Earthquake & Hurricane

This last week we had an earthquake in our area of North Carolina. Now, at the latter end of the same week we have Hurricane Irene barreling through. This has caused much discussion at our home. We have discussed that this was probably a once in a lifetime occurrence for our children. They have experienced their first ----- and possibly last earthquake. We have discussed how that has impacted folks and what were the procedures for measuring earthquakes.

Then we discussed Hurricane Irene. [Quick parenthetical note ----- last time Irene was named was in 1999 and it came through the same part of North Carolina. DeAnne and I got married the day before it blew through.] One of my children asked why God makes hurricanes. My response was that I am not sure what hurricanes that God makes ----- but I am sure that God loves us and promises to never leave us or forsake us. Suffering is part of our existence as Christians ---- and that is why the Lord gives us one another to help each other carry the heavy loads we each bear.

The notion of God making natural disasters that kill people is hard for me to get my head around. Also, I am not sure if I can make those pronouncements on God's behalf. I am writing this because I would like to hear how you all answer questions like that.