food to them.

I was not able to do much but the pictures I took of the people and their plight did make their way to some agencies which in due time were able to get some resources down there.  The town had literally fallen through the cracks due to all the other needs.

As people attempt to put their lives back together in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Virginia; I pray that those of us unaffected by the current onslaught of floods and tornadoes remember those whose lives have been turned upside down.

These are very troubled and turbulent times and many of our brothers and sisters are hurting right now.  If ever they needed a friend to lend them a hand or a shoulder to cry on it is NOW.  If there was ever a time to redouble our prayers and “stand in the gap” it is NOW.  If there was ever a time to intercede on behalf of those who are struggling to stay sane and alive, it is NOW.  Truly this is a time to pray for and reach out to all those engaged in the worst battles of their lives.

While the West’s Tongues Wag, the Russian Bear Laughs

Let it be known right now, right here that what follows is strictly my own opinion and nothing more.  Those people thinking either the United States or Europe will come to the aid of Georgia militarily are sadly mistaken. It will never happen, regardless of the circumstances. There is no way the West is going to engage Russia in a war. It simply will not happen due to economic as well as political reasons.

Russia is the world’s second largest oil producer and supplies much of the energy needs for much of Europe. Even if Russia decides to “punish” the Ukraine or even Poland for their ties to the West, there is no way the West would risk losing their precious oil and natural gas supplies to defend ex-Soviet bloc countries. The prevailing attitude of avoiding a third European war within a hundred years will stifle any voices crying for military confrontation with Russia.

Those with eyes to see should be able to clearly see what is happening. Russia has let it be known that if Iran is invaded, the consequences would be terrible for the West. It is no secret that the United States started moving even more naval vessels into the Gulf area recently. Is it strictly a coincidence that at the same time the United States makes a move that potentially could be seen as preparing for an attack on Iran, Russia launches its military offensive against Georgia?

If the much threatened and talked about attack on Iran were to happen, almost immediately Russia would probably invade and take back over a country such as the Ukraine or possibly even Poland. Since the West would and could not do anything since it just “invaded” Iran, nothing would stop Russia from retaking all the countries that once were part of the Soviet Union. Of course this is a worst case scenario but it is reflective of the world in which we live today.

Everyone thought the “cold war” was over twenty years ago when the Soviet Union broke up with amazing speed. Now, we are quickly regressing back to the way things were in the 1980’s. When the rights of sovereign countries are ignored and territorial demarcations are wiped off the map; we are indeed re-entering an era of the strongest prevailing and the weakest being taken over.

Europe has proven over and over again its willingness to pacify anyone bigger and stronger than even their collective union. Europe would gladly raise the white flag than risk another military conflict on their soil. NATO is a joke and could not withstand the Russian military machine for much longer than the Georgian army did. NATO is only strong if the United States is willing to be involved. Even if the United States wanted to get involved, its military is spread so thin right now fighting terrorists, any help would be limited to Air support.

The West’s response to Georgia’s situation is the prototype for all future incursions by the Russian military machine. Sure there is a lot of talk and wagging the finger at the mean bullies from Moscow, but nothing more except a couple of token flights of a huge supply plane to bring in cots and blankets. Good grief, more was done for earthquake victims in countries that hate the United States than is being done to help one of its staunchest allies.

If John Kennedy had not stood up to the Russians in 1962 and ordered the blockade of Cuba, odds are there would have ended up being a nuclear exchange and neither Russia or the United States would be who they are today. It took unprecedented “guts” for our President to look the Russian bear in the eyes and tell it to back away. Amazingly, the bear growled and proceeded to run away with its tail between its legs.

Ronald Reagan dared challenge the Soviet bear and in the process precipitated its demise. Not only was the Berlin wall torn down, but the entire country of Germany was reunited, and all the Eastern European nations regained their independence. When a President takes a stand and draws a line in the sand which cannot be crossed without dire consequences; the enemy will think long and hard before crossing such line.

All the attempts to pacify Hitler yielded only his incredible land grab in the early years of World War II. If Winston Churchill had not drawn a line in the sand and refused to placate Hitler, the Nazi’s would have succeeded in taking Europe before the United States could fire a shot in her defense. Time and again history had taught that a leader must take a stand or his country or people will become subjects to whoever is stronger.

I am not advocating war with Russia for that is foolish and suicidal. I am advocating doing something besides the endless diplomatic tongue wagging which the Europeans are notoriously known for. The West can sit back and scold Russia for the next year and all Russia will do is keep doing whatever it desires. Russia does not need the West’s help due to its vast energy reserves and military machine.

If it were not so tragic, what is happening in Georgia would almost be humorous. While the West scuttles diplomats all over the place and the UN debates possible “sanctions” against Russia; Russia just keeps advancing toward the capital of Georgia undeterred. Once they get there they will not leave. All the tongue lashing in the world will do nothing but give them a big belly laugh for they know they can do whatever they please and no one will dare stop them.