Welcome to the Monday, August 21st,

2023 edition of the Daily Article Podcast.

I'm Chris Elkins, narrating today's daily article,

written by Denison Forum co-founder and CEO, Dr. Jim Denison.

Tropical Storm Hillary made landfall over Mexico's Baja California Peninsula shortly before noon yesterday,

bringing winds and heavy rain that triggered mudslides and flooding.

Thousands of people across Southern California have lost power.

The National Weather Service is warning that dangerous to locally catastrophic flooding impacts are expected in the region.

On the same day, a tropical storm hit the state for the first time in 84 years. A magnitude

5.1 earthquake struck 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. There were at least a dozen aftershocks

of magnitude 3.0 or greater. I am praying this

morning for all those affected by these calamities and challenges, asking God to be their strength

and to mobilize his people to respond biblically and redemptively. But there is a cultural

and spiritual principle at work in these disasters we should discuss as well.

As I reflect on today's news, a construction project I walk past each morning comes to mind.

The house is in its early stages, with wood forms being placed for the concrete foundation that will soon be poured.

Before long, the house will hide the work that is now visible,

but if or when a major storm strikes our area, it will reveal the strength of the unseen foundation.

This is the way of nature. Earthquakes do not create fault lines. They reveal them. Strong winds

do not create the root systems of trees. They reveal their depth and

strength. The same is true of humans. Temptations do not create character. They reveal it.

Otherwise, every time every person is tempted by deceit, sexual immorality, or greed,

...