One week ago the remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through Louisville and 300,000 people felt the effects. Seventy mile an hour winds came through and made trees fall and look like toothpicks onto the wire system of the city. What unfolded was unrest at the least, and chaos at the worst. People rushed to the grocery stores (understandably) trying to obtain whatever ice they could get their hands on. Many stores had long lines, grabbing huge amounts of canned goods. There was looting on the west side of the city. There were lines at gas stations two blocks down in some places with many stations running out of gas completely. Governor Beshear issued a state of an emergency, and the newscasters urged everyone to not panic (even though some already did), and refrain from running to the bank to withdraw money. Of course to put icing on the cake, the financial system of America came close to collapsing on Monday with the DOW Jones dropping 500 points. The residents had short tempers and became impatient. Our family was one of the ones without power, but since have had it restored. Seven days later however, there are still thousands without any power. On Sunday evening as I went outside, I saw the unbelievable darkness that prevailed the city. Our own neighborhood was pitchblack and yet there was a glow that even then illumined Louisville. I only once before saw a full moon so bright, and that was in Africa where hardly any lights are in the village. It is incredible to think that these man-made incandescent bulbs are so central to our survival now that when they flicker, we forget where our true dependence lies. It is in the Maker of this satellite that moves the tides and keeps our oceans from descimating the coasts. It is in the Maker of this moon and these trillions of stars that illumines the seas on a dark night and guides mariners to their desired haven. This Maker never fails; his creation, as long as He deems it best, will continue to sustain us. Surely His lovingkindness and general grace is marvelous. So when families have lost their power, their homes, and even their communities, let us look to the One who sustains not just the air in storms, but the air in our lungs, and plead for mercy. All the while, may we put our hope in Christ who is our eternal security. And when stock markets crash, when we incur debt, and when our military is thin, we will still have a strong tower and still have a house built on the solid Rock. This Rock, Jesus came and lived the perfect life on earth and died for sinners so that if we trust in Him as our only hope for eternal life, His righteousness becomes ours and our sin is atoned for. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21). | 
