The Wired Word for 1062024 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

The Wired Word for 10/6/2024 ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article3.5c705a01b476.png) ## Metadata - Author: [[The Wired Word]] - Full Title: The Wired Word for 10/6/2024 - Category: #articles - Summary: Prayers have been offered across the country for people impacted by Hurricane Helene, a storm that created a 500-mile path of destruction and left at least 160 people dead. Dear Class Members, Prayers have been offered across the country for people impacted by Hurricane Helene, a storm that created a 500-mile path of destruction and left at least 160 people dead. Because this hurricane has caused what some are calling "biblical devastation," this installment of *The Wired Word* will focus on natural disasters, Christian responses to suffering, and where God is present in the storms of life. ![](https://www.thewiredword.com/_img/tww_logo_email.jpg) **Hurricane Helene Causes "Biblical Devastation"*****The Wired Word*** **for the Week of October 6, 2024** **In the News** Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday, September 26, as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida's Big Bend region, blasting the area with 140 mph winds. "I've never seen so many people homeless as what I have right now," said Janalea England to the *Associated Press.* In Steinhatchee, Florida, she turned her commercial fish market into a storm donation site for friends and neighbors. The rural Big Bend region had gone years without taking a direct hit from a hurricane. But after Idalia and two other storms in the past two years, the people of the area are beginning to feel vulnerable. "It's bringing everybody to reality about what this is now with disasters," said John Berg, a resident of Steinhatchee. According to meteorologists, Hurricane Helene weakened to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved north, but it continued to dump enormous amounts of rain throughout the Southeast. In Atlanta, over 11 inches fell over the course of 48 hours, the most the city has seen over two days since record keeping began in 1878. The National Weather Service reported that the peak total in western North Carolina was 29.58 inches, in a town about 24 miles northeast of Asheville. Many communities across eastern Tennessee were still underwater as of Sunday. The remnants of Helene caused rivers to rise to record levels, forcing evacuations. Local schools were closed, including Carter County Schools which will likely be closed "for an indefinite period of time," county spokesperson Ivan Sanders said to *USA Today*. Destruction from the storm impacted the entire region, from big cities to small towns. Atlanta experienced its first flash flood emergency in history, as Mayor Andre Dickens begged residents to stay off the roads. In little Canton, North Carolina, located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the mayor of the town described the scene as "apocalyptic." According to *The Washington Post*, a couple named Beverly and Baxter Eller had lived in the same house in Swannanoa, North Carolina, for 37 years, and it had never flooded. But when Helene tore through the region, water from the raging Swannanoa River rose to the point where it reached their front yard. They fled with neighbors to the safety of a Baptist church up the hill. When they returned on Saturday afternoon, they found that their home had been completely destroyed. "We haven't cried yet," said 68-year-old Beverly Eller, as she sat with her husband and their dog in the Toyota that is now their home. Their other car, a Chevrolet SUV, was lost in the flood. "We are just in survival mode." At that point, the Ellers had not heard from their son, who lives in nearby Weaverville. "We don't know if our son is alive, and he doesn't know if we are alive." The couple planned to stay in their car parked near a shelter for the night. Residents of other North Carolina towns are struggling as well, as they face the loss of homes that have been lifted from their foundations by floodwaters. Across the region, landslides and swollen rivers have destroyed the roads that provided access to small communities. Entire neighborhoods have been flooded or wiped away. Dams have been pushed to the brink, causing residents to flee to higher ground. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said that "all roads" in the western part of the state "should be considered closed." Avril Pinder, the manager of Buncombe County, which includes the city of Asheville, described the storm as the county's "own Hurricane Katrina." Hurricane-force winds have knocked down power lines and cell towers, leaving more than 700,000 residents without electricity or cell service in North Carolina alone. Victims of the hurricane are trying to locate missing relatives via social media, and rescuers are struggling to respond to the high volume of emergency calls. "We have biblical devastation through the county," said Ryan Cole, Buncombe County's assistant emergency services director. "We have biblical flooding here." Emergency responders in the county initially conducted more than 150 rescues. County officials set up shelters and water distribution sites, and directed people to a center that provides help in finding loved ones. Initial reports indicated that at least 49 people had been killed in five states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Then deaths were reported in Tennessee, and the loss of life in North Carolina surpassed 70. The toll of the storm continued to rise, and by Wednesday at least 160 deaths were reported in the six states. Relief efforts have been broad, coming from individuals (including at least one person using his own helicopter to assist), nonprofit groups, local and state governments and the federal government. On Saturday, September 28, President Biden said that he was being briefed on recovery efforts and had dispatched FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to survey the damage across the Southeast. "The road to recovery will be long," Biden said. "We will make certain that no resource is spared to ensure that families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and entire communities can quickly begin their road to rebuilding." More on this story can be found at these links: [At Least 64 Dead and Millions Without Power After Helene's Deadly March Across the Southeast.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPPYWp9ZUOA0v8hTdf07XO-2FAMF8zyTt9MeqvSW7Eib8UX3hji_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv23Ww6yvIEDYCMpqy1o8Ox-2FU5r-2Fq90i8xEdEGCCr2Hc0SNuvkzPa59pY708mWoW5HJGP9LSp-2F2MhuBL96Brg6cgAdAj5eupJ4VOl44f1pWVxYdY-2BPZDBV7wqtqxOomZnoDgupKq7CuJDR3jfIpDuSfWAr9Pq2tbYNlj2FWMt0ScZ2s3Dzw2DNrbfAAkJaKeX-2B-2BcbJlzJ1WNgj1S5NBtQ1w8-3D) [*Associated Press*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPPYWp9ZUOA0v8hTdf07XO-2FAMF8zyTt9MeqvSW7Eib8UXfZge_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvy9VV5DbNxtOqhXk-2F9-2Fn88q7FoK7sPW4c-2FWIeuhdEnLwqGFAq6TvgPw26KTYwG5tppWIJJQKBvpHP18crKftu79ZyJuSsF6d-2FfpgvWJbQTelzx-2FPPd5ohEwRz38Lzcje-2FMTWxZsPsqZ6HIpThKV0Jq9rg0xa48XCOAsi32rIjDU7jof9TRWraAK8-2BHtRNYX9lz3vLuqe8Wpf-2Fjz91f7Qvgk-3D) '[Biblical Devastation' in North Carolina Towns Flooded by Helene.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0Vy2uOebSwUqr-2Bn5EasgzStoBVKbRZIAu4SVkv29baxhGfeexTi50zRz2HfGlxMrRRWI1Rd2ODmj3E9wAZ3ZGAPHn5xxspMBPHpFN6-2FusNhTQ-3D-3DcMDB_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv42VUE9InqxinysSHh1fQeJVf72GShsKavufaRAM92JE3QLH7s0WAvayopVHQ3Oohl1PwWMYHi-2BPuVghst5YCntkodI3bvyUhgaauDrpa0ZLyB2PfM38cQuy-2FdflwKwsEhk8THkms-2F4nc49quJevRRqnJJrc5DRwnPBciVHXM231y0J1qSQvusMSoAsHIwX6KrluxFLPL-2FNEIPzRRNaZv-2BI-3D) [*The Washington Post*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0Vy2uOebSwUqr-2Bn5EasgzStoBVKbRZIAu4SVkv29baxhGfeexTi50zRz2HfGlxMrRRWI1Rd2ODmj3E9wAZ3ZGAPHn5xxspMBPHpFN6-2FusNhTQ-3D-3DPOKo_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv3o0W8mIcWZp8QJdu29O-2FZuWH-2FkFx2jHLYN4TRtavtFNTjsEJGtS4Ib2uL-2FltccYFZOIwbj-2FZsIpZGYmMzY2biqmxGRwwNQOIEv51lmZ6TbZPgsJz42saIkPEIWu18fVoU14m-2BvRJpmt-2Brd7QHNSQakl5HAmMAb65E8UTucUYhcTWS-2FH2zovkjvlBE6uSpXzhU58ANsKFiCjdMZiprFVlWE-3D) [Helene Leaves 'Biblical Devastation' as Death Toll Climbs to 90: Updates.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DBv4b31J1wi3JRJUorxrPpcMjMEiwB7H2KuZrGFfnUlPlKLpkJygXcr7RukXWmEzSGrVtS-2B18ruEMSmzJ-2FcCGhQlRBTPs-2Fdz7Ajfh66YQJCyQ-3D-3DV7Lj_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvyQl3rs4mT473RZF-2BxfhLWOIO8PqQfl5ScieP-2BsuOGA1SPJJ2jl-2FMifBN0TrUE5XEYKRuap7fjj0JL0aeOb0CWRFjlYjJh5yKtjhBnP7wVee7TX9oU48SENLDraQfeCM3ujiJjFzJ8V-2FINj4CyBRyHYVoD6sPd9oqF3ifDedPx889DcdKFX1JxWDUnVYXjso6HPU5V33CBuLwF3lhEfZAeE-3D) [*USA Today*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DBv4b31J1wi3JRJUorxrPpcMjMEiwB7H2KuZrGFfnUlPlKLpkJygXcr7RukXWmEzSGrVtS-2B18ruEMSmzJ-2FcCGhQlRBTPs-2Fdz7Ajfh66YQJCyQ-3D-3DybyV_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvzXHILTGl4nchwrLElbuNGvNrxXdxhYoehfiYI8ZrK5JKrAawgWSUiqxT42BV7PD7UT-2FwBlOiduMFleTt7ehf7b0jDN5hApdum3qVLGZoylj28QYqgxpmlrrR31P1kbFbWvd7ta-2FrMyc7uJDysFNwKv3DKoSn1xonlx1kmYfIpgAGO1mWTQVaTn-2Fpl0zMQYAcABX50Mkg8Ui0j2KgtfrHgY-3D) **Applying the News Story** Use this story to guide your discussion of natural disasters, Christian responses to pain and suffering, and where God is present in the storms of life. **The Big Questions** 1. When have you suffered through a natural disaster, if ever? What did the experience feel like, and what did you learn? 2. Why have people used the terms "biblical devastation" and "biblical flooding" in association with Hurricane Helene? What is biblical about this destruction, if anything? 3. How should Christians respond to pain and suffering, after natural disasters or human-caused calamities? When have you offered aid, or received aid? 4. Where is God present in the storms of life, both weather events and personal crises? What kind of aid does God offer? When, if ever, have you wanted something else? 5. What kind of assistance does the church offer victims of natural disasters? When, if ever, have you given or received such aid? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Genesis 6:5-8***The LORD saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out from the earth the humans I have created -- people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air -- for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.* (For context, read [Genesis 6:1-8](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNfriptk4-2B8l41Jz9-2Br5EVz5pa2h1anYepKM5KHz8VjxazXJg_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv9WeVd-2BktFStw7Wv-2Fv5djs88v-2B-2BVazDEJk7HCvGU1w8mjR08hi-2BrzitoNl3iG874eFlJ-2F5D-2Bs1Y9kHvfIDGZsqLDtvYwAjfgOFlKiqYV7z3-2F5vCFt5vylsANAHA4JxSAlXWNiuC6CFUSeCG0jaq2lBM4thPAdMhwn94298ucS2X9s56wZxpjgF0tgViZEt9mxWFvGkLRhAqZX2LF-2Bis6L-2Fs-3D).) The first book in the Bible is all about beginnings. *Bereshit* is the first Hebrew word in the book, translated into English as "in the beginning," which gives the book its name in the Jewish tradition. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek, the book was called *Genesis*, which means "origin," a name which continues to be used in our English Bibles. Genesis is the origin story for the entire spiritual adventure that follows. Soon after the creation of Adam and Eve, Genesis tells the story of the first sin and its punishment, followed by the story of the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Clearly, the book is interested in the origin of evil as well as in the origin of a good creation. Soon after, God "saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth," and God decided to "blot out from the earth the humans I have created." So God sent a great flood upon the earth. But since "Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD," he was spared in the ark, along with his family and a selection of animals. Afterward, God decided never again to destroy all life with the waters of a flood. > **Questions:** How do you see God acting through natural disasters today, if at all? When is God's judgment delivered through nature, if ever? What do you think people mean when they speak of "acts of God" (a term for natural events not caused by humans)? **Isaiah 43:2***When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.* (For context read [Isaiah 43:1-7](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx01q-2FDUFHyH4Q-2FNuCp9d7ZxS-2FEVlrA5hQmu8aCzcmfTC3zVg95oV87DdSKRbeolp6UXNl_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv6cxZbmKFsA5BcFlp0jZsDdzxbrYTtaDVkInUrFGclg-2FEw7Y4ukG1zYTwfgcKDgNO6-2BLDvGbKjhyuM7PRCgYRYEauJm-2F9taWPAe-2FFf9-2FJKJ4wRu7py9xwMPkp-2B15O7YdXs3zvW-2FIANXOcTvTwSWTklzsntQJIBhjMZOpCOqYg71-2Bve2DDx5-2BMs0o4kxJTLNt-2BSqfO-2FqYsqvOi8uQ-2FOE-2BG90-3D).) Passing through water was a dangerous trip for the people of Israel. They remembered how Noah had been saved from the flood by his journey on the ark, and how their ancestors had been delivered from captivity in Egypt by the parting of the Red Sea. For the Israelites, passage through water was not a pleasant cruise. No, it was an escape from death and enslavement. Fortunately, the Israelites were saved by the Lord who "created" and "formed" them (vv. 1, 7). The first seven verses of Isaiah 43 contain "the promise of salvation" -- so said Yale Divinity School professor Brevard Childs. "God not only created Israel but redeemed her." God called her by name and said, "you are mine" (v. 1). "Israel is promised God's special protection by the Holy One of Israel," said Childs. "I will be with you," said God; the waters "shall not overwhelm you." > **Questions:** When, if ever, have you felt God's special protection during a tumultuous time? What difference does it make that you have been created and formed by God, and promised that the waters "shall not overwhelm you"? How can you provide Christian assistance to another person facing a storm? **Matthew 8:26***And [Jesus] said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm.* (For context, read [Matthew 8:23-27](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxWtnvLLG9dM2F2UPA5PeWkgUIiHCa825dYIiC6WxYuHUm2ea3lJg-2Bjh5EnN987E-2B7sI9o_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv9j8nzUCPfoe-2ByRTvsg7VWIA3AMzZho5mPMIVVg4uUYh1al5FmADCsvxgAe0-2FDyZFDpo54DfTPqzb9QkdFKupEPZhMAYqvAdAp5nN9l-2FnV3l-2B2wz375H21DMgkWV-2FHJVVyG14hp5dWx8VbsiPdXgxJv6VRD0K-2BQn8l6w5hFk1dP7hYitsgFFWOe6Cg2W-2BEJucyaDGGnzHd3sVNdHdLoOWq4-3D).) In Matthew, the story of Jesus calming a storm comes soon after the Sermon on the Mount. He has impressed the crowds by teaching them "as one having authority and not as their scribes" (7:29). Then he cleanses a leper, heals a centurion's servant, and heals many at Peter's house. Jesus clearly has authority over anything that can threaten human life. It is interesting that these stories of power are followed by a brief account of Jesus encountering some would-be followers, one of whom asked to bury his father before becoming a disciple. Jesus lets him go on his way, presumably because the person does not have the faith to follow Jesus right away, and then Jesus gets into a boat with his disciples and takes a nap. They encounter a great windstorm, which terrifies the disciples. They wake him up, tell him that they are perishing, and he scolds them for having "little faith." Then he rebukes the wind, using his authority to control this dangerous force of nature. Jesus challenges all of his followers to have great faith in his power, if they want to be disciples. > **Questions:** How have you found faith to be an antidote to fear, if at all? In what difficult situations have you been challenged to put your trust in Jesus, and what was the result? How can the church help you to grow in faith? **John 6:19***When [the disciples] had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.* (For context, read [John 6:16-21](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEvZp63Db8p3rpicZZ5g42TeVU4QQgsWbNBlnfNwCDbKWRfb8eAH0OF6aPG57ErD5TjbG_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvxn4OCeGf3DcyVBIXvRyMv8i15dZ-2Fwu70w0H2n8-2BaRgbKoRlbMRag1jL2hJM-2BiWBRTM5eT9kmAkKOTh3x6Emltvh-2BA-2BR7HiyeEa-2FtGYdOVr6tOtGCP09zyhE1o3swRdg-2BBNiZuKCQ7FDy9kz5pSifWE8EF2zl6MAVouU-2B9HkStgSrwBhSiB52Jj25c6Pz4Fh8efoay5qbw-2BgPA6jC4fYq1U-3D).) After the feeding of the five thousand in John, the disciples go down to the Sea of Galilee, get into a boat, and start rowing across the sea to Capernaum. Figuring that Jesus wants some time to himself, they head across the water without him. The sky becomes dark, a strong wind begins to blow, and the sea becomes rough, making their progress difficult. After rowing about three or four miles, they see Jesus walking on the sea and coming near. The whole situation terrifies them: not only the wind and the waves, but the sight of Jesus walking on the water. Then, he says to them, "It is I; do not be afraid" (v. 20). As they are about to take him in, the boat reaches the land. Crisis averted. "It is I; do not be afraid." In our most terrifying times, Jesus is with us, offering us peace in the middle of the watery chaos. And the particular words that Jesus speaks to the disciples are both surprising and significant. In the original Greek, he does not actually say, "It is I." Instead, he says, "*I am*." Yes, he uses one of the most ancient names for God, the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Literally, Jesus says, "*I am*; do not be afraid." This means that Jesus is not acting on his own when he offers us peace. No, he is acting with the power of God, the great "I AM." > **Questions:** When, if ever, have you felt the peace of Christ in a terrifying situation? When, if ever, have you wanted this serenity but not received it? What difference does it make to you that Jesus identifies himself in this way:"I am; do not be afraid"? **For Further Discussion** 1. A cartoon titled "Weather forecasts in Bible times" shows a man in sandals pointing to a map and saying, "A warm front of biblical proportions will collide with a cold front of biblical proportions, causing a storm of biblical proportions." Why do you think severe weather is described as being of "biblical proportions"? How is this connected to God's power and influence, if at all? 2. TWW Team Member Mary M. Sells says that one of her favorite scripture stories is the one where the apostles are frightened during the storm on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus is asleep. She writes, "I was just on a cruise and one night there were strong winds and high seas. Contemplating this passage reassured me that Jesus trusts even when things seem chaotic because he knows heaven is real. Do we?" Discuss. 3. [*USA Today*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPE6my6VKsnwTfO8UtJsMZC4x7wstGWfNt49PfOQSGd7MOl4sUYjrW7vhUy2Jcf-2F9hIe2W1EEfjH0LQ09wTAhj-2FfXmU-2FGPv-2B0sk9E2i960oZ-2FuBTx_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvyjiB8tK9GKX6zM6KZEnImVdGqQwtKpofCmQ62jmy2OCWdiB-2FRqgdoL0gkbu-2FTd4sL85eB7RArahXR6cJ38gpYyzLNOEI-2Fa6o44hPGmttlHQDJpHnkk6ckWGYs9UlzW1XEL-2BIy5chVwX3-2FKBgtqP2XnVc1xaOypYngrm3f04nhulNDRrrsj6CWg3PGM0g3hOf1QrbKhJfGSuLd1GvX6VFg8-3D) [reports](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPE6my6VKsnwTfO8UtJsMZC4x7wstGWfNt49PfOQSGd7MOl4sUYjrW7vhUy2Jcf-2F9hIe2W1EEfjH0LQ09wTAhj-2FfXmU-2FGPv-2B0sk9E2i960oZ-2F0wkr_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv441GrLqbcmAOUJk-2BkvzB1JGzZNdWw-2F-2Fqq5Akf-2B32reJ-2B0jEZn5n7oN7amPBbbLm-2F7dbEZEqRY9-2FinM2p-2B1WQuZHlD7AqgTTszzKQEsTuMAsYJD4A86uMqDjhHDm-2BFcHgpZ8r8alZGHi1oO-2Fd4a47JeC3QTAy9cCDjOGQIp8v3O-2BMkbqFBeQcI19hOWTe4lxaiW76kqlb4nEBfBZrNeL-2B3k-3D) that with "the number of Helene's victims reaching at least 100 on Monday, the powerful storm that swept the Southeast and triggered epic rainfall has become one of the deadliest hurricanes to make landfall on the U.S. mainland in the modern era. ... Hundreds of people remain missing, and search and rescue operations were underway Monday in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, officials said. Trained teams are responding from across the country, said Diana Marty, overseeing search operations in Pinellas County, Florida, where at least nine deaths have been reported as a result of the historic storm surge Helene pushed in along the coast." What can you or your church do to help? 4. TWW Team Member Jim Berger survived Hurricane Ian in 2022. 149 people were confirmed to have died across Florida as a direct result of that hurricane, and many survivors remain traumatized today. He says, "I'm living in the midst of collective trauma, and Helene dredged up all the anxiety and terror again. I've been meeting with a trauma specialist since March. She referred me to EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). It enables the patient to remember the facts of the traumatic events without the emotional response. Now I can talk about it without fighting back tears [or] without a panic attack." Regarding Helene, Jim writes, "I thought nothing could be worse than Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Helene makes me worry this could be worse! And the bigger problem is what are we doing to address the root causes?" Discuss the root causes of these events, and the trauma they cause. **Responding to the News** Pray for the victims of Hurricane Helene and find a concrete way that you can support the recovery effort. **Prayer** God of all creation, we praise you for being with us through all the storms of life. May we put our faith in your Son Jesus, and find ways to serve brothers and sisters in need. In Jesus' name. Amen. ****Copyright 2024 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=yhhFUyxEj_dYoC1fWi4wepFe4vtH1FB0_9lVwCKt7LxoMDAwdTAwMKY517mObkaAwn0y7N7yxq_jSlQK6BHGDLxLiqmJTRv8eMcf6f4XCJoLXUfKtpVM22VVt9ZrYa2KasAKmb-tIiPkHDPBzKAQbgRXM9UquAjrBn0rDklrOMiMPnh1MxZA3Gnxd7MUj8CsDJS1ZP7reNUo2weS9Djl92UsI8NLgNGwLUbJGJvqBaYKNxkkb4JUnTYna0NxtfKtK8g5sz5qGy49Ge-pVu8MHjZgTuycfKIe36E7dKJ9pjiSv-Wo_4Zei6QN6hfSBlfxIDG0CpspaXHBOsff_eL-J_rDQC8K6TNbNp8zINhi829rmBW2HdzmcEpa2F787lBNQ7MFoVihZRVi3XNwv5Dcmid25nFU5u5lQo-16SiDuPTYJtpKVFnoZLeQ_pgwIo_GBUWTnqSHyjBIdJnfh1rw20KOtJtcjkdBDZpmNLn9iLI6BPpvjkVaiPFzJM6vLsqcv8W4aqzKpCUur4bhitbR7265LB2zZCfqn2S57UAl9IrMEI4evJ-sZ0o2P0EdLRASOz74jx_cPTai4BLN6opahwgkn1jjHm-vc797SCOhYjeVXXeHka9yT8irgKknXNGKBpbExBHLFnY=) <div>Dear Class Members, Prayers have been offered across the country for people impacted by Hurricane Helene, a storm that created a 500-mile path of destruction and left at least 160 people dead. Because this hurricane has caused what some are calling "biblical devastation," this installment of The Wired Word will focus on natural disasters, Christian responses to suffering, and where God is present in the storms of life. <center><img alt="" src="https://www.thewiredword.com/\_img/tww\_logo\_email.jpg"/></center> Hurricane Helene Causes "Biblical Devastation" The Wired Word for the Week of October 6, 2024 In the News Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday, September 26, as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida's Big Bend region, blasting the area with 140 mph winds. "I've never seen so many people homeless as what I have right now," said Janalea England to the Associated Press. In Steinhatchee, Florida, she turned her commercial fish market into a storm donation site for friends and neighbors. The rural Big Bend region had gone years without taking a direct hit from a hurricane. But after Idalia and two other storms in the past two years, the people of the area are beginning to feel vulnerable. "It's bringing everybody to reality about what this is now with disasters," said John Berg, a resident of Steinhatchee. According to meteorologists, Hurricane Helene weakened to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved north, but it continued to dump enormous amounts of rain throughout the Southeast. In Atlanta, over 11 inches fell over the course of 48 hours, the most the city has seen over two days since record keeping began in 1878. The National Weather Service reported that the peak total in western North Carolina was 29.58 inches, in a town about 24 miles northeast of Asheville. Many communities across eastern Tennessee were still underwater as of Sunday. The remnants of Helene caused rivers to rise to record levels, forcing evacuations. Local schools were closed, including Carter County Schools which will likely be closed "for an indefinite period of time," county spokesperson Ivan Sanders said to USA Today. Destruction from the storm impacted the entire region, from big cities to small towns. Atlanta experienced its first flash flood emergency in history, as Mayor Andre Dickens begged residents to stay off the roads. In little Canton, North Carolina, located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the mayor of the town described the scene as "apocalyptic." According to The Washington Post, a couple named Beverly and Baxter Eller had lived in the same house in Swannanoa, North Carolina, for 37 years, and it had never flooded. But when Helene tore through the region, water from the raging Swannanoa River rose to the point where it reached their front yard. They fled with neighbors to the safety of a Baptist church up the hill. When they returned on Saturday afternoon, they found that their home had been completely destroyed. "We haven't cried yet," said 68-year-old Beverly Eller, as she sat with her husband and their dog in the Toyota that is now their home. Their other car, a Chevrolet SUV, was lost in the flood. "We are just in survival mode." At that point, the Ellers had not heard from their son, who lives in nearby Weaverville. "We don't know if our son is alive, and he doesn't know if we are alive." The couple planned to stay in their car parked near a shelter for the night. Residents of other North Carolina towns are struggling as well, as they face the loss of homes that have been lifted from their foundations by floodwaters. Across the region, landslides and swollen rivers have destroyed the roads that provided access to small communities. Entire neighborhoods have been flooded or wiped away. Dams have been pushed to the brink, causing residents to flee to higher ground. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said that "all roads" in the western part of the state "should be considered closed." Avril Pinder, the manager of Buncombe County, which includes the city of Asheville, described the storm as the county's "own Hurricane Katrina." Hurricane-force winds have knocked down power lines and cell towers, leaving more than 700,000 residents without electricity or cell service in North Carolina alone. Victims of the hurricane are trying to locate missing relatives via social media, and rescuers are struggling to respond to the high volume of emergency calls. "We have biblical devastation through the county," said Ryan Cole, Buncombe County's assistant emergency services director. "We have biblical flooding here." Emergency responders in the county initially conducted more than 150 rescues. County officials set up shelters and water distribution sites, and directed people to a center that provides help in finding loved ones. Initial reports indicated that at least 49 people had been killed in five states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Then deaths were reported in Tennessee, and the loss of life in North Carolina surpassed 70. The toll of the storm continued to rise, and by Wednesday at least 160 deaths were reported in the six states. Relief efforts have been broad, coming from individuals (including at least one person using his own helicopter to assist), nonprofit groups, local and state governments and the federal government. On Saturday, September 28, President Biden said that he was being briefed on recovery efforts and had dispatched FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to survey the damage across the Southeast. "The road to recovery will be long," Biden said. "We will make certain that no resource is spared to ensure that families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and entire communities can quickly begin their road to rebuilding." More on this story can be found at these links: <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPPYWp9ZUOA0v8hTdf07XO-2FAMF8zyTt9MeqvSW7Eib8UX3hji\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv23Ww6yvIEDYCMpqy1o8Ox-2FU5r-2Fq90i8xEdEGCCr2Hc0SNuvkzPa59pY708mWoW5HJGP9LSp-2F2MhuBL96Brg6cgAdAj5eupJ4VOl44f1pWVxYdY-2BPZDBV7wqtqxOomZnoDgupKq7CuJDR3jfIpDuSfWAr9Pq2tbYNlj2FWMt0ScZ2s3Dzw2DNrbfAAkJaKeX-2B-2BcbJlzJ1WNgj1S5NBtQ1w8-3D">At Least 64 Dead and Millions Without Power After Helene's Deadly March Across the Southeast. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPPYWp9ZUOA0v8hTdf07XO-2FAMF8zyTt9MeqvSW7Eib8UXfZge\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvy9VV5DbNxtOqhXk-2F9-2Fn88q7FoK7sPW4c-2FWIeuhdEnLwqGFAq6TvgPw26KTYwG5tppWIJJQKBvpHP18crKftu79ZyJuSsF6d-2FfpgvWJbQTelzx-2FPPd5ohEwRz38Lzcje-2FMTWxZsPsqZ6HIpThKV0Jq9rg0xa48XCOAsi32rIjDU7jof9TRWraAK8-2BHtRNYX9lz3vLuqe8Wpf-2Fjz91f7Qvgk-3D">Associated Press</a> '<a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0Vy2uOebSwUqr-2Bn5EasgzStoBVKbRZIAu4SVkv29baxhGfeexTi50zRz2HfGlxMrRRWI1Rd2ODmj3E9wAZ3ZGAPHn5xxspMBPHpFN6-2FusNhTQ-3D-3DcMDB\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv42VUE9InqxinysSHh1fQeJVf72GShsKavufaRAM92JE3QLH7s0WAvayopVHQ3Oohl1PwWMYHi-2BPuVghst5YCntkodI3bvyUhgaauDrpa0ZLyB2PfM38cQuy-2FdflwKwsEhk8THkms-2F4nc49quJevRRqnJJrc5DRwnPBciVHXM231y0J1qSQvusMSoAsHIwX6KrluxFLPL-2FNEIPzRRNaZv-2BI-3D">Biblical Devastation' in North Carolina Towns Flooded by Helene. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0Vy2uOebSwUqr-2Bn5EasgzStoBVKbRZIAu4SVkv29baxhGfeexTi50zRz2HfGlxMrRRWI1Rd2ODmj3E9wAZ3ZGAPHn5xxspMBPHpFN6-2FusNhTQ-3D-3DPOKo\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv3o0W8mIcWZp8QJdu29O-2FZuWH-2FkFx2jHLYN4TRtavtFNTjsEJGtS4Ib2uL-2FltccYFZOIwbj-2FZsIpZGYmMzY2biqmxGRwwNQOIEv51lmZ6TbZPgsJz42saIkPEIWu18fVoU14m-2BvRJpmt-2Brd7QHNSQakl5HAmMAb65E8UTucUYhcTWS-2FH2zovkjvlBE6uSpXzhU58ANsKFiCjdMZiprFVlWE-3D">The Washington Post</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DBv4b31J1wi3JRJUorxrPpcMjMEiwB7H2KuZrGFfnUlPlKLpkJygXcr7RukXWmEzSGrVtS-2B18ruEMSmzJ-2FcCGhQlRBTPs-2Fdz7Ajfh66YQJCyQ-3D-3DV7Lj\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvyQl3rs4mT473RZF-2BxfhLWOIO8PqQfl5ScieP-2BsuOGA1SPJJ2jl-2FMifBN0TrUE5XEYKRuap7fjj0JL0aeOb0CWRFjlYjJh5yKtjhBnP7wVee7TX9oU48SENLDraQfeCM3ujiJjFzJ8V-2FINj4CyBRyHYVoD6sPd9oqF3ifDedPx889DcdKFX1JxWDUnVYXjso6HPU5V33CBuLwF3lhEfZAeE-3D">Helene Leaves 'Biblical Devastation' as Death Toll Climbs to 90: Updates. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DBv4b31J1wi3JRJUorxrPpcMjMEiwB7H2KuZrGFfnUlPlKLpkJygXcr7RukXWmEzSGrVtS-2B18ruEMSmzJ-2FcCGhQlRBTPs-2Fdz7Ajfh66YQJCyQ-3D-3DybyV\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvzXHILTGl4nchwrLElbuNGvNrxXdxhYoehfiYI8ZrK5JKrAawgWSUiqxT42BV7PD7UT-2FwBlOiduMFleTt7ehf7b0jDN5hApdum3qVLGZoylj28QYqgxpmlrrR31P1kbFbWvd7ta-2FrMyc7uJDysFNwKv3DKoSn1xonlx1kmYfIpgAGO1mWTQVaTn-2Fpl0zMQYAcABX50Mkg8Ui0j2KgtfrHgY-3D">USA Today</a> Applying the News Story Use this story to guide your discussion of natural disasters, Christian responses to pain and suffering, and where God is present in the storms of life. The Big Questions 1. When have you suffered through a natural disaster, if ever? What did the experience feel like, and what did you learn? 2. Why have people used the terms "biblical devastation" and "biblical flooding" in association with Hurricane Helene? What is biblical about this destruction, if anything? 3. How should Christians respond to pain and suffering, after natural disasters or human-caused calamities? When have you offered aid, or received aid? 4. Where is God present in the storms of life, both weather events and personal crises? What kind of aid does God offer? When, if ever, have you wanted something else? 5. What kind of assistance does the church offer victims of natural disasters? When, if ever, have you given or received such aid? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: Genesis 6:5-8 The LORD saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out from the earth the humans I have created -- people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air -- for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNfriptk4-2B8l41Jz9-2Br5EVz5pa2h1anYepKM5KHz8VjxazXJg\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv9WeVd-2BktFStw7Wv-2Fv5djs88v-2B-2BVazDEJk7HCvGU1w8mjR08hi-2BrzitoNl3iG874eFlJ-2F5D-2Bs1Y9kHvfIDGZsqLDtvYwAjfgOFlKiqYV7z3-2F5vCFt5vylsANAHA4JxSAlXWNiuC6CFUSeCG0jaq2lBM4thPAdMhwn94298ucS2X9s56wZxpjgF0tgViZEt9mxWFvGkLRhAqZX2LF-2Bis6L-2Fs-3D">Genesis 6:1-8</a>.) The first book in the Bible is all about beginnings. Bereshit is the first Hebrew word in the book, translated into English as "in the beginning," which gives the book its name in the Jewish tradition. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek, the book was called Genesis, which means "origin," a name which continues to be used in our English Bibles. Genesis is the origin story for the entire spiritual adventure that follows. Soon after the creation of Adam and Eve, Genesis tells the story of the first sin and its punishment, followed by the story of the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Clearly, the book is interested in the origin of evil as well as in the origin of a good creation. Soon after, God "saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth," and God decided to "blot out from the earth the humans I have created." So God sent a great flood upon the earth. But since "Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD," he was spared in the ark, along with his family and a selection of animals. Afterward, God decided never again to destroy all life with the waters of a flood. <blockquote> Questions: How do you see God acting through natural disasters today, if at all? When is God's judgment delivered through nature, if ever? What do you think people mean when they speak of "acts of God" (a term for natural events not caused by humans)? </blockquote> Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (For context read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx01q-2FDUFHyH4Q-2FNuCp9d7ZxS-2FEVlrA5hQmu8aCzcmfTC3zVg95oV87DdSKRbeolp6UXNl\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv6cxZbmKFsA5BcFlp0jZsDdzxbrYTtaDVkInUrFGclg-2FEw7Y4ukG1zYTwfgcKDgNO6-2BLDvGbKjhyuM7PRCgYRYEauJm-2F9taWPAe-2FFf9-2FJKJ4wRu7py9xwMPkp-2B15O7YdXs3zvW-2FIANXOcTvTwSWTklzsntQJIBhjMZOpCOqYg71-2Bve2DDx5-2BMs0o4kxJTLNt-2BSqfO-2FqYsqvOi8uQ-2FOE-2BG90-3D">Isaiah 43:1-7</a>.) Passing through water was a dangerous trip for the people of Israel. They remembered how Noah had been saved from the flood by his journey on the ark, and how their ancestors had been delivered from captivity in Egypt by the parting of the Red Sea. For the Israelites, passage through water was not a pleasant cruise. No, it was an escape from death and enslavement. Fortunately, the Israelites were saved by the Lord who "created" and "formed" them (vv. 1, 7). The first seven verses of Isaiah 43 contain "the promise of salvation" -- so said Yale Divinity School professor Brevard Childs. "God not only created Israel but redeemed her." God called her by name and said, "you are mine" (v. 1). "Israel is promised God's special protection by the Holy One of Israel," said Childs. "I will be with you," said God; the waters "shall not overwhelm you." <blockquote> Questions: When, if ever, have you felt God's special protection during a tumultuous time? What difference does it make that you have been created and formed by God, and promised that the waters "shall not overwhelm you"? How can you provide Christian assistance to another person facing a storm? </blockquote> Matthew 8:26 And [Jesus] said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxWtnvLLG9dM2F2UPA5PeWkgUIiHCa825dYIiC6WxYuHUm2ea3lJg-2Bjh5EnN987E-2B7sI9o\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv9j8nzUCPfoe-2ByRTvsg7VWIA3AMzZho5mPMIVVg4uUYh1al5FmADCsvxgAe0-2FDyZFDpo54DfTPqzb9QkdFKupEPZhMAYqvAdAp5nN9l-2FnV3l-2B2wz375H21DMgkWV-2FHJVVyG14hp5dWx8VbsiPdXgxJv6VRD0K-2BQn8l6w5hFk1dP7hYitsgFFWOe6Cg2W-2BEJucyaDGGnzHd3sVNdHdLoOWq4-3D">Matthew 8:23-27</a>.) In Matthew, the story of Jesus calming a storm comes soon after the Sermon on the Mount. He has impressed the crowds by teaching them "as one having authority and not as their scribes" (7:29). Then he cleanses a leper, heals a centurion's servant, and heals many at Peter's house. Jesus clearly has authority over anything that can threaten human life. It is interesting that these stories of power are followed by a brief account of Jesus encountering some would-be followers, one of whom asked to bury his father before becoming a disciple. Jesus lets him go on his way, presumably because the person does not have the faith to follow Jesus right away, and then Jesus gets into a boat with his disciples and takes a nap. They encounter a great windstorm, which terrifies the disciples. They wake him up, tell him that they are perishing, and he scolds them for having "little faith." Then he rebukes the wind, using his authority to control this dangerous force of nature. Jesus challenges all of his followers to have great faith in his power, if they want to be disciples. <blockquote> Questions: How have you found faith to be an antidote to fear, if at all? In what difficult situations have you been challenged to put your trust in Jesus, and what was the result? How can the church help you to grow in faith? </blockquote> John 6:19 When [the disciples] had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEvZp63Db8p3rpicZZ5g42TeVU4QQgsWbNBlnfNwCDbKWRfb8eAH0OF6aPG57ErD5TjbG\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvxn4OCeGf3DcyVBIXvRyMv8i15dZ-2Fwu70w0H2n8-2BaRgbKoRlbMRag1jL2hJM-2BiWBRTM5eT9kmAkKOTh3x6Emltvh-2BA-2BR7HiyeEa-2FtGYdOVr6tOtGCP09zyhE1o3swRdg-2BBNiZuKCQ7FDy9kz5pSifWE8EF2zl6MAVouU-2B9HkStgSrwBhSiB52Jj25c6Pz4Fh8efoay5qbw-2BgPA6jC4fYq1U-3D">John 6:16-21</a>.) After the feeding of the five thousand in John, the disciples go down to the Sea of Galilee, get into a boat, and start rowing across the sea to Capernaum. Figuring that Jesus wants some time to himself, they head across the water without him. The sky becomes dark, a strong wind begins to blow, and the sea becomes rough, making their progress difficult. After rowing about three or four miles, they see Jesus walking on the sea and coming near. The whole situation terrifies them: not only the wind and the waves, but the sight of Jesus walking on the water. Then, he says to them, "It is I; do not be afraid" (v. 20). As they are about to take him in, the boat reaches the land. Crisis averted. "It is I; do not be afraid." In our most terrifying times, Jesus is with us, offering us peace in the middle of the watery chaos. And the particular words that Jesus speaks to the disciples are both surprising and significant. In the original Greek, he does not actually say, "It is I." Instead, he says, "I am." Yes, he uses one of the most ancient names for God, the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Literally, Jesus says, "I am; do not be afraid." This means that Jesus is not acting on his own when he offers us peace. No, he is acting with the power of God, the great "I AM." <blockquote> Questions: When, if ever, have you felt the peace of Christ in a terrifying situation? When, if ever, have you wanted this serenity but not received it? What difference does it make to you that Jesus identifies himself in this way:"I am; do not be afraid"? </blockquote> For Further Discussion 1. A cartoon titled "Weather forecasts in Bible times" shows a man in sandals pointing to a map and saying, "A warm front of biblical proportions will collide with a cold front of biblical proportions, causing a storm of biblical proportions." Why do you think severe weather is described as being of "biblical proportions"? How is this connected to God's power and influence, if at all? 2. TWW Team Member Mary M. Sells says that one of her favorite scripture stories is the one where the apostles are frightened during the storm on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus is asleep. She writes, "I was just on a cruise and one night there were strong winds and high seas. Contemplating this passage reassured me that Jesus trusts even when things seem chaotic because he knows heaven is real. Do we?" Discuss. 3. <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPE6my6VKsnwTfO8UtJsMZC4x7wstGWfNt49PfOQSGd7MOl4sUYjrW7vhUy2Jcf-2F9hIe2W1EEfjH0LQ09wTAhj-2FfXmU-2FGPv-2B0sk9E2i960oZ-2FuBTx\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrvyjiB8tK9GKX6zM6KZEnImVdGqQwtKpofCmQ62jmy2OCWdiB-2FRqgdoL0gkbu-2FTd4sL85eB7RArahXR6cJ38gpYyzLNOEI-2Fa6o44hPGmttlHQDJpHnkk6ckWGYs9UlzW1XEL-2BIy5chVwX3-2FKBgtqP2XnVc1xaOypYngrm3f04nhulNDRrrsj6CWg3PGM0g3hOf1QrbKhJfGSuLd1GvX6VFg8-3D">USA Today</a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPE6my6VKsnwTfO8UtJsMZC4x7wstGWfNt49PfOQSGd7MOl4sUYjrW7vhUy2Jcf-2F9hIe2W1EEfjH0LQ09wTAhj-2FfXmU-2FGPv-2B0sk9E2i960oZ-2F0wkr\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcwCRbNkrOa68G9cxNIfaZxyyCEwve9j-2FXVzQ4fBEJciI3N42ctqVwJCq8BBUTkrv441GrLqbcmAOUJk-2BkvzB1JGzZNdWw-2F-2Fqq5Akf-2B32reJ-2B0jEZn5n7oN7amPBbbLm-2F7dbEZEqRY9-2FinM2p-2B1WQuZHlD7AqgTTszzKQEsTuMAsYJD4A86uMqDjhHDm-2BFcHgpZ8r8alZGHi1oO-2Fd4a47JeC3QTAy9cCDjOGQIp8v3O-2BMkbqFBeQcI19hOWTe4lxaiW76kqlb4nEBfBZrNeL-2B3k-3D"> reports</a> that with "the number of Helene's victims reaching at least 100 on Monday, the powerful storm that swept the Southeast and triggered epic rainfall has become one of the deadliest hurricanes to make landfall on the U.S. mainland in the modern era. ... Hundreds of people remain missing, and search and rescue operations were underway Monday in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, officials said. Trained teams are responding from across the country, said Diana Marty, overseeing search operations in Pinellas County, Florida, where at least nine deaths have been reported as a result of the historic storm surge Helene pushed in along the coast." What can you or your church do to help? 4. TWW Team Member Jim Berger survived Hurricane Ian in 2022. 149 people were confirmed to have died across Florida as a direct result of that hurricane, and many survivors remain traumatized today. He says, "I'm living in the midst of collective trauma, and Helene dredged up all the anxiety and terror again. I've been meeting with a trauma specialist since March. She referred me to EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). It enables the patient to remember the facts of the traumatic events without the emotional response. Now I can talk about it without fighting back tears [or] without a panic attack." Regarding Helene, Jim writes, "I thought nothing could be worse than Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Helene makes me worry this could be worse! And the bigger problem is what are we doing to address the root causes?" Discuss the root causes of these events, and the trauma they cause. Responding to the News Pray for the victims of Hurricane Helene and find a concrete way that you can support the recovery effort. Prayer God of all creation, we praise you for being with us through all the storms of life. May we put our faith in your Son Jesus, and find ways to serve brothers and sisters in need. In Jesus' name. Amen. 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