Hurricane Harvey / Hurricane Irma

I'm sure everyone has heard about it, but just in case, here's a quick recap.

Hurricane Harvey is an active tropical cyclone that is causing unprecedented and catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas. It is the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year period with no major hurricanes making landfall in the United States. Harvey is also the first hurricane to hit the state of Texas since Ike in 2008, and the strongest to hit the state since Carla in 1961. In addition, it is the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Rita in 2005 and the strongest to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Charley in 2004. It joined 2016's Matthew as one of only two U.S. hurricanes to cause an extreme wind warning to be issued, indicating "tornado-like winds" within the storm including isolated tornadoes. Harvey is also the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the contiguous United States, surpassing a record set by Tropical Storm Ameila in 1978.

Harvey has caused at least 16 confirmed deaths; 1 in Guyana, and 15 in the United States. Catastrophic inland flooding is ongoing in the Greater Houston area. FEMA director Brock Long called Harvey the worst disaster in Texas history, and expected the recovery to take many years.[2] Preliminary estimates of economic losses range anywhere from $10 billion to $40 billion, with some predictions up to $60 billion.

 

The magnanimous Martin Short stand in opened his doors to his mega church, seating 17,000. And it only took a massive media backlash and 2 days. Now it could be true that his church wasn't ready, although snopes seems to disprove this but I have no problem stating when I'm wrong.

http://www.snopes.com/is-osteens-megachurch-affected/

But in some some less cynical news, JJ Watts has raised over 500 k and opened his furniture store as a makeshift shelter.

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article169850902.html

 

Joel Osteen does not represent biblical Christianity at all. He preaches a message that is known as the "prosperity gospel" like most folks on TBN as well as other traditions. They core of the prosperity gospel/word of faith is that Jesus died to make you healthy, wealthy, and happy. If you give to the church, verbally claim blessings(IE health and finances) God will deliver them to you. This is at odds with the message of the Bible which is that Jesus came to deliver humanity from sin and reconcile all things to the Father. In addition to the theological issues that arise with the prosperity gospel come the practical reality that those so called preachers that teach it almost always establish churches filled with the poor and hurting. They then bleed the poor and hurting dry promising "blessings" for those who "sow a seed" IE give them money. These wolves in sheep clothing generally live lavish lifestyles while a good percentage of their congregants suffer. This nonsense is purposely exported across the globe and in some ways functions very much like a pyramid scheme. This runs deeper than that too on various other theological fronts as well, but that is a good start. If you have any questions shoot em at me.

Here is an article by Kareem that touches on some of those economic issues: http://time.com/3912366/kareem-abdul-jabbar-prosperity-gospel/




On topic: Having lived in Houston and seen many a flood I just can't believe what I am seeing on my social media account from friends and families hack in H-Town. Its absolutely insane the amount of rain that is still falling. Whats absolutely mind boggling is H-town is built to flood. It is designed to take huge amounts of water and drain. 4 ft of rain in 4 days is crazy.

Case in point:

 

In contrast to those mentioned above what makes my love Texas is the people more than anything. Seeing folks stream towards danger to help those who are in need would be considered crazy in most places, but here its what you do. In addition to seeing a the devastation I have seen many, including friends and family, load up there boats with supplies and head south to go pull people out. I know many more that are fuel, supplied, and just waiting for the all clear to be called. The most impressive group to me is are the Texas Baptist Men, a group of mostly retired, mostly 60+ men that stream in from all over after disasters to do serious work. I know several men well into there twilight years that have been in many a disaster relief effort both state side and abroad.

 

But despite my negative start on the topic, I'm gonna focus on Watt and others like him.

I don't get how people can say he didn't give enough. Anyway, here's this.

 

The animal thing is really cool. San Antonio and Houston are lousy with strays anyway. But speaking of donating clothes and such I wonder if there's a pickup in Richmond.