Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

The Wonder of Thunder
by Tom Goodman
March 19, 2014

Bob and Pat Moulder were listening to the rain pelt the roof of their Mississippi house early Sunday morning when the phone rang. It was their son, David, calling from South Korea. He was a helicopter pilot stationed along the demilitarized zone. As they talked, a booming clap of thunder shook the windows.

David asked, "What was that? It sounded like an explosion."

"No, just thunder," said his mother. "It's been raining here all week."

There was a long pause. "David, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here. I was thinking about what Mom said -- 'Just thunder.' Other than the two of you, know what I miss the most? Thunder. We have rain, wind, snow and some violent storms, but it never thunders. I miss the thunder."

When the Moulders got off the phone with their homesick son, Bob collected his tape recorder, a large golf umbrella and a lawn chair and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Pat asked.

"I'm going to record our son some thunder."

"Bob, the neighbors will think you're crazy."

"David won't," he said, and went outside. For the next 30 minutes Bob Moulder sat under his umbrella in the driving rain and flickering lightning. With the tape player rolling, he recorded "half an hour of the finest Mississippi thunder a lonesome man could ever want to hear." The next day he mailed the tape to David with a single note: "A special gift."

In Psalm 29, we see another David who was fond of thunder. He was fond of it because it reminded him of the awesome power of God -- power God used on David's behalf.

Charles Spurgeon said that thunder is "the church bell of the universe ringing kings and angels, and all the sons of earth to their devotions."

Meditate a moment on a thunderstorm, and like David you will say, "For my need there's more power available from God that can be found in a hurricane!" This Sunday at 10 we'll let Psalm 29 remind us of the wonder of thunder. Join us!

Women's Ministry Mini-Retreat. Our new ladies ministry is called "Wings: Women in God's Service." One of their first projects is a "mini-retreat" on Saturday , March 29, 8:30am - 2:00pm. The cost is $10, which includes breakfast and lunch. For more information and to register online, click here.

--Tom

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Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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The Wonder of Thunder by Tom Goodman March 19, 2014 Bob and Pat Moulder were listening to the rain pelt the roof of their Mississippi house early Sunday morning when the phone rang. It was their son, David, calling from South Korea. He was a helicopter pilot stationed along the demilitarized zone. As they talked, a booming clap of thunder shook the windows. David asked, "What was that? It sounded like an explosion." "No, just thunder," said his mother. "It's been raining here all week." There was a long pause. "David, are you still there?" "Yes, I'm still here. I was thinking about what Mom said -- 'Just thunder.' Other than the two of you, know what I miss the most? Thunder. We have rain, wind, snow and some violent storms, but it never thunders. I miss the thunder." When the Moulders got off the phone with their homesick son, Bob collected his tape recorder, a large golf umbrella and a lawn chair and headed for the door. "Where are you going?" Pat asked. "I'm going to record our son some thunder." "Bob, the neighbors will think you're crazy." "David won't," he said, and went outside. For the next 30 minutes Bob Moulder sat under his umbrella in the driving rain and flickering lightning. With the tape player rolling, he recorded "half an hour of the finest Mississippi thunder a lonesome man could ever want to hear." The next day he mailed the tape to David with a single note: "A special gift." In Psalm 29, we see another David who was fond of thunder. He was fond of it because it reminded him of the awesome power of God -- power God used on David's behalf. Charles Spurgeon said that thunder is "the church bell of the universe ringing kings and angels, and all the sons of earth to their devotions." Meditate a moment on a thunderstorm, and like David you will say, "For my need there's more power available from God that can be found in a hurricane!" This Sunday at 10 we'll let Psalm 29 remind us of the wonder of thunder. Join us! Women's Ministry Mini-Retreat. Our new ladies ministry is called "Wings: Women in God's Service." One of their first projects is a "mini-retreat" on Saturday , March 29, 8:30am - 2:00pm. The cost is $10, which includes breakfast and lunch. For more information and to register online, click here. --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.