A major hurricane struck Acapulco in the early hours of October 25: 165 mph winds and up to 15 inches of rain. At least 30 people were killed and much of Acapulco was reported destroyed. Our prayers are with them.

Here’s what’s odd: as of 24 hours before landfall, ALL the weather forecasting models were predicting a tropical storm with 40 – 50 mph winds:

It seems we’re still not that good at forecasting weather OR that unexpected events can still take us by surprise.

Psalm 29, the psalm of the rainstorm, seems appropriate here. I quote it in its entirety:

¹  Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
²  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
³  The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.
⁴  The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
⁵  The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶  He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷  The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
⁸  The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹  The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
¹⁰  The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
¹¹  May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! (ESV)