T-Town Tornadoes 4-27-11

April 27, 2011 is a day I will never forget in my life. It is the day a town that I love was destroyed, and forever changed. I thank God that I was not harmed through this, and am very grateful that none of my friends were harmed. Unfortunately for many friends though, they lost everything they owned. It is moments like this that make you put your life into perspective and it is all so surreal.

When James Spann said those of us in Northport (where I was at the time of the storm) were not in harm’s way, I immediately went to the window. My roommates and I friend all saw the F-5 tornado tearing through the town that we love. During this time, our phones went on the frizz. I had over 40 text messages and many phone calls, most of which did not go through. My first though was, what about the people hit, my friends, my community. I will put it this way, the photos I took and the images on TV do not show you the beginning of what happened.

People stayed out our place and several friends stayed above us at our friends too. We decided we were going to go help, and my eyes were no prepared for what was ahead of me. As we traveled the streets I have driven through my time in Tuscaloosa, none of it was recognizable. I remember asking what road we were on, and when I found it was one I travel regularly I was astonished. So many were trapped, missing, homeless, and dead. The things I saw I will never un-see, and I never want to see them again.

Tuscaloosa is going to take a long time to clean up, and I know what you’re thinking; what can I do? If you can get out on the streets and help, by all means do it we need you. Contributing food, goods, and money will do just as much work. Give blood, donated to the salvation army, and pray. God will get us through this where we can move forward, but please pray. A verse come to mind in this time of need, one that Mayor Walt Maddox used.

Romans 12:12-13

   “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.“

President Obama said he has never seen a natural disaster like this. A family told us who was impacted by Katrina, it is just like Katrina on a smaller town. Join us in rebuilding our city, and lift this town up in prayer. God bless you, and God bless Tuscaloosa

 

Now What?

Easter is amazing time of year, mainly because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Also though, the weather is warming up and the trees are blooming. Baseball is now underway and summer is near. Easter brings about a time to buy ridiculously colorful outfits and new Facebook default pictures because of it. Everyone is at church, I mean man are the churches packed out. Everyone takes to remember Jesus. Now it is Monday, does it all change? Now what?

Are you going to church next Sunday, or are you going to wait till Christmas time? I often invite people to church, and they tell me they are Christians but they don’t attend church. I will not argue that these people are lost, that is not my place and I know Christians who are not in church. I will argue however that as believers we need to be at church for more than the important Sundays.

Hebrews 10:25
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”

That is plain as day to me that says we need to be in church. It is simple, you will naturally be like the people you are around. Are people in church always good? No, have all fallen short of the glory of God. The Lord does though want us to surround ourselves with those like Him. If you are out of church, I imagine you are more than likely not around those in church. As humans we are easily swayed to like those in the world, but we are called to be a part from this world.

Romans 12:5
… so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each

member belongs to all the others.

Another point clearly given, which play an important role in the church. Some are gifted through teaching, hospitality, and technology roles. The list goes on and there is a job for you. If you aren’t going to church, well part of the body is missing. For the church to be fully effective, it needs all its members working together for the same goal. To win the lost to Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:14-23
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

I think you get the point I am making. It is great to see the churches packed out on Easter Sunday, to celebrate our risen Lord. But is also disheartening to go back the next week and see the numbers down. Also, as people who do go back we are responsible in getting the others to come. Cut them no slack, they are your brothers and sisters, and a party of the body. I challenge everyone to get involved in their church, if you do it is so much easier to go. The reward is great, but the job you are doing is even better. I hope to see you at church this Sunday! God Bless

May 5th, please hurry.

3 weeks, or 11 days, even 2100 minutes in the classroom are left in this semester. Needless to say, I am more than ready for this semester to be over. I am taking 16 hours and have never had so much work to do in a semester in my life. May 5, 2011 is the day of my last final and it cannot get here any sooner!

 

This week happens to be the busiest week of my semester. A 10 page paper, 5 page paper, 2 presentations, and test are all going down this week. Also my 21st birthday is Wednesday! No worries readers, I will not be getting drunk that evening, not my style. Then this weekend ushers in a little glimpse of what football will look like in the Fall, that is right A-Day! So this week is full of stress mixed in with a little fun too.

 

It is crazy really, my dad’s birthday is March 30, brothers is April 9, mine is the 13th, grandfather’s 16th, and my mother has hers the 18th. My sister is the odd ball out in July.

 

I like school, it just gets on my nerves. I mean I really think our professors think that we are the only class they are taking. I have over about 15 books I had to read this semester, that is one a week. And then all these papers and what not! I mean come on, I have 16 hours of classes and a part-time job. They barely give me time to live.

May 5th is also important or two reasons:

1. Sanctus Real and The Afters are coming to my hometown to put on a show. I will post a couple of videos by them in case you haven’t heard of them, they are the bee’s knees.

2. It will be exactly 3 weeks until I leave for Fuge! If you don’t know what that is ask me!  I will be glad to fill you in.

Until I Blog again, God be with you!