The State of Iowa is Under Assault

The state of Iowa is under assault: four Boy Scouts killed by tornado, weeks of ravaging storms, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines, IA, along with dozens of smaller towns are under water, 83 of 99 counties given federal emergency status, roads and highways throughout the state are closed, water ways, railroads and airports cannot serve the transport needs of the people, courts and government services closed, and much more in addition. Does this mean anything beyond the obvious intrusions into the lives of the people in this region?

It was reported to me by a friend of mine (who happens to be from Iowa originally) and who lives part time in China, when the recent earthquakes happened there, the people asked what this meant. The people don't have a materialistic view of the world - that everything happens for reasons unrelated to anything outside of the cycles and patterns of the earth. The Chinese people, for all of the communist and atheist style of governing, are still a people that are connected to something greater than themselves and their material existence. They understand that nothing happens without a reason and that they should listen to it for what it would tell them. Call it mystical if you want to, but it seems to me they have a much greater likelihood of hearing what is being said than we Americans and in particular Iowans.

What are we hearing the Christians of Iowa pray? Are we hearing them pray for God's favor and help; or are we hearing them search out what this might mean - what God is saying to His people? Is there even a single Church that is crying out for mercy for having grown cold and listless? Is there a group that will awaken from this Divine pointing of chastisement toward Iowa? Will any of Iowa's dignitaries see the handwriting on the wall (as it were) and use his voice to call Iowa to her knees in humility and contrition? If there is one that does, will Iowa (will America) listen?

If you have been following the Holmans over the last 5 years or so as they have boldly shown Iowa the face of abortion, you'll know they do not see coincidence or simple earth cycles in these floods and calamity. I will say the Holmans have suffered injustice at the hands of the powers-that-be of Iowa. I will say the Holmans have uncovered some pretty smelly alliances of corruption among Iowa politicians and leaders. I will say the Holmans have exposed the crooked nature of local municipalities and their apathy toward the status quo. Is God trying to vindicate the Holmans? No. The Holmans signed up for the fight and knew they would suffer in the manner they have suffered. God is bringing this most recent form of judgment for those whom the Holmans personify - the preborn children that Iowans kill for convenience sake. It is fitting that the picture of the last 30 days in Iowa paints a perfect portrayal of the Divine distain - the floods are going to end up being not much more than an inconvenient interruption of the convenience they pursue and the death is likened to their murdering of the preborn and is a shot across the bow designed to send a message.

The only solace Iowans can take from this most recent barrage of rain is that God said He wouldn't destroy the earth with a flood again. That, however, should be enough to bring a shudder down Iowans' collective spine. Will they listen?