The storm comes -- singing in the furnace

Rain for today and the numbers who came church were very down because of the wind and rain. No Sunday school  or nursery-- the 8:30 service had about 15 people and the 9:30 Forum on dealing with Cancer had only a dozen and the 10:30 had almost half the congregation vested in choir, acolyte or clergy robes. The choir led the singing as the wind blew. A lot of people stayed in bed. I had to admit that when it rains and is windy bed seems like a nice choice. When I was preaching I noticed that the people who were there were staring at the big window behind me as the wind ripped the branches back and forth.  In Hebrew the word for wind/breath/spirit is ruach and in Greek pneuma so I could say that they were engrossed with the spirit instead of my blathering and I admit I was mesmerized as I looked at that sight.

The three young chikldren

I was put in mind of the song of the Three young men-Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael or as they are also called  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who when they were tossed into the fiery furnace - confronted with all the power of destruction sang about God -- part of the song goes:
 
⁴² ‘Bless the Lord, all rain and dew;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴³ Bless the Lord, all you winds;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁴ Bless the Lord, fire and heat;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁵ Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁶ Bless the Lord, dews and falling snow;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁷ Bless the Lord, nights and days;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁸ Bless the Lord, light and darkness;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁴⁹ Bless the Lord, ice and cold;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁵⁰ Bless the Lord, frosts and snows;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁵¹ Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

 We were not hit that much with rain- 2 and a half inch in the last 24 hour and a couple more inches and more to come in the next couple days. I talked with some people who came across the bridges and they were being blown all over the road by the wind.  There has been some over wash on NC 12 roads with the Hatteras area cut off. The ferries have suspended operation and high tide and full moon may influence sound side and beach side flooding. tonight Those parishioners who had sound side flooding last year are biting their nails.

My dog hid underneath the dining room table last night in response to the winds but now is less nervous.There was only some downed branches so far and we are lucky in that the power company buried the power lines. When I woke up early this morning for church I cleared a couple limbs out of the road. A couple streets over they had to cut up some downed trees-- the downside of living in a maritime forest. 

I have a clergy conference in Pine knoll Shores tomorrow about 4 hours down the coast and will make a decision about going tomorrow. So far it hasn't been that much of a fiery furnace experience but it was good to bless the Lord. The song concludes:
⁶⁰ ‘Bless the Lord, all people on earth;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁶¹ Bless the Lord, O Israel;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁶² Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁶³ Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁶⁴ Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
⁶⁵ Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart;
   sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.