Japan's Earthquake/ Tsunami

Two weeks ago Japan was struck by a massive earth quake that triggered a massive tsunami.  This tsunami and earthquake combination devastated coastal regions and completely wiping out some small towns.  As of today the death toll in Japan is just short of 11,000 people.  There are also still almost 18,000 people missing, most who are probably dead.  In these times the Bible tells us to help those in need. In Proverbs it says, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need."  Everyone has need at some point in there life. Help those in Japan by sending your money and possibly your time by going on a missions trip to help with disaster relief.  

Holocaust

This week my school went on a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.  This exhibit in DC is probably one of the most sad things in the entire city.  There were pictures of Nazis ruthlessly killing and doing experiments on Jews and other minority cultures that Hitler wanted to exterminate.  All of the things at this museum pointed to that we need a savior.  In a world of turmoil and anguish we need to be able to look to someone for help.  Jesus Christ came down to the earth so that we would not have to worry any longer as long as we believe in Him!

Christians in Power

When Christians are in a high up command in some kind of workplace, there can possibly be a dark side to where they are.  They can lose communication with other workers; have blind spots that can make them self-deceptive; and can skip church way to often to do any good.

There is also an emotional role to leadership.  These executives have to manage conflictual feelings over there privilege.  They can have isolation from the outside world because they work too much. This can lead to a emotional downfall which is terrible for the person and there family. 

Even though there are downsides to leadership, there are still good sides to it too.  When you are in leadership, you can enjoy religious freedom without the worry of being persecuted.   They can also have spiritual expression which can lead to bringing others in the workplace to Christ. 

Assassination with Christians: Dietrech Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer made a very large impact on the war against the Nazis during World War II.  Bonhoeffer was involved in a conspiracy group against Hitler and they planned to assassinate him.  This decision is very controversial, because Bonhoeffer was a firm believer in Jesus Christ.  Christians will sometimes argue that assassination is always wrong because it is planned out murder. 

I believe that the plotting to kill Hitler was not necessarily Biblical, but necessary.  I believe that if Hitler would have been killed, his entire empire of Nazis would crumble because of lack of strong leadership.  Hitler was essentially a dictator, who ruled without mercy.  If he would have been killed, then there probably would have been a struggle for power from the high up leaders in Hitler’s army which could have caused a civil war. 

In former military situations, when the leader has been killed either in battle or by assassination, the people beneath that persons command tend to be chaotic and don’t know what to do. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, being the brilliant man that he was, would have most likely taken that fact into consideration when he was thinking about joining the conspiracy against Hitler.