From Missions with Don & Rosemary

Those of us who are involved in evangelism, know there are many opportunites to teach people the gospel. An opportunity that we might not think of is our bible camps. I learned just yesterday that a bible camp is being developed, probable not over 5 miles as the crow flies from where I live. It is called Camp Joy. Some brethren visited us at Howell last evening and told us about it. It sounded so interesting that we have invited them back next Sunday evening to conduct the evening service and better inform us about the opportunities in helping reach people thru the use of "Camp Joy". For more information about this good work, you can go to their web site at www.campjoyinc.com. Some of us are planning to ride out this Fri afternoon and see the camp. This could really be a great opportunity to help with our young people as well as other good works. On another note, I was talking with Russ Blackwell and received an email about an upcoming campaign with the Creekwood Church of Christ in Mobile, Al. Russ is an excellent teacher and teaches the "Safety Chain" method. If you and the congregation would like to learn this method you can contact Russ at judrus@gmail.com The campaign is going to be June 22-27 with preaching each evening. Larry Kilpatrick, who is a very good speaker will be preaching each evening. I really appreciate the Creekwood Church. We stayed at the church for the better part of 2 mos. helping in the aftermath of Katrina. David Sargent i s the minister there. I was at a church recently and when they sang the song, "Send the Light" they sang instead "Take the Light". I thought that was rather meaningful. I personally use the "Safety Chain Method" in most of my studies, it is easy to learn and it is easy for the student to read what the bible says about salvation in Christ. Good Night Don

Local Youth at Florida Bible Camp

This week end we have another group of youth here at camp from the High Springs area.

Saint Augustine CoC here at FBC for weekend retreat

Forecasters Predict Busy Hurricane Season

By DANICA COTO,
AP
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (April 9) - A noted hurricane researcher predicted Wednesday that rising water temperatures in the Atlantic will bring a "well above average" storm season this year, including four major storms.

Past Predictions vs. Reality
1 of 3
2007 Hurricane Season
Named storms - Predictions: 17 | Reality: 15
Hurricanes - Predictions: 9 | Reality: 6
Major hurricanes - Predictions: 5 | Reality: 2

The updated forecast by William Gray's team at Colorado State University calls for 15 named storms in the Atlantic in 2008 and says there's a better than average chance that at least one major hurricane will hit the United States.

An average of 5.9 hurricanes form in the Atlantic each year.

"The Atlantic is a bit warmer than in the past couple of years," said Phil Klotzbach, a member of the forecast team. "That is something we would like to keep an eye on."

Gray had projected seven hurricanes with three major storms in a preliminary forecast in December.

One of the most closely watched hurricane forecasters, Gray has been issuing hurricane predictions for more than 20 years. But he and others have been criticized in recent years for having forecasts that were off the mark.

Gray's team says precise predictions are impossible, and the warnings raise awareness of hurricanes.

"We have not been ashamed of our forecast failures. It is the nature of seasonal forecasting to sometimes be wrong," Klotzbach said in a telephone interview from the Bahamas, where the team announced the forecast at a weather conference.

The 2007 Atlantic season saw 15 named storms, six of which became hurricanes. Two were major storms.

Before the June-November season, U.S. government scientists predicted 13 to 17 named storms and six hurricanes, three to five major. Gray was further off, forecasting 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, five of them major.

U.S. government forecasters issue their seasonal outlook in late May.

National Hurricane Center director Bill Read, who is in his first year on the job, has said he would prefer to characterize the season in general terms — as above average, average or below average — instead of trying to forecast a precise number of storms.

"It doesn't matter what the numbers are," center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said Wednesday, repeating a center mantra that it takes only one powerful storm to make it a bad season.

Tornado Hits Little Rock Arkansas

A tornado tore through central Arkansas late Thursday night, flipping over planes, damaging homes and vehicles and setting off tornado sirens in Little Rock.The tornado left a trail of damage from Bryant to northern Pulaski County, said Emilie Nipper, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s office in North Little Rock at the North Little Rock Municipal Airport. Just after 10 p.m. forecasters went to a shelter behind the office while the tornado passed by.“We heard it go over our heads,” Nipper said.Damage was widespread and knocked out power to at least 20,000.For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.