Shortly after we moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988, there was a major explosion at Pepcon, an ammonium perchlorate processing plant to the south of town. Both my husband and I heard the noise and rushed outside our home to see the plume of smoke rising in the air. Although the plant was five miles from our house, our front door and an upstairs window were damaged.

The Pepcon disaster claimed two lives and injured 372 people. Ammonium perchlorate is used as an oxidizer in space vehicles and is highly volatile. The explosion was massive because there was an estimated 4000 tons of the product stored at the site and there was a high-pressure natural gas line running underneath the plant which ruptured during one of the explosions. A total of seven explosions caused close to $100 million in damages. The largest explosion measured 3.5 on the Richter scale.

Since my husband worked for the Office of Pipeline Safety for the State of Nevada, he was called to investigate the accident. He says:

The explosion created a cavern and ripped up a 16-inch natural gas line going through the property. I spent most of my first summer out in the desert at the site. I’ve never drunk so much Gatorade in my life. Adjacent to this facility was a Kidd marshmallow plant that was also completely leveled. Do you know, marshmallows do not come out the best during an explosion! What a sticky gooey mess all over the place!

Until the atmosphere was deemed clear, we had to wear the traditional white “monkey suits” used for entering contaminated areas. Naturally, these suits are designed so air will not penetrate them. At the end of the period in the contaminated atmosphere, we would clear the quarantined area and stand in a kid’s inflatable wading pool to be hosed down. Then we would remove our boots and pour about a quart of perspiration out of each boot. This was tough work for a north-woodsman like me who cannot take hot weather.

Because of my husband’s intimate contact with dangerous residue, he had to be decontaminated after each visit. We are in close contact every day with some of the undesirable values of this world. There is residue left in our lives from immoral television and movies and self-pampering magazine articles. There is increased crime in every level from the street gangs to some of our politicians. All of these things contaminate our spiritual lives. We must put ourselves through a decontamination process to remove all possible danger to our soul. It’s best to avoid the residue if we can, but when we are compelled to have contact, we must take time to cleanse ourselves of worldly impurities by spending time in God’s presence.

Although it will be tough work, let the “decontamination” process begin. “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus, that your blood purifies me from all sin. You have promised that if I confess my sin, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sin and purify me from all unrighteousness. Amen. ~ based on 1 John 1:7,9