Were Lost Sailors Really Lost?
Lost at sea for nearly 5 months, two women had harrowing tales of survival that included shark attacks. They also claimed that 6 forms of communication all mysteriously and simultaneously malfunctioned. The Coast Guard, however, suspects that for some reason these women did not want to be found.
That's because it gets even weirder: Besides the malfunctioning of all forms of communication, there was also an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board their vessel. This device should have virtually guaranteed their rescue. Yet, for some reason, it was never turned on. Their excuse was that they never felt they were "truly in distress."
I wonder how many lost people simply do not want to be found. Perhaps they're afraid that coming to Christ will mean a change of lifestyle. Or, maybe they're like the prodigal son who had to hit bottom first. Sadly, many know of the saving grace of Christ but choose to remain adrift, lost at sea, believing they have time. They know the EPIRB is on the boat, but they don't feel the urgency to turn it on.
"For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Nude Westerners Blamed for Deadly Malaysian Earthquake
A recent (6/5/15) 6.0-magnitude earthquake which struck Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu, killing 18 people, is not being blamed on seismic shift, plate tectonics, nor volcanic activity. No, interestingly enough, it is being blamed on … four nude young people!
Four foreigners were detained and charged with public obscenity for taking their clothes off atop the sacred peak.
It started with a challenge to see who could best withstand the wind and cold temperatures at the top of the mountain. Against the vehement complaint of their tour guide, two young men and two young women removed some or all of their clothing.
This, according to locals, was a personal offense against the tribal spirits believed to dwell on the mountain.
The pictures, taken a week prior to the earthquake went viral on the internet, causing widespread anger throughout the region. Government officials even weighed in on the incident. "This is very offensive behaviour and showed disrespect to the sacred mountain? [sic] This will certainly bring misfortune," said Sabah's deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, speaking for himself as well as other local officials.
The four plead guilty, showed genuine remorse, and begged the court’s lenience. In a country rife with tribal superstition, as well as fundamentalist Islamic values, they were very lucky to get off with time served, a $1330 fine, and deportation.
Do you ever fear that your difficult circumstances just might be the result of a recent misstep? It's natural for the guilty conscience to come to such conclusions. But despite our guilt, we as believers have the assurance of God's promise that, "there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Although tragic things happen in this life, the believer is given the biblical assurance that there is "no condemnation" involved. Because of this, we can face the trials of this life without guilt or shame, and even look forward to all the righteous judgments of God to come.
"Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity" (Psalm 98:8-9).
Tsarnaev's Mother Says US Will Pay for Her Son's Punishment
The surviving Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been convicted of all 30 counts of which he was charged. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan are the two Chechen brothers who planted bombs at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, killing three people and injuring as many as 264 others. The sentencing phase of his trial will commence shortly, at which time he will face the possibility of death for his crimes.
From her home in Russia, Tsarnaev’s mother reacted to the guilty verdict saying:
The U.S. will pay for my sons and the sons of Islam, permanently! The tears of their mothers will be fuel for them in hell. My sons are innocent, as innocent as all those who are being killed by your country. Today they are killing Muslims and tomorrow will come your turn and he who doubts this is deeply mistaken! How can a mother feel who sic son is in the claws of a predator preparing to tear him to pieces like meat?
In response to her comments, FoxNews “Fool of the Week” columnist Eric Bolling called out her “misguided anger,” saying that it, along with her blaming the victims, earned her the “Fool of the Week” designation.
This seems like such an obvious, even exaggerated case of being blind to one’s own (or, in this case, one’s own loved one’s) sin. But don’t we all engage in such foolhardy behavior whenever we move to shift blame, point fingers, or judge others for the very things we ourselves are so often guilty.
Let's not play the fool. Let's seek "understanding" and "knowledge" of truth, even when we find the finger of truth pointing straight at ourselves.
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly” (Proverbs 15:14).
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).