Lightning and Thunder

The power of lightning flashing and roaring thunder fascinate me. One morning while enjoying an early morning sleep a flash of lightning lit up the bedroom. I saw the flash with closed eyes. Suddenly thunder loud and long shook the house rattling the windows. It seemed to roll forever. An awesome way to start the morning.

I was carrying a friend to Montgomery when a large thunderhead cloud covered Interstate 65. I smiled as a beautiful streak of lightning lit up the southern sky. It was a stunning display of raw power. My friend, from Baltimore City, Maryland, shook in fear. She was not used to the violent thunderstorms of Alabama.

One of my history professors from the University of Montevallo explained that the mentality of most Southern gentlemen is like that of a thunderstorm. Long dry and hot days the earth stores the energy of the sun. The energy builds and builds with each passing day. When a cold front approaches, the earth releases the stored energy. The longer the storage the more violent the storm. Dr. Fuller, the professor said that Southern men are easy going until pushed too far, then they explode like a violent thunderstorm.

The morning after the storm passes, the Alabama sky is a clear and beautiful blue. The air is cooler and everything turns green and starts to renew what was dry and almost dead. These things are what makes Spring my favorite time of the year.

Lighting storms cause destruction too. Power outages can last for days, and the impatience of power customers grows exponentially. Winds, hail, and rain can wreak havoc on property. Storms can ruin springtime events, like Resurrection Sunday.

Maudy Thursday and Good Friday remind us of prelude of one of the greatest storms in history. As Jesus celebrated His last supper with his disciples, sin began to manifest Satan’s evil plot. Through the centuries before the Resurrection, evil battled God, and His people. Everything imaginable confronted the men and women of God. The events of Calvary went deeper than a hand full of disciples shaken from their belief. The climax of their last days with Jesus was one of sin. That great moment when God walked among them the disciples allowed sin to dominate their thoughts, their actions, and their ministries. Their dreams and ambitions ended in defeat and just beyond them the unseen world of evil rallied in victory. The lie defeated the truth and Truth lay in a cold dark tomb bound by rags and smothered by perfume and burial spices.

While those who loved the Lord wept with hurt, mourned with regret, and cried in anger, the forces of darkness danced, drank, and celebrated victory. Finally evil could do what they wanted and there would be no accountability, no repercussions, and no judgment. The powers of darkness with every unimaginable display of sinful prejudice, partying, and pure filth celebrated. Satan and his legions of demonic prodigies had slain the Incarnate, Eternal God.

As the storm raged from Friday night through the events at Calvary, believers wept with the heartbreaking events flooding their thoughts and being. Suddenly the Son flashed as lightning and the thunder rolled, darkness scurried away, and evil cleared its throat, as hearts ached, eyes cried, and hands trembled waiting for the break of day, Truth broke the power of evil. Satan, his evil crew, and groupies faced the risen Savior knowing their future was the eternal abyss.

The words of Matthew ring in our hearts and ears.

 “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” Matthew 28:6 KJV

Until Resurrection morning, sin and sickness dominated life robbing it of joy. Sin, sickness, and sadness are realities of life until the Lord returns. One day Jesus is coming to take believers out of this heartbreaking world of sin, sickness, and sadness. Until He does, believers have the help of the Holy Spirit. Until He comes, believers have the assurance and the prayers of other believers to help. Our salvation is commitment to Christ and His Church. Because He lives we live in hope.

Resurrection Sunday is a great day for the church. It is the largest day of attendance for most churches, but that is not the reason for its greatness. It is great because it is the day we celebrate the victory over death. For believers it is a reality every day.

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"Daddy's Hands"

One afternoon, thunderstorms surrounded Linden as I started a fire to do some grilling.  I love the sound of rolling thunder and the awesome beauty of lightning.  It is a pungent display of what I imagine as minute exhibition of God’s heavenly power.  I always imagine Moses on Mt Hebron when I see those vigorous clouds churning in the heavens above.  I also think of the Second Coming of our Lord.

As the lightning grew intense, I realized that just about the time that the fire was perfect for grilling,  I might become a lightning rod and I would be grilled.  A grill underneath big oak trees is not the ideal place to be when lightning is imminent.

The ground trembled as lighting created a brilliant streak just beyond Linden Baptist.  It was spectacular.  The next day, my neighbor said he saw the same flash of lightning.  He said the lightning hit with a burst of fire and smoke.

Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder and the rain started to fall.  I told my son Aaron to get a couple of umbrellas and to bring the meat.  I covered the bed of coals and the meat with a piece of tin as the rain intensified.  Lightning continued to dance around Linden.  I told Aaron that he might need to go inside and out of the lightning.  I told him it would be better if the newspaper read “MAN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING,” rather than “FATHER AND SON STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.”  He worried more about objects falling from the tree on the meat than lightning striking us.

As the lightning subsided, the rain got harder.  I told Aaron that it reminded me of the night my dad and I set a pole for an electrical service for a house I was about to build. 

To have an electrical power source for contractors, the power company required that I have an electrical box with a disconnect switch mounted on plywood on a pole.  My dad told me he would help me put it up when we got in from work.  We did not know when we started that there would be a thunderstorm while we were setting the pole.

We had just tamped the pole into place when the thunderstorm erupted.  Lightning was popping in the area and the rain started to fall.  People who are experts, you know how experts are; remind us if one can hear thunder, one can be hit by lightning.  Well, the thunder was pretty loud and close.  Just about the time daddy started screwing the electrical control box on the plywood, it started to rain harder.  I can still see daddy’s big hands holding the screwdriver and twisting the screws in the back of the box into the plywood.  As usual, I was holding something for daddy.  This usually meant that he would say, “Hold it still son.”  I had to hold it still regardless of how uncomfortable, awkward, cold, or hot the object or I were.  I miss those days with dad, but relive them with Aaron.  Now, Aaron holds for me although sometimes I hold for Aaron.  He is so much like dad, a man whom he has never met.

Bad weather terrified momma, but bad weather did not bother daddy.  Daddy taught us to respect the weather, but never to fear it.  Daddy loved to hear the thunder and see the lightning.  He reminded us that it was a sign of how powerful God is.  He would say when God got ready for you, it did not matter where you were or what you were doing, it was your time.  Momma agreed, but reminded him not to tempt the Lord and that God gave him enough sense to take cover when it stormed.  So, when it stormed, momma went to hide and daddy and the boys went outside to watch.

I think we were all anticipating the Lord wiping back the thunderstorms and opening a beautiful blue sky as He did when the disciples were in one of those violent thunderstorms on the Sea of Galilee.  There is also a calming effect when a child sees courage in his dad.  Dad did know when to make us go inside if he thought we might be injured.  I do not know if momma knew it or not, but dad would say that we were not to tempt the Lord and that the Lord gave us a head to think.

I thank God that He gave me a dad who acknowledged the awesome power of God in thunder and lightning.  Dad also acknowledged the greatest power is the power of salvation.  HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook (Psalm 77:18 KJV).

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:27 KJV)