Edited version: By Leslie Jones McCloud It looked like Wrath had come to town. The tornado that sheared through half of north Merrillville three days ago left the area desolate, as if Wrath had run amok in the streets. It tore through Andrean High School, taking the tops of trees as its meal. Broadway is blocked off at Strack’s shopping plaza and west along 61st Avenue. The area looks war-torn — like a dinosaur got after it, teeth bared and gnashing, chomping through thick branches and leaving them behind like the bristles of a worn-out toothbrush, splayed in every direction. It shocks the senses. The storm crossed the street and continued westward down 61st Avenue. Deep trenches scar the ground. Utility poles lie snapped into pieces, useless. Traffic is diverted north onto Harrison Street, where the devastation continues. Entire roofs are gone, and huge oak trees rest on bare wooden roof frames now exposed to the open air. In some places, the stone facades of homes are a...
We are all guilty of this. When, you say glory be to God or God’s will be done, you at exuding righteousness. However, When serving God in the position of Balaam’s Donkey , consider that someone will always be riding your back, you will largely be ignored until you get to speak, you will be whipped and beat. And, you will get fed up. You will be in the presence of evil that flys in the face of God, willful sinfulness just like Satan. Saints do not like this, we are God’s children but be of good cheer, God is with you. And much of it is so sinful it becomes humorous—like the sublime to the ridiculous. So keep good humor about, you’ll need it. Intelligence from an impossible source: human speech from an animal. Balaam’s story is found in Numbers. He was a non-Israelite prophet in the Bible ( Numbers 22–24 ) hired by King Balak of Moab to stop the Israelites being at first, lead by Moses as they traversed the Wilderness. Driven by fear of scarcity, just like now, is th...