Acts of God

A woman carries her child through a field near the collapsed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

"... acts of God."
That phrase always left a bad taste in my mouth when it referred to natural disasters.
And particularly after the storms Monday that devastated Oklahoma.
I'm not a biblical scholar by any extent, but I refuse to believe that a loving God would bring such death and destruction upon his children - especially the younger children.
This wasn't an act of God. It was a result of weather systems - nature, thus "natural" disasters.
And now is the time for the rest of God's children to come to the aid of the survivors. There are several ways to help out:

1). The American Red Cross. Cash donations go to provide food and beverages for victims and emergency workers.I can personally vouch for the Red Cross. When my family lost our home in the 1989 tornado that struck Huntsville, the Red Cross provided us with vouchers to buy groceries, clothing and other items. They also offered temporary housing but we fortunately were taken in by my in-laws. To help, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation to its disaster relief program, donate at www.redcross.org/donation or phone 1-800-REDCROSS.
2.) The Salvation Army. Like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army helps provide meals for victims and emergency workers. You can text STORM to 80888 for a $10 contribution, call 1800-SAL-ARMY, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org/tornado or mail checks to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157 and put Oklahoma Tornado Relief on the check.
3). Toomer's for Tuscaloosa. This nonprofit was created in the aftermath of the April 2011 tornadoes that ripped through Alabama when a group of Auburn faithful wanted to help the residents of Tuscaloosa, home of their cross-state rival the University of Alabama. According to the organization's Facebook page, "Our mission has always been to provide material support and relief to the residents of the South and Mid-South affected by the April and May storms of 2011. Any funds collected will be used for the sole purpose of meeting that mission unless otherwise specified in a specific fundraising drive for other locations across the country that have been affected by disaster." The website is www.toomersfortuscaloosa.com. Toomer's for Tuscaloosa will hold a "Stuff the Truck" event Friday at the Old Time Pottery parking lot on Madison Boulevard in Madison. A 14-foot U-Haul truck will be there from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to take items to Oklahoma. For information, contact Connie Campbell at 256-656-5072.

These are just three ways to help out and I encourage everyone to give what they can. Pray, show compassion and care.
Those are true acts of God.