So who is to blame for natural disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 ? 

The earth can at times be a very violent place - what with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tidal waves, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, vicious blizzards, floods,  hail storms and so on.   There is a lot mankind can do to reduce the loss of human life due to these things. Certain places on the earth are more susceptible to certain potentially harmful natural phenomenon, like earthquakes, and hurricanes. Therefore the need to adapt and take precautions. Strict building codes in earthquake prone places can greatly reduce damage and loss of live in the event of an earthquake. Mass evacuation of people in the path of potentially deadly hurricanes also greatly reduces the loss of life. Volcanic mountains - prior to eruption usually give out signs and signals that an eruption may be soon on the way - thus there is time to get out of the way. We have to respect the forces of nature, and respect God who created these things - and adjust and adapt to protect ourselves, our families and our property. 

In Alberta we get winter - and it can get really cold and brutal at times. When it is 30 below zero Fahrenheit, and the old North wind is howling and the snow is coming down fast and drifting - well it is time to take shelter - hunker down and ride it out safety at home. It is foolish and dangerous to venture out on the roads in one of these blizzards - unless it is absolutely essential. Protect yourself - stay warm, and you should be okay. If you must venture out dress appropriately, have good solid warm winter boots, warm mittens, woolen underwear, a good winter coat with a hood, and something to protect your exposed skin, and make sure you eat properly - and you will be just fine and warm as toast.  If you must drive during these storms take precautions. 

There have been people who have not respected the forces of nature, and who have paid for it with their life. Also if you get caught out or stranded in that kind of severely cold and blustery weather without adequate clothing - you can suffer severe frost bite. Persons in these situations can have such severe frostbite - that limbs need to be amputated - like if they severely freeze their feet. 

Blaming God for many of the harmful consequences of our own foolishness in failing to respect the forces of nature - is not fair to God.  You know there are people who build their houses on the flood plain - and then every few years they get flooded out, like with the Red River in Manitoba. And then some people will say this is an act of God - and maybe blame God for the flood. Well folks lets get real here. If you want to live on a flood plain then expect to have to endure an occasional flood - take steps to protect yourself and your property. God isn't going to stop the flood just because you happen to live on the flood plain. 

If you choose to live in tornado ally - then realize that the tornado may pay you a visit someday. If you decide to live beside the river - maybe you should realize the river might flood at times during spring melt, or during periods of heavy rain. If you live in an earthquake zone - well that is the risk you take. Life is full of risks. If you choose to live close to an smoking and active volcano - you need to be careful and respect the forces of nature - or you may end up dead.

Every winter in the Canadian Rocky mountains - usually always someone gets killed in an avalanche. This is when the accumulated snow on the mountain slopes suddenly gives way and slides down violently. These avalanches can be quite destructive. Yet people keep getting killed in avalanches. One particularly foolish practice by some dare devil snowmobilers is to drive their high powered snowmobiles up the steep slope of the mountain to show off how high and far they can go - a good number of such persons have died doing this - when they triggered an avalanche  and were buried in the snow. When you play with fire - the chances are good you will get burned. Such deaths from avalanches are almost completely senseless, unnecessary and preventable. 

God is in Control of Nature 

God is the author of the natural world. The natural world is the handicraft of God. God lives in and works through His creation. God is the one who creates the great forces of nature - like earthquakes and hurricanes. And if small frail human beings don't respect the forces of nature, and don't respect the Creator of these powers - well then they are just asking for trouble. 

Image downloaded from the internet

Man is part of nature of the earth. The earth is always changing, and we change too. God is the creator and owner of the earth, the earth does not belong to mankind - we never made it. 

God has it in His power to use the powerful forces of nature for specific purposes at times - to punish mankind for their sins. It has happened before - and no doubt still happens and will continue to happen as long as mankind refuses to respect their Creator, and continues to thumb their nose at His laws and commands. 

Take a look at one famous case - the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Just go to a link to some very interesting videos on Sodom and Gomorrah, Mt. Sinai,  Crossing of the Red Sea by the Children of Israel, and on Noah's Ark - please click on Noah's Ark. This doesn't mean I agree with absolutely everything on the site, and with all the things on the videos, but have a look and judge for yourself. I especially found the video on the discovered ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah to be fascinating and frightening at the same time. God is so powerful that He can even burn up a city made primarily of limestone - of rock. God has it in His power to even turn rock into ashes. The late Ron Wyatt did most of the ground work here. 

God intervened and using the forces of nature - He destroyed the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their corruption, and because God could no longer put up with their sinfulness and with their wickedness. We need to respect God. God has it in His power to destroy us. We need to try hard to follow God's ways as explained in the Bible, and to try our best to stay away from sin. If we please God - then God has it within His power to protect us from harm, if He so chooses. If we displease God by sinning too much - then you are really asking for trouble in my judgment. However there is little fear of God these days - in fact many people don't even believe God exists. Well I know very well that God exists, and I know how great and powerful God is - so for me I really want to be on the good side of God, and the way to do that is to try my best to obey God and respect His laws and commands as explained to me in the Bible. 

I remember years back when I lived alone on my farm. My place was on the height of land - on a higher elevation. We would get these thunderstorms in the summer. These storms can be quite frightening and humbling. I sat through a lot of them, with the thunder crackling over my head and the lighting flashed out so bright and close - like it was right in front of my face and eyes.  Lighting is a dangerous and powerful force of nature. So shouldn't we respect and fear God who created these powers ? Some storms would be so vicious that what I would do was get a chair and just sit in the middle of the room - away from the windows and kind of curl up and sit through it and endure. It was humbling and scary - really. 

Years ago on the farm my Dad had this dog. He was the meanest, toughest dog around. We had a Holstein bull, and at times when the bull was loose he became ornery and hard to handle so my Dad would sic that old dog on that bull - the bull would end up a bellering from the pain of the dog bites on his hind feet, and would be quickly under control and back in his pen. That tough old dog would routinely beat up the neighbours dogs in fights. He was brave and tough and even killed a coyote once, which ventured too close to our yard at night. However, when a thunderstorm rolled in that mean, brave, tough old dog turned into a whimpering little puppy. He would scratch at the door demanding to be let into the house - if we wouldn't have opened the door he would have chewed right through it. He would come in and head for my Dad's bed and crawl right under it - just scared out of his wits by the thunderstorm. 

The earthquake in Haiti was a monstrous quake - extremely destructive - up to perhaps 200,000 people may have been killed.  People are wondering why this happened - especially to such poor folks who have suffered so much in the past.  There are many perplexing questions. I do not propose to have all the answers.  My suggestion is for people to respect God - respect God by obeying His laws and commandments as explained in the Bible - try hard to put away your sins and  walk humbly before God. Then you will be on the good side of God, and since God is in control of the forces of nature, and has it in His power to destroy our lives - it is a whole lot better and safer for you to be on the good side of such a great and powerful God. 

Mailing Address:   Ray Wegner   P.O. Box 475   Stn. Main   Calgary, Alberta  T2P-2J1 

Telephone   (403) 274-5253              E-mail             

Discussion Page  Clearing up misunderstandings - communications. 

Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms and Fundamental Freedoms (from the Canadian Constitution) " The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association. "

Readers are encouraged to point out biblical errors in all of my material and writings on spiritual matters. If you can find scriptural errors in my teachings that cannot be backed up by hard, concrete biblical teachings and doctrine - then I will gladly accept the constructive criticism and make the changes needed. So please go ahead and point out my mistakes, but your criticism must not be based on mere opinion, but must be able to be proved from the Bible.

For accuracy, the Bible translations recommended are the Authorized King James Version or the New King James Version. 

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