On Thursday morning I was commenting on how it seems the UK and US are experiencing periods of judgement for our disobedience to God's laws. In studying the passage of Leviticus 26, in which the Lord outlines specific judgements that He would bring against a nation that turns its back on Him, I was pointing out how that a lot of the judgements mentioned in this chapter seem to fit what is going on in the world around us. Namely terrorism, disease, crop failure, economic hardship, etc. I happened to mention in passing the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in Britain in 2001, which occurred in the same year as the September 11th attacks, and seemed to form part of a wave of judgement on this nation. Coincidence or not I'm not sure, but the very same day I made those comments, scientists confirmed another outbreak of the disease in British cattle. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has cut short his holiday to deal with the crisis.

Quote: "Late on Thursday restrictions were placed on the farm, near Guildford, Surrey, at the centre of the outbreak when symptoms were reported to the local animal health office. Throughout Friday testing was carried out on animals at the farm and Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, confirmed foot and mouth. On Friday evening the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the outbreak and immediately imposed a three kilometre "protection zone" and a 10 kilometre "surveillance zone" around the farm. Defra also ordered all cattle on the farm to be slaughtered. A nationwide ban on all movement of livestock was imposed. 

The Foot and Mouth disease crisis in 2001 turned out to be one of the world's most expensive disease outbreaks, costing the country around 12 billion euros. Millions of cattle were slaughtered and burned on funeral pyres across the land, turning the sky black with smoke. Much of the countryside was shut down by the government for weeks, disinfectant mats were placed at airports and train stations, and many public events were cancelled in an effort to limit the spread of the disease.

Following Wednesday's bridge collapse in Minneapolis, authorities have confirmed that up to 70,000 bridges in the US may be at risk, and that it will take 10 billion dollars a year over the next 20 years to just to rectify the issue.

Quote: "More than 70,000 bridges across America are rated structurally deficient like the span that collapsed in Minneapolis, and engineers estimate repairing them all would take at least a generation and cost more than $188 billion (€137.59 billion). That works out to at least $9.4 billion (€6.88 billion) a year over 20 years, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

My friend Cheryl forwarded me an email from a friend of hers, Pastor Larry Stromberg, who said that four vehicles full of teenagers from his church were to pass over that bridge on the day it collapsed. Two of the vehicles had passed over the bridge shortly before its collapse, and two other vehicles had not yet reached the bridge when it collapsed. He expressed joy that the Lord preserved the lives of all of these teenagers, who were on route to prepare lunches for the homeless. US officials are pointing out that it is a "miracle" more people were not killed during Wednesday's tragedy...

Quote: ""We were surprised that we didn't have more people seriously injured and killed," Minneapolis fire Chief Jim Clack told The Associated Press. "I think it was something of a miracle." Clack cited a list of reasons: A bridge design that minimized falling debris, a quick response by rescue crews, and the rush-hour crawl that gave vehicles little momentum to plunge into the river. In addition, experts say the speed and depth of the water in the Mississippi River were much lower than normal on the day of the collapse - largely the result of a drought. That may have made it easier for people to escape.

What this shows me is the veracity of that verse in 2nd Peter. The Lord knows how to deliver His own. But the nations had better be warned. I don't know, if I though the government would listen, I would write to them. But things will not change in this country, until the hearts of its people change, in repentance towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2nd Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Source Telegraph, Reuters, International Herald Tribune, Boston Herald