
11 minute read
WEATHERING THE TORNADOS
Faith not to command the winds but to endure them
Maybe I don’t have enough faith. Maybe if I just claimed my spiritual authority, I could do more good. After all, I am a pastor; I’m somehow supposed to be closer to the secret powers of the universe than mere mortals. I mean, what good is ordination if you can’t pray away the bad and pray in the good?
My golfing partners sometimes chide me for not using my powers to chase away the rain when it threatens our game. My standard response: “I’m in sales, not management.” I can’t control the weather; I can only weather it like everyone else.
Apparently, a Rowlett woman doesn’t share my reticence. On the night the illfated tornadoes hit just east of Dallas this past Dec. 26, she says she took charge of the storm in the name of God.
“We actually went outside and started commanding the winds, because God had given us authority over the winds, the airways. And we just began to command this storm not to hit our area. We spoke to the storm and said, ‘Go to unpopulated places.’ It did exactly what we said to do, because God gave us the authority to do that.”
Well, not exactly. The storm didn’t hit her house, but it didn’t miss populated areas altogether. It killed 12 people and damaged more than 1,000 buildings, including churches, by the way. So, the authority of all that spiritual command and control failed, unless it was only meant to divert the deadly funnel from her neighborhood.
But what of the claim that God has given us authority over the winds? It surely comes from the story in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus was on a boat out on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples when a sudden squall kicked up the waters and threatened to capsize them. Jesus was awakened from his nap by scared followers and commanded the winds and the waves “Peace, be still.” And they were stilled. Then Jesus questioned the fear of the disciples and urged more faith instead.
Somehow, the weather-commanding woman took that to mean that God had given her the same powers as Jesus to direct the storm. If she had enough faith, she could tap into the power of heaven in order to bring peace on earth.
Let’s give her credit for wanting to maximize the power of faith and for wanting to divert the storm to unpopulated areas. These are not unholy impulses. But we ought to question the spiritual premise of whether one’s faith, if great enough, might grant such power over nature.
God is not a wonder worker waiting for us to say the magic words in order to break open the divine box of tricks to astound or advantage us. The day before the storm we celebrated Christmas, which recalls God becoming one of us and thus being subject to all the whims of winds and woes that we are. The Lord of nature took on the harness of nature in order to heal it from within, not in order to harness it for special privileges by the faithful.
Which leads to the question: What’s faith for, then?
Faith is not the power to command the world to serve our interest; it is the power to serve the interest of the world — whether the weather brings chaos or calm.
Young philanthropists
A group of middle school students at the Episcopal School of Dallas recently donated $400 to The Stewpot, a local charity dedicated to providing meals to the homeless. They acquired the funds by winning a school-sponsored T-shirt decorating contest. The kids painstakingly researched several non-profits before deciding on a charity.
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AT ODDS WITH YOUR COMPUTER? Easily Learn Essential Skills. Services include Digital Photo Help. Sharon 214-679-9688
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Real troopers
After learning about the devastating effects of malnutrition, Lamplighter Junior Girl Scout Troop 4904 pledged to do its part to help the hungry in the Dallas area. So far, the young ladies have delivered 85 meals to those in need via Meals on Wheels, collected 227 pounds of food for the North Texas Food Bank and helped the Lamplighter Parents’ Association make sandwiches for Family Gateway. According to Girl Scout member Bennett Trubey, the troop plans to sell oodles of cookies and use the collected money “to further alleviate hunger in our community.”

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In-Home Professional Care Customized to maintain your pet’s routine In-Home Pet Visits & Daily Walks “Best of Dallas” D Magazine Serving the Dallas area since 1994 Bonded & Insured www.societypetsitter.com 214-821-3900
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TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658
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FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645
THE TEXAN FLOORING SERVICES
Wood, Laminate. Remodel Showers, Bathrooms. thetexanflooringservices.com 214-680-0901
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EAST DALLAS WINDOW CLEANING Power Wash. Free Est. Dependable. Derek. 214-360-0120
LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160
ROCK GLASS CO Replace, repair: windows, mirrors, showers, screens. 214-837-7829
Handyman Services
A R&G HANDYMAN Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Fencing, Roofing, Light Hauling. Ron or Gary 214-861-7569, 469-878-8044
ALL STAR HOME CARE Carpentry, Glass, Tile, Paint, Doors, Sheetrock Repair, and more. 25 yrs. exp. References. Derry 214-505-4830
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628
Handyman Services
HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635
HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606
HONEST, SKILLED SERVICE With a Smile. General Repairs/ Maintenance. 214-215-2582
WANTED: ODD JOBS & TO DO LISTS Allen’s Handyman & Home Repair 214-288-4232
Your Home Repair Specialists
Drywall Doors Senior Safety Carpentry Small & Odd Jobs And More! 972-308-6035 HandymanMatters.com/dallas Bonded & Insured.
Home Inspection
KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT
MELROSE TILE James Sr., Installer, Repairs. 40 Yrs. Exp. MelroseTile.com 214-384-6746
STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS Granite, Marble, Tile, Kitchen/Bath Remodels. 972-276-9943.stoneage.dennis@verizon.net
TK REMODELING 972-533-2872
Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
TOM HOLT TILE 30 Yrs Experience In Tile, Backsplashes & Floors. Refs. Avail. 214-770-3444
LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES
A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 12 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925
AYALA’S LANDSCAPING Firewood for Sale! Call the Land Expert Today! Insured. 214-773-4781
CHUPIK TREE SERVICE
Trim, Remove, Stump Grind. Free Est. Insured. 214-823-6463
DALLAS GROUNDSKEEPER Comprehensive services designed to meet your needs. 214-504-6788 dallasgroundskeeper.com
DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914
Lawn Service & Landscape Installation
Tips for preventing outside water damage
1. Remove vegitation from behind the downpipes
2. Use a hand mirror to check for cracks or splits that are not easily noticed
3. Install an underground drain (French drain)
4. Create a berm or pond to redirect waterflow
LAWNS,
YOUR
House Painting
1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work. Inside and Out. Free Ests. Local Refs. Ron 972-816-5634
#1 GET MORE PAY LES Painting. 85% Referrals. Free Est. 214-348-5070
A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681
ALL TYPES Painting & Repairs. A+ BBB rating. Any size jobs welcome. Call Kenny 214-321-7000
BENJAMIN’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality Work At Reasonable Prices. 214-725-6768
MANNY’S HOME PAINTING & REMODEL Int./Ext. Sheetrock. Manny 214-334-2160
RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT
Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513
TOP COAT 30 yrs. exp. Reliable, Quality
Repair/Remodel Phil @ 214-770-2863
VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext.
Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 469-774-7111
KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT
BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS LLC
Complete Kitchen And Bath Remodels. Tile, Granite, Marble, Travertine, Slate. Insured. 214-563-5035 www.blake-construction.com
FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645
KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT
LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES
HOLMAN IRRIGATION
Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061
LIGHT IT UP DALLAS
Your lighting specialists. 972-591-8383 Parties, Weddings, Patios, Landscape.
Pest
• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks
• Cultured Marble
• Kitchen Countertops
214-631-8719
WE REFINISH! www.allsurfacerefinishing.com
LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES
#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists. Trim, Remove, Cabling, Bracing/Bolting. Cavity-Fill Stump Grind. Emergencies, Hazards. Insd. Free Est. 972-803-6313. arborwizard.com
LSI LAWN SPRINKLERS “Making Water Work” Irrigation system Service & Repair. Specializing In Older Copper Systems. LI #13715. 214-283-4673
RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779
RedSunLandscapes.com
TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190
Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning
U R LAWN CARE Maintenance. Landscaping. Your Personal Yard Service by Uwe Reisch uwereisch@yahoo.com 214-886-9202
WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER
Plan now for spring. Call us for your Design Work, Bed Prep, and Tree Plantings. 8652 Garland Road 214-321-2387
Plumbing
ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521
# M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues. plumberiffic69@gmail.com
Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days
*Joe Faz 469-346-1814 - Se Habla Español*
ARRIAGA PLUMBING: General Plumbing
Since the 80’s. Insured. Lic# M- 20754 214-321-0589, 214-738-7116, CC’s accepted.
HAYES PLUMBING INC. Repairs.
Insured, 214-343-1427 License M13238
M&S PLUMBING Quality Work & Prompt Service. Jerry. 214-235-2172. lic.#M-11523
NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913
Lic. M-40581 Res/Com. Repairs & Leak Location
SPECK PLUMBING
Over 30 Yrs Exp. Licensed/Insured. 214-732-4769, 214-562-2360
214-328-7371
MetroFlowPlumbing.com

Lic.# M16620
Pools
ADAIR POOL & SPA SERVICE
1 month free service for new customers. Call for details. 469-358-0665.
Remodeling
BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC
Complete Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths, Additions. Hardie Siding & Replacement Windows. Build On Your Own Lot. Insured. www.blake-construction.com 214-563-5035
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645
O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For Over 17 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448
RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247
Bob McDonald Company, Inc. BUILDERS/REMODELERS
30+ Yrs. in Business • Major Additions Complete Renovations • Kitchens/Baths
214-341-1155 bobmcdonaldco.net
ROOFING & GUTTERS
A&B GUTTER 972-530-5699 Clean Out, Repair/Replace. Leaf Guard. Free Estimates. Lifetime Warranty
Bert
TRUE Crime
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