A tornado over a mile in diameter swept through the town of Greensburg, Kansas yesterday, killing around nine people and leaving behind complete devastation. The town had a population of around 1400 people, and its a miracle more weren't killed, for there are just a few buildings left standing. President Bush has declared Kiowa County an major disaster zone, and meteorologists are expecting more severe weather to come...

Quote: "US President George W Bush has declared parts of Kansas a disaster area and has pledged federal aid for reconstruction. "I'm confident this community will be rebuilt, to the extent we can help, we will. "The most important thing now is for our citizens to ask for the good Lord to comfort those who were hurt," the president said after attending church in Washington on Sunday. Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, who toured the devastated region, said: "It is no understatement or overstatement to say this town has been wiped off the face of the Earth."

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Kansas. It hasn't been the first time that a US town has been almost completely destroyed. We only need look back to August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans. Back then it was believed this disaster was a result of US policy towards Israel in supporting the division of God's land and the disengagement from Gaza. Yesterday's disaster came only days after the US had published a new eight month peace plan for the Middle East, which would have seen Hamas gaining a greater foothold in Judea and Samaria. Whether or not the two events are linked, I can't tell, but I know that God blesses the nations that bless Israel and curses the nation that curses Israel (Genesis 12:3). My friend Sam Jennings was asked in our Bible study once, what about believers caught up in these terrible disasters. Are they being punished? He said no, they will take it as a test of their faith. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of trials, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement (2nd Peter 2:9). We couldn't separate the two groups, but the Lord knows how, just as He delivered Lot from Sodom and Noah from the flood. So also He will deliver us from the coming judgement of this wicked world. I remember watching the New Orleans disaster on television, and thinking its almost apocalyptic. Sooner or later it will be. 

Source BBC