I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. Later this month it will be my wife’s and my 16th anniversary. To celebrate this event I have decided to wish my wife Happy Anniversary for 16 days.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Joel 1-3.

    The prophet Joel wrote in response to a natural disaster. He does not tell them they had it coming. He does not claim it happened because of their sin. However, he does call on them to repent of their sins and turn to God. He calls on them to mourn, and pray, and fast. This is how we should respond to disasters, natural or otherwise. I remember that shortly after 9/11 one or more prominent preachers blamed the attack on the sins of this country. That is not how we should act. No, after a disaster we should call people to repent, mourn, and pray, but not condemn them. Those preachers, with their condemnation of the sin of this country, implied that they themselves were righteous. When we call people to repentance we need to acknowledge our own sins as well.