Hurricane Ike Threatens Texas with Wall of Water

Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:47pm EDT
By Tim Gaynor

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday, pushing a wall of water that weather officials warned could bring certain death to those who did not heed mandatory evacuation orders.

Waters rose rapidly along the Texas coast as Ike moved within hours of striking low-lying areas near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) storm surge in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

The National Weather Service warned that people in coastal areas could face "certain death" from the storm's massive storm surge.

Ike was a Category 2 storm with 105 mph (165 kph) winds as it moved on a course that pass directly over Houston -- the nation's fourth-largest city.

Ike was expected to come ashore late on Friday or early on Saturday as a dangerous Category 3 storm on the five-step intensity scale with winds of more than 111 mph (178 kph), the National Hurricane Center said.

As high waves pounded mostly evacuated coastal communities, the Coast Guard said a 584-foot freighter with 22 people aboard was stranded without power 90 miles southeast of Galveston. Sea conditions were too treacherous to attempt rescue.

Hundreds of thousands fled the island city of Galveston and low-lying counties under mandatory evacuation orders and authorities urged holdouts to move before Ike's winds started to make car travel dangerous.

"Leave now," said Ed Emmett, chief administrator for Harris County, which encompasses most Houston and its environs. "The storm surge is stronger and it's important that people understand that this really is a life or a death matter."

U.S. crude oil futures jumped $2 to near $103 a barrel as traders eyed the potential for Ike's massive storm surge to swamp low-lying refineries along the Gulf Coast that process about 20 percent of the nation's fuel.

Weather forecasters at Planalytics saw "major and long-term damage likely at the major refining cities."

In Galveston -- site of a 1900 hurricane that was the deadliest weather disaster in U.S. history -- residents nervously eyed the seashore as Ike's waters bashed over the sea wall and crept into clusters of houses perched on stilts.

"I've never seen it like that before. I'm scared, I'm leaving," said motel manager Roy Patel. He had boarded up the office of the Economy Motel on the sea front and was headed to the mainland by car.

In central Houston, the administrative hub of the nation's oil industry around 50 miles inland from Galveston, businesses closed and boarded up windows Thursday night in preparation for possible hurricane-force winds and flooding. But officials said most residents should "shelter in place" since the city is some 50 feet above sea level.

U.S. President George W. Bush said he was "deeply concerned" about the storm and the fate of his fellow Texans.

"It is a major storm headed toward a large population center," Bush told reporters at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City.

'THIS IS SCARY'

Ike comes just 10 days after Hurricane Gustav barreled into the Louisiana coast and sent 2 million people fleeing but largely spared a New Orleans still struggling with the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

But in this active hurricane season that has had the Atlantic and Gulf coasts on high alert, Ike posed its own challenges because of its large scope, which was bigger than Katrina's. Hurricane-force winds could extend out up to 120 miles.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Friday, the hurricane center said in its latest advisory Ike was about 195 miles southeast of Galveston. It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

Much to authorities' frustration, holdouts harked back to the bad experience of the last large-scale evacuation in Texas in 2005, when 2 million people fled Hurricane Rita, getting stranded on highways for hours and running out of gasoline. Rita largely skirted the Houston area.

"We have pets, we can't travel," said Monette Baugh, clutching her poodle as she walked the Galveston sea wall. "We stayed for Rita and we are staying this time. You listen to the TV and you are petrified. They have a tendency to exaggerate. But yes, this is scary."

Local television said Ike looked to pose the biggest threat to the Texas coast since Hurricane Carla in 1961, which struck as a Category 4 storm and caused more than $2 billion in damage and 43 deaths.

(Additional reporting by Anna Driver and Bruce Nichols; writing by Chris Baltimore and Mary Milliken; Editing by Bill Trott)

© Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.

Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

Walking Alone....Alone

....A Response to Walking Alone Together, by (name deleted)

I tried twice to post an encouraging, positive response to this blog article, to no avail. I am “unapproved” apparently.

If you haven't posted a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear.

This policy does not seem to encourage honest feedback, constructive criticism, or opposing views.

I suspect this latest snub is due to the grave sin I committed called re-posting from one forum to another [in order to continue a discussion of an important matter that was of concern to me]. I sought out another opinion, but this turned out to be a crime of the severest magnitude. As soon as I was informed that I had committed a faux pas, a transgression, I sincerely apologized and rectified the situation. Yet the punishment for inadvertently breaking a rule I did not know existed was swift, harsh, and merciless.....just another example of the kind of treatment by more than one Messianic ministry that has led others to abandon Messianic Judaism altogether, and contributed to full-blown apostasy in some cases.

The Apostle Paul set an example for dealing with sin in the camp in Corinthians, and YESHUA tells us how to deal with issues in Matthew 18. Yet these steps are not followed. It is much easier to banish, to hit the delete button, to lift the left foot of fellowship to those deemed unworthy of a helping right hand. So much for seeking clarification and believing the best about someone’s intentions before judging.

How hypocritical this sounds to my ears now:

How do we deal with the loneliness that the lifestyle of Torah can be? We do it together!...With this blessing of electronic communication, we have the ability to communicate (although virtually) with people from all over the world. We have the ability to find encouragement, support, answers to questions, and sometimes new questions all within the same day if we want. Somehow, the road does not seem so lonely when we are walking it together.....All community...even a virtual one...thrives on the principles of Torah. With the ability to be online with each other, we can walk this road of Torah together and somehow it does not seem quite so lonely. A listening ear is only a key stroke away.

My keystroke led to banishment, not blessing.

Do you know what it feels like to try to log on to a fellowship forum and see these words and get no explanation for 72 hours?

You have been permanently banned from this board.
Please contact the Board Administrator for more information.
A ban has been issued on your username.

This, after donating many dollars over the years as a loyal supporter and making other types of contributions. The sting was palpable.

Do you know what it feels like to invite numerous people to correspond by email or participate in discussions on a forum or blog and get no response? The discouragement is distressing.

I am beginning to withdraw from people once again, due to all this rejection I have been experiencing. People are things that hurt, and I am weary of wincing from the pain of the slights and slayings, not only in my personal situation, but in the banishments and baneful treatment shown to others I care about.

Along with YESHUA, we outcasts stand at the fellowship forum door and knock. Yet we are not even allowed to peer in the window (read posts or discuss the conversation elsewhere). Some messianic forums have become exclusive, private clubs for the elite, for those who will not rock the boat with contention. I am convinced YESHUA Himself would be banned from these forums. Yet Scripture admonishes us to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude).

Blogs are becoming private as well, so as not to invite dissenting discourse. It is one thing to block vulgarities, harassment, or abusiveness. It is another to block opposing views or discussion of controversial topics. I suppose it is just like Junior High, where there were cliques and you could not just walk up to a group of popular kids and join in the conversation. Yet the Scriptures rebuke this kind of prejudice (James 2).

I will try to manage to walk alone, alone....but it is not easy. I thank the LORD for the precious few who are kind enough to correspond with me on occasion. They are lifesavers.

My forgiveness is extended to all who have offended me. In these days of awe, I can do no less. September 11 is Yom Kippur. I hope my adversaries will extend forgiveness towards me and towards others they may have offended as well, for their own spiritual well being. Holding grudges is forbidden in Scripture. It hinders prayer. YESHUA instructs us to forgive seventy times seven, not “one strike and you’re out.” Restoration to fellowship is a component of full forgiveness. There are other ways of dealing with ‘troublemakers” besides the boot and excommunication. But this is how YESHUA and the first band of disciples were treated as well, so why should I be surprised.

I end with these words from a fellow lone traveler. I have re-posted them from a public blog, minus the names. I hope this is not another faux pas in not giving credit to the author. Where is the Internet Etiquette Guide so that I make no further blunders:

The only thing I really miss about Christmas was the feeling that the whole world was doing the same thing at the same time. On the other hand I remember [name deleted] saying one time that the "psychology of belonging" can make you do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. So in our aloneness, we must be strong and not go along just to belong. So I'll take a lone path to Succot instead. If you see me along The Way, please wave.

Attention Hidden Messianics: I am waving, but I don’t know where you are. Please come out of the woodwork and speak up. Let our voices be heard!

Swirling Thoughts

I am feeling anticipatory. Not sure why. A feeling of foreboding. I am grieved about some things....latest being another Deity denial, apostasy, and conversion to Judaism....someone whose articles I used to read. I am also feeling intimidated from speaking out about important issues. So for now....I am silenced. For how long, I don't know. I identify with the prophet as I read through the Book of Jeremiah. He could not hold in the words the LORD gave him, though he tried to. Yet speaking out only got him in more trouble. I can relate.

I am grieved about the political situation in this country also. I am grieved about the Southern Decadence festival planned for this weekend, with the threat of Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf coast. This nation is ripe for Judgement, yet we party on rather than repent. The Days of Awe are coming....yet Judaism fails to fix its calendar so few will keep them at the proper season. May there be fasting and prayer. Enough said for now...before I get myself in more trouble.

Ziggurat: Dubai Pyramid Will House 1 Million

Excerpt:

It's actually called “Ziggurat”! Just like the ancient Tower of Babel. Its hard to describe how big this thing is. Ginormous is barely appropriate. The measurements translate over to around 1.5 square miles at the base and over a half mile high. Nearly twice as high as the Sears Tower in Chicago.

....: The Mayans and Egyptians constructed incredible feats of architecture able to weather the test of time, but they had no idea their pyramids would inspire the shape of the latest carbon-neutral super-structure to hit Dubai. Dubai-based environmental design firm Timelinks recently released some eye-catching renderings of the gigantic eco pyramid - aptly named Ziggurat - with plans for its official unveiling scheduled for the Cityscape Dubai event which runs October 6-9 of this year.

The ginormous pyramid will cover 2.3 square kilometers and will be able to sustain a “community” of up to 1 million. Timelinks claims that their Ziggurat will be capable of running completely off the grid by utilizing steam, wind, and other natural resources. The tightly knit city will also feature a super efficient public transportation system that runs both horizontally and vertically, and plans are being drawn up to utilize both public and private green spaces for agricultural opportunities.....

More with pictures and commentary at joelstrumpet.com

The End of August/Teslin

The End of August/Teslin
Lyrics by Renah; Music by Yanni (In My Time)
(See Featured Links at Sidebar for Youtube rendition of this song by another pianist. Does not include violin ending coinciding with final lyrics but otherwise matches.)

These song lyrics came to mind in August/September 1998 in my wilderness journey through North Dakota, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Alaska. Some of them came as I pondered and edited a bit on a cemetery hilltop in Bedford, Pennsylvania, less than 30 miles from Shanksville oddly enough (911 Flight 93 crash three years later)............

[Commentary in brackets]

It’s the end of the summer
The prairie’s in bloom
I wonder how long till
This world meets its doom

[Late August driving from Indiana to Alaska. North Dakota sunflowers, black-eyed susans. For behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. Isaiah 26:21]

Suddenly, without a warning
The darkness
Will come upon man
Oh please understand
The time draws near
But do not fear
The LORD is with thee
He’ll keep you in safety
He’ll lead you
He’ll guide you

[Destruction is cried suddenly. Jeremiah 4:20. The day of the LORD so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. 1 Thess. 5:2-3. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. Proverbs 3:25. For I am with thee to deliver thee. Jeremiah 1:8; 1:19. Thou art my hiding place. Psalm 32:7. Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. Jeremiah 21:8. I will guide thee. Psalm 32:8]

When the Autumn arrives
With blustery skies
Know that it’s near
But be of good cheer
I’ll come again
To rescue you
So stand your ground
Don’t frown
I will comfort you

[The sky is overcast; the wind picks up near Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory. It is well into Autumn here. Ominous? Prophetic? Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. Matthew 14:27. I will come again. John 14:3. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18]

It’s the end of the summer
The leaves turn to gold
Wilderness wonders
A sight to behold

[The harvest is past, the summer is ended. Jeremiah 8:20. Peak foliage, trembling Aspen, near Teslin, Yukon. Massive moose, other wildlife, awesome scenic beauty. All His wondrous works. Jeremiah 21:2]

Suddenly, all this will fade like a flower
The night will descend
But you’ve got a Friend
[YESHUA] will be your every, every thing
He loves you
He’ll send clouds from above you
To lead you, to guide you

[The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. Isaiah 40:8. See Jeremiah 4:23-28; 13:16. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24. The LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome one; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they shall not prevail. Jeremiah 20:11. “Clouds”.....literally? figuratively? In the daytime He led them with a cloud. Psalm 78:14. I will also command the clouds. Isaiah 5:6. See also Luke 9:34-35; Psalm 99:7]

When the Autumn arrives
With blustery skies
Know that it’s near
But...don’t fear
I’ll come again
To rescue you
So stand your ground
Don’t frown
I will comfort you.

[So likewise, ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:33. Fear not, for I am with thee; I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee. Isaiah 41:10. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22. Blessed is the man that endureth. James 1:12]

It’s the end of the summer
The snowcaps I see
Soon there’ll be no one
In this land that’s free

[Near Tok, Alaska. There is snow on the mountain peaks. So shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. Jeremiah 5:19.]

Suddenly, destruction will come from the North
The old world will end
A new order begin
[YESHUA] must be your every, every thing
He loves you
He’ll send signs from above you
To lead you, to guide you

[Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. Jeremiah 1:14; 4:6; 6:1; 10:22. The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. Jeremiah 4:27. See also Revelation 13:7. Let us watch and be sober. 1 Thess. 5:6. And again I say, “Watch.” See Mark 13. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6. And the LORD shall guide thee continually. Isaiah 58:11]

Why, why won’t you understand
What I say to you
Why won’t you get away
From other voices
Clamoring to you
I’ll come again
To rescue you
So stand your ground
Don’t frown
I will comfort you.

Amen

[Follow violin here.... Who is the wise man that may understand this? Jeremiah 9:12. My people have forgotten Me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32. Get alone, away from the clamor that muffles the voice of the LORD. The piano distinctly says, Amen.]


Epilogue:

911 happened three years later. The planes came from the North. I stood in front of my television set that morning in shock. I remember thinking, “This is the end of the world as we know it.” Yet, mercifully, the LORD allowed America to partially recover from that tragedy. Life went on after this “wake-up call” with no national repentance.

This coming September 11 will mark seven years since the watershed event. This September 11 also happens to be the correct date of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), yet multitudes will ignore this date in conformity with Judaism’s October 9 reckoning.

September 11, 3 BCE was the date of the Feast of Trumpets when Yeshua was born in Bethlehem. This seems all very significant. Will disregard for a high holy day trigger a response from on High? When God’s people choose tradition over truth, chastisement often results. At least, that is the pattern in Scripture.

Perilous Times Will Come

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Tim. 3:1)

Moss Patch Newsletter, Volume 9, No. 1
September, 1998

As I gaze upon a peaceful, pastoral scene from my upstairs window, I wonder how long until this peace is broken and “all hell breaks loose.” Actually I’ve been expecting “all hell to break loose” for several years now, as have others of you. And some have become discouraged and disillusioned with the “gloom and doom” preaching and taken a step or two back into the mainstream world of apathetic indifference to Bible prophecy. Although the LORD’s patience with a wicked society seems infinite, we must remember that He would much prefer repentance to the perishing of souls (see 2 Peter 3:9). It seems we are to live our lives in a constant tension between living responsibly, peacefully, and joyfully in this present world and “expecting the other shoe to drop” at any moment. We should hope for the best and prepare for the worst, treasuring the calm before the storm. It is just a good thing that none of us is God. We would have lost our patience a long time ago and unleashed outrage. Although Almighty God would be justified to strike at any time, the cup of His indignation and wrath is apparently not quite full, and in His mercy we have a little more time to prepare for the storm and get things right in our relationships, become more intimate with Him, and enjoy the blessings of the peace and prosperity of the present moment.

Pat and I recently delivered a couple of RV’s to Anchorage, Alaska. What an amazing trip, traveling through Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and finally Alaska – 3800 miles from home. The journey inspired a prophetic (?) song as I listened to some beautiful music on cassette. The piano and violin seemed to speak words in my head, which I wrote down. Curiously, the name of the instrumental is “The End of August” (Yanni) and the lyrics came at the end of August as we journeyed through the unbelievable beauty of the Yukon on the Alaskan Highway. Some highway—mostly dirt and gravel. I re-named the song, “Teslin” after Teslin, Yukon where the song began to come together. Towns are few and far between in an area where bear, moose, and caribou outnumber humans. It is God’s country—a wilderness of unspoiled forests, mountains, lakes, streams, and waterfalls—the last frontier.

We started out from Indiana through North Dakota, where I was impressed with the vast fields of sunflowers and roadside black-eyed susans in bloom, on through the provinces of Canada, where the people are not happy about their sagging dollar and economy. It felt a bit strange being in a foreign land of kilometers, liters, and washboard roads. The people we spoke with seemed depressed and gloomy about their country’s politics and economy. Somehow, with all our scandals and problems I was very glad to get back on American soil. It just felt too strange in Canada. I can imagine the culture shock visitors from another country would experience here in the USA. It would pale in comparison.

When I wrote down the song lyrics, I did not fully appreciate or understand the significance of the words and how closely they tie in with Bible prophecy. When I got home, continuing in my daily Bible reading, I got to Jeremiah where the song was written many centuries ago. As far as the time being near “when the Autumn arrives with blustery skies” only time will tell. This line was inspired as we traveled near Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory. The trees were in peak foliage, like our October, and a blustery wind had picked up in the gathering dusk causing strong waves on the lake. It seemed ominous, prophetic. When we crossed over the border to Alaska, the thought came to me, “Soon there’ll be no one in this land that’s free. Suddenly destruction will come from the North.” Why did I think, “North?” Just because I was closer to the North Pole than I had ever been before? America has more enemies in the world that are in a more southerly latitude than “North.” When I got home I looked on a globe and discovered that the only potential enemy we have that would come from the North would be Russia. But Russia is friendly towards us, right? Time will tell. With political scandals, a weakened Presidency, global financial crisis, etc., anything could happen. We are very vulnerable right now. When the Spirit of the LORD restrains no longer, “destruction” will come, suddenly. It is time to get away from the clamoring voices of entertainment, friends, family, etc. and get alone with God for an hour a day and listen to what He is saying to His people. Get ready, in whatever way He leads you, especially emotionally and spiritually, so you can “stand your ground.” Jesus/Yeshua must be your “every, every thing,” for soon He will be, for we will have nothing else to hold on to.


Song lyrics in next installment.

From the Moss Patch.....

The Moss Patch Newsletter was a publication my husband and I put out in the 1990’s in which we attempted to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.” This was before we had ever heard the term, “Messianic Judaism,” although I enjoyed the music of Marty Goetz and Paul Wilbur (Israel’s Hope) in those days. I thought they were the only “Messianic Jews” on the planet. With the advent of the Internet, the world became a smaller place and I became aware of the Messianic movement....but missed the entire heyday and the best music, like early Kol Simcha, Cohen and Rose, Helen Shapiro....I had to find this music in the bargain bins in cassette version only.

Anyway...although our Newsletter used Christian terminology, we were somewhat Hebraic in thought. We actually believed the commandments of God were for today, that they were not done away with....and this led to our being ostracized in the churches. We stopped attending church altogether in 1991 and became lone rangers.

One advantage of this, however, was an increasingly intimate relationship with the LORD. He became virtually my only real Friend., a Friend that stuck closer than a brother. I met Him each day in His Word as I read through the Bible chapter by chapter each year. Sometimes He would inspire thoughts that led to Scripture-based articles for the Newsletter. The little home-made Newsletter had a circulation of about 100 and ended up in the hands of strangers far and wide. Some of them wrote to us with appreciation. It was a satisfying endeavor. MOSS PATCH was an acronym for MO and PAT in Service to the Saints with CHrist at the helm. It also referred to the moss patch clearing in the woods that I used to frequent as a prayer closet to commune with the LORD.

I have been wanting to post some of the articles from those days....maybe update them, so I am in “Moss Patch mode” as I bring the past up to date with this present blog. The first article I want to post is actually the last one we wrote....in 1998...wow, that is a full ten years ago! Its message is especially relevant for today.

To be continued.....