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Sunset on the Shire River in southern Malawi is a quick event. Less than 15 minutes takes the sun down to a pinkish orange ball and then under. We had to leave the shore of the river to get out of Liwonde National Park before the 6 p.m. closure. We left the shore at 5:20 when the sun was almost in behind the low mountains to the west. The main gate was about 10 kilometers away and should have been reached by 5:45. Our guide needed to get home, we needed to get to the lodge where we were staying.

We have been to Malawi seven times in the last 18 years. There have been many changes in the environment, mainly a slow crawl towards the modern world.

Transportation is a major set back for the Third World. Countries like Malawi have poor road conditions, expensive gasoline, battered vehicles, and an assortment of green energy alternatives. The first of which is walking.

The Pastor of one of America’s largest churches said in a sermon, “God is way into you. Do you think there’s anything you can do to cause Him to stop loving you?” Statements like this can encourage and arm people. But it is incomplete. It exalts the virtues of the love of God but is void of the justice of God. It is written about Jesus, the original source of the love of God, that “…whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36) Wrath of God? The phrase is uncomfortable. It does not fit the idea most people have of who Jesus is. We talk about the love of Jesus and the love of God, but the wrath of God?