Punta Gorda Seventh-day Adventist Church

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An Amazing Fact: The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth occurred at Barrow Island, Australia. During typhoon Olivia, the wind reached 253 miles per hour.

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For more than 60 years, the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire boasted that it had recorded the fastest wind speed on Earth. In 1934, the observatory recorded a wind speed of 231 miles per hour. But in 1996, during typhoon Olivia, Barrow Island in Australia recorded a wind speed of 253 miles per hour. The amazing—and somewhat puzzling thing—is that it took the World Meteorological Organization 14 years to recognize a new record had been set. As they were scouring through some old data, they came across the record-setting wind speed.

It didn’t take long for news to spread about the new record. And the Mount Washington Observatory reluctantly conceded that the data had to be recognized, though they were still suspicious of why it took 14 years for the new record to be declared. Of course, whether it is 253 or 231 miles per hour, we wouldn’t want to be facing such powerful winds!

Interestingly, the prophet Elijah faced some very strong winds after escaping from evil Jezebel and waiting to hear from God. He also faced an earthquake and fire. But 1 Kings gives us some interesting insight into God’s glory and power. There we read that God was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire. Instead, He spoke to Elijah in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

This is how God prefers to speak and interact with us. He doesn’t want to overwhelm us with grandeur. He doesn’t desire to impress us with splendor. He wants to come close and converse with us as with a friend.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

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