Roaring Waves & Seas

Strong winds are supersizing the ocean's biggest waves
NBC News reports: "Strong winds are driving the ocean’s biggest waves to dizzying new heights. That’s the potentially ominous finding of new research that analyzed more than 30 years’ worth of global wind and wave measurements to see how they changed over time. The University of Melbourne researchers behind the work, published April 25 in the journal Science, say the supersized waves could compound the effects of rising sea levels, leading to more frequent flooding and accelerated coastal erosion."

More rain in Mozambique, deaths up to 38 after 2nd cyclone
The AP reports: "More rain is forecast for northern Mozambique, where the death toll from Cyclone Kenneth jumped to 38, as flooding and pounding rains hampered efforts to deliver aid to badly hit communities several days after the storm. [...] It was the first time in recorded history that two cyclones had targeted Mozambique in a single season."

Comment: I wanted to note that in case it is lost amid the day's other news.  The first report suggests that climate change will cause huge waves, rising sea levels, larger coastal storms and greater storm damage to the coasts. I see clearly the linkage with "nations in distress" as few countries are prepared to deal with catastrophic coastal damage in a yearly basis. The second report notes that this is the very first time in recorded history that two cyclones have hit Mozambique in the same season.

Persecution

Jihadists kill pastor, four others in Burkina church attack - AFP
AFP reports: "Gunmen killed four worshippers and a pastor in the first jihadist attack on a church in Burkina Faso, security and local sources said Monday. [...] 'Unidentified armed individuals have attacked the Protestant church in Silgadji, killing four members of the congregation and the main pastor,' a security source told AFP. [...] Burkina Faso has suffered from increasingly frequent and deadly attacks attributed to a number of jihadist groups, including the Ansarul Islam group, the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Burkina Faso, that they will be comforted by the Holy Spirit with perseverant faith to endure persecution with grace, practicing forgiveness and not seeking retribution. I wanted to be sure to note this report because I'm not sure you will hear about it in the mainstream news.

Pestilence

CDC: Measles cases in U.S. the most in 25 years - UPI.com
UPI reports: "There have been more than 700 reported measles cases in the United States this year -- the highest mark in a quarter-century, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. The CDC said there have been 704 cases between January and April, an increase of 74 over the previous week and the highest since 1994. The highly infectious disease was declared eliminated in 2000."

Comment: Another day, another report about how bad the measles outbreak is.  Get vaccinated. Enough said.

Pestilence

US measles cases hit highest mark in 25 years
The AP reports: "Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, closing in on 700 cases this year in a resurgence largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines. [...] The vaccine, which became available in the 1960s, is considered safe and highly effective, and because of it, measles was declared all but eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But it has made comebacks since then, including 667 cases in 2014.Public health experts say some U.S. communities have low vaccination rates because of the spread of bad information — especially the now-debunked notion that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is linked to autism — through social media, pamphlets, hotlines and other means."

Comment: I'm encouraging everyone I know to get vaccinated. There's no excuse for irresponsible behavior that threatens public health. There are enough contagious diseases without vaccines to worry about, let's not be foolish and bring back a disease once thought to be eliminated.

Signs & Wonders in the Heavens

U.S. Navy drafting new guidelines for reporting UFOs - POLITICO
Politico reports: "The U.S. Navy is drafting new guidelines for pilots and other personnel to report encounters with 'unidentified aircraft,' a significant new step in creating a formal process to collect and analyze the unexplained sightings — and destigmatize them. The previously unreported move is in response to a series of sightings of unknown, highly advanced aircraft intruding on Navy strike groups and other sensitive military formations and facilities, the service says."

Comment: So the Navy is not saying that UFOs exist, but if their aviators happen to see them, they can report them without harm to their reputations and careers.  It's an interesting development and one more point for those who argue for full disclosure.

Persecution

Sri Lanka bombings: Nearly 300 dead; FBI aiding investigation - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency Monday and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is aiding in the investigation of the suicide bomb attacks that killed nearly 300 people and injured hundreds more. Several bombers carried out six coordinated attacks at churches and hotels Sunday, killing at least 290 people. [...] More than 1,000 worshipers were packed inside the St. Sebastian church when explosions went off Sunday during the Easter service. There were nine total bomb blasts, officials said. The Cinnamon Grand, the Shangri-La Hotel and the Kingsbury Hotel, all in Colombo, were attacked, along with St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade and Zion Church in Batticaloa."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Sri Lanka, that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit to persevere in faith with compassion and forgiveness. 

Earthquakes

6.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Philippines capital - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A strong earthquake rattled the Philippines Monday, toppling electricity poles and damaging infrastructure, officials said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck near the Bodega sector of Manila, the nation's capital, on Luzon island. The agency said it had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1. The quake prompted many residents to flee their homes and interrupted Manila train service."

Comment: Is the "ring of fire" starting to get a bit more active? 

Pestilence

Attackers kill doctor at hospital in Congo's Ebola epicenter
The AP reports: "Attackers stormed a hospital at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak and killed 'a dear colleague,' the head of the World Health Organization said Friday as he condemned the latest violence against health workers trying to contain the virus. [...] The world’s response to the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history has been hampered by a series of deadly attacks on health centers in Butembo and elsewhere that have disrupted medical care and vaccination efforts, leading to a rise in new Ebola cases in the sprawling African nation. [...] the militiamen erroneously believed that foreigners had brought the disease with them to Congo."

Comment: It's unfortunate that those who are bravely fighting this Ebola outbreak are being killed by those who have little understanding of the disease.  Hopefully, international efforts to fight the outbreak will continue even as local authorities hunt the culprits.

Rumors of War - Gog Alliance

In Libya, a rogues' gallery of militias prepare for war
The AP reports: "Libya is on the verge of an all-out war involving a rogues’ gallery of militias, many of which are little more than criminal gangs armed with heavy weapons. The country slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising, in which rebels overthrew and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi and looted his vast arsenal. Even more weapons have flowed in since then, despite a U.N. arms embargo, as Arab states have backed local allies and Western nations have partnered with militias to combat extremists and stem the flow of migrants."

Comment: What a mess! I'm noting this because North Africa is considered an important part of the Gog Alliance that invades Israel in the future. After a period of instability we should look for North African countries (including Libya) to be headed by leaders allied with the other Gog Alliance countries and displaying anti-Israel policies. I think it would be fitting and just if after having betrayed Gadhafi the West finds Libya in the hands of Islamic State sympathizers. 

Rumors of War - King of the North

Russia cuts off contact with NATO over worsening relations - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Russian government said Monday it's severed contact with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, halting a relationship that's been deteriorating for years. [...] The relationship has been strained since Russia forcibly annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014. Tensions flared again last year when Russia captured Ukrainian soldiers and military ships in the Kerch Strait, a move Western governments said violated international law."

Comment: This is the kind of thing that is usually below the radar, especially on days when major news events dominate the headlines. Still, it's the kind of thing we should pay attention to, the kind of thing that future historians may point to as a milestone on the path to war. 

Pestilence

CDC: Measles count up over 100, to 465 cases in U.S. since last week - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Reported cases of measles increased by nearly 100 last week, to 465 across 19 states, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention said on Monday. [...] The increase has been driven in part by groups who, largely for religious or anti-government reasons, choose not to receive anti-measles vaccinations. Most people who acquire the disease have not been vaccinated, the CDC said, although it noted that outbreaks have been linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries dealing with outbreaks, including Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines."

Comment: It is so important for parents to vaccinate their children so a community can be protected by "herd immunity." Let's hope they get the message! 

Rumors of War - King of the North

There have been several reports of late about Russian activities all over the world (Africa and Venezuela, for example). Here is a report about Russian activities in the Arctic, from the AP:

Missile launchers ply icy roads and air defense systems point menacingly into the sky at this Arctic military outpost, a key vantage point for Russia to project its power over the resource-rich polar region. [...] Russia, however, has made reaffirming its presence in the Arctic a top goal, not the least because the region is believed to hold up to one-quarter of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at $30 trillion. The move has alarmed Russia’s neighbors, analysts say.

Personally, I think the report is a bit sensational and off the mark. It seems designed to make the reader think Russia is doing something new or menacing when in reality, all they are really doing is refurbishing their existing bases in the Arctic. They are, after all, an Arctic power and member of the Arctic Council, so they are well within their rights. Although I do think it's important to keep watch on competing world powers, I don't believe in sensationalism and fear-mongering.

Rumors of War - Togarmah

Pompeo: There will be 'devastating' consequences if Turkey attacks Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Turkey of 'devastating'consequences if it attacks Syria. [...] The warning comes as Turkey has repeatedly threatened to attack the Kurdish-led American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces as it believes the Islamic State fighters are also far-left Kurdish militants who are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which Turkey has been fighting."

Comment: This is striking. Keep in mind that Turkey is still a member of the NATO alliance, which means a formal ally of the United States, and they are threatening to attack Kurd forces allied with the U.S. in Syria. The friend of my friend is my enemy? That is apparently how Turkey sees it.

Quakes

California should have had a major earthquake by now, geologists warn
UPI reports: "California's three most historically active faults haven't slipped in a century, a hiatus unprecedented over the last 1,000 years, according to a new study. When researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey studied the paleoseismic records from the San Andreas, San Jacinto and Hayward faults, they failed to find a gap as long as California's current earthquake hiatus."

Comment: I've visited California several times but I've never lived there. When talking with residents, it always amazed me how accustomed they become to quakes. Low-intensity temblors are just a part of life. Moreover, they know that the "Big One" will happen someday. Yet, they take it all in stride and hope for the best. This has always amazed me! In the above report, we find that scientists have confirmed that major quake activity has been quieter than they would have expected. I think this means that the "Big One" might come sooner rather than later. Stay tuned! 

Pestilence - Roaring Waves

Mozambique bracing for cholera outbreak after Cyclone Idai
UPI reports: "More than 800 people have died and thousands more could contract cholera in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in southeast Africa. [...] The United Nations said as many as 1.8 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid to prevent hunger or an outbreak of cholera. Mozambique has confirmed more than 1,000 cases of the water-borne disease."

Comment: This is a real disaster and one that has hit a country very unprepared to handle it. Hopefully the UN aid workers have learned how to better manage disaster relief efforts and get medicine and supplies to the people who desperately need it.

Pestilence

Measles count in US this year already more than all of 2018
The AP reports: "The number of U.S. measles cases through the first three months of this year have surpassed the count for all of 2018, health officials say. There have been 387 cases through March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. There were 372 last year. [...] Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it is extremely contagious."

Comment: It's tragic that so many people are getting a disease that had all be been eliminated in the U.S. because they refuse to get vaccinated.  Hopefully the medical community can continue to reassure people that vaccines are safe and effective and the best way to protect their children and community is to get vaccinated.