Wednesday afternoon: destructive storms

[TravisW]

The cross on Central Lutheran blew down within a few hours of the GoodSoil service.  There has not been a tornado hitting Minneapolis proper since 1981 (I remember it well and have lived here the whole time).  Rarely does a tornado hit that close to downtown, in 1981 it did not get that close.  Everyone including the security guards at my work who are in constant contact with the Hennepin County Sheriff's office were taken off guard.  The day was cool, it was pouring rain, it was not a typical weather pattern for a tornado.  The weather professionals had predicted rain but I heard no tornado watch information.  This was flat out, a weird unpredicted funnel.  Yes, there was much more damage elsewhere in Minneapolis, lots of trees down and homes damaged.  But the cross went down at Central Lutheran.  Yes, just a tiny part, the cross at Central went down.   Just the tiny, insignificant cross.

It burns my toast to see the derision of the symbolism of the cross blowing down, the spire was split.  I took pictures when down there tonight.  It was very eerie.  My oh my how we moderns downplay such God-given imagery.  This was a God thing, and I am not one who takes lightly to these kinds of signs.  The cross was toppled by a very unexpected tornado at Central Lutheran just before GoodSoil had its service.  This was not random.  There are signs for those who have eyes.  We have received such a sign.   

http://www.startribune.com/galleries/53727487.html?elr=KArks8Lcac_QE77DyPDiUeLcac_jE77DyPDiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Brian J. Bergs
Minneapolis, MN

Oh my.  Thanks for the link.  That's a rather disturbing image.

[ThePhantom]

Well, if God was warning the ELCA or mad, then the Almighty is puny and a lousy aim. A tiny part of Central Lutheran damaged, and the fuller wrath of the storm hits residential neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

 Leave it to a reporter to miss the leadership potential of such a powerful symbol; a cross knocked over the day the ELCA voted apostasy.  That's OK Charles, go back to your keyboard and pretend it doesn't mean anything.

[Just_Here_For_CWA]

Well, ELCA got its 15 minutes of fame. Wonder at all what kind of witness it is to the world? To the rest of the church (besides the feminist liberation faction)?

SO God sends another sign. This is how John Piper interpreted it: http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1965_the_tornado_the_lutherans_and_homosexuality/

[Charles_Austin]

So explain to me why, if God is mad at the ELCA, the tornadoes did most of the damage in residential neighborhoods of Minneapolis? Does the Almighty have bad aim?

[Just_Here_For_CWA]

I've given up on explaining God to Charles Austin. Anyone else?

[Dadoo]

Well, if God was warning the ELCA or mad, then the Almighty is puny and a lousy aim. A tiny part of Central Lutheran damaged, and the fuller wrath of the storm hits residential neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

Isn't it always the innocent who suffer for the atrocities of the guilty?

[Just_Here_For_CWA]

You might read the Piper essay. He said it was a "firm but gentle sign to the ELCA and all of us."

[Bergs]

So explain to me why, if God is mad at the ELCA, the tornadoes did most of the damage in residential neighborhoods of Minneapolis? Does the Almighty have bad aim?

Or unbelievably good aim to have taken out such a symbol while leaving other similar structures at the same height in the same immediate area with no apparent damage.  It was striking to me to see little other damage around the rooftop level at Central, just the split in the spire and the cross hanging there.  Again, the sight of it truly chilled me.

Lord have mercy,
Brian J. Bergs

[Iowegian]

So explain to me why, if God is mad at the ELCA, the tornadoes did most of the damage in residential neighborhoods of Minneapolis? Does the Almighty have bad aim?

Maybe He also thought He'd send a message to the troublesome independent music scene in Minneapolis by blowing the windows out of the "Electric Fetus".

Snarky response aside, this is a pretty powerful image (screen grabbed from Star Tribute site so I could directly link):

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4840/snapzproxscreensnapz002.jpg

[Team Hesse]

Well, if God was warning the ELCA or mad, then the Almighty is puny and a lousy aim. A tiny part of Central Lutheran damaged, and the fuller wrath of the storm hits residential neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

Isn't it always the innocent who suffer for the atrocities of the guilty?

There is a lot said in Lutheran writings about God's alien (as over against his proper) work.
Lou

[Just_Here_For_CWA]

A truly "amazing pic" http://ow.ly/keFw

 "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" 

[Charles_Austin]

Me, too.

[jpetty]

You might read the Piper essay. He said it was a "firm but gentle sign to the ELCA and all of us."

Only if you're Pat Robertson, or have a pre-enlightenment point of view.

[MSchimmel]

You might read the Piper essay. He said it was a "firm but gentle sign to the ELCA and all of us."

Only if you're Pat Robertson, or have a pre-enlightenment point of view.

You truly believe an "enlightened" point of view explains all things?   

[Kurt Weinelt]

Only if you're Pat Robertson, or have a pre-enlightenment point of view.

Another sound bite. Sophistry. False alternatives. Limited question.