Latest news with #Jesus'
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Texas floods: Over 100 people still missing even after two weeks of devastating deluge
In the days after the deadly July 4 floods in central Texas, more than 100 people still missing statewide after floodwaters roared through summer camps, riverside homes, campgrounds and RV parks, claiming at least 135 lives. People keep looking overhead to spot medical choppers among the Black Hawk helicopters searching for the missing. As days have turned into weeks, the number of missing, still stubbornly high, may be the flood's biggest lingering question. The total in Kerr County, the epicenter of the disaster, dropped this week to 97 from 173, and then stalled, raising still more questions. At least four others are missing or unidentified from Travis County, just east of Kerr. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Science Leadership Operations Management Product Management Design Thinking Healthcare Data Analytics others Management Technology CXO MCA Others Project Management Degree PGDM Finance Digital Marketing healthcare Data Science MBA Artificial Intelligence Public Policy Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details "Even though we are reporting 97 people missing," in Kerr County, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas told reporters on Monday, "there's no certainty that all 97 of those people were swept away by the storm." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jesus' Tomb Is Opened And Scientists Find Something Unbelievable Novelodge Undo The fluctuation of the numbers has only contributed to the puzzlement, as bodies are recovered and it becomes clear that some counts are incorrect. Abbott has said that in the days following the floods, local and state officials were better able to identify people from out of town who had come to the Hill Country to stay at camps and hotels. Out-of-towners might have survived the deluge but have not checked in with authorities. Others who are still listed as missing were reported to the authorities by friends and relatives, the governor said, but officials have no record of them "logging in anywhere" -- not at hotels, camps or summer rentals. Live Events Officials in Kerr County have said that search efforts could carry on for months. It is common for the number of missing to fluctuate after natural disasters. In the days that followed a devastating August 2023 wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, the number of missing reached a staggering 1,100, and then plunged. About six months later, there were only two, with 102 confirmed deaths. Few of the missing were actually dead. As with a fire, a flood makes recovering bodies and identifying remains challenging. And like Maui, the Hill Country of Texas is a vacation spot, attracting visitors who complicate the tally. Who gets counted as missing and how they might be found depends on several factors, including the accuracy of information that officials receive, experts said. Clerical errors, like a misspelled name, can land people who have already been accounted for among the missing. It is especially difficult to keep track of people who were visiting from somewhere else, as was the case along the Guadalupe River on the July 4 weekend, according to Ingo Bastisch, a director of the Science and Technology Program with The International Commission on Missing Persons, an organization in the Netherlands that partners with other groups to find the missing. FAQs Q1. When did Texas floods happen? A1. Texas floods happened on July 4. Q2. What is casualty number in Texas floods? A2. More than 100 people still missing statewide after floodwaters roared through summer camps, riverside homes, campgrounds and RV parks, claiming at least 135 lives.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Endure and remain true to an ethic of all-embracing and forgiving love
Imagine if countries invested in peace rather than war, Andrew Shephard writes. The world of geopolitics has entered a new period. Established alliances and agreements of the last 80 years are being discarded. The United States administration threatens both bordering countries and its allies and is, once again, dropping bombs in the Middle East. In Europe, an empire of old, led by a strong man, seeks to expand its territory westwards. Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific, China's growing strength, previously projected softly, through aid and economic projects, is manifested through increasing military presence. Such developments, broadcast via news headlines and tweets, are, for many, a cause for considerable concern. Clamouring voices warn us of the inevitability of future conflict and the necessity to prepare for this. How do we do this? We arm ourselves. Accordingly, unsurprisingly, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) details that in 2024, global military expenditure rose for the tenth consecutive year. The $US2.7 trillion (about $NZ4.6 trillion) spent is the highest in Sipri's six decades of records, and a 9.4% increase on the previous year. Over the last decade, global military expenditure has increased by 37% and now accounts for 2.5% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). The largest military spender remains, by far, the United States. The $US997 billion it spent in 2024 accounted for 37% of the total global expenditure. Yet, even in remote Aotearoa New Zealand, our leaders, alarmed by the geopolitical reordering, have responded in kind. The government's 2025 Budget sets aside $9b in extra defence funding over the next four years, on top of the current annual operating budget of nearly $5b. Over the next eight years, New Zealand's military spending will increase from just over 1% to more than 2% of the GDP. This rise in military expenditure has received little questioning. It is taken as self-evident that the appropriate response to the developments of emerging global powers, the territorial ambitions of authoritarian leaders, the emergence of new conflicts and the resurgence of old wars is to escalate military spending. But is this the only possible and only reasonable response? What if we were to interrogate one of the underlying assumptions at play here: that to live in a world of peace, one must be prepared for war? To engage in such questioning requires, firstly, a more honest accounting of human history: specifically, the crucial awareness that the current events we are witnessing are not an aberration but are par for the course. Periods without war, characterised by genuine peace, are the exception, not the norm of human history. This recognition, that peace is fragile and fleeting, appears to be at the heart of Jesus' enigmatic teachings contained in the Bible. In the gospels (Matthew 24:3-14), Jesus informs his followers that they will hear of "wars and rumours of wars." Strangely, though bombarded with bad news, with devastating accounts of humanity's inhumanity and predictions of grim futures of violence, Jesus tells his followers not to be "alarmed". Throughout his ministry, Jesus instructs his followers in a way of life characterised by love for their enemies and a commitment to peacemaking. Both then and now, amidst a culture of fear, trapped in catastrophising and hypothesising, always planning and preparing for conflict, Jesus proposes another way. Jesus warns his followers not to allow their imaginations and therefore actions to be configured by the constant, fear-inducing rumours of war. They are not to be "led astray", to "betray" their commitment to peace, to succumb to "hatred" or to allow their commitment to love to "grow cold". To remain true to an ethic of all-embracing and forgiving love in the face of human hatred and violence, Jesus encourages his followers to offer the watching world evidence an alternative is possible. An embrace of the way of peace, Jesus contends, is good news to a world addicted to war. Throughout the centuries, many have taken Jesus' commission seriously. A history of courageous leaders — Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, Archibald Baxter, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, to name a few — ignoring the ceaseless rumours, have instead attuned themselves to a still, small voice and, imagining a new future, pursued peace. What might it mean for us as individuals, a society, globally, to mute the cacophonous voices of fear and embrace ways that make for peace? To suggest this alternative is not, as detractors often contend, utopian idealism. Nor is it confined to those who profess to be followers of Jesus' way of peace. After a civil war concluded in 1948, the country of Costa Rica abolished its military, redirecting military spending to environmental, education and health initiatives. Today, Costa Rica has some of the highest standards of living in its region, and a remarkable record of preserving and enhancing its ecological biodiversity. Imagine if Aotearoa New Zealand, with the same size population, redirected its weekly military spending of $110million away from preparing for death-dealing towards life-affirming ventures. Building new hospitals? Investing in the struggling education sector? Increased funding to preserve and protect our whenua, waterways, oceans and threatened biodiversity? How might such funds be used to prepare us for the impacts of climate change already being experienced? A proposal: for a future in which conflict is resolved not through war, and peace is less episodic, redirecting military funding toward peacebuilding and conflict resolution training in our schools might be a good place to start. ■Dr Andrew Shepherd is a senior lecturer in theology and public issue at the University of Otago. He will teach CHTH231-331 Christianity, War and Violence, as a pre-Christmas Summer School course in late 2025.
Los Angeles Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Christians should be speaking up against ‘cruel' immigration raids
To the editor: I am appealing to Christians in Los Angeles and those who were raised Christian and still have good values to speak up against these cruel raids ('A crisis of faith: ICE raids force some churches to take 'extraordinary' action,' July 11). The Bible tells us to take care of strangers. Undocumented immigrants must be treated as individuals with histories and given due process. They should have legal status after years in this country. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that many are only here illegally because of our broken immigration system and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, said mass deportations 'represent a profound social crisis before which no person of good will can remain silent.' Each individual in this country has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are watching good people's lives being destroyed by racists who only care about themselves and not about their neighbors or our country. A true Christian is not filled with hate. Jesus' commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves, and those of us who strive to be true Christians must speak up now and act to protect and shelter the least of these: our immigrant neighbors, co-workers and friends. Laura Murray, Los Angeles .. To the editor: I'm sorry my fellow Catholics are afraid to go to Mass in person, but I understand their fear. For those who have a computer, there may be one thing that might help. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Monica's Catholic Community invested in a lot of television equipment and broadcast the Sunday Mass online. It proved so popular that it continues. People from across the country tune in because they like the community. Kay Devonshire, Santa Monica
Black America Web
10-07-2025
- General
- Black America Web
7 Bible Verses to Read by the Beach
7 Bible Verses to Read by the Beach There's something sacred about the ocean. The crashing waves, the endless horizon, the warmth of the sun—it all creates the perfect setting for rest, reflection, and reconnecting with God. The beach offers a natural pause from the busyness of life, allowing space for your soul to breathe and your spirit to listen. Whether you're on vacation, taking a solo walk along the shore, or simply sitting in stillness with the sound of waves as your soundtrack, it's a beautiful place to draw near to God. The Bible often uses water and the sea as symbols of power, peace, and divine presence. From parting seas to calming storms, Scripture reminds us that God not only created the oceans—but He also moves through them. Reading the Word by the water can feel like an invitation to encounter God in a fresh way. So whether you're seeking clarity, peace, or simply a moment to soak in His promises, these seven Bible verses are perfect for your beach day devotion. Let the waves wash over your worries and allow God's Word to renew your heart, right where you are—between the sand, the sea, and His still, small voice. RELATED: 7 Bible Verses to Uplift You This Summer 7 Bible Verses to Read by the Beach was originally published on 1. Psalm 93:4 (NIV) 'Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty.' Let the sound of crashing waves remind you of God's unmatched power and presence. 2. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.' A beautiful reminder that no matter where you are—even oceans deep—God is with you. 3. Psalm 139:9–10 (NIV) 'If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.' Whether you're chasing sunrises or walking along the shoreline, you're never out of His reach. 4. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV) 'He has made everything beautiful in its time.' Just like the ocean tides, life has its seasons—and beauty flows through each one. 5. Matthew 8:27 (NIV) 'The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'' Reflect on Jesus' power over the storm—He brings calm to the chaos. 6. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) 'And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' Let the beach be your quiet space to receive divine peace. 7. Genesis 1:10 (NIV) 'God called the dry ground 'land,' and the gathered waters he called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good.' The beauty of the ocean isn't just scenic—it's sacred.
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: ‘Boy orator' William Jennings Bryan delivers ‘Cross of Gold' speech
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on July 8, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1896: William Jennings Bryan stepped onto the podium at the Democratic National Convention inside the Chicago Coliseum at 63rd Street and Stony Island Avenue, and demonstrated that reformers could profit from working within the system rather than fighting it. Stretching his arms wide, he mimed Jesus' crucifixion. Chicago's history with hosting Democratic and Republican conventions dates back to 1860'You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns!' he thundered. 'You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!' Bryan played third-party politics to his advantage. He won the nomination but lost to William McKinley. 1978: The Rolling Stones headlined at Soldier Field for the first time. The stadium was filled on a steamy summer day with 80,000 fans, with opening acts Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Peter Tosh and Journey, featuring new vocalist Steve Perry. The Rolling Stones in Chicago: A timeline of the band's 55-year fascination with the city's bluesThe Stones' set list included most of the songs on the quintet's latest release, 'Some Girls.' Later that night Jagger dropped in on a Lefty Dizz set at Kingston Mines. 1989: Nirvana played Club Dreamerz on Milwaukee Avenue. A 1973 Fender Maverick guitar that lead singer Kurt Cobain played during the show sold for almost $500,000 during a 2022 auction. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
