The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

February 2009

Porn "Industry" Bailout Requested

It seems that when the US government is giving out money, there are quite a few wishful recipients standing in line.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two executives of the U.S. adult entertainment industry on Wednesday called for a financial bailout from Washington, arguing that their business is as important for Americans as the banking and auto industries.

Pornographic magazine Hustler's publisher Larry Flynt and "Girls Gone Wild" adult franchise founder Joe Francis said in a statement that they have sent a joint request to Congress asking for a 5-billion-dollar federal bailout to help the industry weather difficult financial times. ...

They said that Congress seems willing to help shore up the nation's most important businesses, and the adult entertainment industry deserves the same consideration ("U.S. porn publishers call for Congress bailout as sales decrease," http://news.xinhuanet.com, Jan. 7, 2009).

At the time of this writing, there is no word regarding the reception of that request in Washington. One could hope all they get is an incredulous laugh, but it is a sad commentary that they seem to be serious about making such a request.

Inspired commentary

The above request can be seen as an indicator of the moral state of some, perhaps many, in US society -- the traits of pride and arrogance come to mind.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2 Tim. 3:1, 2).

There is coming rapidly and surely an almost universal guilt upon the inhabitants of the cities, because of the steady increase of determined wickedness. The corruption that prevails, is beyond the power of the human pen to describe (Maranatha, p. 67).

War in Gaza

As this is written, Israel is engaged in a war with Hamas militants in the Gaza strip over (in part) continued rocket attacks against Israeli cities. But there may be deeper issues involved.

Israel's attack on Gaza is, in effect, an attack on Iran's empire, the first since its offensive on Iranian-backed Hezbollah in 2006. That attack failed for a number of reasons, not least of which was Israel's poor intelligence on Hezbollah: historically, its intelligence on the Palestinians has been much better. Moreover, this attack seems more deliberately planned, with narrower, publicly stated aims – all in all, a more professional job. But there is a fundamental problem with what Israel is doing that goes to the heart of the postmodern beast that the Iranian empire represents ("Iran's Postmodern Beast in Gaza," www.theatlantic.com, Jan. 5, 2009).

After commenting on the lack of broad support for the Iranian government within Iran itself, the article adds,

The Greater Middle East hangs on a thread: it could either explode into direct warfare between Israel and Iran, or it could evolve for the better after the Teheran regime is undermined by public opinion, triggered at least initially by continued low oil prices. Given the historical record, the current level of hostility between Israel and Iran may not be the last word in regional geopolitics. For there are cataclysms to come, and the real battle for the soul of the region may be fought in Iran itself (ibid.).

Inspired commentary

One might remember that the arch-rebel of old was not satisfied to be where God placed him. Selfishness is a self-evident continuing human trait -- the desire for more power, more land, more wealth. There will not be harmony until evil is destroyed.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but castthem down to hell and deliveredthem into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah,one of eightpeople, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemnedthem to destruction, makingthem an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;... then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority (2 Peter 2:4-10).

Earthquakes at Yellowstone

A batch of small earthquakes under Yellowstone National Park has put scientists on alert. Although the frequency of the earthquakes has diminished, the study of the data is continuing.

Through 5 January 2009, seismic activity has markedly decreased. It is possible that the swarm has ended, though a return of activity may occur as Yellowstone swarms of th[is] size usually last for tens of days to many weeks. About 500 earthquakes occurred between Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Three hundred of the earthquakes (including all >M2.0) have been reviewed by seismologists. There have been 86 earthquakes with M > 2.0 and 16 earthquakes > M3.0. About 200 smaller earthquakes have yet to be reviewed. Depths are difficult to determine accurately. The best located earthquakes have depths on the order of 3 to 10 km (1.8 to 6.0 miles) ("Yellowstone Supervolcano Earthquakes: Update," www.usnews.com, Jan. 6, 2009).

One of those commenting on the article noted:

... in that same time period (48 hours) the runoff from the lake has gone from 80 cubic feet per second (above 79 year median) to 100 cu. ft. per second ... which leads me to believe that something is rapidly melting the ice to the tune of 1,000,000 gallons per day. Maybe heat from new vents? (Reference :http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nuis/uv/?site_no_06186500&agency_cd=usgs) (ibid.).

Inspired commentary

Despite the level of scientific enlightenment in western societies, there are, it seems, still a lot of things that are not understood. And sometimes deeper understandings reveal greater complexities in the natural world that in turn spawn more questions. The significance of the signals from Yellowstone is yet to be determined, and there may be more to it than science can explain.

Already the restraining Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world. And hurricanes, tempests, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they may not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid his angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of his avenging wrath as no pen can picture ("The Coming Crisis," The Watchman, Dec. 26, 1906).

Natural Disasters In 2008

Natural disasters killed over 220,000 people in 2008, making it one of the most devastating years on record and underlining the need for a global climate deal, the world's number two reinsurer said Monday.

Although the number of natural disasters was lower than in 2007, the catastrophes that occurred proved to be more destructive in terms of the number of victims and the financial cost of the damage caused, Germany-based Munich Re said in its annual assessment ("Natural disasters 'killed over 220,000' in 2008," www.breitbart.com, Dec. 29, 2008).

Inspired commentary

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27).