The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

September 2010

World grain supply threatened

Russia said Thursday that it will ban grain exports for the remainder of the year after a severe drought and wildfires destroyed one-fifth of its crop and forced the country to draw from emergency reserves.

The news of an export ban from one of the world's largest grain exporters sent wheat prices -- trading at a two-year high -- soaring 8.3 percent by midday on the Chicago Board of Trade. ...

Heavy rains destroyed much of Canada's wheat crop, and the country is forecasting a 35 percent drop in production. China's worst floods in more than a decade are predicted to cut the production of rice by 5 to 7 percent in the world's most populous nation. China produces about one-third of the world's rice, and rice prices have advanced 15 percent in Chicago since July 1 ("Russia to ban grain exports because of drought, fire devastation to crop," www.washingtonpost.com, Aug. 5, 2010).

The United States grain crop is predicted to be able to offset some of the shortfall from other countries.

The United States is one of the only bright spots for grain farmers. The U.S. Agriculture Department is forecasting a surplus of about 1 billion bushels, and the shortage in the rest of the world means a larger profit margin for the industry this season, (ibid.).

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said that concerns about a food crisis were currently unwarranted. A quoted broker-analyist noted however, that food costs have already increased and threaten to have the greatest impact in the Middle East and Africa where less grain is grown.

Inspired commentary

Since basic food is such a basic need for life, the leaders of business have special responsibilities before God regarding it.

God does not design that men shall appropriate all that the earth produces for their own selfish purposes. He calls upon them to bring their tithes and offerings into His storehouse, that there may be meat in His house.

In India, China, Russia, and the cities of America, thousands of men and women are dying of starvation. The monied men, because they have the power, control the market. They purchase at low rates all they can obtain, and then sell at greatly increased prices. This means starvation to the poorer classes, and will result in a civil war. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book" (Manuscript Releases, v. 5, p. 304, 305).

Fire and flood

As noted above, continuing wild fires are doing great damage in Russia. Moscow is suffering under major smoke pollution.

PEREDELTSY, Russia -- Moscow was engulfed Wednesday by the thickest blanket of smog yet this summer, an acrid, choking haze from wildfires that have wiped out Russian forests, villages and a military base. ...

To the east, firefighters focused on beating flames back from a top-secret nuclear research facility. In the capital, President Dmitry Medvedev fired several high-ranking military officials over what he called criminal negligence in fires that ravaged a military base.

Russia is suffering through its worst heat wave on record, a condition that has sparked forest and peat fires across its central and western regions that have killed at least 48 people in the past week. ...

Over the last 24 hours, firefighters have extinguished 293 fires, but 403 others have been spotted and more than 500 others have continued to rage over large swathes of countryside, some of them out of control, the Emergencies Ministry said ("Thick smog from raging wildfires engulfs Moscow," http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap. Aug. 4, 2010).

Flooding and landslides have caused great loss of life in China and Pakistan.

BEIJING (AP) -- Rescuers searched Monday for an estimated 1,300 people left missing after rubble-strewn floodwaters tore through a remote corner of northwestern China, just one of a series of flood disasters across Asia that have plunged millions into misery.

In neighboring Pakistan, an estimated 4 million people faced food shortages amid their country's worst-ever flooding, while rescuers in Indian-controlled Kashmir raced to find 500 people still missing in flash floods that have killed 132. North Korea's state media said high waters destroyed thousands of homes and damaged crops ("Asia flooding plunges millions into misery," http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=asia-flooding-plunges-millions-into-misery-2010-08-09, Aug. 8, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Some say that the level of "natural" disasters has not statistically increased, but that with current information technology we hear about them more. While that point can be debated, the psychological effect of just hearing about them more presents its own dangers.

Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. ... In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives (The Great Controversy, p. 592).

Marriage ruling in California

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker has overturned Proposition 8, California's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The ruling, which chided Proposition 8 proponents for calling so few witnesses, concludes a trial that began in January, and it continues a fight that both sides promise they will take all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. ...

Walker's ruling concluded, "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples" ("Prop 8 overturned," www.worldmag.com, Aug. 4, 2010).

One commentator noted:

However, it is clear that the judge derided Proposition 8 as reflecting only the voters' moral disapproval of same-sex marriage, rather than any legitimate interests of the state. So, according to the judge, human civilization has been wrong for thousands of years in defining marriage as an institution for heterosexual couples, and there is, in his judgment, no reason at all for society to preserve such a biological distinction ("Gay Judge Rules Proposition 8 Unconstitutional," http://www.religiousliberty.info/blog/?p=129, Aug. 5, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Immorality has abounded since the fall of man and seems to be getting more pervasive.

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, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Tim. 3:1-5).