Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 7 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Writer ponders timing of last week’s tornado
Published 10:57 a.m., August 25, 2009
The Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA met in Minneapolis at the Convention Center last week and made national news when, after years of study and discussion, they voted the liberal choice on the homosexuality-as-clergy issue.
But there is another story from the Assembly that did not reach the national news: A small tornado touched downtown Minneapolis on August 19 during those discussions. It struck across the street from the Convention Center at Central Lutheran Church where some of the Assembly meetings were held. Funny thing though, the wind only lasted a short time and hit the very top of the steeple, toppling the 800 lb. sold brass cross. There the cross dangled precariously from one corner.
This cross had been on that historic steeple for eighty years according to the church's website. Since 1929 it had been lowered only once for cleaning. You can read about it and see the pictures on the church's webpage. Other than the toppled cross, the wind only disturbed a few shingles and some flashing. No bricks were strewn, no stained glass windows were broken, only the cross was torn from most of its moorings.
The article on the website dismissed the wind saying it "did only minor damage" and "injured no one." But don't you wonder at the timing? It happened exactly when the discussions were going on. Surely God wouldn't show His displeasure at the Assembly by using wind. Or would He?
Monica Stutsman
A former ELCA member
Vergas
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on August 25, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if God was pissed he would have taken out the Convention Center.
Posted by Callie25 (anonymous) on August 25, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give me a break.
Posted by Viking1 (anonymous) on August 25, 2009 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rodent you indeed think like a rodent!! red, well I just don't know about you but, I have faith that with some work you will turn out okay!
Posted by sugarmama (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Monica for your letter and thank you for standing strong to what the Bible teaches. The members of the ELCA will now have to vote with their feet. Are they willing to belong to a church that endorses sin?
Posted by AmyO (anonymous) on August 31, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey guess what? The storm also blew out and damaged several skyway windows, blew out several windows in a record store just south of downtown, and uprooted quite a few trees in people's front yards in south Minneapolis dropping them on top of their houses. If God really sent this storm to punish the ELCA for having this stupid meeting at the Convention Center, then he really needs to work on his aim. Love the Pat Robertson thought rip-off though!
Posted by brunzee (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm ... the Fergus Falls city council decided to back off on the RTC project timeline on a Monday evening; the RTC tower was hit by a lightning bolt the next day and burst into flames. And isn't the Fergus Falls tornado (which supposedly destroyed all the churches in town except one) still a record holder? But reason AND the New Testament gospels (the birth, life, lessons, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) dispel the notion of a vengeful God zapping us from up in the clouds. I believe the man who washed feet, ate with tax collectors, and promised eternal life in paradise to a thief on a cross would advise us to love one another and withhold judgement on the ELCA ... AND the believers it seeks to serve.
Posted by battlelake102 (anonymous) on September 24, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A million monkeys typing gibberish will occasionally type something sensible, that is the same reason that weather sometimes appears directive, its not. Its coincidence nothing more, there has never in history been a single demonstration in a scientifically controlled setting of any supernatural power of any kind. There has not, nor ever will be any physical "proof" of a deity. The universe is indifferent to human activity, the ELCA could vote to allow only pastors in clown suits to preach and it could not effect the flight of even one insect, let alone a tornado. A billion hands clasped in prayer do not have the power of one hand reached out to help another person.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)
You may also register to comment in our forums at www.fergusfeedback.com.