The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

November 2009

Southeast Asia Natural Disasters

Several natural disasters have hit Southeast Asia in the recent past and the events may not yet be over.

The misery deepened in Southeast Asia as Indonesian officials announced that the country’s death toll from Wednesday’s massive earthquake would likely double after a dreadful discovery: Authorities believe at least 400 guests at a communal wedding were buried under a mountain of mud and rocks after a 7.6 earthquake devastated a cluster of hillside villages. ...

North of Indonesia, misery is engulfing Vietnam and the Philippines, with both nations reeling from a monstrous typhoon that swept through the region last week. The storm left hundreds dead and most of Manila, the Philippine capital city, submerged under water. Now, a new worry: Philippine authorities evacuated thousands of people on the coast as another typhoon bears down on the country. Forecasters say the storm is packing 132 mph winds, and will likely make landfall Saturday (“State of Calamity,” www.worldmag.com, Oct. 30, 2009).

Additionally an earthquake-induced tsunami struck (Sept. 29) the South Pacific islands of Samoa killing at least 170 people.

Inspired commentary

The world has largely been made a global village through the readily available video news. The sorrow and suffering of others continents away comes quickly to the viewer's attention. Amid the efforts to help to help mitigate the suffering, efforts might well consider also spiritual assistance point survivors to greater harmony with the Creator.

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)

Unemployment Continues Rising

Although the rate of growth in unemployment in the United States is reportedly slowing, the overall jobless rate is still rising.

Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The number of Americans filing first- time claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest since January, a sign the labor market is deteriorating more slowly as the economy emerges from the recession.

Applications fell by 33,000 to 521,000, lower than forecast, in the week ended Oct. 3, from a revised 554,000 the week before, Labor Department data showed today in Washington. The total number of people collecting unemployment insurance dropped in the prior week to the least since March.

While the figures indicate improvement, government data last week showed more job cuts than forecast for September and a rising jobless rate. President Barack Obama pledged to “explore any and all additional measures” to spur growth, as last week’s report underscored that gains in consumer spending may be hard to sustain once stimulus programs expire (“U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Decrease to 10-Month Low,” www.bloomberg.com, Oct. 8, 2009).

The early October U.S. Unemployment rate stood at a little less than 10%, having climbed from about 6.75% in the 12 months.

Inspired commentary

The news media have reported on several business leaders who have been paid almost unbelievably well despite the dire financial results of the businesses they run. They may not represent the majority of U.S. business leaders, but the symbolic significance of those high salaries is undoubted noticed by those who are losing their jobs as business failures and cutbacks occur.

The enemy has succeeded in perverting justice and in filling men’s hearts with the desire for selfish gain. “Justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah 59:14. In the great cities there are multitudes living in poverty and wretchedness, well-nigh destitute of food, shelter, and clothing; while in the same cities are those who have more than heart could wish, who live luxuriously, spending their money on richly furnished houses, on personal adornment, or worse still, upon the gratification of sensual appetites, upon liquor, tobacco, and other things that destroy the powers of the brain, unbalance the mind, and debase the soul. The cries of starving humanity are coming up before God, while by every species of oppression and extortion men are piling up colossal fortunes. (Testimonies, v.9, pp. 11, 12)

Atheist Movie Ridicules Christianity

A recently released Warner Brothers film, “The Invention of Lying,” has been called “Hollywood's big atheist comedy” by New York Post movie critic Kyle Smith. He added that this movie “might be the most blatantly, one-sidedly atheist movie ever released by a major studio, ...”

“Gervais [the direct and lead actor] is an atheist, which is fine, but his mean-spiritedness (even before the atheism theme enter the movie, it’s sour and misanthropic) and the film’s reduction of all religion to an episode of crowd hysteria are not going to be warmly received,” commented Smith. ...

Over its opening weekend, “The Invention of Lying” pulled in $7.2 million (“Hollywood’s ‘Big Atheist Comedy’ Pokes Fun at Christians, ‘Man in the Sky’, www.christianpost.com, Oct. 6, 2009).

Inspired commentary

It seems that western societies are becoming bolder in their opposition to God and to those who love and respect Him. Just as in the days of Noah, time is running out.

In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ’s second coming (MS 24, 1891) (Bible Commentary, v. 1, p. 1090).

Catholic Bishops on Health Care

A popular blog by George Stephanopoulos, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent, notes a warning sent to Congress as it debates health care reform:

In a letter just released, the three Catholic bishops leading the Church’s efforts on health care warned Congress that “we will have no choice but to oppose the bill” unless current bills are amended ("Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills or Else," http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/10/breaking-catholic-bishops-on-health-care-change-bills-or-else.html, Oct. 8, 2009).

Stephanopoulos identifies taxpayer funded abortion as the biggest issue.

Inspired commentary

Inspiration notes a common attitude that fails to take account of significant history:

“There are many who are disposed to attribute any fear of Roman Catholicism in the United States to bigotry or childishness. Such see nothing in the character and attitude of Romanism that is hostile to our free institutions, or find nothing portentous in its growth” (The Great Controversy, p. 564).