Search for an explanation is on going. Was the statue destroyed by lightning? Did God decide to smite it? One possible explanation is found in the Bible:

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

Of course, another explanation might be with regards to the church itself:

Then, in 1998 I founded Pro-Family Network, which is a Christian Family Advocacy organization…Also during this time I started, with the help of my pastor’s wife, a ministry at Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio. Living Free Ministries helps those who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle deal with the issues that brought them to gender identity confusion. We have helped scores of people to follow the Manufacturer’s guidelines for successful living.

Perhaps God is not amused at people insulting His lesbian, gay and transsexual creations by claiming that “formerly” gay people- that is straight people- are being discriminated against, as Pastor Greg Quinlan of the church, has said numerous times.

Of course, questions abound. Why did God strike down this statue constructed in 2004? Was it God? Maybe God just did not like the statue. Maybe God does not like bigots who try to force others into the torture bed of rigid theocracy. Maybe God missed and was trying to hit the church instead. Well, for what ever reason it happened, God made the Worst Person’s list on Olbermann for setting Himself on fire.

The King of Kings statue was completely obliterated. At least the flaming Jesus is out.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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As Hawaii experiences a near hit, low lying fishing areas are bracing for what is being termed a frightening and likely Tsunami.  Areas impacted could include Okinawa and Tokyo. Although Japan is used to such warnings, this one seems to be gaining special attention because of the perceived danger.   As they head into night, Japan may be hit an about one hour.

AP Reports from TOKYO – 28 February 2010 0917 hrs (Japan) Japan’s weather agency issued a major tsunami alert for its Pacific coastline Sunday after the massive earthquake in Chile that has killed more than 200 people.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that waves of up to three metres (10 feet) could hit the northern coastal areas of Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi.

The agency also issued tsunami warnings for waves of up to two metres along the entire Pacific coastline of the Japanese archipelago, from the northern main island of Hokkaido through the southern Okinawa island chain.

First waves could hit the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and the central Izu region of the main island at around 1 pm (0400 GMT), the agency said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said earlier that the tsunami warning it had put in place after Saturday’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake has been canceled everywhere except Japan and Russia.

However several nations in the Pacific, including Australia, said their own local tsunami warnings remained in effect after the Chile quake, one of the largest on record.

Tsunami’s are not tidal waves. A Tsunami is a feature of a movement of plates as it impacts the ocean floor, whereas a tidal wave is a concomitant of currents of the Ocean.  (Thanks AP for keeping us Updated)

Note Larry King Speaks to Survivors on CNN tonight.
Reported dead in Chile Quake is 214

The magnitude was fa greater in Chile, yet clearly the result different when compared to Haiti- this is based on the Infrastructure – making poverty a great cause of the large numbers dead in Haiti

Posted by Melanie Nathan.

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2/25/10.  HILO, Hawaii — A tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Chile has swept ashore in Hawaii, Reports Associated Press.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. But the initial waves did not appear to be serious, looking more like an extreme fluctuation in the tide than a giant tsunami.

The wave began affecting Hilo Bay on the Big Island just before noon local time. Water began pulling away from shore, exposing reefs and sending dark streaks of muddy, sandy water offshore. Water later washed over Coconut Island, a small park off the coast of Hilo.

The tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean in terrifying force after the magnitude-8.8 quake hit Chile. Hawaii officials had ample time to get people out of the potential disaster area, and thousands were evacuated.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check  AP for the rest of the article…

Posted by Melanie Nathan -  nCalifornia Coast Put on Alert – Advisory for Tsunami.   Driving home from Sabbath at the Temple to day I heard on the news that the beaches that surround me (between 4 miles as the crow flies) have been evacuated due to a Tsunami advisory, resulting from an eight plus Earthquake in Chile. (Note and advisory is an alert, whereas a warning results in evacuation.

While that feels close to home, I wonder about our own San Andreas fault – the one that runs alongside my house, not to mention the hundreds of other faults and those yet to be uncovered.

Of course I am not worried and my life continues as normal – I mean it is rainy and cold, after all and hence I am unlikely to visit the beach today.

However I am watching TV to see what is going on in Hawaii and it seems they are having surges in the Pacific, with Tsunami activity reflected by flashing bouys.  The ocean itself is rising and falling and tourists are standing on balconies watching and waiting.

The conditions are not necessarily conducive to a big tidal wave – the danger however lies in the fact that the currents change rapidly and one cannot predict the effects of an earthquake related Tsunami.   In Hawaii, Big Island, and others has been basically shut down, Business closed etc.

Right now on CNN TV has picked up one solitary being walking on the Beach and the announcer says its either the most idiotic thing he has seen or that maybe that one soul has no media to advise him otherwise.  Oh well enough chatter. For those of you who are only reading Lezgetreal – Get off the friggin Marin beach Go to high ground.  Okay Okay just kidding more likely to have an earthquake in this moment than a Tsunami, despite the advisory.

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The Senate Armed Services Committee also canceled yesterdays hearing.

Air Force’s secretary, Michael Donley, and Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, had been scheduled to testify about the Department of Defense authorization request for funding, however, some questions concerning “don’t ask, don’t tell” were also expected to be asked during that session.

The hearings have not been officially rescheduled, but a Senate staffer told LGR this morning the earliest probable date for the hearings to continue, would now be the first week of March.

Over the weekend, the Nations Capitol was brought to a virtual standstill after receiving nearly 2 feet of snow and forecasters are now predicting the Washington, D.C., area will receive anywhere from 10 to 20 inches more snow between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.

Washington’s snow removal crews have been working 12-hour shifts since Friday to move the snow, however efforts were called off in both the District and in neighboring Maryland this morning due to the continuing heavy snowfall.

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The magnitude 4.1 earthquake jolted the area for a few seconds and seems to have originated from the Newport-Inglewood Fault, which is the same fault that caused the magnitude 4.7 earthquake on May 17th. The City of Los Angeles is reporting no infrastructure impact or other significant damage, and there are no reported fires or injuries.

UPDATE: Reports confirm that this quake was an aftershock to the May 17th earthquake, and more can be expected over the next days and weeks.

If you live in California and are looking for information on what you can do to prepare for an earthquake, you can visit www.earthquakecountry.info.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) issued a warning to operational Red Cross areas throughout the state yesterday after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred three miles south of Bombay Beach, Imperial County at 4:55 am. Although there were no damages or injuries reported as a result of this event, The U.S. Geological Survey has been tracking an “unusual sequence” of over 50 aftershocks, that have been clustered about 1 to 3 kilometers southwest of a projected extension of the San Andreas Fault, in the Salton Sea area. The majority of the magnitudes have been less than 2.5, although ABC has reported magnitudes as high as 3.5. Cal EMA recommended to the Red Cross that operational areas reach out to raise awareness of the events, and “ensure the readiness of systems essential to emergency operations”.

Out lesbian Kate Hutton, aka The Earthquake Lady, is the CalTech Seismologist who is constantly sought by the media for her professional commentary regarding major Earthquakes, especially in Southern California.

“Swarms in the Imperial Valley are not a big deal,” she said in regards to the Salton Sea quakes. “We’re used to that. The reason that this one, and another one in 2001, got significant attention from us is that it’s very close to the San Andreas Fault.”

The San Andreas Fault is the notorious fault that falls on a tectonic plate which links the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.

Cal EMA said in their issued warning:

Based on scientific data, and the fact that these most recent earthquakes have been in close proximity to the San Andreas Fault, there is increased concern that these earthquakes could trigger a large earthquake (M7.0 +) on the San Andreas itself. Historically, a major earthquake on this southern portion of the San Andreas Fault has not occurred in over 300 years, so the probability of a large earthquake is thought by seismologists to be higher than on portions of the fault that have ruptured more recently (e.g. in 1857 and 1906).

Just a few months ago The Great Southern California Shakeout simulated what would happen if that happened on the San Andreas Fault.

Kate Hutton said:

“The fictional 7.8 earthquake that was the scenario for the shakeout drill started right here, OK? And this whole section hasn’t broken since 1680, probably, so that’s the reason for the close eye that we keep on it. It’s another straw on a camel’s back, but we don’t know how many are there and we don’t know how many a ‘camel’ can hold.”

As each day passes the risk of a large San Andreas earthquake decreases.

Cal EMA says that they will continue to monitor the situation and keep in contact with CEPEC scientists over the next few days.

**If you live in California, you can find out what you need to do to be prepared for a major earthquake at earthquakeauthority.com.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

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