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The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

April 2008

Bank Failure Predicted

The US economy continues to falter making for bleak assessments by financial officials:

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said for the first time today that he expects some bank failures as a result of the spreading financial crisis.

Mr. Bernanke's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee provided his gloomiest assessment of the economy to date and came after the government reported economic growth fell close to zero in the fourth quarter, edging up by only 0.6 percent.

The country has not seen widespread bank failures since the savings and loan crisis in the late 1980s, which led to an expensive taxpayer-financed bailout, a major credit crunch and deep recession in 1990-91.

Mr. Bernanke is the first top bank regulator to say publicly that the failure of bedrock financial institutions likely will mark the current economic downturn as well. ("Bernanke expects banks to falter," www.washingtontimes.com, Feb. 28, 2008)

Inspired Commentary

The root problem according to inspiration is departure from the principles of the Bible. And inspiration also predicts that some who promote the principles of the Bible will misuse its messages to restrict liberty of conscience. Holy Spirit provided discernment is needed.

There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God's word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them. (Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 13)

Largest USA Beef Recall

Agriculture officials in the USA have issued a recall after most of the recalled beef had been consumed:

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a California slaughterhouse, the subject of an animal-abuse investigation, that provided meat to school lunch programs.

Officials said it was the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats. No illnesses have been linked to the newly recalled meat, and officials said the health threat was likely small.

The recall will affect beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., the federal agency said. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations. ...

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover Humane Society video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts. Two former employees were charged Friday. Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts -- illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal -- were filed against an employee who worked under that manager. Both were fired. ("USDA Makes Nation's Largest Beef Recall," www.washingtonpost.com, Feb. 17, 2008)

Inspired Commentary

The problems appear to be greater than the inspectors can handle:

I present the Word of the Lord God of Israel, because of transgression the curse of God has come upon the earth itself, upon the cattle, and upon all flesh. Human beings are suffering the results of their own course of action in departing from the commandments of God. The beasts also suffer under the curse. Disease in cattle is making meat-eating a dangerous matter. The Lord's curse is upon the earth, upon man, upon beasts, upon the fish, and as transgression becomes almost universal, the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. Disease is contracted by the use of meat. The diseased flesh of these dead carcasses is sold in the market-places, and disease among men is the sure result. The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals. There is no safety in eating of the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cows will also be excluded from the diet of God's commandment-keeping people. In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from the animal creation. (Unpublished Testimony, July 26, 1898. {PUR, November 7, 1901 par. 1})

Contaminated US Drinking Water

A recent study suggests that many humans are contaminating themselves unwittingly with left-over drugs:

A vast array of pharmaceuticals (AP) -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.

But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health. ("AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water ," tbo.com (The Associated Press on Tampa Bay Online), Mar. 9, 2008)

Inspired commentary

It seems that the human family are a major cause of the degradation of creation.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom. 8:22, 23).

Disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 366).

Conference Probes Questions of Life

A four-day invitation only conference called TED convened in Monterey, California on Feb. 26, 2008. Attendees reportedly paid $6000 each to attend.

Now in its 24th year, TED begins on Wednesday and runs through Saturday. It is an elite event where leaders in technology, entertainment and design gather to cross-pollinate ideas and gain inspiration from presentations on the latest developments in sciences and the arts. Political leaders take the stage too: Former President Bill Clinton received the annual TED prize at last year's conference; former Vice President Al Gore has also been a speaker. ...

About 1,100 people are expected to attend TED. This year's conference theme is "Big Questions," and speakers will be looking at core issues like who we are, where we came from and what our place is in the universe. ("Conference to Tackle Origins of Evil, Theories of Everything," www.wired.com, Feb. 26, 2008)

Inspired commentary

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11