There is no reason to think that the moaning and groaning of our living planet will cease. Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile are stark reminders that our planet is not a hunk of solid rock--it is alive with internal forces that churn underground.  And when one of our tectonic plates lurches instead of slips the earth trembles and shakes: Earthquake! And if that plate lifts upwards under the sea: Tsunami!  So, why, why in a modern age of science and intelligent thought and rational behavior are some preachers - and others - proclaiming these events as the work of a vengeful God dishing out divine punishment to select sections of the masses.  And why do some of us  mumble at times that this is God's plan.  Are we afraid to look at the reality that much of this is beyond our control? Basic geology and the earth sciences explain these events and to state otherwise makes as much sense as  holding the invisible Flying Spaghetti Monster responsible for nature's beauty and natural disasters--events that are disasters because we are in the way of the wave, the volcano, the flood and the trembling earth. Perhaps its time we look at science and make an effort to understand these powerful events and not blame God with irrational escapism thought: I don't fully understand what happened and I can't do anything about it...so---"God did it!"  And taking some personal responsbility for disaster preparedness is not a bad idea;perhaps it's the way to go. Government can't do eveything to keep you and me safe. Nor can God ---or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.