A Voice in the Wilderness In Defense of "Mere Conservatism"

Pray for potential survivors in Indonesia

The devastating earthquake in Indonesia this week has claimed hundreds of lives already, but the death-toll will soon be rising...possible in to the thousands.  Other sites are obviously better suited to relaying the full coverage of this story with up-to-date information about the natural disaster, but here is one fascinating/haunting tale that has already emerged from Indonesia:

An earthquake survivor trapped in a collapsed hotel in western Indonesia sent a text message saying he and some others were alive, triggering a frantic rescue operation, but hopes faded Saturday as sniffer dogs failed to detect life.

Padang's police chief said voices and claps were heard from survivors buried in the Ambacang Hotel since Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude quake, which killed at least 715 people. He said one survivor — who had been staying in Room 338 — sent a text message to relatives Friday, saying he and some others were still alive.

Thank God for cell phones.

Here's a recent news report from the region: