The unfolding devastation of the massive earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan shows us how fragile our lives are and reminds us how much the entire human family depends on God for all things – “in Him we live and move and have our being,”  Acts 17:28.  The videos and pictures from Japan remind me to pray for God’s grace and mercy to be poured out on the people of Japan.

       John Hinderaker at Powerlineblog makes the excellent point that Japanese skill and innovation in designing earthquake-resistant buildings have probably saved many lives and buildings from the tremendous force of the earthquake.  The earthquake that killed 210,000 recently in Haiti registered 7.0 on the Richter scale.  The death toll in Japan has been much less, even though the earthquake’s power there was more intense at 8.9  If I understand the exponential nature of the Richter scale correctly, that means that the Haitian earthquake packed approximately 1% of the power of the earthquake that struck Japan on Friday.  Japanese technological skill has kept down the loss of life and property.  I hope other nations can learn from the Japanese expertise.

     And the people of Libya continue to fight against the oppressive dictator Muammar Quaddafi.  Let us continue to pray for them. May the Lord grant peace and freedom to the people of Libya, and freedom from the oppressive yoke of Colonel Quaddafi. It helps us to die to self and to turn from our obsessive self- focus and personal  drama when we remember those who are suffering  around the world and pray for them.