Have you ever heard of Thorium? Neither had I until i read this article from Wired magazine. Currently, most of the nuclear reactors in the world use Uranium. But back in the late 50’s, as nuclear power was being researched, they were also working on creating nuclear energy using another element, Thorium. The article from Wired magazine talks about Thorium, and the possibility it has in creating green nuclear energy. But this is the quote which stood out to me:
Weinberg and his men proved the efficacy of thorium reactors in hundreds of tests at Oak Ridge from the ’50s through the early ’70s. But thorium hit a dead end. Locked in a struggle with a nuclear- armed Soviet Union, the US government in the ’60s chose to build uranium-fueled reactors — in part because they produce plutonium that can be refined into weapons-grade material. The course of the nuclear industry was set for the next four decades, and thorium power became one of the great what-if technologies of the 20th century.
Fascinating isn’t it? From this article, you get a glimpse at some of the decisions that were made in decades past that have monumental repercussions for us today. At the same time, you can understand why the US government made those decisions. For them, it was killing two birds with one stone – you gain energy, and from the waste you produce devastating weapons. How were they to know that in the new millennium those same nuclear weapons and nuclear waste would be so dangerous and harmful.
I suppose, the US Government was merely reacting to the situation they were faced with. They knew that the the Soviet Union was growing in their own nuclear power, and in order to protect themselves (and the rest of the world they might say) they also needed to produce more nuclear weapons themselves. But like a nuclear uranium reactor, their reactions to the Soviet Union would prove to have deadly consequences in the future.
This past Sunday, looking through Joshua 10, you see how these 5 kings reacted towards the situation they faced, and then found themselves in a situation much worse. I’ve realised in my life, that I find myself often simply reacting to the situations around me. From my work, to my family, to the busy-ness of life, I live my life simply responding and reacting to the situations that I face daily. And at the end of the day, I find myself exhausted and a little bit lost – like Alice in Wonderland.
So reading Joshua 10, and seeing how the Israelites faced their situation caused me to re-evaulate my own life. There seems to be a very clear difference between reacting towards the world around, and boldly walking forward with God into new situations. Obstacles become opportunities. What could easily have been a situation that brought about discouragement and depression, became one of encouragement and victory.
I suppose we all want to make the right decisions in life. We don’t want to live 25 years of our lives then look back and wonder what if. The starting point of the right decision begins with God – and asking him how and in what way can you love him more with all your heart, soul, mind and strength through that decision, and if this can help you love your neighbour more. With that as your starting point, you will find yourself not just reacting to a situation, but relishing in the opportunity to love God and enjoy him forever.
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These were some thoughts about the fourteenth episode in our series on Joshua. You can find all the the messages and notes as well as the worship at the BCEC Sermon Page or or listen to the sermon directly – Joshua 10:1-28.
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