Up & Coming Weekly

16 UCW FEB. 24 - MARCH 2, 2010 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The Well That Never Runs Dry by RENEE GIBBS All of us at some time in our lives have been in need of prayer, encourage- ment or a kind word. Some of us have been in need of possessions, money or even basic necessities like food and clothing. We have also heard people say "I'll be praying for you" when they learn of your situation but they do not attempt to do anything to help you in your crisis. My featured couple, James and Anita Bill, has probably never been guilty of 'just praying' without doing something to meet a need. They are truly two remarkable faces of faith. The Bible says in 1 John 3:17 "But whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"(KJV) James and Anita Bill have shown the love of God to countless individuals and families by giving of their time and their treasures. As owners of Cape Fear Well & Pump Co., the Bills understand that they have been blessed to be a blessing and they continue to give from their abundance as well as from their lack. During the early part of 2009, business was very slow and had been affected by the cutbacks in the real estate industry. The Bills were more concerned about how they would be able to continue to help others more than they were con- cerned about themselves. The Bills are called upon to serve in many ways behind the scenes in their local church and many people have benefited from their faithfulness and willingness to give. James serves as an usher, greeter, cook and jack-of-all-trades. Anita serves as Nursery leader and Women's ministry Assistant Director. They oftentimes refuse re- imbursement for monies spent which they describe as "giving to God." Although very appreciated, they seldom receive (nor want) the recognition for what they do for oth- ers. Their service is unselfish … they put others first. James recently lost his stepfather and his mother was not expected to live. Those who loved and prayed with the Bills saw how God's hand of healing took James' mother from death's door to rehabilitation and a renewed outlook on life. God hon- ored the unselfishness and love the Bills have shown others by answering the prayers for healing. I know firsthand about the unselfishness of the Bills because our family has been a recipient of their kindness and generosity many times. I may not understand all that James does when he's on the job drilling wells for his customers, but one thing is for sure: As long as the Bills continue to tap into Jesus' love and show that love to others through unselfish acts of kindness, they will always have wells that will never run dry. James and Anita Bill Renee Gibbs Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com If the ice caps are melt- ing, what is happening to the salt content of the oceans? And might this contribute to weather patterns or cause other environ- mental problems? — George Boyer, via e-mail It's true that the melting of the polar ice caps as a result of global warming is sending large amounts of freshwa- ter into the world's oceans. Environmentalists and many climate scientists fear that if the climate heats up fast enough and melts off the remaining polar ice rapidly, the influx of freshwater could disturb ocean currents enough to drastically change the weather on the land as well. The Gulf Stream, a ribbon of ocean water that delivers heat from the tropics up to the North Atlantic, keeps northeastern U.S. and northwestern Europe weather much milder than other areas at the same latitude around the globe. In theory, less salt in the ocean could stall out the Gulf Stream and rob some of the world's greatest civilization centers of their natural heating source, plunging the two continents into a cold snap that could last decades or longer — even as the rest of the globe warms around them. The Gulf Stream keeps running because the warmer water travelling north is lighter than cold water, so it floats on top and keeps moving. As the current approach- es the northern Atlantic and disgorges its heat, it grows denser and sinks, at which point it flows back to the south, crossing under the northbound Gulf Stream, until it reaches the tropics to start the cycle all over again. This cycle has allowed humans and other life forms to thrive across wide swaths of formerly frozen continents over thou- sands of years. But if too much dilution occurs, the water will get lighter, idling on top and stalling out the system. Some scientists worry that this grim future is fast approaching. Researchers from Britain's National Oceanography Center have noticed a marked slowing in the Gulf Stream since the late 1950s. They suspect that the increased release of Arctic and Greenland meltwater is to blame for overwhelming the cycle, and fear that more warming could plunge temperatures significantly lower across land masses known as some of the most hospitable places for humans to live. Of course — not surprisingly — others have noted a contradictory trend: Some parts of the world's oceans are getting saltier. Researchers from the UK's Met Office and Reading University reported in a recent issue of the peer-reviewed jour- nal Geophysical Research Letters that warmer temperatures over southerly sections of the Atlantic Ocean have significantly increased evaporation and reduced rainfall from Africa to the Caribbean in recent years, concentrating salt in the water that's left behind. In fact, the Atlantic in this region is about 0.5 percent saltier than it was four decades ago. But given how little we really know about the future effects of our carbon loading of the atmosphere, calling these two trends contradictory might be premature — as the two regions of ocean interact with one another and are part of a larger whole. Looking instead at the big picture, it's clear that climate change is already having a relatively large effect on the world's oceans by fundamentally altering evaporation and precipitation cycles. Only time will tell how dramatic the results of these changes will be. CONTACTS: National Oceanography Center, www.noc.soton.ac.uk; Met Office, www.metoffice.gov.uk; Geophysical Research Letters, www.agu.org/journals/gl/. SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www. emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. What Happens If the Ocean Loses Its Salt From the Editors of Environmental Magazine FEDERAL LIFELINE NOTICE 99178-4.88x3-Natl-BW-2.22 All Verizon Wireless plans in the designated areas include the following: voice grade access to the PSTN, local usage, dual tone multi-frequency signaling or functional equivalent, single-party service, access to emergency services, operator services, interexchange service and directory assistance, toll included. Taxes, surcharges and fees, such as E911 and gross receipts charges, vary by market & could add between 5% & 37% to your bill; 92¢ Administrative/line/mo. is not tax, is not pro-rated & is subject to change. IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to Month to Month Customer Agreement and Calling Plan, 45¢/min after allowance. Customers eligible for Link Up assistance will receive a 50% discount on the Activation Fee, and Verizon Wireless will waive the remainder of the Activation Fee. Limited time offer. Offer not available in all areas. 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