Sandy

[JTC]

Hello Everyone

I've been trying to post this for weeks. I'm in 1 of the disaster zones created by the super storm called Sandy. I thought there would be more talk about it. Maybe none of you know how bad it rerally is. I only got heat and electricity back 1 week ago. I had no place to go so I had to stay in my apt. Most nights I slept with 3 layers of clothes and sometimes winter gloves.

I had bought the entire Bible on cassette 20 years ago. It took 2 weeks to get some batteries, but once I did I started to listen to the Bible every night. I lost my pc due to the storm and the one I'm using doesn't haved spell check. So please forgive the typos and misspelling.

I want to tell you all that I think we are further into the end times than I used to think. Sandy hit the North East coast and where I am we were hit hard. I've lived here on the coast all my life, and I never saw 4 to 5 feet of water cover the land before. This was very unexpected. And this is just the beginning.

Thinking of what Jesus said in Matthew 24, He said you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. I think that was the 1930s. Then He said the Earth would go through tribulations like never before. That's where I think we are right now. I hate to think what may be coming next. I still have almost no touch with the rest of the world, so I don't know what is happening.

I saw a post saying the pope wants a 1 world religion. Is this true? It sounded like he wants to merge Christianity with Islam?

I don't have any more time today. I'll try to come back tomorrow.

John

[nebula]

Oh wow, JTC. Welcome back!

The news isn't telling us anything, so how could we know? Thanks for sharing.

[goldust59]

John, Have thought of you often & prayed for your safety from before Sandy hit & after. It is a great relief to see you back here! The news has nothing!, watched the weather channel as storm came and a little aftermath, then nothing! Some of the alternative news on the net did some reports on how bad things were there, then they stopped reporting on it too. I'm sure that I can't even imagine the extent of how people were & are still being affected. I heard FEMA was practically useless, just like for Katrina.

Prayers continue for you & all those that have suffered from Sandy & the bitter cold of late

I believe we are a lot farther on the timeline too. I think we are going to see a lot more 'strange' weather events in the coming year & probably some other odd things as well. Did you know that the National Weather Service has started naming the winter storms?

The pope wants all religions to be one big happy family -- that's on my list of "things that make you go -Hmm"

[nChrist]

Hello JTC,

I prayed for those facing Sandy, but I didn't realize that many are still needing our prayers. You and others will be in my prayers. May God richly bless you and your family in the coming New Year.

[Guest]

Praying~!

[gdemoss]

John, good to see you back. Thanks for helping us to know more of what is going on. I have been preaching about where we are in the timeline but few even have believed me. God has said that it will be too late before people understand and most will never understand because through it all they continue to hold on to their false image of God until the end. John told us who the true image of God was and what was necessary to follow him and be like him. He finished by warning us to keep ourselves from idols.

Glad to hear that God has brought you through this trial. As I have stated previously to others, brace for impact, the bus is headed off the cliff. But that is just me being a doomsdayer again....

[JTC]

Howdy Everyone,

I don't know what the rest of the country knows about just how severe the damage from Sandy was. So I wasn't trying to fault anyone. I'm on Long Beach island, which is off the southern coast of Long Island in NY State. I've heard that Staten island and Breezy point, which is part of Coney Island, was hit harder than us. That's hard for me to believe, but I guess they were. I heard that on Staten island 1 or 2 houses caught fire and then the 100+ mph winds spread the fires so entire blocks of homes caught fire. I do know that Staten Island got most of the press and money aid which we could have used more of.

We need prayer, yes of course. But we also need every kind of skilled workmen you can think of. Electricians, plumbers, and all kinds of construction workers. Almost to not even mention people willing to clean up. I'm told we have an unemployment problem. I don't see how. Come here and be willing to work and you will get paid. I talked with a few men from National grid, a gas co. and they were from Massachussetts. My landlord is a good man and so is his family and co. He told me straight out, one problem is getting skilled workmen, but the other problem is getting the parts they need. So we should not have an unemplyment problem. Maybe a laziness problem. That's a sin, btw. We also need doctors, nurses, and especially mental illness workers. There's a 1 to 2 year waiting time to see a psychiatrist or a therapist. Believe me, when your life is all but washed away, suddenly otherwise normal folk have depression and anxiety disorders. I'm very blessed because I live on the 2nd floor. Actually even 1st floor folks in my buildinbg didn't get water in their apts. But the basements flooded and that meant a new boiler for heat and hot water heaters. All the wires had to be replaced. The water that came in was salt water mixed with sewage water. My building has 2 entrances. When the water started coming in, most people cried and panickied. But me and 1 other man walked into the water and nailed the door closed. I held the door closed while he nailed it. I say God gave me the strength to hold that door closed. After all, I am 60 and not in good heath. So God must have given me that strength to hold back that water. We're a mere 200 yards from the open ocean. So I give glory to God for my strength that night. I later found out the other man is also a Christian. Me and him and his wife stayed here. Many left with Fema. We stayed because if we didn't the LL would have put this building on the end of his list to fix. So we stayed. To help keep my sanity I worked everyday with the pharmacist, across the street. Many people stayed and helped, but way too many left. They only came back when they knew there was heat, lights and hot water. So I guess now I have a big forgiveness problem. I am very dissapointed in the people who live here. I knew this is a largely Godless area, but I didn't know there was this many Godless people. Of course many of them think they belong to God. We shall see.

When I finally got this pc I started an almost daily journal. Maybe someday someone will find it. We still have hundreds of thousands of people with no place to live. Fema is trying, as is the red cross. But the devestation is almost beyond words. A few weeks ago Long Beach island looked like France or England did during WW2 after all the bombing. It's that bad.

The thing is this. Where will be next? I heard there was an underwater earthquake off California. Luckily there was no Tuscinami. But again, thinking of what Jesus said in Matt 24, these are the beginnings of birth pains. Two or 3 years ago it was Japan and the Philipenes that got hit. Certain fools laughed at Japan and said it was because they aren't Christians. Fools. I just hope these disasters don't happen so close together that we don't have time to rebuild.

The first few weeks after Sandy, I sat here alone at night. I used candles and sterno, in metal pots, for light and heat. Then I got some batteries. I could finally hear radio. But then I started listening to my Bible tapes. I must have listened to the NT 5 or 6 times. I have much to say, escepcially to people who get hung up on a few verses out of context. But not now. I also realize why many people walk away from the Bible. There are some errors. But God still uses what was written to reach us. But be careful about being dogmatic. In other words, do not be dogmatic. I've also been watching the old movie "Jesus of Nazereth", since I found it. I may have the other movies made about Jesus too. As Jesus used to tell the Jews many gentiles will get to Heaven before them, we must realize many people from religions that aren't "Born Again" religions, will get into Heaven before some people who proudly proclaim they are going to Heaven because of what they know, or said, or believe. We must do what God commands us. Yes we must speak of Him. I never shut up about God. But I also do His will as much as I know to. For example, should I lie to Fema to try and get a new microwave oven, or coffee maker? I know a few people who lie about anything to get something free. These people also think they're of God. Should I do that? I struggled with that quite a few days. I really need those items.

While watching Jesus of Nazereth I realized I can't lie to get something new. My PC really did burn out. I really did ruin 2 pairs of sneakers cleaning up in the flood water. But I can't lie about the other things. This is how God would have us be. It's hard to be of God. But it's also easy because God gave me a way to stay warm, and a way to heat up food. I thank God daily.

I would like to tell you all nothing like this will happen where you live. But the Bible says it will. I still shudder when I think of the 4 feet of water in the streets.

I've missed coming here. I don't remember everyone's names, so don't be offended if I don't mention you. But how is Jake, my young friend? I miss Natalie, Joni, Gary, and how is Carlos? I miss Oneaccord, and Onelight. How is the Other? We were talking about Islam which we best get familiar with. It sounds like the Pope wants to merge Catholicism with Islam. They aren't all murdeous fanatics. To think so is being dogmatic. I believe we are in advanced end times, but Jesus return may still be many years off. So since Obama is Islam sympathetic, we may have to find the peaceful Muslims. I miss Deb and a lot of other women I don't recall by name. I bet she'd never think this, but how is Sevenseas? I feel an affinity to her. I hope not too many other people are in disaster zones, but I'm sure there are some. There's many more of you I miss too.

One good thing that came from this, is for the 1st time in 12 years, I was invited to someone's home for Christmas eve dinner. That was a biggie for me. But they weren't very Christian, but they had big hearts. I thank God for that.

I'm typing this Monday night at home. I still don't have internet service. I hope I will get to post it tomorrow. I really wish this PC had a spell checker. I was only able to look around a little. I am dismayed at the post about us fighting. Don't fight folks. It doesn't please the Lord. Remember, if you don't love everyone, you're not headed for Heaven. I've also been listening to some tapes made by a preacher who has gone to be with the Lord. In one tape he said if you ever want to know if someone is of God, just look to see if they have love in their hearts for other people. If they don't, they don't belong to God.

I don't remember many names because I wasn't here that long before Sandy hit. But I have really missed all of you. May God Bless us all.

John

[gdemoss]

thanks for the update John, praying for you.

[goldust59]

John , please don't let bitterness take root in your heart---remember that we were forgiven, before we ever knew to ask for and receive it. Forgive those you are having the "forgiveness problem" with so that the LOVE of God can freely flow out through you to others.

You are in my prayers, as always.

your sister in Him,

Deb

[nebula]

That's a good word, John! Thank you!