Fire And Fury Like The World Has Never Seen Before

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all goodliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

There were missile silos less than 35 miles from the little town where I grew up in West Texas. We lived only 60 miles, as the crow flies, from a SAC base where B-52 and later B-1 bombers trained and launched. In that Cold War era we didn't play Cowboys and Indians as much as we played soldiers fighting communist Russians, Chinese, and Cubans. We regularly talked about what we would do if a nuclear attack was launched. In our youthful naiveté, we thought we could survive.

If a Russian missile had struck the base in Abilene, nearly 100,000 people would have died instantly. The thermal blast would have killed another 15-20,000 tens of miles away and we, up in our little West Texas town, would have died from radiation poisoning within a matter of days or weeks. If missiles had hit the silos near us, it would have mercifully hastened the process.

I don't know what President Trump meant, when he said, regarding Kim Jong-un's continual threats and actions, "they will be met with fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before." Maybe it was, as Michael McGough of the LA Times wrote, "more like a decision to meet bluster with bluster than a promise of military action the next time Kim lets loose a tirade against America." I don't know what's going on in Washington and Pyongyang, but I now it's not good. I know it feels too much like the days of my childhood.

I know this, too. If you're a believer in the Bible and a follower of Christ, you should know you have a responsibility beyond any partisan political bias. You have a responsibility to pray for whoever is in the White House. Actually, you have a responsibility to pray for the leader of North Korea, too. Doesn't Paul command Timothy to pray for "all who are in authority." Peace will only be found when it is sent from Heaven. Surely it's time to be obedient and pray for the leaders of our world.