Random news for you: Syria, Greece, apocalyptic hailstorm, more

Here is a random roundup of interesting news for you:

Photos of "apocalyptic-like hailstorm in Dallas." That was the Weather Channel's headline. The photos are really amazing. Remember, God does send hail. I can't say that He specifically did this time, but He does at times.

Hail damage in Texas -- RT @adamccecil:
Thanks to some tennis ball sized hail my car is done for!
#unlucky pic.twitter.com/MaS9RlBD

"... the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword." (Joshua 10:11)

"He destroyed their vines with hail...He gave up their cattle also to the hail...." (Psalm 78:47-48)

Sun blasts huge magnetic bubble at earth
"For the second day in a row, an active region on the sun has erupted with a coronal mass ejection (CME), blasting a beautifully dynamic magnetic bubble of energetic plasma in the direction of Earth. It is powering through interplanetary space at a breakneck speed of 1,360 kilometers per second (that's over 3 million miles per hour!) ... Active region 1504 (or AR1504) is a magnetically intense region that is crackling with flares and it has rotated in our direction. Powerful arcs of magnetic field are protruding deep from within the solar body, pushing back the hot outer layers of the sun's photosphere, exposing the cooler, (comparatively) dark interior. A beautiful complex of sunspots is the result -- shown in the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory image, below."

US moves USS Enterprise into Pakistani waters. The news article is from the Pakistan Times, and they claim the US move violated international law.

The situation in Syria is very precarious. Prophecy-wise it is pregnant with possibilities, a 9th month pregnant. (Isaiah 17)

Sky News: UN Says Syrian Town Has 'Stench Of Bodies'
"UN observers have visited al Haffa town in the province of Latakia and reported that nearly all government buildings have been burned down.The UN Supervisory Mission in Syria said observers in Haffa reported finding it all but deserted with a strong stench of dead bodies and almost all government institutions gutted from the inside."

Joel C. Rosenberg has been writing constantly and in a bit more breathless fashion that he usually does. Today he wrote: "Will Syria implode?"

"Will Syria implode in a bloody civil war even worse than the horrific violence already underway? That’s the big question right now. Weapons are pouring into both sides.,the government and the rebels. Russian Czar Vladimir Putin is reportedly sending more arms to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Iranian leaders are also standing squarely with Assad. Meanwhile, Israel is worried about a civil war and Syrian implosion. More instability in the epicenter poses severe risks to the Jewish State. No one wants Assad in power. But if he falls, could his successor be worse? And when will the Bible prophecies concerning the complete destruction of Damascus come true? Christians need to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Syria. We also need to pray and work to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all Syrians and strengthen the underground Church there. God has been moving powerfully in Syria in recent years — see here. By God’s grace, The Joshua Fund has been investing in the spread of the Gospel in Syria, especially through an evangelistic film made by Syrian Arabs called “DAMASCUS” — see here. Please pray that the Lord will give us much wisdom as we seek to continue to serve the church in Syria at this critical moment."

The situation in Egypt is very precarious. Prophecy-wise it is pregnant with possibilities, a 9th month kind of pregnant. (Isaiah 19).

New Political Showdown in Egypt as Court Invalidates Parliament
"Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that the Islamist-led Parliament must be immediately dissolved, while also blessing the right of Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister to run for president, escalating a battle for power between the remnants of the toppled order and rising Islamists."

Spain and the European economy is also very precarious. The election in Greece Sunday will do much to decide the direction of the euro, pundits tell us, citing a choice for the Greeks between electing the candidate who said he will accept the offered austerity package (result: instant poverty), or electing the candidate who said he will reject austerity (result: imploding under their debt). Either way, the Greek economy seems done for. There have been billions pulled out of banks in advance of the election, and thousands are hoarding canned food. Spain is not faring better, despite their bailout this week.

Moody's cuts Spain's credit rating, citing rescue
"Moody's Investor Service cut the Spanish government's credit rating Wednesday, a direct result of the rescue package lined up by European leaders over the weekend. The rating lowered Spain's rating from A3 to Baa3, which leaves it in investment-grade status but just one notch above junk."

Michael T. Snyder has a good essay on how an economic collapse works. It is not an all-at-once event, he said. It is like waves coming up on a sandcastle. Bigger eaves take chunks away (like in 2008) and smaller waves chip away at the structure (like since 2008). But all the while the castle is crumbling.

Speaking of judgment-inducing news, Pentagon to Celebrate Pride Month Nearly a Year After Repealing Ban on Gays. "The Pentagon will host its first ever celebration of gays and lesbians in the military this month, which was recently proclaimed by President Barack Obama as LGBT Pride Month."

Really, how close are we?? Meantime, here is some good news:

"your hands, all peoples!  Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High,  is to be feared,  a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us,and nations under our feet. He chose our  heritage for us,  the pride of Jacob whom he loves." (Psalm 47:1-4)

Till next time: "May God be gracious to us and bless usand make his face to shine upon us, Selah". (Psalm 67:1)