Saturday, November 3, 2007

Water

It seems almost impossible that there would be a shortage of fresh water in America, but it’s happening.
“The severe drought tightening like a vise across the Southeast has threatened the water supply of cities large and small, sending politicians scrambling for solutions. But Orme, about 40 miles west of Chattanooga and 150 miles northwest of Atlanta, is a town where the worst-case scenario has already come to pass: The water has run out.”
“Three days a week, the volunteer fire chief hops in a 1961 fire truck at 5:30 a.m. - before the school bus blocks the narrow road - and drives a few miles to an Alabama fire hydrant. He meets with another truck from nearby New Hope, Ala. The two drivers make about a dozen runs back and forth, hauling about 20,000 gallons of water from the hydrant to Orme's tank.”
For three hours each night the residents of this small town have running water. Each evening the mayor turns on the tap for the 145 people who live in Orme TN.
Source:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071102/D8SLGBV05.html

For many around the world lack of water has always been the norm.
But did you know...
1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply - approximately one in six people on earth.
(1)
2.6 billion people in the world lack access to improved sanitation.
(1)
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use.
(2)
A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water.
(3)
A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive. (
4, 5)
The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day. (
6, 7)The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day. (7)
Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.
(1)
Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher. (
8, 9)
Every $1 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained.
(1)
Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water live on less $2 a day.
(1)
Poor people living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more for per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city.
(1)
Source:
http://www.water.org/waterpartners.aspx?pgID=916


The ancient poet told of how his soul longs for God much like a deer panted for the cool clean water of a brook (Psalm 42:1). So our soul will be thirsty for God. Jesus proclaims himself the fountain of living water in John 4. Water is often associated with the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 4:3-4) and the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9).

Spiritually there are times when we endure drought, sometimes of our making, and other times by God’s plan to conform us into His image.

How are you doing today? Are you going through a time of drought? Are you thirsty to know God and not just know about Him?

Can I offer you a cool drink?

Pastor Val

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