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MMB 10-10-2016 Hurricane Aftermath

MMB 10-10-2016 Hurricane Aftermath
On Thursday October 6th, we here in central FL prepared for a close hit by Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 tropical cyclone. The forecast called for high winds, damaging floods, power outages and possible loss of life. The preparations included stocking up on supplies, candles, water and clearing yards and porches of items which could become dangerous projectiles in high winds. Shops closed early, schools closed down, evacuation centers opened and people fled areas sure to be hit hard by the storm.

We here in Poinciana section of Kissimmee in northern Osceola County were spared the expected wrath of Matthew. We had winds and rain but the storm shifted east minimizing the effects greatly. In fact, our home never lost electricity or internet service. Under normal summer conditions, the Direct TV sat will occasionally lose signal in a driving rain and thunderstorm. Even that was unaffected during Matthew. We were fortunate. This being my first hurricane experience in Florida, I expected the worst. Being from New England, I had experienced some damaging winds and floods from hurricanes, but by the time they reach the northeast, the storms weaken significantly. I doubt any of the storms I experienced in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were at Category 1 or 2 strength. I have witnessed, though, huge oaks and maples uprooted due to these storms.

One thing I noticed on Thursday while at work in the morning, the humidity was as high as I ever felt. The sun was hidden by the clouds of coming Matthew, but my cell phone kept beeping warnings of the coming hurricane and around 10:30 that morning my phone displayed the area dew point was at "79". Typical summer in Florida is 74 dew point. 79 to me is unbelievable! We closed the Poinciana Walmart Tire and Lube at noon and the whole store at 3pm. I left around 3:30pm and drove to the OBT/Poinciana Blvd 7Eleven to get gas. I had water in the car to bring in the house when I finally arrived home. It was then we buttoned things up.

The storm did damage and continues to hamper the southeastern coast of the US. Whem Matthew hit Haiti, it was deadly. The count at this point is nearly 900 people. Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina all report Matthew-related deaths. As many as 20 US citizens from these states have perished.

Similarly, sin does damage ... even brings death ("the wages of sin is death" - Romans 6:23). Sinful actions cause disarray and harm in people's lives. Even those of us who desire to walk in righteousness experience the rottenness of sin almost daily. A pastor friend shared with me recently that everyday is an opportunity for a "RESTART"! He's right. If due to sin we become rotten ... in Jesus, the conqueror of sin, we can get a RENEWAL RESTART toward RIGHTEOUSNESS. People will be rebuilding after Matthew. We all can Renew and Restart when sinful damage tries to ruin us. 1 John 1:9 says to Name - Confess our sins to Almighty God who is FAITHFUL AND JUST to FORGIVE US our sins and CLEANS US from all unrighteousness. My restart this morning is making me feel renewed! You can too.

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