Mount St Helens Erupts May 18, 1980 8:30 AM

Harry Truman Lodge Owner on Spirit Lake

Sign to Truman’s Lodge On Spirit Lake on the shores of Mount St Helens

The first 10 Seconds Time lapse photography Mount St Helens eruption

Ash destroys everything in its path Mount St Helens

People Hesitate Refuse to evacuate

Genesis 19:15–16 (NIV84) 15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.

Why would Lot hesitate?

The Purpose of the Judgment of Sodom is to offer the people Israel a stern warning against becoming like them.

Genesis 19:1 (ESV) 1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth.

God is present at the Judgment of Sodom, but only two persons are seen God is present at the Judgment of Sodom, but only two persons are seen. The third person of the Trinity, the Father, brings the fire from Heaven.

God sets the standard of behavior, not man.

The most important truth that anyone must settle, after they settle the issue of faith in God, is “who sets YOUR standard of behavior?” The One who made the heavens and the earth? Or you?

Have you settled that issue, or do you hesitate?

Romans 1:21 (NIV84) 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:22–23 (NIV84) 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:24–25 (NIV84) 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:26–27 (ESV) 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

“Shoplifters find hope in addiction treatment” A Newport Beach program takes only people — many of them well-to-do — who steal items they can afford.

2 Peter 2:6–7 (ESV) 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked

2 Peter 2:8–10 (ESV) 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

The Bible is very clear that the sin of Sodom, homosexual lust, is a defiling passion—it is therefore never justified--and spits in the eye of God’s authority over humankind.

So God destroys the city of Sodom, and the morally bankrupt Cannanite society, as a stern warning against becoming like them.

We believe God and because we do, we want to do things God’s way.

James 5:19–20 (ESV) 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Genesis 19:9 (NIV84) 9 “Get out of our way,” they replied. And they said, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.