Spiraling Out of Control?

[Today's post is by Jay A. Auxt, co-author of Global Warming and the Creator's Plan, published by Master Books.]

Think of what it would be like to attend a large social event and not be permitted to talk about the weather. How boring! It’s too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry. But at least it gives us something to talk about.

This is certainly one reason why “global warming” is such a popular topic and why it is so misconstrued. Let’s think about this for a minute. Are we really spiraling out of control? Or is God still in control? Did God use “weather” in any of the following circumstances to achieve His purpose? Noah in Genesis 7-9, Joseph in Genesis 41-42, Elijah in 1 Kings 17, Jonah, Moses, Joshua, Jesus…need I go on?

“But those were thousands of years ago,” you may say. Okay, how about the Pilgrims and the rain of July 1623, the dense fog and General Washington in August of 1776, or perhaps the most noteworthy weather-related experiences ever, the destruction of a French armada of 70 ships and 13,000 men in 1746 during the reign of King Louis XV under the command of the Duke of d’Anville?

The French armada fleet was sent to “teach a lesson” to the British colonies. One by one, each ship was lost at sea or ran aground due to severe weather consisting of wind and dense fog while crossing the Atlantic or during the first couple of weeks of October trying to regroup for a series of attacks. The armada grouped and regrouped, but each time ships and men were lost by disease, wind and fog. Eventually, the remaining troops on one warship, la Sirene, sailed back to France to report to the king how the British colonies stood still and defeated the 70-ship armada without firing a single shot.

The God of Noah, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, and Job and the God of William Bradford, the Duke of d’Anville, and George Washington is the same and omnipotent God of today. Our weathermen do not control the weather. No man has that ability. If God can cause such direct interaction of the weather, a few parts per million of carbon dioxide is not too much for Him to handle.

Truth or Hype?

[Today's post is excerpted from the newly released book, Global Warming and the Creator's Plan, by Jay A. Auxt and Dr. William M. Curtis III. This book unlocks clues to the controversy and shows readers how to sift unsuported rumor and alarmist rhetoric from verifiable facts. Published by Master Books.]

Global warming has become a fierce debate around the world. Internet search engines deliver more than 56 million hits. Former Vice President Al Gore champions the cause in every possible venue. The media continually trumpet the “impending danger” of severe climate change leading to global food shortages, and even the decline of humanity in as little as 100 years.

It is the media’s responsibility to keep the populace informed. It’s also the media’s job to keep their respective companies profitable. Thus, for one news outlet to outsell the other, “news” must be continually more sensational. Have we regressed to the yellow journalism that plagued media during the early 20th century?

Consider the MSNBC report from August 7, 2007. “South Africa in June had its first significant snowfall since 1981…in South America, Uruguay in May had its worst flooding since 1959…Buenos Aires saw snow in July for the first time since 1918.” The truth is, we should be seeing record-breaking years every year. The world is huge and the weather is diverse. There will be hot spots, cold spots, wet spots and dry spots every year.

This article is not alone. It is just one of many such reports every day. It is strictly hype. How does “the coldest ever in the Midwest” fit into global warming? In January 2009 Alaska was also having “coldest ever” records. Temperatures dropped to 60 below and stayed there for two weeks! This record cold snap was regularly referred to as an “extreme event.”

Alaska, however, was not unique. According to MSNBC on January 16, 2009, thirteen states were having subzero temperatures:

  • -50 in Big Black River, MA
  • -46 in Embarrass, MN
  • -42 in Island Pond, VT
  • -42 in Necedah, WI
  • -39 in Berlin, NH
  • -39 in Monticello, IA
  • -36 in Sterling, IL
  • -35 in Paradox, NY
  • -26 in Stambaugh, MI
  • -20 in Valparaiso, IN
  • -19 in Lawton, PA
  • -16 in Snowshoe Mountain, WV
  • -14 in Dayton, OH

For this cold to span so many states in a single day must shatter many records. But that doesn’t stop all the hype.

As good stewards, Christians have an obligation to care for God’s provisions for us. This would be a natural extension of our gratefulness for all that He has so generously given to us. Notice that according to the biblical passage in Genesis 1:28 that God gave man dominion over all the earth. We are not responsible for rain, wind, volcanos, earthquakes, etc.

[Editor's note: As Christians, we are certainly responsible for being good stewards of God's creation. The purpose of this book is not to encourage shirking our responsibilities, but to provide the information necessary to assist Christians in making environmental decisions in a sound and responsible manner.]

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